Hey, podcast listeners. Thanks for streaming today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Pathway to Victory is a nonprofit ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Dr. Robert Jeffress. And right now, your generous gift will have twice the impact thanks to the Light the Darkness matching challenge. It's active now through December 31st.
To give a special year-end gift, go to ptv.org slash donate or follow the link in our show notes. Now here's today's podcast from Pathway to Victory. Thanks for joining us on today's edition of Pathway to Victory. Before we began today's program, I wanted to say a word about the recent election. In 1 Timothy 2, Paul said we should pray that government would basically protect us and then leave us alone to practice our faith.
And I think the election has ensured that's going to happen for the next four years. I've known President Trump for almost 10 years, and I know religious freedom is a very real priority with him. We need to remember that it is not government's responsibility to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.
That's our responsibility and one we need to take advantage of while there's still time. The only way we're going to change America is by changing the hearts of Americans, and that's only possible through the power of Jesus Christ. Thank you for supporting Pathway to Victory generously in this important time but limited time of religious liberty, so together we can pierce the darkness with the light of God's Word. On today's edition of Pathway to Victory, one reason Luke includes these vignettes from Jesus' life is to remind us that he really was the Son of God.
The fact that he had authority in his teaching, the fact that he had authority over the demons, the fact that he had authority over sickness shows that he really was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Welcome to Pathway to Victory with author and pastor Dr. Robert Jeffress. Jesus left his disciples with an important charge, to go and make disciples of all nations.
And if you're a follower of Jesus Christ, the Great Commission is your responsibility as well. Today on Pathway to Victory, Dr. Robert Jeffress teaches us how to fulfill this important mission by examining one single day in the life of Jesus. Now here's our Bible teacher to introduce today's message. Dr. Jeffress.
Thanks, David, and welcome again to Pathway to Victory. When a young person is thinking about his future career, it's not uncommon to spend a little time job shadowing somebody in your field. Have you ever heard that term before? It's when you follow the surgeon or the police officer for one day and you find out what it's really like to walk in his shoes. Well, that's what we're doing in our current study in Luke. We're job shadowing, if you will, walking alongside Jesus to see what it was like to minister in grace and truth. Along these same lines, I've written a brand new daily devotional for you. It's intentionally written to help you walk side by side with the Savior every weekday in 2025. I guarantee when you spend a couple of minutes every day with God's word and with this devotional, it will reignite your passion for Jesus Christ. This new volume, more than five hundred and thirty pages in length, is my gift to you when you give generously toward the light, the darkness matching challenge that's taking place right now.
During this brief window of time, every dollar you give will be matched and therefore multiplied by two because of this staggering matching challenge in the amount of one point five million dollars. Remember when Jesus said you are the light of the world, let your light so shine before men. Well, this was his invitation to shine his light brightly. When we do, others will see the goodness of God, and that's the goal of the light, the darkness matching challenge. We'll say more about the matching challenge and the daily devotional later in today's program. But right now, it's time to turn our complete attention to Luke chapter four and a message I introduced on Friday's program. The title is very simple.
Twenty four. There is nothing wrong at all with having a good time. However, I think we would all agree that there is something more to life than just having fun. God has left us here in this world for a purpose much bigger than that. The reason you and I as Christians have been left in this world is to expand the kingdom of God. You still think your purpose in life is about your goals, your dreams, your pleasure, your happiness.
That's not what it's about. God left us here to achieve his purpose, not ours. But I know there are a few of you here today, perhaps many of you here today, who have come to that point in life. You realize God has a purpose for you that's bigger than yourself. You want to do what God left you here to do. You want to introduce people to faith in Christ. You want to help people grow in their faith.
The question is, how do you do that? Well, the way you do that is by modeling the one who did it best, and that is Jesus Christ. If you have your Bibles, I want you to turn to Luke chapter four. We look at twenty four hours in the life of the Savior. And I want you to notice in this twenty four hour period, the four components of Jesus' life that made him so effective in making disciples of Christ.
If you want to have a balanced, supernatural existence and live out the purpose for what you were created, these four components need to be a part of your life and my life. Notice, first of all, Jesus' life was marked by authoritative teaching. It says in verse thirty one, And he came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were amazed at his teaching, for his message was with authority. What is it that gave Jesus message authority? Number one, his teaching was rooted in God's word.
Not only that, secondly, it was filled with application. Jesus taught with application, whether he was teaching the Sermon on the Mount or through parables or through his discourse on the end times, he always added the so what. What are we supposed to do in the light of that truth? Thirdly, Jesus' teaching was lived out in integrity. It was lived out in integrity. You know, the word integrity literally means undivided, whole. There's no dichotomy between what a person says and how he lives.
It's whole. With Jesus, there was integrity. That's why when he taught, people sensed something was different. His teaching was rooted in the authority of God's word.
It had practical application, and it was lived out in integrity. Secondly, his ministry was marked by supernatural power. When he taught, he stirred up not only the people, he even stirred up the demonic world.
Look at verses 33 to 37. And there was a man in the synagogue possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, ah, what do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, be quiet and come out of him. And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him without doing any harm. And amazement came upon them all. And they began discussing with one another, saying, what is this message? For with authority and power, he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.
And the report about him was going out into every locality in the surrounding district. Now, this passage opens up a number of questions, I realize that. But let me just point out three truths about demons in this passage, and then relate it to our ministry. Number one, demons are real. You know, some people say, well, demons, that was just a primitive first century attempt to explain certain emotional disorders and mental illnesses today. Well, if that's true, then Jesus ought to be put in a straitjacket, because he was actually conversing with these demons. If they're not real, then why was Jesus talking to them? Demons really are real beings. They are Satan's assistants to carry out his plan.
They're real. Secondly, demons can control people. Of course, the question comes up, well, can a Christian be possessed by a demon? Christians cannot be owned by demons. They can't be owned by Satan. Ephesians 1 13 says, when we became a Christian, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. So we are God's possession once we are saved. So in that sense, no, Christians cannot be owned by Satan or demons, but they can be influenced and even controlled by Satan and demons.
How does that happen? Listen to this. Any part of your life that is not controlled by the Holy Spirit of God is open to be controlled by Satan and his demons. If you allow your moral life, your work, any relationship not to be controlled by the Holy Spirit of God, it is open to demonic influence and control. One great illustration of that is when Jesus turned to Simon Peter, who was trying to persuade him not to go to the cross. Remember what Jesus said to him?
Get thee behind me who? Satan. He realized that although Peter was a follower of his, he was allowing himself to be controlled, influenced by Satan's plan. So the fact is, demons can control people. Demons can actually control Christians in any part of their life, not under God's control. Thirdly, demons are under Christ's authority. These demons were obviously fearful of Jesus. Remember what this demon said?
We know who you are. You're the Holy One of Israel. And so Jesus rebuked the demon, saying, be quiet.
Literally, put a lid on it. Come out of him. And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him without doing any harm. Notice how the demon obeyed. Verse 36. An amazement came upon them all, and they began discussing one another.
What is this message? For with authority and power, he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out. Isn't it interesting how Jesus got this demon out? He didn't go through all this ritual and theatrics and so forth.
He said, come out. The demon obeyed. You know, people ask me all the time about exorcism, the practice of trying to cast demons out of other people. And you read these accounts of exorcism today. And people go through these incantations and rituals, and they light the candles and go through all of this stuff. Is that really biblical?
Let's talk about that for a second. A few of the apostles had the ability, at least in the early part of their ministry, as a sign that they were truly apostles. But it's interesting. By the time you get to the latter part of Acts, and throughout all of the epistles in the New Testament, not one mention of exorcism. Never anywhere did Paul tell people to exorcise spirits from other people. It's not a spiritual gift. There's no example of it happening.
I believe what has happened is this. The responsibility for living a demon-free life is a personal responsibility. We're responsible for our lives. Nobody else can do that for me.
It is something I must do. You say, well, how do I make sure that I'm not under the control of Satan or demons? Well, in Ephesians chapter 6, Paul gives us six pieces of spiritual armor to take on. Most of it's defensive.
Some of it's offensive. But the whole idea of utilizing this armor is so that we can have supernatural power over Satan and demons. Remember what James says in James 4-7? Resist the devil, and he will what?
Flee from you. My point is, if you're a Christian today, you have the same supernatural power that Jesus had. Not to cast demons out of other people, but to rid yourself of any demonic influence and cause the Satan and his demons to run from you.
That's the power that we have today. Thirdly, notice that Jesus' ministry was marked by a genuine compassion for others. Look at verses 38 and 39. And he arose, and he left the synagogue, and he entered Simon's house. Now, this was Simon Peter.
Later on, his name would be changed to Peter the Rock. And he arose, and he left the synagogue, and entered Simon's home. Now, Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they made request of him on her behalf. Now, let me just point out the fact that Peter has a mother-in-law tells you what. Peter was married, wasn't he? He had a mother. He had a mother-in-law. And amazingly, when she got sick, he wanted her healed. I won't go there.
Don't want to... He loved his mother-in-law. He wanted her to be healed. And so he asked Jesus to heal her. Verse 39. And standing over her, Jesus rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she immediately arose and waited on them.
And look at verse 40. And while the sun was setting, all who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him. And laying his hands on every one of them, he was healing them. After Jesus left Simon's mother-in-law's home, he went out, and he started healing people with various diseases.
He was showing compassion for them. Now, does God still heal today? Of course he does.
Of course he does. I believe in faith healing. I believe God heals people. I just don't believe in faith healers. Jesus is the one who heals. He doesn't need any intermediary to heal you. So, Pastor, if we don't have the gift of healing, what are we to do? How can we show the same compassion for those who have physical illnesses? I want you to hold your place here and turn over to Matthew 8, verses 16 and 17.
I think you'll be encouraged by this. Here's another example of Jesus healing. Verse 16 of Matthew 8. And when evening had come, they brought to Jesus many who were demon-possessed, and he cast out the spirits with a word. And he healed all who were ill. In order that what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, he himself took our infirmities and carried away our diseases. The reason Jesus healed primarily was to prove he was the Messiah. It was to fulfill the Old Testament prophecy. But notice the prophecy said that the Messiah himself took our infirmities. And that verb, took, that's translated into Greek here, is the Greek word bastazo, B-A-S-T-A-Z-O. And it literally means to carry the burden of another person.
To carry the burden of someone else. Listen to me this morning. Sometimes when we pray to Jesus, he does take away our infirmity. That's called a miracle. They are rare. They wouldn't be a miracle if they happened all the time.
The fact that they are the exception rather than the rule is what makes them a miracle. Jesus doesn't always remove our sickness, but he always bears our sickness. That word bastazo means to come under and share the load. It's a picture of somebody who's carrying a heavy load and somebody sees him and says, let me help you carry that load. And that other person places himself under the load and makes the load lighter for the person carrying it. This word bastazo is the same word Paul uses in Galatians 6-2 when he says, bear one another's burdens. When we see a Christian who is suffering, maybe a Christian who is ill, what are we supposed to do for them? We're to come alongside them.
We're to say, let me help you carry the load. Let me pray along with you for God's healing in your life. And if God chooses not to remove the infirmity, that he would give you an extra measure of his grace. Fourthly, will you notice the fourth element that gave Jesus such power in his life and ministry was regular solitude. After leaving Peter's home, he went out and he healed those who were ill. Look at verse 42. And when day came, he departed and he went to a lonely place. And the multitudes were searching for him and came to him and tried to keep him from going away from them. Jesus healed for hours, but finally he said, that's enough. I'm going away to a lonely place to commune with my Heavenly Father.
What are you talking about? There are more people to be healed. Let me tell you something, there'll always be more people to be ministered to. If you give your life to doing what God has called you to do, there's no end to the needs of people. And yet it is absolutely vital for every one of us that we spend time alone with God. Every day that we find that time to get away from the crowds, to get away even from our family who needs us and be alone with God. If that was vital for Jesus Christ, how much more vital is it for you and for me?
You know, I came across these words by Austin Phelps this week. He said, it has been said that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion that no large growth in holiness was ever gained by one who did not take time to be often long alone with God. If you want to have a life that is marked by power, there has to be a regular time that you're alone with God. Now, I need to close today by taking a bit of my own medicine.
I said no message is complete without application. What's the application of this 24-hour glance at the life of Christ for us today? Let me close with two timeless truths from this passage.
Jot them down. First of all, we are to submit to the authority of Jesus. We are to submit to the authority of Jesus. You know, the reason, one reason Luke includes these vignettes from Jesus' life is to remind us that he really was the Son of God. The fact that he had authority in his teaching, the fact that he had authority over the demons, the fact that he had authority over sickness shows that he really was the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You know, isn't it interesting that every creature in heaven right now is submitting to the authority of Jesus Christ? They know who he is. Even the demons underneath the earth have submitted to the authority of Christ. They know who he is. There is only one place in the universe where God's creatures are not yet submitting to his authority.
It's that spinning clot of dirt called planet earth. Right now there are human beings who are not submitting to the authority of God, but one day they will. Philippians 2 says, one day every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Now here's my question to you. Are you doing right now what you will do one day? Are you right now submitting to God's authority in your life? Obeying what you know to be his will in your life. Jesus has authority over all creation.
Are you submitting to his authority right now? We're to submit to Christ's authority. Secondly, we are to model the ministry of Jesus. In John 14, 12, Jesus said, truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do, because I go to the Father.
You know, that's an exciting passage. Jesus is saying, you too can have supernatural power in your life. You too can have a singular purpose and enjoy God's blessing and approval as I did. Greater works can you do than even the Son of God did. But to experience the power of Jesus, you have to maintain the balance of Jesus. And that's what we've seen today, how his life was balanced. One pastor notes the four locations of Jesus' ministry outlined in this passage.
Jot them down real quickly. Notice, this is a picture of a balanced life and ministry. First, he ministered in the synagogue.
Today, that would be the church. That was home base of his ministry. Everything he did flowed out of the synagogue. It was central to his life and ministry. Secondly, Jesus ministered in the home. He was in Peter's home. His home is God's creation.
It's the basic unit of society. We have to minister in our home as well to our family. Thirdly, Jesus ministered in the world. The world was filled with sickness and need and Jesus didn't cloister himself just with his apostles.
He made contact with the world. And then finally, Jesus' ministry placed him in the wilderness, a place alone where he could be revitalized in his relationship with God. When we model the ministry of Jesus, we too can experience the power of Jesus through our lives. In this 24-hour period, we've seen Jesus in the synagogue, in the home, in the world, and even in the wilderness. Spending an entire day with Jesus is truly a profound experience. And it's precisely why I chose to write the 2025 Pathway to Victory Daily Devotional. It gives you and me an occasion to walk with Jesus every step of the way in the coming new year. In fact, I've written a devotional chapter for every single weekday in 2025. And I guarantee when you spend time reading God's Word and reflecting on His promises, your passion for Christ will intensify. You can request your copy of the Pathway to Victory Daily Devotional right now when you give a generous gift to support the growing ministry of Pathway to Victory. And remember, whatever amount you choose to give is automatically matched and therefore doubled in size because of the Light the Darkness Matching Challenge.
We're on track to reach our goal of $1.5 million before the deadline of December 31st. But we need men and women just like you to make that happen. Friends, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus in our homes and churches, we're actually celebrating that His Light has overcome the darkness. And it's our calling as followers of Jesus Christ to share this good news so that His Light will shine even in the darkest corners of the world.
Pathway to Victory is intended to do just that. You see, when you give a generous year-end gift today, you're placing the fuel into this lamp so that Jesus Christ shines brighter across our country and even our world. Please respond today. Your gift will be multiplied by two because of the matching challenge. And I'll be pleased to send you the 2025 Daily Devotional with my thanks. David.
Thanks, Dr. Jeffress. Today, when you give a generous year-end gift to support the ministry of Pathway to Victory, we'll send you a copy of the brand new leather-bound 2025 Pathway to Victory Daily Devotional. To request your very own copy, call 866-999-2965 or visit our website, ptv.org. And when your gift is $100 or more, we'll also include this month's teaching series, Reigniting Your Passion for Christ.
You'll get that on DVD video and MP3 format audio discs. And right now, because of our Light the Darkness matching challenge, any gift you give will be doubled in impact. Call us toll free at 866-999-2965 or go online to ptv.org. If you'd like to give by mail, simply write to P.O. Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. That's P.O.
Box 223-609, Dallas, Texas, 75222. I'm David J. Mullins. Have you discovered God's unique calling for your life?
It might sound like a daunting task, but finding the answer may be simpler than you think. Discover how Jesus used Simon Peter's natural abilities to advance the kingdom of God. That's Tuesday on Pathway to Victory. You made it to the end of today's podcast from Pathway to Victory, and we're so glad you're here. Pathway to Victory relies on the generosity of loyal listeners like you to make this podcast possible. And right now, your special year-end gift will be matched and therefore doubled in impact thanks to the Light the Darkness matching challenge. Take advantage of this opportunity to double your impact before the deadline on December 31st. To give toward the matching challenge, go to ptv.org slash donate or follow the link in our show notes. We hope you've been blessed by today's podcast from Pathway to Victory.
