WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.140 All right, well, once again, Happy New Year to all of you. 00:00:07.759 --> 00:00:09.700 Who else is sick this morning? Anybody? 00:00:10.700 --> 00:00:15.259 ! You don't want to raise your hand because the person next to you is going to lean the other direction. 00:00:16.260 --> 00:00:23.600 Well, I feel like the social distancing between me and y'all is enough here, so we will move forward. 00:00:23.699 --> 00:00:26.839 I'm excited about what I have to share with you this morning. 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:32.700 How about this last year? How many of you had a good 2025? 00:00:34.700 --> 00:00:39.399 Good. Awesome. How many of you had an okay 2025? 00:00:40.820 --> 00:00:44.640 How many of you just hated this year and you're so ready for it to be over? 00:00:44.920 --> 00:00:46.379 Thank you for being honest, a couple of you. 00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:51.960 I'm glad it wasn't just me. I'm kidding. I'm kidding. It's just because I'm sick right now. That's all right. 00:00:51.960 --> 00:01:00.340 Listen, it probably wasn't perfect. If you put the year in review, it probably wasn't perfect. 00:01:00.920 --> 00:01:07.079 But there were probably some good memories, probably some not so good memories. 00:01:07.079 --> 00:01:13.299 But now we're facing 2026, just a couple days away. 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:16.640 And this is going to be a great year, isn't it? 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:18.980 We say that every year, don't we? 00:01:20.560 --> 00:01:24.319 This one's going to be different. These resolutions are going to stick. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:28.799 I'm going to do them this time. I'm going to exercise more. I'm going to eat better. 00:01:29.299 --> 00:01:31.219 I'm going to save more. I'm going to read more. 00:01:31.219 --> 00:01:35.980 All the things we know we probably should be doing to better ourselves. 00:01:37.480 --> 00:01:42.599 And yet somehow, at some point during the year, things slow down a little bit. 00:01:43.819 --> 00:01:47.819 And we stop some of the goals that we had. 00:01:48.519 --> 00:01:52.340 We pivot. We'll do something a little different. 00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:57.840 Because we realize this year is becoming like so many years before it. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:00.659 So what do you do? 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:02.920 What happens? 00:02:04.420 --> 00:02:15.060 How do we change 2026 to be different from 2025 and 2024 and so on? 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:19.439 Let's see what Paul had to say in Philippians chapter 3. 00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.480 Would you go with me to Philippians chapter 3? 00:02:22.580 --> 00:02:24.980 We're not starting a brand new series this Sunday. 00:02:24.979 --> 00:02:33.599 This is kind of a standalone message that I'm hoping to leave with y'all about the year of direction, not perfection. 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:38.259 So let that hang in your mind as you turn to Philippians chapter 3. 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:42.799 We're going to read verses 12 through 14. 00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.799 The year of direction, not perfection. 00:02:48.800 --> 00:02:57.000 The apostle Paul understood this context between what we want and what we strive for 00:02:57.000 --> 00:03:06.560 and what we are faced with, the hard truths about ourselves and the difficulty of change year in and year out. 00:03:07.220 --> 00:03:08.280 He understood this. 00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:15.640 When he writes this letter to the church in Philippians, he's not early in his faith. 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:16.319 He's seasoned. 00:03:17.159 --> 00:03:18.080 He suffered. 00:03:18.939 --> 00:03:22.460 He's writing once again from prison where he wrote most of his letters. 00:03:23.259 --> 00:03:30.800 And in chapter 3, Paul becomes deeply pastoral with these people and deeply protective of them. 00:03:30.800 --> 00:03:38.120 There were voices telling this church in Philippians that faithfulness could be measured by credentials. 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:40.260 What you've accomplished. 00:03:40.500 --> 00:03:41.420 What you've earned. 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:47.580 The amount of bragging rights you have in certain areas of your life. 00:03:48.120 --> 00:03:49.820 Whether it's spiritual performance. 00:03:50.600 --> 00:03:51.800 Your religious resume. 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:53.880 Your moral achievements. 00:03:54.980 --> 00:03:56.860 People were bragging about these things. 00:03:56.939 --> 00:03:59.520 They were measuring their faithfulness by them. 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:02.620 So Paul does something surprising here. 00:04:03.480 --> 00:04:05.260 He shares his resume. 00:04:06.260 --> 00:04:08.680 Maybe that's not exactly what we were expecting him to do. 00:04:10.640 --> 00:04:18.220 Instead of chastising them for sharing their resume, he actually lays out his, which would top all of theirs. 00:04:19.240 --> 00:04:23.840 He said, look, all the things that you're bragging about, mine has been more impressive. 00:04:24.900 --> 00:04:26.280 I've been a Pharisee. 00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:28.939 I've received all the top religious training. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:34.699 I've made it to the top of the ladder in the world that you're trying to brag about. 00:04:35.399 --> 00:04:38.479 You have nothing to flex on anybody about. 00:04:39.779 --> 00:04:44.479 So he lists his background, his pedigree, his obedience, his zeal. 00:04:45.819 --> 00:04:48.319 He said, I achieved it all. 00:04:50.259 --> 00:04:54.279 If righteousness could be earned, Paul would have earned it. 00:04:54.279 --> 00:04:58.459 But then he does something, once again, unexpected. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:08.179 He says, everything that I once counted as gain, now I count as loss. 00:05:09.239 --> 00:05:19.579 Everything that used to bring him this swelling sense of pride, now he sees it as so little value. 00:05:19.579 --> 00:05:22.099 Nothing to brag about. 00:05:23.039 --> 00:05:28.579 And that's where he leaves us when we arrive in chapter 3 and verse 12. 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:30.399 So let's look at it together. 00:05:30.399 --> 00:05:36.219 He said, I tell all you this. 00:05:38.219 --> 00:05:39.819 I lay out my resume. 00:05:40.359 --> 00:05:41.919 I'm bragging on myself. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.500 Not as though I have already obtained. 00:05:46.099 --> 00:05:48.779 Or not that I've already been made perfect. 00:05:49.719 --> 00:05:52.639 He said, I press on. 00:05:52.639 --> 00:05:56.279 Remember, I count all that stuff before as loss. 00:05:56.560 --> 00:05:58.019 It didn't win me anything. 00:05:58.779 --> 00:06:03.439 He said, I press on to make it my own. 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:04.519 What is it? 00:06:04.899 --> 00:06:06.379 The prize of Jesus. 00:06:07.219 --> 00:06:11.300 He says, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:15.039 Brothers, I don't consider that I've made it my own. 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:16.839 Jesus did this for me. 00:06:17.219 --> 00:06:18.199 You understand what he's saying here? 00:06:18.699 --> 00:06:20.439 I didn't earn my salvation. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:23.459 I didn't earn God's love for me. 00:06:24.120 --> 00:06:26.240 Jesus made me that. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:30.519 And then he goes on to say, but this one thing I do. 00:06:31.540 --> 00:06:33.180 Forgetting what lies behind. 00:06:34.120 --> 00:06:36.319 Straining forward to what lies ahead. 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:42.220 I press on toward the goal for this prize. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:43.220 What's the prize? 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:44.600 Can we say it together? 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:49.600 Of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:50.400 Let's try that again. 00:06:50.500 --> 00:06:50.620 Ready? 00:06:51.180 --> 00:06:55.500 Of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:56.640 That's the prize. 00:06:57.300 --> 00:06:58.680 That was the prize for Paul. 00:06:59.340 --> 00:07:03.220 Listen, that was the prize for Jesus on his time on earth. 00:07:04.260 --> 00:07:06.120 He said his father had given him a mission. 00:07:06.640 --> 00:07:09.280 His father had called him to a specific task. 00:07:09.939 --> 00:07:14.020 And he was going to press on until he fulfilled the will of his father. 00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:15.680 That was good enough for Jesus. 00:07:15.780 --> 00:07:16.900 That was good enough for Paul. 00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:17.879 It's good enough for you. 00:07:17.879 --> 00:07:18.819 It's good enough for me. 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:20.379 It's good enough for your family. 00:07:20.779 --> 00:07:21.939 It's good enough for your future. 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:23.779 That's the prize. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:28.000 So this is where Paul is setting us up today. 00:07:30.300 --> 00:07:31.800 He says, I'm not finished. 00:07:32.740 --> 00:07:34.100 I haven't arrived. 00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:36.959 I'm still being molded. 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:38.000 I'm still growing. 00:07:38.000 --> 00:07:39.560 I'm still becoming. 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:42.379 Still moving upward. 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:45.279 This is not false modesty. 00:07:45.980 --> 00:07:48.459 This is God-inspired honesty. 00:07:49.420 --> 00:07:51.259 That's what Paul's sharing with us here. 00:07:51.819 --> 00:08:04.779 He's pulling back the curtain and revealing the why, the how, what makes him tick behind all these great accomplishments that we see God doing in Paul's life throughout the New Testament. 00:08:05.300 --> 00:08:06.339 He says this is how. 00:08:06.339 --> 00:08:08.539 So let's look at number one together. 00:08:08.939 --> 00:08:12.359 The past is a compass, not a cage. 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:16.579 The past is a compass, not a cage. 00:08:18.119 --> 00:08:19.359 What do we mean by this? 00:08:20.000 --> 00:08:23.719 Paul says, I'm forgetting what lies behind. 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:25.880 Now let's be clear. 00:08:25.940 --> 00:08:28.380 He's not talking about denying his past. 00:08:28.760 --> 00:08:31.200 He's not talking about rewriting history. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:43.939 Paul remembers his past clearly. 00:08:43.939 --> 00:08:45.799 He remembers who he was. 00:08:45.799 --> 00:08:47.120 He remembers what he did. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:48.719 He remembers what he trusted. 00:08:49.099 --> 00:08:51.019 He remembers what he chased or pursued. 00:08:51.639 --> 00:08:53.899 And he remembers the damage it caused. 00:08:54.459 --> 00:08:55.519 The name of Christ. 00:08:56.319 --> 00:08:59.979 He did so much of that in the name of God. 00:08:59.980 --> 00:09:09.399 Not even realizing at the time that he was doing so much damage to God's mission on this earth. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:15.919 So Paul is not saying, I'm going to try harder this year. 00:09:16.419 --> 00:09:19.279 I'm going to go back and try to change my past. 00:09:19.679 --> 00:09:22.559 I'm going to try to redeem what I've done. 00:09:23.179 --> 00:09:24.919 He says, no, I'm forgetting it. 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:26.840 I'm moving on from it. 00:09:26.840 --> 00:09:28.560 I'm going to learn from it. 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:30.360 But I'm going to move forward. 00:09:31.040 --> 00:09:34.560 And I'm not just going to pretend that somehow it's all going to be different. 00:09:34.960 --> 00:09:36.940 God is making me different. 00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:40.899 He's giving all the credit, all the glory to God. 00:09:41.160 --> 00:09:44.960 Not saying by my sheer willpower, I found the truth. 00:09:45.060 --> 00:09:47.540 And now this is the new way that I'm walking. 00:09:48.000 --> 00:09:50.639 So God had to stop me in my tracks. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:57.779 Can anybody testify that what happened to Paul on the road to Damascus is maybe similar to what's happened to you? 00:09:58.439 --> 00:10:03.059 That maybe God at some point in your life just had to stop you in your tracks to get your attention? 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:04.799 I can testify to that. 00:10:05.519 --> 00:10:06.419 I know many of you have. 00:10:06.480 --> 00:10:08.460 Some of you have even shared those experiences with me. 00:10:10.439 --> 00:10:11.699 And that's what happened to Paul. 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:16.980 So he had nothing to brag about except what God had done. 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:21.139 From man's perspective, he had plenty to brag about. 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:23.659 He had achieved so much. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.840 But he realized it earned him nothing of value. 00:10:27.100 --> 00:10:28.800 It earned him nothing of substance. 00:10:29.320 --> 00:10:30.600 So where does this leave us? 00:10:31.800 --> 00:10:35.899 He says, I'm going to forget what lies behind. 00:10:36.600 --> 00:10:38.279 And I'm going to strain forward. 00:10:38.379 --> 00:10:40.759 Remember, strain forward. 00:10:40.980 --> 00:10:41.580 Here we go. 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:43.480 To what lies ahead. 00:10:43.480 --> 00:10:49.159 The past is a compass, not a cage. 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:52.460 It's telling you where to go. 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:56.220 It's guiding you where not to go back to. 00:10:58.220 --> 00:11:00.340 But it's not locking you there. 00:11:02.240 --> 00:11:03.460 Unless you let it. 00:11:05.060 --> 00:11:06.480 So let me say this to you. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:11.519 Lamentations chapter 3 and verse 22 and 23. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:14.919 The faithful love of the Lord never ends. 00:11:16.519 --> 00:11:19.059 His mercies never cease. 00:11:20.360 --> 00:11:22.439 Great is his faithfulness. 00:11:23.720 --> 00:11:25.379 Great is his faithfulness. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:27.500 His mercies begin afresh. 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:29.340 Each morning. 00:11:30.659 --> 00:11:36.759 This prophecy from the Old Testament and this testimony of God's faithfulness and his goodness 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:45.379 still rings true in our ears today because it's the same God that they wrote about all that time ago. 00:11:46.580 --> 00:11:49.340 It's the same God that was with David. 00:11:49.899 --> 00:11:51.779 Same God that was with Samson. 00:11:52.460 --> 00:11:54.240 Same God that was with Daniel. 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:56.939 Same God that was with Joseph. 00:11:56.940 --> 00:12:00.800 His faithfulness is still great. 00:12:01.540 --> 00:12:07.780 His mercies still begin new and fresh every morning and every new year. 00:12:08.760 --> 00:12:11.280 God's mercies are new and fresh. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:14.279 So there's no reason to feel trapped. 00:12:14.899 --> 00:12:19.839 There's no reason to feel trapped in the cage of your own inadequacy. 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:23.939 There's no reason to feel trapped in the cage of, 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:27.379 man, I just can't seem to get over this. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:31.000 I can't seem to get past this. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:34.159 I can't seem to win the victory over this. 00:12:36.100 --> 00:12:38.379 Forgetting what lies behind. 00:12:39.279 --> 00:12:43.279 Because every morning, God's mercies are new. 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:45.460 God's mercies are fresh. 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:46.879 And they're enough. 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:48.519 They're enough for you. 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:50.440 They're enough for your children. 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:51.759 They're enough for your marriage. 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:54.240 They're enough for your relationships. 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:56.340 They're enough for your financial stress. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:12:59.639 God's mercies are enough. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:02.439 Every new morning. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:05.819 So the past shows us where we can go. 00:13:06.580 --> 00:13:08.259 Shows us where to avoid. 00:13:08.980 --> 00:13:12.740 But it's not a cage that locks us there and says, forget it. 00:13:13.100 --> 00:13:14.059 Why even try? 00:13:14.379 --> 00:13:16.519 Because you know you'll never change. 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:19.379 That's man speaking. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:20.879 That's your flesh speaking. 00:13:21.240 --> 00:13:22.439 But that's not God speaking. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:25.039 So I want to leave you with this thought. 00:13:25.899 --> 00:13:27.139 A couple of thoughts here. 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:31.600 The past first is neither a prison sentence nor a trophy case. 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.159 What do I mean by that? 00:13:34.019 --> 00:13:36.519 The past is not a prison sentence. 00:13:36.799 --> 00:13:38.779 That's that cage I was talking about a moment ago. 00:13:38.980 --> 00:13:41.299 That's what locks you down and says, forget it. 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:42.279 You'll never be different. 00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.939 You'll always have the same problems. 00:13:44.059 --> 00:13:45.299 You'll always have the same struggle. 00:13:45.519 --> 00:13:46.919 You'll always fight the same battles. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:47.899 And you'll always lose them. 00:13:47.899 --> 00:13:52.620 Now I know I'm not the only one who's had to fight those thoughts. 00:13:52.860 --> 00:13:54.659 Fight those fears and those doubts. 00:13:54.959 --> 00:14:00.059 Especially sometimes lying in bed at night and your mind just starts spiraling. 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:04.139 And man, wish I could change this about myself. 00:14:04.600 --> 00:14:05.559 Wish I could be different. 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:12.419 But the past is not a prison sentence because of the mercies of God. 00:14:13.599 --> 00:14:15.939 But then it's also not a trophy case. 00:14:16.839 --> 00:14:21.719 The past is not something that we would look back and say, oh man, it was so great. 00:14:22.339 --> 00:14:23.099 It was so great. 00:14:23.119 --> 00:14:24.500 If we could just go back to that. 00:14:25.759 --> 00:14:26.779 That's human speaking. 00:14:27.639 --> 00:14:28.739 That's people speaking. 00:14:28.740 --> 00:14:30.720 That's flesh speaking. 00:14:31.139 --> 00:14:36.919 That's not faith in an almighty God whose mercies are new every morning. 00:14:37.419 --> 00:14:42.759 That's why I showed you that video a moment ago before I got up here that talks all about a new year. 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:47.639 And how one of the key themes about the God we worship is new. 00:14:48.419 --> 00:14:50.299 God does new things. 00:14:50.659 --> 00:14:54.180 He said, behold, I am doing a new thing. 00:14:54.860 --> 00:14:55.759 Don't you see it? 00:14:56.519 --> 00:14:58.320 We've talked about that many times. 00:14:58.740 --> 00:15:00.139 During my time here as pastor. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:08.799 And I want to remind you that if God's not doing something new in your life, ask yourself why. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:17.680 And then go to him and ask God, why am I not seeing something new that you're doing in my life? 00:15:18.680 --> 00:15:23.500 So oftentimes we'll get satisfied with the old. 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:27.379 We'll get satisfied with the trophies from our past. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:31.700 And we'll want to go back and point everybody to him and say, remember this? 00:15:32.919 --> 00:15:34.120 Remember how great this was? 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:40.820 There's no reason not to look back at what God has done and say, see what God has done. 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:46.620 But then it's not going to God and saying, can you do all that same stuff again? 00:15:47.560 --> 00:15:49.760 Can you get us back to that place? 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:53.179 When God is saying, no, no, no, no. 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:55.240 That was for then. 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:57.700 This is for now. 00:15:58.500 --> 00:16:02.159 And you're going to trust me with what's going to be for up ahead. 00:16:02.159 --> 00:16:06.539 This is the new thing that God wants to do. 00:16:07.139 --> 00:16:10.459 So the past cannot be a trophy case for us. 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:13.860 And that's one of the points that Paul's trying to make here. 00:16:14.120 --> 00:16:14.939 So what have we learned? 00:16:15.299 --> 00:16:19.159 The past informs us without imprisoning us. 00:16:19.159 --> 00:16:26.899 The past informs us where to go, where God's now leading us because of what he's done, 00:16:27.179 --> 00:16:30.819 because of what we've endured, what we've experienced, how we've failed. 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:35.779 Now the past informs us, but it doesn't have to imprison us. 00:16:35.899 --> 00:16:41.799 Number two, the future is a direction, not a deadline. 00:16:41.799 --> 00:16:47.740 The past is a compass, not a cage. 00:16:48.279 --> 00:16:51.620 And the future is a direction, not a deadline. 00:16:52.439 --> 00:17:01.939 The future points us in the same direction that the past and its compass will be guiding us. 00:17:02.179 --> 00:17:08.720 The future lays out the direction only if we're listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit. 00:17:09.419 --> 00:17:10.980 But it's not a deadline. 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:17.899 Paul never said, I've got to hurry up and do everything that God wants me to do 00:17:17.899 --> 00:17:21.500 because I feel like I'm running out of time. 00:17:23.019 --> 00:17:27.960 Now look, I'm sure there were times in the weakness of his flesh when he did feel like he was running out of time. 00:17:28.599 --> 00:17:31.379 There's been times when I have, and I suspect you as well. 00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:35.220 It's one of those fears that we carry with us. 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:37.259 Are we running out of time? 00:17:38.220 --> 00:17:40.960 Maybe the clock ticking on our lives on this earth. 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:47.839 Maybe times for a certain stage of life and what we hope to accomplish during that stage of life. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:18:01.740 Whether you're a kid, a teenager, college age, 20-something, single, married, newly married, first baby, couple kids on their way, 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:11.440 young kids, junior high kid, whatever stage of life you're in, you feel like a clock is ticking on that stage. 00:18:11.440 --> 00:18:17.059 Man, I've got to fix my kids while they're little because they're a mess right now, 00:18:17.080 --> 00:18:18.799 and I don't want to see what that looks like when they get old. 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:28.359 Whatever it is, whatever stress is filling your brain and fears are filling your brain, 00:18:29.099 --> 00:18:31.099 let go of the deadline. 00:18:31.839 --> 00:18:34.859 Release the deadline that you've placed on yourself 00:18:34.859 --> 00:18:38.059 because God has not placed that on you. 00:18:38.659 --> 00:18:41.059 God is never hurried. 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:45.579 God, it's been a truth that I've had to learn only recently. 00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:49.220 I promise you, still trying to wrap my head around it. 00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.899 God is never hurried. 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.359 He's never in a rush. 00:18:56.439 --> 00:18:57.079 Why? 00:18:57.679 --> 00:18:59.379 Because He exists outside of time. 00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:04.579 One day with the Lord, it's like a thousand years with us. 00:19:05.139 --> 00:19:08.579 The Bible teaches us this principle that we can't even understand the concept 00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:11.740 of God's view of time. 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:20.420 So release the deadline to Him and follow the right direction. 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:22.079 What do we mean by the direction? 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:26.140 We're talking about future-focused faith. 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:30.359 We're talking about future-focused faith. 00:19:31.019 --> 00:19:33.380 Not past-focused faith. 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:36.059 Not pointing to the trophy case. 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:38.019 Not pointing to all our failures. 00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:41.960 But future-focused faith, what does that do? 00:19:42.139 --> 00:19:43.940 It grows us in wisdom. 00:19:45.180 --> 00:19:47.500 Psalm chapter 90, verse 12. 00:19:48.139 --> 00:19:53.039 Teach us to realize the brevity of life so that we may grow in wisdom. 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:57.019 Teach us to understand that no matter what we do, 00:19:57.519 --> 00:20:00.460 no matter how hard we work, how hard we plan, 00:20:00.819 --> 00:20:03.000 how hard we try to make it all fit, 00:20:03.799 --> 00:20:06.160 life is still short. 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:09.540 Life is still out of our hands. 00:20:10.320 --> 00:20:12.380 Life is but a vapor. 00:20:13.360 --> 00:20:15.140 It appears for a little time, 00:20:15.560 --> 00:20:18.640 and then it vanishes away, Ecclesiastes teaches us. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:23.080 So, teach us to understand this, God. 00:20:23.620 --> 00:20:25.640 Teach us to wrap our heads around this idea 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:29.140 that this life, nothing is guaranteed. 00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:34.500 So, that should not fill us with dread and panic and desperation. 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:37.280 That should fill us with wisdom. 00:20:38.520 --> 00:20:42.820 The only path forward, when everything is out of my hands, 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:47.080 is to follow the leading of someone I trust. 00:20:47.079 --> 00:20:49.519 Well, his name is Jesus. 00:20:50.199 --> 00:20:51.819 And he called us all to follow him. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:56.759 He called us all to be his disciples or his followers. 00:20:58.199 --> 00:21:00.019 That's how we grow in wisdom. 00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:05.919 So, the future is a direction, not a deadline. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:08.860 Paul talked about that back in Philippians 3. 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:14.400 He said, I press on toward the upward call. 00:21:14.779 --> 00:21:18.279 He had a very specific direction that he was moving. 00:21:19.060 --> 00:21:21.539 God was leading him onward and upward. 00:21:22.600 --> 00:21:25.420 And eventually, he led him home to be with his Savior. 00:21:25.420 --> 00:21:32.240 But until that day, God continually led Paul onward and upward. 00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:34.700 Look back at the trajectory of your life. 00:21:34.920 --> 00:21:39.440 Would you say that God was leading you onward and upward every step of the way? 00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:41.980 Or would you say that maybe he took some detours along the way? 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.560 I have. 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:45.060 I know you have as well. 00:21:46.560 --> 00:21:48.880 But again, we're not going to look at the past and say, 00:21:49.019 --> 00:21:49.820 well, forget it, man. 00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:53.160 I guess I just can't follow Jesus because I haven't done it faithfully my whole life. 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:54.960 Of course you can. 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:56.319 Of course we can. 00:21:56.759 --> 00:22:01.100 The direction is always laid out in front of us right there. 00:22:01.220 --> 00:22:04.039 Paul doesn't say, I finally got disciplined. 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:05.440 I finally figured it all out. 00:22:05.500 --> 00:22:07.299 This is going to be my breakthrough year. 00:22:08.140 --> 00:22:11.539 He said, I just keep pressing on. 00:22:12.819 --> 00:22:13.860 I fail. 00:22:14.059 --> 00:22:15.160 I get back up. 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:16.980 I press on. 00:22:18.600 --> 00:22:19.980 I hurt somebody. 00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:22.019 I try to make it right. 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:24.700 And then I get back up and I press on. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:28.980 I suffer an affliction. 00:22:29.360 --> 00:22:32.019 I suffer a struggle. 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:35.160 A season of storm in my life. 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:37.600 God gets me through it. 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:40.160 And I press on. 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:44.779 Future-focused faith grows our wisdom. 00:22:45.940 --> 00:22:47.360 But what do we mean by pressing on? 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:49.440 It doesn't mean you're not going to stumble. 00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.000 But it means you won't stop. 00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:54.720 Paul didn't stop. 00:22:56.100 --> 00:22:58.799 He just kept pressing on. 00:22:58.799 --> 00:23:01.740 It's a far more realistic. 00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:05.279 It's a far more biblical goal. 00:23:05.279 --> 00:23:10.000 If you need to set some New Year's resolutions, do that. 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:16.099 If you've got some goals that you want to achieve in this new year, there's nothing wrong with goal setting. 00:23:16.099 --> 00:23:19.639 But let me ask you this. 00:23:20.859 --> 00:23:23.619 Set a goal to not stop. 00:23:25.559 --> 00:23:33.599 Set a goal that when you stumble in 2026, because it will happen, we're all going to stumble. 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:35.980 You're not going to stop. 00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:43.219 You're going to stumble in setting aside dedicated, personal, private, quiet time with the Lord. 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:45.859 You're going to stumble in that. 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:49.039 But just don't stop. 00:23:50.459 --> 00:24:02.079 You're going to stumble in fixing your gaze back on Jesus and not getting distracted by all the cares of this life and all the distractions, the temptations, and everything that this world throws at you. 00:24:03.019 --> 00:24:04.519 You're going to stumble in that. 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:06.919 But just don't stop. 00:24:08.699 --> 00:24:14.019 That's the key to a, can we say, Pauline Christianity. 00:24:15.859 --> 00:24:20.000 A relationship with Jesus that looks like something like Paul had. 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:23.339 Because that relationship was special. 00:24:23.959 --> 00:24:25.699 That relationship was unique. 00:24:26.179 --> 00:24:27.679 I want that kind of relationship. 00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:31.919 I want that kind of connection with the one who died for me and rose again. 00:24:33.179 --> 00:24:34.899 We just came through this Christmas season. 00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:37.439 We celebrated Jesus all over the world. 00:24:38.339 --> 00:24:40.459 Let's don't stop in 2026. 00:24:41.719 --> 00:24:43.419 This is what separates. 00:24:43.420 --> 00:24:45.820 You say the sheep from the goats. 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:51.019 This is what separates the real Jesus followers from those who just jumped on the Christmas bandwagon. 00:24:51.800 --> 00:24:53.460 It's when the new year starts. 00:24:55.440 --> 00:24:57.019 And they're still praising him. 00:24:58.940 --> 00:25:03.120 It's when February, March, April, May, June, the summer comes. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:05.819 They're still praising him. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.699 And they're not stopping. 00:25:08.439 --> 00:25:09.339 They might have stumbled. 00:25:09.679 --> 00:25:11.819 They might have hit the brakes a time or two. 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:14.199 They might have skinned their knee a little bit. 00:25:14.259 --> 00:25:16.479 They might have caused some harm along the way. 00:25:17.239 --> 00:25:18.639 But God has forgiven them. 00:25:18.719 --> 00:25:19.539 He's restored them. 00:25:19.599 --> 00:25:20.759 He's lifted them back up. 00:25:20.819 --> 00:25:22.479 And they're not stopping. 00:25:23.039 --> 00:25:23.859 That's a disciple. 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:26.199 That's a follower of Jesus. 00:25:26.200 --> 00:25:26.400 Jesus. 00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:30.840 So, 2026. 00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:35.440 Happy New Year. 00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:38.000 It's going to be a happy New Year. 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.860 It can be. 00:25:40.019 --> 00:25:41.220 It can be for all of us. 00:25:41.259 --> 00:25:43.740 How can we make this new year happy? 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:47.580 Dr. Tony Evans once challenged his church by preaching, 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:51.660 don't look back when God is calling you forward. 00:25:51.660 --> 00:25:55.259 Can I give you the same challenge this morning? 00:25:56.440 --> 00:26:00.360 Don't look back when God is calling you forward. 00:26:01.460 --> 00:26:04.560 The biblical example of Lot's wife comes to my mind. 00:26:06.140 --> 00:26:09.779 They're leaving Sodom and Gomorrah, wicked cities. 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:13.440 God told them, I'm going to cast judgment on them. 00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:14.980 I'm going to destroy them. 00:26:15.400 --> 00:26:16.200 Don't look back. 00:26:16.820 --> 00:26:18.120 Keep following me out. 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:20.279 And don't look back at those cities. 00:26:20.279 --> 00:26:21.420 And what did Lot's wife do? 00:26:21.900 --> 00:26:22.720 She looked back. 00:26:23.320 --> 00:26:27.279 And the biblical account tells us she was turned into a pillar of salt. 00:26:28.940 --> 00:26:33.480 Still one of the harder miracles that we see in the Old Testament for me to wrap my head around. 00:26:33.620 --> 00:26:34.440 How did that happen? 00:26:35.300 --> 00:26:36.519 God can do anything, can't he? 00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:39.779 Don't look back. 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:46.880 Why would you look back at something that caused so much harm? 00:26:46.880 --> 00:26:57.540 Why would you look back at something that you fell time and time again as a result of? 00:26:57.539 --> 00:27:02.379 But let's switch to the other side of the coin. 00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:09.720 Why would you look back over and over again at the glory days of the past 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:21.339 when God's calling you to look forward in anticipation of what he's going to do today, tomorrow, next week? 00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:29.000 Are you ready for God to move and do a new thing in 2026? 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:31.619 I pray you'll take that to heart. 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:40.240 I pray you'll consider that, not just in this moment, but as you resume your week next week, as school starts back up in the new year, 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:46.880 I pray that you will say, this will be a year not of perfection. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:49.120 Paul couldn't do it. 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.920 I can't either. 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:53.339 But it will be a year of direction. 00:27:54.980 --> 00:27:59.000 Listen, God has given this church a direction. 00:28:01.480 --> 00:28:04.539 Just since I've been here, I've seen it with my own eyes. 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:12.519 Christ's kingdom mission must take first place in everything that we do. 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:15.920 That's the direction that this church has. 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:19.839 It reveals itself in the baptisms that we get to see. 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:30.200 It reveals itself in the people that we welcome in, what they look like, where they live, what their socioeconomic status is. 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:38.380 Christ's kingdom mission must take first place over our preferences in everything that we do. 00:28:39.140 --> 00:28:42.340 The life change that we get to celebrate, we see it there. 00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:49.299 The discipleship that takes place, that we pursue together, we see it happening there. 00:28:50.100 --> 00:28:52.779 This church has a direction. 00:28:52.779 --> 00:29:00.899 The misplaced priorities that we willingly lay aside to put Christ's kingdom mission first. 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.559 We see it there. 00:29:03.339 --> 00:29:06.119 We see our direction all around us. 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:16.160 The Christian unity that we sacrificially protect by forgiving each other, by sacrificing for each other. 00:29:16.160 --> 00:29:18.779 We see our direction there. 00:29:19.740 --> 00:29:20.820 This is the way forward. 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:29.580 Even when it feels different, even when it's hard, even through the fear of the unknown, this is the Jesus way. 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.540 Would you bow your heads with me? 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:37.660 God, this is my prayer for 2026, that it would be a year of direction for our church. 00:29:37.660 --> 00:29:50.779 That they would rally, that they would unite, that you would unite this church together around your kingdom mission. 00:29:50.779 --> 00:30:08.399 That in every area of the ministry of our church, in every family that makes up our church, in every individual heart, that is a part, an essential part of this church. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:12.920 That your kingdom mission would take first place. 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:17.059 That the direction would be clear. 00:30:17.059 --> 00:30:25.779 So even when hard times come, even when change happens, even when stumbles happen, we don't stop in the direction. 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:29.759 We're not striving to be a perfect church. 00:30:29.859 --> 00:30:31.079 Thank God we'll never be. 00:30:32.839 --> 00:30:36.599 But we are striving to follow the direction that you've laid out. 00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:41.220 God, move us in the right direction. 00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:43.480 Onward and upward. 00:30:43.480 --> 00:30:46.039 Asking you to do a new thing. 00:30:46.519 --> 00:30:47.579 In my heart. 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:49.539 In the hearts of your people. 00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:53.180 In the heart of this church. 00:30:53.779 --> 00:30:55.140 We'll give you the glory for it. 00:30:55.660 --> 00:30:56.779 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:30:57.099 --> 00:30:57.299 Amen. 00:30:58.220 --> 00:30:59.720 Thank you for being with us this morning. 00:30:59.839 --> 00:31:01.839 Would you keep your seats just for a moment? 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:03.240 The ladies are going to play. 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:06.759 We will have just a moment of prayer before we dismiss. 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:09.440 If God's working on you about something. 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:12.039 This is a great time to come forward. 00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:12.799 Kneel at the altar. 00:31:12.940 --> 00:31:14.019 You can sit in your seat. 00:31:15.119 --> 00:31:15.460 Pray. 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:17.099 Have some quiet moments. 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:18.960 Just to let God reflect. 00:31:19.660 --> 00:31:20.379 Your heart. 00:31:20.500 --> 00:31:21.640 What he's trying to teach you. 00:31:21.799 --> 00:31:23.099 From his word this morning. 00:31:23.099 --> 00:31:33.639 If you need to pray with someone. 00:31:33.879 --> 00:31:34.759 Come down front. 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:36.259 We'll grab somebody to pray with you. 00:31:37.719 --> 00:31:40.159 If you'd like to place your membership in this church. 00:31:40.219 --> 00:31:41.980 We'll welcome you to do that. 00:31:42.439 --> 00:31:44.179 Love to have that conversation with you. 00:31:44.180 --> 00:31:47.779 If you need to turn from sin. 00:31:47.860 --> 00:31:49.519 And turn to the Savior this morning. 00:31:49.820 --> 00:31:50.680 And accept Christ. 00:31:51.799 --> 00:31:53.400 As the one Lord of your life. 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:57.019 That's the most important decision you could ever make. 00:31:57.660 --> 00:31:58.799 Love to meet you down front. 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:00.779 And talk with you about that today. 00:32:06.460 --> 00:32:08.880 If you'd like to follow Josie's example in baptism. 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:13.640 And make your faith public before the church. 00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:15.980 We can talk with you about that as well. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:19.340 You just respond to however God is leading you.