WEBVTT 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:05.120 Well, excitement is really building, if you're a football fan right now. 00:00:06.400 --> 00:00:07.580 Just think about it. 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:09.599 High school games begin this Friday night. 00:00:09.720 --> 00:00:10.859 Y'all are at Easley, right? 00:00:11.880 --> 00:00:12.099 Okay. 00:00:13.339 --> 00:00:15.780 Three weeks from yesterday, college games begin. 00:00:17.379 --> 00:00:21.019 And I think the NFL begins on Thursday night, September the 7th. 00:00:22.140 --> 00:00:24.539 But I know everybody does not get into football. 00:00:24.539 --> 00:00:34.200 There's millions of people who love basketball, baseball, soccer throughout the world, volleyball. 00:00:34.619 --> 00:00:36.060 Here it begins big. 00:00:37.140 --> 00:00:44.320 A lot of people throughout this world, throughout this country, they're big into sports. 00:00:45.539 --> 00:00:54.340 Now today, we can know more about our favorite team and favorite athlete than in any other time in history 00:00:54.340 --> 00:00:56.320 because there's so much media coverage. 00:00:57.520 --> 00:01:06.740 But I want everybody to understand, ESPN is not responsible for all the great interest there is in sports. 00:01:06.740 --> 00:01:18.200 For centuries, people have really gotten into athletic games of all kinds. 00:01:18.200 --> 00:01:21.280 Even the Apostle Paul in the first century. 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:29.420 He was either a sports fan himself or he knew that a lot of people were because in several of his letters, 00:01:29.920 --> 00:01:35.379 he uses sports terminology, sports analogies. 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:37.859 For example, look on the screen. 00:01:38.820 --> 00:01:42.659 In his letter to the Corinthians, his first letter, he says, 00:01:42.659 --> 00:01:46.340 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:48.500 I do not run aimlessly. 00:01:48.840 --> 00:01:51.159 I do not box as one beating the air. 00:01:52.679 --> 00:01:56.920 He's writing to Christians and talking to them about living the Christian life. 00:01:57.179 --> 00:01:58.379 And it takes discipline. 00:01:58.579 --> 00:02:00.019 It takes a lot of self-control. 00:02:00.439 --> 00:02:07.179 And he compared it to athletics, especially a runner, a boxer. 00:02:07.180 --> 00:02:10.240 He says in 2 Timothy 2.5, 00:02:10.860 --> 00:02:14.840 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:18.560 That was his way of saying it matters how you live. 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:21.740 It matters how you do everything in life. 00:02:21.800 --> 00:02:22.980 It matters how you do your job. 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:24.960 It matters how you play the game. 00:02:28.060 --> 00:02:30.719 The worst thing that could happen on Friday night, 00:02:30.819 --> 00:02:32.080 one of the worst things, 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:34.840 is y'all are behind, 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:37.080 last minute of the game, 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:39.659 somebody breaks free, 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:44.140 runs 50 yards for a touchdown for the winning score, 00:02:44.860 --> 00:02:46.760 and you look back up, 00:02:47.780 --> 00:02:49.740 and there's a yellow flag on the field. 00:02:51.180 --> 00:02:53.140 Somebody blocked somebody in the back. 00:02:55.040 --> 00:02:57.379 It matters how you play the game. 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:00.060 It matters how you play the game of life. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:03.159 And that was Paul's way of stressing, 00:03:04.400 --> 00:03:05.520 it matters. 00:03:05.520 --> 00:03:08.900 Now, the writer of the Hebrews, 00:03:09.540 --> 00:03:11.100 he is unknown, 00:03:12.200 --> 00:03:14.960 but he was aware of how people were interested in sports. 00:03:15.840 --> 00:03:18.760 And he writes in Hebrews chapter 12, 00:03:18.840 --> 00:03:19.980 beginning in verse 1, 00:03:21.040 --> 00:03:25.360 about the need for us to live a faithful Christian life, 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:28.040 just like a runner, 00:03:28.040 --> 00:03:32.540 must discipline himself or herself, 00:03:33.320 --> 00:03:39.060 stay focused to run and win their race. 00:03:39.320 --> 00:03:40.360 I want you to look at it with me. 00:03:40.420 --> 00:03:41.720 Hebrews chapter 12. 00:03:41.719 --> 00:03:47.860 We're going to read verses 1 and 2, 00:03:48.039 --> 00:03:50.060 and please keep your Bible open to that, 00:03:50.860 --> 00:03:53.620 because there will be times when it will not all be on the screen. 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.539 Hebrews chapter 12, 00:03:57.199 --> 00:03:58.800 verses 1 and 2. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:00.199 Look at it with me. 00:04:00.199 --> 00:04:01.159 Therefore, 00:04:01.159 --> 00:04:05.759 since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 00:04:06.479 --> 00:04:09.419 let us also lay aside every weight, 00:04:10.099 --> 00:04:12.459 and sin which clings so closely, 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:16.539 and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:17.919 looking to Jesus, 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:20.699 the founder and perfecter of our faith, 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:24.360 who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, 00:04:24.960 --> 00:04:26.439 despising the shame, 00:04:26.819 --> 00:04:30.360 and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:04:31.960 --> 00:04:33.680 As we go through this message, 00:04:34.700 --> 00:04:38.240 I want you to think about living the Christian life 00:04:38.240 --> 00:04:41.259 in terms of a long-distance race. 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:44.860 Living a Christian life is not a sprint. 00:04:44.860 --> 00:04:48.280 It's a long-distance race. 00:04:48.699 --> 00:04:49.780 It's like a marathon. 00:04:51.340 --> 00:04:52.980 But in this passage this morning, 00:04:53.060 --> 00:04:55.600 let's think more of a long-distance race, 00:04:56.139 --> 00:04:57.960 5,000 meters, 10,000, 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:01.080 something that could take place on a track with spectators. 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:04.300 We are instructed in these two verses 00:05:04.300 --> 00:05:06.520 to be disciplined, 00:05:07.100 --> 00:05:09.740 to be focused on the goal, 00:05:10.780 --> 00:05:13.860 to stay faithful no matter what. 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:16.300 No matter what it costs, 00:05:17.020 --> 00:05:19.280 and finish the race. 00:05:20.139 --> 00:05:22.280 Just like an Olympic athlete 00:05:22.280 --> 00:05:25.620 running a long-distance race would have to do. 00:05:26.759 --> 00:05:28.199 Now the first thing I want us to notice 00:05:28.199 --> 00:05:31.160 about running the race of Christian living 00:05:31.160 --> 00:05:33.340 deals with some motivation. 00:05:34.080 --> 00:05:34.580 Look at it. 00:05:35.020 --> 00:05:37.560 We should be motivated by the example of people 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:39.720 who have successfully completed the race. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:42.439 Look at verse 1 in that first word, 00:05:42.439 --> 00:05:42.839 therefore. 00:05:43.879 --> 00:05:46.600 The writer is pointing back to a long list 00:05:46.600 --> 00:05:47.439 of men and women 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:49.660 in chapter 11 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:54.899 that he was telling the Hebrew Christians about, 00:05:55.480 --> 00:05:56.819 men and women from the Old Testament, 00:05:57.500 --> 00:05:59.199 who were faithful. 00:06:00.259 --> 00:06:02.100 Now let me give you a little background of this letter. 00:06:02.220 --> 00:06:05.279 This letter to Hebrew Christians, 00:06:05.800 --> 00:06:06.779 Jewish Christians, 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:08.859 who were having a hard time 00:06:08.859 --> 00:06:10.099 because they were being persecuted. 00:06:11.099 --> 00:06:14.039 You can read toward the end of chapter 10 of Hebrews, 00:06:15.119 --> 00:06:16.819 some of these people had been put in prison, 00:06:17.019 --> 00:06:18.139 or they knew people, 00:06:18.439 --> 00:06:18.739 Christians, 00:06:18.839 --> 00:06:20.599 who had been put in prison 00:06:20.599 --> 00:06:21.639 just because they were Christians. 00:06:22.159 --> 00:06:23.919 Some of them had had their property 00:06:23.919 --> 00:06:24.939 taken away from them 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:29.059 just because they were followers of Jesus. 00:06:29.060 --> 00:06:31.579 And so he's writing to people 00:06:31.579 --> 00:06:33.480 who are really struggling 00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:36.519 because it's costing them something 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:39.160 to let everybody know they're Christians 00:06:39.160 --> 00:06:40.459 and to live like it. 00:06:41.340 --> 00:06:43.300 Some of them are being tempted 00:06:43.300 --> 00:06:46.319 to just forget it all. 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:48.639 As you read through this letter, 00:06:48.740 --> 00:06:49.259 it's obvious. 00:06:49.980 --> 00:06:51.139 He is trying to encourage them, 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:52.040 don't quit. 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:57.120 Don't turn around and walk away from Christ 00:06:57.120 --> 00:06:59.220 as if you no longer believe in Him 00:06:59.220 --> 00:07:01.660 or want to have anything to do with Him. 00:07:02.740 --> 00:07:04.620 The writer is encouraging these people 00:07:04.620 --> 00:07:05.939 to stay faithful 00:07:05.939 --> 00:07:08.500 by pointing out how men and women 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:09.340 in the Old Testament 00:07:09.340 --> 00:07:11.439 endured hard times 00:07:11.439 --> 00:07:13.840 and they remained faithful. 00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:15.720 Some of them, 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:18.640 they were even killed, 00:07:18.639 --> 00:07:22.159 but they would not renounce their faith. 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:24.620 They ran their race, 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:25.800 however long it was, 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:27.779 to the very end and never quit. 00:07:27.919 --> 00:07:28.979 And now in verse 1, 00:07:30.779 --> 00:07:33.519 these Old Testament believers 00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:35.219 are what he calls 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:37.539 a great cloud of witnesses. 00:07:38.919 --> 00:07:40.879 It's like these people 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:41.959 who've gone before you 00:07:41.959 --> 00:07:43.000 and they've been faithful, 00:07:43.539 --> 00:07:44.740 well, they're in the stands 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:47.759 and they're watching you 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:48.839 as you run your race. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:51.699 Think about it. 00:07:52.319 --> 00:07:53.599 He's saying these people 00:07:53.599 --> 00:07:54.379 are watching you. 00:07:54.539 --> 00:07:55.740 He's not saying these people 00:07:55.740 --> 00:07:56.779 who never played, 00:07:57.959 --> 00:07:59.860 people who were never in the race. 00:08:01.139 --> 00:08:02.480 This writer is saying 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:03.699 to these Christians 00:08:03.699 --> 00:08:04.360 who are struggling, 00:08:04.639 --> 00:08:05.680 there's people in the stands, 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:07.740 they have struggled 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:10.599 and they persevered. 00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:12.060 They hung in there. 00:08:12.240 --> 00:08:13.019 They didn't quit 00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:15.420 and now they are watching you. 00:08:15.420 --> 00:08:17.199 And the idea is 00:08:17.199 --> 00:08:18.580 if God enabled these people 00:08:18.580 --> 00:08:19.319 to be successful, 00:08:20.319 --> 00:08:23.439 he'll do the same for me. 00:08:24.920 --> 00:08:26.300 Let me ask you guys, 00:08:27.340 --> 00:08:29.300 would it make a difference 00:08:29.300 --> 00:08:32.659 in how you practiced tomorrow 00:08:32.659 --> 00:08:36.100 if somehow or another 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:38.399 last year's Clemson 00:08:38.399 --> 00:08:40.279 national championship team, 00:08:40.560 --> 00:08:41.159 Kane, 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:43.180 circled the field 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:45.239 and they watched you? 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:48.019 I bet there'd be less loafing. 00:08:49.199 --> 00:08:50.739 I bet there'd be more people 00:08:50.739 --> 00:08:51.799 just sucking it up 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:52.599 and not talking about 00:08:52.599 --> 00:08:53.379 something hurting. 00:08:55.539 --> 00:08:57.079 You would do the best 00:08:57.079 --> 00:08:57.919 you've ever done 00:08:57.919 --> 00:08:58.739 because you know 00:08:58.739 --> 00:08:59.679 those guys are there 00:08:59.679 --> 00:09:01.620 and they know all about it. 00:09:01.739 --> 00:09:03.199 They have practiced 00:09:03.199 --> 00:09:04.099 and played 00:09:04.099 --> 00:09:07.199 in a lot more difficult circumstances 00:09:07.199 --> 00:09:07.979 than I have, 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:09.719 longer than I have. 00:09:09.720 --> 00:09:11.700 they've endured the pain, 00:09:11.800 --> 00:09:12.379 the suffering 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:13.940 that you do in practice 00:09:13.940 --> 00:09:16.820 and they've been successful. 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:19.580 They won the national championship. 00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:21.620 Same thing 00:09:21.620 --> 00:09:24.220 if South Carolina's 00:09:24.220 --> 00:09:25.220 women's basketball team 00:09:25.220 --> 00:09:26.399 came and watched you 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.879 who are on Pickens High School's 00:09:27.879 --> 00:09:28.980 women's basketball team. 00:09:29.820 --> 00:09:31.560 If North Carolina's players 00:09:31.560 --> 00:09:33.600 came to the guys' practice 00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:34.320 in basketball, 00:09:35.240 --> 00:09:36.540 you would sit up 00:09:36.540 --> 00:09:37.300 and take notice. 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:38.659 You would do your best 00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:40.319 because that great cloud 00:09:40.319 --> 00:09:41.279 that's watching you, 00:09:41.539 --> 00:09:42.240 they've been there, 00:09:42.359 --> 00:09:43.059 they've done that, 00:09:43.139 --> 00:09:44.139 they've been successful 00:09:44.139 --> 00:09:45.579 and so you want to 00:09:45.579 --> 00:09:47.240 be successful 00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:49.059 in their eyes 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:50.279 as well. 00:09:52.059 --> 00:09:53.240 No matter what kind 00:09:53.240 --> 00:09:53.899 of hardships 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:55.639 we experience 00:09:55.639 --> 00:09:56.500 as we seek to live 00:09:56.500 --> 00:09:59.179 an obedient Christian life, 00:10:00.179 --> 00:10:02.179 we can always be certain 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:03.459 that there's a lot of people 00:10:03.459 --> 00:10:04.559 who've gone before us, 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:06.519 not just in the Old Testament, 00:10:06.519 --> 00:10:09.039 maybe some of your parents 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:09.659 or grandparents 00:10:09.659 --> 00:10:10.699 or somebody you just 00:10:10.699 --> 00:10:12.340 admired in your church 00:10:12.340 --> 00:10:13.319 in a day gone by, 00:10:14.179 --> 00:10:15.720 they had a hard life 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:17.759 but they never quit, 00:10:17.879 --> 00:10:19.579 they never gave up, 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:21.059 they never blamed God 00:10:21.059 --> 00:10:22.159 for what was going on. 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:24.299 They persevered, 00:10:24.439 --> 00:10:25.259 they were faithful 00:10:25.259 --> 00:10:28.620 and if you can look at them 00:10:28.620 --> 00:10:30.879 for some inspiration, 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:32.539 that's what this writer's 00:10:32.539 --> 00:10:34.980 trying to say to us. 00:10:34.980 --> 00:10:37.139 No matter what we go through, 00:10:37.360 --> 00:10:39.279 others have been through worse. 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:40.379 For example, 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.300 back in chapter 11, 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:43.000 Abraham was called 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:44.840 to leave his home, 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:45.440 his family 00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:47.080 and everything he ever had 00:10:47.080 --> 00:10:48.960 and go to a place 00:10:48.960 --> 00:10:50.159 that he didn't know 00:10:50.159 --> 00:10:51.060 where he was going to go 00:10:51.060 --> 00:10:53.259 and it says in chapter 11 00:10:53.259 --> 00:10:54.840 that Abraham was sent 00:10:54.840 --> 00:10:55.700 to a place 00:10:55.700 --> 00:10:57.759 where he lived in tents 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.279 and the idea is 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:00.300 he never had a home. 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:02.419 God's call 00:11:02.419 --> 00:11:03.179 to Abraham's life 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:04.799 was you leave home, 00:11:04.919 --> 00:11:05.839 you leave security, 00:11:06.159 --> 00:11:06.679 you leave everything 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:07.500 you've ever known 00:11:07.500 --> 00:11:08.539 and I'm going to send you 00:11:08.539 --> 00:11:09.799 to a place 00:11:09.799 --> 00:11:11.000 and you're never going 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:11.620 to have anything. 00:11:12.919 --> 00:11:13.679 You're always going 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:14.419 to be an alien 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:16.240 in that place. 00:11:17.240 --> 00:11:18.099 But that's my plan 00:11:18.099 --> 00:11:18.659 for you. 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:20.639 It was costly. 00:11:21.559 --> 00:11:21.979 Moses, 00:11:22.099 --> 00:11:23.199 look back in chapter 11, 00:11:24.439 --> 00:11:26.139 Moses actually grew up 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:30.419 in a place of privilege. 00:11:31.419 --> 00:11:33.179 He was the adopted grandson 00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:34.220 of Pharaoh, 00:11:34.419 --> 00:11:35.179 the king of Egypt. 00:11:36.179 --> 00:11:37.120 But it tells us 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:37.720 in that passage 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:40.139 that Moses gave all that up. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.319 He renounced 00:11:41.319 --> 00:11:42.860 that place of position, 00:11:43.000 --> 00:11:44.240 that life of ease 00:11:44.240 --> 00:11:47.100 in order to identify 00:11:47.100 --> 00:11:48.340 with his own people, 00:11:48.439 --> 00:11:49.120 the Hebrew people 00:11:49.120 --> 00:11:50.220 who were slaves 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:52.740 and eventually 00:11:52.740 --> 00:11:53.919 God used him 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:54.980 to lead them out 00:11:54.980 --> 00:11:55.500 of slavery 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.559 into the promised land. 00:11:57.440 --> 00:11:58.500 The point is 00:11:58.500 --> 00:12:00.360 there's people 00:12:00.360 --> 00:12:01.879 around us, 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.179 some in the Bible, 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:04.720 some you know. 00:12:05.860 --> 00:12:06.960 They've been faithful. 00:12:08.139 --> 00:12:09.500 They were successful 00:12:09.500 --> 00:12:10.399 in doing what God 00:12:10.399 --> 00:12:11.419 called them to do 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:12.480 because they were faithful. 00:12:14.700 --> 00:12:16.100 These in the Old Testament, 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:17.379 Abraham and Moses 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:17.940 for example. 00:12:19.519 --> 00:12:21.179 It's been thousands 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:21.720 of years 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:22.419 since they walked 00:12:22.419 --> 00:12:23.139 the face of this earth 00:12:23.139 --> 00:12:23.779 but we're talking 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.820 about them this morning. 00:12:25.500 --> 00:12:27.320 they are remembered. 00:12:28.740 --> 00:12:29.600 And one day, 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:30.940 every Christian 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:31.419 in this room, 00:12:31.559 --> 00:12:32.720 you will actually see 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.100 those men and women 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.559 listed in Hebrews chapter 11. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:38.120 You'll get to talk to them 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:39.360 and hear their stories 00:12:39.360 --> 00:12:39.980 firsthand 00:12:39.980 --> 00:12:41.539 about how life was hard 00:12:41.539 --> 00:12:42.480 but God gave me 00:12:42.480 --> 00:12:43.220 what I needed 00:12:43.220 --> 00:12:43.960 and I was able 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:44.580 to be faithful. 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:46.240 That's why they're in 00:12:46.240 --> 00:12:47.139 what some people call 00:12:47.139 --> 00:12:48.559 the hall of faith 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:51.259 there in Hebrews chapter 11. 00:12:51.259 --> 00:12:55.299 The next thing 00:12:55.299 --> 00:12:56.100 I want us to look at 00:12:56.100 --> 00:12:58.039 is also in verse 1. 00:12:59.360 --> 00:13:00.740 As important as it is 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.460 to look around 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.919 and find some inspiration 00:13:02.919 --> 00:13:03.519 from people 00:13:03.519 --> 00:13:04.059 who've been there 00:13:04.059 --> 00:13:04.600 and done that, 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:07.539 it's more important now 00:13:07.539 --> 00:13:08.899 to understand 00:13:08.899 --> 00:13:09.500 if we're going to run 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:10.779 this race of Christian living 00:13:10.779 --> 00:13:11.679 and be successful, 00:13:12.539 --> 00:13:13.779 we've got to be 00:13:13.779 --> 00:13:15.580 personally disciplined. 00:13:15.580 --> 00:13:18.379 Look at it. 00:13:18.420 --> 00:13:19.560 We must discipline ourselves 00:13:19.560 --> 00:13:21.139 if we want to run well. 00:13:21.940 --> 00:13:23.120 Every successful runner, 00:13:23.680 --> 00:13:24.320 that's what he's talking 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:24.620 about here, 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:25.680 a track athlete. 00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:27.800 Every successful runner 00:13:27.800 --> 00:13:29.060 must train for their race. 00:13:29.200 --> 00:13:30.600 Every successful athlete 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:32.500 must train, 00:13:32.620 --> 00:13:33.900 must discipline themselves. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:35.980 Well, that also applies 00:13:35.980 --> 00:13:37.460 to living a faithful 00:13:37.460 --> 00:13:38.720 and obedient Christian life. 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:40.280 Notice what it involves 00:13:40.280 --> 00:13:40.900 in verse 1. 00:13:41.100 --> 00:13:41.379 He says, 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:42.439 we must lay aside 00:13:42.439 --> 00:13:43.639 every weight. 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.879 Another way to translate that 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:46.939 is or throw off 00:13:46.939 --> 00:13:48.899 everything that hinders. 00:13:50.360 --> 00:13:52.100 That literally refers 00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:53.799 to the bulk of the body. 00:13:55.059 --> 00:13:57.100 Eliminate excess pounds 00:13:57.100 --> 00:13:58.539 is what he's talking about. 00:13:59.059 --> 00:13:59.720 Olympic runners, 00:13:59.840 --> 00:14:00.379 they don't carry 00:14:00.379 --> 00:14:01.379 any extra weight. 00:14:01.580 --> 00:14:03.059 They have any extra fat. 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.919 Their skin, bone, and muscle. 00:14:06.419 --> 00:14:07.740 You think what it takes 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.620 to be that. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:11.460 Think up of the discipline 00:14:11.460 --> 00:14:12.500 in what you eat 00:14:12.500 --> 00:14:14.360 and how you work out, 00:14:14.759 --> 00:14:16.220 how you even rest. 00:14:18.179 --> 00:14:19.379 I want you to think 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:20.899 and make this real personal now. 00:14:22.799 --> 00:14:24.200 What hinders you? 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.100 What causes you sometimes 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:26.879 to fall 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:29.600 as you seek to live 00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.659 a faithful Christian life? 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:32.259 We're not talking about 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:33.519 sinful things yet. 00:14:34.240 --> 00:14:35.180 It doesn't have to be 00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:36.139 anything bad. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:39.139 But we who are Christians, 00:14:39.819 --> 00:14:40.699 we want to, 00:14:40.919 --> 00:14:42.240 we want to be faithful. 00:14:42.399 --> 00:14:43.779 We want to know God's will. 00:14:43.860 --> 00:14:44.879 We want to do God's will. 00:14:45.059 --> 00:14:46.019 We want to do what we know 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:47.000 God wants us to do. 00:14:47.139 --> 00:14:47.919 But we don't 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:49.379 a lot of times. 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:51.980 We let things, 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:52.860 we let people, 00:14:52.980 --> 00:14:53.879 we let a lot of things 00:14:53.879 --> 00:14:55.779 sort of pull us down. 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:58.720 And this writer is saying here, 00:14:59.199 --> 00:15:00.259 in writing to these people, 00:15:01.220 --> 00:15:02.539 writing to us today, 00:15:02.539 --> 00:15:05.839 let us also lay aside 00:15:05.839 --> 00:15:06.539 every weight. 00:15:09.179 --> 00:15:10.079 What's weighing 00:15:10.079 --> 00:15:11.539 or pulling you down? 00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.179 It could be something good, 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:16.659 but it's not good 00:15:16.659 --> 00:15:17.899 in what it's doing to you. 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:18.459 For example, 00:15:18.539 --> 00:15:19.419 it could be a hobby 00:15:19.419 --> 00:15:20.659 that takes too much 00:15:20.659 --> 00:15:21.319 of your time. 00:15:22.759 --> 00:15:24.699 It could be a particular person 00:15:24.699 --> 00:15:25.639 that's in your life, 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:28.360 and they're just a bad influence. 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:33.279 They make you worse, 00:15:33.779 --> 00:15:35.620 not better. 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:38.659 This is sort of an aside now. 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.940 When you're dating someone, 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.960 when you're looking for someone 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:44.399 you really want to get serious about, 00:15:44.480 --> 00:15:45.360 you think about marrying, 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.779 ask yourself the question, 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.259 am I a better person 00:15:48.259 --> 00:15:49.519 by being around them, 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:50.919 by being influenced by them? 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:53.100 Are they helping, 00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:53.639 if you're a Christian, 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:54.980 are they helping me to walk 00:15:54.980 --> 00:15:56.779 and follow Christ? 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:58.339 Or, 00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:00.039 do they pull me down? 00:16:02.199 --> 00:16:03.600 Could be the kind of music 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:04.199 you listen to, 00:16:04.339 --> 00:16:04.819 the movies, 00:16:04.939 --> 00:16:06.039 TV shows you watch, 00:16:06.839 --> 00:16:07.699 that for you, 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.199 it just, 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:11.259 you don't have the right 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:12.379 kind of thoughts. 00:16:13.559 --> 00:16:14.899 It just doesn't affect you 00:16:14.899 --> 00:16:16.059 in a positive way. 00:16:16.899 --> 00:16:18.519 Anything that drags us down 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:20.799 spiritually is a hindrance 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:23.559 that we've got to get rid of. 00:16:23.559 --> 00:16:25.379 You know, 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.339 a lot of Christians say 00:16:26.339 --> 00:16:27.019 they don't have time 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.959 to spend with the Lord 00:16:27.959 --> 00:16:29.479 in prayer and Bible reading. 00:16:30.319 --> 00:16:31.099 Fact is, 00:16:31.779 --> 00:16:32.500 no one, 00:16:32.659 --> 00:16:33.119 me, 00:16:33.319 --> 00:16:33.479 you, 00:16:33.599 --> 00:16:34.319 no one in this room, 00:16:34.379 --> 00:16:35.199 no one you know 00:16:35.199 --> 00:16:37.959 can live a faithful Christian life 00:16:37.959 --> 00:16:40.119 without having a real relationship 00:16:40.119 --> 00:16:40.799 with God. 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.359 And the only way 00:16:42.359 --> 00:16:43.119 we can have a relationship 00:16:43.119 --> 00:16:43.579 with Him 00:16:43.579 --> 00:16:44.219 or anyone 00:16:44.219 --> 00:16:45.839 is to spend time with Him, 00:16:46.959 --> 00:16:48.079 talking to Him in prayer, 00:16:49.119 --> 00:16:50.139 listening to Him 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.779 as He speaks 00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:52.399 from His Word. 00:16:53.639 --> 00:16:54.480 A lot of people say, 00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:55.319 I know that's true, 00:16:55.419 --> 00:16:58.059 but I just don't have the time 00:16:58.059 --> 00:16:59.720 to do that 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:01.299 on a daily basis. 00:17:02.139 --> 00:17:03.059 Let me ask you this. 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:04.579 Do you have time 00:17:04.579 --> 00:17:05.160 for Facebook 00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:07.559 and other forms 00:17:07.559 --> 00:17:08.660 of social media? 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:11.079 If you do, 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:12.559 then your problem 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.299 about the Bible 00:17:13.299 --> 00:17:13.859 and prayer 00:17:13.859 --> 00:17:15.759 is not a time problem. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.799 It's a priority problem. 00:17:17.799 --> 00:17:20.519 And I'm saying this 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:21.539 because today, 00:17:22.419 --> 00:17:23.319 social media, 00:17:23.480 --> 00:17:24.680 it can be a great thing, 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:26.039 it can be a positive thing, 00:17:26.440 --> 00:17:27.859 form of communication, 00:17:29.299 --> 00:17:29.799 smartphones, 00:17:30.259 --> 00:17:31.019 you can learn a lot, 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:32.240 it's a lot of good 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.079 that can come from it, 00:17:33.159 --> 00:17:34.019 but social media 00:17:34.019 --> 00:17:34.839 is a weight 00:17:34.839 --> 00:17:35.659 that is hindering 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:36.799 many people's 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:39.240 relationship with God 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:40.599 and their actual 00:17:40.599 --> 00:17:41.879 real relationships 00:17:41.879 --> 00:17:43.700 with other people. 00:17:43.700 --> 00:17:47.059 The main reason 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.920 I'm bringing this one up 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.940 as an example today, 00:17:49.220 --> 00:17:50.480 some of you saw this 00:17:50.480 --> 00:17:52.019 toward the end 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:52.860 of last week. 00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:54.680 There was a house fire 00:17:54.680 --> 00:17:55.660 in Anderson County. 00:17:57.240 --> 00:17:58.680 Three people were inside. 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:00.360 They got out, 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:02.779 but a 22-year-old man 00:18:02.779 --> 00:18:04.180 went back inside 00:18:04.180 --> 00:18:06.799 to retrieve his cell phone. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:10.559 And he didn't make it back out. 00:18:11.080 --> 00:18:11.799 He died. 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.399 He died. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.500 He died 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:17.460 for a stupid cell phone. 00:18:17.659 --> 00:18:18.839 He was that addicted. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.599 It was that much 00:18:20.599 --> 00:18:21.740 of his life. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.379 I talked to someone 00:18:24.379 --> 00:18:25.839 after the first service 00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:26.240 this morning, 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:27.480 after preaching this message. 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:29.279 And they were telling me 00:18:29.279 --> 00:18:30.220 about a situation 00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.819 where a person 00:18:31.819 --> 00:18:32.759 was going to have to 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:34.839 do a particular thing. 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:35.940 I don't want to give it away. 00:18:36.599 --> 00:18:37.240 A person told me 00:18:37.240 --> 00:18:37.639 they were going to have 00:18:37.639 --> 00:18:38.779 to be doing something. 00:18:39.139 --> 00:18:40.139 And they were instructed 00:18:40.140 --> 00:18:42.620 in order to do this test, 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:43.200 do this thing 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:43.860 you've got to do, 00:18:44.220 --> 00:18:45.940 you cannot have a cell phone. 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:48.080 You must leave it at home. 00:18:48.180 --> 00:18:48.900 Leave it with your parents. 00:18:49.040 --> 00:18:49.820 Leave it somewhere. 00:18:50.360 --> 00:18:51.640 And this person said, 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.540 I can't do that. 00:18:53.300 --> 00:18:54.960 I cannot go anywhere 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:56.060 in this world 00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:56.720 without my cell phone. 00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.880 My cell phone 00:18:57.880 --> 00:19:00.000 is my lifeline. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.599 That's an addiction, folks. 00:19:05.660 --> 00:19:07.220 A smartphone can be a tool 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:09.259 or it can be an addiction 00:19:09.259 --> 00:19:11.859 that is interfering 00:19:11.859 --> 00:19:12.980 in your own relationship 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.579 with the Lord 00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.660 and your relationship 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:17.140 with other human beings. 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:20.440 It's been a long time 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.160 since I dated. 00:19:23.160 --> 00:19:24.380 But I can tell you this. 00:19:25.579 --> 00:19:26.880 If I went out with a girl 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.480 and we sat down at a meal 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:30.340 ordered, 00:19:30.780 --> 00:19:31.440 looking at the menu 00:19:31.440 --> 00:19:32.920 and she whips out that phone, 00:19:33.800 --> 00:19:34.420 I'm leaving. 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:36.920 You can do what you want to. 00:19:36.980 --> 00:19:38.100 I didn't come to talk to you. 00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:39.200 I didn't come to look at you 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:39.960 with your face down 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:41.200 in that stupid phone. 00:19:42.300 --> 00:19:43.520 I challenge you guys, 00:19:43.620 --> 00:19:44.060 do that. 00:19:44.780 --> 00:19:45.360 Do that. 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:45.960 Leave them. 00:19:47.060 --> 00:19:48.020 Tell them to take that phone 00:19:48.020 --> 00:19:49.080 and call their mom and daddy 00:19:49.080 --> 00:19:49.700 to come get them. 00:19:51.700 --> 00:19:52.900 But let's reverse it now. 00:19:53.000 --> 00:19:53.980 I believe in equality. 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.980 Ladies, 00:19:56.620 --> 00:19:57.779 if you go out with a guy, 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:00.599 he's got his face in that, 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:03.400 sneak out if you can 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.620 before he even looks up. 00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:05.900 Don't let him hear you. 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.980 Just don't say a word. 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.740 Go out and call somebody 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.700 to come and get you. 00:20:12.759 --> 00:20:14.180 I'm making a lot of this 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:17.700 because it is a serious problem 00:20:17.700 --> 00:20:19.039 that's interfering 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:21.539 in people's actual human interaction 00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:23.279 and it is interfering 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.500 in a lot of people's relationship 00:20:24.500 --> 00:20:24.960 with the Lord 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:26.639 because they've got time for this 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:28.599 but they don't have time for Him. 00:20:29.299 --> 00:20:30.460 It is a hindrance 00:20:30.460 --> 00:20:33.279 to a lot of people's spiritual growth 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:35.619 and a lot of people's social, 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:36.539 real growth 00:20:37.099 --> 00:20:39.039 with other people face to face. 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.740 We also see in verse 1 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.839 that we must discipline ourselves 00:20:41.839 --> 00:20:43.579 to throw off the sin 00:20:43.579 --> 00:20:45.159 which clings so closely 00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:47.539 or the sin that so easily entangles 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:50.059 or the New Living Translation says 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:52.180 the sin that so easily trips us up. 00:20:52.779 --> 00:20:54.039 The idea here is 00:20:54.039 --> 00:20:55.899 of a runner stripping off 00:20:55.899 --> 00:20:58.740 as the Greek runners would do 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:01.159 so that there would be nothing 00:21:01.159 --> 00:21:04.139 to hinder them in any way, 00:21:04.180 --> 00:21:06.339 to slow them down a step. 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:09.859 Obviously all sin causes us to fall. 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:14.000 Which sins do you find 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:17.180 or you're a real stumbling block? 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.220 And we all have them. 00:21:19.619 --> 00:21:20.460 Every one of us, 00:21:20.519 --> 00:21:21.839 the most committed Christian in here, 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:23.460 there's certain sins 00:21:23.460 --> 00:21:24.819 that appeal to you more than others. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.359 There's certain ways you are tempted. 00:21:29.559 --> 00:21:31.180 And I want you to stop for a moment now 00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:33.519 and identify what sin 00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:37.500 or sins is tripping you up. 00:21:38.279 --> 00:21:39.140 Is it interfering 00:21:39.140 --> 00:21:41.059 in your running this race 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.220 of faithful Christian living? 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:44.839 Could it be gossip? 00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.660 Anger? 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.440 Impatience? 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.240 Lust? 00:21:49.900 --> 00:21:50.440 Lying? 00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.279 Laziness? 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:54.299 Alcohol or drug abuse? 00:21:55.420 --> 00:21:57.259 Just not trusting God 00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:58.720 in the details of your life. 00:21:59.960 --> 00:22:01.900 Whatever your particular sin is, 00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:04.500 you know what it is. 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.960 It's tripping you up. 00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.400 It's causing you to fall 00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:09.799 more times than you want to admit. 00:22:09.799 --> 00:22:11.940 If you're serious about 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:14.159 wanting to be faithful to God 00:22:14.159 --> 00:22:15.000 and live the kind of life 00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.819 He's calling you to live, 00:22:15.899 --> 00:22:16.960 if you're serious about it, 00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:19.299 you've got to get rid of the things 00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.180 that are hindering you. 00:22:20.419 --> 00:22:22.000 You've got to confess 00:22:22.000 --> 00:22:23.440 and turn from the sin 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:24.440 that's tripping you up. 00:22:25.419 --> 00:22:26.539 You can do that 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:27.379 and God will forgive you. 00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.559 He'll give you a fresh start 00:22:28.559 --> 00:22:30.119 if there's a problem right now 00:22:30.119 --> 00:22:30.980 that you're dealing with. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:33.059 1 John chapter 1 and verse 9 00:22:33.059 --> 00:22:33.799 tells us this. 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.779 If we confess our sins, 00:22:35.859 --> 00:22:37.039 He is faithful and just 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:38.440 to forgive us of our sins 00:22:38.440 --> 00:22:40.079 and to cleanse us 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:41.339 from all unrighteousness. 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.899 God forgives. 00:22:43.399 --> 00:22:44.460 God is a God of grace. 00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:46.500 And if we'll be honest with Him 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:47.559 about what our problem is, 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:48.399 what our sin is, 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:50.220 truly confess it, 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:50.899 turn from it, 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.940 change your mind about it, 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:52.740 hate it, 00:22:53.799 --> 00:22:54.539 and seek His forgiveness, 00:22:54.639 --> 00:22:55.319 He will forgive us 00:22:55.319 --> 00:22:56.379 just like that verse is saying. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:56.980 It's a promise. 00:22:56.980 --> 00:22:57.099 It's a promise. 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.960 What is it that, 00:23:00.379 --> 00:23:02.759 what is it that really 00:23:02.759 --> 00:23:04.720 you are battling 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:06.740 is a temptation in your life. 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.759 I want you to understand 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:10.420 no matter how powerful, 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.539 how strong it may be 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:12.539 in some temptations, 00:23:13.420 --> 00:23:14.139 sort of like sometimes 00:23:14.139 --> 00:23:16.099 they just grab us, 00:23:16.339 --> 00:23:17.220 shake us, 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.700 demand that we give in. 00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:22.119 But we don't have to. 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.599 God always provides 00:23:24.599 --> 00:23:25.500 a way of escape 00:23:25.500 --> 00:23:26.319 if we want it, 00:23:26.319 --> 00:23:27.259 if we'll look for it. 00:23:27.899 --> 00:23:28.319 I want you to look at 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:28.940 what Paul said 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:29.559 to the Corinthians 00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:31.220 about temptation. 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.599 No temptation 00:23:32.599 --> 00:23:33.480 has overtaken you 00:23:33.480 --> 00:23:35.700 that is not common to man. 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:38.059 You've experienced, 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:38.700 I've experienced 00:23:38.700 --> 00:23:39.759 no unique temptation. 00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:41.920 God is faithful. 00:23:42.059 --> 00:23:42.840 He will not let you 00:23:42.840 --> 00:23:43.319 be tempted 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:44.480 beyond your ability, 00:23:44.860 --> 00:23:45.640 but with the temptation 00:23:45.640 --> 00:23:46.880 He will also provide 00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:47.980 the way of escape 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.920 that you may be able 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.420 to endure it. 00:23:52.900 --> 00:23:55.039 We can endure temptation. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:56.400 We can resist it. 00:23:56.440 --> 00:23:57.140 We can overcome it. 00:23:57.380 --> 00:23:58.860 God always provides 00:23:58.860 --> 00:23:59.860 a way of escape 00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:01.720 if we'll look for it, 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:03.500 if we'll take it. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.299 Notice one other aspect 00:24:05.299 --> 00:24:05.980 of discipline found 00:24:05.980 --> 00:24:06.579 in verse 1. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:07.579 He talks about running 00:24:07.579 --> 00:24:08.460 with endurance. 00:24:10.140 --> 00:24:10.819 The runner's got to have 00:24:10.819 --> 00:24:11.160 the attitude, 00:24:11.299 --> 00:24:12.059 I'm going to finish. 00:24:13.019 --> 00:24:13.839 I'm going to complete 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:14.380 the race. 00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.160 It doesn't matter 00:24:15.160 --> 00:24:16.380 how good a start he gets. 00:24:16.880 --> 00:24:18.480 In this analogy here, 00:24:18.819 --> 00:24:19.880 a long distance runner 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:20.579 on the track, 00:24:20.660 --> 00:24:21.920 say it's 5,000 meters. 00:24:22.120 --> 00:24:22.500 That's what? 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:23.960 About 12 and a half laps. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:25.759 It doesn't matter 00:24:25.759 --> 00:24:27.480 how strong he starts, 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:29.120 how, if he even laps 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.759 the field, 00:24:29.859 --> 00:24:30.599 the first few, 00:24:31.959 --> 00:24:33.479 if he quits 00:24:33.479 --> 00:24:37.479 in the 11th lap, 00:24:38.039 --> 00:24:40.259 he won't finish. 00:24:40.839 --> 00:24:41.879 He has no possibility 00:24:41.879 --> 00:24:42.599 to win. 00:24:43.439 --> 00:24:45.119 You've got to finish. 00:24:47.559 --> 00:24:49.439 You've got to stay the course 00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:51.219 is what he's saying. 00:24:52.419 --> 00:24:53.239 This is true 00:24:53.239 --> 00:24:53.839 in our relationship 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:54.479 with Christ. 00:24:55.519 --> 00:24:56.699 There's a lot of people, 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:59.380 a lot of people, 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:00.819 as children, 00:25:00.940 --> 00:25:01.380 as teenagers, 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.340 even as adults, 00:25:02.779 --> 00:25:04.140 they make a profession 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:04.799 of faith. 00:25:06.039 --> 00:25:07.100 They may even be baptized. 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:11.279 But they don't continue 00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:13.539 to trust Christ, 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:14.580 to follow Christ. 00:25:15.580 --> 00:25:16.759 I want you to understand 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:18.680 that is an indication 00:25:18.680 --> 00:25:19.180 that a person 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:20.100 wasn't really a Christian 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:20.819 to start with. 00:25:21.799 --> 00:25:22.700 Because when God 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:23.180 really and truly 00:25:23.180 --> 00:25:24.180 does a work in us 00:25:24.180 --> 00:25:25.519 to save us, 00:25:25.559 --> 00:25:26.480 he changes us, 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.339 he puts his spirit 00:25:27.339 --> 00:25:27.759 in us, 00:25:27.940 --> 00:25:28.640 and God will never 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:29.460 leave us alone. 00:25:30.160 --> 00:25:31.099 Look at how Paul 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:31.880 describes this 00:25:31.880 --> 00:25:33.920 in Philippians 1, 00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:34.759 verse 6. 00:25:35.579 --> 00:25:36.500 And I am sure of this, 00:25:36.579 --> 00:25:37.299 that he who began 00:25:37.299 --> 00:25:38.339 a good work in you 00:25:38.339 --> 00:25:40.099 will bring it to completion 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:41.180 at the day of Christ Jesus. 00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:44.539 What God starts in us, 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:45.720 he's going to continue. 00:25:46.440 --> 00:25:47.160 There may be times 00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.880 that we fail him, 00:25:49.039 --> 00:25:49.680 as we're talking 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:50.140 about how I go, 00:25:50.299 --> 00:25:51.380 that we fall. 00:25:52.180 --> 00:25:52.740 We give in 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.380 to the temptation. 00:25:54.839 --> 00:25:55.339 But if the spirit 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.319 of God lives within us, 00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:57.879 he will convict us, 00:25:58.960 --> 00:25:59.700 he'll cause us 00:25:59.700 --> 00:26:00.579 to want to confess 00:26:00.579 --> 00:26:01.019 our sin, 00:26:01.079 --> 00:26:01.539 to come back 00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:02.000 to the Lord 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:03.559 and start all over again. 00:26:04.859 --> 00:26:05.299 I want you to look 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.759 at something else 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:06.299 Paul said. 00:26:07.399 --> 00:26:08.339 It's not easy 00:26:08.339 --> 00:26:09.419 to live a Christian life. 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.759 If anybody ever 00:26:10.759 --> 00:26:11.460 tells you it is, 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:11.939 they don't know 00:26:11.939 --> 00:26:12.659 what they're talking about. 00:26:14.200 --> 00:26:15.200 There's a lot of verses 00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:15.779 I showed you 00:26:15.779 --> 00:26:16.299 at the beginning. 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:18.019 We're looking at one here. 00:26:18.799 --> 00:26:19.379 The Christian life 00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.519 requires discipline. 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:22.379 It requires self-control. 00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:24.880 We have to work at it. 00:26:25.140 --> 00:26:25.680 It's not going 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.300 to just happen. 00:26:27.420 --> 00:26:28.100 But I want you 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:28.900 to see how 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:30.320 we can be confident 00:26:30.320 --> 00:26:31.580 that we can work at it. 00:26:31.700 --> 00:26:32.300 Look at what he says 00:26:32.300 --> 00:26:33.400 in Philippians 2.13. 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.540 For it is God 00:26:36.540 --> 00:26:37.640 who works in you 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:39.220 both to will 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.760 and to work 00:26:40.760 --> 00:26:42.440 for his good pleasure. 00:26:43.600 --> 00:26:44.700 When God saves us, 00:26:44.760 --> 00:26:45.940 he puts his spirit in us 00:26:45.940 --> 00:26:48.340 and he will never leave us. 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:50.880 God will give us 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:51.640 the desire 00:26:51.640 --> 00:26:52.680 to be faithful, 00:26:53.340 --> 00:26:54.759 to resist temptation, 00:26:55.400 --> 00:26:56.440 to obey him. 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:58.720 God will enable us 00:26:58.720 --> 00:26:59.779 to do that, 00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:01.100 but we've got to 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:01.980 cooperate with him. 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.960 We've got to eliminate 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:05.680 the hindrances. 00:27:06.180 --> 00:27:07.000 We've got to turn 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:07.720 from the sin. 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:08.840 We've got to do 00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.960 the acts of obedience 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.420 that he calls us to do. 00:27:12.580 --> 00:27:13.080 You may have to 00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:13.840 close your mouth. 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.340 He's telling you 00:27:14.340 --> 00:27:15.680 to quit saying things 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.120 you're saying 00:27:16.120 --> 00:27:16.620 that you're not 00:27:16.620 --> 00:27:17.180 supposed to say. 00:27:17.860 --> 00:27:18.500 You may have to 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.279 open your mouth 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.240 and say some things 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:20.980 he's wanting you 00:27:20.980 --> 00:27:22.000 to say to certain people. 00:27:24.700 --> 00:27:26.360 God will enable us 00:27:26.360 --> 00:27:27.180 to be faithful. 00:27:27.539 --> 00:27:28.660 He will enable us 00:27:28.660 --> 00:27:29.960 to discipline ourselves 00:27:29.960 --> 00:27:31.720 and stay the course. 00:27:32.519 --> 00:27:32.940 Let's look at 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:33.539 one more thing. 00:27:34.080 --> 00:27:34.820 One more thing 00:27:34.820 --> 00:27:35.660 about being faithful. 00:27:36.580 --> 00:27:37.580 We must stay focused 00:27:37.580 --> 00:27:38.740 on our goal 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:40.180 as we run. 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:41.759 The Olympic runner 00:27:41.759 --> 00:27:43.019 runs with his eyes 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:44.080 fixed ahead of him 00:27:44.080 --> 00:27:44.940 on the goal, 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:45.820 on the finish line. 00:27:46.660 --> 00:27:47.500 He may be aware 00:27:47.500 --> 00:27:48.440 of people in the stands, 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:49.519 but he's not looking. 00:27:51.299 --> 00:27:52.400 He may be aware 00:27:52.400 --> 00:27:53.240 of other runners. 00:27:53.400 --> 00:27:54.039 He can sort of 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:57.000 sense their presence, 00:27:57.620 --> 00:27:58.120 maybe see them 00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.799 out of the side 00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.279 of his eye. 00:27:59.860 --> 00:28:00.340 But he's not going 00:28:00.340 --> 00:28:00.660 to be turning 00:28:00.660 --> 00:28:01.240 and always just 00:28:01.240 --> 00:28:01.720 looking around. 00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:02.240 He's going to be 00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:04.600 focused on his goal. 00:28:05.320 --> 00:28:05.900 His goal is going 00:28:05.900 --> 00:28:06.640 to be the finish line. 00:28:06.640 --> 00:28:09.600 What this writer 00:28:09.600 --> 00:28:10.120 is telling us 00:28:10.120 --> 00:28:11.220 is we need to run 00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:12.520 with a clear focus 00:28:12.520 --> 00:28:13.120 and our focus 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:13.620 is simple. 00:28:14.440 --> 00:28:16.000 It's Jesus himself. 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:18.840 Why would he say this? 00:28:19.740 --> 00:28:20.940 Because of who he is. 00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:21.720 Look at what it says. 00:28:22.600 --> 00:28:23.120 Verse 2, 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.360 looking to Jesus, 00:28:24.520 --> 00:28:25.140 the founder 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:26.240 and perfecter 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.280 of our faith. 00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.320 Everything in the 00:28:28.320 --> 00:28:29.220 Christian life, 00:28:29.320 --> 00:28:29.780 everything in the 00:28:29.780 --> 00:28:30.400 Christian faith 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:31.840 begins, continues, 00:28:32.060 --> 00:28:32.820 and ends 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:33.899 with Jesus. 00:28:35.919 --> 00:28:36.399 Specifically, 00:28:36.980 --> 00:28:37.740 his death 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:38.619 on the cross 00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:39.639 for our sins. 00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.299 See, 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:43.099 when Jesus 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.919 died on the cross, 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:46.159 he died 00:28:46.159 --> 00:28:47.179 in your place. 00:28:48.539 --> 00:28:49.019 He died 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.679 to pay the penalty 00:28:49.679 --> 00:28:50.779 for my sins. 00:28:51.500 --> 00:28:51.980 It's like God 00:28:51.980 --> 00:28:52.579 took my sin 00:28:52.579 --> 00:28:53.639 and placed it on Jesus 00:28:53.639 --> 00:28:54.740 as he hung on the cross 00:28:54.740 --> 00:28:55.919 and Jesus cried out, 00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.720 my God, my God, 00:28:56.779 --> 00:28:57.740 why have you forsaken me? 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.500 God had turned away 00:28:58.500 --> 00:28:59.659 from him in that moment 00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:00.359 and it's because 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:01.159 he was bearing 00:29:01.159 --> 00:29:02.379 the full weight 00:29:02.380 --> 00:29:03.140 of our sin 00:29:03.140 --> 00:29:04.000 and experiencing 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.180 the pain of hell, 00:29:05.300 --> 00:29:06.380 not going to the place, 00:29:06.620 --> 00:29:07.060 but experiencing 00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:07.760 the pain of hell 00:29:07.760 --> 00:29:08.220 because God 00:29:08.220 --> 00:29:09.100 was turning away from him. 00:29:09.860 --> 00:29:10.500 He was experiencing 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.460 the wrath of God. 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:13.880 He died for our sins. 00:29:14.060 --> 00:29:14.760 Just before he died, 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.600 one of the last things 00:29:15.600 --> 00:29:16.240 he says was, 00:29:16.860 --> 00:29:17.580 it is finished. 00:29:18.380 --> 00:29:19.360 The penalty for sin 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:20.360 had been paid. 00:29:21.260 --> 00:29:21.960 He was buried. 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:23.240 Three days later, 00:29:23.280 --> 00:29:24.300 he arose from the grave 00:29:24.300 --> 00:29:25.120 because God 00:29:25.120 --> 00:29:27.840 wanted everybody 00:29:27.840 --> 00:29:28.380 to understand, 00:29:28.520 --> 00:29:29.260 I've accepted 00:29:29.260 --> 00:29:30.160 his sacrifice. 00:29:30.560 --> 00:29:31.620 He arose from the grave 00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:32.239 and was seen 00:29:32.239 --> 00:29:32.579 over a period 00:29:32.579 --> 00:29:33.599 of 40 days 00:29:33.599 --> 00:29:35.159 by a lot of different people, 00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.399 different places. 00:29:37.099 --> 00:29:38.059 That was God's way 00:29:38.059 --> 00:29:38.719 of verifying. 00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:39.679 My son, 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.699 he's died on the cross, 00:29:40.819 --> 00:29:41.299 paid the penalty 00:29:41.299 --> 00:29:41.859 for your sins. 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.319 He's risen from the grave. 00:29:43.399 --> 00:29:44.299 He is my son. 00:29:44.679 --> 00:29:46.819 He is the son of God. 00:29:47.479 --> 00:29:48.319 The penalty's been paid. 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:49.719 And the good news 00:29:49.719 --> 00:29:50.399 of the gospel is 00:29:50.399 --> 00:29:51.599 if we will admit our sin, 00:29:52.479 --> 00:29:53.799 put our trust in Jesus, 00:29:55.679 --> 00:29:56.239 call upon him 00:29:56.239 --> 00:29:57.059 to save us, 00:29:57.739 --> 00:29:58.839 he will. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:00.279 Now in keeping 00:30:00.279 --> 00:30:01.460 with this race imagery, 00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:02.940 think about Jesus. 00:30:03.119 --> 00:30:03.879 He has cleared 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.700 the path 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:06.119 that we need to run 00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:08.440 to stay in our lane 00:30:08.440 --> 00:30:09.119 and be faithful 00:30:09.119 --> 00:30:10.000 in the race of life. 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:11.920 Because of what he's done, 00:30:12.000 --> 00:30:12.379 look at it, 00:30:12.579 --> 00:30:13.559 he endured the cross 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:14.680 despising the shame 00:30:14.680 --> 00:30:15.339 and is seated 00:30:15.339 --> 00:30:16.059 at the right hand 00:30:16.059 --> 00:30:16.839 of the throne of God. 00:30:17.200 --> 00:30:18.139 The cross was the lowest 00:30:18.139 --> 00:30:19.319 form of execution 00:30:19.319 --> 00:30:20.099 in the Roman Empire. 00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:22.279 In the Roman Empire, 00:30:22.660 --> 00:30:23.279 only slaves 00:30:24.000 --> 00:30:25.359 and criminals 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:26.639 were crucified. 00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:29.000 A Roman citizen 00:30:29.000 --> 00:30:30.380 could not be executed 00:30:30.380 --> 00:30:31.500 that way. 00:30:32.460 --> 00:30:33.540 It was a torturous, 00:30:34.160 --> 00:30:35.800 humiliating way to die. 00:30:36.740 --> 00:30:39.000 But Jesus endured that. 00:30:40.020 --> 00:30:41.320 He disregarded the shame 00:30:41.320 --> 00:30:42.680 because he was fulfilling 00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:43.500 the plan of God. 00:30:43.680 --> 00:30:44.380 He was fulfilling 00:30:44.380 --> 00:30:45.420 the way for us 00:30:45.420 --> 00:30:46.480 to be forgiven 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.680 and made right with God. 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:48.900 He did that, 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:49.680 it says in verse 2, 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:50.520 for the joy 00:30:50.520 --> 00:30:51.780 that was set 00:30:51.780 --> 00:30:52.780 before him. 00:30:53.420 --> 00:30:54.500 He looked beyond 00:30:54.500 --> 00:30:55.440 everything, 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.200 everything that was 00:30:57.200 --> 00:30:58.480 terrible about that cross 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.440 for the joy 00:30:59.440 --> 00:31:00.240 on the other side. 00:31:00.759 --> 00:31:02.259 I know that you guys 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.980 playing ball 00:31:02.980 --> 00:31:04.660 practices, 00:31:04.799 --> 00:31:05.279 a lot of times, 00:31:05.339 --> 00:31:06.000 it's just awful. 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:08.119 Sometimes you just think 00:31:08.119 --> 00:31:08.900 the coaches, 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:10.420 they got their training 00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:11.759 in a torture chamber, 00:31:11.859 --> 00:31:12.279 all the things 00:31:12.279 --> 00:31:13.140 they make us do. 00:31:14.039 --> 00:31:15.220 But you hang in there. 00:31:16.140 --> 00:31:18.319 You do what you've got to do 00:31:18.319 --> 00:31:20.000 because you want to play 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.680 on Friday night. 00:31:21.700 --> 00:31:22.500 You want to wear 00:31:22.500 --> 00:31:23.019 that uniform. 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:24.420 You want to go out 00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:25.820 in front of all the people 00:31:25.820 --> 00:31:26.240 that's going to be 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:26.960 in those stands. 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.660 And you want to play football 00:31:28.660 --> 00:31:30.240 in that game 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.019 so you endure 00:31:31.019 --> 00:31:31.820 whatever it has to do. 00:31:32.019 --> 00:31:32.880 There is joy 00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:33.840 before you 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:34.660 on the other side 00:31:34.660 --> 00:31:35.340 of practice. 00:31:36.620 --> 00:31:37.600 There was joy 00:31:37.600 --> 00:31:38.300 on the other side 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:38.960 of the cross 00:31:38.960 --> 00:31:39.920 for Jesus. 00:31:40.960 --> 00:31:41.640 That's why 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:43.039 he endured that. 00:31:43.980 --> 00:31:45.279 That's our example 00:31:45.279 --> 00:31:47.039 for enduring pain 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.759 and hardship, 00:31:49.060 --> 00:31:50.300 suffering for the short time 00:31:50.300 --> 00:31:52.039 because we're going 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:52.759 to experience 00:31:52.759 --> 00:31:54.299 an eternal reward 00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:56.640 waiting for us 00:31:56.640 --> 00:31:58.460 at the end. 00:31:59.359 --> 00:31:59.819 You know, 00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.579 we're never going to live 00:32:00.579 --> 00:32:01.420 a faithful life 00:32:01.420 --> 00:32:02.299 that honors God 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:02.980 and brings joy 00:32:02.980 --> 00:32:03.640 and satisfaction 00:32:03.640 --> 00:32:04.359 to ourselves 00:32:04.359 --> 00:32:05.319 if we just focus 00:32:05.319 --> 00:32:06.039 on the circumstances 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.579 of today. 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.240 If we just focus 00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:09.400 on how life bad 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:11.420 is at various times. 00:32:11.420 --> 00:32:14.900 we've got to learn 00:32:14.900 --> 00:32:15.700 to follow the example 00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.259 of Jesus 00:32:16.259 --> 00:32:17.840 and look beyond 00:32:17.840 --> 00:32:18.740 our circumstances. 00:32:19.880 --> 00:32:20.779 Look beyond 00:32:20.779 --> 00:32:22.100 how we feel 00:32:22.100 --> 00:32:24.100 and just think about 00:32:24.100 --> 00:32:25.039 what God, 00:32:25.180 --> 00:32:27.160 how God will reward us 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:29.140 for being faithful 00:32:29.140 --> 00:32:30.820 as his son 00:32:30.820 --> 00:32:31.640 or daughter. 00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:33.840 That's the attitude 00:32:33.840 --> 00:32:34.960 we've got to have 00:32:34.960 --> 00:32:36.800 in order to endure 00:32:36.800 --> 00:32:37.940 throughout this race 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:38.759 of life, 00:32:39.380 --> 00:32:40.380 of Christian living. 00:32:41.380 --> 00:32:42.480 And I encourage you 00:32:42.480 --> 00:32:43.240 to look beyond 00:32:43.240 --> 00:32:43.840 the hardship, 00:32:44.039 --> 00:32:44.360 those of you 00:32:44.360 --> 00:32:44.640 who are going 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.140 through hardship. 00:32:46.519 --> 00:32:47.660 There is more, 00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:48.519 there is better 00:32:48.519 --> 00:32:49.580 to come 00:32:49.580 --> 00:32:50.880 and it'll be yours 00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.759 for all eternity. 00:32:53.059 --> 00:32:54.080 If we want to live 00:32:54.080 --> 00:32:55.059 faithful Christian lives 00:32:55.059 --> 00:32:55.940 and please God, 00:32:56.940 --> 00:32:59.240 we need to look around 00:32:59.240 --> 00:32:59.779 and see 00:32:59.779 --> 00:33:01.880 success stories. 00:33:02.820 --> 00:33:03.539 Look at some of the people 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:03.980 in the Bible. 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:05.480 Hopefully there's some people 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.120 in your life 00:33:06.119 --> 00:33:07.319 who've been before you, 00:33:07.659 --> 00:33:08.500 they've been faithful 00:33:08.500 --> 00:33:09.439 and God is blessed 00:33:09.439 --> 00:33:10.119 in their life. 00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.759 Be inspired by that. 00:33:13.319 --> 00:33:13.899 But inspiration 00:33:13.899 --> 00:33:14.639 is just going to carry you 00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.139 so far. 00:33:16.419 --> 00:33:17.299 In order to really 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:17.859 and truly live 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:18.439 the Christian life 00:33:18.439 --> 00:33:19.679 as God's called you to do 00:33:19.679 --> 00:33:20.559 and deep down 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.099 you want to do 00:33:21.099 --> 00:33:21.719 if you're a Christian, 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.139 you've got to learn 00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:24.159 to discipline yourself, 00:33:24.919 --> 00:33:26.859 to eliminate hindrances 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:27.799 and distractions 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:29.679 and any form of sin 00:33:29.679 --> 00:33:30.339 in your life. 00:33:31.419 --> 00:33:32.799 Take the responsibility 00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:35.279 to discipline yourself, 00:33:35.279 --> 00:33:36.779 to cooperate with God 00:33:36.779 --> 00:33:37.440 as He works 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.819 to change you 00:33:38.819 --> 00:33:40.200 and enable you 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:40.619 to develop 00:33:40.619 --> 00:33:41.660 Christ-like character. 00:33:43.139 --> 00:33:44.279 If we'll run the race 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:44.960 of Christian living 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.680 like this, 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:48.420 we can be faithful. 00:33:50.720 --> 00:33:51.440 It doesn't mean 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.160 it'll be easy. 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:53.940 It doesn't mean 00:33:53.940 --> 00:33:55.160 that everything will happen 00:33:55.160 --> 00:33:55.779 the way you want it 00:33:55.779 --> 00:33:56.639 to happen in your life. 00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:59.440 But faithfulness 00:33:59.440 --> 00:34:00.880 is what pleases God. 00:34:02.220 --> 00:34:02.780 Faithfulness 00:34:02.780 --> 00:34:03.620 is how God 00:34:03.620 --> 00:34:04.640 determines success. 00:34:07.020 --> 00:34:07.520 Faithfulness 00:34:07.520 --> 00:34:09.940 is what makes us 00:34:09.940 --> 00:34:10.720 in this race 00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:11.579 of Christian living 00:34:11.579 --> 00:34:12.900 victorious. 00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.920 Faithfulness 00:34:14.920 --> 00:34:16.940 by God's grace 00:34:16.940 --> 00:34:19.559 is what will enable us 00:34:19.559 --> 00:34:20.400 to experience 00:34:20.400 --> 00:34:22.660 an eternal reward 00:34:22.660 --> 00:34:25.200 at the end of this race. 00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:27.139 let's pray together. 00:34:28.279 --> 00:34:28.679 Dear God, 00:34:29.539 --> 00:34:31.619 help us to see 00:34:31.619 --> 00:34:32.379 right now 00:34:32.379 --> 00:34:35.519 how we should respond 00:34:35.519 --> 00:34:36.799 in light of what 00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:37.219 you've said 00:34:37.219 --> 00:34:38.019 through your word 00:34:38.019 --> 00:34:39.699 and through your spirit 00:34:39.699 --> 00:34:40.739 to us individually. 00:34:43.019 --> 00:34:43.539 Father, 00:34:43.619 --> 00:34:44.019 if there are people 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.439 in this room 00:34:44.439 --> 00:34:45.279 who are not Christians, 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:48.239 but they want to be, 00:34:50.239 --> 00:34:51.239 dear God, 00:34:51.319 --> 00:34:52.319 make it clear to them 00:34:52.320 --> 00:34:54.019 that if they will 00:34:54.019 --> 00:34:55.019 admit their sin 00:34:55.019 --> 00:34:56.920 and truly turn from it, 00:34:57.019 --> 00:34:57.920 change their mind 00:34:57.920 --> 00:34:58.640 about how they're living 00:34:58.640 --> 00:35:00.900 and put their trust 00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.360 in Jesus 00:35:01.360 --> 00:35:02.400 that He has taken 00:35:02.400 --> 00:35:03.039 their punishment, 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:05.240 He paid the penalty 00:35:05.240 --> 00:35:05.840 for their sin 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.660 when He died on the cross. 00:35:08.120 --> 00:35:08.980 Help that person 00:35:08.980 --> 00:35:09.380 right now, 00:35:09.440 --> 00:35:09.780 dear God, 00:35:09.860 --> 00:35:10.640 to call upon Jesus 00:35:10.640 --> 00:35:12.700 to save them. 00:35:13.920 --> 00:35:14.860 Help that man, 00:35:14.980 --> 00:35:15.200 woman, 00:35:15.340 --> 00:35:15.900 young person 00:35:15.900 --> 00:35:18.380 to surrender control 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:19.019 of their lives 00:35:19.019 --> 00:35:19.519 right now 00:35:19.519 --> 00:35:20.059 to Jesus 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:21.320 as their Lord, 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:22.719 as their ultimate leader. 00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:25.759 Father, 00:35:25.840 --> 00:35:26.420 if there are Christians 00:35:26.420 --> 00:35:27.019 in this room 00:35:27.019 --> 00:35:27.599 right now, 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:32.279 you have identified 00:35:32.279 --> 00:35:33.239 things that are 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:34.119 hindering them 00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:36.360 from faithfully 00:35:36.360 --> 00:35:38.759 living the life 00:35:38.759 --> 00:35:39.320 that God's called 00:35:39.320 --> 00:35:40.000 them to live. 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:41.940 Dear God, 00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:42.739 show them 00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:44.019 what they need to do. 00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:45.679 If there's sin 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:46.380 to confess, 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.239 if there are priorities 00:35:48.239 --> 00:35:49.159 to rearrange, 00:35:49.159 --> 00:35:52.420 if there are some 00:35:52.420 --> 00:35:53.839 changes in their lifestyle, 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.960 in their relationships 00:35:54.960 --> 00:35:55.739 that need to be made, 00:35:56.019 --> 00:35:56.799 make it clear. 00:35:59.059 --> 00:35:59.699 Help them, 00:35:59.819 --> 00:36:00.219 dear God, 00:36:01.059 --> 00:36:02.279 to make that kind 00:36:02.279 --> 00:36:02.819 of commitment. 00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.920 Not just right now, 00:36:04.980 --> 00:36:05.920 but every day. 00:36:08.759 --> 00:36:09.559 In an attitude 00:36:09.559 --> 00:36:10.079 of prayer, 00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:11.759 let's just all 00:36:11.759 --> 00:36:12.480 listen to the Lord 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:13.719 and respond to Him. 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.960 If I could pray 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:16.940 with you during this time, 00:36:16.940 --> 00:36:18.200 I'll be here 00:36:18.200 --> 00:36:18.559 at the front 00:36:18.559 --> 00:36:20.119 and would be happy 00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:20.659 to do that. 00:36:20.659 --> 00:36:50.639 Thank you.