WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.200 Brother Fred, thank you for your kind invitation. 00:00:03.839 --> 00:00:06.759 I don't get a lot of invitation to come back a second time, 00:00:06.940 --> 00:00:10.980 so I'm very grateful for that. 00:00:11.720 --> 00:00:16.379 As we prepare our hearts this morning to look together at God's Word, 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:17.580 would you join me as we pray? 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:22.019 Heavenly Father, thank you for just the privilege 00:00:22.019 --> 00:00:24.900 every time we're able to gather as a body of believers 00:00:24.900 --> 00:00:29.080 to join our hearts in worship, 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.640 to be reminded that none of us would be here today 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:39.560 were it not for your amazing grace. 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:42.880 And Father, out of that awareness, 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.799 I pray today that we just present ourselves before you 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:55.379 in humility and Lord, in all emptying of self 00:00:55.380 --> 00:01:00.480 to just sit before your Word today. 00:01:00.580 --> 00:01:07.000 And we pray that your Holy Spirit would be the one who teaches us this morning. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:12.300 And I pray that this Word that we hold in our hands this morning, 00:01:12.299 --> 00:01:15.879 paper and ink, this written Word. 00:01:16.359 --> 00:01:21.859 Lord, I pray that it will now become a living Word in our hearts today. 00:01:22.759 --> 00:01:23.799 Speak to us. 00:01:24.459 --> 00:01:28.140 May we be good stewards of every moment you give us. 00:01:29.739 --> 00:01:32.599 In this time together, it's the prayer that we pray in Jesus' name. 00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:33.840 Amen. 00:01:33.840 --> 00:01:34.000 Amen. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:41.840 He was considered by many to be the fastest man in the world. 00:01:41.939 --> 00:01:43.600 They called him the Flying Scotchman. 00:01:44.400 --> 00:01:46.300 He was 22 years old. 00:01:47.100 --> 00:01:50.500 And in the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris, France, 00:01:50.700 --> 00:01:57.300 Eric Little was to have competed in the 100-meter dash. 00:01:57.299 --> 00:02:01.079 Again, he was the fastest man at that particular race, 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:05.319 fully expected to win the gold medal. 00:02:06.219 --> 00:02:07.840 But Eric Little was also a Christian. 00:02:08.620 --> 00:02:09.659 He was a strong believer. 00:02:09.819 --> 00:02:14.000 And just a few days before the 100-meter dash was to have been run, 00:02:14.599 --> 00:02:18.780 he discovered that the qualifying heats for that event 00:02:18.780 --> 00:02:20.979 were going to be held on a Sunday. 00:02:21.939 --> 00:02:25.099 And Eric Little had strong convictions about the Lord's Day. 00:02:25.099 --> 00:02:29.180 And he determined if those qualifying heats were going to be run on a Sunday, 00:02:29.519 --> 00:02:31.879 he could not participate. 00:02:32.819 --> 00:02:37.500 Now, as you might imagine, a great uproar followed that decision. 00:02:37.959 --> 00:02:41.259 The Olympic Committee in that day got together, 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:43.039 held an emergency meeting, 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:44.780 called Eric Little in and said, 00:02:44.879 --> 00:02:48.280 Look, man, everybody's eyes are on you. 00:02:48.799 --> 00:02:50.400 You've got to run this race. 00:02:50.699 --> 00:02:53.099 Race, he said, No, I can't do it. 00:02:53.099 --> 00:02:58.680 He was summoned to a personal meeting with the Prince of Wales 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:02.199 who had come to watch that race 00:03:02.199 --> 00:03:03.500 and was told again, 00:03:03.599 --> 00:03:04.799 Eric, we need you to run. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:06.840 He said, I cannot run. 00:03:08.019 --> 00:03:11.419 Finally, Eric Little received a telegram 00:03:11.419 --> 00:03:14.840 from the Prime Minister of Great Britain, 00:03:14.959 --> 00:03:16.719 giving him an ultimatum, in essence. 00:03:17.240 --> 00:03:18.539 Eric, you don't have a choice. 00:03:19.099 --> 00:03:22.419 You have got to compete in this race. 00:03:22.419 --> 00:03:23.280 But he stood firm. 00:03:23.519 --> 00:03:25.119 He did not run. 00:03:25.419 --> 00:03:27.579 And many people looked at Eric Little and said, 00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:29.439 What a waste. 00:03:30.619 --> 00:03:32.219 You have given up fame. 00:03:33.319 --> 00:03:36.039 You have probably given up fortune. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:38.619 You have certainly given up the gold medal, 00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:42.679 which everyone realizes you could have won. 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:48.500 And yet, this young man at 24 years of age 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:52.800 determined that nothing was more important in his life 00:03:52.800 --> 00:03:55.800 than his relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:03:55.960 --> 00:03:58.620 And he would not do anything that he considered 00:03:58.620 --> 00:04:02.060 would compromise his stance for Jesus Christ. 00:04:02.159 --> 00:04:04.000 So he did not run that race. 00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:06.760 He did not win that gold medal. 00:04:06.759 --> 00:04:12.179 But his commitment and his conviction stirred a generation. 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:16.279 And many people looked at what Eric Little did 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:19.459 and were moved to follow Christ 00:04:19.459 --> 00:04:21.959 and this young man's example. 00:04:22.759 --> 00:04:24.539 This morning, I want to ask you a question. 00:04:24.540 --> 00:04:34.379 Where are the radicals for Jesus Christ today? 00:04:35.520 --> 00:04:36.620 Where are they? 00:04:38.080 --> 00:04:41.140 Where are those who would stand up today and say, 00:04:41.640 --> 00:04:47.720 I boldly proclaim that there is nothing in my life 00:04:47.720 --> 00:04:49.220 more precious to me 00:04:49.220 --> 00:04:52.660 than my relationship with Christ, 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:55.400 than living for His glory. 00:04:57.320 --> 00:04:58.760 And I want to ask you this morning, 00:04:58.840 --> 00:05:01.240 just right out of the gate, 00:05:02.600 --> 00:05:04.940 would you be willing 00:05:04.940 --> 00:05:08.220 to be that kind of person? 00:05:08.660 --> 00:05:09.960 I don't know any day 00:05:09.960 --> 00:05:12.900 there has ever been when we need more 00:05:12.900 --> 00:05:14.900 Eric Littles 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:17.199 who will stand up 00:05:17.199 --> 00:05:18.719 with conviction 00:05:18.719 --> 00:05:20.819 and proclaim 00:05:20.819 --> 00:05:22.599 my life 00:05:22.599 --> 00:05:24.019 belongs 00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:25.479 to Christ 00:05:25.479 --> 00:05:26.120 fully, 00:05:26.819 --> 00:05:27.339 finally, 00:05:28.179 --> 00:05:28.679 forever. 00:05:28.839 --> 00:05:29.459 I have given 00:05:29.459 --> 00:05:31.459 my life 00:05:31.459 --> 00:05:32.500 to Him. 00:05:32.919 --> 00:05:33.259 Today, 00:05:34.939 --> 00:05:35.219 I 00:05:35.219 --> 00:05:39.500 I sort of want to get in your face a little bit. 00:05:39.539 --> 00:05:39.879 Is that okay? 00:05:40.879 --> 00:05:42.879 Just get in your face a little bit 00:05:42.879 --> 00:05:43.899 this morning 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:46.479 and try to give you something to live for. 00:05:49.979 --> 00:05:51.979 I want to give you something to live for 00:05:51.979 --> 00:05:53.500 because I am convinced 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:55.859 every one of us, 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:56.919 you this morning, 00:05:57.000 --> 00:05:57.679 are standing 00:05:57.679 --> 00:05:59.560 on the precipice 00:05:59.560 --> 00:06:01.019 of a great adventure, 00:06:01.079 --> 00:06:02.019 if you will take it. 00:06:02.979 --> 00:06:04.599 And I don't want you to waste 00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:05.739 your lives 00:06:05.739 --> 00:06:07.079 in 00:06:07.079 --> 00:06:10.299 a valley of insignificance. 00:06:10.300 --> 00:06:13.540 I do not want you to fall prey 00:06:13.540 --> 00:06:16.220 to what I have called 00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:17.840 the mind-numbing, 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:19.720 spiritual, 00:06:19.939 --> 00:06:21.259 anesthetizing, 00:06:22.280 --> 00:06:24.300 destiny-dimming 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:25.680 enticement 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:27.379 of the American dream 00:06:27.379 --> 00:06:29.379 that simply says to you 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.379 and me today, 00:06:30.379 --> 00:06:31.420 if you'll just 00:06:31.420 --> 00:06:32.879 get a good education, 00:06:32.879 --> 00:06:35.879 if you'll get a good job, 00:06:36.839 --> 00:06:38.439 if you'll raise a good family, 00:06:38.680 --> 00:06:40.360 if you'll live a good life, 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:42.540 then you'll have a good time 00:06:42.540 --> 00:06:43.680 and your life 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.480 will be a good life. 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:47.180 Can I tell you this morning 00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:48.819 unhesitatingly, 00:06:49.159 --> 00:06:49.959 you were created 00:06:49.959 --> 00:06:51.219 for something more than that. 00:06:51.220 --> 00:06:54.900 In fact, 00:06:54.940 --> 00:06:55.540 you were created 00:06:55.540 --> 00:06:59.020 for a whole lot more 00:06:59.020 --> 00:07:01.340 than that. 00:07:02.460 --> 00:07:03.480 So I want to say to you this morning, 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:04.540 whether you're a student 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:08.920 with the majority of your life 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:09.720 ahead of you, 00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.500 or whether you've already retired 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:15.260 and trying to figure out 00:07:15.260 --> 00:07:16.500 how you can make the most 00:07:16.500 --> 00:07:18.180 of your final years, 00:07:18.820 --> 00:07:19.760 I want to point you 00:07:19.760 --> 00:07:20.800 to something this morning. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:21.879 So I want you to take 00:07:21.879 --> 00:07:23.040 your copy of God's Word 00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:24.639 as you have it there with you, 00:07:24.699 --> 00:07:26.060 or maybe you're going to 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:27.259 look this up on your phone 00:07:27.259 --> 00:07:28.699 or some other device. 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:29.780 I want you to look with me 00:07:29.780 --> 00:07:30.620 at a couple of verses 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:34.520 in 1 Corinthians 6. 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:38.379 Let me just say to you, 00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:40.040 if we really understand 00:07:40.040 --> 00:07:41.280 what these verses say, 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:42.480 they may be 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:44.019 some of the scariest, 00:07:45.019 --> 00:07:47.100 most intimidating verses 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:49.620 in all of 00:07:49.620 --> 00:07:51.360 the New Testament. 00:07:52.600 --> 00:07:54.100 But we're going to look at them anyway. 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:56.079 1 Corinthians 6, 00:07:56.540 --> 00:07:58.439 verses 19 and 20. 00:08:00.939 --> 00:08:02.139 1 Corinthians 6, 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:02.939 19 and 20, 00:08:03.019 --> 00:08:03.939 parts of these verses. 00:08:04.280 --> 00:08:05.240 I want you to listen to what 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:06.079 Paul, 00:08:06.199 --> 00:08:06.860 under the inspiration 00:08:06.860 --> 00:08:07.579 of the Holy Spirit, 00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:09.300 writes to you and to me. 00:08:09.300 --> 00:08:11.439 Now, 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:14.000 you belong 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:15.319 to God. 00:08:16.460 --> 00:08:18.379 You do not belong 00:08:18.379 --> 00:08:19.500 to yourselves. 00:08:21.580 --> 00:08:23.680 God has bought you 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:27.139 with a great price. 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:28.180 Hear that again. 00:08:28.560 --> 00:08:29.019 Now, 00:08:29.680 --> 00:08:31.660 you belong 00:08:31.660 --> 00:08:32.919 to God. 00:08:32.919 --> 00:08:36.099 You do not belong 00:08:36.099 --> 00:08:37.740 to yourselves. 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:39.659 Why? 00:08:39.759 --> 00:08:41.879 Because God has bought you 00:08:41.879 --> 00:08:44.879 with a great price. 00:08:44.979 --> 00:08:45.740 Do you understand 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:46.559 this morning? 00:08:46.779 --> 00:08:47.899 If you are a Christian, 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:49.279 if you would stand here 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:50.240 and dare 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:53.079 to name the name of Jesus 00:08:53.079 --> 00:08:55.740 as Lord and Savior 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:57.120 of your life, 00:08:57.240 --> 00:08:57.919 do you understand 00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:00.740 you are not your own? 00:09:00.740 --> 00:09:02.180 You do not belong 00:09:02.180 --> 00:09:02.879 to yourself. 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:03.980 It is not 00:09:03.980 --> 00:09:05.220 your life. 00:09:06.799 --> 00:09:08.320 Christ bought you. 00:09:08.419 --> 00:09:09.360 He bought me 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:10.580 at the price 00:09:10.580 --> 00:09:12.000 of His own death 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:12.899 so that now 00:09:12.899 --> 00:09:14.480 we doubly 00:09:14.480 --> 00:09:15.680 belong to God. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:17.519 We belong to God, 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:17.940 number one, 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:18.860 because He created 00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:20.320 every single one of us. 00:09:21.240 --> 00:09:22.560 And then if we are believers, 00:09:22.940 --> 00:09:23.980 we belong to God 00:09:23.980 --> 00:09:24.940 because Christ 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:26.740 purchased us. 00:09:27.580 --> 00:09:27.740 He purchased 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:29.360 our salvation 00:09:29.360 --> 00:09:30.220 at the price 00:09:30.220 --> 00:09:31.320 of His death 00:09:31.320 --> 00:09:33.639 on the cross. 00:09:34.340 --> 00:09:35.000 And that means 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:35.740 my life 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:36.379 is no longer 00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:37.160 my life 00:09:37.160 --> 00:09:38.320 to do with 00:09:38.320 --> 00:09:39.300 however I want 00:09:39.300 --> 00:09:40.940 to do with it. 00:09:41.060 --> 00:09:41.620 Your life 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:42.340 is not your life 00:09:42.340 --> 00:09:42.899 to do whatever 00:09:42.899 --> 00:09:43.480 you want 00:09:43.480 --> 00:09:44.500 to do 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:45.840 with it. 00:09:47.480 --> 00:09:48.379 I've heard people 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:49.019 say before, 00:09:49.139 --> 00:09:49.279 you know, 00:09:49.340 --> 00:09:50.180 you grow up in America, 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:51.519 you can become 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:52.440 anything you want to be. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:53.139 Can we stop 00:09:53.139 --> 00:09:53.960 telling our kids 00:09:53.960 --> 00:09:54.540 that lie 00:09:54.540 --> 00:09:55.440 if we are followers 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.019 of Christ? 00:09:56.019 --> 00:09:56.139 Christ. 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:00.639 You can become 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:01.579 anything God 00:10:01.579 --> 00:10:02.679 wants you to become. 00:10:03.740 --> 00:10:04.519 You can do 00:10:04.519 --> 00:10:05.000 anything 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:05.919 God 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:06.939 wants you to do 00:10:06.939 --> 00:10:07.699 because your life 00:10:07.699 --> 00:10:08.439 is not your own 00:10:08.439 --> 00:10:09.039 to do with 00:10:09.039 --> 00:10:11.199 what you want 00:10:11.199 --> 00:10:11.779 to do with 00:10:11.779 --> 00:10:13.159 and neither is mine. 00:10:14.699 --> 00:10:15.419 We're not free 00:10:15.419 --> 00:10:16.500 to chart our own course, 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:17.860 pursue our own desires, 00:10:18.279 --> 00:10:19.620 chase our own dreams. 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:24.419 Restricting, huh? 00:10:25.299 --> 00:10:26.039 A little bit. 00:10:27.600 --> 00:10:28.379 Boxes you in, 00:10:28.419 --> 00:10:28.960 doesn't it? 00:10:30.440 --> 00:10:31.399 Cramps your style, 00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:32.759 infringes on your freedom, 00:10:32.860 --> 00:10:33.120 right? 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:34.279 I mean, 00:10:34.360 --> 00:10:35.500 that's what the world 00:10:35.500 --> 00:10:37.779 will tell us. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:38.779 That's what it told 00:10:38.779 --> 00:10:40.039 Eric Little. 00:10:41.560 --> 00:10:42.399 But this morning, 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:43.560 can we look for just a moment 00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:44.440 at what God's Word 00:10:44.440 --> 00:10:45.320 really has to say 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:45.779 about this? 00:10:46.060 --> 00:10:47.200 And I want to illustrate 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:50.140 this 1 Corinthians 00:10:50.140 --> 00:10:52.400 text in several ways. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:53.540 First of all, 00:10:53.620 --> 00:10:54.560 I want to illustrate it 00:10:54.560 --> 00:10:55.800 by looking at the life 00:10:55.800 --> 00:10:57.420 of a man in Scripture. 00:10:57.700 --> 00:10:59.200 His name was Epaphroditus. 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:00.140 We find his story 00:11:00.140 --> 00:11:01.379 in Philippians chapter 2. 00:11:01.740 --> 00:11:02.060 So, 00:11:02.280 --> 00:11:03.320 I encourage you to mark 00:11:03.320 --> 00:11:05.080 1 Corinthians chapter 6, 00:11:05.200 --> 00:11:05.340 but 00:11:05.340 --> 00:11:06.740 turn over 00:11:06.740 --> 00:11:08.480 into the New Testament. 00:11:09.140 --> 00:11:10.480 A few books here. 00:11:11.540 --> 00:11:12.620 To Philippians. 00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:14.720 And we're going to look 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:15.460 for just a moment 00:11:15.460 --> 00:11:16.440 at Epaphroditus. 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:16.720 Now, 00:11:17.340 --> 00:11:18.500 this is the only place 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:19.240 in Scripture 00:11:19.240 --> 00:11:21.740 we find Epaphroditus 00:11:21.740 --> 00:11:22.360 mentioned, 00:11:22.540 --> 00:11:23.260 but he is 00:11:23.260 --> 00:11:24.960 memorialized here. 00:11:25.660 --> 00:11:26.180 He is 00:11:26.180 --> 00:11:28.000 ensconced 00:11:28.000 --> 00:11:29.440 because of what we see 00:11:29.440 --> 00:11:30.100 about him 00:11:30.100 --> 00:11:31.800 in this text. 00:11:31.900 --> 00:11:32.000 Now, 00:11:32.020 --> 00:11:33.060 before we look at the verses 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:34.180 describing his life 00:11:34.180 --> 00:11:34.620 a little bit, 00:11:34.900 --> 00:11:35.380 let me give you 00:11:35.380 --> 00:11:36.500 a little bit of a background 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:38.040 to this book 00:11:38.040 --> 00:11:38.940 of Philippians. 00:11:39.440 --> 00:11:40.000 Epaphroditus 00:11:40.000 --> 00:11:42.040 was a member 00:11:42.040 --> 00:11:43.020 of the church 00:11:43.020 --> 00:11:44.560 at Philippi. 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:47.399 the Philippian church 00:11:47.399 --> 00:11:48.479 had heard that Paul 00:11:48.479 --> 00:11:49.419 was in prison 00:11:49.419 --> 00:11:50.000 in Rome. 00:11:50.099 --> 00:11:51.359 That's where Paul was 00:11:51.359 --> 00:11:52.279 when he wrote 00:11:52.279 --> 00:11:52.739 the book 00:11:52.739 --> 00:11:53.839 of Philippians. 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:54.719 And so, 00:11:54.839 --> 00:11:55.839 the church at Philippi 00:11:55.839 --> 00:11:56.719 determined that it 00:11:56.719 --> 00:11:57.539 would come together, 00:11:57.799 --> 00:11:58.579 it would take up 00:11:58.579 --> 00:11:59.159 a collection, 00:11:59.299 --> 00:11:59.919 an offering, 00:12:00.339 --> 00:12:01.939 and they would send it 00:12:01.939 --> 00:12:02.479 to Paul 00:12:02.479 --> 00:12:03.539 in Rome, 00:12:03.619 --> 00:12:04.619 and Epaphroditus 00:12:04.619 --> 00:12:05.479 was the one 00:12:05.479 --> 00:12:06.039 who was given 00:12:06.039 --> 00:12:06.659 the task 00:12:06.659 --> 00:12:07.879 to take that gift 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:08.759 to Paul in Rome. 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.860 As a matter of fact, 00:12:09.960 --> 00:12:11.139 we might say 00:12:11.139 --> 00:12:12.059 that the book 00:12:12.059 --> 00:12:12.819 of Philippians 00:12:12.819 --> 00:12:13.379 is sort of 00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:14.200 Paul's extended 00:12:14.200 --> 00:12:15.200 thank you letter 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:16.679 to the church 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:17.419 at Philippi 00:12:17.419 --> 00:12:19.139 for the sending 00:12:19.139 --> 00:12:20.039 of this gift 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:20.720 to him 00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:21.740 in prison 00:12:21.740 --> 00:12:22.840 in Rome. 00:12:23.399 --> 00:12:23.539 So, 00:12:23.639 --> 00:12:24.259 Epaphroditus 00:12:24.259 --> 00:12:25.019 is tasked 00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:26.919 with this responsibility. 00:12:27.539 --> 00:12:28.139 He is taking 00:12:28.139 --> 00:12:28.679 this gift 00:12:28.679 --> 00:12:29.740 from the Philippian church 00:12:29.740 --> 00:12:30.200 to Rome 00:12:30.200 --> 00:12:32.100 somewhere on the journey 00:12:32.100 --> 00:12:33.600 from Philippi 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:34.220 to Rome 00:12:34.220 --> 00:12:34.879 or perhaps 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:35.720 after he got 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:36.100 to Rome, 00:12:36.159 --> 00:12:36.980 we don't really know. 00:12:36.980 --> 00:12:38.420 but Epaphroditus 00:12:38.420 --> 00:12:40.759 became seriously ill. 00:12:41.980 --> 00:12:42.659 We don't know 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:44.220 what the illness 00:12:44.220 --> 00:12:45.240 was that he had, 00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:46.360 but if you look 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:47.759 at verse 27, 00:12:48.220 --> 00:12:48.960 you will see 00:12:48.960 --> 00:12:50.399 of Philippians chapter 2, 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:50.980 you will see 00:12:50.980 --> 00:12:51.840 that it was serious 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:52.340 enough 00:12:52.340 --> 00:12:53.279 that the man 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.000 almost died. 00:12:57.420 --> 00:12:57.700 And so, 00:12:57.779 --> 00:12:58.600 the Philippian church 00:12:58.600 --> 00:12:59.320 was concerned 00:12:59.320 --> 00:13:00.300 about Epaphroditus. 00:13:00.440 --> 00:13:00.620 Somehow, 00:13:00.740 --> 00:13:01.460 they had gotten word 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:02.500 that he was 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:03.440 at the point of death. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:04.019 So, 00:13:04.060 --> 00:13:04.860 after he recovers 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.320 a little bit, 00:13:05.399 --> 00:13:06.740 Paul says in verse 28, 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.879 I'm going to send 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:09.840 Epaphroditus back to you 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:11.519 so that he can be with you, 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:12.480 he can be with his family, 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.100 he can be with his church family, 00:13:14.100 --> 00:13:15.279 and can recover. 00:13:15.759 --> 00:13:15.940 So, 00:13:15.980 --> 00:13:16.680 that's the background. 00:13:16.840 --> 00:13:18.060 What I want you to see here, 00:13:18.420 --> 00:13:18.860 the verses, 00:13:19.139 --> 00:13:20.399 verses 29 and 30, 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:21.960 because this tells us something 00:13:21.960 --> 00:13:23.279 of Epaphroditus 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:24.220 that is really the focus 00:13:24.220 --> 00:13:25.659 of what I'm trying 00:13:25.659 --> 00:13:26.340 to help all of us 00:13:26.340 --> 00:13:27.379 come to terms with today. 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:28.460 Verse 29, 00:13:29.560 --> 00:13:30.340 Paul says, 00:13:30.680 --> 00:13:32.300 as he sends Epaphroditus back, 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:34.240 so receive him in the Lord 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.199 with all joy 00:13:35.199 --> 00:13:37.000 and honor such men 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:38.699 for he nearly died 00:13:38.699 --> 00:13:39.859 for the work of Christ, 00:13:40.479 --> 00:13:43.139 risking his life 00:13:43.139 --> 00:13:45.819 to complete what was lacking 00:13:45.819 --> 00:13:47.059 in your service to me. 00:13:47.479 --> 00:13:47.679 Now, 00:13:47.719 --> 00:13:49.419 there's a little key phrase here 00:13:49.419 --> 00:13:50.879 that Paul uses 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:53.459 to describe Epaphroditus. 00:13:53.579 --> 00:13:54.179 He says, 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:58.740 he risked his life. 00:13:58.740 --> 00:14:02.180 He risked his life. 00:14:02.340 --> 00:14:02.480 Now, 00:14:02.840 --> 00:14:03.860 in the common language 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:05.379 of the people in Paul's day, 00:14:05.779 --> 00:14:06.600 that little phrase, 00:14:06.820 --> 00:14:07.899 risking his life, 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:09.399 was borrowed from 00:14:09.399 --> 00:14:10.779 the gambling world. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:12.200 It was a gambler's term. 00:14:13.200 --> 00:14:15.539 It meant to place a bet. 00:14:16.600 --> 00:14:18.240 It meant to make a wager. 00:14:19.259 --> 00:14:22.580 It meant to roll the dice. 00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:24.700 Literally, 00:14:24.860 --> 00:14:25.539 Paul said, 00:14:26.039 --> 00:14:26.560 let me tell you 00:14:26.560 --> 00:14:27.539 about Epaphroditus. 00:14:27.539 --> 00:14:29.579 He was willing 00:14:29.579 --> 00:14:30.639 to gamble 00:14:30.639 --> 00:14:32.939 his own life 00:14:32.939 --> 00:14:34.000 for the sake 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:35.059 of Christ. 00:14:35.719 --> 00:14:37.439 He threw himself 00:14:37.439 --> 00:14:38.299 out there 00:14:38.299 --> 00:14:39.639 on the game board 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:40.980 of life. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:43.259 He rolled the dice 00:14:43.259 --> 00:14:44.559 with his life 00:14:44.559 --> 00:14:45.939 and he literally 00:14:45.939 --> 00:14:46.539 risked 00:14:47.360 --> 00:14:48.399 losing it all 00:14:48.399 --> 00:14:49.599 to do what Christ 00:14:49.599 --> 00:14:50.480 had called him 00:14:50.480 --> 00:14:51.279 to do. 00:14:51.519 --> 00:14:52.279 Epaphroditus 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.539 was God's 00:14:53.539 --> 00:14:54.860 gambler. 00:14:55.799 --> 00:14:57.000 And he gambled 00:14:57.000 --> 00:14:58.220 everything 00:14:58.220 --> 00:14:59.399 because he placed 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:01.100 his very life 00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.500 on the line 00:15:02.500 --> 00:15:05.559 to do what Christ 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.899 had called him 00:15:07.899 --> 00:15:10.259 to do. 00:15:13.259 --> 00:15:14.279 I want to tell you 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:15.419 about one of my favorite 00:15:15.419 --> 00:15:16.399 historical 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:18.639 Christian 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:21.679 characters. 00:15:21.679 --> 00:15:21.899 characters. 00:15:22.899 --> 00:15:23.919 Her name was 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:24.979 Ann Hazeltine. 00:15:26.179 --> 00:15:27.319 She was the youngest 00:15:27.319 --> 00:15:29.079 of five children 00:15:29.079 --> 00:15:31.839 and she was doted 00:15:31.839 --> 00:15:32.859 on by her family. 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:34.639 She had a wonderfully 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:35.859 happy childhood 00:15:35.859 --> 00:15:38.059 and by her teenage 00:15:38.059 --> 00:15:38.939 years she was 00:15:38.939 --> 00:15:39.559 sparkling, 00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:41.299 full of joy, 00:15:41.819 --> 00:15:42.299 popular, 00:15:42.739 --> 00:15:43.620 very attractive, 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.000 always in demand 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:45.639 at parties 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.419 and all kinds 00:15:46.419 --> 00:15:48.359 of social events. 00:15:48.360 --> 00:15:49.259 in her youth. 00:15:49.980 --> 00:15:51.060 Her main concerns 00:15:51.060 --> 00:15:52.019 were her friends, 00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.620 socializing, 00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:54.779 having fun. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:15:55.639 Her father 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.200 actually constructed 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:58.139 on the back 00:15:58.139 --> 00:15:59.419 of their house 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:01.779 a dance hall, 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.720 a big room 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.399 that was used 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.519 just for dancing 00:16:04.519 --> 00:16:06.159 so Ann's home 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.419 really became 00:16:07.419 --> 00:16:08.100 the center 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:09.340 of social life 00:16:09.340 --> 00:16:10.320 in the town 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:11.259 where they lived. 00:16:12.120 --> 00:16:12.960 Now like most 00:16:12.960 --> 00:16:13.480 of the people 00:16:13.480 --> 00:16:14.340 who lived in that 00:16:14.340 --> 00:16:15.320 small town, 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:17.140 the Hazeltines 00:16:17.140 --> 00:16:18.500 went to church. 00:16:19.879 --> 00:16:21.100 But religion was, 00:16:22.180 --> 00:16:22.900 it just wasn't 00:16:22.900 --> 00:16:23.820 very demanding 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:24.440 at all. 00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:25.360 Didn't require 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.100 much of them 00:16:26.100 --> 00:16:28.080 and most of their 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:29.120 time was spent 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:30.500 just doing 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:31.120 what they wanted 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.520 to do, 00:16:31.640 --> 00:16:32.420 having fun, 00:16:33.260 --> 00:16:34.140 being with friends. 00:16:36.340 --> 00:16:37.140 So in Ann's own 00:16:37.140 --> 00:16:38.020 words she said, 00:16:38.080 --> 00:16:38.200 you know, 00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:40.240 I was consumed 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:42.000 with the things 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:42.420 of the world. 00:16:42.420 --> 00:16:43.380 Even though I profess 00:16:43.380 --> 00:16:44.300 to follow Christ, 00:16:44.299 --> 00:16:46.459 I know my focus 00:16:46.459 --> 00:16:47.279 was on the things 00:16:47.279 --> 00:16:47.899 of the world, 00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:48.740 having fun. 00:16:49.379 --> 00:16:50.179 I was largely 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:51.639 directed by peer pressure. 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:53.500 And so I want 00:16:53.500 --> 00:16:54.299 to read a few things 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:55.179 to you this morning 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:56.079 that come from 00:16:56.079 --> 00:16:57.099 her diary. 00:16:57.799 --> 00:16:58.319 And I'm just going 00:16:58.319 --> 00:16:58.799 to read it off 00:16:58.799 --> 00:16:59.459 this sheet of paper 00:16:59.459 --> 00:17:00.219 because I want you 00:17:00.219 --> 00:17:01.099 to hear verbatim 00:17:01.099 --> 00:17:02.979 what Ann wrote 00:17:02.979 --> 00:17:04.779 about her understanding 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.659 of Christianity 00:17:05.659 --> 00:17:07.059 at this young point 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.700 in her life. 00:17:08.399 --> 00:17:09.379 Here's what she said, 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:09.700 quote, 00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:11.559 During the first 00:17:11.559 --> 00:17:13.159 16 years of my life, 00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:15.220 I very seldom 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:17.220 felt any serious 00:17:17.220 --> 00:17:18.660 impressions about 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:19.140 anything. 00:17:20.820 --> 00:17:22.000 I was early taught 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:22.680 by my mother, 00:17:22.820 --> 00:17:23.540 though at that time 00:17:23.540 --> 00:17:24.120 she was ignorant 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:24.600 of the nature 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:25.360 of true religion. 00:17:26.040 --> 00:17:26.740 I was taught 00:17:26.740 --> 00:17:27.779 by her the importance 00:17:27.779 --> 00:17:29.200 of abstaining 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.300 from those vices 00:17:30.300 --> 00:17:32.019 like telling falsehoods, 00:17:32.060 --> 00:17:33.200 disobeying my parents, 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:34.440 taking what was 00:17:34.440 --> 00:17:35.240 not my own. 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.680 She also taught me 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.340 that if I was 00:17:38.340 --> 00:17:39.240 a good child, 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:41.480 when I died, 00:17:41.799 --> 00:17:42.859 I would escape 00:17:42.859 --> 00:17:44.059 that dreadful place 00:17:44.059 --> 00:17:44.799 called hell, 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:45.599 the thought of which 00:17:45.599 --> 00:17:46.660 sometimes filled me 00:17:46.660 --> 00:17:47.720 with alarm and terror. 00:17:48.140 --> 00:17:48.460 So, 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.559 I therefore made it 00:17:50.559 --> 00:17:51.500 a matter of conscience 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:52.500 to avoid 00:17:52.500 --> 00:17:54.400 these kinds of sins. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.019 I'd say my prayer 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:56.559 every night 00:17:56.559 --> 00:17:57.299 and every morning. 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:58.980 I would try not 00:17:58.980 --> 00:17:59.640 to do the things 00:17:59.640 --> 00:18:00.640 that I knew were wrong, 00:18:01.460 --> 00:18:02.200 never doubting 00:18:02.200 --> 00:18:03.099 that such a course 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.759 of conduct 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.519 would ensure 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.500 my salvation. 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:08.720 At the age of 12 or 13, 00:18:08.920 --> 00:18:10.539 I attended the academy 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.640 where suddenly 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:12.599 as I was exposed 00:18:12.599 --> 00:18:14.160 to many more temptations 00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.079 than ever before. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:16.900 I now began to go 00:18:16.900 --> 00:18:18.420 to dances and parties. 00:18:18.599 --> 00:18:19.299 I found my mind 00:18:19.299 --> 00:18:20.279 completely occupied 00:18:20.279 --> 00:18:20.940 with the things 00:18:20.940 --> 00:18:21.599 of the world. 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:23.900 And for two or three years, 00:18:23.980 --> 00:18:25.480 I scarcely felt 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.660 an anxious thought 00:18:26.660 --> 00:18:28.539 at all relative 00:18:28.539 --> 00:18:29.460 to the salvation 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:30.599 of my own soul. 00:18:32.400 --> 00:18:33.339 Even though, 00:18:33.480 --> 00:18:33.819 now listen, 00:18:33.819 --> 00:18:34.639 even though, 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:37.059 I was rapidly heading 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:38.639 towards eternal ruin. 00:18:39.639 --> 00:18:40.460 I was surrounded 00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.279 by my friends 00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:42.179 who were wild 00:18:42.179 --> 00:18:42.779 and volatile 00:18:42.779 --> 00:18:43.679 like myself. 00:18:44.019 --> 00:18:44.819 And I often thought 00:18:44.819 --> 00:18:45.339 myself, 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.379 one of the happiest 00:18:46.379 --> 00:18:47.460 people on earth. 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.779 My time mostly occupied 00:18:49.779 --> 00:18:50.619 with clothes, 00:18:51.740 --> 00:18:52.299 boys, 00:18:53.339 --> 00:18:54.339 and an amusement. 00:18:56.460 --> 00:18:57.599 That was her life. 00:18:57.659 --> 00:18:58.659 That was her own assessment 00:18:58.659 --> 00:18:59.500 of her life 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.980 at 16 years of age. 00:19:01.919 --> 00:19:02.159 Now, 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.119 she went on to say 00:19:03.119 --> 00:19:04.199 that from time to time 00:19:04.199 --> 00:19:05.819 she would sort of be 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:07.239 convicted about things 00:19:07.239 --> 00:19:07.779 in her life. 00:19:07.879 --> 00:19:09.079 She knew she was doing things 00:19:09.079 --> 00:19:10.539 she had no business doing, 00:19:10.839 --> 00:19:11.699 involved with people 00:19:11.699 --> 00:19:12.799 she shouldn't have been with. 00:19:13.539 --> 00:19:15.019 But because of peer pressure 00:19:15.019 --> 00:19:16.359 and her desire 00:19:16.359 --> 00:19:17.219 to be popular, 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:18.199 she said, 00:19:18.259 --> 00:19:18.359 you know, 00:19:18.439 --> 00:19:18.839 I was just, 00:19:18.939 --> 00:19:20.259 it was too embarrassing 00:19:20.259 --> 00:19:21.679 for me to try 00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:22.439 to take a stand 00:19:22.439 --> 00:19:22.979 for Christ 00:19:22.979 --> 00:19:23.719 or to really get 00:19:23.719 --> 00:19:24.419 too serious 00:19:24.419 --> 00:19:26.479 about spiritual things 00:19:26.479 --> 00:19:27.799 or try to be godly. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:30.839 But then, 00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:36.119 as a 17-year-old girl, 00:19:37.879 --> 00:19:38.919 Anne Hazeltine 00:19:38.919 --> 00:19:40.180 had a personal, 00:19:41.059 --> 00:19:42.079 powerful encounter 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:43.039 with Jesus Christ 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:44.079 that radically 00:19:44.079 --> 00:19:45.879 changed her life. 00:19:46.700 --> 00:19:46.960 Suddenly, 00:19:47.079 --> 00:19:48.039 she was overwhelmed 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:49.680 with a sense 00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:51.500 of her own guilt 00:19:51.500 --> 00:19:52.819 before this holy 00:19:52.819 --> 00:19:54.539 and righteous God. 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:56.599 she said, 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:57.899 I suddenly became 00:19:57.899 --> 00:20:00.039 aware of His majesty, 00:20:00.619 --> 00:20:02.079 His holiness, 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:03.299 His greatness, 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.639 the grace 00:20:04.639 --> 00:20:05.980 that He had extended 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:06.599 to me. 00:20:07.879 --> 00:20:09.220 And I became overwhelmed 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:11.139 with my own sinfulness 00:20:11.139 --> 00:20:12.240 and suddenly 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.039 I just had this 00:20:13.039 --> 00:20:14.240 consuming desire 00:20:14.240 --> 00:20:15.480 for my life 00:20:15.480 --> 00:20:16.420 to bring glory to God. 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.279 So at 17 years of age, 00:20:19.159 --> 00:20:19.920 she set out 00:20:19.920 --> 00:20:20.920 to live her life 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:23.700 in complete commitment 00:20:23.700 --> 00:20:24.360 to the Lord. 00:20:24.539 --> 00:20:24.940 And she said, 00:20:24.980 --> 00:20:25.560 Lord, here it is, 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:26.480 whatever you want to do. 00:20:27.120 --> 00:20:27.480 She said, 00:20:27.519 --> 00:20:28.620 what Epaphroditus said, 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.380 here's my life, 00:20:30.420 --> 00:20:31.320 I roll it out there. 00:20:31.920 --> 00:20:32.380 Let me tell you 00:20:32.380 --> 00:20:32.840 what happened. 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:36.100 Anne Hazeltine 00:20:36.100 --> 00:20:36.920 eventually married 00:20:36.920 --> 00:20:37.380 a man 00:20:37.380 --> 00:20:39.480 by the name of 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:41.480 Adoniram Judson. 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:42.680 I don't know 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.380 if that name means 00:20:43.380 --> 00:20:44.560 anything to you or not. 00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:45.380 If you know anything 00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.400 about mission history 00:20:46.400 --> 00:20:47.019 whatsoever. 00:20:47.820 --> 00:20:48.740 Adoniram Judson 00:20:48.740 --> 00:20:49.620 was one of the first 00:20:49.620 --> 00:20:50.840 Protestant missionaries 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:52.159 sent out from North America 00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:54.379 to the non-Christian world. 00:20:54.459 --> 00:20:54.980 He was one of the 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:56.919 great missionary pioneers. 00:20:59.019 --> 00:20:59.599 And so, 00:21:00.759 --> 00:21:01.879 Anne ended up 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:02.740 getting to know 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:04.059 Judson 00:21:04.059 --> 00:21:05.639 and they decided 00:21:05.639 --> 00:21:06.299 to get married. 00:21:07.059 --> 00:21:08.019 Let me read a part 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:09.359 of a letter to you now 00:21:09.359 --> 00:21:11.619 that Adoniram Judson 00:21:11.619 --> 00:21:13.939 wrote to Anne Hazeltine's 00:21:13.939 --> 00:21:14.679 father 00:21:14.679 --> 00:21:16.919 asking for her hand 00:21:16.919 --> 00:21:17.679 in marriage 00:21:17.679 --> 00:21:19.419 and also asking 00:21:19.419 --> 00:21:20.740 permission to take Anne 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:21.420 with him 00:21:21.420 --> 00:21:23.079 as a missionary 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.339 to India. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.039 Now, if you're a father 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:27.039 out there with a daughter, 00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.339 I want you to listen to the... 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:29.059 It ought to impact 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:29.859 every one of us, 00:21:29.920 --> 00:21:30.579 but I want you to listen 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.779 to what Adoniram Judson 00:21:31.779 --> 00:21:33.400 wrote to Anne Hazeltine's 00:21:33.400 --> 00:21:33.660 father. 00:21:35.579 --> 00:21:36.960 I have to ask you now 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:38.079 whether you can consent 00:21:38.079 --> 00:21:39.200 to part with your daughter 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:40.160 early next spring 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.099 to see her 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:43.620 never again 00:21:43.620 --> 00:21:45.019 in this world. 00:21:46.200 --> 00:21:47.559 Whether you can consent 00:21:47.559 --> 00:21:48.440 to her departure, 00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:50.460 her subjection 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.220 to the hardships 00:21:51.220 --> 00:21:52.679 and sufferings 00:21:52.679 --> 00:21:53.779 of missionary life, 00:21:54.440 --> 00:21:55.799 whether you can consent 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.799 to her exposure 00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:58.139 to the dangers 00:21:58.139 --> 00:21:58.819 of the ocean, 00:21:59.440 --> 00:22:01.179 to the fatal influence 00:22:01.179 --> 00:22:02.720 of the southern climate 00:22:02.720 --> 00:22:03.259 of India, 00:22:03.819 --> 00:22:05.039 to every kind 00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:05.619 of want 00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:06.480 and distress, 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.859 to degradation, 00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:08.579 insult, 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:09.379 persecution, 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.519 perhaps even 00:22:10.519 --> 00:22:11.659 a violent death. 00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.220 Can you consent 00:22:13.220 --> 00:22:13.859 to all this 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.399 for the sake 00:22:14.399 --> 00:22:14.839 of Him 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.779 who left 00:22:15.779 --> 00:22:16.719 His heavenly home 00:22:16.719 --> 00:22:17.759 and died for her 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:18.799 and for you? 00:22:19.759 --> 00:22:20.619 Can you do this 00:22:20.619 --> 00:22:21.199 for the sake 00:22:21.199 --> 00:22:22.919 of perishing 00:22:22.919 --> 00:22:24.879 immortal souls, 00:22:25.419 --> 00:22:26.000 for the sake 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:26.439 of heaven, 00:22:26.539 --> 00:22:26.939 for the sake 00:22:26.939 --> 00:22:27.839 of the glory of God? 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:29.039 Can you consent 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.839 to all this 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:30.659 in the hope 00:22:30.659 --> 00:22:31.419 of soon meeting 00:22:31.419 --> 00:22:32.579 your daughter again, 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:34.539 not in this world, 00:22:34.919 --> 00:22:35.740 but in the world 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:36.439 of glory 00:22:36.439 --> 00:22:37.219 with the crown 00:22:37.219 --> 00:22:38.339 of righteousness 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:39.979 brightened 00:22:39.979 --> 00:22:41.139 with the acclamations 00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:41.879 of praise 00:22:41.880 --> 00:22:43.080 that shall resound 00:22:43.080 --> 00:22:44.480 from her Savior, 00:22:45.300 --> 00:22:45.880 from those 00:22:45.880 --> 00:22:47.400 heathen people 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:48.200 saved through 00:22:48.200 --> 00:22:49.100 her testimony 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:51.000 from eternal woe 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:52.680 and despair? 00:22:54.800 --> 00:22:55.900 What questions? 00:22:57.900 --> 00:22:58.880 Her father said 00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.380 what I would have 00:22:59.380 --> 00:23:00.020 probably said. 00:23:00.020 --> 00:23:04.620 I can't do that, 00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:06.140 but I will let her 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.200 make up her decision. 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:10.120 Anne said yes. 00:23:10.119 --> 00:23:12.479 I will go. 00:23:14.339 --> 00:23:14.959 And Anne 00:23:14.959 --> 00:23:16.239 and Adoniram Judson 00:23:16.239 --> 00:23:19.599 went to India. 00:23:22.239 --> 00:23:23.219 There they lost 00:23:23.219 --> 00:23:24.000 three of their children. 00:23:26.959 --> 00:23:27.859 Adoniram himself 00:23:27.859 --> 00:23:28.299 was thrown 00:23:28.299 --> 00:23:29.439 into a Burmese prison 00:23:29.439 --> 00:23:30.439 where he languished 00:23:30.439 --> 00:23:32.539 for two years. 00:23:35.539 --> 00:23:36.919 Anne herself 00:23:36.920 --> 00:23:39.279 at 37 years 00:23:39.279 --> 00:23:40.200 of age 00:23:40.200 --> 00:23:43.060 died in Burma. 00:23:44.480 --> 00:23:45.019 Her body 00:23:45.019 --> 00:23:46.160 wracked by pain, 00:23:46.340 --> 00:23:46.820 ravaged 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:48.500 by tropical illnesses, 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.600 emaciated 00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:50.440 from lack 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.820 of proper food, 00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:52.700 beaten down 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.460 by the struggles 00:23:53.460 --> 00:23:55.060 of pioneer missionary life 00:23:55.060 --> 00:23:56.519 just as her husband 00:23:56.519 --> 00:23:57.500 Ad predicted 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:58.920 would happen. 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:03.920 But Anne 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:04.759 helped to translate 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.400 the books 00:24:05.400 --> 00:24:05.960 of Daniel 00:24:05.960 --> 00:24:06.560 and Jonah 00:24:06.560 --> 00:24:07.820 into the Burmese language, 00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:09.120 the gospel 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:10.280 of Matthew 00:24:10.280 --> 00:24:11.560 into the Thai language, 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:13.280 so that 00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.480 multiplied thousands 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.400 of Burmese 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.180 and Thai 00:24:16.180 --> 00:24:16.900 people 00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.780 could come 00:24:17.780 --> 00:24:18.740 to know the Christ 00:24:18.740 --> 00:24:20.320 that she knew. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.060 She rolled 00:24:23.060 --> 00:24:23.640 the dice. 00:24:27.040 --> 00:24:27.980 She gambled 00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.720 her life. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.200 She said, 00:24:32.280 --> 00:24:32.380 Lord, 00:24:32.380 --> 00:24:33.000 there is nothing 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:33.680 more precious 00:24:33.680 --> 00:24:34.280 to me 00:24:34.280 --> 00:24:35.040 than living 00:24:35.040 --> 00:24:35.980 for your glory. 00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:36.960 I do not 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:38.320 belong to myself. 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:39.440 You have bought 00:24:39.440 --> 00:24:40.520 me with a great 00:24:40.520 --> 00:24:41.080 price. 00:24:41.860 --> 00:24:42.820 I throw myself 00:24:42.820 --> 00:24:43.200 out. 00:24:44.100 --> 00:24:45.020 You use me 00:24:45.020 --> 00:24:45.640 however you want 00:24:45.640 --> 00:24:46.220 to use me. 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:49.700 Now here's 00:24:49.700 --> 00:24:50.180 the question. 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.440 Is that 00:24:54.440 --> 00:24:55.120 something you 00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:55.960 have ever 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.380 seriously 00:24:57.380 --> 00:24:57.900 seriously 00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:58.760 in your 00:24:58.760 --> 00:24:59.960 entire life 00:24:59.960 --> 00:25:00.740 considered 00:25:00.740 --> 00:25:01.100 doing? 00:25:06.100 --> 00:25:06.900 Would you 00:25:06.900 --> 00:25:07.320 be 00:25:07.320 --> 00:25:09.340 an Anne 00:25:09.340 --> 00:25:09.980 Hazeltine 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.360 for this 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:10.840 generation? 00:25:12.840 --> 00:25:13.640 Would you 00:25:13.640 --> 00:25:13.980 be an 00:25:13.980 --> 00:25:15.000 Epaphroditus 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:17.540 for this 00:25:17.540 --> 00:25:17.900 day? 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:20.120 Would you 00:25:20.120 --> 00:25:20.880 consider that 00:25:20.880 --> 00:25:21.580 God may have 00:25:21.580 --> 00:25:22.100 brought you 00:25:22.100 --> 00:25:22.740 into His 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.160 kingdom 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:25.160 for such 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:25.860 a time 00:25:25.860 --> 00:25:27.140 as this? 00:25:27.340 --> 00:25:27.660 Would you 00:25:27.660 --> 00:25:28.060 be an 00:25:28.060 --> 00:25:28.820 Eric Little 00:25:28.820 --> 00:25:31.340 for this 00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:32.560 generation? 00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:36.500 Can I 00:25:36.500 --> 00:25:36.920 say to you 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:37.480 this morning 00:25:37.480 --> 00:25:39.560 that I 00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:40.060 believe 00:25:40.060 --> 00:25:42.259 Christianity 00:25:42.259 --> 00:25:44.440 has largely 00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.560 lost its 00:25:45.560 --> 00:25:46.060 teeth 00:25:46.060 --> 00:25:47.980 in America? 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.620 There is 00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:52.480 no risk. 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:55.000 we play 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.460 it safe. 00:25:55.560 --> 00:25:55.820 We know 00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:56.600 exactly what 00:25:56.600 --> 00:25:56.880 we're going 00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.140 to do 00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:57.540 each and 00:25:57.540 --> 00:25:57.960 every day 00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.279 that we 00:25:58.279 --> 00:25:58.720 live. 00:25:59.540 --> 00:26:00.180 We're not 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.460 throwing 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:00.920 ourselves 00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:01.340 out there 00:26:01.340 --> 00:26:01.620 for the 00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:01.960 sake of 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.380 Christ. 00:26:03.600 --> 00:26:04.240 There is 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:04.840 no challenge. 00:26:05.080 --> 00:26:05.340 There is 00:26:05.340 --> 00:26:05.940 no costly 00:26:05.940 --> 00:26:06.519 commitment. 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.600 There is 00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:08.180 no great 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:08.779 courage. 00:26:09.120 --> 00:26:09.540 There is 00:26:09.540 --> 00:26:10.120 no great 00:26:10.120 --> 00:26:11.019 cause 00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:13.600 that we 00:26:13.600 --> 00:26:14.019 consider 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:14.640 worth 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:16.660 this kind 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:17.300 of price. 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:19.960 There is 00:26:19.960 --> 00:26:20.700 very little 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.220 in our 00:26:21.220 --> 00:26:21.759 culture 00:26:21.759 --> 00:26:23.000 or in 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:23.400 the church 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:23.799 of Jesus 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.259 Christ 00:26:24.259 --> 00:26:24.660 today 00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:25.319 that is 00:26:25.319 --> 00:26:25.940 driving 00:26:25.940 --> 00:26:26.660 us 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.700 to be 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.420 all that 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.019 this word 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:30.539 says we 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:30.900 ought to 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.180 be. 00:26:33.220 --> 00:26:34.000 So can I 00:26:34.000 --> 00:26:34.559 just be a 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:35.279 voice today? 00:26:35.400 --> 00:26:36.079 Maybe it is a 00:26:36.079 --> 00:26:37.640 voice crying in 00:26:37.640 --> 00:26:38.180 the wilderness. 00:26:38.420 --> 00:26:39.200 I do not know, 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.099 but could I say, 00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.460 could I throw out to 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:42.119 you this morning 00:26:42.119 --> 00:26:43.019 this possibility? 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:43.779 Would you 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:44.839 embrace being 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.759 everything that 00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:46.579 this word says 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:47.099 Christ 00:26:47.099 --> 00:26:49.039 created and 00:26:49.039 --> 00:26:49.439 bought you 00:26:49.439 --> 00:26:49.879 to be? 00:26:54.679 --> 00:26:55.240 Would you 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:55.719 hear me say 00:26:55.719 --> 00:26:55.959 to you, 00:26:56.139 --> 00:26:57.319 don't waste 00:26:57.319 --> 00:27:00.000 these few 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:01.019 precious years, 00:27:01.139 --> 00:27:01.699 this tiny 00:27:01.699 --> 00:27:02.399 increment of 00:27:02.399 --> 00:27:03.259 time that 00:27:03.259 --> 00:27:03.859 God has 00:27:03.859 --> 00:27:04.599 entrusted 00:27:04.599 --> 00:27:05.439 to you. 00:27:05.579 --> 00:27:06.039 Don't 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:06.559 waste 00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:07.659 your life. 00:27:08.399 --> 00:27:08.679 Now listen, 00:27:08.779 --> 00:27:09.240 I understand 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.839 this morning, 00:27:09.919 --> 00:27:10.419 I'm not 00:27:10.419 --> 00:27:11.480 naive, 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:13.319 and I 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.079 understand this 00:27:14.079 --> 00:27:14.519 morning that 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:14.799 from the 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:15.539 perspective and 00:27:15.539 --> 00:27:16.519 the values and 00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.200 the priorities of 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.799 this world, 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.539 what looks like a 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:20.480 waste is to 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:21.299 give yourself to 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.920 Christ in this 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.460 kind of way. 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:23.099 That's what looks 00:27:23.099 --> 00:27:24.039 like a waste in 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.619 the eyes of the 00:27:24.619 --> 00:27:25.039 world. 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:27.039 It looks stupid, 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.019 tragic. 00:27:30.619 --> 00:27:31.740 It's a waste 00:27:31.740 --> 00:27:33.079 because becoming a 00:27:33.079 --> 00:27:33.960 follower of Christ 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:35.220 means sacrifice. 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.500 It calls us to 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:37.420 embrace suffering. 00:27:37.759 --> 00:27:38.460 It tells us we're 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:38.899 going to face 00:27:38.899 --> 00:27:40.200 persecution and 00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.339 loss in this 00:27:41.339 --> 00:27:41.700 world. 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.059 Over and over 00:27:43.059 --> 00:27:43.720 and over again in 00:27:43.720 --> 00:27:44.259 the New Testament 00:27:44.259 --> 00:27:45.039 we see that. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:48.659 If anyone would 00:27:48.659 --> 00:27:49.259 come after me, 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.920 Jesus said, 00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:51.599 let him deny 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.180 himself. 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.359 Say a big fat 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:55.200 no to your own 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:55.639 life. 00:27:56.599 --> 00:27:57.220 Let him deny 00:27:57.220 --> 00:27:57.759 himself, then 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.639 take up a cross. 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:00.039 That's not the 00:28:00.039 --> 00:28:00.700 shiny little 00:28:00.700 --> 00:28:02.059 emblem we wear 00:28:02.059 --> 00:28:02.759 around our necks. 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:03.420 It was a Roman 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.759 execution device. 00:28:05.159 --> 00:28:05.500 That's what 00:28:05.500 --> 00:28:06.460 everybody understood 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.339 when Jesus said, 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:08.019 if you want to 00:28:08.019 --> 00:28:08.899 follow me, be 00:28:08.899 --> 00:28:09.619 ready to take up 00:28:09.619 --> 00:28:09.980 a cross. 00:28:10.259 --> 00:28:11.019 Be ready to give 00:28:11.019 --> 00:28:11.779 everything that you 00:28:11.779 --> 00:28:12.460 have even in your 00:28:12.460 --> 00:28:13.119 own life if you 00:28:13.119 --> 00:28:13.799 want to follow me. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.839 That's what 00:28:14.839 --> 00:28:15.680 Jesus said. 00:28:17.339 --> 00:28:18.319 He has called 00:28:18.319 --> 00:28:19.159 us to a life 00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:20.700 in the eyes of 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:21.700 the world of 00:28:21.700 --> 00:28:22.799 a seemingly 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:24.019 pointless denial 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.599 of many of the 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.339 things we think 00:28:25.339 --> 00:28:26.379 make our short 00:28:26.379 --> 00:28:26.960 lives here on 00:28:26.960 --> 00:28:28.960 earth tolerable. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:30.079 He calls us to 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:30.960 walk a path that 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:31.980 leads in the 00:28:31.980 --> 00:28:32.879 opposite direction 00:28:32.879 --> 00:28:33.379 that everybody 00:28:33.379 --> 00:28:34.379 else is going 00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:34.740 in. 00:28:35.839 --> 00:28:36.079 I'm going to 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:36.359 tell you, 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.519 identifying with 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:38.960 Christ, risking 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.799 your life in this 00:28:39.799 --> 00:28:40.919 kind of way can 00:28:40.919 --> 00:28:41.659 involve the loss 00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:42.399 of reputation, 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:43.120 it can involve 00:28:43.120 --> 00:28:43.720 the loss of 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.440 intellectual 00:28:44.440 --> 00:28:45.460 respectability, 00:28:45.700 --> 00:28:46.640 it can include 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.280 the loss of 00:28:47.280 --> 00:28:48.060 status according 00:28:48.060 --> 00:28:48.720 to the world's 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:50.019 version of wisdom 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.460 and honor. 00:28:51.160 --> 00:28:51.720 Looks like a 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.560 waste of life. 00:28:57.560 --> 00:28:58.259 But it's really 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:58.960 the very opposite. 00:29:00.860 --> 00:29:01.519 Jesus said if you 00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.060 want to gain your 00:29:02.060 --> 00:29:05.000 life, lose it. 00:29:06.780 --> 00:29:07.420 I'll tell you how 00:29:07.420 --> 00:29:07.840 to lose it. 00:29:07.920 --> 00:29:08.580 Try to hang on to 00:29:08.580 --> 00:29:09.080 your life. 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.380 Try to do it your 00:29:11.380 --> 00:29:11.680 way. 00:29:12.400 --> 00:29:13.400 You'll lose your 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:13.780 life. 00:29:14.220 --> 00:29:14.700 You'll come to the 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:15.420 end of your life 00:29:15.420 --> 00:29:16.140 and you'll look 00:29:16.140 --> 00:29:17.060 back and you'll 00:29:17.060 --> 00:29:18.180 have a pot full of 00:29:18.180 --> 00:29:20.580 regrets and you'll 00:29:20.580 --> 00:29:21.100 yearn for what 00:29:21.100 --> 00:29:23.640 might have been in 00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:24.440 your service to the 00:29:24.440 --> 00:29:25.380 Lord Jesus Christ and 00:29:25.380 --> 00:29:25.940 how he might have 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.840 taken your life and 00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:28.500 used it as a 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.180 vehicle for his 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:29.540 glory. 00:29:33.140 --> 00:29:33.860 You know what? 00:29:37.259 --> 00:29:40.000 I didn't finish the 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.620 story about Eric 00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:40.860 Little. 00:29:41.060 --> 00:29:41.720 Let me go back to 00:29:41.720 --> 00:29:42.000 that. 00:29:45.460 --> 00:29:46.240 After Eric Little 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.279 decided he would 00:29:47.279 --> 00:29:49.740 not run in the 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.640 100 meter dash 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.240 because of his 00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.019 convictions about 00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:52.579 running on a 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:55.140 Sunday, a 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:56.039 teammate of his on 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.740 the British Olympic 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.579 team, a man by the 00:29:57.579 --> 00:29:58.079 name of Harold 00:29:58.079 --> 00:29:58.920 Abrams came up to 00:29:58.920 --> 00:29:59.360 him and said, 00:29:59.420 --> 00:30:00.640 Eric, I'd be 00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.420 willing to switch 00:30:01.420 --> 00:30:02.480 events with you. 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:03.380 I run the 400 00:30:03.380 --> 00:30:04.140 meter race. 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.680 Why don't I run 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:07.380 that and you run 00:30:07.380 --> 00:30:07.720 the 100? 00:30:07.720 --> 00:30:08.900 And I'll run the 00:30:08.900 --> 00:30:09.160 100. 00:30:09.660 --> 00:30:10.339 See, Harold 00:30:10.339 --> 00:30:11.039 Abrams was a 00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.660 Jewish man. 00:30:12.120 --> 00:30:12.559 And so he didn't 00:30:12.559 --> 00:30:13.380 have any convictions 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.339 about running on a 00:30:14.339 --> 00:30:14.640 Sunday. 00:30:14.819 --> 00:30:16.240 It wasn't a big deal 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.640 to him. 00:30:17.000 --> 00:30:20.240 Problem was, Eric 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:20.940 Little had never 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:22.360 trained to run the 00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:23.079 400 meters. 00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.660 100 meter was more 00:30:24.660 --> 00:30:25.120 of a sprint. 00:30:25.200 --> 00:30:26.120 The 400 meter was a 00:30:26.120 --> 00:30:26.980 long distance race. 00:30:27.120 --> 00:30:27.880 He just hadn't 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.759 trained for that. 00:30:29.279 --> 00:30:30.180 Had never run that 00:30:30.180 --> 00:30:30.960 race before. 00:30:31.740 --> 00:30:32.339 Inexperienced. 00:30:32.339 --> 00:30:34.099 But hey, the 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:35.139 opportunity was there 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:35.799 and he took it. 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:36.679 And so they switched 00:30:36.679 --> 00:30:37.419 events. 00:30:39.899 --> 00:30:40.899 Before Eric Little 00:30:40.899 --> 00:30:42.339 got ready to run 00:30:42.339 --> 00:30:44.279 that 400 meter race, 00:30:45.319 --> 00:30:46.740 another athlete from 00:30:46.740 --> 00:30:47.720 the American Olympic 00:30:47.720 --> 00:30:49.740 team, who was also 00:30:49.740 --> 00:30:52.139 a Christian, and who 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:53.439 also understood the 00:30:53.439 --> 00:30:54.899 kind of sacrifice that 00:30:54.899 --> 00:30:56.179 Eric Little had made, 00:30:57.439 --> 00:30:58.419 came up to him right 00:30:58.419 --> 00:30:59.899 before he started that 00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:00.740 race and handed him a 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.399 little piece of paper 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:01.900 paper and on it was 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:02.560 scribbled a short 00:31:02.560 --> 00:31:02.740 note. 00:31:02.820 --> 00:31:03.140 You know what it 00:31:03.140 --> 00:31:03.380 said? 00:31:05.780 --> 00:31:08.380 God honors those who 00:31:08.380 --> 00:31:10.000 honor him. 00:31:10.800 --> 00:31:11.840 Do you believe that? 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:17.640 God honors those who 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:20.519 honor him. 00:31:24.720 --> 00:31:25.880 Eric Little not only 00:31:25.880 --> 00:31:28.259 won the 400 meter and 00:31:28.259 --> 00:31:29.100 gained that gold medal, 00:31:29.180 --> 00:31:30.000 but he set a world's 00:31:30.000 --> 00:31:30.280 record. 00:31:31.400 --> 00:31:32.640 That stood for a 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:33.120 decade. 00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.240 And he became a 00:31:35.240 --> 00:31:37.540 national hero. 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:44.019 Everybody wanted to 00:31:44.019 --> 00:31:44.980 be around Eric Little. 00:31:46.340 --> 00:31:49.620 They revered him in 00:31:49.620 --> 00:31:50.200 Great Britain. 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:52.860 He could have had 00:31:52.860 --> 00:31:53.519 anything that he 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:53.820 wanted. 00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.100 He could have yelled 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:58.140 jump and all of Great 00:31:58.140 --> 00:31:58.720 Britain would have said, 00:31:58.820 --> 00:31:59.360 okay, how high? 00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:01.979 That's the status that he 00:32:01.979 --> 00:32:03.199 held after winning that 00:32:03.199 --> 00:32:03.879 400 meter. 00:32:04.839 --> 00:32:06.500 But exactly one year 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:08.559 after winning that gold 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:10.019 medal, Eric Little walked 00:32:10.019 --> 00:32:12.219 away from everything to 00:32:12.219 --> 00:32:13.859 become a missionary with 00:32:13.859 --> 00:32:14.899 the London Missionary 00:32:14.899 --> 00:32:15.439 Society. 00:32:15.639 --> 00:32:17.819 And he went to China. 00:32:17.819 --> 00:32:20.059 And he carried the gospel 00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:21.619 of Jesus Christ to the 00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.979 back country of that great 00:32:22.979 --> 00:32:24.359 nation. 00:32:24.359 --> 00:32:28.359 about that time, Japan 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.299 invaded China. 00:32:29.459 --> 00:32:30.599 Second World War broke 00:32:30.599 --> 00:32:30.919 out. 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.559 Eric Little was captured 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:34.500 by the Japanese, 00:32:34.619 --> 00:32:35.559 declared to be an enemy 00:32:35.559 --> 00:32:37.399 national, thrown into a 00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:37.959 prison camp. 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:39.399 There he was one of 1,300 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:41.579 prisoners crammed into an 00:32:41.579 --> 00:32:43.159 area maybe a little bit 00:32:43.159 --> 00:32:44.379 bigger than this worship 00:32:44.379 --> 00:32:45.039 area. 00:32:45.399 --> 00:32:46.779 Housed in dormitories 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:49.019 three feet by six feet. 00:32:49.019 --> 00:32:50.900 He was beaten. 00:32:51.900 --> 00:32:53.359 He was starved. 00:32:54.579 --> 00:32:56.220 He was denied adequate 00:32:56.220 --> 00:32:57.920 medical care. 00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:00.420 He was physically abused 00:33:00.420 --> 00:33:01.519 and mentally abused. 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:04.099 But still, he held 00:33:04.099 --> 00:33:05.180 athletic competitions. 00:33:05.539 --> 00:33:07.019 He taught hymns. 00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:09.839 And he shared the gospel of 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:10.940 Jesus Christ with his fellow 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:12.079 prisoners and with his 00:33:12.079 --> 00:33:13.259 Japanese captors. 00:33:13.259 --> 00:33:16.180 Just one month before the 00:33:16.180 --> 00:33:17.019 liberation of China, 00:33:17.119 --> 00:33:18.680 February 21, 1945, 00:33:19.400 --> 00:33:22.940 Eric Little died in that 00:33:22.940 --> 00:33:24.039 prisoner of war camp. 00:33:26.440 --> 00:33:27.339 Largely unknown. 00:33:32.220 --> 00:33:33.359 Was it a waste? 00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:37.140 Well, it would have been a 00:33:37.140 --> 00:33:37.440 waste. 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.740 In fact, let me just be 00:33:40.740 --> 00:33:41.299 honest with you. 00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:42.720 Everything I've shared with 00:33:42.720 --> 00:33:44.660 you this morning would be 00:33:44.660 --> 00:33:47.620 a waste if what the Bible 00:33:47.620 --> 00:33:48.700 has to say about Jesus 00:33:48.700 --> 00:33:49.839 Christ is not true. 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.279 If what is in this book is 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:55.120 not true, then yes, it is 00:33:55.120 --> 00:33:55.759 all a waste. 00:33:58.279 --> 00:33:59.839 But if what is in this book 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:04.259 is true, if Jesus Christ is 00:34:04.259 --> 00:34:06.640 the very Son of God who in 00:34:06.640 --> 00:34:09.220 love for you and me willingly 00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:11.000 set aside the glory and the 00:34:11.000 --> 00:34:12.440 status that was His, 00:34:12.440 --> 00:34:13.900 with His heavenly Father in 00:34:13.900 --> 00:34:16.179 heaven, if He took on the 00:34:16.179 --> 00:34:17.960 full measure of our 00:34:17.960 --> 00:34:21.159 weakness and was born into 00:34:21.159 --> 00:34:23.260 the human family, if He lived 00:34:23.260 --> 00:34:25.280 a life of perfect obedience 00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:27.559 to His Father's will, if He 00:34:27.559 --> 00:34:29.679 died a sinless death on the 00:34:29.679 --> 00:34:31.240 cross to pay the penalty for 00:34:31.240 --> 00:34:33.420 your sin and my sin, if He 00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:35.300 rose from the dead, if He 00:34:35.300 --> 00:34:37.119 ascended to the Father, if 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:38.679 today He really is the Savior 00:34:38.679 --> 00:34:41.099 of all who trust in Him, if one 00:34:41.099 --> 00:34:42.679 day He is going to return to 00:34:42.679 --> 00:34:44.159 this earth and receive His 00:34:44.159 --> 00:34:46.159 people to Himself and assume 00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:48.839 His rightful role as judge over 00:34:48.839 --> 00:34:50.679 all the earth, King of kings 00:34:50.679 --> 00:34:52.980 and Lord of lords, if what this 00:34:52.980 --> 00:34:54.880 book has to say about Christ is 00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:59.880 true and it is true, then my 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:01.219 friend, there is no price in the 00:35:01.219 --> 00:35:02.619 world that is too great to pay for 00:35:02.619 --> 00:35:02.839 Him. 00:35:02.840 --> 00:35:07.680 There is no loss in the terms of 00:35:07.680 --> 00:35:10.079 what is valuable in the eyes of 00:35:10.079 --> 00:35:11.579 the world, no loss too much to 00:35:11.579 --> 00:35:12.340 endure for Him. 00:35:18.579 --> 00:35:23.680 Before Anne Hazeltine left the 00:35:23.680 --> 00:35:27.460 shores of America to sail for 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:30.059 India and Burma where she died, 00:35:30.059 --> 00:35:33.360 this is what she had to say. 00:35:34.259 --> 00:35:36.440 I'll close with these final words 00:35:36.440 --> 00:35:37.079 from her diary. 00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:40.880 I have at length come to the 00:35:40.880 --> 00:35:44.000 conclusion that I must spend my 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:46.960 days in a foreign land, but I am a 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:49.840 creature of God and He has an 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:51.539 undoubted right to do with me as 00:35:51.539 --> 00:35:52.820 seems good in His sight. 00:35:53.880 --> 00:35:57.619 I rejoice because I am in His hands 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:59.900 and when I am called to face 00:35:59.900 --> 00:36:01.960 danger, to pass through scenes of 00:36:01.960 --> 00:36:04.039 terror and distress, He will 00:36:04.039 --> 00:36:05.359 inspire me with fortitude. 00:36:06.079 --> 00:36:08.059 He will enable me to trust in Him 00:36:08.059 --> 00:36:10.579 because Jesus is faithful. 00:36:11.519 --> 00:36:12.880 His promises are precious. 00:36:14.219 --> 00:36:14.980 Were it not for these 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:17.420 considerations, I should sink down in 00:36:17.420 --> 00:36:19.960 the depths of despair, especially as 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:22.480 no female has to my knowledge ever 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:24.279 left the shores of America to spend 00:36:24.279 --> 00:36:25.799 her life among the heathen in this 00:36:25.800 --> 00:36:28.980 way, nor do I yet know that I shall 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.980 have a single female companion where 00:36:30.980 --> 00:36:31.440 I'm going. 00:36:32.640 --> 00:36:36.680 But whether I spend my days in India 00:36:36.680 --> 00:36:42.440 or America, I will spend them in the 00:36:42.440 --> 00:36:47.780 service of my God and my Savior and 00:36:47.780 --> 00:36:52.960 look forward to spending an eternity in 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.780 His presence. 00:36:58.860 --> 00:37:00.599 Folks, this is hard for us to hear. 00:37:03.679 --> 00:37:05.579 But this is not a higher life. 00:37:08.840 --> 00:37:10.679 This is not a deeper life. 00:37:13.880 --> 00:37:15.659 This is normal Christianity. 00:37:17.699 --> 00:37:18.780 Normal Christianity. 00:37:18.780 --> 00:37:23.100 It seems radical to us because we have 00:37:23.100 --> 00:37:27.620 departed so far from what Christ calls us to be 00:37:27.620 --> 00:37:28.519 and do in this book. 00:37:30.080 --> 00:37:32.880 So because it seems radical to us, I will 00:37:32.880 --> 00:37:36.800 ask the question, where are the radicals for 00:37:36.800 --> 00:37:38.240 Jesus Christ today? 00:37:39.120 --> 00:37:42.120 Who would rise up and say nothing, nothing, 00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:46.120 nothing in my life is more precious to me 00:37:46.119 --> 00:37:48.500 than Christ, than living for His glory? 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:52.039 Will you be one of those? 00:37:53.739 --> 00:37:54.139 Wow. 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:56.759 Do we need some Ann Hazeltines today? 00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:04.400 Do we need some Eric Littles today? 00:38:04.400 --> 00:38:09.220 Do we need some more folks who in the spirit of 00:38:09.220 --> 00:38:14.400 Epaphroditus would say, Lord, here's my life 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:22.119 and I will roll the dice, not knowing what all that 00:38:22.119 --> 00:38:25.460 means, but here is my life today. 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:28.860 I give you all of me for the sake of multiplied 00:38:28.860 --> 00:38:31.680 billions of people who are dying every day 00:38:31.679 --> 00:38:33.500 without knowing this Savior that we know. 00:38:35.159 --> 00:38:37.659 Would you be that kind of person for this generation? 00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:42.960 Isaac Watts wrote a famous hymn, 00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:44.500 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. 00:38:45.940 --> 00:38:48.480 And in the closing stanza of that verse, 00:38:48.579 --> 00:38:52.839 he captured exactly the truth of Scripture. 00:38:52.839 --> 00:38:56.940 And I share these words with you in closing this morning. 00:38:56.940 --> 00:39:02.480 Isaac Watts said, were the whole realm of nature mine. 00:39:03.900 --> 00:39:06.559 If I had everything a person could possibly have, 00:39:07.800 --> 00:39:09.579 were the whole realm of nature mine, 00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:13.340 that would be a present far too small. 00:39:16.340 --> 00:39:20.159 Love so amazing, so divine, 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:24.779 demands my soul, 00:39:24.779 --> 00:39:27.379 my life, 00:39:29.379 --> 00:39:30.679 my all. 00:39:33.159 --> 00:39:34.299 Pray with me. 00:39:34.899 --> 00:39:35.519 Heavenly Father, 00:39:37.159 --> 00:39:38.940 we stand this morning 00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:43.099 underneath 00:39:43.099 --> 00:39:46.379 the authority of your word 00:39:46.379 --> 00:39:48.539 and the truth that it proclaims. 00:39:48.539 --> 00:39:52.820 And I pray in these moments, 00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:53.320 Father, 00:39:53.440 --> 00:39:55.739 now that we have heard, 00:39:55.900 --> 00:39:57.099 we might recognize 00:39:57.099 --> 00:39:59.059 our accountability to you 00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:01.800 for what you have entrusted to us 00:40:01.800 --> 00:40:03.699 through the pages of your word. 00:40:04.519 --> 00:40:04.880 And Lord, 00:40:05.079 --> 00:40:07.900 through that great cloud of witnesses, 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:10.059 those who have gone on before us, 00:40:10.460 --> 00:40:11.679 like Epaphroditus, 00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:13.119 like Eric Little, 00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:15.619 like Anne Hazeltine, 00:40:15.619 --> 00:40:17.980 who now from 00:40:17.980 --> 00:40:22.199 the grandstands of heaven 00:40:22.199 --> 00:40:24.059 cheer us on. 00:40:32.059 --> 00:40:35.440 But even these examples 00:40:35.440 --> 00:40:38.359 pale in comparison 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:41.220 to the example 00:40:41.220 --> 00:40:43.460 of our Lord Jesus, 00:40:45.300 --> 00:40:47.700 who for the joy that was set before Him, 00:40:47.820 --> 00:40:48.920 endured the cross, 00:40:50.260 --> 00:40:51.380 scorning its shame, 00:40:52.840 --> 00:40:56.000 who took on human form 00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:57.599 and human flesh 00:40:57.599 --> 00:40:59.820 and came and dwelt among us, 00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:00.840 leaving the glory 00:41:00.840 --> 00:41:02.400 and the splendor of heaven behind. 00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:08.139 who took on human form 00:41:08.139 --> 00:41:08.960 and human flesh 00:41:08.960 --> 00:41:10.980 and being made in human likeness 00:41:10.980 --> 00:41:13.920 and being made in appearance as a man, 00:41:14.119 --> 00:41:15.519 taking on the form of a servant. 00:41:15.900 --> 00:41:16.960 He humbled Himself. 00:41:17.680 --> 00:41:18.920 He poured Himself out 00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:20.420 and He became obedient unto death, 00:41:20.460 --> 00:41:21.539 even death on the cross. 00:41:22.160 --> 00:41:23.539 That is our ultimate example. 00:41:24.820 --> 00:41:26.960 That is the one to whom we give our lives. 00:41:28.680 --> 00:41:29.099 And so, Father, 00:41:29.180 --> 00:41:30.059 I pray this morning 00:41:30.059 --> 00:41:31.980 that as we prepare 00:41:31.980 --> 00:41:33.460 in just a couple of minutes 00:41:33.460 --> 00:41:34.219 to walk out 00:41:34.219 --> 00:41:36.259 the doors of this building, 00:41:37.420 --> 00:41:38.380 that we would not walk out 00:41:38.380 --> 00:41:39.599 the same way we walked in. 00:41:43.779 --> 00:41:45.719 That we would be Your gamblers. 00:41:48.799 --> 00:41:50.259 That we would make the wager, 00:41:51.219 --> 00:41:52.019 place the bet, 00:41:52.259 --> 00:41:53.860 roll the dice with our own lives 00:41:53.860 --> 00:41:54.320 and just say, 00:41:54.380 --> 00:41:55.119 Lord, here we are. 00:41:56.119 --> 00:41:58.179 We roll ourselves out before You. 00:41:58.179 --> 00:42:02.299 Our lives are not our own. 00:42:03.819 --> 00:42:04.699 We have been bought 00:42:04.699 --> 00:42:05.639 with a great price. 00:42:06.639 --> 00:42:07.759 Now take us and use us 00:42:07.759 --> 00:42:09.480 to make a difference here 00:42:09.480 --> 00:42:10.859 in Pickens, South Carolina, 00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:13.819 in a nation that desperately 00:42:13.819 --> 00:42:14.559 needs to know 00:42:14.559 --> 00:42:16.079 the difference 00:42:16.079 --> 00:42:17.559 that only Jesus Christ can make 00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:18.639 and among the nations 00:42:18.639 --> 00:42:20.980 is the prayer that we pray 00:42:20.980 --> 00:42:21.719 in Jesus' name. 00:42:23.480 --> 00:42:23.919 Amen. 00:42:23.919 --> 00:42:24.039 Amen.