WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.980 Amen. Let's pray. 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:08.140 Dear Lord, thank you so much for the opportunity to look at your word together this evening. 00:00:09.200 --> 00:00:12.320 Probably many of us are tired after a busy week, busy day. 00:00:12.939 --> 00:00:15.860 So just pray that you give us hearts so attentive to your words. 00:00:16.879 --> 00:00:20.160 I pray you give us minds that will be renewed by you. 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:25.140 And I pray, Lord, that you give us hearts that will be refreshed by your spirit 00:00:25.140 --> 00:00:29.460 as you bring the presence of the risen Christ to bear in our lives. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.679 In Jesus' name. Amen. 00:00:33.340 --> 00:00:38.920 So you've managed to get through 2021. Praise God. 00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:43.799 We're into a new year. I know it's the second week, but it's just the beginning of a new year, isn't it? 00:00:43.799 --> 00:00:45.539 As we enter 2022. 00:00:47.120 --> 00:00:52.240 And this sermon really is a looking back and a looking forward. 00:00:53.480 --> 00:00:57.179 So as I begin, let me just take your minds back to last year. 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:08.079 As you look back at last year, what was the one thing that you were yearning for more than anything else? 00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:10.200 You look back at 2021. 00:01:10.700 --> 00:01:16.920 What would be the one thing you would say in your mind you were yearning for more than anything else? 00:01:17.400 --> 00:01:20.379 Maybe your greatest yearning in 2021 was this. 00:01:20.959 --> 00:01:23.140 I just can't wait for all these restrictions to end. 00:01:24.000 --> 00:01:29.480 Take these masks off and burn them outside and be able to just get back to normality. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:31.780 Maybe that was your biggest yearning last year. 00:01:31.780 --> 00:01:38.359 Maybe as you look back last year, maybe your biggest yearning was, you know what, I just wish I had better mental health. 00:01:38.599 --> 00:01:40.820 My mental health has been so difficult the last couple of years. 00:01:40.900 --> 00:01:42.460 I wish my mental health was a bit better. 00:01:43.500 --> 00:01:46.240 Maybe your greatest longing was to get a new job. 00:01:47.980 --> 00:01:53.840 Your old job or the job you've got at the moment you really struggle with and you just wish you could get a new job. 00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:54.939 Maybe it was to get married. 00:01:55.900 --> 00:01:57.140 Maybe it's to get a new car. 00:01:58.320 --> 00:02:04.980 Maybe it was just a longing to see family or to go on a good old holiday somewhere, maybe somewhere hot. 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:06.040 We all have longings, don't we? 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:06.780 We all have desires. 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:07.620 Some of them are good. 00:02:08.840 --> 00:02:09.920 Some of them are not so good. 00:02:10.659 --> 00:02:11.860 But we all have desires, don't we? 00:02:11.860 --> 00:02:12.580 We all have yearnings. 00:02:13.219 --> 00:02:15.020 Let me switch the question a little bit to the year ahead. 00:02:15.099 --> 00:02:16.280 You've looked back at last year. 00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:18.920 What are your yearnings you look at the year ahead? 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:20.859 I know it's a new year. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:25.500 Usually we make up New Year's resolutions we keep for a couple of weeks and we bin them, don't we? 00:02:25.979 --> 00:02:28.619 But what are you yearning for this year? 00:02:28.699 --> 00:02:29.639 Is it different to last year? 00:02:29.679 --> 00:02:30.199 Is it the same? 00:02:31.699 --> 00:02:34.979 Let me change the question a little bit, focus to our text. 00:02:35.399 --> 00:02:41.159 If you were going to ask the Apostle Paul what his greatest yearning or his greatest longing is, what would it be? 00:02:42.679 --> 00:02:47.799 Well, he just told us in the verses we just read, in verses 8 to 10, let me remind you. 00:02:47.800 --> 00:02:57.920 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord. 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:07.780 For his sake I've suffered the loss of all things and I count them as rubbish in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. 00:03:07.820 --> 00:03:12.680 Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ. 00:03:12.939 --> 00:03:15.100 The righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:03:15.099 --> 00:03:25.280 That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. 00:03:26.299 --> 00:03:33.819 Paul's greatest yearning and greatest longing, if he was here today, if he was looking at the year ahead, would be, I want to know Jesus better. 00:03:35.060 --> 00:03:38.599 That would be his number one longing, his number one yearning. 00:03:38.599 --> 00:03:43.359 I want to know Jesus Christ better and better. 00:03:43.960 --> 00:03:50.560 He says in verse 8, I consider everything, everything as rubbish compared to knowing him. 00:03:50.819 --> 00:03:51.459 That's what we just sang. 00:03:52.560 --> 00:04:00.000 Verse 10, he wants to know Jesus Christ, the power of his resurrection and even share in his sufferings. 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:05.360 If you go back in Philippians 2, chapter 1, verse 21, you have that famous verse, don't you? 00:04:05.419 --> 00:04:09.520 To live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:12.379 Paul was a single-minded guy. 00:04:13.340 --> 00:04:14.879 He longed to know Jesus. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:16.939 He longed to walk with Jesus. 00:04:17.040 --> 00:04:20.959 He yearned to know Jesus better and better. 00:04:20.959 --> 00:04:27.180 And that's what we see in verses 12 to 14 as well. 00:04:28.279 --> 00:04:29.399 He presses on with that. 00:04:29.939 --> 00:04:33.039 He strives towards that goal. 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:38.299 And so what I want to ask this evening, if you thought about your yearnings, your longings, 00:04:38.459 --> 00:04:41.399 Paul longed after Jesus year after year after year. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:45.500 How can we have that same yearning for Jesus? 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:47.879 How can we have that same longing? 00:04:47.879 --> 00:04:53.439 What was the secret to him being so focused on the Lord? 00:04:54.040 --> 00:05:02.159 Well, I believe 12 to 14 gives us four quick reasons that will hopefully focus our minds as we think about the year ahead. 00:05:02.219 --> 00:05:03.259 And these are not Puritan points. 00:05:03.360 --> 00:05:05.579 They're why it's not a point with three points underneath. 00:05:05.740 --> 00:05:07.100 Four quick points this evening. 00:05:07.719 --> 00:05:11.100 Thinking about how can we continue to yearn after Jesus this year? 00:05:11.740 --> 00:05:13.699 How can we make him our number one priority? 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:17.680 Well, the first thing we see in verse 12 is this. 00:05:18.420 --> 00:05:20.100 Paul knows he hasn't arrived yet. 00:05:20.759 --> 00:05:22.079 Paul knows he hasn't arrived yet. 00:05:22.159 --> 00:05:22.399 See that? 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:26.560 Not that I've already obtained this or am already perfect. 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:29.300 He longs to know Jesus better. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:33.819 He yearns after him in his death and his resurrection and his sufferings. 00:05:33.939 --> 00:05:36.019 But he knows he's not perfect in this yet. 00:05:36.480 --> 00:05:41.420 He knows there's plenty of room for growth in his spiritual life. 00:05:41.420 --> 00:05:48.939 And here's the key to the Christian walk and to Paul's passion for Jesus is humility. 00:05:49.980 --> 00:05:50.540 Humility. 00:05:51.580 --> 00:05:55.840 The person who thinks they've made it is close to a fool. 00:05:56.719 --> 00:05:59.099 The person who thinks they've made it stops growing. 00:06:00.359 --> 00:06:03.819 So you think about boxing, for example. 00:06:04.939 --> 00:06:08.560 I don't know if you follow the sport at all, but it's a big thing in Nidri where I am. 00:06:09.160 --> 00:06:15.120 But what happens in boxing is that you usually get a young talent, usually late teens, early 20s. 00:06:15.240 --> 00:06:16.759 And they are hot. 00:06:17.660 --> 00:06:18.220 They're great. 00:06:18.220 --> 00:06:19.780 They're very, very talented. 00:06:19.940 --> 00:06:20.860 They've got great abilities. 00:06:21.640 --> 00:06:24.480 And what happens is they get a couple of fights under their belt. 00:06:24.640 --> 00:06:26.240 They knock two or three people out. 00:06:26.500 --> 00:06:28.960 And they suddenly think they are the bee's knees. 00:06:29.420 --> 00:06:31.680 They suddenly think they're the number one. 00:06:32.960 --> 00:06:34.460 And so they get the next fight. 00:06:35.040 --> 00:06:36.960 And the next fight is against a more experienced fighter. 00:06:37.220 --> 00:06:40.760 About 10, 20 years older it could be than that boxer. 00:06:41.900 --> 00:06:43.300 The young boxer thinks, you know what? 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:44.640 I've knocked the first three guys out. 00:06:44.920 --> 00:06:46.140 This guy will be a piece of cake. 00:06:46.400 --> 00:06:47.520 He's older than me. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:48.799 He's not as good as me. 00:06:48.819 --> 00:06:49.799 He's not as talented as me. 00:06:50.219 --> 00:06:50.680 And so what does he do? 00:06:50.699 --> 00:06:51.639 He doesn't train as hard. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:53.939 He thinks he's already made it. 00:06:54.159 --> 00:06:55.019 And he gets in the ring. 00:06:55.459 --> 00:06:57.639 The other guy trains much harder than he has. 00:06:57.899 --> 00:06:59.620 And he gets humbled. 00:07:00.259 --> 00:07:01.079 He gets knocked out. 00:07:03.279 --> 00:07:09.319 Pride and arrogance are not a sign of maturity in the Christian life. 00:07:09.639 --> 00:07:10.740 They're a sign of immaturity. 00:07:11.799 --> 00:07:14.219 And if you're going to be like that young boxing star, 00:07:14.379 --> 00:07:16.359 thinking I've arrived already in the Christian life, 00:07:16.360 --> 00:07:17.580 you're going to stop growing. 00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:20.720 You're going to stop pursuing Christ. 00:07:21.319 --> 00:07:22.939 You're going to stop seeing your need of him. 00:07:23.780 --> 00:07:26.580 Because the people who are closest to the Lord Jesus 00:07:26.580 --> 00:07:31.319 are the people who see their sin in all of its horror 00:07:31.319 --> 00:07:35.420 and all of its depth and all of its depravity. 00:07:35.420 --> 00:07:39.800 The people who are closest to the light see their darkness 00:07:39.800 --> 00:07:44.379 and want to stick as close as they can to the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:07:45.140 --> 00:07:49.120 That's what Paul was known about in the New Testament, isn't it? 00:07:49.840 --> 00:07:51.759 He says, I am the chief of sinners. 00:07:53.520 --> 00:07:54.759 I'm the chief of sinners. 00:07:54.759 --> 00:07:58.139 What about you this evening? 00:07:59.659 --> 00:08:00.420 What about you? 00:08:01.159 --> 00:08:02.599 Are you humble this evening? 00:08:02.980 --> 00:08:04.339 Are you yearning after Christ? 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:05.459 Or do you think you've made it already? 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:08.360 Because what can happen in the Christian life is this. 00:08:09.180 --> 00:08:09.920 Is that we go on. 00:08:10.560 --> 00:08:11.980 In the first year, we're excited. 00:08:12.639 --> 00:08:14.240 Second year, that excitement continues. 00:08:14.319 --> 00:08:15.000 Maybe the third year. 00:08:15.079 --> 00:08:17.099 But after five, ten, twenty years, 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:19.439 we can lose that excitement for Jesus, can't we? 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:23.819 We can be like the person who is in bed in the morning 00:08:23.819 --> 00:08:26.920 and it's cold outside. 00:08:27.660 --> 00:08:30.040 It's nice and cozy and warm in bed 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:31.219 and the alarm goes off. 00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:33.720 And what happens when the alarm goes off? 00:08:33.740 --> 00:08:35.000 It's cold outside and it's warm in bed. 00:08:35.960 --> 00:08:37.019 You hit the snooze button. 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:40.679 Two, three, four, five times 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:41.820 and you end up not getting out of bed. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:43.940 And that's what comes in the Christian life. 00:08:44.000 --> 00:08:45.299 You can get nice and cozy in your bed. 00:08:46.100 --> 00:08:47.220 Think it's cold outside. 00:08:47.620 --> 00:08:49.320 I'm going to stick where I am in my little cocoon. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:51.840 And we don't press forward. 00:08:52.720 --> 00:08:54.360 We don't press forward in knowing Jesus. 00:08:54.700 --> 00:08:57.240 We don't press forward in knowing his death and resurrection. 00:08:57.380 --> 00:08:59.620 We don't press forward in sharing in his sufferings 00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:00.460 because we're so comfortable. 00:09:01.760 --> 00:09:03.500 It's so easy to do in the West, isn't it? 00:09:04.480 --> 00:09:06.940 But Paul would say, I haven't arrived. 00:09:07.520 --> 00:09:08.320 I haven't arrived. 00:09:08.920 --> 00:09:10.300 I need to keep pushing on. 00:09:10.460 --> 00:09:11.880 I'm going to keep pursuing Christ. 00:09:12.220 --> 00:09:14.820 I'm going to make him my number one priority. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:17.100 That's the first thing. 00:09:17.100 --> 00:09:21.540 And secondly, we see that Paul continues to yearn after Christ 00:09:21.540 --> 00:09:23.680 because he knows he belongs to Jesus. 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:26.220 Look at the second half of verse 12. 00:09:26.759 --> 00:09:29.279 Not that I've already attained this or I'm already perfect, 00:09:29.500 --> 00:09:31.019 but I press on to make it my own. 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:31.480 Why? 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:34.040 Because Jesus Christ has made me his own. 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:36.980 Paul knows he hasn't arrived yet. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:39.399 He presses on to know Jesus more and more. 00:09:39.399 --> 00:09:39.740 Why? 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:47.139 Because he knows that he is, without a shadow of a doubt, a child of God. 00:09:48.720 --> 00:09:51.600 He knows he belongs to Jesus. 00:09:51.819 --> 00:09:54.740 He knows that he's been adopted into God's family 00:09:54.740 --> 00:09:58.100 and he is Christ's forevermore. 00:09:59.220 --> 00:10:02.100 And these are amazing words when you just take a few minutes to think about them 00:10:02.100 --> 00:10:04.379 because the language here is actually very intimate. 00:10:04.379 --> 00:10:08.080 The language reminds us of the Song of Songs. 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:10.899 For those of us who are unfamiliar with the Song of Songs, 00:10:11.019 --> 00:10:15.919 basically it's a big love poem of two lovers talking about how much they love each other. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:17.559 It's very intimate. 00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:22.019 And that's the kind of language that is used here of Paul, 00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:23.679 of his relationship with Jesus Christ. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:28.379 In Song of Songs it says this, Solomon says to his bride, 00:10:28.939 --> 00:10:31.879 I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. 00:10:32.299 --> 00:10:34.419 I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. 00:10:35.339 --> 00:10:39.979 So just imagine a husband or a wife holding their love, their spouse, 00:10:40.459 --> 00:10:42.339 and they're saying to them, I love you. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:44.500 I will always be there for you. 00:10:44.839 --> 00:10:46.019 I want nobody else. 00:10:46.359 --> 00:10:47.079 You're mine. 00:10:47.579 --> 00:10:48.339 I am yours. 00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:54.240 That's the kind of language that's used in the New Testament of Christ with his church, 00:10:54.320 --> 00:10:57.200 of Christ with individual believers. 00:10:57.399 --> 00:10:57.960 You are mine. 00:10:59.040 --> 00:11:01.300 I am yours. 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:05.480 Christ is yours and he is mine. 00:11:06.660 --> 00:11:08.080 Amazing, amazing words. 00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:11.540 And that's what Paul knew more than anything else. 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:15.820 Paul knew Christ as his friend. 00:11:15.820 --> 00:11:18.800 Paul knew Christ as his husband. 00:11:19.040 --> 00:11:23.800 Paul knew Christ as the lover of his soul. 00:11:25.460 --> 00:11:33.440 And knowing Jesus' steadfast and intimate and gracious love helps us to keep pursuing him in our lives. 00:11:34.260 --> 00:11:37.960 Because often, aren't we, in our love of Jesus, we're often cold, aren't we? 00:11:38.520 --> 00:11:40.640 We are often lukewarm. 00:11:40.920 --> 00:11:42.080 We're often flighty. 00:11:42.160 --> 00:11:43.560 We're often self-absorbed. 00:11:43.559 --> 00:11:45.979 We're often divided in our affections towards him. 00:11:46.539 --> 00:11:48.679 But his love for us is always hot. 00:11:49.659 --> 00:11:53.439 His love for us is always focused. 00:11:53.879 --> 00:11:55.839 His love for us is always loyal. 00:11:56.259 --> 00:11:59.639 His love for us never, ever changes. 00:12:00.539 --> 00:12:05.339 And it's as we understand his great love for us that we can grow in love for him. 00:12:05.340 --> 00:12:11.980 That's why Paul prays to the Ephesians that they might know the depth and the height and the length and the breadth of the love of God in Christ Jesus. 00:12:12.200 --> 00:12:18.139 Because it's as we understand how much we are loved that we in turn want to love him. 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:25.960 Again, it's like if there's someone in your life that you struggle with. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:29.220 So think about the person you struggle with the most right now. 00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:30.860 Maybe it's someone at work. 00:12:31.000 --> 00:12:32.799 Maybe it's someone in your family. 00:12:33.399 --> 00:12:34.419 Maybe it's your neighbours. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:38.159 Maybe it's someone in this church, even in this building tonight. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:39.539 Someone you really struggle with. 00:12:39.620 --> 00:12:40.559 Someone you really battle with. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:43.539 They annoy you when you see them. 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.359 They're very different to you maybe. 00:12:47.459 --> 00:12:50.699 Usually, because they annoy you, you ignore them. 00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:55.159 Or because they annoy you, you can't give them the time of day. 00:12:55.339 --> 00:12:56.500 You don't want to give them the time of day. 00:12:58.019 --> 00:13:02.379 But what happens if that person that annoys you the most begins to show you love? 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:05.759 Let's say they start to be really friendly towards you. 00:13:06.639 --> 00:13:10.259 Let's say they start to remember your birthday and buy you extravagant gifts. 00:13:10.959 --> 00:13:16.259 Let's say they start to really get alongside you and love you well. 00:13:17.159 --> 00:13:19.339 What happens in your heart as someone loves you? 00:13:20.739 --> 00:13:21.939 Even though you don't love them. 00:13:23.039 --> 00:13:25.599 Your heart begins to warm towards them, doesn't it? 00:13:26.259 --> 00:13:28.039 You begin to soften towards that person. 00:13:29.359 --> 00:13:30.819 You begin to even maybe love them. 00:13:31.399 --> 00:13:34.259 And count them as a friend, neighbour, brother, sister in Christ. 00:13:36.779 --> 00:13:38.439 That's the same in the relationship with Christ. 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:40.660 Often our hearts are cold, aren't they? 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:46.720 But as we remember his heart for us, that we are his and that he loves us, 00:13:47.140 --> 00:13:49.320 that our hearts are warmed towards him. 00:13:49.580 --> 00:13:51.700 That our rock-hard hearts are softened. 00:13:52.460 --> 00:13:55.760 That our icy hearts are softened to him. 00:13:56.020 --> 00:13:58.780 And we want to grow in our love of him. 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:00.000 And we want to serve him. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.639 And we want to put him as our number one priority. 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:09.600 Jesus, this evening, is a fountain of everlasting love. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:16.519 And knowing that helps us to yearn after him and run after him with all that we have. 00:14:16.519 --> 00:14:19.279 There's an old hymn that says, 00:14:19.439 --> 00:14:23.000 Jesus, love of my soul, let me to your bosom fly. 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.579 In other words, Jesus, you love me so intimately, 00:14:26.699 --> 00:14:29.279 I want to run to you each and every day. 00:14:29.379 --> 00:14:30.659 Because I know you're trustworthy. 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:31.840 I know you're gracious. 00:14:32.019 --> 00:14:34.759 I know that your steadfast love is better than life. 00:14:35.620 --> 00:14:36.480 Do you know that this evening? 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:39.939 Do you know his love as you enter 2022? 00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:43.160 Third reason. 00:14:43.880 --> 00:14:45.580 He doesn't just know the love that Christ has for him. 00:14:46.120 --> 00:14:49.320 He keeps yearning after Jesus because he forgets what lies behind. 00:14:49.420 --> 00:14:50.700 You see this in verse 13. 00:14:51.380 --> 00:14:53.520 Brothers, I do not consider that I've made it my own. 00:14:53.860 --> 00:14:57.340 But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind. 00:14:58.060 --> 00:14:59.560 Forgetting what lies behind. 00:15:00.580 --> 00:15:05.260 One of the greatest reasons we stop striving in the Christian life 00:15:05.260 --> 00:15:07.140 is because we're focused on the past. 00:15:07.139 --> 00:15:10.139 And that could be past achievements, 00:15:10.659 --> 00:15:13.439 things we've done for the Lord, faithfulness we've shown to him. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:16.939 Or maybe it could be past sins. 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:20.519 Maybe past guilt, past shame, past things that we've done. 00:15:21.460 --> 00:15:23.860 It stops us from yearning after him 00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:26.460 because instead of focusing forward on Jesus, 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:27.699 we're looking backwards. 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:31.620 And what happens if you start running and your head's turned that way? 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:33.919 You're going to fall over. 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:38.339 Or as I did one day, if your head's down and you're texting 00:15:38.339 --> 00:15:40.620 and you're not looking where you're going, what happens? 00:15:41.719 --> 00:15:42.559 You bump into someone. 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:44.699 I bump into the lamppost and bruise my eye 00:15:44.699 --> 00:15:46.459 and smash my phone into bits. 00:15:48.179 --> 00:15:50.719 When you're looking backwards or you're not looking forwards, 00:15:52.819 --> 00:15:53.620 it means you're not growing. 00:15:54.319 --> 00:15:55.519 You're not pushing forward. 00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:58.339 You're not yearning after Christ. 00:15:58.340 --> 00:16:01.580 And looking back at the past can halt our walk 00:16:01.580 --> 00:16:04.460 and can halt us growing in Christian maturity. 00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:07.019 I mean, the Apostle Paul, think of him. 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.259 At the moment, he's probably in prison. 00:16:10.000 --> 00:16:11.820 He's planted dozens of churches. 00:16:12.040 --> 00:16:13.700 He's led many people to Christ. 00:16:14.019 --> 00:16:15.379 He suffered for Jesus. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:17.660 He could put his feet up, couldn't he? 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:19.560 He could put his feet up and retire and say, 00:16:19.620 --> 00:16:20.000 do you know what? 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:21.460 I've done my best for Jesus. 00:16:22.120 --> 00:16:23.019 I'm retiring. 00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:23.720 That's it. 00:16:23.800 --> 00:16:24.180 I'm done. 00:16:25.300 --> 00:16:26.200 That's not what he does. 00:16:26.200 --> 00:16:29.720 Even at the end of his life, he's still straining forward. 00:16:29.780 --> 00:16:30.580 He's not looking behind. 00:16:31.160 --> 00:16:34.720 He's still focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:16:34.820 --> 00:16:38.180 He's still wanting to grow in his knowledge of Christ. 00:16:38.259 --> 00:16:39.660 He still wants to grow in his love of Christ. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.759 He still wants to grow in maturity. 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:46.940 He forgets what lies behind. 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:53.580 Again, it's like an athlete striving towards the goal of Christ Jesus, 00:16:54.440 --> 00:16:56.000 forgetting what lies behind. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:01.780 Apparently, there was a great race in 1954. 00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:04.799 Apparently, the great race at the time was the 100-meter sprint, 00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:05.539 which it is today. 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:06.819 It was the one-mile dash. 00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:10.039 There were two men fighting for Commonwealth gold. 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:14.519 One was called John Landy, and the other guy was called Roger Bannister. 00:17:16.100 --> 00:17:18.240 There was nothing to split them in their previous races, 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:21.980 but they had two very distinct styles of running. 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:28.140 One guy, Landy, liked to dash ahead and set the pace for everyone else, 00:17:28.140 --> 00:17:30.280 and hopefully they would just die away at the end. 00:17:31.060 --> 00:17:33.259 The other guy, Bannister, liked to conserve his energy, 00:17:33.660 --> 00:17:38.620 go a bit slower, and then in a blistering finish in the last 400, 200, and 100 meters. 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:44.099 Anyway, these guys head-to-head, it's all over the newspapers, all in the news. 00:17:44.739 --> 00:17:47.979 They are there for the one-mile dash, and it's come to the last lap. 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:50.819 And Landy is way ahead. 00:17:51.659 --> 00:17:58.599 But Bannister is catching up, and he cuts the gap to maybe 200 meters, 150 meters. 00:17:58.599 --> 00:18:02.399 They're going into the last 200 meters, 150 meters of the race, 00:18:02.719 --> 00:18:08.199 and Landy cannot hear Bannister's footsteps because the crowd is so raucous and loud. 00:18:08.939 --> 00:18:09.879 And so what does he do? 00:18:10.559 --> 00:18:13.839 He looks behind him to see where this guy is, 00:18:14.179 --> 00:18:16.759 and as soon as he does that, he slows down, 00:18:17.219 --> 00:18:21.500 and the other guy runs around him and wins the race. 00:18:23.240 --> 00:18:27.679 As Christians, we cannot have one eye over our shoulder. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:31.259 We need to have our eyes focused on the prize, 00:18:31.880 --> 00:18:34.460 pushing forward for the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:18:34.560 --> 00:18:35.799 You can't marvel at what you've done. 00:18:36.620 --> 00:18:37.060 It's done. 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:39.539 Thank God for his faithfulness to you. 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.660 Praise God for what he's done through you. 00:18:41.880 --> 00:18:44.500 But push on for this year, what he's going to do for you this year. 00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:47.799 If there's things in your past, shame, guilt, sin, 00:18:48.420 --> 00:18:50.820 whatever it is in the past, weighing you down, 00:18:51.100 --> 00:18:53.120 don't feel sorry for yourself, but run to Christ, 00:18:53.420 --> 00:18:56.740 lay it there, and run forward for the goal of Christ Jesus this year. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:00.080 We cannot look at the past, cannot look at the mistakes, 00:19:00.360 --> 00:19:01.660 and wallow in self-pity. 00:19:02.660 --> 00:19:03.640 That's what Paul did. 00:19:04.320 --> 00:19:05.560 He had many mistakes. 00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:08.140 He had many accomplishments, but he didn't look back. 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:11.600 He pushed forward and strained forward. 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:13.940 In fact, the language that's used is like at the end of a race, 00:19:13.940 --> 00:19:21.720 you know, where the athletes lean over to try and strain to win that gold medal. 00:19:22.299 --> 00:19:23.200 That's what Paul was like. 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:25.000 He beat his body in submission. 00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.920 He gave everything to honor Christ. 00:19:27.100 --> 00:19:30.200 He worked out his salvation with fear and trembling, 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:32.940 and kept pushing forwards. 00:19:33.720 --> 00:19:34.460 What about you? 00:19:34.500 --> 00:19:35.100 Is that your cry? 00:19:37.420 --> 00:19:39.980 Can we leave last year with all the good and all the bad 00:19:39.980 --> 00:19:42.240 and say, I'm going to press forward in 2022 for Jesus? 00:19:43.220 --> 00:19:45.360 Whatever that may involve. 00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:48.779 And finally, I've intimated this in the third point, 00:19:48.860 --> 00:19:50.620 but we'll finally end with this. 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:53.380 Paul pressed forward because he knew the prize to come. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:56.140 Look at verse 14 that was focused on in the reading. 00:19:56.140 --> 00:20:03.759 I pressed on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:20:04.060 --> 00:20:05.080 Paul didn't look behind. 00:20:05.780 --> 00:20:10.700 Instead, he strained forward towards the finishing line and the prize. 00:20:10.780 --> 00:20:11.660 And what was the prize? 00:20:12.380 --> 00:20:14.600 Jesus Christ himself. 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:18.960 The goal for Paul was seeing Jesus Christ face to face in heaven. 00:20:19.800 --> 00:20:21.759 And again, that's what all good racers do, don't they? 00:20:21.820 --> 00:20:23.520 All good athletes look at the prize. 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:26.420 That's what gets them up out of bed in the mornings. 00:20:26.859 --> 00:20:30.559 You know, when they're training for the Olympics and they have to get up at 4am or 5am, 00:20:30.720 --> 00:20:33.240 and they can't eat any fatty foods and go to takeouts, 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:36.000 and they have to eat really healthy things, 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:38.460 and they can't see their family sometimes, whatever it is. 00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:41.119 They're doing it because they want to win the prize. 00:20:42.480 --> 00:20:44.619 But we have a much greater prize as Christians, 00:20:44.779 --> 00:20:46.720 and that is heaven to come. 00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:50.200 Seeing Jesus face to face, where he will say, 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:54.980 well done, good and faithful servant. 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:58.839 That is the prize that we are pressing forward to. 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:00.740 That is our vision. 00:21:02.120 --> 00:21:03.680 Do not focus on the worries. 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:06.460 Do not focus on the struggles. 00:21:06.980 --> 00:21:08.240 Do not focus on the battles. 00:21:08.339 --> 00:21:09.180 There are many of them. 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:14.299 Instead, focus on Jesus Christ and the prize to come. 00:21:14.380 --> 00:21:15.480 Because when you get there, 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:18.160 you're not going to remember the battles, 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.880 the struggles, the scars and the pain. 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:23.700 Because you'll be in the presence of your saviour who you served 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:26.900 and wanted to serve throughout your life. 00:21:28.360 --> 00:21:30.480 I know a guy died in the church. 00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:31.620 He was very faithful here. 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:35.120 Isn't it amazing that this evening he's praising Jesus face to face? 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:38.439 Isn't it amazing that he was faithful to the end, 00:21:38.759 --> 00:21:41.359 and now his saviour says, 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:43.919 well done, good and faithful servant. 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:46.359 Isn't that what you want for your life? 00:21:46.399 --> 00:21:47.219 That's what I want for mine. 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:50.199 I've been faithful to Jesus. 00:21:52.159 --> 00:21:54.139 And I've focused on heaven to come. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:56.099 I think we forget that sometimes, don't we? 00:21:56.099 --> 00:21:59.039 We forget that we are just passing through. 00:21:59.819 --> 00:22:01.399 This is all going to be burnt up. 00:22:01.859 --> 00:22:03.379 It will all be gone one day, 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:04.939 and Jesus will make everything new. 00:22:05.119 --> 00:22:08.299 Passing through, we are pilgrims. 00:22:09.000 --> 00:22:11.859 And so we need to hold lightly the things of the world. 00:22:12.439 --> 00:22:14.500 Hold lightly the achievements of this world. 00:22:14.979 --> 00:22:18.139 Hold lightly the things that we hold so dear. 00:22:19.439 --> 00:22:20.819 And instead focus on Jesus, 00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:23.919 remembering one day we will be with him. 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.699 And all pain will be gone. 00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:27.779 There'll be no more cancer. 00:22:28.039 --> 00:22:29.099 There'll be no more depression. 00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.719 There'll be no more COVID-19. 00:22:31.000 --> 00:22:32.059 There'll be no more flu. 00:22:32.179 --> 00:22:33.099 There'll be no more tears. 00:22:33.099 --> 00:22:34.339 There'll be no more death. 00:22:34.980 --> 00:22:38.019 As we worship our Savior, Jesus Christ. 00:22:38.639 --> 00:22:39.879 He will be ours. 00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:43.259 And we will be his forever. 00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:47.619 Let me end with a story, and I'll pray and hand back to the bands. 00:22:47.619 --> 00:22:51.219 I'm assuming most of us have heard of Eric Liddell. 00:22:52.439 --> 00:22:56.219 Basically, he was an athlete in the 1900s, 00:22:56.219 --> 00:22:59.199 and he was known as the Flying Scotsman. 00:22:59.200 --> 00:23:05.559 And he was known as a man who pursued Jesus Christ with all of his being. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:10.279 In 1924, the Olympic Games, as it's famously been retold many times, 00:23:10.720 --> 00:23:14.059 he decided not to take part in the 100-meter, I think it was heat, 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:16.519 because it landed on a Sunday. 00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:20.600 And instead, he took part in a 200-meter race and a 400-meter race, 00:23:20.599 --> 00:23:29.179 which weren't his strongest events in the Olympics. 00:23:30.079 --> 00:23:34.539 He won bronze in the 200 meters, and he actually won gold in the 400 meters. 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:37.000 Now, he's a great athlete. 00:23:37.839 --> 00:23:38.839 He's won gold in the Olympics. 00:23:38.899 --> 00:23:39.439 What could he do? 00:23:39.899 --> 00:23:44.639 He could have just kept doing his athletics and then retired, 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.440 and that would be that. 00:23:47.060 --> 00:23:49.759 But instead, he went on and did two degrees, 00:23:50.120 --> 00:23:52.560 one in science and one in theology. 00:23:53.080 --> 00:23:54.660 So this man is a great athlete. 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:58.200 He's a very intelligent man. 00:23:59.020 --> 00:24:00.840 He could do anything what he wants with his life. 00:24:00.920 --> 00:24:02.920 He could make lots of money and live in a great mansion, 00:24:03.060 --> 00:24:05.080 probably somewhere in Scotland, maybe even own a castle, 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.200 and get on with his life. 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.000 What does he decide to do? 00:24:08.180 --> 00:24:09.440 Does he settle for a normal life? 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:10.900 Does he put his feet up and relax? 00:24:10.900 --> 00:24:10.980 Yes. 00:24:11.660 --> 00:24:14.560 Now, in 1925, the year after he won those medals, 00:24:15.040 --> 00:24:17.940 he set sail to be a missionary in China. 00:24:19.280 --> 00:24:23.860 In 1941, with the growing threat of Japanese invasion, 00:24:23.980 --> 00:24:26.900 he sent his wife and his kids back to be safe in Canada. 00:24:27.860 --> 00:24:28.620 And guess what he did? 00:24:28.840 --> 00:24:32.980 He stayed behind and fed and served the poor, 00:24:33.660 --> 00:24:35.040 kept running hard after Christ. 00:24:36.160 --> 00:24:38.780 In 1943, he got put in a concentration camp, 00:24:38.779 --> 00:24:41.279 where again, he served those around him. 00:24:41.779 --> 00:24:44.399 And in 1945, he died at the age of 43, 00:24:44.599 --> 00:24:50.660 apparently a brain tumor caused by malnourishment and overwork. 00:24:51.960 --> 00:24:54.779 All that Lidl had for his grave, for his achievements, 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:57.279 Olympic gold medalist, or Commonwealth gold medalist, 00:24:57.299 --> 00:25:01.619 or whatever it was, two degrees, serving the poor, 00:25:02.119 --> 00:25:05.599 doing amazing things, simple cross on his grave. 00:25:05.599 --> 00:25:08.659 Not his name, not epitaph underneath, 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:11.879 just a simple cross in boot polish. 00:25:14.359 --> 00:25:17.159 A man who had the world at his feet, 00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:20.699 decided to run hard for Jesus Christ, 00:25:20.879 --> 00:25:22.679 all the way to the end, 00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:24.099 and serve his master. 00:25:26.419 --> 00:25:27.379 What about you? 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:28.699 What about me? 00:25:30.980 --> 00:25:32.359 Will we run after Christ this year? 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:35.279 Will we run after Christ in our lives? 00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:37.660 And make him our number one priority? 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.200 May we yearn after him more than anything else. 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:44.500 Love him, serve him, obey him, 00:25:45.079 --> 00:25:46.000 until the very end. 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:46.799 Amen? 00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:48.220 Let's pray. 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:52.339 Dear Lord, thank you so much 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:54.480 that you are a faithful God. 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.799 Thank you that through Christ, 00:25:56.960 --> 00:25:57.639 we are yours, 00:25:58.339 --> 00:25:59.240 your precious children, 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:01.279 loved eternally 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:01.839 eternally, 00:26:02.879 --> 00:26:03.879 through your Son, 00:26:03.940 --> 00:26:05.059 in the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:10.000 Forgive us, we pray, 00:26:10.139 --> 00:26:12.420 for the ways that we have maybe yearned 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:14.119 after other things apart from Christ, 00:26:14.599 --> 00:26:15.480 that haven't been helpful. 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:17.440 Forgive us for the times 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.420 where we were looking behind 00:26:18.420 --> 00:26:19.440 and not ahead. 00:26:21.019 --> 00:26:22.160 Forgive us for the times 00:26:22.160 --> 00:26:24.139 where we focus on this world 00:26:24.139 --> 00:26:25.460 and serve the kingdom to come. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:27.860 Help us this year 00:26:27.860 --> 00:26:30.519 to yearn after Jesus, 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.319 to make him our number one priority, 00:26:33.799 --> 00:26:35.220 to serve him 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:37.900 and to share the good news of the gospel 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:40.340 with everyone we meet. 00:26:41.700 --> 00:26:42.720 Help us, we pray. 00:26:43.140 --> 00:26:43.779 In Jesus' name. 00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.400 Amen. 00:26:44.400 --> 00:26:44.500 Amen. 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.500 Amen.