WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.240 Good morning friends, I'd like to echo that from Sam, if you'd like to grab your Bibles, 00:00:05.679 --> 00:00:09.359 Philippians chapter 3, and let's pray. 00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:17.400 Father God, we ask as we do open your word now, we do pray that you would help us to 00:00:17.400 --> 00:00:25.120 heed the warning of this passage, but also rejoice in the promise, and I ask Father that 00:00:25.120 --> 00:00:29.300 you would enable us to pursue you, to go hard after you, and we ask it for your sake. 00:00:29.620 --> 00:00:29.859 Amen. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:38.340 This is a radio conversation between the United States Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln 00:00:38.340 --> 00:00:44.519 and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. 00:00:45.820 --> 00:00:47.539 Canadians, come on first. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:52.939 Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision. 00:00:54.219 --> 00:00:59.620 Americans, I recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid collision. 00:00:59.619 --> 00:01:01.839 Canadians, negative. 00:01:02.839 --> 00:01:06.120 You'll have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision. 00:01:07.959 --> 00:01:11.959 Americans, this is the captain of a US Navy warship. 00:01:12.079 --> 00:01:14.019 I say again, divert your course. 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:17.060 Canadians, no. 00:01:17.060 --> 00:01:29.520 Americans, this is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln, the second largest ship in the 00:01:29.520 --> 00:01:31.260 United States Atlantic fleet. 00:01:31.780 --> 00:01:35.980 We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. 00:01:35.980 --> 00:01:39.939 I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north. 00:01:39.939 --> 00:01:42.800 I say again, that's one five degrees north. 00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:47.380 Or countermeasures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:51.920 There's a bit of a pause in the radio conversation at this point. 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:54.040 And the Canadians come on. 00:01:54.700 --> 00:01:55.659 This is a lighthouse. 00:01:56.080 --> 00:01:56.700 Your call. 00:01:56.700 --> 00:02:08.900 There are a number of points in the Bible where we get similar warnings in order to change course 00:02:08.900 --> 00:02:11.780 in view of what is up ahead in the future. 00:02:11.780 --> 00:02:18.159 And Philippians 3 is one of those passages which has a clear warning in there. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:21.819 Amongst the encouragement, there is a clear warning. 00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:26.519 This is the fourth installment in our commitment series, Partners for Life. 00:02:26.919 --> 00:02:29.139 The title of this talk is Partners for Eternity. 00:02:29.239 --> 00:02:31.680 However, late last night I decided to change it. 00:02:32.139 --> 00:02:35.819 And I've called it Partners in Going Hard After God. 00:02:37.959 --> 00:02:42.780 From Philippians 3, I want to show you why we must go hard after God. 00:02:43.419 --> 00:02:46.400 And I want to encourage you to go hard after God. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:55.280 And I want to persuade you that the pursuit of God is not optional, even after conversion. 00:02:56.460 --> 00:02:59.780 For this passage is written to Christians. 00:03:01.400 --> 00:03:04.099 The warning is to Christians. 00:03:04.099 --> 00:03:12.819 I take it those Paul describes in verse 18 as living as enemies of the cross of Christ 00:03:12.819 --> 00:03:16.740 are those who have given up going hard after God. 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:20.120 They are the ones who have given up, pressing forward, pursuing God. 00:03:21.180 --> 00:03:25.299 You see, this is a warning that Paul has issued before and he does it here again. 00:03:25.439 --> 00:03:33.419 He says it with tears because verse 19 says that the destiny of the enemy of the cross of Christ 00:03:33.419 --> 00:03:34.799 is destruction. 00:03:35.559 --> 00:03:40.039 He could not have used stronger language in issuing this warning. 00:03:40.159 --> 00:03:43.500 The destruction that he has in mind here is eternal destruction. 00:03:44.519 --> 00:03:48.339 And that is why we must go hard after God. 00:03:48.619 --> 00:03:50.560 Because the warning is clear. 00:03:51.959 --> 00:03:54.939 The destiny you don't want to mess with. 00:03:56.399 --> 00:03:59.619 Paul says three things about the enemy of the cross of Jesus. 00:04:00.119 --> 00:04:02.779 He says their lives are characterized by three things. 00:04:02.780 --> 00:04:07.580 It says here that they have their mind on earthly things. 00:04:07.680 --> 00:04:09.900 Literally, their mind is set on earthly things. 00:04:09.979 --> 00:04:13.800 It's not just they think about them, but they're actually set on earthly things. 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.839 At the very center of their life is the world and its thinking and its priorities. 00:04:18.839 --> 00:04:21.040 They think like the world thinks. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:24.720 Their thinking is not directed by the word of God, the Bible, 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:31.040 but by popular culture, by social trends, by what everyone else is doing and thinking. 00:04:32.080 --> 00:04:36.820 When there is a clash between the scriptures and popular influences, 00:04:37.480 --> 00:04:40.560 the Bible loses out every time for these people. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:44.780 Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter? 00:04:44.779 --> 00:04:46.919 Very strong warning. 00:04:46.919 --> 00:04:53.439 When Peter had his mind on earthly things and tried to discourage Jesus from going to the cross. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:54.399 You remember that encounter? 00:04:55.699 --> 00:05:00.299 Jesus turned to his best mate and called him the name of his worst enemy. 00:05:01.159 --> 00:05:02.779 Get behind me, Satan. 00:05:04.219 --> 00:05:04.659 Why? 00:05:04.660 --> 00:05:12.240 Because you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. 00:05:13.080 --> 00:05:15.100 Your mind is on earthly things. 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:17.840 You are thinking like everyone else thinks. 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:25.060 Peter wanted Jesus without a cross, but a Jesus without a cross is no savior and he's no lord. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:29.700 The enemy of the cross has their mind set on earthly things. 00:05:29.699 --> 00:05:33.240 It also says that they glory in their shame. 00:05:33.639 --> 00:05:39.800 The very sins that Jesus died for on the cross are the very things that they continue to do and they continue to delight in. 00:05:41.819 --> 00:05:45.459 They may even call themselves Christians, but they don't live it. 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:48.279 It's like as if those sins don't matter. 00:05:48.439 --> 00:05:54.980 To glory in shame is to keep doing the very things that God hates and think it doesn't matter. 00:05:54.980 --> 00:06:03.300 It's even to have a strong confidence in that I am saved by grace alone and Jesus is just going to keep forgiving me. 00:06:04.580 --> 00:06:06.020 And my sin doesn't matter. 00:06:06.860 --> 00:06:09.480 It is a blasé approach to holiness. 00:06:09.700 --> 00:06:11.759 The technical term for it is cheap grace. 00:06:14.379 --> 00:06:17.340 It's a blasé approach to the mortification of sin. 00:06:17.460 --> 00:06:18.860 It's to glory in shame. 00:06:18.860 --> 00:06:25.720 Of course these people would tick the box on the big sins and go, well, you know, I don't do those things. 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:30.639 List off the Ten Commandments, tick, tick, tick, tick, tick, all fine and dandy. 00:06:31.160 --> 00:06:33.500 But what about the acceptable sins? 00:06:35.020 --> 00:06:38.720 God wants to deal with those things that we find acceptable amongst us. 00:06:38.720 --> 00:07:01.000 God wants to deal with those things. 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:07.360 When you go hard after God, those stones get turned over and God wants to deal with them. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:17.040 It is painful and it is raw to allow God to weed around in those closely held sins because the life of sin is so easy. 00:07:17.759 --> 00:07:18.860 It is so attractive. 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:20.819 It feels so good. 00:07:24.439 --> 00:07:25.720 But be warned. 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:28.980 Destiny is destruction. 00:07:28.980 --> 00:07:35.080 It also says that the enemy of God has their stomach as their God. 00:07:35.180 --> 00:07:36.660 That is, their gut is their God. 00:07:37.140 --> 00:07:40.439 What that means is they pander their physical desires and urges. 00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:44.500 What I feel like doing is what I do. 00:07:45.860 --> 00:07:48.620 What I want to do is what I do. 00:07:48.620 --> 00:07:58.220 And so the words of Jesus for these people, where he says, deny yourself, take up your cross and come follow me, those words have been forgotten. 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:04.480 They have come to Christ, but don't want to keep denying themselves. 00:08:06.660 --> 00:08:12.759 The enemy of the cross of Christ has destruction as their destiny. 00:08:12.759 --> 00:08:17.959 Friends, the cross of Christ is where the war on God ended. 00:08:19.500 --> 00:08:23.740 It is where Jesus dealt with our sin, forgave our sin, forgave our rebellion. 00:08:24.199 --> 00:08:30.899 And it is only, only through Jesus that we are ever able to escape the destiny of destruction. 00:08:34.179 --> 00:08:36.939 So why go hard after God in Christ? 00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:42.100 Because destruction is the destiny of those who don't. 00:08:43.840 --> 00:08:45.840 And do you hear the warning of this passage? 00:08:47.180 --> 00:08:49.800 It's not just saying, yeah, I trust in Jesus, I believe in Jesus. 00:08:52.460 --> 00:08:53.680 And leaving it at that. 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:58.980 It is going hard after God because he's gone hard after me. 00:09:00.160 --> 00:09:03.940 Moment by moment, day by day, week after week, month after month, year after year. 00:09:03.940 --> 00:09:09.800 We also get another reason why we should go hard after God in verse 20. 00:09:10.680 --> 00:09:15.400 But our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly await a saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:09:15.680 --> 00:09:19.180 who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, 00:09:19.520 --> 00:09:23.860 will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 00:09:24.420 --> 00:09:31.340 The alternative destination is citizenship of heaven, where the Lord Jesus reigns. 00:09:31.340 --> 00:09:33.820 And that is why we should go hard after God. 00:09:34.100 --> 00:09:35.960 Because it is where Jesus is. 00:09:37.220 --> 00:09:38.420 Citizenship is crucial. 00:09:38.600 --> 00:09:39.500 It is very important. 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:43.120 And by and large, it is something that most of us take for granted. 00:09:44.600 --> 00:09:47.600 It's something we didn't take for granted at the end of last year, 00:09:47.680 --> 00:09:49.960 when we were pursuing citizenship for some of our members. 00:09:52.600 --> 00:09:54.080 Life and death were at stake. 00:09:55.080 --> 00:09:57.680 That is how important citizenship is. 00:09:57.679 --> 00:10:02.679 But when you're born in a country like Australia, you just take it for granted. 00:10:04.299 --> 00:10:07.039 Until you go to the United States and then you appreciate it a little bit more. 00:10:10.159 --> 00:10:14.439 Citizenship is crucial because it provides protection and care and significance. 00:10:15.099 --> 00:10:18.399 If you are a refugee, a citizen of no country, 00:10:19.019 --> 00:10:21.179 and there is no one to protect you, 00:10:21.179 --> 00:10:26.759 all of a sudden life becomes very, very nervous. 00:10:31.239 --> 00:10:33.199 For instance, over 100 years ago, 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:39.579 a Spanish court condemned to death a man for a crime that he apparently committed. 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:44.739 However, this man was an American citizen and he was British by birth. 00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:49.740 And the two ambassadors of those respective countries said, 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:51.500 you cannot condemn this man to death. 00:10:52.180 --> 00:10:54.060 The Spanish basically ignored that. 00:10:54.680 --> 00:10:59.919 And they marched him out to put him up against the wall 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:02.700 to kill him by firing squad. 00:11:03.840 --> 00:11:05.919 Right behind the firing squad 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:09.379 came the ambassadors of those two countries. 00:11:09.639 --> 00:11:11.019 They walked out with them 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:13.059 and they each had a flag 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:17.799 and they wrapped the man in one of their respective country flags 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:21.559 as he stood there on the wall of the firing squad. 00:11:22.559 --> 00:11:24.460 And the two ambassadors said, 00:11:25.019 --> 00:11:27.299 we dare you to fire a shot. 00:11:28.519 --> 00:11:29.840 If you fire a shot, 00:11:30.019 --> 00:11:32.779 we will bring both of our empires down on top of Spain. 00:11:35.199 --> 00:11:36.480 And the guns were lowered 00:11:36.480 --> 00:11:38.460 and they all walked away. 00:11:38.460 --> 00:11:43.460 That is what citizenship does for you. 00:11:44.920 --> 00:11:47.820 There he was standing in front of a bunch of guys 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:49.840 with guns aimed at him 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:52.980 and he was wrapped in simple cotton 00:11:52.980 --> 00:11:56.560 and yet he might as well have been wearing armour plating. 00:11:57.580 --> 00:12:00.080 He was impervious to destruction. 00:12:01.820 --> 00:12:03.500 As a friend of the cross, 00:12:04.240 --> 00:12:06.280 you are impervious to destruction. 00:12:06.279 --> 00:12:10.939 Trusting Jesus means that your citizenship is in heaven 00:12:10.939 --> 00:12:13.799 and your destiny is not destruction. 00:12:14.419 --> 00:12:15.360 Instead of destruction, 00:12:15.639 --> 00:12:18.000 in fact, it's a new body fit for eternity 00:12:18.000 --> 00:12:19.459 is what it says there. 00:12:19.899 --> 00:12:20.699 Did you see that? 00:12:21.279 --> 00:12:23.659 He's not just changing us on the inside, 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:25.039 that's what he's doing now, 00:12:25.740 --> 00:12:27.860 but he's actually going to give us bodies 00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:29.559 which are completely new, 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:32.039 fit for eternity in heaven. 00:12:33.600 --> 00:12:35.799 Bodies that don't need to cry. 00:12:36.240 --> 00:12:37.599 Bodies that won't feel unloved. 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:39.019 Bodies that won't feel lonely. 00:12:39.219 --> 00:12:40.539 Bodies that won't feel sad. 00:12:40.939 --> 00:12:42.419 Bodies that will never grow tired. 00:12:42.599 --> 00:12:44.419 Bodies that won't break down on you. 00:12:47.299 --> 00:12:49.259 Notice too that Paul didn't say 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:51.240 that your citizenship will be in heaven. 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:54.799 It is because Christ has already grabbed hold of you, 00:12:54.859 --> 00:12:56.759 your citizenship is in heaven. 00:12:56.759 --> 00:12:59.259 If you're a Christian, 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:02.019 you are already a citizen of heaven. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:05.360 You are already impervious to destruction. 00:13:06.360 --> 00:13:08.740 That is the home that you are heading for. 00:13:09.580 --> 00:13:11.299 And that is why the citizen of heaven, 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:14.059 who understands that they are a citizen of heaven, 00:13:14.500 --> 00:13:16.279 don't just wait. 00:13:17.639 --> 00:13:18.980 They eagerly wait. 00:13:18.980 --> 00:13:23.700 They eagerly wait for their saviour to come. 00:13:24.700 --> 00:13:27.000 We are eagerly busting to be there 00:13:27.000 --> 00:13:29.500 because it's where Jesus is. 00:13:30.639 --> 00:13:33.779 Verses 12 to 16 show us 00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:36.019 what this eagerly waiting looks like. 00:13:36.620 --> 00:13:38.820 And let me say that these verses 00:13:38.820 --> 00:13:41.139 explode the false logic 00:13:41.139 --> 00:13:44.500 that says if Christ has found us, 00:13:44.500 --> 00:13:46.799 we don't need to find him anymore. 00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:49.519 We no longer need to seek him 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.320 if we have been found by Christ. 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:55.299 Paul's reasoning is in fact the exact opposite. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:59.480 I press on in order to gain Christ 00:13:59.480 --> 00:14:02.679 because Christ has already gained me. 00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:09.419 Verse 12, 00:14:09.460 --> 00:14:11.179 not that I've already obtained all this 00:14:11.179 --> 00:14:12.879 or have already been made perfect, 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:15.220 but I press on to take hold of that 00:14:15.220 --> 00:14:16.939 for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.779 Brothers, I do not consider myself 00:14:18.779 --> 00:14:19.980 yet to have taken hold of it. 00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:20.820 One thing I do, 00:14:21.159 --> 00:14:22.439 forgetting what is behind 00:14:22.439 --> 00:14:24.179 and straining towards what is ahead, 00:14:24.419 --> 00:14:26.360 I press on towards the goal 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:27.919 to win the prize 00:14:27.919 --> 00:14:29.899 which God has called me heavenward 00:14:29.899 --> 00:14:30.820 in Christ Jesus. 00:14:31.379 --> 00:14:32.500 All of us who are mature 00:14:32.500 --> 00:14:34.200 should take such a view of things 00:14:34.200 --> 00:14:37.340 and if on some point you think differently, 00:14:37.779 --> 00:14:39.539 that too God will make clear to you. 00:14:39.779 --> 00:14:41.179 Only let us live up 00:14:41.179 --> 00:14:43.539 to what we have already attained. 00:14:45.839 --> 00:14:46.519 You see, 00:14:46.659 --> 00:14:50.599 Paul did not see his conversion to Christ 00:14:50.599 --> 00:14:53.479 as a cage to hold him back 00:14:53.479 --> 00:14:56.659 but as a catapult to pursue righteousness. 00:14:59.659 --> 00:15:02.379 The irresistible grace of Christ 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:04.299 overcoming Paul's rebellion 00:15:04.299 --> 00:15:06.899 did not make Paul passive. 00:15:06.899 --> 00:15:10.819 It made him powerful 00:15:10.819 --> 00:15:12.879 in pursuing holiness. 00:15:15.879 --> 00:15:17.819 The best commentary on these verses 00:15:17.819 --> 00:15:19.299 I think is back in chapter 2, 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:20.519 verses 12 and 13 00:15:20.519 --> 00:15:21.659 which says, 00:15:22.059 --> 00:15:23.240 work out your salvation. 00:15:23.759 --> 00:15:24.319 Work at it, 00:15:24.379 --> 00:15:24.879 work at it, 00:15:24.939 --> 00:15:25.480 work at it. 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:25.819 Why? 00:15:26.819 --> 00:15:28.919 Because it is God who is working in you. 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:33.219 In calling Christians 00:15:33.219 --> 00:15:34.860 to go hard after God, 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:38.259 Paul in no way 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:41.579 undermines salvation by grace alone. 00:15:43.059 --> 00:15:45.000 He simply confirms it. 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:49.039 Twice in these verses 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:50.559 he affirms it is God 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.899 who has taken hold of him. 00:15:52.599 --> 00:15:54.059 But in the very same verses 00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:56.299 he calls us to take hold of Christ, 00:15:56.299 --> 00:15:56.919 to pursue, 00:15:57.839 --> 00:15:58.859 to press on, 00:16:00.219 --> 00:16:02.579 go hard after God. 00:16:05.019 --> 00:16:06.899 You see what Paul's saying here? 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:09.379 Our work 00:16:09.379 --> 00:16:11.259 in pursuing God 00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:13.539 is his work 00:16:13.539 --> 00:16:15.099 for his glory 00:16:15.099 --> 00:16:16.500 when done 00:16:16.500 --> 00:16:17.379 in dependence 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:18.919 on his sovereign grace. 00:16:18.919 --> 00:16:21.959 I'll say that again. 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:24.620 Our work 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:27.360 is his work 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.759 for his glory 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.159 when done 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:31.939 in dependence 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:33.059 on his 00:16:33.059 --> 00:16:34.419 sovereign grace. 00:16:36.500 --> 00:16:38.839 The most fundamental reason 00:16:38.839 --> 00:16:40.240 why the Christian 00:16:40.240 --> 00:16:41.559 must go hard 00:16:41.559 --> 00:16:42.719 after Christ 00:16:42.719 --> 00:16:44.419 is that Christ 00:16:44.419 --> 00:16:45.480 is in them 00:16:45.480 --> 00:16:47.559 moving them 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:48.419 to go hard 00:16:48.419 --> 00:16:49.339 after him. 00:16:53.599 --> 00:16:54.459 And it's in this 00:16:54.459 --> 00:16:55.619 that Paul sets himself up 00:16:55.619 --> 00:16:56.500 as a model to follow 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.459 in verse 17. 00:16:58.219 --> 00:16:58.679 He says, 00:16:58.759 --> 00:16:59.519 follow my example, 00:16:59.679 --> 00:16:59.939 brothers, 00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:00.539 and take note 00:17:00.539 --> 00:17:01.439 of those who live 00:17:01.439 --> 00:17:02.500 according to the pattern 00:17:02.500 --> 00:17:03.539 that we gave you. 00:17:04.119 --> 00:17:05.059 What was the pattern 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.299 of life for Paul? 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.599 Verse 10, 00:17:08.059 --> 00:17:09.279 I want to know Christ 00:17:09.279 --> 00:17:10.519 and the power 00:17:10.519 --> 00:17:11.399 of his resurrection 00:17:11.399 --> 00:17:12.259 and the fellowship 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:12.940 of sharing 00:17:12.940 --> 00:17:14.000 in his sufferings, 00:17:14.359 --> 00:17:15.339 becoming like him 00:17:15.339 --> 00:17:16.000 in his death, 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:16.940 and so somehow 00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:18.079 to attain 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:18.740 the resurrection 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.500 from the dead. 00:17:20.279 --> 00:17:20.960 What was Paul's 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:21.720 pattern of life? 00:17:23.000 --> 00:17:25.519 I just want to know 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.220 Jesus 00:17:26.220 --> 00:17:28.400 and I want to be 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.240 like Jesus. 00:17:31.359 --> 00:17:32.519 His whole focus 00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:33.000 in life 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:33.720 was being made 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:34.500 more and more 00:17:34.500 --> 00:17:35.299 like Jesus 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.539 until the day 00:17:36.539 --> 00:17:37.599 he meets Jesus 00:17:37.599 --> 00:17:38.539 face to face. 00:17:39.079 --> 00:17:40.059 For me to live 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:40.880 is Christ 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:41.960 and to die 00:17:41.960 --> 00:17:42.740 is gain 00:17:42.740 --> 00:17:43.559 is what he said 00:17:43.559 --> 00:17:44.140 in chapter 1 00:17:44.140 --> 00:17:44.720 verse 21. 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:47.200 It is a spurious 00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:47.819 logic 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:49.079 which insists 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:50.200 that if we 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:51.420 have found Christ 00:17:51.420 --> 00:17:53.000 we no more 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.400 need to seek Christ. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:17:56.680 As one writer 00:17:56.680 --> 00:17:57.980 put it last century, 00:17:58.140 --> 00:17:59.319 to have found God 00:17:59.319 --> 00:18:00.839 and still 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.940 to pursue him 00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:03.480 is the soul's 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.059 paradox 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:05.000 of love. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:06.680 Scorned 00:18:06.680 --> 00:18:07.180 indeed 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:07.859 by the two 00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:09.160 easily satisfied 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:09.960 religiousists 00:18:09.960 --> 00:18:12.400 but justified 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:13.039 in happy 00:18:13.039 --> 00:18:13.720 experience 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.620 by the children 00:18:14.620 --> 00:18:15.900 with a burning 00:18:15.900 --> 00:18:16.440 heart. 00:18:18.759 --> 00:18:19.360 Or 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:21.400 put probably 00:18:21.400 --> 00:18:22.059 more simply 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:23.079 by another guy 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:23.940 who was even 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:24.620 older than him 00:18:24.620 --> 00:18:26.740 wherever 00:18:26.740 --> 00:18:28.360 there is 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:29.259 true grace 00:18:29.259 --> 00:18:30.840 there is a 00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:31.380 desire 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:32.120 for more 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:32.660 grace. 00:18:32.660 --> 00:18:32.740 grace. 00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:37.740 Wherever 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:38.320 there is 00:18:38.320 --> 00:18:39.120 true grace 00:18:39.120 --> 00:18:39.759 there is 00:18:39.759 --> 00:18:40.360 a desire 00:18:40.360 --> 00:18:40.920 for more 00:18:40.920 --> 00:18:41.340 grace. 00:18:41.820 --> 00:18:42.420 The evidence 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.080 that you 00:18:43.080 --> 00:18:43.900 have Christ 00:18:43.900 --> 00:18:45.080 is that you 00:18:45.080 --> 00:18:45.820 want more 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:46.759 of Christ. 00:18:47.800 --> 00:18:48.380 Continued 00:18:48.380 --> 00:18:48.980 indifference 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:49.540 to growth 00:18:49.540 --> 00:18:50.180 in grace 00:18:50.180 --> 00:18:51.200 is a sign 00:18:51.200 --> 00:18:51.820 of no 00:18:51.820 --> 00:18:52.340 grace 00:18:52.340 --> 00:18:53.400 and that 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:54.060 my friends 00:18:54.060 --> 00:18:54.800 is why 00:18:54.800 --> 00:18:55.400 we need 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:55.680 to go 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:55.960 hard 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:56.540 after God. 00:18:56.539 --> 00:19:00.180 Because 00:19:00.180 --> 00:19:00.500 either 00:19:00.500 --> 00:19:00.859 you're a 00:19:00.859 --> 00:19:01.099 citizen 00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:01.659 of heaven 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:03.899 or the 00:19:03.899 --> 00:19:04.159 warning 00:19:04.159 --> 00:19:04.399 is 00:19:04.399 --> 00:19:04.960 destruction 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.359 is your 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:05.720 destiny. 00:19:08.740 --> 00:19:09.220 So 00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:10.259 what can 00:19:10.259 --> 00:19:10.559 we learn 00:19:10.559 --> 00:19:11.019 from Paul's 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.460 example? 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:13.599 How do 00:19:13.599 --> 00:19:13.899 we go 00:19:13.899 --> 00:19:14.180 hard 00:19:14.180 --> 00:19:14.720 after God? 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.000 I think 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:15.180 there's 00:19:15.180 --> 00:19:15.440 at least 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:15.879 three things 00:19:15.879 --> 00:19:18.680 in this 00:19:18.680 --> 00:19:19.200 passage. 00:19:19.659 --> 00:19:20.159 Firstly 00:19:20.159 --> 00:19:21.980 develop 00:19:21.980 --> 00:19:22.740 holy 00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:24.039 dissatisfaction. 00:19:25.399 --> 00:19:25.619 That's 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:25.960 the first 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:26.180 thing. 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:27.639 Paul says 00:19:27.639 --> 00:19:27.859 here, 00:19:27.879 --> 00:19:28.139 brothers, 00:19:28.259 --> 00:19:28.500 I do 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:28.980 not consider 00:19:28.980 --> 00:19:29.539 myself 00:19:29.539 --> 00:19:30.059 yet to 00:19:30.059 --> 00:19:30.180 have 00:19:30.180 --> 00:19:30.420 taken 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:30.759 hold 00:19:30.759 --> 00:19:31.059 of it. 00:19:32.339 --> 00:19:32.799 Paul's 00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:33.259 pursuit 00:19:33.259 --> 00:19:34.220 of Christ 00:19:34.220 --> 00:19:35.299 rises 00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:36.059 out of 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:37.119 a profound 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:38.700 dissatisfaction 00:19:38.700 --> 00:19:39.059 with the 00:19:39.059 --> 00:19:39.599 way he 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.200 is. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.819 And I 00:19:41.819 --> 00:19:42.099 just 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.639 ponder 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:42.879 this. 00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:43.139 Could 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:43.659 it be 00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:44.399 that there 00:19:44.399 --> 00:19:44.700 is a 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.319 connection 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:46.159 between 00:19:46.159 --> 00:19:46.819 how 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:48.379 little 00:19:48.379 --> 00:19:49.339 earnest 00:19:49.339 --> 00:19:49.859 pursuit 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.399 of God 00:19:50.399 --> 00:19:50.839 there is 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:51.319 today 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:52.519 and how 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:53.099 much 00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:53.460 we are 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.119 told to 00:19:54.119 --> 00:19:54.339 think 00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:54.740 well of 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:55.240 ourselves? 00:19:55.240 --> 00:19:56.380 It's 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:56.700 not a 00:19:56.700 --> 00:19:56.940 topic 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:57.220 that I 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.440 haven't 00:19:57.440 --> 00:19:57.740 raised 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:58.200 before. 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:01.079 It is 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.660 a wonderful 00:20:01.660 --> 00:20:02.339 thing to 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:02.640 have been 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.039 taken 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.579 possession 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:03.900 by 00:20:03.900 --> 00:20:04.519 Christ 00:20:04.519 --> 00:20:05.819 but it 00:20:05.819 --> 00:20:06.220 is a 00:20:06.220 --> 00:20:06.640 thousand 00:20:06.640 --> 00:20:07.140 times 00:20:07.140 --> 00:20:07.400 more 00:20:07.400 --> 00:20:07.920 wonderful 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:09.680 when we 00:20:09.680 --> 00:20:10.279 realise 00:20:10.279 --> 00:20:10.759 that he 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.299 has taken 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:11.960 possession 00:20:11.960 --> 00:20:12.779 of people 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:13.519 who remain 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.059 sinful. 00:20:14.059 --> 00:20:14.159 people. 00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:18.119 The first 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:18.500 step in 00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.079 going hard 00:20:19.079 --> 00:20:19.539 after the 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:20.139 holy God 00:20:20.139 --> 00:20:20.659 then is 00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.259 to develop 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.359 a holy 00:20:22.359 --> 00:20:23.799 dissatisfaction 00:20:23.799 --> 00:20:24.299 with your 00:20:24.299 --> 00:20:24.839 spiritual 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.359 life. 00:20:26.639 --> 00:20:27.200 What 00:20:27.200 --> 00:20:27.759 comes more 00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.559 naturally to 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:28.980 us however 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.480 is a 00:20:29.480 --> 00:20:30.359 dissatisfaction 00:20:30.359 --> 00:20:30.779 with other 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:31.339 people's 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:31.859 spiritual 00:20:31.859 --> 00:20:32.319 life. 00:20:33.259 --> 00:20:33.859 That is 00:20:33.859 --> 00:20:34.139 a more 00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.619 natural 00:20:34.619 --> 00:20:35.059 thing. 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:35.819 It is 00:20:35.819 --> 00:20:36.519 very easy 00:20:36.519 --> 00:20:36.879 to point 00:20:36.879 --> 00:20:37.279 the finger 00:20:37.279 --> 00:20:37.659 and say 00:20:37.659 --> 00:20:37.960 well that 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.220 person 00:20:38.220 --> 00:20:38.519 doesn't 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:38.859 come to 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:39.139 church 00:20:39.139 --> 00:20:39.679 very often 00:20:39.679 --> 00:20:40.440 and that 00:20:40.440 --> 00:20:40.819 person's 00:20:40.819 --> 00:20:41.039 never 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:41.519 involved 00:20:41.519 --> 00:20:41.859 and that 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.159 person's 00:20:42.159 --> 00:20:42.599 always got 00:20:42.599 --> 00:20:43.279 excuses and 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:43.679 that person 00:20:43.679 --> 00:20:44.199 doesn't pray 00:20:44.199 --> 00:20:44.859 so clearly 00:20:44.859 --> 00:20:45.779 and 00:20:45.779 --> 00:20:52.759 dissatisfaction 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:53.599 dissatisfaction 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:54.439 dissatisfaction 00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:55.240 all around 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.500 me. 00:20:56.379 --> 00:20:57.019 Disappointment 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:57.779 all around 00:20:57.779 --> 00:20:58.279 me. 00:21:00.959 --> 00:21:01.480 Being able 00:21:01.480 --> 00:21:01.939 to point 00:21:01.939 --> 00:21:02.779 out others 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.259 lack of 00:21:03.259 --> 00:21:03.799 pursuit of 00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:04.500 God doesn't 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:05.219 actually mean 00:21:05.219 --> 00:21:05.879 that I am 00:21:05.879 --> 00:21:07.039 pursuing God. 00:21:07.679 --> 00:21:08.119 Just thought 00:21:08.119 --> 00:21:08.439 I want to 00:21:08.439 --> 00:21:08.980 make that 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.379 clear. 00:21:09.859 --> 00:21:10.279 It is not 00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:11.039 a sign of 00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.379 maturity to 00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:12.720 be able 00:21:12.720 --> 00:21:13.300 to identify 00:21:13.300 --> 00:21:13.700 other 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:14.280 people's 00:21:14.280 --> 00:21:15.400 immaturity. 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:18.520 Stand in 00:21:18.520 --> 00:21:18.800 front of 00:21:18.800 --> 00:21:19.100 the mirror 00:21:19.100 --> 00:21:19.400 of the 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:19.800 word and 00:21:19.800 --> 00:21:20.340 recognize 00:21:20.340 --> 00:21:20.840 that you 00:21:20.840 --> 00:21:21.360 have not 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:21.680 yet 00:21:21.680 --> 00:21:22.320 arrived. 00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:23.960 The 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:24.420 hearty 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:24.820 admission 00:21:24.820 --> 00:21:25.360 of our 00:21:25.360 --> 00:21:25.860 spiritual 00:21:25.860 --> 00:21:26.900 imperfections 00:21:26.900 --> 00:21:27.380 is the 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:27.840 starting 00:21:27.840 --> 00:21:28.460 point for 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:28.560 the 00:21:28.560 --> 00:21:28.860 pursuit 00:21:28.860 --> 00:21:29.040 of 00:21:29.040 --> 00:21:29.400 God. 00:21:31.080 --> 00:21:31.460 The 00:21:31.460 --> 00:21:32.140 mortification 00:21:32.140 --> 00:21:32.660 of pride 00:21:32.660 --> 00:21:33.160 friends. 00:21:33.480 --> 00:21:33.680 I think 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:33.820 I have 00:21:33.820 --> 00:21:34.340 spoken about 00:21:34.340 --> 00:21:34.620 that a 00:21:34.620 --> 00:21:34.760 few 00:21:34.760 --> 00:21:35.220 times. 00:21:36.260 --> 00:21:36.560 That is 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:36.800 where it 00:21:36.800 --> 00:21:37.240 begins. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:39.300 I think 00:21:39.300 --> 00:21:39.840 that real 00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:40.320 humbling 00:21:40.320 --> 00:21:41.640 guilt is 00:21:41.640 --> 00:21:42.620 extraordinarily 00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:43.520 rare. 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.280 And I 00:21:46.280 --> 00:21:46.620 think that 00:21:46.620 --> 00:21:47.520 99% of 00:21:47.520 --> 00:21:47.980 our bad 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.840 feelings about 00:21:48.840 --> 00:21:49.840 ourselves is 00:21:49.840 --> 00:21:50.520 actually rooted 00:21:50.520 --> 00:21:51.320 in pride. 00:21:53.180 --> 00:21:54.120 For example, 00:21:54.280 --> 00:21:55.020 suppose you go to 00:21:55.020 --> 00:21:55.759 a dinner party 00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:57.040 and you discover 00:21:57.040 --> 00:21:57.759 that you've turned 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:58.300 up with the 00:21:58.300 --> 00:21:59.120 wrong gear on. 00:22:00.300 --> 00:22:00.900 You haven't 00:22:00.900 --> 00:22:01.759 dressed appropriately 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:02.580 for the occasion. 00:22:03.480 --> 00:22:04.480 You then knock 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.360 your coffee over 00:22:05.360 --> 00:22:06.160 on the table. 00:22:06.820 --> 00:22:07.600 The joke you 00:22:07.600 --> 00:22:08.500 attempt to make 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.380 falls flat. 00:22:09.380 --> 00:22:10.580 you call your 00:22:10.580 --> 00:22:11.280 host by the 00:22:11.280 --> 00:22:11.820 wrong name, 00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.440 you tread on 00:22:12.440 --> 00:22:13.020 his dog's 00:22:13.020 --> 00:22:13.740 tail and 00:22:13.740 --> 00:22:14.060 you make 00:22:14.060 --> 00:22:14.460 the kids 00:22:14.460 --> 00:22:14.900 cry. 00:22:16.020 --> 00:22:17.160 You go away 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:17.780 from that 00:22:17.780 --> 00:22:18.540 and how do 00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:19.220 you feel? 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.340 You feel 00:22:21.340 --> 00:22:21.820 rotten. 00:22:23.260 --> 00:22:23.660 You feel 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.000 rotten. 00:22:25.180 --> 00:22:25.680 Who's ever 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.140 done that, 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:26.760 by the way? 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:27.440 Anyone? 00:22:27.640 --> 00:22:27.780 Yeah. 00:22:28.540 --> 00:22:29.040 A few 00:22:29.040 --> 00:22:29.400 people. 00:22:30.080 --> 00:22:30.460 Yeah, you 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:31.040 feel rotten. 00:22:31.820 --> 00:22:32.220 You hate 00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:32.860 yourself, you're 00:22:32.860 --> 00:22:33.540 depressed, you 00:22:33.540 --> 00:22:33.940 don't want to 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:34.300 show your 00:22:34.300 --> 00:22:34.760 face. 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:36.060 Where do 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:36.600 all these 00:22:36.600 --> 00:22:37.200 depressing, 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:38.460 immobilizing, 00:22:38.680 --> 00:22:39.400 self-denouncing 00:22:39.400 --> 00:22:40.100 feelings come 00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:40.480 from? 00:22:41.080 --> 00:22:41.680 Is the 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:43.100 answer God's 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:44.360 offended glory or 00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:45.059 your offended 00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.580 pride? 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.080 People who 00:22:49.080 --> 00:22:49.720 are depressed 00:22:49.720 --> 00:22:50.740 and immobilized 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:51.580 and angry 00:22:51.580 --> 00:22:52.559 because their 00:22:52.559 --> 00:22:53.539 behavior has 00:22:53.539 --> 00:22:55.700 injured, has 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.819 actually injured 00:22:56.819 --> 00:22:58.100 the glory of 00:22:58.100 --> 00:22:59.059 God are 00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:01.160 very, very, 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:03.900 very rare. 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:07.400 But people 00:23:07.400 --> 00:23:07.680 who are 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.280 depressed and 00:23:08.280 --> 00:23:09.080 immobilized and 00:23:09.080 --> 00:23:09.920 angry because 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.980 their behavior has 00:23:10.980 --> 00:23:11.800 prevented them from 00:23:11.800 --> 00:23:12.980 having a reputation 00:23:12.980 --> 00:23:14.820 of being social, 00:23:15.360 --> 00:23:16.560 intelligent and 00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:18.040 competent are 00:23:18.040 --> 00:23:19.920 very, very, 00:23:20.120 --> 00:23:22.180 very common. 00:23:24.259 --> 00:23:25.759 When I call us 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.340 to develop a 00:23:26.340 --> 00:23:27.480 holy dissatisfaction 00:23:27.480 --> 00:23:28.200 with our spiritual 00:23:28.200 --> 00:23:29.480 life, I am 00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.320 asking for 00:23:30.320 --> 00:23:31.540 something rare, 00:23:32.259 --> 00:23:33.280 not something 00:23:33.280 --> 00:23:33.720 common. 00:23:34.759 --> 00:23:35.560 I am asking 00:23:35.560 --> 00:23:36.100 us to feel 00:23:36.100 --> 00:23:37.580 worse that we 00:23:37.580 --> 00:23:38.460 possess so 00:23:38.460 --> 00:23:38.920 little of 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:40.759 Christ that 00:23:40.759 --> 00:23:41.340 we have such 00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:42.360 little communion 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:43.040 with God. 00:23:45.380 --> 00:23:46.180 The first 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.680 step in going 00:23:46.680 --> 00:23:47.420 hard after God 00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.900 is to feel 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:48.680 bad about the 00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:49.360 right things. 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.120 Friends, 00:23:50.240 --> 00:23:50.660 develop a 00:23:50.660 --> 00:23:51.780 holy dissatisfaction 00:23:51.780 --> 00:23:52.160 with your 00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:53.000 spiritual life. 00:23:53.680 --> 00:23:54.120 The second 00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.920 step is going 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:55.580 hard after God, 00:23:55.640 --> 00:23:56.000 I think, 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:57.080 is in verse 00:23:57.080 --> 00:23:57.780 13, to 00:23:57.780 --> 00:23:58.540 forget those 00:23:58.540 --> 00:23:59.100 things which 00:23:59.100 --> 00:23:59.900 lie behind. 00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.280 I take this 00:24:01.280 --> 00:24:01.820 to mean that 00:24:01.820 --> 00:24:02.800 anything in 00:24:02.800 --> 00:24:03.759 your or our 00:24:03.759 --> 00:24:04.440 collectively as 00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:04.819 a church, 00:24:04.879 --> 00:24:05.640 our background 00:24:05.640 --> 00:24:06.720 which hinders 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.259 the pursuit 00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:07.940 of God 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:08.740 should be put 00:24:08.740 --> 00:24:09.140 out of our 00:24:09.140 --> 00:24:09.579 minds. 00:24:11.000 --> 00:24:11.819 The point 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.619 is this. 00:24:12.920 --> 00:24:13.299 The point 00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:14.240 is don't 00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:14.779 ever look 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.160 back. 00:24:15.579 --> 00:24:16.119 The point 00:24:16.119 --> 00:24:16.839 is only 00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.579 look back 00:24:17.579 --> 00:24:18.259 for the sake 00:24:18.259 --> 00:24:18.680 of pressing 00:24:18.680 --> 00:24:19.200 forward. 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.579 And generally 00:24:22.579 --> 00:24:23.259 churches are not 00:24:23.259 --> 00:24:23.779 good at that. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:25.379 We like 00:24:25.379 --> 00:24:26.140 looking back. 00:24:26.779 --> 00:24:27.579 And the longer 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:28.440 we look back, 00:24:28.700 --> 00:24:29.680 the more likely 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:30.019 we will 00:24:30.019 --> 00:24:30.480 become a 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:30.960 museum. 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:32.539 We 00:24:32.539 --> 00:24:33.120 ought only 00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:33.779 ever look 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.500 back for 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.000 the sake 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.460 of pressing 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.940 forward. 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:36.600 Never, 00:24:37.299 --> 00:24:38.420 ever substitute 00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.519 nostalgia for 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:39.880 hope. 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:44.000 Individually 00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:44.759 and corporately, 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:45.380 we must be 00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:46.060 careful of 00:24:46.060 --> 00:24:46.680 looking back, 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.320 my friends. 00:24:48.039 --> 00:24:48.880 Memories of 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:49.980 successes in 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:51.380 the past can 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:52.680 make us smug 00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:54.400 and self-satisfied. 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:55.960 Memories of 00:24:55.960 --> 00:24:57.019 failures in 00:24:57.019 --> 00:24:58.279 the past can 00:24:58.279 --> 00:24:58.799 make us 00:24:58.799 --> 00:24:59.759 hopeless and 00:24:59.759 --> 00:25:01.000 paralyzed in 00:25:01.000 --> 00:25:01.460 the pursuit 00:25:01.460 --> 00:25:02.220 of God in 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.799 the present. 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.960 Never look 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.539 back like 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:06.839 that. 00:25:08.339 --> 00:25:08.859 Give 00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.980 humble thanks 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.420 for the 00:25:10.420 --> 00:25:11.339 successes from 00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:12.059 the past. 00:25:12.839 --> 00:25:13.599 Rejoice that 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.339 God has done 00:25:14.339 --> 00:25:14.859 some great 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:15.359 stuff in the 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:15.740 past. 00:25:15.839 --> 00:25:16.539 But friends, 00:25:16.879 --> 00:25:17.779 it's in the 00:25:17.779 --> 00:25:18.460 past. 00:25:19.039 --> 00:25:19.779 We ought not 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.519 take comfort 00:25:20.519 --> 00:25:20.960 that my 00:25:20.960 --> 00:25:21.900 current pursuit 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:23.160 of God is 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:24.139 somehow wrapped 00:25:24.139 --> 00:25:24.559 up with 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.200 something that 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:25.920 I did 20 00:25:25.920 --> 00:25:26.720 years ago. 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:29.180 God wants 00:25:29.180 --> 00:25:29.700 it now. 00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:31.539 He wants 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:32.099 the pursuit 00:25:32.099 --> 00:25:32.619 now. 00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:34.980 Never make, 00:25:35.319 --> 00:25:35.900 and also 00:25:35.900 --> 00:25:36.859 linked with 00:25:36.859 --> 00:25:37.319 that, make 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:38.400 humble confession 00:25:38.400 --> 00:25:39.259 for failure. 00:25:40.339 --> 00:25:40.859 But then 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.920 turn to the 00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.879 future and 00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:43.759 go hard after 00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.660 God now. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:49.079 Which brings 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:49.660 me to my 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:51.000 final step in 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:51.440 going hard 00:25:51.440 --> 00:25:51.920 after God. 00:25:52.000 --> 00:25:52.759 Verse 13, 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.519 strain forward 00:25:54.519 --> 00:25:55.460 to what lies 00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:55.799 ahead. 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:57.099 strain forward. 00:25:57.859 --> 00:25:58.159 It is 00:25:58.159 --> 00:25:59.240 hard work 00:25:59.240 --> 00:25:59.519 is the 00:25:59.519 --> 00:25:59.859 idea. 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:00.259 You are 00:26:00.259 --> 00:26:01.259 straining to 00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.000 move forward. 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:04.680 And Paul 00:26:04.680 --> 00:26:05.279 provides his 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:06.019 own illustration 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:06.519 of straining 00:26:06.519 --> 00:26:06.980 forward in 00:26:06.980 --> 00:26:07.480 1 Corinthians 00:26:07.480 --> 00:26:07.859 9. 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.579 Let me read 00:26:08.579 --> 00:26:08.940 it to you. 00:26:09.139 --> 00:26:09.700 Everyone who 00:26:09.700 --> 00:26:10.259 competes in 00:26:10.259 --> 00:26:10.879 the games 00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.399 goes into 00:26:11.399 --> 00:26:12.180 strict training. 00:26:12.579 --> 00:26:13.259 They do it 00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:13.680 to get a 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.159 crown that 00:26:14.159 --> 00:26:14.440 will not 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.419 last, but 00:26:15.419 --> 00:26:16.059 we do it 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:16.500 to get a 00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:17.119 crown that 00:26:17.119 --> 00:26:17.680 will last 00:26:17.680 --> 00:26:18.119 forever. 00:26:18.119 --> 00:26:18.419 Therefore, 00:26:19.579 --> 00:26:20.019 I do not 00:26:20.019 --> 00:26:20.700 run like a 00:26:20.700 --> 00:26:21.200 man running 00:26:21.200 --> 00:26:21.759 aimlessly. 00:26:22.099 --> 00:26:22.619 I do not 00:26:22.619 --> 00:26:23.500 fight like a 00:26:23.500 --> 00:26:24.139 man beating 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:24.720 the air. 00:26:25.200 --> 00:26:26.259 No, I 00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:26.780 beat my 00:26:26.780 --> 00:26:27.620 body and 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:28.259 make it my 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:29.740 slave, so 00:26:29.740 --> 00:26:30.520 that after I 00:26:30.520 --> 00:26:30.980 have preached 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:32.100 to others, I 00:26:32.100 --> 00:26:32.980 myself will 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:33.460 not be 00:26:33.460 --> 00:26:34.600 disqualified for 00:26:34.600 --> 00:26:35.300 the prize. 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:37.920 During the 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:38.560 marathon in 00:26:38.560 --> 00:26:39.380 the 1968 00:26:39.380 --> 00:26:40.120 Mexican 00:26:40.120 --> 00:26:40.840 Olympics, 00:26:41.480 --> 00:26:42.320 a Tanzanian 00:26:42.320 --> 00:26:42.680 runner, 00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:43.660 Stephen 00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.920 Akwari, fell 00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:46.240 and badly 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:47.160 hurt his 00:26:47.160 --> 00:26:47.480 leg. 00:26:48.500 --> 00:26:48.860 He had 00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:49.320 blood coming 00:26:49.320 --> 00:26:49.780 out everywhere 00:26:49.780 --> 00:26:50.160 and they 00:26:50.160 --> 00:26:50.660 bandaged it 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.020 up and all 00:26:51.020 --> 00:26:51.200 that. 00:26:51.200 --> 00:26:52.380 he actually 00:26:52.380 --> 00:26:53.279 got up and 00:26:53.279 --> 00:26:53.920 he limped 00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:54.900 the rest of 00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.440 the race. 00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.360 And he 00:26:57.360 --> 00:26:58.519 finally finished 00:26:58.519 --> 00:26:59.819 one and a 00:26:59.819 --> 00:27:00.779 half hours 00:27:00.779 --> 00:27:01.500 after the 00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.279 last person 00:27:02.279 --> 00:27:02.819 had crossed 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.340 the finish 00:27:03.340 --> 00:27:03.700 line. 00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:06.440 And there 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:06.960 was virtually 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:07.519 no one in 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.240 the stands. 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:09.779 They were 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.240 packing up 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:10.460 for the 00:27:10.460 --> 00:27:10.720 day. 00:27:11.480 --> 00:27:11.920 Marathon's 00:27:11.920 --> 00:27:14.019 over, the 00:27:14.019 --> 00:27:14.460 lights are 00:27:14.460 --> 00:27:14.980 getting turned 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:15.400 off, there's 00:27:15.400 --> 00:27:15.660 a guy 00:27:15.660 --> 00:27:16.259 sweeping the 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.819 floors, they 00:27:16.819 --> 00:27:17.100 put the 00:27:17.100 --> 00:27:17.640 cat out, all 00:27:17.640 --> 00:27:18.000 that sort 00:27:18.000 --> 00:27:18.340 of stuff. 00:27:18.420 --> 00:27:18.720 It's time 00:27:18.720 --> 00:27:19.299 to shut 00:27:19.299 --> 00:27:19.620 the shop 00:27:19.620 --> 00:27:19.980 down for 00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.279 the day. 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:20.920 There's a 00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.359 reporter 00:27:21.359 --> 00:27:22.119 packing up. 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.740 He sees 00:27:23.740 --> 00:27:24.039 what's 00:27:24.039 --> 00:27:24.899 happened because 00:27:24.899 --> 00:27:25.420 there's a few 00:27:25.420 --> 00:27:25.859 people that 00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.339 are left in 00:27:26.339 --> 00:27:26.839 the stands 00:27:26.839 --> 00:27:27.359 are actually 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:28.099 standing and 00:27:28.099 --> 00:27:28.859 applauding this 00:27:28.859 --> 00:27:30.180 guy, limping 00:27:30.180 --> 00:27:32.000 around in 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.879 the twilight. 00:27:34.819 --> 00:27:35.299 And this 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:36.519 reporter runs 00:27:36.519 --> 00:27:37.059 down to the 00:27:37.059 --> 00:27:37.859 finish line and 00:27:37.859 --> 00:27:38.299 sticks a 00:27:38.299 --> 00:27:39.059 microphone in 00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:40.299 his face and 00:27:40.299 --> 00:27:40.619 said, why 00:27:40.619 --> 00:27:40.839 don't you 00:27:40.839 --> 00:27:41.200 just give 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.500 up? 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:42.480 My 00:27:42.480 --> 00:27:43.579 goodness, it's 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.500 all over. 00:27:45.359 --> 00:27:45.859 Look at your 00:27:45.859 --> 00:27:46.279 leg. 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:47.359 You've still got 00:27:47.359 --> 00:27:47.940 blood coming 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:48.440 out of it. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:50.980 And he 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:53.620 said this, I 00:27:53.620 --> 00:27:54.120 imagine with a 00:27:54.120 --> 00:27:54.580 bit of puffing 00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.039 and panning, 00:27:55.980 --> 00:27:56.480 you don't 00:27:56.480 --> 00:27:58.019 understand, my 00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:58.660 country did not 00:27:58.660 --> 00:27:59.680 send me 5,000 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:00.420 miles to start 00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:00.880 a race. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:02.080 They sent me 00:28:02.080 --> 00:28:02.740 to finish it. 00:28:04.360 --> 00:28:04.700 They sent me 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:05.440 to finish it. 00:28:11.980 --> 00:28:12.820 The way to go 00:28:12.820 --> 00:28:13.660 hard after God 00:28:13.660 --> 00:28:14.259 is with all the 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.340 discipline and 00:28:15.340 --> 00:28:16.519 self-denial of an 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:16.880 athlete. 00:28:16.880 --> 00:28:20.460 I doubt that 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:21.040 there has ever 00:28:21.040 --> 00:28:21.760 been a Christian 00:28:21.760 --> 00:28:22.560 who reached the 00:28:22.560 --> 00:28:23.060 heights of 00:28:23.060 --> 00:28:24.480 knowledge and 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.280 joy and 00:28:25.280 --> 00:28:26.420 obedience and 00:28:26.420 --> 00:28:27.140 communion with 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:28.740 God without a 00:28:28.740 --> 00:28:30.440 plan and 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:32.080 discipline and 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:33.100 self-denial. 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:38.280 God does not 00:28:38.280 --> 00:28:38.960 promise his 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.780 riches to 00:28:39.780 --> 00:28:40.380 aimless, 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.320 apathetic, 00:28:42.820 --> 00:28:43.860 lazy servants. 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:46.699 Paul did not 00:28:46.699 --> 00:28:48.259 run aimlessly or 00:28:48.259 --> 00:28:48.899 beat the air. 00:28:49.019 --> 00:28:49.639 He lived with 00:28:49.639 --> 00:28:50.599 spiritual goals in 00:28:50.599 --> 00:28:51.299 view and 00:28:51.299 --> 00:28:52.139 controlled his 00:28:52.139 --> 00:28:53.479 passions for the 00:28:53.479 --> 00:28:54.419 sake of those 00:28:54.419 --> 00:28:55.039 goals. 00:28:56.379 --> 00:28:57.059 Can you see the 00:28:57.059 --> 00:28:57.539 difference? 00:28:58.399 --> 00:28:59.219 The destiny of 00:28:59.219 --> 00:29:00.939 destruction are 00:29:00.939 --> 00:29:04.000 those who glory in 00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:06.359 their shame, who 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.059 have their minds 00:29:07.059 --> 00:29:07.699 set on earthly 00:29:07.699 --> 00:29:09.759 things and give 00:29:09.759 --> 00:29:10.539 themselves over to 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.319 worldly passions. 00:29:11.319 --> 00:29:11.519 nations. 00:29:13.419 --> 00:29:14.480 The citizen of 00:29:14.480 --> 00:29:15.819 heaven is like an 00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:17.939 athlete, focused, 00:29:18.939 --> 00:29:20.500 aiming towards the 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:20.740 goal. 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.619 So I would 00:29:22.619 --> 00:29:23.460 encourage you, my 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.119 friends, I would 00:29:24.119 --> 00:29:24.859 urge you, in fact I 00:29:24.859 --> 00:29:25.399 would plead with you 00:29:25.399 --> 00:29:27.240 to be athletes, in 00:29:27.240 --> 00:29:28.419 spiritual athletes, to 00:29:28.419 --> 00:29:29.759 set yourself a goal to 00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.619 know more of the 00:29:30.619 --> 00:29:31.980 word of God, to 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:32.879 grasp more of the 00:29:32.879 --> 00:29:33.939 will of God and to 00:29:33.939 --> 00:29:35.059 love more of the 00:29:35.059 --> 00:29:36.019 wonder of God. 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:39.680 God, make a plan 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:42.259 right now as you 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:43.160 look into the next 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:44.259 year, make a plan 00:29:44.259 --> 00:29:46.240 right now, a plan of 00:29:46.240 --> 00:29:47.720 prayer and study and 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:49.000 worship and service 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:51.099 and go for it with 00:29:51.099 --> 00:29:53.139 all of your might 00:29:53.139 --> 00:29:56.400 because it is Christ 00:29:56.400 --> 00:29:57.639 working in you, 00:29:58.180 --> 00:29:58.839 dragging you 00:29:58.839 --> 00:29:59.400 heavenward. 00:30:00.059 --> 00:30:00.859 Heed the warning 00:30:00.859 --> 00:30:02.119 this morning, develop a 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.519 holy dissatisfaction with 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.180 your spiritual 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:04.859 attainments. 00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:06.319 put out of your 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:07.279 mind anything from 00:30:07.279 --> 00:30:08.099 the past which 00:30:08.099 --> 00:30:09.019 hinders your pursuit 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.799 of God in the 00:30:09.799 --> 00:30:10.179 present. 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:13.099 Strain forward like 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:16.519 an athlete, for it 00:30:16.519 --> 00:30:17.779 is God who is work 00:30:17.779 --> 00:30:18.719 in you. 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.619 We do not run in 00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:23.439 our own strength and 00:30:23.439 --> 00:30:24.299 all the more, 00:30:24.459 --> 00:30:26.000 therefore, we can be 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:27.099 assured that going 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:29.319 after, hard after the 00:30:29.319 --> 00:30:31.059 holy God will bring 00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:32.119 us to know him 00:30:32.119 --> 00:30:34.219 deeply and enjoy 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:37.019 the sweet, sweet 00:30:37.019 --> 00:30:38.180 confirmation of our 00:30:38.180 --> 00:30:39.319 citizenship in heaven. 00:30:40.100 --> 00:30:40.660 Let's pray. 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:46.259 Father God, again, 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:48.120 your word is so 00:30:48.120 --> 00:30:50.799 clear and yet 00:30:50.799 --> 00:30:52.039 without your spirit 00:30:52.039 --> 00:30:54.759 enlightening, Father, 00:30:54.759 --> 00:30:57.799 it just does not make 00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.240 sense. 00:30:58.240 --> 00:31:00.819 our hearts are 00:31:00.819 --> 00:31:02.759 darkened to the 00:31:02.759 --> 00:31:04.380 glorious truth of 00:31:04.380 --> 00:31:05.440 citizenship in heaven 00:31:05.440 --> 00:31:06.700 where the Lord Jesus 00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.460 rules. 00:31:08.259 --> 00:31:09.400 Father, our hearts are 00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.079 weak and they are 00:31:10.079 --> 00:31:10.559 feeble. 00:31:10.700 --> 00:31:11.519 There are many things 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:14.140 that we just, it's 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:15.099 just so much easier, 00:31:15.240 --> 00:31:16.039 Lord, just to be able 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:18.099 to sit and to be 00:31:18.099 --> 00:31:20.599 comfortable and yet, 00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:21.380 Lord, when we do it 00:31:21.380 --> 00:31:22.559 for too long, we just 00:31:22.559 --> 00:31:23.620 get comfortable with 00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.259 religion and we get 00:31:24.259 --> 00:31:25.299 comfortable in our 00:31:25.299 --> 00:31:25.720 apathy. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:27.220 And so, Lord, we 00:31:27.220 --> 00:31:28.400 pray that you would 00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:29.380 rescue us from that. 00:31:31.140 --> 00:31:32.279 Father, rescue us, we 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.519 pray. 00:31:34.140 --> 00:31:35.180 Rescue us, Father, so 00:31:35.180 --> 00:31:36.480 that we might go hard 00:31:36.480 --> 00:31:38.460 after you and enjoy 00:31:38.460 --> 00:31:39.620 the sweet confirmation 00:31:39.620 --> 00:31:41.140 of our citizenship in 00:31:41.140 --> 00:31:42.720 heaven where the Lord 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:44.480 Jesus Christ reigns 00:31:44.480 --> 00:31:46.360 and from where he will 00:31:46.360 --> 00:31:48.480 come to establish his 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:50.519 rule and to take us 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:53.620 heavenward to be with 00:31:53.619 --> 00:31:53.839 him. 00:31:55.339 --> 00:31:56.459 Lord, give us that 00:31:56.459 --> 00:31:58.139 focus and that desire 00:31:58.139 --> 00:32:00.239 now to go hard after 00:32:00.239 --> 00:32:00.519 you. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:01.759 Amen. 00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:01.859 Amen. 00:32:01.859 --> 00:32:01.879 Amen. 00:32:01.879 --> 00:32:01.899 Amen. 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:01.919 Amen. 00:32:01.919 --> 00:32:01.939 Amen. 00:32:01.939 --> 00:32:01.979 Amen. 00:32:01.979 --> 00:32:02.000 Amen. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.019 Amen. 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:02.059 Amen. 00:32:02.059 --> 00:32:02.079 Amen. 00:32:02.079 --> 00:32:03.899 Amen. 00:32:03.899 --> 00:32:03.979 Amen. 00:32:03.979 --> 00:32:04.059 Amen. 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.079 Amen. 00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:04.119 Amen. 00:32:04.119 --> 00:32:04.159 Amen.