WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.379 I'd like to keep your Bibles open at that passage, Philippians 3, verse 12, and I'll pray. 00:00:08.519 --> 00:00:15.179 Father God, we thank you again for the wonder of your word, and your word is so clear. 00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:22.640 It is so clear to us tonight as to what has been said there, and yet understanding and obeying it, 00:00:23.219 --> 00:00:26.900 we have got no power to do that without the work of your Spirit in us. 00:00:26.899 --> 00:00:29.459 And so, Lord, we ask that you would have mercy on us. 00:00:30.599 --> 00:00:38.140 Help us to heed the warning, to see the encouragement, and to have the determination to continue to press on forward. 00:00:38.960 --> 00:00:45.780 Lord, for those of us who may be in a state of apathy, Lord, we ask that you would shake us out of that 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:53.899 and encourage us to get up and to get on, pressing on to look for you, and we ask it for your sake. Amen. 00:00:53.899 --> 00:01:03.359 This is a radio conversation between the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:09.480 and Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland in October 1995. 00:01:10.500 --> 00:01:12.900 First of all, the Canadians came on the radio. 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:16.739 Please divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision. 00:01:17.900 --> 00:01:22.460 Americans, recommend you divert your course 15 degrees to the north to avoid collision. 00:01:22.459 --> 00:01:24.199 Canadians, negative. 00:01:24.919 --> 00:01:28.419 You will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the south to avoid collision. 00:01:29.119 --> 00:01:35.159 Americans, this is the captain of a U.S. Navy warship, and I say again, divert your course. 00:01:36.259 --> 00:01:37.579 Canadians, no. 00:01:38.039 --> 00:01:40.399 I say again, you divert your course. 00:01:41.379 --> 00:01:45.560 Americans, this is the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, 00:01:46.060 --> 00:01:49.000 the second largest ship in the United States Atlantic fleet. 00:01:49.000 --> 00:01:53.760 We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers, and numerous support vessels. 00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:57.739 I demand that you change your course 15 degrees to the north. 00:01:57.859 --> 00:02:03.460 I say again, that's one five degrees north, or countermeasures will be undertaken 00:02:03.460 --> 00:02:05.299 to ensure the safety of this ship. 00:02:06.460 --> 00:02:10.400 There's a bit of a pause on the radio at this point, 00:02:10.460 --> 00:02:12.099 and the Canadians came in and replied, 00:02:12.460 --> 00:02:14.520 this is a lighthouse, your call. 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:22.160 There are a number of points in the Bible where we get similar kind of warnings 00:02:22.160 --> 00:02:24.040 needing to change course. 00:02:25.060 --> 00:02:29.180 And right now, Philippians 3 is one of those instances. 00:02:30.040 --> 00:02:35.719 There is a clear warning in these verses, one that we need to take heed of. 00:02:35.719 --> 00:02:44.020 This sermon is the fourth installment in our commitment series for this year, Partners for Life. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:48.460 And the title of this talk is Partners for Eternity. 00:02:49.680 --> 00:02:52.680 And last night, I decided to change that. 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:56.780 Late last night, you don't normally do much changing late at night, 00:02:56.860 --> 00:03:02.460 but I decided, in fact, I prefer to call this one Partners in Going Hard After God. 00:03:02.460 --> 00:03:06.719 I think that's a more appropriate title for this talk. 00:03:07.140 --> 00:03:12.800 From Philippians 3, tonight, I want to show you why we must go hard after God. 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:17.379 And I want to encourage you to go hard after God. 00:03:17.960 --> 00:03:24.780 I want to persuade you that the pursuit of God is not optional even after conversion. 00:03:24.780 --> 00:03:33.159 And I say that because I take it that the ones that Paul describes in verse 18 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:36.000 as living as the enemies of the cross of Christ 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.400 are those who have given up pursuing God. 00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:43.780 You see, Paul has issued this warning before. 00:03:45.099 --> 00:03:49.379 And he does it again here, and he does it with tears in verse 19, 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:51.199 I think because he knows these people. 00:03:51.199 --> 00:03:53.359 And he says, 00:03:54.239 --> 00:03:58.419 The destiny of the enemy of the cross of Christ is destruction. 00:03:59.079 --> 00:04:04.079 He could not have used stronger language in issuing this warning. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:08.500 The destruction he has in mind is eternal destruction. 00:04:09.579 --> 00:04:12.120 And that is why we must go hard after God. 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.199 Paul says three things here about the enemy of the cross of Jesus. 00:04:17.199 --> 00:04:21.459 Their lives, that is, their lives are characterized by three things. 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:25.180 He says there that they have their mind on earthly things. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:29.199 Literally, their mind is set on earthly things. 00:04:29.680 --> 00:04:34.740 At the very center of their life is the world and its thinking and its priorities. 00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:39.159 They think like the world thinks. 00:04:39.160 --> 00:04:45.980 Their thinking is not directed by the word of God, the Bible, the scriptures, 00:04:46.640 --> 00:04:48.700 but by popular culture instead. 00:04:49.840 --> 00:04:54.240 And when there's a clash between the Bible and popular influences, 00:04:54.500 --> 00:04:56.540 the Bible will lose out at every point. 00:04:57.480 --> 00:04:59.460 Do you remember what Jesus said to Peter 00:04:59.460 --> 00:05:02.700 when Peter had his mind on earthly things 00:05:02.700 --> 00:05:05.420 and tried to discourage Jesus from going to the cross? 00:05:05.920 --> 00:05:06.680 Do you remember what he said? 00:05:06.680 --> 00:05:10.860 He turned to his best mate and called him by the name of his worst enemy. 00:05:11.560 --> 00:05:13.259 Get behind me, Satan. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:16.040 Why? 00:05:17.740 --> 00:05:22.000 Because you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men. 00:05:22.960 --> 00:05:25.860 You have your mind set on earthly things. 00:05:26.560 --> 00:05:28.840 You see, Peter wanted Jesus without a cross. 00:05:29.420 --> 00:05:32.860 And a Jesus without a cross is no savior and he's no Lord. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:37.500 The enemy of the cross has their mind set on earthly things. 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:40.199 They also glory in their shame. 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:45.520 The very sins that Jesus died for on the cross are the very things that they delight in. 00:05:45.600 --> 00:05:50.220 It's the very things that they continue to do and continue to do it in such a way 00:05:50.220 --> 00:05:51.819 that it doesn't appear to matter. 00:05:52.680 --> 00:05:55.840 It doesn't matter because God's going to forgive it anyway. 00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:57.680 That's what God's in the business of doing. 00:05:57.680 --> 00:06:03.319 To glory in shame is to keep doing the things that God doesn't want 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:08.199 and to think it's okay because Jesus, by the gospel of grace, has forgiven me anyway. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:14.720 As Titus says, they say that they are Christians, but they deny it by their actions. 00:06:16.040 --> 00:06:18.180 And so what glorying in shame is, 00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:24.680 it's a blasé approach to holiness and the mortification of sin. 00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:30.340 Of course, these people may well have been able to recite the Ten Commandments, 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:33.900 tick the box and say, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, I don't obey, 00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:37.379 and I obey all those things, pretty much in the same way as the rich young ruler. 00:06:38.220 --> 00:06:42.100 But what about the acceptable sins amongst us? 00:06:43.699 --> 00:06:47.040 You see, God, friends, God wants to deal with those acceptable sins as well. 00:06:47.840 --> 00:06:51.560 The ungodliness, the anxiety, the frustration, the discontentment, 00:06:51.560 --> 00:06:55.759 the unthankfulness, the pride, the selfishness, the grumbling, the lack of self-control, 00:06:56.120 --> 00:07:01.079 the impatience, the irritability, the anger, the judgmentalism, the envy, the jealousy, 00:07:01.199 --> 00:07:05.199 the worldliness, the gossip, the slander, the lying, the embellishment of truth, 00:07:05.300 --> 00:07:08.699 the greed, the laziness, the gluttony, the apathy, the abuse of power, 00:07:09.139 --> 00:07:12.560 the manipulation, and the list goes on and on and on. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:18.899 Those things which don't seem such a big deal are a big deal to God. 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:25.340 And those who glory in their shame don't think those things matter. 00:07:28.019 --> 00:07:34.939 When you go hard after God, those stones get turned over and they get dealt with by God. 00:07:34.939 --> 00:07:43.019 It is painful and raw to allow God to weed around in those closely held sins in our lives 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:49.899 because the life of sin is attractive, it is easy, and it feels so good. 00:07:51.060 --> 00:07:55.620 And so that's why so many Christians just stop. 00:07:55.620 --> 00:08:05.160 They get to a point, confession of sin, and then they stop 00:08:05.160 --> 00:08:10.300 and just get used to a certain pattern of behaviour. 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:15.980 I've come to Christ, I've got salvation, I'm going to get to heaven and that's okay with me. 00:08:15.980 --> 00:08:27.300 The enemy of God also has their stomach as their God, that is their gut is their God. 00:08:27.420 --> 00:08:30.340 They pander to their physical desires and urges. 00:08:30.840 --> 00:08:35.759 It's what they feel that they want to do is what they do. 00:08:37.659 --> 00:08:43.480 The words of Jesus, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me, have been forgotten. 00:08:45.980 --> 00:08:47.080 They've been forgotten. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:52.000 They have come to Christ, but they don't want to keep denying. 00:08:53.340 --> 00:08:57.240 That is the enemy of the cross and their destiny is destruction. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:02.340 Friends, the cross of Christ is where the war on God ended. 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:07.340 It is where God dealt with our sin, forgave our sin, forgave our rebellion. 00:09:08.180 --> 00:09:13.320 It is only through Jesus that we are able to escape a destiny of destruction. 00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:16.920 And so why go hard after God in Christ? 00:09:18.420 --> 00:09:23.100 Because destruction is the destiny of those who don't. 00:09:24.900 --> 00:09:28.560 But we also get another reason why we should go hard after God in Christ. 00:09:28.680 --> 00:09:29.660 It's in verse 20. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:31.460 Have a look at it there in your Bibles. 00:09:31.460 --> 00:09:59.560 The alternative destination is citizenship of heaven, where the Lord Jesus reigns. 00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:04.259 Citizenship is really important. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:10.039 On the most part, for those of us who were born citizens of this country, we just take it for granted. 00:10:11.319 --> 00:10:13.679 Citizenship is something you just generally take for granted. 00:10:13.819 --> 00:10:17.139 It's not something that most of us have had to take the time to even bother earning. 00:10:17.559 --> 00:10:19.219 We just kind of get it when you're born here. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:19.679 That's it. 00:10:19.679 --> 00:10:25.819 Citizenship is important because it provides protection and care and significance. 00:10:26.299 --> 00:10:34.539 If you are a refugee, that is, if you are a citizen of no country, then you don't have anyone to protect you. 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:38.079 And refugees generally are fairly nervous. 00:10:38.080 --> 00:10:42.800 Citizenship matters when you don't have citizenship. 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:52.100 And that was something that mattered for our church earlier this year, when we were fighting for citizenship because life and death were at stake. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:10:55.200 Citizenship matters. 00:10:56.600 --> 00:11:01.460 It's about belonging somewhere and all the privileges that come with it. 00:11:01.460 --> 00:11:09.660 So, for instance, just over 100 years ago, a Spanish court condemned to death a man for a crime that he had apparently committed. 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:14.780 However, this man was an American citizen and he was British by birth. 00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:25.379 And so the two ambassadors of those respective countries said that the Spanish authorities had no right to put him to death. 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:32.659 The Spanish authorities basically ignored them and so they marched this guy out to be shot, stuck him on the wall. 00:11:33.100 --> 00:11:38.679 But following out behind the firing squad were the ambassadors of both of those countries. 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:47.360 And as the firing squad raised their guns to shoot this guy, the ambassadors walked out and put the British flag and the American flag. 00:11:47.460 --> 00:11:52.559 They wrapped this guy in the British and the American flag and then said to the captain of the firing squad, 00:11:52.559 --> 00:11:56.619 you fire and we will bring both of our empires down upon Spain. 00:11:58.899 --> 00:12:05.559 And the guys lowered their guns and... 00:12:05.559 --> 00:12:07.319 I don't know what that is. 00:12:08.599 --> 00:12:09.859 That's the firing squad. 00:12:11.500 --> 00:12:13.299 Ticked off, decided to shoot someone else. 00:12:13.299 --> 00:12:22.959 The guys lowered their guns and they walked away. 00:12:23.899 --> 00:12:35.939 The guy was wrapped in a couple of bits of cotton, but he may as well have been wearing armour protection because in that moment he was impervious to destruction. 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:40.180 and if you are a friend of the cross of Christ 00:12:40.180 --> 00:12:42.940 then you are impervious to destruction. 00:12:43.860 --> 00:12:47.120 Trusting Jesus means that your citizenship is in heaven 00:12:47.120 --> 00:12:50.640 and your destiny is not one of destruction. 00:12:51.460 --> 00:12:55.600 Instead of destruction, it's a new body fit for eternity. 00:12:56.380 --> 00:12:57.320 Did you notice it there? 00:12:57.880 --> 00:13:00.460 We're not just being changed on the inside, 00:13:00.780 --> 00:13:02.220 that's what he's doing now, 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:05.240 but then our bodies will be completely renewed, 00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:07.379 bodies that won't need to cry, 00:13:07.519 --> 00:13:08.720 bodies that won't feel unloved, 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:10.159 bodies that won't feel lonely, 00:13:10.379 --> 00:13:11.639 bodies that won't feel sad, 00:13:11.779 --> 00:13:13.860 bodies that won't have all those issues, 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:15.740 bodies that will never grow tired, 00:13:15.899 --> 00:13:17.820 bodies that won't break down on you. 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:21.200 That is the privilege of the citizen of heaven. 00:13:21.600 --> 00:13:23.580 And notice too that what Paul says here, 00:13:23.659 --> 00:13:24.740 it talks about our citizenship, 00:13:25.159 --> 00:13:27.799 he doesn't say we will have citizenship in heaven, 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:30.060 he says we do have citizen. 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:32.299 It is a present tense. 00:13:32.299 --> 00:13:34.139 If you are a Christian, 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:37.719 then you are already a citizen of heaven. 00:13:37.879 --> 00:13:39.139 That is your home. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:41.399 That is where you are heading to. 00:13:44.620 --> 00:13:48.579 And that is why the citizen of heaven does not just wait, 00:13:49.079 --> 00:13:52.839 but they eagerly await for their saviour to come. 00:13:52.840 --> 00:13:58.139 They are bursting to get there. 00:14:01.120 --> 00:14:04.759 And verses 12 to 16 show us what that looks like. 00:14:05.560 --> 00:14:07.080 And let me say that these verses, 00:14:07.980 --> 00:14:09.440 verses 12 to 16, 00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:12.320 explode the false logic 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:16.360 that says if Christ has found us, 00:14:16.800 --> 00:14:19.879 then we don't need to seek him anymore. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:26.340 Paul's reasoning is in fact the exact opposite. 00:14:27.360 --> 00:14:30.279 I press on in order to gain Christ 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:34.000 because Christ has already gained me. 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:35.899 Verse 12, 00:14:36.399 --> 00:14:38.759 not that I have already obtained all this 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.840 or have already been made perfect, 00:14:41.379 --> 00:14:43.240 but I press on to take hold of that 00:14:43.240 --> 00:14:45.460 for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.120 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.320 to have taken hold of it, 00:14:49.539 --> 00:14:50.480 but one thing I do, 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.620 forgetting what is behind 00:14:51.620 --> 00:14:53.679 and straining towards what is ahead, 00:14:54.019 --> 00:14:56.000 I press on towards the goal 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:57.539 to win the prize 00:14:57.539 --> 00:14:59.840 which God has called me heavenward 00:14:59.840 --> 00:15:01.179 in Christ Jesus. 00:15:01.980 --> 00:15:03.620 And all of us who are mature 00:15:03.620 --> 00:15:05.960 should take such a view of things. 00:15:06.259 --> 00:15:08.379 And if on some point you think differently, 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:10.700 that too God will make clear to you. 00:15:10.700 --> 00:15:14.680 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 00:15:14.679 --> 00:15:20.439 Paul did not see his conversion to Christ 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:23.500 as a cage which held him back, 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:27.120 but as a catapult into the pursuit of holiness. 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:32.459 The irresistible grace of Christ 00:15:32.459 --> 00:15:34.639 overcoming Paul's rebellion 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:37.279 did not make Paul passive. 00:15:37.279 --> 00:15:42.639 He did not sit back and say, 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:44.379 well, well, it's all the work of God, 00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:45.100 I don't do anything, 00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:46.039 I follow my arms 00:15:46.039 --> 00:15:47.860 and I just wait for him to come back again. 00:15:51.139 --> 00:15:53.379 It actually made him powerful. 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:57.399 I take that 1 Corinthians 15, verse 10. 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.360 By the grace of God, 00:16:00.480 --> 00:16:01.720 I am who I am 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:03.199 and his grace within me 00:16:03.199 --> 00:16:04.939 was not without effect, 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:08.160 because I worked harder than everyone else. 00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:12.180 It's not a passive thing, 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:12.780 grace, 00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:14.360 in his mind. 00:16:15.180 --> 00:16:16.380 Grace is power. 00:16:18.180 --> 00:16:19.900 And the best commentary on these verses, 00:16:20.040 --> 00:16:20.380 I think, 00:16:20.440 --> 00:16:21.180 is in chapter 2, 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:22.400 verses 12 to 13. 00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:24.360 Work out your salvation 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.320 in fear and trembling. 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.180 That's the call. 00:16:26.580 --> 00:16:27.840 Guys, get on with it, 00:16:27.880 --> 00:16:28.480 is what he says. 00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.600 Get on with it. 00:16:30.360 --> 00:16:30.960 Work it out. 00:16:31.100 --> 00:16:31.840 Work hard at it. 00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:33.100 Strain towards it. 00:16:33.420 --> 00:16:34.400 Work out your salvation 00:16:34.399 --> 00:16:35.279 in fear and trembling. 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:35.720 Why? 00:16:35.860 --> 00:16:36.740 Because it is God 00:16:36.740 --> 00:16:37.819 who is working in you. 00:16:40.740 --> 00:16:42.159 In calling Christians 00:16:42.159 --> 00:16:43.539 to go hard after God, 00:16:43.959 --> 00:16:45.379 Paul in no way 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:46.819 undermines salvation 00:16:46.819 --> 00:16:47.779 by grace alone. 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:50.679 Not even for a little bit. 00:16:55.500 --> 00:16:57.120 It simply confirms it. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:17:00.580 Twice in these verses, 00:17:00.740 --> 00:17:02.580 he affirms it is God 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:04.759 who has taken hold of him. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:06.460 But in the same, 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:08.440 the very same verses 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:09.559 that he calls us 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.220 to pursue 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:11.440 and to grasp hold of 00:17:11.440 --> 00:17:12.200 and to continue 00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:13.059 to move forward, 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.420 to go hard after God, 00:17:16.759 --> 00:17:18.160 he calls us, 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.220 he says that God 00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:21.680 has already taken hold of him 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:22.980 in order to do that. 00:17:23.660 --> 00:17:23.920 So, 00:17:24.119 --> 00:17:25.819 this is what I think he's saying. 00:17:25.819 --> 00:17:28.819 Our work, 00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:30.439 that is in the pursuit, 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:31.579 the grasping 00:17:31.579 --> 00:17:33.079 to get hold of Christ, 00:17:33.179 --> 00:17:34.220 the moving forward, 00:17:35.099 --> 00:17:35.879 our work 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:38.559 is his work 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:40.639 for his glory 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:42.200 when done independence 00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:44.480 on his sovereign grace. 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:47.079 That's confusing? 00:17:48.119 --> 00:17:49.259 I'll say it again, 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:50.359 just in case. 00:17:50.359 --> 00:17:52.319 our work 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:55.059 is his work 00:17:55.059 --> 00:17:56.879 for his glory 00:17:56.879 --> 00:17:58.740 when done independence 00:17:58.740 --> 00:18:00.639 on his sovereign grace. 00:18:00.959 --> 00:18:03.339 The most fundamental reason 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.839 why the Christian 00:18:04.839 --> 00:18:06.619 must go hard after Christ 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:07.819 is that Christ 00:18:07.819 --> 00:18:09.059 is in the Christian 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:09.939 moving them 00:18:09.939 --> 00:18:11.519 to go hard after him. 00:18:15.740 --> 00:18:16.939 And it's in this 00:18:16.939 --> 00:18:18.159 that Paul sets himself up 00:18:18.159 --> 00:18:19.019 as a model to follow 00:18:19.019 --> 00:18:20.000 in verse 17. 00:18:20.859 --> 00:18:21.879 Follow my example, 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:22.279 brothers, 00:18:22.399 --> 00:18:23.399 and take note of those 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.179 who live according 00:18:24.179 --> 00:18:24.819 to the pattern 00:18:24.819 --> 00:18:25.699 that we gave you. 00:18:26.079 --> 00:18:27.259 And what was the pattern 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.299 that Paul gave them? 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:29.839 It's there in verse 10. 00:18:30.179 --> 00:18:31.379 I want to know Christ 00:18:31.379 --> 00:18:32.019 and the power 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:32.939 of his resurrection 00:18:32.939 --> 00:18:33.939 and the fellowship 00:18:33.939 --> 00:18:35.740 of sharing in his sufferings, 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.579 becoming like him 00:18:36.579 --> 00:18:37.159 in his death, 00:18:37.379 --> 00:18:38.379 and so somehow 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.259 to attain 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.419 the resurrection 00:18:40.419 --> 00:18:41.500 from the dead. 00:18:42.399 --> 00:18:43.459 What was Paul's pattern 00:18:43.459 --> 00:18:43.979 of life? 00:18:44.199 --> 00:18:45.759 I want to know Christ 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:47.479 and I want to be like Christ. 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:48.339 The whole focus 00:18:48.339 --> 00:18:49.259 of his life 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.420 was being made 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.079 more and more 00:18:51.079 --> 00:18:51.900 like Jesus 00:18:51.900 --> 00:18:53.000 until the day 00:18:53.000 --> 00:18:54.000 he met Jesus 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.980 face to face. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:18:57.400 We saw that 00:18:57.400 --> 00:18:58.980 back in Philippians 1.21. 00:18:59.140 --> 00:18:59.759 For to me, 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.960 to live is Christ 00:19:01.960 --> 00:19:02.980 and to die 00:19:02.980 --> 00:19:03.759 is to gain, 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:04.700 to get just more 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.339 of Christ. 00:19:06.200 --> 00:19:07.519 That is his life. 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:10.079 And so it is 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:11.400 a dodgy logic 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:12.980 that insists 00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:14.740 that if we have found Christ, 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:16.200 we need seek him 00:19:16.200 --> 00:19:16.799 no more. 00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:18.980 As one writer 00:19:18.980 --> 00:19:21.319 wrote last century, 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:23.220 to have found God 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:25.880 and still to pursue him 00:19:25.880 --> 00:19:28.059 is the soul's paradox 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:28.799 of love, 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:31.000 scorned indeed 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:33.839 by the too easily 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:36.259 satisfied religionist, 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.720 but justified 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:39.620 in happy experience 00:19:39.620 --> 00:19:41.140 by the children 00:19:41.140 --> 00:19:42.700 with a burning heart. 00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:46.059 Or as another writer 00:19:46.059 --> 00:19:46.880 probably put it 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:47.359 a little bit more 00:19:47.359 --> 00:19:48.220 simply than that, 00:19:48.859 --> 00:19:49.160 was 00:19:49.160 --> 00:19:51.740 wherever there is 00:19:51.740 --> 00:19:52.920 true grace, 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.900 there is a desire 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.180 for more grace. 00:19:56.180 --> 00:20:00.680 I think what he's saying 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:01.240 there is 00:20:01.240 --> 00:20:01.900 that whenever 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:02.640 there is 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:03.980 true grace, 00:20:04.900 --> 00:20:05.700 true grace 00:20:05.700 --> 00:20:06.500 doesn't lead 00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:07.440 to apathy 00:20:07.440 --> 00:20:09.360 and laziness 00:20:09.360 --> 00:20:11.160 in discipleship. 00:20:13.220 --> 00:20:14.259 It leads to 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:15.080 wanting to strive 00:20:15.080 --> 00:20:16.000 for more grace. 00:20:17.660 --> 00:20:18.580 The evidence 00:20:18.580 --> 00:20:19.460 that you have Christ 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:21.000 is that you want 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:22.340 more of Christ. 00:20:23.779 --> 00:20:24.779 Continued indifference 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:25.860 to growth in grace 00:20:25.859 --> 00:20:26.439 is a sign 00:20:26.439 --> 00:20:27.299 of no grace. 00:20:28.699 --> 00:20:29.319 And so friends, 00:20:29.419 --> 00:20:30.019 that is why 00:20:30.019 --> 00:20:30.819 we must go hard 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.339 after God. 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:34.759 We must go hard 00:20:34.759 --> 00:20:35.479 after God 00:20:35.479 --> 00:20:38.079 because 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.759 we are citizens 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:40.319 of heaven 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.819 and going hard 00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.339 after God 00:20:43.339 --> 00:20:44.079 confirms that 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:44.619 we are citizens 00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:45.099 of heaven 00:20:45.099 --> 00:20:47.419 or alternatively 00:20:47.419 --> 00:20:49.019 our destiny 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.659 is destruction 00:20:49.659 --> 00:20:51.659 and the warning 00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:52.139 is clear. 00:20:52.140 --> 00:20:53.820 so how 00:20:53.820 --> 00:20:54.320 then can we 00:20:54.320 --> 00:20:55.120 learn from 00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:55.580 Paul? 00:20:56.800 --> 00:20:57.680 What examples 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.360 does he give us 00:20:58.360 --> 00:20:59.220 in these passages? 00:20:59.380 --> 00:20:59.740 There's clearly 00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:00.240 a lot more 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.120 than just the few 00:21:01.120 --> 00:21:01.680 that are here 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:02.960 but I want to 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:03.400 say a couple 00:21:03.400 --> 00:21:03.900 of things, 00:21:04.460 --> 00:21:05.120 three things. 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:05.820 Firstly, 00:21:07.360 --> 00:21:07.940 develop 00:21:07.940 --> 00:21:08.560 holy 00:21:08.560 --> 00:21:09.720 dissatisfaction. 00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:11.660 Develop 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.240 holy 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:13.280 dissatisfaction. 00:21:13.279 --> 00:21:16.500 Paul says here, 00:21:16.579 --> 00:21:16.859 brothers, 00:21:17.019 --> 00:21:17.460 I do not 00:21:17.460 --> 00:21:18.319 consider myself 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:18.879 yet to have 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.579 taken hold 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:19.940 of it. 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:21.700 Paul's 00:21:21.700 --> 00:21:22.240 pursuit of 00:21:22.240 --> 00:21:22.740 Christ 00:21:22.740 --> 00:21:23.799 rises out 00:21:23.799 --> 00:21:24.660 of a profound 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.139 dissatisfaction 00:21:26.139 --> 00:21:26.619 with the way 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:27.559 that he is. 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:30.299 And I just 00:21:30.299 --> 00:21:30.920 ponder this 00:21:30.920 --> 00:21:31.279 question, 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:32.119 could it be 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:33.160 that there is 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:33.859 a connection 00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:34.700 between how 00:21:34.700 --> 00:21:35.660 little earnest 00:21:35.660 --> 00:21:36.379 pursuit 00:21:36.380 --> 00:21:37.540 of God 00:21:37.540 --> 00:21:38.060 there is 00:21:38.060 --> 00:21:38.520 today 00:21:38.520 --> 00:21:39.640 and how 00:21:39.640 --> 00:21:40.120 much we 00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:40.660 are told 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:41.120 to think 00:21:41.120 --> 00:21:41.500 well of 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.020 ourselves? 00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.500 I think 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:47.460 it's an 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.520 incredible 00:21:48.520 --> 00:21:49.500 indictment 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:51.040 when potentially 00:21:51.040 --> 00:21:51.660 the greatest 00:21:51.660 --> 00:21:52.300 theologian 00:21:52.300 --> 00:21:52.780 of the last 00:21:52.780 --> 00:21:53.600 hundred years, 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.160 well regarded 00:21:54.160 --> 00:21:54.600 by some 00:21:54.600 --> 00:21:54.860 anyway, 00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:55.300 J.O. 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:55.760 Packer, 00:21:56.760 --> 00:21:57.460 has said 00:21:57.460 --> 00:21:58.240 that modern 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.560 evangelicalism 00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.500 is virtually 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.200 absent 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.160 of 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.040 communion 00:22:03.040 --> 00:22:03.560 with God. 00:22:05.180 --> 00:22:05.700 Communion 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:06.080 with God 00:22:06.080 --> 00:22:06.600 is almost 00:22:06.600 --> 00:22:07.299 absent 00:22:07.299 --> 00:22:09.519 in modern 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.120 evangelical 00:22:10.120 --> 00:22:10.640 churches. 00:22:11.700 --> 00:22:12.200 I think 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:12.400 that's 00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:12.860 amazing. 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.680 And he's 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:16.120 not using 00:22:16.120 --> 00:22:16.519 the word 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.100 broadly, 00:22:18.039 --> 00:22:18.799 he's talking 00:22:18.799 --> 00:22:19.420 reformed 00:22:19.420 --> 00:22:20.299 evangelicals 00:22:20.299 --> 00:22:21.180 when he 00:22:21.180 --> 00:22:21.519 used that 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:21.799 term. 00:22:26.120 --> 00:22:26.980 It is a 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.279 wonderful 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:27.799 thing to 00:22:27.799 --> 00:22:28.100 have been 00:22:28.100 --> 00:22:28.420 taken 00:22:28.420 --> 00:22:28.940 possession 00:22:28.940 --> 00:22:29.440 of by 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:30.039 Christ, 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.039 but it 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.400 is a 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:31.840 thousand 00:22:31.840 --> 00:22:32.519 times more 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:32.940 wonderful 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.360 when we 00:22:33.360 --> 00:22:33.819 realise 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.120 that we 00:22:34.120 --> 00:22:34.620 are taken 00:22:34.620 --> 00:22:35.200 possession 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:37.279 of people 00:22:37.279 --> 00:22:37.940 who remain 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.420 sinful 00:22:38.420 --> 00:22:38.900 like you 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.319 and me. 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:40.860 I find 00:22:40.860 --> 00:22:41.019 that 00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:41.500 incredible. 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:44.720 The first 00:22:44.720 --> 00:22:45.140 step in 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:45.759 going hard 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.240 after the 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:46.819 holy God 00:22:46.819 --> 00:22:47.319 then is 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:47.900 to develop 00:22:47.900 --> 00:22:48.400 a holy 00:22:48.400 --> 00:22:49.519 dissatisfaction 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:50.440 with your 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:50.920 spiritual 00:22:50.920 --> 00:22:51.460 life. 00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:52.059 And I 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.519 emphasise 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:52.799 your 00:22:52.799 --> 00:22:53.200 spiritual 00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:53.519 life. 00:22:53.600 --> 00:22:53.779 Let me 00:22:53.779 --> 00:22:54.160 tell you 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.920 that what 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.700 comes 00:22:55.700 --> 00:22:56.160 naturally 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:56.640 to us 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:56.940 is a 00:22:56.940 --> 00:22:57.779 dissatisfaction 00:22:57.779 --> 00:22:58.319 with other 00:22:58.319 --> 00:22:58.900 people's 00:22:58.900 --> 00:22:59.620 spiritual 00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.080 life. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:00.759 There are 00:23:00.759 --> 00:23:01.140 plenty of 00:23:01.140 --> 00:23:01.480 people that 00:23:01.480 --> 00:23:01.700 we can 00:23:01.700 --> 00:23:02.059 point the 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:02.440 finger at 00:23:02.440 --> 00:23:02.620 and say 00:23:02.620 --> 00:23:03.100 that person 00:23:03.100 --> 00:23:03.460 needs to 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:03.779 pray a 00:23:03.779 --> 00:23:04.039 little bit 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:04.259 clearer, 00:23:04.259 --> 00:23:04.779 that person 00:23:04.779 --> 00:23:05.339 can't 00:23:05.339 --> 00:23:05.779 articulate 00:23:05.779 --> 00:23:06.279 the faith 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.819 well enough, 00:23:07.140 --> 00:23:07.599 that person 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:08.000 doesn't even 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.379 know the 00:23:08.379 --> 00:23:08.900 faith as far 00:23:08.900 --> 00:23:09.180 as I'm 00:23:09.180 --> 00:23:09.559 concerned, 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.400 that person 00:23:10.400 --> 00:23:10.779 needs to 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.019 come to 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:11.460 church more, 00:23:11.539 --> 00:23:11.839 that person 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:12.119 needs to 00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.440 give more, 00:23:12.519 --> 00:23:12.799 that person 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:13.079 needs to 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.480 serve more, 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:14.539 and it's 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.099 so easy 00:23:15.099 --> 00:23:15.480 to just 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.859 be dissatisfied 00:23:16.859 --> 00:23:17.900 with everyone 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.420 else's 00:23:18.420 --> 00:23:19.339 spiritual life. 00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.299 And the 00:23:20.299 --> 00:23:20.960 call here 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.200 is to 00:23:22.200 --> 00:23:23.079 be dissatisfied 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:23.799 with your 00:23:23.799 --> 00:23:24.779 spiritual life. 00:23:25.220 --> 00:23:25.779 Being able 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:27.319 to point 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:27.920 out 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.759 others' 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.220 lack of 00:23:29.220 --> 00:23:29.740 pursuit of 00:23:29.740 --> 00:23:30.039 God 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.420 doesn't 00:23:30.420 --> 00:23:31.059 somehow mean 00:23:31.059 --> 00:23:31.440 that you 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:31.920 are. 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.840 Being able 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.220 to point 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:34.620 out other 00:23:34.620 --> 00:23:35.019 people's 00:23:35.019 --> 00:23:35.759 immaturity 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:36.320 doesn't 00:23:36.320 --> 00:23:36.940 somehow mean 00:23:36.940 --> 00:23:37.240 that you 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:37.779 are mature. 00:23:39.700 --> 00:23:40.340 What the 00:23:40.340 --> 00:23:40.820 call here, 00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:41.279 I believe, 00:23:41.420 --> 00:23:42.299 is to stand 00:23:42.299 --> 00:23:42.920 in front of 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.320 the mirror 00:23:43.320 --> 00:23:43.779 of the 00:23:43.779 --> 00:23:44.680 word and 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.759 recognize that 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.320 you have 00:23:46.320 --> 00:23:46.900 not yet 00:23:46.900 --> 00:23:47.640 arrived, 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:49.900 and you 00:23:49.900 --> 00:23:50.440 won't this 00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:50.759 side of 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.000 heaven. 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:52.759 The 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:53.180 hearty 00:23:53.180 --> 00:23:53.799 admission of 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.420 our spiritual 00:23:54.420 --> 00:23:55.519 imperfections is 00:23:55.519 --> 00:23:56.180 the starting 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:57.240 point for the 00:23:57.240 --> 00:23:57.779 pursuit of 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.100 God. 00:23:58.099 --> 00:23:59.899 I want 00:23:59.899 --> 00:24:00.359 to suggest 00:24:00.359 --> 00:24:00.740 to you 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.399 that real 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:01.899 humbling 00:24:01.899 --> 00:24:02.699 guilt is 00:24:02.699 --> 00:24:03.439 extraordinarily 00:24:03.439 --> 00:24:04.199 rare. 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:05.699 I think 00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:06.919 99% of 00:24:06.919 --> 00:24:07.439 our bad 00:24:07.439 --> 00:24:08.139 feelings, 00:24:09.179 --> 00:24:10.659 about 00:24:10.659 --> 00:24:11.159 ourselves 00:24:11.159 --> 00:24:11.659 that is, 00:24:12.179 --> 00:24:12.959 are rooted 00:24:12.959 --> 00:24:14.159 in pride. 00:24:15.779 --> 00:24:16.459 For 00:24:16.459 --> 00:24:16.919 example, 00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.339 suppose you 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:18.779 go to a 00:24:18.779 --> 00:24:19.399 dinner party 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:19.859 and you 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:20.559 discover that 00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:20.939 you are 00:24:20.939 --> 00:24:21.500 dressed 00:24:21.500 --> 00:24:22.299 inappropriately 00:24:22.299 --> 00:24:22.639 for the 00:24:22.639 --> 00:24:23.139 occasion. 00:24:24.419 --> 00:24:25.359 You knock 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:25.799 your drink 00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:26.199 over at 00:24:26.199 --> 00:24:26.679 the table, 00:24:27.219 --> 00:24:27.639 the joke 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.180 you attempt 00:24:28.180 --> 00:24:28.980 falls flat, 00:24:29.320 --> 00:24:29.780 you call 00:24:29.780 --> 00:24:30.240 your host 00:24:30.240 --> 00:24:30.600 by the 00:24:30.600 --> 00:24:31.100 wrong name, 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.500 you tread 00:24:31.500 --> 00:24:31.759 on the 00:24:31.759 --> 00:24:32.060 dog's 00:24:32.060 --> 00:24:32.460 tail and 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:32.759 you make 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.120 the kids 00:24:33.120 --> 00:24:33.500 cry. 00:24:34.380 --> 00:24:34.940 How do 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.460 you feel 00:24:35.460 --> 00:24:35.759 when you 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.180 walk out 00:24:36.180 --> 00:24:36.620 from that? 00:24:37.420 --> 00:24:37.940 You feel 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:38.680 pretty rotten, 00:24:39.600 --> 00:24:40.140 you feel 00:24:40.140 --> 00:24:40.720 embarrassed, 00:24:41.320 --> 00:24:41.980 you're depressed, 00:24:42.480 --> 00:24:42.960 you hate 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.380 yourself, 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:43.660 you don't 00:24:43.660 --> 00:24:43.840 want to 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:44.160 show your 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:44.640 face. 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.700 Where do 00:24:45.700 --> 00:24:46.440 all these 00:24:46.440 --> 00:24:47.440 depressing, 00:24:47.720 --> 00:24:48.620 immobilizing, 00:24:48.860 --> 00:24:49.560 self-denouncing 00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:50.280 feelings come 00:24:50.280 --> 00:24:50.600 from? 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.180 Is the 00:24:52.180 --> 00:24:53.500 answer God's 00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.560 offended glory 00:24:54.560 --> 00:24:55.600 or your 00:24:55.600 --> 00:24:56.640 offended pride? 00:24:57.640 --> 00:24:59.820 people who 00:24:59.820 --> 00:25:00.340 are depressed 00:25:00.340 --> 00:25:01.220 and immobilized 00:25:01.220 --> 00:25:02.100 and angry 00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:02.940 because their 00:25:02.940 --> 00:25:04.020 behavior has 00:25:04.020 --> 00:25:05.300 injured the 00:25:05.300 --> 00:25:06.200 glory of 00:25:06.200 --> 00:25:07.060 God are 00:25:07.060 --> 00:25:07.820 very, 00:25:08.060 --> 00:25:09.100 very, 00:25:09.100 --> 00:25:11.040 very rare. 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:14.220 But people 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:14.540 who are 00:25:14.540 --> 00:25:15.300 depressed and 00:25:15.300 --> 00:25:16.240 immobilized and 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:17.140 angry because 00:25:17.140 --> 00:25:18.060 their behavior has 00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:18.900 prevented them 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:19.940 from having a 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:21.560 reputation of 00:25:21.560 --> 00:25:22.820 being really 00:25:22.820 --> 00:25:23.680 cool socially, 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:24.700 of being 00:25:24.700 --> 00:25:26.120 intelligent and 00:25:26.119 --> 00:25:27.099 being competent 00:25:27.099 --> 00:25:28.819 are very, 00:25:29.139 --> 00:25:30.119 very, 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:32.359 very common. 00:25:34.659 --> 00:25:35.739 When I call 00:25:35.739 --> 00:25:36.539 us to develop a 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.619 holy dissatisfaction 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:37.919 with our 00:25:37.919 --> 00:25:38.799 spiritual life, 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.099 I'm asking us 00:25:40.099 --> 00:25:40.859 to do something 00:25:40.859 --> 00:25:41.719 which is rare, 00:25:42.439 --> 00:25:43.559 not common. 00:25:44.619 --> 00:25:45.679 I'm asking us 00:25:45.679 --> 00:25:47.199 to feel worse 00:25:47.199 --> 00:25:48.500 that we possess 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.379 so little of 00:25:49.379 --> 00:25:49.879 Christ, 00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:52.319 that we have 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:53.119 such little 00:25:53.119 --> 00:25:54.239 communion with 00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.660 God. 00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.200 The first 00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.720 step in going 00:25:58.720 --> 00:25:59.420 hard after 00:25:59.420 --> 00:26:00.019 God is to 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.720 feel bad about 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:01.220 the right 00:26:01.220 --> 00:26:01.740 things. 00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.079 Develop a 00:26:03.079 --> 00:26:04.160 holy dissatisfaction 00:26:04.160 --> 00:26:04.500 with your 00:26:04.500 --> 00:26:05.140 spiritual life, 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:05.519 friends. 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.640 The second 00:26:08.640 --> 00:26:09.299 step in going 00:26:09.299 --> 00:26:10.319 hard after God 00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:10.980 is to forget 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.559 those things 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.000 which lie 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.359 behind, 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.180 verse 13. 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:14.700 I take this 00:26:14.700 --> 00:26:15.740 to mean that 00:26:15.740 --> 00:26:16.560 anything in 00:26:16.560 --> 00:26:17.340 your or our 00:26:17.340 --> 00:26:18.640 background which 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:19.240 hinders the 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:20.060 pursuit of God 00:26:20.060 --> 00:26:20.539 should be put 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:20.880 out of the 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:21.240 mind. 00:26:21.880 --> 00:26:22.680 The point is 00:26:22.680 --> 00:26:23.420 not never 00:26:23.420 --> 00:26:24.140 look back. 00:26:24.840 --> 00:26:25.539 The point is 00:26:25.539 --> 00:26:26.440 only look back 00:26:26.440 --> 00:26:27.080 for the sake 00:26:27.080 --> 00:26:27.500 of pressing 00:26:27.500 --> 00:26:27.960 forward. 00:26:29.680 --> 00:26:30.340 That's what 00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:30.740 it's about. 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:31.960 Never 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:33.279 substitute 00:26:33.279 --> 00:26:34.360 nostalgia 00:26:34.360 --> 00:26:35.640 for hope. 00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.220 Individually 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.240 and corporately, 00:26:39.840 --> 00:26:40.900 we must be 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:42.000 careful of 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.680 looking back, 00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:43.420 my friends. 00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:44.780 Even 00:26:44.780 --> 00:26:46.280 memories of 00:26:46.280 --> 00:26:47.400 successes in 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:48.280 the past 00:26:48.280 --> 00:26:49.700 can make us 00:26:49.700 --> 00:26:50.600 smug and 00:26:50.600 --> 00:26:51.759 satisfied in 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.300 the present. 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.240 I remember 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.380 that I 00:26:57.380 --> 00:26:58.320 started telling 00:26:58.320 --> 00:26:58.700 you, I 00:26:58.700 --> 00:26:59.460 remember one 00:26:59.460 --> 00:27:00.040 incident in my 00:27:00.040 --> 00:27:00.920 life where 00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.540 God took me 00:27:01.540 --> 00:27:01.900 through a 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.519 really difficult 00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:04.080 time and 00:27:04.080 --> 00:27:05.140 he grew me 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:06.900 remarkably and 00:27:06.900 --> 00:27:07.519 in amongst 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:08.200 all of that 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.320 time of, 00:27:09.460 --> 00:27:10.019 it was hard, 00:27:10.100 --> 00:27:10.259 it was 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:10.880 persecution, 00:27:10.900 --> 00:27:11.400 and other 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:11.740 things that 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.100 were going 00:27:12.100 --> 00:27:12.400 on. 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.220 God brought 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:14.800 me forward 00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:15.800 and I 00:27:15.800 --> 00:27:16.440 started to 00:27:16.440 --> 00:27:17.360 realise after 00:27:17.360 --> 00:27:18.240 a few years 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.560 that I 00:27:18.560 --> 00:27:18.920 used to 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:19.560 recount the 00:27:19.560 --> 00:27:20.480 old stories. 00:27:21.680 --> 00:27:22.360 I remember 00:27:22.360 --> 00:27:22.820 a time 00:27:22.820 --> 00:27:23.160 when. 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.560 And it 00:27:26.560 --> 00:27:27.000 dawned on 00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:27.400 me one 00:27:27.400 --> 00:27:27.780 day, 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.000 Steve, 00:27:30.500 --> 00:27:31.400 that's like 00:27:31.400 --> 00:27:32.000 ten years 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:32.280 ago, 00:27:32.380 --> 00:27:32.600 man. 00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:34.880 What's 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:36.600 now? 00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:37.600 What's the 00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.480 stories now? 00:27:38.480 --> 00:27:39.480 God's 00:27:39.480 --> 00:27:39.740 love? 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.720 Don't be 00:27:40.720 --> 00:27:41.440 smug about 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:41.920 what happened 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:42.420 then ten 00:27:42.420 --> 00:27:43.099 years ago. 00:27:44.519 --> 00:27:45.380 How's God 00:27:45.380 --> 00:27:45.880 working in 00:27:45.880 --> 00:27:46.400 you now? 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:47.539 How are you 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:48.200 pressing forward 00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:48.720 now? 00:27:48.720 --> 00:27:54.000 memories of 00:27:54.000 --> 00:27:54.740 successes in 00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.460 the past can 00:27:55.460 --> 00:27:55.960 make us 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.539 smug and 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.360 self-satisfied 00:27:57.360 --> 00:27:58.319 as individuals 00:27:58.319 --> 00:27:59.059 and as a 00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.440 church. 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.600 Memories of 00:28:00.600 --> 00:28:01.180 failure can 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:01.660 make us 00:28:01.660 --> 00:28:03.420 hopeless and 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.940 paralyzed in 00:28:04.940 --> 00:28:05.360 our pursuit 00:28:05.360 --> 00:28:05.880 of God. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.460 Never look 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:07.940 back like 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:08.220 that. 00:28:08.960 --> 00:28:09.400 We ought to 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.420 give thanks, 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.380 humbly give 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:13.000 thanks for 00:28:13.000 --> 00:28:14.220 God's successes 00:28:14.220 --> 00:28:15.299 amongst us in 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:16.059 the past or in 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.620 our lives in 00:28:16.619 --> 00:28:17.179 the past. 00:28:18.139 --> 00:28:18.879 We must 00:28:18.879 --> 00:28:19.559 make humble 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.419 confessions for 00:28:20.419 --> 00:28:21.079 the failures 00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.839 that have been 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:22.939 there but we 00:28:22.939 --> 00:28:23.919 must always 00:28:23.919 --> 00:28:24.899 turn to the 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:26.079 future and 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:26.799 go hard after 00:28:26.799 --> 00:28:27.239 God. 00:28:28.579 --> 00:28:29.759 If we keep 00:28:29.759 --> 00:28:30.719 looking back we 00:28:30.719 --> 00:28:31.979 become museums. 00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:36.959 The final step 00:28:36.959 --> 00:28:37.559 in going hard 00:28:37.559 --> 00:28:38.459 after God is 00:28:38.459 --> 00:28:39.079 that straining 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.779 forward to 00:28:39.779 --> 00:28:40.539 what lies ahead. 00:28:40.639 --> 00:28:41.159 Verse 13 00:28:41.159 --> 00:28:41.500 again. 00:28:42.139 --> 00:28:43.500 What Paul does 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.219 is he provides 00:28:44.219 --> 00:28:45.059 us as an 00:28:45.059 --> 00:28:45.919 illustration of 00:28:45.919 --> 00:28:46.579 straining forward 00:28:46.579 --> 00:28:47.899 in 1 Corinthians 00:28:47.899 --> 00:28:48.339 9. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.699 He says 00:28:48.699 --> 00:28:49.699 everyone who 00:28:49.699 --> 00:28:50.319 competes in 00:28:50.319 --> 00:28:51.279 the games goes 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.919 into strict 00:28:51.919 --> 00:28:52.379 training. 00:28:52.819 --> 00:28:53.399 They do it to 00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.099 get a crown that 00:28:54.099 --> 00:28:55.720 will not last but 00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.819 we do it to get a 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:57.460 crown that will 00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.240 last forever. 00:28:58.799 --> 00:28:59.439 Therefore I do 00:28:59.439 --> 00:29:00.199 not run like a 00:29:00.199 --> 00:29:00.740 man running 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:01.359 aimlessly. 00:29:01.720 --> 00:29:02.460 I do not fight 00:29:02.460 --> 00:29:03.240 like a man beating 00:29:03.240 --> 00:29:03.619 the air. 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.599 No I beat my 00:29:04.599 --> 00:29:05.899 body and I make 00:29:05.899 --> 00:29:07.539 it my slave so 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:08.379 that after I 00:29:08.379 --> 00:29:09.500 have preached to 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.379 others I 00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:11.240 myself will not 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:12.119 be disqualified 00:29:12.119 --> 00:29:13.139 for the prize. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:15.480 During the 00:29:15.480 --> 00:29:16.539 marathon in 00:29:16.539 --> 00:29:17.759 the 1968 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:19.119 Mexico Olympics 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:20.220 Tanzanian 00:29:20.220 --> 00:29:20.819 runner John 00:29:20.819 --> 00:29:21.240 Stephen 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.500 Akwari fell 00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.619 early in the 00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.339 race and 00:29:24.339 --> 00:29:25.440 badly damaged 00:29:25.440 --> 00:29:26.039 his leg. 00:29:27.299 --> 00:29:28.180 He got up, 00:29:28.299 --> 00:29:28.639 he got a 00:29:28.639 --> 00:29:29.099 bandage on 00:29:29.099 --> 00:29:29.420 his leg, 00:29:29.519 --> 00:29:30.099 got up and 00:29:30.099 --> 00:29:30.819 he limped 00:29:30.819 --> 00:29:31.759 the rest of 00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.720 the race and 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:33.399 he finally 00:29:33.399 --> 00:29:34.119 crossed the 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:34.899 finishing line 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:35.639 an hour and 00:29:35.639 --> 00:29:36.359 a half after 00:29:36.359 --> 00:29:37.460 the last person 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.399 had finished. 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.039 And by the 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:40.440 time he 00:29:40.440 --> 00:29:40.799 crossed the 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:41.420 finishing line 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.180 it was kind 00:29:42.180 --> 00:29:42.500 of getting 00:29:42.500 --> 00:29:43.519 dark, it 00:29:43.519 --> 00:29:43.799 was sort of 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.240 twilight, 00:29:44.419 --> 00:29:45.220 sun was 00:29:45.220 --> 00:29:45.680 going down 00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.059 getting a 00:29:46.059 --> 00:29:46.579 bit dark 00:29:46.579 --> 00:29:47.740 and a lot 00:29:47.740 --> 00:29:48.079 of people 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:48.519 had gone 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:48.879 home, 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.119 they were 00:29:49.119 --> 00:29:49.700 virtually shutting 00:29:49.700 --> 00:29:50.039 down the 00:29:50.039 --> 00:29:50.619 place for the 00:29:50.619 --> 00:29:51.399 night anyway 00:29:51.399 --> 00:29:54.460 and there 00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:55.220 was a 00:29:55.220 --> 00:29:55.720 photographer, 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:56.579 a reporter 00:29:56.579 --> 00:29:57.139 there sorry, 00:29:57.519 --> 00:29:57.819 who was 00:29:57.819 --> 00:29:58.339 packing up 00:29:58.339 --> 00:29:58.960 his gear 00:29:58.960 --> 00:30:01.019 and until 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.919 he heard 00:30:01.919 --> 00:30:03.960 this applause 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:04.659 with a few 00:30:04.659 --> 00:30:05.079 people that 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.619 were left, 00:30:06.019 --> 00:30:06.720 turns around 00:30:06.720 --> 00:30:07.220 and the few 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:07.700 people left 00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.419 in the stadium 00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:08.919 are doing, 00:30:09.059 --> 00:30:09.359 there's a 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.279 standing ovation 00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:11.240 and then 00:30:11.240 --> 00:30:11.700 he noticed 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:12.220 what's going 00:30:12.220 --> 00:30:12.480 on, 00:30:12.539 --> 00:30:12.920 there's this 00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.899 guy limping 00:30:13.899 --> 00:30:14.500 around the 00:30:14.500 --> 00:30:16.960 track and 00:30:16.960 --> 00:30:17.940 he takes a 00:30:17.940 --> 00:30:18.460 photo of it, 00:30:18.480 --> 00:30:18.740 it's actually 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.279 quite a famous 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:19.500 photo, 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:19.899 he takes a 00:30:19.899 --> 00:30:20.379 photo of this 00:30:20.379 --> 00:30:20.539 guy, 00:30:20.599 --> 00:30:20.940 it's a bad 00:30:20.940 --> 00:30:21.440 photo but a 00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:22.000 famous photo 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:23.279 of him in 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.039 the twilight 00:30:24.039 --> 00:30:24.859 limping towards 00:30:24.859 --> 00:30:25.359 the finish 00:30:25.359 --> 00:30:25.779 line, 00:30:26.180 --> 00:30:27.019 he runs down 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.440 to the finish 00:30:27.440 --> 00:30:27.660 line, 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.180 jams a 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:29.359 microphone in 00:30:29.359 --> 00:30:30.200 his face and 00:30:30.200 --> 00:30:30.660 says why 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:31.279 didn't you just 00:30:31.279 --> 00:30:31.740 give up? 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:33.079 You clearly 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.539 weren't going 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:34.139 to win the 00:30:34.139 --> 00:30:34.559 race, 00:30:34.960 --> 00:30:36.079 you're badly 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:36.619 damaged, 00:30:36.720 --> 00:30:37.299 you can't even 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:37.819 run, 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:38.680 why didn't you 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.359 just give up? 00:30:39.359 --> 00:30:39.899 You know, 00:30:40.019 --> 00:30:40.759 like save 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.099 yourself for 00:30:41.099 --> 00:30:41.599 another day 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.079 or something 00:30:42.079 --> 00:30:45.079 and John's 00:30:45.079 --> 00:30:45.679 reply was 00:30:45.679 --> 00:30:46.019 this, 00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:46.719 you don't 00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:47.299 understand, 00:30:48.259 --> 00:30:48.879 my country 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:49.579 did not send 00:30:49.579 --> 00:30:50.419 me 5,000 00:30:50.419 --> 00:30:50.899 miles to 00:30:50.899 --> 00:30:51.399 start a 00:30:51.399 --> 00:30:51.759 race, 00:30:52.139 --> 00:30:52.619 they sent 00:30:52.619 --> 00:30:52.899 me to 00:30:52.899 --> 00:30:53.459 finish it. 00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.839 The way 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.500 to go hard 00:30:56.500 --> 00:30:57.259 after God 00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:58.059 is with all 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.759 the discipline 00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.379 and self 00:30:59.379 --> 00:31:00.299 denial of an 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.740 athlete, 00:31:01.959 --> 00:31:02.539 that's the 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:02.919 way to go 00:31:02.919 --> 00:31:03.379 hard after 00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:03.719 God, 00:31:03.879 --> 00:31:04.339 no matter 00:31:04.339 --> 00:31:04.779 what the 00:31:04.779 --> 00:31:05.339 cost is, 00:31:05.399 --> 00:31:05.619 no matter 00:31:05.619 --> 00:31:06.139 how difficult 00:31:06.139 --> 00:31:06.500 it is, 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:06.699 no matter 00:31:06.699 --> 00:31:07.399 what obstacles 00:31:07.399 --> 00:31:07.759 are on the 00:31:07.759 --> 00:31:08.000 way, 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:08.699 there is a 00:31:08.700 --> 00:31:09.460 finish line 00:31:09.460 --> 00:31:10.000 up there 00:31:10.000 --> 00:31:11.559 and my 00:31:11.559 --> 00:31:11.960 job is to 00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.319 get to 00:31:12.319 --> 00:31:12.779 that finish 00:31:12.779 --> 00:31:13.180 line, 00:31:13.940 --> 00:31:14.500 to press 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:14.700 on, 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.299 to strain 00:31:15.299 --> 00:31:15.940 forward. 00:31:18.019 --> 00:31:18.680 I doubt 00:31:18.680 --> 00:31:19.000 that there 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.640 has ever 00:31:19.640 --> 00:31:20.440 been a 00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.080 Christian who 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.360 reached the 00:31:22.360 --> 00:31:22.940 heights of 00:31:22.940 --> 00:31:23.660 knowledge and 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.299 joy and 00:31:24.299 --> 00:31:25.120 obedience and 00:31:25.120 --> 00:31:25.759 communion with 00:31:25.759 --> 00:31:26.600 God without 00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.819 a plan and 00:31:27.819 --> 00:31:28.680 without discipline 00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.360 and without 00:31:29.360 --> 00:31:30.340 self-denial. 00:31:30.339 --> 00:31:33.759 one of the 00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:36.240 incredible things 00:31:36.240 --> 00:31:37.139 that I love 00:31:37.139 --> 00:31:38.179 to do is 00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:39.599 to look at 00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:40.459 biographies of 00:31:40.459 --> 00:31:40.859 some of the 00:31:40.859 --> 00:31:41.459 greats in the 00:31:41.459 --> 00:31:41.980 past and 00:31:41.980 --> 00:31:42.500 look at their 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.519 lives and 00:31:43.519 --> 00:31:44.199 just to see 00:31:44.199 --> 00:31:44.779 their pattern 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.559 of lives and 00:31:45.559 --> 00:31:46.679 man, I tell 00:31:46.679 --> 00:31:47.059 you what, 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:48.919 in one sense 00:31:48.919 --> 00:31:49.379 they're to be 00:31:49.379 --> 00:31:50.199 appreciated. 00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:51.980 There are some 00:31:51.980 --> 00:31:54.299 people you just 00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:55.220 cannot emulate, 00:31:55.959 --> 00:31:56.339 they're just 00:31:56.339 --> 00:31:57.319 particularly gifted, 00:31:57.319 --> 00:31:58.859 but there's 00:31:58.859 --> 00:32:00.019 something particular 00:32:00.019 --> 00:32:00.759 about some of 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.439 their lives which 00:32:01.439 --> 00:32:02.200 you can emulate 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.759 and that is 00:32:02.759 --> 00:32:03.539 their discipline 00:32:03.539 --> 00:32:05.159 and their focus 00:32:05.159 --> 00:32:05.639 and their 00:32:05.639 --> 00:32:06.480 determination. 00:32:07.879 --> 00:32:08.000 I mean, 00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:09.439 Jonathan Edwards, 00:32:10.179 --> 00:32:10.859 for instance, 00:32:11.000 --> 00:32:11.720 used to get up 00:32:11.720 --> 00:32:12.639 at four o'clock 00:32:12.639 --> 00:32:13.480 every morning 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.619 and spend the 00:32:14.619 --> 00:32:15.679 first three hours 00:32:15.679 --> 00:32:16.539 of the day 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:18.319 in study 00:32:18.319 --> 00:32:20.399 and in 00:32:20.399 --> 00:32:20.700 prayer. 00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:23.240 My 00:32:23.240 --> 00:32:24.919 goodness, 00:32:25.179 --> 00:32:25.419 that's 00:32:25.419 --> 00:32:25.859 incredible. 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.259 You know, 00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.740 this is the 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.759 day before, 00:32:30.639 --> 00:32:30.819 you know, 00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:31.759 in the middle 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.179 of winter, 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.299 in the New 00:32:33.299 --> 00:32:33.819 England area, 00:32:34.079 --> 00:32:34.679 he had to 00:32:34.679 --> 00:32:35.039 stoke the 00:32:35.039 --> 00:32:35.679 fire first, 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:35.879 he had to 00:32:35.879 --> 00:32:36.039 try and 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.319 keep himself 00:32:36.319 --> 00:32:37.000 warm, 00:32:37.579 --> 00:32:38.000 doing it by 00:32:38.000 --> 00:32:38.779 candlelight, 00:32:38.839 --> 00:32:39.179 for goodness 00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:39.619 sake. 00:32:45.019 --> 00:32:45.639 God does 00:32:45.639 --> 00:32:46.159 not promise 00:32:46.159 --> 00:32:46.779 his riches 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:48.139 to aimless, 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:49.119 apathetic and 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.220 lazy disciples. 00:32:51.419 --> 00:32:51.779 Paul did 00:32:51.779 --> 00:32:52.200 not run 00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:52.919 aimlessly or 00:32:52.919 --> 00:32:53.259 beat the 00:32:53.259 --> 00:32:53.379 air, 00:32:53.460 --> 00:32:53.819 he lived 00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.319 with spiritual 00:32:54.319 --> 00:32:54.919 goals in 00:32:54.919 --> 00:32:55.939 view and 00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:56.619 controlled his 00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.299 passions for 00:32:57.299 --> 00:32:58.019 the sake of 00:32:58.019 --> 00:32:58.779 those goals. 00:32:59.680 --> 00:33:00.399 And so I 00:33:00.399 --> 00:33:01.240 plead with 00:33:01.240 --> 00:33:01.419 you, 00:33:01.539 --> 00:33:01.779 friends, 00:33:01.879 --> 00:33:02.720 to be an 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:03.159 athlete, 00:33:03.980 --> 00:33:04.919 to be a 00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:05.440 spiritual 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:05.980 athlete. 00:33:06.259 --> 00:33:06.740 Set yourself 00:33:06.740 --> 00:33:07.419 a goal to 00:33:07.419 --> 00:33:08.099 know more 00:33:08.099 --> 00:33:08.480 of the 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:08.839 word of 00:33:08.839 --> 00:33:09.139 God, 00:33:09.460 --> 00:33:09.899 to grasp 00:33:09.899 --> 00:33:10.460 more of 00:33:10.460 --> 00:33:10.799 the will 00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:11.279 of God, 00:33:11.559 --> 00:33:11.859 to love 00:33:11.859 --> 00:33:12.440 more of 00:33:12.440 --> 00:33:13.019 the wonder 00:33:13.019 --> 00:33:13.599 of God. 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.480 Make a 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:15.259 plan of 00:33:15.259 --> 00:33:15.839 prayer and 00:33:15.839 --> 00:33:16.559 study and 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.200 worship and 00:33:17.200 --> 00:33:19.099 service and 00:33:19.099 --> 00:33:20.359 go for it 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.079 with all of 00:33:21.079 --> 00:33:21.680 your might, 00:33:22.180 --> 00:33:23.980 with all of 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:24.579 your might, 00:33:24.579 --> 00:33:25.259 God. 00:33:25.259 --> 00:33:25.720 Because it 00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.399 is Christ 00:33:26.399 --> 00:33:27.339 working in 00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:27.559 you, 00:33:27.740 --> 00:33:28.480 dragging you 00:33:28.480 --> 00:33:29.019 heavenward. 00:33:31.240 --> 00:33:31.699 Heed the 00:33:31.699 --> 00:33:32.579 warning this 00:33:32.579 --> 00:33:32.960 evening. 00:33:33.899 --> 00:33:34.720 Develop a 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:36.119 holy dissatisfaction 00:33:36.119 --> 00:33:36.579 with your 00:33:36.579 --> 00:33:37.000 spiritual 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.839 attainments. 00:33:38.839 --> 00:33:39.460 Put out of 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:39.939 your mind 00:33:39.939 --> 00:33:40.679 anything in 00:33:40.679 --> 00:33:41.199 the past 00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:41.960 which hinders 00:33:41.960 --> 00:33:42.839 your pursuit 00:33:42.839 --> 00:33:44.319 of God and 00:33:44.319 --> 00:33:46.019 strain forward 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:47.000 like an 00:33:47.000 --> 00:33:47.419 athlete. 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:48.299 For it is 00:33:48.299 --> 00:33:49.039 God who is 00:33:49.039 --> 00:33:49.699 working in 00:33:49.699 --> 00:33:49.919 you. 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.660 working in 00:33:50.660 --> 00:33:50.840 you. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:51.440 We do 00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:52.000 not run 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.380 in our 00:33:52.380 --> 00:33:53.140 own strength 00:33:53.140 --> 00:33:53.920 and all 00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:54.400 the more 00:33:54.400 --> 00:33:55.140 therefore we 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.519 can be 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.640 assured that 00:33:56.640 --> 00:33:57.640 going hard 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.720 after God 00:33:58.720 --> 00:33:59.460 will bring 00:33:59.460 --> 00:34:00.240 us to know 00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:01.060 him deeply 00:34:01.060 --> 00:34:02.300 and enjoy 00:34:02.300 --> 00:34:03.200 the sweet, 00:34:03.580 --> 00:34:04.840 sweet confirmation 00:34:04.840 --> 00:34:05.519 of our 00:34:05.519 --> 00:34:06.420 citizenship in 00:34:06.420 --> 00:34:06.660 heaven. 00:34:07.420 --> 00:34:08.039 Let's pray. 00:34:10.280 --> 00:34:11.400 Father God, 00:34:12.019 --> 00:34:13.119 your word 00:34:13.119 --> 00:34:14.480 as we looked 00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:15.159 at tonight is 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:15.619 just so 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.099 challenging, 00:34:16.680 --> 00:34:17.400 it is so 00:34:17.400 --> 00:34:18.559 clear and 00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.019 yet without 00:34:19.019 --> 00:34:19.860 your spirit 00:34:19.860 --> 00:34:22.019 we just 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:22.620 will not 00:34:22.620 --> 00:34:23.240 have any 00:34:23.240 --> 00:34:23.740 desire, 00:34:23.860 --> 00:34:24.280 without your 00:34:24.280 --> 00:34:24.740 work in 00:34:24.740 --> 00:34:24.920 us, 00:34:25.000 --> 00:34:25.760 any desire 00:34:25.760 --> 00:34:26.680 to go 00:34:26.680 --> 00:34:27.240 hard after 00:34:27.240 --> 00:34:27.539 you. 00:34:28.300 --> 00:34:28.680 Lord, 00:34:28.820 --> 00:34:29.500 our hearts 00:34:29.500 --> 00:34:30.220 are weak 00:34:30.220 --> 00:34:30.700 and we 00:34:30.700 --> 00:34:31.559 are feeble, 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.559 we are so 00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.019 easily 00:34:33.019 --> 00:34:34.640 distracted by 00:34:34.640 --> 00:34:35.720 trivia and 00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.579 irrelevancies, 00:34:36.880 --> 00:34:37.420 we are so 00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.160 apathetic, 00:34:38.280 --> 00:34:38.700 we are so 00:34:38.700 --> 00:34:40.200 comfortable in 00:34:40.200 --> 00:34:41.480 religion and 00:34:41.480 --> 00:34:42.660 so rescue us 00:34:42.660 --> 00:34:43.260 we pray. 00:34:44.019 --> 00:34:44.680 Rescue us 00:34:44.680 --> 00:34:45.059 Father, 00:34:46.460 --> 00:34:47.300 revive us 00:34:47.300 --> 00:34:47.740 Lord so 00:34:47.740 --> 00:34:48.019 that we 00:34:48.019 --> 00:34:48.500 might go 00:34:48.500 --> 00:34:49.519 hard after 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:50.199 you and 00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:50.940 enjoy the 00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.360 sweet 00:34:51.360 --> 00:34:52.059 confirmation 00:34:52.059 --> 00:34:52.659 of our 00:34:52.659 --> 00:34:53.179 citizenship 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:53.840 in heaven 00:34:53.840 --> 00:34:54.759 where the 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.420 Lord Jesus 00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.940 reigns and 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:57.519 from where 00:34:57.519 --> 00:34:57.940 he will 00:34:57.940 --> 00:34:59.059 come and 00:34:59.059 --> 00:35:00.000 establish his 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:01.099 rule and 00:35:01.099 --> 00:35:01.679 take us to 00:35:01.679 --> 00:35:02.259 be with him 00:35:02.259 --> 00:35:02.679 in heaven. 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:03.840 Father, 00:35:03.960 --> 00:35:04.460 help us to 00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.079 press on 00:35:05.079 --> 00:35:05.639 towards the 00:35:05.639 --> 00:35:06.460 goal and 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:06.920 we ask it 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.300 for your 00:35:07.300 --> 00:35:07.619 sake. 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:08.420 Amen. 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:08.500 Amen. 00:35:08.500 --> 00:35:08.519 Amen. 00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:08.539 Amen. 00:35:08.539 --> 00:35:08.559 Amen. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:08.579 Amen. 00:35:08.579 --> 00:35:08.599 Amen. 00:35:08.599 --> 00:35:08.639 Amen. 00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:08.659 Amen. 00:35:08.659 --> 00:35:08.699 Amen. 00:35:08.699 --> 00:35:10.639 Amen. 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:10.659 Amen. 00:35:10.659 --> 00:35:10.679 Amen. 00:35:10.679 --> 00:35:10.699 Amen. 00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:12.579 Amen. 00:35:12.579 --> 00:35:12.639 Amen. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:12.699 Amen. 00:35:12.699 --> 00:35:12.739 Amen. 00:35:12.739 --> 00:35:14.639 Amen. 00:35:14.639 --> 00:35:14.699 Amen. 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:16.639 Amen. 00:35:16.639 --> 00:35:16.699 Amen. 00:35:16.699 --> 00:35:16.759 Amen. 00:35:16.759 --> 00:35:17.699 Amen. 00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.639 Amen.