WEBVTT

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 Hello everybody, my name is Chris, I'm a member of Watermark Church and we're going to read the Nicene Creed together.

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 Now, it should be on the screen. Now this creed is 1,700 years old and the earliest Christians were facing a situation where many people were saying lots of different things about God.

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 And they wanted to come together and make a statement to say this is what we believe is the essential part of the Christian faith.

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 This is what we hold on to. This is what really matters and really counts for us.

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 And over the last 1,700 years, people have even died for many of these things that we're going to say here.

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 So I'm going to read this. Let's read together.

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 And as we read, let this not just be words that we say, but this is the truth.

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 This is the heart of the Christian message.

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 So let's read this together.

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 We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen.

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 We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,

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 God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father.

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 Through him all things were made for us and for our salvation.

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 He came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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 He became incarnate from the Virgin Mary and was made man.

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 For our sake, he was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

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 He suffered death and was buried.

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 On the third day, he rose again in accordance with the scriptures.

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 He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

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 He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

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 We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

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 With the Father and the Son, he is worshipped and glorified.

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 He has spoken through the prophets.

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 We believe in one holy, universal, and apostolic church.

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 We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

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 We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 Okay, I'm just going to pray for us for the new year and for all that God has been doing and is going to do.

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 I'm going to pray for our leaders and pray for the leaders of Hong Kong as well.

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 So would you bow your heads with me and let's pray to our great Father.

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 Father, we thank you so much that you are an amazing God.

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 Thank you so much for the way that you have brought us through another year.

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 Thank you for this new year.

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 Thank you for all that you have been doing in Watermark over this last year, Lord.

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 We praise you for the way that you have brought so many people here to us,

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 the way that we've been able to reach out to the community.

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 Thank you for all the events that happened over Christmas

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 and for the people who have come to hear of your good news over this time.

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 We pray, Lord, that you would just be touching hearts in this city and touching our hearts as well, Father.

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 We pray that this new year would not just be another year,

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 but it would be a year where we come to love you, to know you, and to grow more like you, Lord Jesus.

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 And we pray, Father, for our leaders.

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 Lord, we thank you particularly for Tobin and his family.

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 Lord, we pray for them and for the TOB as well.

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 Lord, we pray, Lord, that you would give them wisdom.

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 We pray that you would just guide them in decisions, help them to lead well,

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 help them to love you and to help us to love you more.

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 And we pray, Father, that you would help us as well to follow and to be obedient

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 and to really love you as well more and more through following their example.

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 And, Father, we also want to pray into Hong Kong.

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 Lord, we thank you for this city, for this great city that you have made and you have brought people from many nations together.

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 We pray, Lord, that in this city people would come to know you,

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 that this new year, Lord, would be a year of salvation for many people,

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 where they're set free from the slavery of just having to live for money and having to live for things which won't last.

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 We pray that your church across this city would make a difference.

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 And we pray for the leaders.

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 We pray for the new chief executive when he comes in, Lord,

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 that he would be a man of justice, a man who has compassion on people

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 and does not look just to his own interests, but to the good of all people.

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 And we pray all these things in your amazing, great name.

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 Amen.

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 My name is Jason.

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 We're so glad you're here.

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 I want to welcome you, along with Chris, along with Jeremy, along with Pastor Tobin, here to Watermark.

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 Pastor Twa will come up in a second to speak to us, to share God's word with us.

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 But first, I'm going to take you through the scripture reading,

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 which is found from Philippians and Isaiah.

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 I think it's found in your bulletin.

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 But first off, that song is powerful.

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 It kind of gets me choked up.

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 I don't...

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 I don't...

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 I don't know where your joy is.

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 But I work in finance.

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 And I can tell you, for a lot of my colleagues, for a lot of business people in the city,

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 this 2011 was not a lot of joy.

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 And I think it's my hope for you that in this year,

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 that you come to know a joy that surpasses understanding,

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 that won't let you down, that won't jump around like the stock market.

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 And the good news is that that joy can be yours.

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 So sorry for crying, but why don't we do the scripture?

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 Sure.

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 Okay.

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 This is the Apostle Paul writing to the Philippians from jail.

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 It's from Philippians 3.

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 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.

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 It's no trouble for me to write the same things to you again,

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 and it's a safeguard for you.

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 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil,

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 those mutilators of the flesh.

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 For it is we who are the circumcision,

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 we who worship by the Spirit of God,

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 who glory in Christ Jesus,

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 and who put no confidence in the flesh,

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 though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

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 If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh,

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 I have more.

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 Circumcised on the eighth day of the people of Israel,

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 the tribe of Benjamin,

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 a Hebrew of Hebrews,

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 in regard to the law, a Pharisee,

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 as for zeal, persecuting the church,

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 as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

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 But whatever was to my profit,

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 I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

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 What is more, I consider everything a loss

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 compared to the surpassing greatness

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 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,

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 for whose sake I have lost all things.

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 I consider them rubbish,

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 that I may gain Christ and be found in him,

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 not having a righteousness of my own

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 that comes from the law,

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 but that which is through faith in Christ,

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 the righteousness that comes from God

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 and is by faith.

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 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection

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 and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings,

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 becoming like him in his death,

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 and so somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

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 Not that I've already obtained all this

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 or have already been made perfect,

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 but I press on to take hold of that

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 for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

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 Brothers, I don't consider myself yet

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 to have taken hold of it,

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 but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind

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 and straining towards what is ahead,

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 I press on towards the goal

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 to win the prize for which God has called me heavenwards

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 in Christ Jesus.

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 And the second passage is from Isaiah, chapter 45.

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 This is initially God speaking.

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 I am the Lord, your Holy One,

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 Israel's Creator and your King.

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 This is what the Lord says,

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 He who made a way through the sea,

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 it's going back to Exodus,

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 He who made a way through the sea,

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 a path through the mighty waters,

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 who drew out the chariots and horses,

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 the army and reinforcements together,

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 and they lay there, never to rise again,

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 extinguished, snuffed out like a wick.

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 Forget the former things,

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 don't dwell on the past.

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 See, I'm doing a new thing.

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 Now it springs up, do you not perceive it?

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 I am making a way in the desert

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 and streams in the wasteland.

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 This is God's Word.

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 Happy New Year.

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 Happy New Year.

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 Those of you who stayed up till midnight and beyond

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 might be reminded of the words of a journalist

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 called Bill Vaughn.

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 He said,

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 Optimists, stay till midnight

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 to see the New Year in.

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 Pessimists, stay till midnight

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 to make sure the old year leaves.

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 Throughout the world,

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 the New Year begins on the 1st of January,

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 and the month January

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 is named after a Roman God,

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 the Roman God Janus.

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 He is a two-headed God.

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 One head looks back to the past,

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 the past months,

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 and the other looks forward to the New Year.

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 I don't know how you're feeling this morning.

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 Are you looking back at 201

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 with joy, with relief, or with regret?

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 Or are you looking like what Bruce Springsteen

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 would call the old glory days?

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 Or are you looking forward to a new day,

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 to a new year,

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 where much awaits us?

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 But in the Roman picture of Janus,

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 there's always a struggle.

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 One wants to look ahead,

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 and the other wants to look backward.

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 There is that eternal tension, as it were.

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 But today, as we gather here,

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 we want to ask ourselves a question.

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 What is God's Word for us this year?

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 And I'd like us to turn to the passage

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 that was read for us,

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 to Philippians chapter 3.

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 And God's Word for us for this year is this.

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 In Philippians 3, verse 13,

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 we read the words of the Apostle.

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 Paul was using the imagery of a race.

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 And to be a winner, to be a champion,

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 you have to have a very distinct ambition.

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 His ambition was to be a gold medalist.

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 In his day, it was the crown of a laurel wreath.

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 But for us today, in the Olympics,

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 and this is Olympics year,

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 it is a gold medal.

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 And the Apostle Paul is saying,

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 I want to win that medal.

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 That is my ambition.

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 That is my goal.

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 One thing I do.

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 There's a sense of priority and passion.

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 And to do this, the Apostle Paul tells us,

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 we have to do the following things.

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 We have to forget what is behind.

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 We have to strain forwards to what is ahead.

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 And this is the language of an athlete

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 who sees the finishing line,

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 who sees the tape,

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 and he just goes forward

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 to be the first to reach that particular goal and marker.

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 And then also, to look at the prize.

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 The prize for which God has called me heavenwards

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 in Christ Jesus.

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 There's a prize to be won and to be awarded.

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 And God is going to give those who complete

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 that race that glorious prize.

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 But now let's look at four things

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 that we need to learn this morning.

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 The first is forgetting.

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 Forgetting, says Paul,

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 the things that are behind.

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 Our minds hold powerful memory banks.

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 We have a sense of history.

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 We remember, we recollect things that happened to us

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 in past weeks, months, and even years.

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 How can we forget?

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 What do we forget?

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 And we might even ask ourselves,

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 is it right to forget?

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 Because this morning,

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 as we celebrated communion,

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 we are to remember,

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 to remember the Lord.

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 Then when you read the Old Testament,

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 you find that time and time again,

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 we are told not to forget

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 the mighty things that God has done,

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 but always to remember.

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 And if you look at Deuteronomy, for example,

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 there God was saying,

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 remember you were once slaves,

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 remember how I parted the waters of the Red Sea,

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 remember how I brought you to the Promised Land,

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 remember, remember, don't forget.

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 But here, the Apostle Paul was not talking about

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 the great things that God has done.

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 Of course, as Christians,

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 we want to look back

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 and see the mighty actions of God

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 and say,

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 Hallelujah!

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 We praise God,

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 the Lord has done great things for us,

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 and we rejoice,

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 we are glad we should do that.

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 But there are some things

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 that has to be forgotten.

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 What are these things?

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 For the Apostle Paul,

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 it was his past life.

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 Before he met Jesus,

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 or in the words of Philippians 3,

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 before Jesus took hold of him,

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 apprehended him,

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 grasped him,

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 before that marvellous experience,

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 that total change of direction,

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 Paul was banking on a lot of things of the past.

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 And in Philippians 3,

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 from the metaphor of a race,

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 he now employs the metaphor of the accountancy world.

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 He looks at life's ledger,

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 and he begins to see things very differently

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 once he had met the living Jesus Christ.

00:15:14.339 --> 00:15:16.159
 Paul, as some of us know,

00:15:16.519 --> 00:15:17.699
 was a Pharisee,

00:15:18.279 --> 00:15:20.099
 a man who was very religious,

00:15:21.099 --> 00:15:21.599
 a leader,

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:24.159
 and he was even persecuting the church.

00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:24.839
 Why?

00:15:25.159 --> 00:15:28.299
 Because in his old spiritual perspective,

00:15:28.719 --> 00:15:31.059
 he was putting confidence in the flesh.

00:15:31.360 --> 00:15:31.879
 Verse 3.

00:15:32.399 --> 00:15:34.659
 That was Paul's way of living.

00:15:35.199 --> 00:15:36.740
 Life in the flesh.

00:15:37.079 --> 00:15:38.679
 The do-it-yourself religion.

00:15:38.679 --> 00:15:42.419
 And then he begins to look at his old life,

00:15:42.739 --> 00:15:45.879
 and he begins to see what he thought were assets,

00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.500
 what were gains,

00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.459
 what were profit.

00:15:48.979 --> 00:15:50.079
 And so in this ledger,

00:15:50.500 --> 00:15:52.519
 in this accountancy spreadsheet,

00:15:52.859 --> 00:15:53.219
 he says,

00:15:53.220 --> 00:15:54.220
 in the past,

00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:57.320
 I gloried in my ancestry,

00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.379
 my racial roots,

00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:02.180
 and also my religious background,

00:16:02.580 --> 00:16:04.259
 circumcised on the eighth day,

00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:05.740
 of the people of Israel,

00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:07.220
 of the tribe of Benjamin,

00:16:07.500 --> 00:16:09.100
 a Hebrew of Hebrews.

00:16:09.460 --> 00:16:10.920
 I'm not a mixed-up kid.

00:16:11.259 --> 00:16:13.060
 I'm 100% pure,

00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:15.279
 a Hebrew of Hebrews.

00:16:15.779 --> 00:16:16.540
 As to the law,

00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.220
 a Pharisee.

00:16:18.160 --> 00:16:19.019
 As for zeal,

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.620
 persecuting the church,

00:16:20.620 --> 00:16:22.899
 as for legalistic righteousness,

00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:24.399
 faultless.

00:16:25.240 --> 00:16:25.720
 Wow.

00:16:26.279 --> 00:16:28.460
 Here was a man who knew the law,

00:16:28.580 --> 00:16:29.200
 the Jewish law,

00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:29.759
 the Torah,

00:16:30.200 --> 00:16:33.539
 and realized that there were 365 prohibitions,

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:38.120
 and 248 commands.

00:16:38.360 --> 00:16:39.659
 He kept all these things.

00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:40.820
 As to the law,

00:16:41.159 --> 00:16:41.620
 righteous.

00:16:42.179 --> 00:16:43.240
 And he gloried in it.

00:16:43.539 --> 00:16:45.879
 And he competed in this race of the law,

00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:48.320
 with many, many other Jewish believers.

00:16:48.320 --> 00:16:50.660
 And he was streets ahead,

00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.340
 of many of his competitors,

00:16:52.660 --> 00:16:53.420
 and rivals.

00:16:53.760 --> 00:16:54.200
 He thought,

00:16:54.340 --> 00:16:54.960
 I made it.

00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.600
 And then one day,

00:16:56.900 --> 00:16:57.960
 when he met Jesus,

00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.460
 everything changed.

00:16:59.879 --> 00:17:01.520
 There was a great turnaround,

00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:04.039
 a mighty reversal.

00:17:04.840 --> 00:17:05.900
 What was profit,

00:17:06.380 --> 00:17:07.320
 became loss.

00:17:08.559 --> 00:17:10.480
 What was so wonderful,

00:17:10.680 --> 00:17:11.400
 the assets,

00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:13.019
 became liabilities,

00:17:13.500 --> 00:17:14.220
 and debts.

00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:16.880
 And Paul was saying,

00:17:17.180 --> 00:17:18.940
 when Jesus found me,

00:17:19.500 --> 00:17:21.279
 or when I committed my life to him,

00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:23.779
 when I really connected with him,

00:17:24.539 --> 00:17:26.559
 I saw life quite differently.

00:17:27.100 --> 00:17:27.900
 Once upon a time,

00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:28.480
 it was do,

00:17:28.680 --> 00:17:29.000
 do,

00:17:29.200 --> 00:17:29.500
 do.

00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:31.299
 And in my flesh,

00:17:31.420 --> 00:17:33.140
 I tried to attempt everything I can,

00:17:33.140 --> 00:17:34.000
 for God.

00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:35.680
 And I was so religious.

00:17:36.839 --> 00:17:39.180
 You cannot fault me,

00:17:39.500 --> 00:17:40.600
 for my sincerity,

00:17:41.079 --> 00:17:42.559
 and for my religiosity.

00:17:43.399 --> 00:17:43.799
 And yet,

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:44.740
 Paul realized,

00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:45.819
 that all these things,

00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.159
 were in the wrong direction,

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.919
 it was totally worthless.

00:17:49.480 --> 00:17:50.779
 And once he knew Jesus Christ,

00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:51.139
 he says,

00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:52.079
 I found it,

00:17:52.679 --> 00:17:54.220
 incomparable,

00:17:54.599 --> 00:17:55.539
 knowing this Jesus.

00:17:56.119 --> 00:17:57.980
 He's all in all to me.

00:17:58.179 --> 00:17:58.899
 He's the pearl,

00:17:59.099 --> 00:18:00.059
 of great price.

00:18:00.559 --> 00:18:01.700
 And everything else,

00:18:01.839 --> 00:18:02.799
 my past heritage,

00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:04.659
 my legal righteousness,

00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:06.799
 I count them as loss.

00:18:07.519 --> 00:18:08.960
 He used even a stronger word,

00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:10.679
 a word which I will not repeat to you,

00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:11.500
 in the original.

00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.720
 It's an S word.

00:18:13.120 --> 00:18:14.480
 It's like filth,

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.420
 excrement.

00:18:15.820 --> 00:18:16.660
 It's horrid,

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.860
 when he thinks of the wonder,

00:18:19.100 --> 00:18:20.000
 of knowing Jesus,

00:18:20.420 --> 00:18:21.960
 and all these things pale,

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:23.640
 into insignificance.

00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.000
 So,

00:18:26.400 --> 00:18:27.660
 Paul is trying to say,

00:18:28.140 --> 00:18:29.140
 once upon a time,

00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:30.880
 I competed,

00:18:31.519 --> 00:18:32.660
 in the wrong race.

00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.660
 I was in the wrong arena,

00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:35.740
 the wrong stadium.

00:18:35.740 --> 00:18:37.299
 It was the race,

00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:38.120
 which I thought,

00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:40.819
 could gain me,

00:18:41.140 --> 00:18:41.700
 righteousness,

00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:42.559
 through God.

00:18:42.660 --> 00:18:43.700
 I could get a prize,

00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:45.400
 the reward from him.

00:18:45.579 --> 00:18:47.799
 It was all wrong,

00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:49.380
 completely a mess.

00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:51.200
 Because when I find Christ,

00:18:51.640 --> 00:18:52.880
 there is a new sense,

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:53.839
 of salvation,

00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:54.839
 of understanding,

00:18:55.359 --> 00:18:56.799
 how God deals with me.

00:18:57.099 --> 00:18:58.180
 It's not me attempting,

00:18:58.960 --> 00:18:59.539
 to get him,

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:00.279
 to find him,

00:19:00.579 --> 00:19:01.700
 but in Jesus Christ,

00:19:01.859 --> 00:19:02.720
 God has done,

00:19:03.019 --> 00:19:03.900
 everything for me.

00:19:04.740 --> 00:19:05.580
 Many years ago,

00:19:05.680 --> 00:19:06.900
 there was a religious conference,

00:19:07.060 --> 00:19:07.480
 in England,

00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:09.060
 and this was in Oxford,

00:19:09.220 --> 00:19:09.980
 in the university,

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:12.500
 and different leaders,

00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.680
 of various religions,

00:19:13.840 --> 00:19:15.040
 were proposing,

00:19:15.420 --> 00:19:16.220
 and propounding,

00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.460
 their way,

00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:18.580
 their philosophy,

00:19:19.040 --> 00:19:20.440
 and their tenets of faith.

00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:21.940
 And they were trying,

00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:22.820
 to work out.

00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:24.500
 And somebody asked,

00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:26.240
 the Christian delegation,

00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:27.920
 what is distinctive?

00:19:28.080 --> 00:19:28.759
 What's so special,

00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:29.840
 about your religion?

00:19:30.259 --> 00:19:31.140
 That's not the same,

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.400
 amongst the other,

00:19:32.560 --> 00:19:33.480
 great world religions.

00:19:34.460 --> 00:19:34.940
 And they couldn't,

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.620
 give an answer.

00:19:36.300 --> 00:19:37.040
 And C.S. Lewis,

00:19:37.360 --> 00:19:38.380
 was just passing by.

00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.200
 When he heard,

00:19:39.300 --> 00:19:40.280
 that question being asked,

00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:41.240
 he said simple.

00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:43.160
 And he says,

00:19:43.200 --> 00:19:44.080
 just one word.

00:19:44.300 --> 00:19:45.180
 The big difference,

00:19:45.320 --> 00:19:46.280
 is the word grace.

00:19:48.060 --> 00:19:48.759
 It is God,

00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.880
 accepting us,

00:19:49.960 --> 00:19:50.800
 and as Pastor Tobin,

00:19:50.840 --> 00:19:51.400
 reminds us,

00:19:51.460 --> 00:19:51.900
 not because,

00:19:52.220 --> 00:19:53.019
 we are good enough,

00:19:53.220 --> 00:19:54.180
 because we are terrible,

00:19:54.360 --> 00:19:55.019
 we are bad,

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.280
 we will never be able,

00:19:56.280 --> 00:19:56.740
 to gain,

00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:58.040
 God's commendation,

00:19:58.160 --> 00:19:58.620
 and approval.

00:19:59.019 --> 00:19:59.960
 But God in Christ,

00:20:00.019 --> 00:20:00.540
 did something.

00:20:00.820 --> 00:20:01.920
 He died on the cross,

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:03.040
 to take away,

00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:03.720
 our sins.

00:20:04.359 --> 00:20:04.599
 And,

00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:05.920
 Paul says,

00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.059
 when I found that,

00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:09.000
 and I have a righteousness now,

00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.460
 which is not my own,

00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:11.960
 doing,

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.559
 but which is true faith,

00:20:13.659 --> 00:20:14.460
 in Jesus Christ,

00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:15.599
 I become,

00:20:15.819 --> 00:20:16.460
 totally,

00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:17.420
 a new man.

00:20:17.559 --> 00:20:18.359
 I find myself,

00:20:18.500 --> 00:20:19.460
 having to leave,

00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:20.399
 the old race,

00:20:20.659 --> 00:20:21.659
 the old arena,

00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.779
 and now,

00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.779
 moving on,

00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:26.059
 to a fresh,

00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:27.920
 brand new track,

00:20:28.220 --> 00:20:29.039
 and the race,

00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:29.619
 of life.

00:20:29.619 --> 00:20:30.500
 My value,

00:20:30.619 --> 00:20:31.440
 has changed.

00:20:31.740 --> 00:20:32.420
 I want to forget,

00:20:32.539 --> 00:20:33.159
 the past,

00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:34.460
 the past,

00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:35.819
 ways of trying,

00:20:36.019 --> 00:20:36.599
 to get right,

00:20:36.639 --> 00:20:37.200
 with God.

00:20:37.399 --> 00:20:38.519
 And I'm going to move,

00:20:38.839 --> 00:20:39.139
 forward,

00:20:39.379 --> 00:20:40.000
 and I will not,

00:20:40.119 --> 00:20:40.960
 allow anything,

00:20:41.359 --> 00:20:42.399
 to hinder,

00:20:42.819 --> 00:20:43.180
 me.

00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.379
 What about,

00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.119
 us Christians?

00:20:46.039 --> 00:20:46.659
 Like Paul,

00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.159
 we have to do the same.

00:20:48.619 --> 00:20:49.180
 Even if you're not,

00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:49.960
 a Christian today,

00:20:50.579 --> 00:20:51.659
 maybe you find yourself,

00:20:51.779 --> 00:20:52.859
 running in the wrong race,

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:53.319
 of life.

00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:54.720
 You might be taking part,

00:20:54.779 --> 00:20:55.240
 in all kinds,

00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:55.940
 of competitions,

00:20:56.220 --> 00:20:57.279
 to win cups,

00:20:57.420 --> 00:20:57.980
 and medals,

00:20:58.460 --> 00:20:59.120
 and shields,

00:20:59.240 --> 00:20:59.839
 and so on.

00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.839
 But those things,

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.680
 don't matter.

00:21:02.180 --> 00:21:02.640
 Because,

00:21:02.920 --> 00:21:03.620
 unless,

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:05.480
 you are in Christ Jesus,

00:21:05.799 --> 00:21:06.440
 and have gained,

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.720
 the approval,

00:21:07.920 --> 00:21:09.059
 the blessing of God,

00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:09.920
 and being made right,

00:21:09.980 --> 00:21:10.319
 with Him,

00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:11.500
 you will not be able,

00:21:11.700 --> 00:21:12.460
 to run the grace,

00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:13.700
 the race,

00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:14.900
 that God intends you,

00:21:15.259 --> 00:21:15.660
 to run.

00:21:16.319 --> 00:21:16.720
 Sometimes,

00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:17.519
 for some of us,

00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:18.740
 we might find,

00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:19.940
 as we step,

00:21:20.019 --> 00:21:20.779
 into a new year,

00:21:21.140 --> 00:21:21.880
 we might make,

00:21:21.960 --> 00:21:23.019
 all kinds of resolution,

00:21:23.700 --> 00:21:24.559
 and someone has said,

00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.839
 passing resolution,

00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:26.440
 is like going,

00:21:26.579 --> 00:21:27.159
 through one year,

00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:27.839
 to another,

00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.779
 and we can't keep it.

00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:30.700
 By the way,

00:21:30.819 --> 00:21:31.759
 how many pounds,

00:21:31.839 --> 00:21:32.399
 have you lost,

00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.259
 since you made,

00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:33.879
 the resolution?

00:21:34.359 --> 00:21:35.740
 And how hard,

00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:36.460
 have you worked,

00:21:36.579 --> 00:21:37.779
 and how much exercise,

00:21:37.879 --> 00:21:38.319
 have you done?

00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.460
 And all the things,

00:21:39.500 --> 00:21:40.000
 that you promised,

00:21:40.099 --> 00:21:40.519
 you would do.

00:21:41.019 --> 00:21:41.200
 See,

00:21:41.299 --> 00:21:42.179
 it's not based,

00:21:42.179 --> 00:21:43.599
 on new year resolutions.

00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:44.819
 It's much,

00:21:45.039 --> 00:21:46.240
 much more,

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:46.720
 than that.

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:48.059
 We have to forget,

00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.139
 things that kind of,

00:21:49.700 --> 00:21:50.759
 pull us back,

00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:51.639
 hold us back,

00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:53.059
 from striving,

00:21:53.460 --> 00:21:53.940
 ahead,

00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:54.900
 to know God,

00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.700
 His will,

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:56.660
 His intention,

00:21:56.799 --> 00:21:57.779
 and purpose for us.

00:21:58.700 --> 00:21:59.539
 For some of us,

00:21:59.700 --> 00:22:00.420
 we can live,

00:22:00.539 --> 00:22:01.700
 with past failures,

00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:02.480
 and regrets.

00:22:02.759 --> 00:22:02.940
 We say,

00:22:03.019 --> 00:22:03.500
 oh dear,

00:22:03.920 --> 00:22:04.460
 how I wish,

00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.500
 I didn't do that,

00:22:05.779 --> 00:22:07.059
 I did not make that decision,

00:22:07.400 --> 00:22:08.559
 or said those words.

00:22:09.180 --> 00:22:10.160
 We are ruining,

00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:10.960
 all the things,

00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:11.759
 that we have missed,

00:22:11.920 --> 00:22:12.559
 and we live,

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.720
 a life of regret.

00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:15.000
 And our memory,

00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:16.539
 ties us back,

00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.960
 to our old history,

00:22:18.299 --> 00:22:18.820
 a history,

00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:20.320
 of repeated failure,

00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:21.360
 that relationship,

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:22.120
 was broken,

00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:24.239
 that decision,

00:22:24.699 --> 00:22:25.799
 led me not upwards,

00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:26.839
 but downwards.

00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.939
 And I become so depressed,

00:22:29.299 --> 00:22:30.279
 and we begin to think,

00:22:30.359 --> 00:22:30.759
 oh dear,

00:22:31.159 --> 00:22:31.619
 history,

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:33.159
 always repeats itself.

00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:34.919
 Am I doomed,

00:22:35.299 --> 00:22:36.299
 to go that way?

00:22:37.019 --> 00:22:37.799
 And Paul says,

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:38.139
 no,

00:22:38.219 --> 00:22:39.599
 you forget those things,

00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.319
 you leave them all behind.

00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:43.199
 If you want to press forward,

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.219
 press on,

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.459
 in the race of life,

00:22:45.779 --> 00:22:46.779
 then you have,

00:22:47.000 --> 00:22:48.019
 to forget.

00:22:48.439 --> 00:22:49.219
 All values,

00:22:49.220 --> 00:22:50.160
 have to go.

00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:51.400
 Knowing Christ,

00:22:51.539 --> 00:22:52.339
 leads us,

00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.759
 to a brand new way,

00:22:53.759 --> 00:22:54.279
 of living,

00:22:54.720 --> 00:22:55.319
 and thinking.

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.519
 So God is saying to us,

00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.339
 forget all your failures,

00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:03.079
 all your drawbacks,

00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.299
 all the things,

00:23:04.360 --> 00:23:04.980
 that people have said,

00:23:05.039 --> 00:23:05.779
 you can't do.

00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:06.980
 God is saying,

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:08.579
 this is a new day.

00:23:09.539 --> 00:23:10.220
 Then secondly,

00:23:10.339 --> 00:23:10.980
 in our text,

00:23:11.259 --> 00:23:12.579
 there's also pressing on,

00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:14.000
 or forward pressing.

00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.360
 Paul says,

00:23:15.359 --> 00:23:19.759
 I strain towards what is ahead,

00:23:20.139 --> 00:23:21.740
 I press on towards the goal,

00:23:21.879 --> 00:23:22.199
 the win,

00:23:22.419 --> 00:23:23.819
 the price of which God,

00:23:24.179 --> 00:23:25.479
 has given to me,

00:23:25.679 --> 00:23:26.619
 in Christ Jesus.

00:23:26.959 --> 00:23:29.019
 He was always pressing on,

00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.399
 always looking ahead.

00:23:30.979 --> 00:23:31.719
 As for Christians,

00:23:31.899 --> 00:23:33.259
 we don't want just to look around,

00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.439
 or to look downwards.

00:23:35.419 --> 00:23:36.699
 I once heard,

00:23:37.099 --> 00:23:38.439
 a trapeze artist,

00:23:39.179 --> 00:23:40.219
 saying that the secret,

00:23:40.219 --> 00:23:42.199
 of walking across,

00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:43.259
 a tightrope,

00:23:43.700 --> 00:23:46.039
 is to look at,

00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:47.400
 the finishing post,

00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.900
 or the object,

00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:49.500
 the place,

00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:50.340
 the other side,

00:23:50.440 --> 00:23:51.059
 that you have to cross.

00:23:51.360 --> 00:23:52.559
 So if you are trying to walk,

00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.360
 through,

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.559
 walk on a thin rope,

00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:56.120
 or wire,

00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:58.120
 if you start looking down,

00:23:58.720 --> 00:23:59.720
 from where you are standing,

00:24:00.100 --> 00:24:00.740
 you will fall.

00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.600
 You look down,

00:24:02.039 --> 00:24:02.960
 you get so frightened,

00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:05.019
 and you simply fall.

00:24:05.860 --> 00:24:07.759
 But when the expert,

00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:08.660
 the trapeze,

00:24:09.059 --> 00:24:11.559
 the tightrope walker,

00:24:11.559 --> 00:24:12.399
 just goes straight,

00:24:12.460 --> 00:24:13.220
 looking at his goal,

00:24:13.460 --> 00:24:14.419
 I'm going to walk there,

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.000
 walk there,

00:24:15.220 --> 00:24:16.079
 till I get across,

00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:17.159
 then he's able,

00:24:17.419 --> 00:24:19.259
 to achieve his goal.

00:24:19.639 --> 00:24:20.460
 So Paul is saying,

00:24:20.559 --> 00:24:21.679
 we have to press forward,

00:24:21.899 --> 00:24:22.879
 to look at the marker,

00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:25.899
 to look at the goal itself.

00:24:26.220 --> 00:24:27.299
 If we look downward,

00:24:27.460 --> 00:24:28.319
 or around us,

00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.299
 we're like Peter.

00:24:29.799 --> 00:24:30.440
 Remember Peter,

00:24:30.700 --> 00:24:31.539
 when he saw Jesus,

00:24:31.619 --> 00:24:32.399
 walking on water,

00:24:33.019 --> 00:24:33.440
 Jesus said,

00:24:33.539 --> 00:24:33.759
 okay,

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:34.899
 if you want to join me,

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:35.919
 jump out.

00:24:36.399 --> 00:24:37.059
 So Peter,

00:24:37.579 --> 00:24:38.240
 jumped out,

00:24:38.359 --> 00:24:38.879
 he had hope,

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:40.299
 that he could stay afloat,

00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.319
 and walk on water.

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.500
 He had faith,

00:24:42.579 --> 00:24:43.519
 as he looked at Jesus.

00:24:44.159 --> 00:24:44.579
 And then,

00:24:44.639 --> 00:24:45.779
 when he looked at the waves,

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.579
 what happened?

00:24:47.319 --> 00:24:48.440
 Fear came in,

00:24:48.759 --> 00:24:49.680
 and he sank.

00:24:50.619 --> 00:24:51.519
 In the same way too,

00:24:52.299 --> 00:24:53.599
 if we want to walk,

00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:55.220
 the way that God wants us to walk,

00:24:55.319 --> 00:24:57.720
 is not just looking at people around us,

00:24:58.139 --> 00:24:59.119
 or downwards,

00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.279
 with all our fear,

00:25:00.639 --> 00:25:01.480
 and our phobia,

00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:03.200
 but to look at him,

00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:03.779
 the author,

00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:04.839
 and finisher,

00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:06.019
 of our faith.

00:25:06.019 --> 00:25:08.259
 So we want to face the future,

00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.599
 looking forward.

00:25:10.019 --> 00:25:11.619
 We want to keep on running straight,

00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:12.200
 and never,

00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:12.720
 as it were,

00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.700
 to look back.

00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:15.400
 In May,

00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.859
 1974,

00:25:18.299 --> 00:25:22.779
 in May,

00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:25.480
 1954,

00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:26.720
 the,

00:25:26.740 --> 00:25:30.819
 one mile record was broken,

00:25:31.200 --> 00:25:32.240
 by Roger Bannister.

00:25:32.379 --> 00:25:33.639
 He was then a medical student.

00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.600
 At that time,

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.800
 nobody ran the mile,

00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:37.300
 for under four minutes.

00:25:38.220 --> 00:25:39.000
 And Roger Bannister,

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.920
 was the first one,

00:25:40.180 --> 00:25:41.280
 to cross that line.

00:25:42.020 --> 00:25:42.600
 And by the way,

00:25:42.820 --> 00:25:43.460
 we met him,

00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:44.000
 saw him,

00:25:44.220 --> 00:25:45.060
 when he was master,

00:25:45.240 --> 00:25:46.240
 of Pembroke College,

00:25:46.300 --> 00:25:47.100
 in Oxford.

00:25:47.360 --> 00:25:48.180
 Some years after,

00:25:48.340 --> 00:25:49.800
 he had accomplished that,

00:25:49.880 --> 00:25:51.259
 so we had met him personally,

00:25:51.520 --> 00:25:52.340
 name dropping again.

00:25:53.480 --> 00:25:53.940
 And,

00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:55.820
 Roger Bannister,

00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.580
 was hailed,

00:25:56.700 --> 00:25:57.280
 as a hero,

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:58.500
 because he broke,

00:25:58.660 --> 00:25:59.600
 the four minute mile,

00:26:00.020 --> 00:26:00.560
 record.

00:26:01.259 --> 00:26:02.360
 But within two weeks,

00:26:02.360 --> 00:26:03.560
 an Australian athlete,

00:26:03.640 --> 00:26:05.360
 by the name of John Landy,

00:26:05.800 --> 00:26:06.660
 clipped the record,

00:26:06.780 --> 00:26:08.500
 by 1.4 seconds.

00:26:10.080 --> 00:26:10.660
 And since then,

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.460
 many people have,

00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:12.460
 ran the mile,

00:26:12.560 --> 00:26:13.380
 under four minutes.

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.640
 But in August,

00:26:14.820 --> 00:26:15.500
 1954,

00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.400
 there was,

00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:18.280
 billed as the greatest race,

00:26:18.340 --> 00:26:19.180
 on earth then.

00:26:19.720 --> 00:26:20.560
 It was the race,

00:26:20.600 --> 00:26:21.680
 between Roger Bannister,

00:26:22.120 --> 00:26:23.180
 and John Landy.

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.720
 So as they were running,

00:26:25.900 --> 00:26:26.820
 as they were going back,

00:26:26.820 --> 00:26:27.960
 towards the home stretch,

00:26:28.440 --> 00:26:28.860
 Landy,

00:26:28.860 --> 00:26:30.720
 was a few yards ahead.

00:26:31.320 --> 00:26:31.759
 And when he was,

00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.460
 a few yards ahead,

00:26:32.540 --> 00:26:33.560
 he couldn't find his rival,

00:26:33.920 --> 00:26:34.940
 anywhere near him,

00:26:35.200 --> 00:26:35.940
 and he began to say,

00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:36.820
 where is John?

00:26:37.020 --> 00:26:37.820
 Where is Landy?

00:26:38.040 --> 00:26:39.060
 And he began to look back.

00:26:39.520 --> 00:26:40.340
 And when he looked back,

00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.700
 Roger Bannister,

00:26:41.920 --> 00:26:43.360
 streaked past him.

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.460
 You want to be a gold medalist,

00:26:45.500 --> 00:26:46.220
 you don't look back.

00:26:46.560 --> 00:26:47.300
 You look forward,

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.820
 until you have crossed the line,

00:26:49.160 --> 00:26:50.000
 and complete,

00:26:50.340 --> 00:26:51.440
 that race.

00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.200
 When you have pressed,

00:26:52.480 --> 00:26:53.040
 the tape,

00:26:53.240 --> 00:26:54.100
 then you are the winner.

00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:54.759
 So,

00:26:55.020 --> 00:26:56.440
 there's always a pressing on,

00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:56.980
 forgetting,

00:26:57.580 --> 00:26:58.220
 pressing on,

00:26:58.220 --> 00:26:59.100
 or pressing forward.

00:26:59.099 --> 00:27:00.000
 And then,

00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:01.119
 there's also a finishing.

00:27:02.319 --> 00:27:02.519
 Now,

00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:03.779
 many people think,

00:27:03.879 --> 00:27:04.639
 that the Christian life,

00:27:04.719 --> 00:27:05.500
 is like a sprint,

00:27:05.939 --> 00:27:07.559
 a hundred meter dash,

00:27:07.679 --> 00:27:09.539
 or a two hundred meter race.

00:27:10.019 --> 00:27:10.339
 No.

00:27:11.019 --> 00:27:11.959
 The Christian life,

00:27:12.379 --> 00:27:13.319
 the race of life,

00:27:13.439 --> 00:27:14.159
 is a marathon.

00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.559
 It's a long haul.

00:27:17.879 --> 00:27:19.159
 It takes distance.

00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:20.740
 It requires training,

00:27:21.139 --> 00:27:22.039
 and discipline.

00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.500
 And I'm reminded,

00:27:23.700 --> 00:27:24.139
 of the words,

00:27:24.200 --> 00:27:25.220
 of one of China's,

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:26.480
 greatest pastors,

00:27:26.940 --> 00:27:27.539
 Wang Mingtao.

00:27:28.159 --> 00:27:28.879
 And Wang Mingtao,

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.619
 once said,

00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:32.659
 many have good beginnings,

00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:36.200
 but few have good endings.

00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:38.740
 Many have good beginnings.

00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.099
 And we see,

00:27:40.519 --> 00:27:42.079
 that in the church,

00:27:42.759 --> 00:27:43.599
 once upon a time,

00:27:43.659 --> 00:27:44.339
 there were many people,

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.299
 who trusted Jesus,

00:27:45.440 --> 00:27:46.440
 same time as I was.

00:27:46.639 --> 00:27:47.700
 And they were outstanding,

00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:48.440
 they were brilliant,

00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:50.279
 and they had so much potential,

00:27:50.619 --> 00:27:51.559
 and so much gifts.

00:27:52.039 --> 00:27:52.960
 But then they fell.

00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:54.000
 They fell.

00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:55.440
 They never made it.

00:27:55.819 --> 00:27:56.680
 So many Christians,

00:27:56.879 --> 00:27:57.960
 may have good beginnings,

00:27:58.899 --> 00:28:00.799
 and Wang Mingtao warns us,

00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:02.940
 few have good endings.

00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.799
 I want to have good beginning,

00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.720
 I want to have a good ending,

00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.579
 and I also want to have a good continuing.

00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.879
 Say amen to that?

00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:10.839
 Amen.

00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:11.659
 We want to do that,

00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:12.099
 don't we?

00:28:12.099 --> 00:28:13.339
 We want to run,

00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:15.180
 the race of life that way.

00:28:15.599 --> 00:28:16.039
 But you know,

00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:16.920
 sometimes,

00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.480
 because of indiscipline,

00:28:20.200 --> 00:28:21.859
 because of just one failure,

00:28:22.039 --> 00:28:23.240
 everything can go wrong.

00:28:24.119 --> 00:28:24.319
 Now,

00:28:24.399 --> 00:28:24.980
 some of you know,

00:28:25.079 --> 00:28:26.200
 that I love to watch soccer.

00:28:26.759 --> 00:28:29.839
 And I like to imagine myself,

00:28:29.920 --> 00:28:30.539
 as the coach,

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.119
 and so on.

00:28:31.440 --> 00:28:32.480
 And many of us,

00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:33.240
 might remember,

00:28:33.899 --> 00:28:35.139
 a final,

00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:36.180
 in 2006,

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:37.220
 World Cup final,

00:28:37.500 --> 00:28:38.359
 between France,

00:28:38.500 --> 00:28:39.119
 and Italy.

00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:40.659
 And what happened?

00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:42.980
 Extra time,

00:28:43.319 --> 00:28:44.799
 the captain of the French team,

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:45.500
 Zindani,

00:28:45.500 --> 00:28:46.619
 Zindani,

00:28:46.900 --> 00:28:47.759
 what happened to him?

00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.359
 Because,

00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:48.980
 Materazzi,

00:28:49.220 --> 00:28:51.900
 the Italian soccer player,

00:28:52.019 --> 00:28:53.440
 said something not very pleasant,

00:28:53.940 --> 00:28:54.980
 he headbutted him.

00:28:56.019 --> 00:28:56.259
 Now,

00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:58.940
 Zindani was the world's top player,

00:28:59.259 --> 00:28:59.940
 in his day.

00:29:00.180 --> 00:29:01.539
 It took him 15 years,

00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:03.660
 to be the world's best soccer player,

00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:05.619
 the captain of the French team.

00:29:06.419 --> 00:29:07.179
 And one,

00:29:07.899 --> 00:29:08.839
 action like that,

00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:10.779
 resulted in,

00:29:12.000 --> 00:29:13.119
 he's getting the red card.

00:29:13.479 --> 00:29:14.379
 He was sent off.

00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.899
 And it became infamous.

00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.459
 And,

00:29:16.619 --> 00:29:17.619
 many people remember,

00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:19.179
 the 2006,

00:29:19.319 --> 00:29:20.399
 World Cup final,

00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.259
 as the day,

00:29:21.339 --> 00:29:22.439
 when the captain of France,

00:29:22.500 --> 00:29:23.519
 was sent off.

00:29:25.259 --> 00:29:25.939
 Isn't that,

00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.679
 a parable?

00:29:27.679 --> 00:29:28.679
 For many of us,

00:29:28.779 --> 00:29:30.059
 we might begin very well,

00:29:30.500 --> 00:29:31.399
 keen Christians,

00:29:31.400 --> 00:29:31.860
 you know,

00:29:31.940 --> 00:29:33.360
 we can join the choir,

00:29:33.680 --> 00:29:35.259
 we can take part in this or that,

00:29:35.360 --> 00:29:36.980
 and we even serve as deacons,

00:29:37.060 --> 00:29:37.540
 and elders.

00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:39.060
 But,

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.660
 one,

00:29:43.060 --> 00:29:43.660
 action,

00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.360
 where we deny,

00:29:45.640 --> 00:29:46.259
 our integrity,

00:29:46.860 --> 00:29:47.540
 our faith,

00:29:48.220 --> 00:29:48.780
 what God,

00:29:49.160 --> 00:29:49.759
 stands for,

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.680
 could lead us,

00:29:51.040 --> 00:29:51.340
 into,

00:29:51.740 --> 00:29:52.259
 great,

00:29:52.980 --> 00:29:53.519
 disaster.

00:29:54.100 --> 00:29:54.340
 So,

00:29:54.460 --> 00:29:54.720
 here,

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.480
 is a,

00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:55.960
 a great,

00:29:56.060 --> 00:29:56.980
 great challenge for us.

00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.820
 We must learn,

00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.560
 to finish well.

00:29:59.720 --> 00:30:00.360
 Many people,

00:30:00.359 --> 00:30:01.759
 have good beginnings,

00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:03.519
 few have good endings.

00:30:04.099 --> 00:30:04.619
 I'm reminded,

00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:04.939
 too,

00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:05.459
 of,

00:30:05.519 --> 00:30:06.439
 someone,

00:30:06.699 --> 00:30:08.019
 whom I respect greatly,

00:30:08.419 --> 00:30:08.879
 Billy Graham.

00:30:09.599 --> 00:30:10.399
 He's a man,

00:30:10.519 --> 00:30:11.079
 of,

00:30:11.139 --> 00:30:12.759
 outstanding character,

00:30:13.139 --> 00:30:13.839
 and he,

00:30:14.039 --> 00:30:15.379
 has done so many things,

00:30:15.459 --> 00:30:16.259
 for God's kingdom.

00:30:17.019 --> 00:30:17.619
 When Billy,

00:30:17.939 --> 00:30:18.899
 came into the forefront,

00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.199
 of his ministry,

00:30:20.639 --> 00:30:21.599
 there were two other men.

00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:22.439
 In fact,

00:30:22.679 --> 00:30:23.519
 they were more brilliant,

00:30:23.519 --> 00:30:24.139
 than him.

00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.000
 They were more able,

00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:25.639
 than him.

00:30:25.959 --> 00:30:26.419
 One of them,

00:30:26.500 --> 00:30:27.519
 was called Charles Templeton.

00:30:28.119 --> 00:30:28.799
 He became,

00:30:29.159 --> 00:30:29.799
 a reporter,

00:30:29.799 --> 00:30:30.859
 and,

00:30:30.940 --> 00:30:32.779
 he did a great job,

00:30:32.899 --> 00:30:33.720
 and was promoted.

00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:34.240
 He became,

00:30:34.339 --> 00:30:35.720
 a multi-millanair,

00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.519
 and so on.

00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.200
 But,

00:30:37.419 --> 00:30:38.599
 he began to compromise,

00:30:39.000 --> 00:30:39.700
 with his faith.

00:30:42.159 --> 00:30:42.619
 Then,

00:30:42.659 --> 00:30:43.440
 there was another man,

00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:45.159
 who was also,

00:30:45.279 --> 00:30:46.419
 a contemporary of Billy,

00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.299
 because three of them,

00:30:47.440 --> 00:30:48.279
 were working together,

00:30:48.399 --> 00:30:49.220
 in Youth for Christ,

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.119
 a wonderful,

00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:51.039
 organization,

00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.079
 for young people.

00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.559
 And this third man,

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:56.000
 he rose to fame,

00:30:56.059 --> 00:30:56.720
 he was preaching,

00:30:57.059 --> 00:30:58.579
 even more powerfully,

00:30:58.879 --> 00:30:59.379
 more ably,

00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.159
 than Billy Graham,

00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:00.659
 himself.

00:31:01.460 --> 00:31:01.919
 And then,

00:31:02.119 --> 00:31:03.220
 he began to compromise,

00:31:03.379 --> 00:31:03.819
 with the world.

00:31:04.179 --> 00:31:05.119
 He fell into sin,

00:31:05.419 --> 00:31:06.220
 and before long,

00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.619
 his marriage was broken up,

00:31:07.839 --> 00:31:08.899
 and he died,

00:31:09.619 --> 00:31:10.159
 a pauper,

00:31:10.480 --> 00:31:11.019
 he died,

00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:12.839
 a miserable wreck.

00:31:13.500 --> 00:31:13.779
 So,

00:31:13.839 --> 00:31:14.559
 these three men,

00:31:14.700 --> 00:31:15.579
 they began well.

00:31:15.579 --> 00:31:16.619
 Only one,

00:31:16.939 --> 00:31:19.559
 has continued,

00:31:20.279 --> 00:31:20.679
 and,

00:31:20.740 --> 00:31:22.579
 is glorifying God.

00:31:23.419 --> 00:31:24.460
 The Apostle Paul,

00:31:24.679 --> 00:31:25.159
 when he,

00:31:25.259 --> 00:31:26.279
 was writing towards,

00:31:26.319 --> 00:31:27.480
 the end of his life,

00:31:28.000 --> 00:31:29.759
 in his letter to Timothy,

00:31:30.119 --> 00:31:31.679
 2 Timothy chapter 4,

00:31:32.159 --> 00:31:33.259
 he said these words,

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:33.899
 I,

00:31:34.539 --> 00:31:35.859
 have fought the good fight,

00:31:36.419 --> 00:31:37.859
 I have finished the race,

00:31:38.379 --> 00:31:39.679
 I have kept the faith,

00:31:40.179 --> 00:31:41.720
 now there is in store for me,

00:31:42.059 --> 00:31:43.079
 the crown of righteousness,

00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.259
 which the Lord,

00:31:44.460 --> 00:31:45.339
 the righteous judge,

00:31:45.339 --> 00:31:46.699
 will award to me,

00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:47.459
 on that day,

00:31:47.980 --> 00:31:49.179
 and not only to me,

00:31:49.299 --> 00:31:50.279
 but also to all,

00:31:50.619 --> 00:31:51.459
 who have longed,

00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.559
 for his appearing.

00:31:53.139 --> 00:31:53.480
 I,

00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:54.980
 have fought the good fight,

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:56.939
 I have finished the race,

00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:57.659
 until,

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:59.500
 we cross the finishing line.

00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:00.859
 There is no assurance,

00:32:01.199 --> 00:32:02.079
 that we can make it,

00:32:02.339 --> 00:32:02.879
 completely.

00:32:03.220 --> 00:32:03.539
 Therefore,

00:32:03.959 --> 00:32:04.639
 we need,

00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.659
 God's grace,

00:32:05.959 --> 00:32:06.419
 especially,

00:32:06.899 --> 00:32:07.379
 when we want,

00:32:07.539 --> 00:32:08.019
 to finish.

00:32:08.399 --> 00:32:09.439
 And how do we finish,

00:32:09.439 --> 00:32:10.179
 that race well?

00:32:10.559 --> 00:32:11.159
 The author,

00:32:11.599 --> 00:32:13.659
 of the epistle to Hebrews,

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.299
 tells us,

00:32:14.579 --> 00:32:15.319
 only when we look,

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:16.000
 look to Jesus,

00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.399
 looking to Jesus,

00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.299
 the author,

00:32:18.740 --> 00:32:19.500
 and the finisher,

00:32:19.939 --> 00:32:20.839
 of our race.

00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.000
 But then,

00:32:22.240 --> 00:32:23.279
 I want to move on,

00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:24.579
 by asking ourselves,

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.379
 another question.

00:32:26.379 --> 00:32:28.019
 What do we focus on?

00:32:28.259 --> 00:32:29.240
 How can we run,

00:32:29.339 --> 00:32:30.139
 the race of life,

00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.119
 and be the winner?

00:32:31.559 --> 00:32:32.519
 How can we make,

00:32:32.599 --> 00:32:33.740
 our life count?

00:32:34.099 --> 00:32:34.539
 Especially,

00:32:34.879 --> 00:32:36.279
 as we stand today,

00:32:36.279 --> 00:32:37.740
 on the 1st of January,

00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:39.159
 2011.

00:32:39.160 --> 00:32:41.220
 How are we going to make it,

00:32:41.420 --> 00:32:42.120
 successfully,

00:32:42.440 --> 00:32:43.560
 to the very end?

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:44.440
 And I believe,

00:32:44.540 --> 00:32:45.720
 the key is found,

00:32:46.060 --> 00:32:47.279
 in our text,

00:32:47.420 --> 00:32:48.200
 in our passage,

00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:49.100
 that we have read,

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:49.640
 this morning.

00:32:50.779 --> 00:32:51.300
 Philippians,

00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:52.140
 chapter 3,

00:32:52.420 --> 00:32:53.120
 verse 10.

00:32:53.840 --> 00:32:55.180
 Here was Paul's goal.

00:32:55.759 --> 00:32:56.720
 Here was his ambition.

00:32:57.440 --> 00:32:59.000
 I want to know,

00:32:59.340 --> 00:32:59.740
 Christ.

00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:01.540
 To know him personally,

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:01.860
 not,

00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:03.360
 to know about,

00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.120
 him.

00:33:04.199 --> 00:33:05.079
 I live in England,

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.279
 Buckingham Palace,

00:33:06.379 --> 00:33:07.239
 is just over a mile,

00:33:07.399 --> 00:33:08.259
 from where I live.

00:33:08.659 --> 00:33:09.739
 I read and seen,

00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:10.699
 many pictures,

00:33:10.919 --> 00:33:11.819
 portraits of the queen,

00:33:12.039 --> 00:33:13.139
 but I've never met her.

00:33:13.379 --> 00:33:14.339
 I do not know,

00:33:14.639 --> 00:33:15.959
 know her personally.

00:33:16.239 --> 00:33:17.399
 I know about her.

00:33:17.719 --> 00:33:18.299
 But here,

00:33:18.939 --> 00:33:19.419
 Christ says,

00:33:19.519 --> 00:33:20.519
 I want to know,

00:33:20.739 --> 00:33:21.719
 to know intimately,

00:33:22.379 --> 00:33:22.819
 Christ,

00:33:23.199 --> 00:33:23.939
 enter into,

00:33:23.939 --> 00:33:25.099
 a personal,

00:33:25.379 --> 00:33:26.279
 intimate relationship,

00:33:26.739 --> 00:33:27.000
 with him.

00:33:27.339 --> 00:33:27.899
 And the power,

00:33:28.000 --> 00:33:28.639
 of his resurrection,

00:33:29.199 --> 00:33:29.979
 and the fellowship,

00:33:30.439 --> 00:33:31.419
 of sharing,

00:33:31.939 --> 00:33:33.139
 in his suffering.

00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:34.580
 So we need,

00:33:34.780 --> 00:33:35.320
 to learn,

00:33:35.620 --> 00:33:37.280
 how to focus.

00:33:37.880 --> 00:33:38.240
 Focusing,

00:33:38.600 --> 00:33:39.340
 is vital.

00:33:39.500 --> 00:33:40.720
 If we want to complete,

00:33:41.080 --> 00:33:42.300
 the race of life,

00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:44.000
 knowing Jesus.

00:33:44.600 --> 00:33:45.360
 So the question,

00:33:45.700 --> 00:33:46.180
 is this,

00:33:46.280 --> 00:33:47.540
 how are we going,

00:33:47.860 --> 00:33:48.380
 to win,

00:33:48.600 --> 00:33:49.560
 the race of life?

00:33:49.820 --> 00:33:50.400
 How are we going,

00:33:50.400 --> 00:33:51.320
 to make a difference,

00:33:51.460 --> 00:33:51.920
 as we,

00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:53.080
 live,

00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.080
 this year,

00:33:54.580 --> 00:33:55.020
 the year,

00:33:55.200 --> 00:33:56.020
 2012?

00:33:56.880 --> 00:33:57.320
 How are we going,

00:33:57.400 --> 00:33:57.580
 to have,

00:33:57.780 --> 00:33:58.560
 a successful,

00:33:59.020 --> 00:33:59.560
 completion,

00:33:59.740 --> 00:34:00.320
 and ending,

00:34:00.600 --> 00:34:01.240
 to this year?

00:34:01.560 --> 00:34:02.259
 And the answer,

00:34:02.259 --> 00:34:03.460
 is really,

00:34:03.460 --> 00:34:04.980
 by knowing Jesus,

00:34:05.220 --> 00:34:05.879
 knowing him,

00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:06.680
 intimately,

00:34:07.000 --> 00:34:07.559
 knowing him,

00:34:07.779 --> 00:34:08.500
 more and more.

00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:10.599
 And to know Jesus,

00:34:10.699 --> 00:34:11.579
 to know Jesus,

00:34:11.820 --> 00:34:12.300
 spells,

00:34:13.019 --> 00:34:15.699
 T-I-M-E,

00:34:16.260 --> 00:34:17.039
 time.

00:34:17.820 --> 00:34:18.440
 You can't say,

00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:20.320
 I want to be like Jesus,

00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.260
 I want to mature,

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:22.159
 in my Christian faith,

00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.340
 and we wave,

00:34:23.400 --> 00:34:24.539
 a kind of magic wand,

00:34:24.880 --> 00:34:26.019
 and hey presto,

00:34:26.340 --> 00:34:27.079
 we get there.

00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:27.659
 No.

00:34:27.659 --> 00:34:30.199
 we have to learn,

00:34:30.500 --> 00:34:31.440
 to walk with him,

00:34:31.759 --> 00:34:32.980
 and to run with him,

00:34:33.179 --> 00:34:34.539
 and to know him,

00:34:34.879 --> 00:34:35.440
 daily,

00:34:35.679 --> 00:34:36.719
 more and more.

00:34:36.920 --> 00:34:37.299
 There is,

00:34:37.539 --> 00:34:38.159
 in a sense,

00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.299
 a desire,

00:34:39.659 --> 00:34:41.359
 to grow close to him,

00:34:41.719 --> 00:34:43.079
 through daily discipline.

00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:43.879
 So,

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:44.759
 if we want,

00:34:44.759 --> 00:34:46.440
 to finish well,

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.659
 we have to be,

00:34:47.659 --> 00:34:48.359
 focusing,

00:34:48.799 --> 00:34:49.839
 on our relationship,

00:34:50.279 --> 00:34:51.399
 with Jesus Christ.

00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:52.159
 It's only,

00:34:52.299 --> 00:34:53.079
 when we know him,

00:34:53.879 --> 00:34:55.119
 and enjoy his friendship,

00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:56.319
 that we are able,

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.219
 to grow,

00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.539
 and also,

00:34:58.980 --> 00:35:00.000
 that his friendship,

00:35:00.359 --> 00:35:01.159
 would touch,

00:35:01.659 --> 00:35:02.920
 and change us,

00:35:03.179 --> 00:35:03.839
 completely.

00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:04.739
 So,

00:35:04.859 --> 00:35:05.719
 it's very important,

00:35:05.859 --> 00:35:06.900
 that we understand,

00:35:07.259 --> 00:35:08.219
 and know change.

00:35:08.639 --> 00:35:08.759
 Now,

00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:09.579
 once there was,

00:35:09.579 --> 00:35:11.079
 an Irish man,

00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.319
 called Paddy,

00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.219
 most Irish people,

00:35:13.400 --> 00:35:14.400
 are called Paddy,

00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:16.659
 and he was a drunk,

00:35:17.579 --> 00:35:19.119
 and he did all kinds,

00:35:19.139 --> 00:35:19.920
 of terrible things,

00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:21.440
 and whenever he went home,

00:35:21.639 --> 00:35:22.279
 he would kick,

00:35:22.739 --> 00:35:23.779
 the front door down,

00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:24.460
 and his children,

00:35:24.579 --> 00:35:25.059
 his wife,

00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:25.699
 would be,

00:35:25.699 --> 00:35:27.440
 terribly afraid of him,

00:35:27.559 --> 00:35:28.480
 terrified of him.

00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:29.679
 And one night,

00:35:29.759 --> 00:35:30.339
 in the pub,

00:35:30.539 --> 00:35:31.539
 he was marvelously,

00:35:31.799 --> 00:35:32.359
 converted.

00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:33.239
 Jesus,

00:35:33.480 --> 00:35:34.460
 got hold,

00:35:34.819 --> 00:35:35.319
 of him.

00:35:36.599 --> 00:35:37.119
 And then,

00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:38.859
 things began to change.

00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:39.500
 When he went home,

00:35:39.579 --> 00:35:39.940
 that night,

00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.579
 instead of,

00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.960
 kicking down the door,

00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:43.099
 as he normally did,

00:35:43.319 --> 00:35:44.319
 he started to knock.

00:35:45.739 --> 00:35:46.099
 And then,

00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:47.559
 when they opened the door,

00:35:47.739 --> 00:35:48.420
 when he got in,

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:49.559
 the dog beat him,

00:35:49.619 --> 00:35:50.940
 because it didn't recognize him.

00:35:50.940 --> 00:35:55.539
 And when Paddy got in the door,

00:35:56.099 --> 00:35:57.760
 things happened so much,

00:35:57.820 --> 00:35:59.079
 because God,

00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:00.300
 in a wonderful way,

00:36:00.579 --> 00:36:01.200
 has touched,

00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:02.019
 and changed him.

00:36:02.260 --> 00:36:03.019
 And his life,

00:36:03.260 --> 00:36:04.200
 was turned around,

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.139
 completely.

00:36:05.860 --> 00:36:06.200
 Paddy,

00:36:06.380 --> 00:36:07.300
 had met Jesus.

00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:07.860
 Paddy,

00:36:07.860 --> 00:36:08.300
 had gone,

00:36:08.720 --> 00:36:09.440
 to know Jesus,

00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.840
 and he knew Jesus,

00:36:11.000 --> 00:36:12.200
 not only in his person,

00:36:12.460 --> 00:36:12.880
 but also,

00:36:13.099 --> 00:36:13.700
 the power,

00:36:13.699 --> 00:36:14.779
 of his resurrection.

00:36:15.259 --> 00:36:16.539
 He's going to turn his back,

00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.399
 against drink,

00:36:17.899 --> 00:36:19.359
 against violence,

00:36:19.619 --> 00:36:20.279
 to his wife,

00:36:20.439 --> 00:36:21.099
 and family.

00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:23.000
 He was a new man,

00:36:23.359 --> 00:36:24.460
 all together.

00:36:25.779 --> 00:36:26.139
 And then,

00:36:26.319 --> 00:36:27.539
 we need to understand,

00:36:27.799 --> 00:36:28.199
 and know,

00:36:28.299 --> 00:36:28.960
 that this is the,

00:36:29.079 --> 00:36:30.379
 the great power of God,

00:36:30.599 --> 00:36:31.099
 to touch,

00:36:31.379 --> 00:36:33.019
 to transform life.

00:36:33.279 --> 00:36:34.219
 And it comes through,

00:36:34.279 --> 00:36:34.859
 knowing him,

00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:35.719
 loving him,

00:36:35.939 --> 00:36:37.399
 and experiencing the power,

00:36:37.399 --> 00:36:38.759
 of his resurrection.

00:36:39.519 --> 00:36:40.159
 And also,

00:36:40.779 --> 00:36:41.579
 to know something too,

00:36:41.619 --> 00:36:42.339
 of his suffering.

00:36:42.980 --> 00:36:43.599
 Because not all,

00:36:43.699 --> 00:36:44.239
 all life,

00:36:44.359 --> 00:36:44.980
 is sunshine.

00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.659
 There are going to be storms,

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:47.359
 there are going to be,

00:36:47.419 --> 00:36:48.059
 dark clouds,

00:36:48.359 --> 00:36:48.799
 there are going to be,

00:36:48.879 --> 00:36:49.460
 testings,

00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:50.399
 and trials.

00:36:51.019 --> 00:36:51.679
 But it's only,

00:36:51.859 --> 00:36:52.859
 to trials,

00:36:53.139 --> 00:36:54.079
 that our character,

00:36:54.500 --> 00:36:55.319
 godly character,

00:36:55.839 --> 00:36:56.279
 emerges.

00:36:56.839 --> 00:36:57.679
 Someone has said,

00:36:57.839 --> 00:36:59.699
 only crushed spices,

00:37:00.419 --> 00:37:02.079
 smell nice.

00:37:03.319 --> 00:37:03.899
 And sometimes,

00:37:04.079 --> 00:37:04.699
 when we keep,

00:37:04.699 --> 00:37:05.819
 our spice to ourselves,

00:37:05.819 --> 00:37:07.159
 and do not allow God,

00:37:07.279 --> 00:37:07.819
 to break us,

00:37:07.879 --> 00:37:08.779
 to not enter,

00:37:08.939 --> 00:37:09.579
 into his suffering,

00:37:09.699 --> 00:37:10.299
 into his passion,

00:37:10.619 --> 00:37:12.039
 we may not exude,

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:13.719
 the fragrance,

00:37:13.719 --> 00:37:14.539
 of Jesus,

00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:15.440
 in our lives.

00:37:15.699 --> 00:37:16.119
 But when,

00:37:16.199 --> 00:37:17.380
 spice is crushed,

00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:19.159
 a fragrance,

00:37:19.579 --> 00:37:20.159
 is exuded.

00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.420
 And the other thing,

00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:22.619
 I want to call your attention to,

00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:23.139
 is that,

00:37:23.380 --> 00:37:25.099
 chapter,

00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.039
 or part of the chapter,

00:37:26.039 --> 00:37:27.239
 that was read to us,

00:37:27.619 --> 00:37:28.800
 in our reading this morning,

00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:29.699
 from Isaiah,

00:37:30.119 --> 00:37:31.059
 chapter,

00:37:32.059 --> 00:37:34.360
 43.

00:37:34.360 --> 00:37:36.019
 It is a lovely,

00:37:36.180 --> 00:37:36.840
 lovely chapter,

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:37.720
 Isaiah,

00:37:37.880 --> 00:37:38.680
 chapter 43.

00:37:39.380 --> 00:37:39.860
 And here,

00:37:40.000 --> 00:37:40.660
 is a message,

00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:41.539
 for our new year.

00:37:42.280 --> 00:37:43.200
 There the prophet says,

00:37:43.320 --> 00:37:44.660
 forget the former things,

00:37:45.079 --> 00:37:45.880
 do not dwell,

00:37:46.059 --> 00:37:46.800
 on the past,

00:37:47.220 --> 00:37:47.519
 see,

00:37:48.059 --> 00:37:49.059
 I am doing,

00:37:49.160 --> 00:37:49.840
 a new thing.

00:37:50.220 --> 00:37:51.340
 Now it springs up,

00:37:51.640 --> 00:37:52.480
 do you not perceive,

00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.740
 I am making a way,

00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:54.720
 in the desert,

00:37:55.019 --> 00:37:55.940
 and streams,

00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:57.340
 in the wasteland.

00:37:57.900 --> 00:37:58.460
 God,

00:37:58.860 --> 00:37:59.820
 is in the business,

00:37:59.940 --> 00:38:00.500
 of the new.

00:38:01.160 --> 00:38:01.900
 He is going to do,

00:38:02.160 --> 00:38:02.880
 a new thing.

00:38:03.400 --> 00:38:03.960
 Some of us,

00:38:03.980 --> 00:38:04.740
 might be crushed,

00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:06.360
 as we look at the past.

00:38:06.740 --> 00:38:07.400
 We rule,

00:38:07.559 --> 00:38:08.059
 and regret,

00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:09.220
 all our failures,

00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:10.800
 all our dreams,

00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:11.920
 that were not fulfilled,

00:38:12.960 --> 00:38:14.019
 all the brokenness,

00:38:14.119 --> 00:38:15.019
 that happened to us,

00:38:15.119 --> 00:38:16.000
 in the past year.

00:38:16.460 --> 00:38:17.720
 But God is saying to us,

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.680
 don't rule,

00:38:18.940 --> 00:38:19.640
 don't regret,

00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:20.380
 the past year.

00:38:20.720 --> 00:38:21.460
 Look forward,

00:38:21.660 --> 00:38:22.500
 to the new year.

00:38:22.820 --> 00:38:23.360
 Look forward,

00:38:23.360 --> 00:38:23.820
 to me.

00:38:24.019 --> 00:38:24.780
 I am the God,

00:38:24.900 --> 00:38:25.579
 who makes,

00:38:25.920 --> 00:38:27.200
 all things,

00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:28.039
 new.

00:38:28.720 --> 00:38:29.700
 And he is the God,

00:38:29.880 --> 00:38:30.780
 who is going to do,

00:38:31.059 --> 00:38:31.780
 a new thing.

00:38:32.079 --> 00:38:32.720
 And we do not want,

00:38:32.719 --> 00:38:33.099
 to stick,

00:38:33.179 --> 00:38:33.559
 as it were,

00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.559
 with our old tradition.

00:38:35.339 --> 00:38:36.039
 We do not want to,

00:38:36.179 --> 00:38:37.480
 chant as the Anklans do,

00:38:37.779 --> 00:38:38.879
 as it was in the beginning,

00:38:39.199 --> 00:38:39.779
 is now,

00:38:39.939 --> 00:38:41.039
 and ever shall be,

00:38:41.319 --> 00:38:42.159
 or without end.

00:38:42.519 --> 00:38:43.819
 Because our God,

00:38:44.099 --> 00:38:44.699
 is a God,

00:38:44.759 --> 00:38:45.559
 of new beginnings.

00:38:46.359 --> 00:38:46.819
 Our God,

00:38:46.879 --> 00:38:47.339
 is a God,

00:38:47.419 --> 00:38:48.539
 of freshness.

00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:49.399
 Our God,

00:38:49.519 --> 00:38:50.119
 is a God,

00:38:50.119 --> 00:38:51.039
 who leads us,

00:38:51.159 --> 00:38:51.659
 to new,

00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:53.119
 and exciting things,

00:38:53.299 --> 00:38:54.439
 as we walk with him.

00:38:55.000 --> 00:38:55.839
 Because in,

00:38:56.619 --> 00:38:57.839
 the book of Lamentation,

00:38:58.000 --> 00:38:58.379
 we are told,

00:38:58.699 --> 00:38:59.399
 God's love,

00:38:59.779 --> 00:39:01.159
 God's compassion,

00:39:01.159 --> 00:39:01.779
 they are,

00:39:01.779 --> 00:39:02.799
 new,

00:39:03.480 --> 00:39:03.920
 new,

00:39:03.920 --> 00:39:05.359
 every morning.

00:39:05.879 --> 00:39:06.779
 When Jesus came,

00:39:07.059 --> 00:39:07.579
 he was looking,

00:39:07.699 --> 00:39:08.039
 he says,

00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:09.420
 for new wine,

00:39:10.059 --> 00:39:11.179
 in new wineskin.

00:39:11.739 --> 00:39:12.639
 And his new wine,

00:39:12.719 --> 00:39:13.599
 cannot be contained,

00:39:13.960 --> 00:39:15.219
 in all wineskins,

00:39:15.399 --> 00:39:16.119
 of tradition,

00:39:16.420 --> 00:39:17.139
 and the past.

00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:18.440
 God is saying to us,

00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:19.039
 look,

00:39:19.399 --> 00:39:20.339
 for the new.

00:39:20.980 --> 00:39:21.619
 And someone,

00:39:21.960 --> 00:39:22.679
 has said,

00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.500
 that as you look,

00:39:23.719 --> 00:39:25.059
 towards the end times,

00:39:25.359 --> 00:39:26.539
 when Jesus comes again,

00:39:26.619 --> 00:39:27.139
 in glory,

00:39:27.139 --> 00:39:28.400
 the same theme,

00:39:28.480 --> 00:39:28.920
 is repeated,

00:39:29.239 --> 00:39:30.619
 I will make,

00:39:31.259 --> 00:39:32.440
 all things,

00:39:32.799 --> 00:39:33.039
 new.

00:39:33.639 --> 00:39:34.199
 We are now,

00:39:34.279 --> 00:39:35.279
 living in the age,

00:39:35.440 --> 00:39:36.400
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:39:37.039 --> 00:39:37.500
 And I think,

00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:38.059
 of the words,

00:39:38.400 --> 00:39:40.500
 of Marcel Proust,

00:39:40.579 --> 00:39:41.339
 who said these words,

00:39:41.659 --> 00:39:42.139
 the role,

00:39:42.739 --> 00:39:43.259
 the real,

00:39:43.779 --> 00:39:44.920
 voyage,

00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:46.219
 of discovery,

00:39:46.839 --> 00:39:47.460
 consists,

00:39:47.920 --> 00:39:48.920
 not in seeking,

00:39:49.299 --> 00:39:50.279
 new landscapes,

00:39:50.920 --> 00:39:51.480
 but in having,

00:39:51.659 --> 00:39:52.119
 new eyes.

00:39:52.759 --> 00:39:53.539
 Not seeking,

00:39:53.819 --> 00:39:54.379
 new landscapes,

00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.039
 but having,

00:39:55.219 --> 00:39:55.739
 new eyes.

00:39:55.739 --> 00:39:56.699
 And I want to pray,

00:39:56.839 --> 00:39:57.859
 that God will give us,

00:39:58.059 --> 00:39:58.819
 fresh vision,

00:39:59.079 --> 00:39:59.779
 new eyes,

00:40:00.079 --> 00:40:00.659
 to see,

00:40:00.859 --> 00:40:01.759
 what he is doing,

00:40:01.859 --> 00:40:02.719
 in our world today,

00:40:02.879 --> 00:40:03.759
 and also,

00:40:04.239 --> 00:40:04.839
 in the future.

00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.579
 So what is God's word,

00:40:06.719 --> 00:40:07.639
 for us this morning,

00:40:07.859 --> 00:40:08.599
 as we begin,

00:40:08.859 --> 00:40:09.519
 a new year?

00:40:10.179 --> 00:40:10.759
 It is,

00:40:11.279 --> 00:40:11.799
 to forget,

00:40:12.399 --> 00:40:13.399
 the things that have,

00:40:13.439 --> 00:40:14.619
 bogged us down,

00:40:14.899 --> 00:40:15.539
 the things that have,

00:40:15.599 --> 00:40:16.399
 prevented us,

00:40:16.579 --> 00:40:17.259
 from making,

00:40:17.459 --> 00:40:18.679
 our advances,

00:40:19.019 --> 00:40:19.339
 morally,

00:40:19.639 --> 00:40:20.099
 spiritually,

00:40:20.679 --> 00:40:21.079
 and,

00:40:21.299 --> 00:40:22.259
 life's goals,

00:40:22.359 --> 00:40:22.779
 and so on,

00:40:22.779 --> 00:40:24.019
 to forget those things,

00:40:24.399 --> 00:40:25.719
 but to press on,

00:40:25.739 --> 00:40:26.759
 in the race,

00:40:26.779 --> 00:40:27.379
 of life.

00:40:28.039 --> 00:40:28.639
 And when we,

00:40:28.739 --> 00:40:30.199
 go forward,

00:40:30.339 --> 00:40:31.259
 we don't look back,

00:40:31.399 --> 00:40:32.019
 with regret,

00:40:32.219 --> 00:40:33.859
 at past misdeeds,

00:40:34.099 --> 00:40:34.839
 at past sins,

00:40:34.979 --> 00:40:36.119
 we bring them to God,

00:40:36.259 --> 00:40:37.079
 for forgiveness,

00:40:37.479 --> 00:40:38.199
 for clearance,

00:40:38.559 --> 00:40:39.579
 and then we want to,

00:40:39.739 --> 00:40:40.299
 aim well,

00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:41.039
 we want to,

00:40:41.199 --> 00:40:42.319
 end well.

00:40:42.979 --> 00:40:43.839
 We want to look forward,

00:40:44.019 --> 00:40:44.599
 to make sure,

00:40:44.699 --> 00:40:45.419
 that our time,

00:40:45.699 --> 00:40:46.199
 this year,

00:40:46.759 --> 00:40:47.719
 are times that we will,

00:40:47.879 --> 00:40:49.099
 spend with God.

00:40:49.839 --> 00:40:50.479
 Some of us,

00:40:50.639 --> 00:40:51.439
 especially as we live,

00:40:51.439 --> 00:40:52.079
 in Hong Kong,

00:40:52.079 --> 00:40:53.900
 we are renowned,

00:40:53.900 --> 00:40:54.579
 for business,

00:40:55.299 --> 00:40:56.219
 we have no time,

00:40:56.440 --> 00:40:57.559
 so we save for anything,

00:40:57.940 --> 00:40:58.940
 that's not quite true,

00:40:59.559 --> 00:41:00.000
 because,

00:41:00.219 --> 00:41:01.099
 every one of us,

00:41:01.440 --> 00:41:02.159
 can make time,

00:41:02.519 --> 00:41:03.039
 make time,

00:41:03.139 --> 00:41:03.559
 for that,

00:41:03.679 --> 00:41:04.279
 which is precious.

00:41:04.779 --> 00:41:05.659
 If you are courting,

00:41:05.779 --> 00:41:07.039
 supposing you love somebody,

00:41:07.239 --> 00:41:07.940
 very dearly,

00:41:07.960 --> 00:41:08.480
 what happens?

00:41:08.739 --> 00:41:10.440
 You make every excuse possible,

00:41:10.739 --> 00:41:11.579
 just to see her,

00:41:11.659 --> 00:41:11.880
 right?

00:41:12.139 --> 00:41:13.219
 Or just to see him.

00:41:13.639 --> 00:41:14.759
 You may have no time,

00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:16.019
 but you learn,

00:41:16.259 --> 00:41:17.099
 to make time,

00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:18.519
 so too with God.

00:41:19.079 --> 00:41:19.860
 As we go,

00:41:20.739 --> 00:41:22.500
 through 2012,

00:41:23.139 --> 00:41:23.639
 we want to have,

00:41:23.860 --> 00:41:24.639
 time with God,

00:41:24.719 --> 00:41:24.980
 we want to say,

00:41:25.039 --> 00:41:25.320
 God,

00:41:25.519 --> 00:41:26.559
 I want you to have,

00:41:27.460 --> 00:41:28.400
 prior place,

00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:29.079
 in my life,

00:41:29.199 --> 00:41:29.940
 prior claims,

00:41:30.219 --> 00:41:31.119
 on my life.

00:41:31.960 --> 00:41:32.360
 And,

00:41:32.440 --> 00:41:33.780
 in the words of,

00:41:33.920 --> 00:41:34.599
 T.S. Eliot,

00:41:34.759 --> 00:41:35.079
 he says,

00:41:35.159 --> 00:41:36.259
 for last year's words,

00:41:36.739 --> 00:41:38.539
 belong to last year's language,

00:41:39.000 --> 00:41:40.219
 and next year's words,

00:41:40.380 --> 00:41:41.940
 await another voice.

00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:44.139
 And to make an end,

00:41:44.139 --> 00:41:45.199
 is to make,

00:41:45.519 --> 00:41:46.739
 a new beginning.

00:41:47.340 --> 00:41:48.280
 To make an end,

00:41:48.519 --> 00:41:49.179
 is to make,

00:41:49.480 --> 00:41:49.920
 a new,

00:41:50.199 --> 00:41:51.320
 beginning.

00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:52.280
 And Paul says,

00:41:52.380 --> 00:41:52.519
 look,

00:41:52.679 --> 00:41:53.420
 I want to forget,

00:41:53.559 --> 00:41:54.440
 all those things,

00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:55.199
 that are behind us.

00:41:55.380 --> 00:41:56.059
 I want to press,

00:41:56.139 --> 00:41:56.800
 towards the mark,

00:41:57.019 --> 00:41:58.360
 for the high calling of God,

00:41:58.519 --> 00:41:59.380
 in Jesus Christ.

00:41:59.539 --> 00:42:00.300
 I want to run,

00:42:00.440 --> 00:42:00.920
 this race,

00:42:01.039 --> 00:42:01.699
 of life.

00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:02.980
 I want to aim,

00:42:03.199 --> 00:42:04.679
 to please God.

00:42:05.019 --> 00:42:05.500
 And,

00:42:05.900 --> 00:42:07.139
 I want to see,

00:42:07.259 --> 00:42:07.820
 great things,

00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:09.039
 happening to me.

00:42:09.460 --> 00:42:10.320
 And God is saying,

00:42:10.599 --> 00:42:12.059
 to every one of us today,

00:42:12.559 --> 00:42:13.619
 forget former things,

00:42:13.619 --> 00:42:14.480
 the things that have,

00:42:14.739 --> 00:42:15.880
 bogged you,

00:42:16.259 --> 00:42:17.480
 have let you down,

00:42:17.559 --> 00:42:18.079
 and so on.

00:42:18.079 --> 00:42:19.340
 This is a new day.

00:42:19.619 --> 00:42:20.719
 This is a new year.

00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:22.059
 And God is saying to me,

00:42:22.279 --> 00:42:23.460
 run the race of life,

00:42:23.619 --> 00:42:23.980
 with me.

00:42:24.219 --> 00:42:25.179
 Looking to Jesus,

00:42:25.539 --> 00:42:25.880
 author,

00:42:26.239 --> 00:42:27.299
 and finish of your faith.

00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:28.239
 Finish well,

00:42:28.440 --> 00:42:29.599
 and I will be with you.

00:42:29.900 --> 00:42:31.400
 I will strengthen you.

00:42:32.960 --> 00:42:33.759
 I remember,

00:42:34.360 --> 00:42:36.420
 when the great architect,

00:42:36.940 --> 00:42:38.340
 Frank Lloyd Wright,

00:42:38.440 --> 00:42:39.500
 was asked a question,

00:42:40.000 --> 00:42:41.259
 what is the greatest building,

00:42:41.739 --> 00:42:42.840
 that you've ever built?

00:42:42.840 --> 00:42:44.720
 And his reply was,

00:42:44.900 --> 00:42:45.680
 the next one.

00:42:47.800 --> 00:42:50.440
 And may this be our passion as well.

00:42:50.720 --> 00:42:51.559
 What's the greatest thing,

00:42:51.640 --> 00:42:52.220
 that we're going to do?

00:42:52.500 --> 00:42:53.420
 The next one.

00:42:53.840 --> 00:42:54.480
 That means,

00:42:54.640 --> 00:42:55.240
 you and I,

00:42:55.380 --> 00:42:56.100
 in the meantime,

00:42:56.980 --> 00:42:57.500
 want to spend,

00:42:57.660 --> 00:42:58.460
 the best of time,

00:42:58.559 --> 00:42:59.079
 with our God,

00:42:59.160 --> 00:42:59.380
 and say,

00:42:59.460 --> 00:42:59.720
 God,

00:42:59.840 --> 00:43:00.740
 this is a new year.

00:43:01.140 --> 00:43:02.440
 Thank you for giving it to me.

00:43:02.720 --> 00:43:04.000
 I want to raise that right,

00:43:04.240 --> 00:43:04.800
 the race,

00:43:05.140 --> 00:43:06.660
 in this race of life,

00:43:06.840 --> 00:43:08.160
 and I want to finish well.

00:43:08.440 --> 00:43:09.620
 Will you give me the strength?

00:43:09.619 --> 00:43:11.139
 Will you run with me?

00:43:11.420 --> 00:43:12.179
 Run with me,

00:43:12.299 --> 00:43:13.199
 so that I can,

00:43:13.839 --> 00:43:14.719
 press the tape,

00:43:14.940 --> 00:43:15.460
 and finish,

00:43:15.679 --> 00:43:16.279
 and to hear,

00:43:16.759 --> 00:43:17.799
 you're well done.

00:43:18.059 --> 00:43:18.980
 You're well done,

00:43:19.259 --> 00:43:19.719
 good,

00:43:20.039 --> 00:43:20.900
 and faithful servant.

00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:22.259
 Let's pray together.

00:43:36.000 --> 00:43:36.559
 Lord,

00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:37.599
 we thank you so much,

00:43:38.179 --> 00:43:39.420
 for your word,

00:43:39.619 --> 00:43:41.420
 we pray like the Apostle Paul,

00:43:42.079 --> 00:43:45.859
 we may not just dwell on past things,

00:43:45.920 --> 00:43:46.980
 whether they be of shame,

00:43:47.339 --> 00:43:48.339
 even of achievements,

00:43:48.500 --> 00:43:49.960
 that we may look forward to Jesus,

00:43:50.299 --> 00:43:52.639
 the author and finisher of our faith,

00:43:52.779 --> 00:43:53.659
 and of our race.

00:43:53.880 --> 00:43:56.019
 We thank you for the gift of this new year,

00:43:56.619 --> 00:43:58.119
 and we pray that by your spirit,

00:43:58.539 --> 00:44:00.599
 you will enable us to run this race,

00:44:00.779 --> 00:44:01.920
 and to finish well.

00:44:02.279 --> 00:44:02.719
 And also,

00:44:02.859 --> 00:44:02.960
 Lord,

00:44:03.000 --> 00:44:03.599
 as we run,

00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:05.079
 that we will not run alone,

00:44:05.079 --> 00:44:07.339
 that we will be encouraging one another,

00:44:07.340 --> 00:44:10.519
 to travel life with you,

00:44:10.680 --> 00:44:12.160
 to run this race with us,

00:44:12.220 --> 00:44:13.000
 so that at the end,

00:44:13.400 --> 00:44:15.440
 we will receive your crown of glory,

00:44:15.880 --> 00:44:17.440
 to hear your well done,

00:44:17.640 --> 00:44:18.220
 good,

00:44:18.579 --> 00:44:19.500
 and faithful servant.

00:44:19.500 --> 00:44:22.300
 we pray and ask all these things,

00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:23.599
 in Jesus' name.

00:44:24.239 --> 00:44:24.519
 Amen.