1 00:00:30,179 --> 00:00:30,939 It goes by quick. 2 00:00:30,939 --> 00:00:35,299 I know that your phones now do the memories. 3 00:00:35,299 --> 00:00:37,579 They caught on from Facebook and realized that was a good thing. 4 00:00:37,579 --> 00:00:40,659 So now your phones do the memories from your own photo album. 5 00:00:41,139 --> 00:00:42,259 It goes by fast. 6 00:00:42,659 --> 00:00:46,619 You know, a year ago this time I had a little, you know, angry, 7 00:00:46,619 --> 00:00:47,619 bald looking man. 8 00:00:47,619 --> 00:00:48,339 That's what I had. 9 00:00:48,339 --> 00:00:51,219 Now I have like a little, little girl that runs around and 10 00:00:51,939 --> 00:00:54,339 I can only imagine it just goes by like this. 11 00:00:54,339 --> 00:00:56,179 But good job seniors. 12 00:00:56,519 --> 00:00:57,399 Good job parents. 13 00:00:58,759 --> 00:00:59,919 What an exciting day. 14 00:00:59,919 --> 00:01:01,479 What an exciting time of life. 15 00:01:01,799 --> 00:01:04,519 If you have your Bibles, turn to second Timothy chapter four. 16 00:01:04,759 --> 00:01:06,439 Second Timothy Chapter Number four. 17 00:01:18,359 --> 00:01:21,159 Before I read the passage in second Timothy chapter number four, 18 00:01:21,719 --> 00:01:26,119 as I was thinking about this evening specifically and thinking 19 00:01:26,119 --> 00:01:29,999 about the context of this passage, this passage from the book 20 00:01:29,999 --> 00:01:31,879 of Ecclesiastes came to mind. 21 00:01:32,119 --> 00:01:35,039 It was written by King Solomon later on in his life. 22 00:01:35,039 --> 00:01:35,839 And here's what he said. 23 00:01:35,839 --> 00:01:36,959 Ecclesiastes chapter 3. 24 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:41,279 He said, to everything there is a season, and a time to every 25 00:01:41,279 --> 00:01:42,599 purpose under the heaven. 26 00:01:42,999 --> 00:01:47,439 A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant, and a time 27 00:01:47,439 --> 00:01:51,109 to pluck up that which is planted, a time to kill, a time to 28 00:01:51,109 --> 00:01:54,709 heal, a time to break down and a time to build up, a time to weep 29 00:01:54,709 --> 00:01:58,869 and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time 30 00:01:58,869 --> 00:02:02,389 to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together, a 31 00:02:02,389 --> 00:02:06,349 time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to 32 00:02:06,349 --> 00:02:10,109 get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away, 33 00:02:10,589 --> 00:02:14,309 a time to rend and a time to sow, a time to keep silence and a 34 00:02:14,309 --> 00:02:18,809 time to speak, a time to love, a time to hate, a time of war and 35 00:02:18,809 --> 00:02:19,769 a time of peace. 36 00:02:20,249 --> 00:02:23,849 The foundational truth of life is that it is inevitably based upon 37 00:02:23,849 --> 00:02:24,569 seasons. 38 00:02:25,289 --> 00:02:28,329 And the unfortunate part of seasons is that seasons change. 39 00:02:28,489 --> 00:02:33,689 Quite often you may enjoy the season of life you're in now, some 40 00:02:33,689 --> 00:02:37,329 of you empty nesters, some of you may enjoy the time of life you're 41 00:02:37,329 --> 00:02:41,249 in with kids in the house, or older kids or younger kids or whatever, 42 00:02:41,249 --> 00:02:42,969 the time or seasons of life you're in. 43 00:02:43,299 --> 00:02:46,099 But the reality is that the seasons of life change awfully quick. 44 00:02:46,499 --> 00:02:50,379 The Apostle Paul was very aware of this as he was writing from 45 00:02:50,379 --> 00:02:54,939 house arrest in Rome to Timothy, who was his beloved son 46 00:02:54,939 --> 00:02:58,579 in the faith, someone that he trained and mentored in Gospel ministry 47 00:02:59,059 --> 00:03:02,099 in his closing remarks to Timothy. 48 00:03:02,099 --> 00:03:04,379 And it would be some of the last that he ever get a chance to 49 00:03:04,379 --> 00:03:07,899 speak to Timothy in his life in second Timothy chapter four, verse 50 00:03:07,899 --> 00:03:09,459 seven and eight here's what he said. 51 00:03:10,409 --> 00:03:12,409 Paul said, I have fought a good fight. 52 00:03:12,569 --> 00:03:14,089 I have finished my course. 53 00:03:14,409 --> 00:03:15,689 I have kept the faith. 54 00:03:16,089 --> 00:03:19,169 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which 55 00:03:19,169 --> 00:03:22,049 the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. 56 00:03:22,049 --> 00:03:26,289 And not to me only, but unto them, all them also that love his 57 00:03:26,289 --> 00:03:26,809 appearing. 58 00:03:26,809 --> 00:03:27,529 Let's pray. 59 00:03:27,769 --> 00:03:28,809 Dear Lord, thank you for this day. 60 00:03:28,809 --> 00:03:31,329 Lord, thank you for the opportunity to stop and honor the 61 00:03:31,329 --> 00:03:31,929 seniors tonight. 62 00:03:31,929 --> 00:03:33,529 Lord, I pray that you would hide me behind the cross. 63 00:03:33,529 --> 00:03:35,009 Lord, I pray that you would give me the words to say. 64 00:03:35,009 --> 00:03:36,889 Lord, I pray that something I say is of help tonight. 65 00:03:36,889 --> 00:03:40,329 Lord, I pray that you would help us to be doers of the Word and 66 00:03:40,329 --> 00:03:41,489 not just hearers only, Lord. 67 00:03:41,489 --> 00:03:42,609 In Jesus name I pray. 68 00:03:43,169 --> 00:03:43,809 Amen. 69 00:03:44,689 --> 00:03:48,729 I'm a little afraid I may offend someone, but I'm gonna go 70 00:03:48,729 --> 00:03:49,249 there anyways. 71 00:03:50,209 --> 00:03:52,449 September 3, 2017. 72 00:03:52,929 --> 00:03:55,329 It's week one of the college football season. 73 00:03:57,569 --> 00:04:02,369 Texas A and M leads UCLA 44 to 10 at the close of the third quarter. 74 00:04:03,329 --> 00:04:04,609 It's a sure game, right? 75 00:04:06,249 --> 00:04:07,929 Everything's going to go on just fine. 76 00:04:09,049 --> 00:04:14,649 UCLA would go on to score 38 unanswered points and win the game. 77 00:04:15,369 --> 00:04:16,649 Not even in overtime. 78 00:04:17,369 --> 00:04:19,049 They dominated the fourth quarter. 79 00:04:20,169 --> 00:04:24,129 The Texas A and M team that year had a serious problem finishing 80 00:04:24,129 --> 00:04:24,729 the games. 81 00:04:25,449 --> 00:04:26,169 Sorry, guys. 82 00:04:29,129 --> 00:04:33,719 At the time, their coach was Zulman, who was well known because 83 00:04:33,719 --> 00:04:35,919 he had coached the great Johnny Manziel. 84 00:04:35,919 --> 00:04:36,559 Johnny football. 85 00:04:37,039 --> 00:04:38,159 He was well known. 86 00:04:38,159 --> 00:04:39,999 He had had several good years there. 87 00:04:40,319 --> 00:04:43,279 However, by the end of the season, Texas A and M would think 88 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:46,679 that it would be better suited to pay him $10 million to sit on 89 00:04:46,679 --> 00:04:47,759 the couch and not coach. 90 00:04:49,279 --> 00:04:52,039 By the way, the best job in the world is a fired college football 91 00:04:52,039 --> 00:04:52,399 coach. 92 00:04:52,959 --> 00:04:56,559 I don't know how to get there, but if I can, I will. 93 00:04:56,559 --> 00:04:59,689 I would like to be a fired college, college football coach. 94 00:05:00,889 --> 00:05:04,889 You see, the Texas A and M team had a real problem finishing 95 00:05:04,889 --> 00:05:05,529 the game. 96 00:05:06,409 --> 00:05:09,049 I think the same thing is true with many Christians. 97 00:05:09,769 --> 00:05:13,169 We start well, but the Christian life is not about how we 98 00:05:13,169 --> 00:05:14,809 start, it's about how we finish. 99 00:05:16,489 --> 00:05:18,809 Seniors, adults. 100 00:05:19,369 --> 00:05:24,929 In these seasons of times and transitions, how we finish is more 101 00:05:24,929 --> 00:05:26,169 important than how we start. 102 00:05:27,569 --> 00:05:30,129 Tonight we're going to talk about three decisions that we have 103 00:05:30,129 --> 00:05:32,129 to make in order to finish well. 104 00:05:32,369 --> 00:05:34,889 And by the way, these decisions are decisions that we have 105 00:05:34,889 --> 00:05:36,609 to make each and every day. 106 00:05:36,929 --> 00:05:39,289 I want you to notice first off there in verse number seven, Paul 107 00:05:39,289 --> 00:05:41,409 starts and he says, I have fought a good fight. 108 00:05:41,409 --> 00:05:44,609 Can I tell you, first off, you have to fight the right battles. 109 00:05:45,249 --> 00:05:47,809 You have to Fight the right battles. 110 00:05:47,969 --> 00:05:50,809 Paul says, I have fought a good fight. 111 00:05:50,809 --> 00:05:52,689 The Christian life is a spiritual battle. 112 00:05:54,019 --> 00:05:58,259 I don't know if that is something that has really gratified 113 00:05:58,259 --> 00:06:02,259 reality more in the last couple years of my life than this 114 00:06:02,259 --> 00:06:02,659 truth. 115 00:06:03,139 --> 00:06:05,659 Sometimes we think the Christian life is something that 116 00:06:05,659 --> 00:06:06,739 is effort based. 117 00:06:06,819 --> 00:06:09,499 The more effort I put into it, the better it's going to be, the 118 00:06:09,499 --> 00:06:12,019 smoother it's going to go, et cetera, et cetera. 119 00:06:12,019 --> 00:06:15,859 But the reality is that there is a very real enemy that is seeking 120 00:06:16,739 --> 00:06:19,059 to derail whatever we're trying to do. 121 00:06:20,519 --> 00:06:23,439 We have to fight the right battles because the Christian life 122 00:06:23,439 --> 00:06:24,559 is a spiritual battle, right? 123 00:06:24,559 --> 00:06:27,439 Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 12 teaches us that we wrestle not against 124 00:06:27,439 --> 00:06:30,759 flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against 125 00:06:30,759 --> 00:06:33,399 the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness 126 00:06:33,399 --> 00:06:34,359 in high places. 127 00:06:34,759 --> 00:06:39,399 Can I just tell you I can fight with the best of them I can. 128 00:06:39,479 --> 00:06:41,799 Part of my job here is working with the technology. 129 00:06:42,199 --> 00:06:47,499 And honestly, every printer I've ever seen, every printer needs 130 00:06:47,579 --> 00:06:49,019 to be kicked every once in a while. 131 00:06:49,579 --> 00:06:51,459 It's actually right there in the maintenance manual. 132 00:06:51,459 --> 00:06:54,259 If you look at it, it's right in the back where, you know, it's 133 00:06:54,259 --> 00:06:56,259 a different language, you just have to read between the lines. 134 00:06:56,259 --> 00:06:58,339 But it says right there, you got to kick them. 135 00:06:58,339 --> 00:07:00,059 You got to fight these machines sometimes. 136 00:07:01,259 --> 00:07:04,939 But I can also be cantankerous too, right? 137 00:07:05,419 --> 00:07:08,539 When I don't get my way, when I don't think something's going the 138 00:07:08,539 --> 00:07:10,299 way it should, I get a little cantankerous. 139 00:07:10,299 --> 00:07:13,359 But the reality is we have to fight the, the right battles. 140 00:07:14,319 --> 00:07:17,039 We wrestle not against flesh and blood. 141 00:07:17,679 --> 00:07:20,559 That means we don't wrestle against people, right? 142 00:07:20,639 --> 00:07:22,799 That's not the main primary enemy. 143 00:07:22,959 --> 00:07:25,319 The enemy is the principalities and the powers and 144 00:07:25,319 --> 00:07:28,518 the rulers of darkness of this world against the spiritual wickedness 145 00:07:28,518 --> 00:07:29,439 in high places. 146 00:07:29,439 --> 00:07:31,119 Paul was very aware of this fact. 147 00:07:31,119 --> 00:07:33,559 In fact, in the end of his first letter to Timothy in Chapter 148 00:07:33,559 --> 00:07:35,759 6, he said, Fight the good fight of faith, right? 149 00:07:35,919 --> 00:07:38,879 Lay hold on eternal life where unto thou are also called. 150 00:07:39,239 --> 00:07:40,959 The Christian life is a spiritual battle. 151 00:07:40,959 --> 00:07:44,039 There's always going to be battles in the Christian life. 152 00:07:44,119 --> 00:07:48,359 The battles are temptation, the battles are compromise, pride, 153 00:07:48,359 --> 00:07:50,319 peer pressure, spiritual laziness. 154 00:07:50,319 --> 00:07:54,199 All these things are battles that we have to face each and every 155 00:07:54,199 --> 00:07:54,999 day in our lives. 156 00:07:57,879 --> 00:08:00,599 Seniors, as you go into college and you move into the next 157 00:08:00,599 --> 00:08:02,519 seasons of life, these are things that you're going to have 158 00:08:02,519 --> 00:08:04,279 to face each and every single day. 159 00:08:06,129 --> 00:08:10,169 As I mentioned beforehand, the Great statement by Dr. Shetler, there 160 00:08:10,169 --> 00:08:13,649 are banner days There are battling days and there are building 161 00:08:13,649 --> 00:08:14,049 days. 162 00:08:14,049 --> 00:08:15,649 Yes, you just had a banner day. 163 00:08:16,129 --> 00:08:19,449 But be prepared for a whole lot more building and battling days 164 00:08:19,449 --> 00:08:20,689 before your next banner day. 165 00:08:20,849 --> 00:08:21,249 Right? 166 00:08:22,849 --> 00:08:25,329 Not only do we see that the Christian life is a spiritual battle, 167 00:08:25,329 --> 00:08:28,129 but Christians must choose worthwhile battles. 168 00:08:28,609 --> 00:08:29,809 I like the phrase here. 169 00:08:29,809 --> 00:08:32,069 He says, fight the good fight. 170 00:08:32,869 --> 00:08:34,469 Not every fight is worth fighting. 171 00:08:35,909 --> 00:08:40,349 I learned that in a very real way starting June 6, 2020, on my 172 00:08:40,349 --> 00:08:41,269 wedding anniversary. 173 00:08:42,069 --> 00:08:43,829 Not every fight is worth fighting. 174 00:08:44,229 --> 00:08:45,109 It just ain't. 175 00:08:47,108 --> 00:08:47,909 Oh, come on. 176 00:08:49,029 --> 00:08:50,229 You guys know I'm right. 177 00:08:51,349 --> 00:08:52,549 We don't fight everything. 178 00:08:53,029 --> 00:08:53,749 You know what? 179 00:08:54,549 --> 00:08:55,549 We do things different. 180 00:08:55,549 --> 00:08:56,869 She grew up different than me. 181 00:08:58,279 --> 00:09:00,199 She's very thankful that I grew up different from her. 182 00:09:00,439 --> 00:09:02,639 But, like, we grew up different from each other. 183 00:09:02,639 --> 00:09:04,319 And that means we have different ways of looking at things 184 00:09:04,319 --> 00:09:04,839 and doing things. 185 00:09:04,839 --> 00:09:06,759 And it's not worth every battle that comes across. 186 00:09:07,959 --> 00:09:09,679 And you just learn very quickly. 187 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:10,999 You learn to deal with it. 188 00:09:10,999 --> 00:09:12,679 You know, the same thing is true in the Christian life. 189 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:14,359 Not every battle is worth battling. 190 00:09:15,559 --> 00:09:18,119 As you grow up and you're exposed to things, especially as 191 00:09:18,119 --> 00:09:20,799 you start getting into the adult world, not every battle is 192 00:09:20,799 --> 00:09:21,559 worth fighting. 193 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,279 Everybody has to be just like you. 194 00:09:25,819 --> 00:09:30,219 One of my favorite statements, I forget who told me, it may be a 195 00:09:30,219 --> 00:09:33,059 Dr. Chappell thing, but he said, you know, you don't have to 196 00:09:33,059 --> 00:09:35,019 be twins in order to be brothers. 197 00:09:35,819 --> 00:09:38,859 You have to fight the good battle, the good fight, right? 198 00:09:39,019 --> 00:09:41,819 We must choose worthwhile battles. 199 00:09:41,819 --> 00:09:44,099 We're lucky that scripture gives us the battles that are worth 200 00:09:44,099 --> 00:09:44,459 fighting. 201 00:09:44,459 --> 00:09:48,019 In First John, chapter number two, the apostle says, love not the 202 00:09:48,019 --> 00:09:50,299 world, neither the things that are in the world. 203 00:09:50,859 --> 00:09:53,259 If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 204 00:09:53,259 --> 00:09:55,979 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of 205 00:09:55,979 --> 00:10:00,499 the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the 206 00:10:00,499 --> 00:10:00,779 world. 207 00:10:01,579 --> 00:10:03,259 You know what's worth fighting for? 208 00:10:04,139 --> 00:10:04,699 Holiness. 209 00:10:05,819 --> 00:10:06,299 Truth. 210 00:10:06,939 --> 00:10:09,899 God's word, Everything that's on the side. 211 00:10:09,899 --> 00:10:13,099 The lust of the flesh, the pride of life, all of those things, 212 00:10:13,339 --> 00:10:16,459 those really ought to be secondary to the Christian. 213 00:10:17,059 --> 00:10:19,579 Those shouldn't be something that we make the forefront of our 214 00:10:19,579 --> 00:10:22,019 lives because we're saved. 215 00:10:23,299 --> 00:10:26,019 I told the kids I had an opportunity to preach at Northwest 216 00:10:26,019 --> 00:10:28,539 High School, the FCA club, on Friday morning. 217 00:10:28,539 --> 00:10:31,739 And I told them, I said, it's quite interesting that Christians 218 00:10:31,739 --> 00:10:34,579 often get mad at lost people for living like they're lost. 219 00:10:36,419 --> 00:10:39,699 They're just doing what their granddaddy Adam taught them, right? 220 00:10:41,539 --> 00:10:43,139 That's not the worthwhile battle. 221 00:10:44,389 --> 00:10:45,829 The battle is for their souls. 222 00:10:46,629 --> 00:10:49,189 The Battle is for them as people, right? 223 00:10:50,149 --> 00:10:51,149 Matthew, chapter six. 224 00:10:51,149 --> 00:10:52,749 Jesus told us where our focus ought to be. 225 00:10:52,749 --> 00:10:56,949 He said, seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, 226 00:10:57,189 --> 00:10:59,509 and all these things will be added unto you. 227 00:10:59,829 --> 00:11:01,789 In other words, our perspective as Christians. 228 00:11:01,789 --> 00:11:05,909 Our job as Christians is to place our eyes directly and squarely 229 00:11:05,909 --> 00:11:08,949 on Jesus, and he will show us the right battles to fight. 230 00:11:10,569 --> 00:11:14,529 As you enter into adulthood, there are things that really are 231 00:11:14,529 --> 00:11:15,449 worth battling for. 232 00:11:15,769 --> 00:11:19,609 Your purity, your testimony, your walk with God, your future, 233 00:11:20,009 --> 00:11:20,809 your calling. 234 00:11:21,049 --> 00:11:22,929 All those things are worth battling for. 235 00:11:22,929 --> 00:11:24,729 And by the way, you're going to have to battle for it. 236 00:11:25,929 --> 00:11:29,369 Every single one of them, I think, has really strong direction 237 00:11:29,369 --> 00:11:34,049 on what to do in life and seemingly has leading from the Lord 238 00:11:34,049 --> 00:11:34,809 with what to do. 239 00:11:35,269 --> 00:11:38,509 Those callings that come in vocation are not something that you 240 00:11:38,509 --> 00:11:41,989 just get to breeze through all four years and then all of a sudden 241 00:11:41,989 --> 00:11:43,829 find yourself there doing it right. 242 00:11:44,469 --> 00:11:48,309 We started talking about David in our Sunday school class, and David 243 00:11:48,309 --> 00:11:50,988 is such an interesting character because before he was ever 244 00:11:50,988 --> 00:11:53,989 king, there was a whole lifetime of preparation in the field 245 00:11:53,989 --> 00:11:57,629 as a shepherd, before you ever get a chance to live out the calling 246 00:11:57,629 --> 00:12:01,309 that God has given you, there is a serious preparation time that 247 00:12:01,309 --> 00:12:03,709 God has placed in your life that you have to remain faithful 248 00:12:03,709 --> 00:12:03,989 in. 249 00:12:04,149 --> 00:12:05,469 That's where the focus ought to be. 250 00:12:05,469 --> 00:12:07,729 So then we see that we have to the good fight. 251 00:12:07,809 --> 00:12:09,729 And then Paul says, I have finished my course. 252 00:12:09,729 --> 00:12:12,369 Secondly, we need to run your race. 253 00:12:12,609 --> 00:12:14,769 You have to decide to run your race. 254 00:12:17,729 --> 00:12:19,009 I am not a racer. 255 00:12:19,489 --> 00:12:20,729 I don't need to tell you all that. 256 00:12:20,729 --> 00:12:23,008 Not a racer in a car. 257 00:12:23,008 --> 00:12:24,609 Maybe you put me in a car. 258 00:12:24,689 --> 00:12:25,169 I can. 259 00:12:25,729 --> 00:12:30,049 I can put my foot on the pedal as long as there's not too much resistance, 260 00:12:30,049 --> 00:12:32,289 you know, I'm not a racer, though. 261 00:12:32,619 --> 00:12:34,539 Not a sprinter, not a marathon runner. 262 00:12:34,939 --> 00:12:38,579 But that's what the Apostle Paul chooses to illustrate the Christian 263 00:12:38,579 --> 00:12:39,099 life as. 264 00:12:40,139 --> 00:12:41,899 But he gives a very interesting phrase. 265 00:12:41,899 --> 00:12:46,699 He says, I have finished my course. 266 00:12:48,779 --> 00:12:51,899 God has a specific purpose for each and every one of us. 267 00:12:53,339 --> 00:12:55,819 Paul didn't say, I have finished someone else's course. 268 00:12:56,379 --> 00:12:58,379 He said, I have finished my course. 269 00:13:00,019 --> 00:13:03,139 God has a unique race for each and every believer. 270 00:13:04,099 --> 00:13:07,579 It's interesting as we think about this concept of the unique 271 00:13:07,579 --> 00:13:09,379 race in the Christian life, right? 272 00:13:10,499 --> 00:13:14,139 Because mine is different than yours and yours is different than 273 00:13:14,139 --> 00:13:16,499 yours, and we're all different from each other. 274 00:13:18,099 --> 00:13:19,299 And I'm thankful for that. 275 00:13:20,419 --> 00:13:23,619 Y' all ever gone to like a high school track meet or a college 276 00:13:23,619 --> 00:13:24,259 track meet? 277 00:13:24,889 --> 00:13:27,769 You ever see some of those races? 278 00:13:28,009 --> 00:13:28,969 They're crazy, right? 279 00:13:29,129 --> 00:13:31,689 You have Some that are like the 500 meter dash and they're not 280 00:13:31,689 --> 00:13:32,249 very long. 281 00:13:32,889 --> 00:13:34,129 You guys know what I'm talking about, right? 282 00:13:34,129 --> 00:13:37,089 And they just go around the lap a couple times and you have the 283 00:13:37,089 --> 00:13:39,569 800 meter dash and then you have the really long one. 284 00:13:39,569 --> 00:13:45,849 And those runners are usually somewhat built for those courses. 285 00:13:46,489 --> 00:13:49,769 Really, whichever one they end up excelling in is actually almost 286 00:13:49,769 --> 00:13:52,339 down to the way they're both body is structured. 287 00:13:52,739 --> 00:13:56,099 It's almost like they're built to be a runner in a long distance 288 00:13:56,099 --> 00:13:58,579 race or they're built to be a short distance runner. 289 00:13:58,579 --> 00:14:00,859 And then every once in a while you have those courses that have 290 00:14:00,859 --> 00:14:02,179 the little jumpy things on them. 291 00:14:02,579 --> 00:14:03,859 You guys know what I'm talking about, right? 292 00:14:04,499 --> 00:14:05,539 I don't know what they're called. 293 00:14:05,779 --> 00:14:06,419 Hurdles. 294 00:14:06,659 --> 00:14:07,739 They have the hurdles on them. 295 00:14:07,739 --> 00:14:08,419 Yeah, that makes sense. 296 00:14:08,419 --> 00:14:09,779 They have the hurdles on them, right? 297 00:14:10,339 --> 00:14:14,659 Man, I'm so glad that I'm not a runner with the hurdles. 298 00:14:15,139 --> 00:14:16,819 Can you imagine how embarrassing that would be? 299 00:14:18,069 --> 00:14:19,549 I know for me, I don't know about y'. 300 00:14:19,549 --> 00:14:19,589 All. 301 00:14:19,589 --> 00:14:21,629 I know what would happen to me if I was running a race with hurdles 302 00:14:21,629 --> 00:14:22,029 on it. 303 00:14:22,029 --> 00:14:25,509 I would fall flat at every single hurdle, eventually get mad 304 00:14:25,509 --> 00:14:26,869 and just start throwing the things out of the way. 305 00:14:26,869 --> 00:14:29,189 You know, I'll take the penalty, whatever it is. 306 00:14:30,869 --> 00:14:33,029 My race is different than each and every one of yours. 307 00:14:34,149 --> 00:14:39,349 And if we get too focused on other people's, we miss the specific 308 00:14:39,349 --> 00:14:40,869 race that God has for our life. 309 00:14:41,269 --> 00:14:42,629 Hebrews chapter number 12. 310 00:14:42,789 --> 00:14:46,429 It says that wherefore we are also compassed about with so great 311 00:14:46,429 --> 00:14:47,349 a cloud of witnesses. 312 00:14:47,749 --> 00:14:50,809 Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily 313 00:14:50,809 --> 00:14:54,649 beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before 314 00:14:54,649 --> 00:14:55,009 us. 315 00:14:55,249 --> 00:14:57,569 There's an element of patience that happens in the race. 316 00:14:59,249 --> 00:15:04,449 NASCAR races are very long, not disparaging the sport any. 317 00:15:05,489 --> 00:15:07,049 This is the scary time of year. 318 00:15:07,049 --> 00:15:07,889 Football's over. 319 00:15:08,369 --> 00:15:09,729 College basketball is over. 320 00:15:09,729 --> 00:15:11,329 There's not much to watch on tv. 321 00:15:12,209 --> 00:15:14,289 If it comes down to it, I'll put on a race. 322 00:15:16,459 --> 00:15:19,819 But it's interesting. 323 00:15:19,979 --> 00:15:22,619 You have to have a lot of patience to be a race car driver 324 00:15:23,019 --> 00:15:24,219 and a race car fan. 325 00:15:25,339 --> 00:15:26,699 Watch 500 miles. 326 00:15:26,779 --> 00:15:28,139 Takes some patience, doesn't it? 327 00:15:28,699 --> 00:15:30,699 You know, the Christian life requires some patience. 328 00:15:31,339 --> 00:15:33,899 It's not something that we just immediately arrive at. 329 00:15:33,899 --> 00:15:37,259 It's something that we have to each and every day choose to live 330 00:15:37,259 --> 00:15:40,139 with patience and set aside the weights and the distractions 331 00:15:40,139 --> 00:15:44,019 and the sins that does so easily beset us so that we can run 332 00:15:44,019 --> 00:15:46,819 with patience, the race that the lord has for us. 333 00:15:50,099 --> 00:15:51,259 Jeremiah, chapter 29. 334 00:15:51,259 --> 00:15:53,259 He says, For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, 335 00:15:53,259 --> 00:15:56,459 saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, not of evil, to give you an 336 00:15:56,459 --> 00:15:57,939 expected end. 337 00:15:58,979 --> 00:16:02,299 What an interesting thought that God has an expected end for 338 00:16:02,299 --> 00:16:03,459 each and every one of us. 339 00:16:03,859 --> 00:16:07,219 It's weird to sit back and think about God who exists outside 340 00:16:07,219 --> 00:16:11,699 of space and time, because we only think of time as linear, right? 341 00:16:11,779 --> 00:16:15,979 We think of time as past, present, as in right now, and that's 342 00:16:15,979 --> 00:16:16,579 already past. 343 00:16:16,659 --> 00:16:17,459 And then future. 344 00:16:18,099 --> 00:16:21,459 We think of it almost like a straight line that just goes forever. 345 00:16:21,779 --> 00:16:25,139 But God, outside of time, stands and is able to see all of 346 00:16:25,139 --> 00:16:26,019 it at once. 347 00:16:26,659 --> 00:16:29,339 He's like looking at a picture, and he sees all of time 348 00:16:29,339 --> 00:16:30,019 all at once. 349 00:16:30,259 --> 00:16:32,699 So while we're sitting in our midst of our lives and we're wondering, 350 00:16:32,699 --> 00:16:33,939 what on earth is God doing? 351 00:16:34,579 --> 00:16:36,099 Where are you directing us? 352 00:16:36,339 --> 00:16:37,419 What do you have going on? 353 00:16:37,419 --> 00:16:40,659 In my race, God says, I have an expected end for you. 354 00:16:40,659 --> 00:16:43,049 I see an end result already that you don't see. 355 00:16:43,999 --> 00:16:46,039 That is a race that we have to run. 356 00:16:46,039 --> 00:16:47,759 And Paul ran his race. 357 00:16:48,079 --> 00:16:50,959 So not only do we see that God has a specific purpose for every 358 00:16:50,959 --> 00:16:54,159 life, but comparison will distract you from your purpose. 359 00:16:55,839 --> 00:16:57,999 I have finished my course. 360 00:16:59,439 --> 00:17:02,239 I again, I'm so thankful that I don't have the course of other 361 00:17:02,239 --> 00:17:02,559 people. 362 00:17:04,239 --> 00:17:06,359 And some of you probably look at me and you're like, I'm really 363 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:07,519 glad I don't live your course. 364 00:17:08,319 --> 00:17:09,809 And that's the way God designed it. 365 00:17:10,519 --> 00:17:11,959 That's the way he intended it, right? 366 00:17:12,199 --> 00:17:13,639 Because it's my race. 367 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:14,999 It's not your race. 368 00:17:14,999 --> 00:17:15,799 It's my race. 369 00:17:17,079 --> 00:17:20,359 Your race is different than her race, who's different than his 370 00:17:20,359 --> 00:17:20,679 race. 371 00:17:20,679 --> 00:17:21,559 And all of the above. 372 00:17:22,279 --> 00:17:27,519 You see, as we grow older and we grow in our Christian life, the 373 00:17:27,519 --> 00:17:31,199 temptation is to compare ourselves across lines of followers 374 00:17:31,199 --> 00:17:36,049 or popularity or talent or even appearance or what the world 375 00:17:36,049 --> 00:17:37,169 might define as success. 376 00:17:37,489 --> 00:17:43,489 But the reality is we cannot run effectively while looking sideways. 377 00:17:45,249 --> 00:17:46,129 You can't do it. 378 00:17:46,449 --> 00:17:49,889 And if you think you can, go watch some YouTube on it, it's awesome. 379 00:17:50,289 --> 00:17:52,209 You'll see the guys and they're running and they're looking. 380 00:17:52,209 --> 00:17:55,089 All of a sudden they run into a pole or run into the hurdle or 381 00:17:55,089 --> 00:17:55,809 something like that. 382 00:17:56,369 --> 00:17:58,649 Because the reality is, running your race, you have to keep 383 00:17:58,649 --> 00:18:00,769 your eyes dead focused on what's ahead. 384 00:18:01,619 --> 00:18:03,699 I think it was Thursday night at the high school graduation. 385 00:18:03,699 --> 00:18:06,619 Brother Barker mentioned Psalm 119, 105. 386 00:18:06,619 --> 00:18:08,659 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet. 387 00:18:08,659 --> 00:18:11,779 And he said, the beauty of a lamp is that it only illuminates 388 00:18:11,779 --> 00:18:12,899 the next step. 389 00:18:14,419 --> 00:18:16,099 I don't see the expected end. 390 00:18:16,739 --> 00:18:18,259 I don't see my whole race. 391 00:18:18,659 --> 00:18:19,939 I don't see my whole course. 392 00:18:20,179 --> 00:18:22,859 If I did, the obstacles wouldn't be much of obstacles, would 393 00:18:22,859 --> 00:18:23,139 they? 394 00:18:24,259 --> 00:18:27,619 Instead, the guidance from the word, the guidance from the Lord, 395 00:18:27,619 --> 00:18:28,259 what can I see? 396 00:18:28,259 --> 00:18:28,979 The next step. 397 00:18:30,999 --> 00:18:33,159 Sometimes that next step looks like a day in advance. 398 00:18:33,719 --> 00:18:35,359 Sometimes it looks like an hour in advance. 399 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:37,399 Sometimes it looks like a week or a month in advance. 400 00:18:38,999 --> 00:18:40,999 But that next step is what we must run with. 401 00:18:40,999 --> 00:18:41,479 Patience. 402 00:18:42,599 --> 00:18:46,479 Not looking side to side, but what's ahead. 403 00:18:46,479 --> 00:18:48,959 By the way, to continue that analogy, a lamp doesn't give enough 404 00:18:48,959 --> 00:18:52,919 light to look at what my friend is running with, right? 405 00:18:53,719 --> 00:18:56,279 If we're really focused on God's word in our life and we're 406 00:18:56,279 --> 00:18:59,259 really focused on what is next and ahead of us, there's no room 407 00:18:59,259 --> 00:19:01,339 for looking to the side and seeing what's going on. 408 00:19:02,459 --> 00:19:05,259 By the way, I'm sure Timothy was probably awfully glad he didn't 409 00:19:05,259 --> 00:19:07,499 have Paul's course to run, right? 410 00:19:07,819 --> 00:19:10,299 The Apostle Paul did not have a very fun life. 411 00:19:10,779 --> 00:19:14,939 In fact probably like 0 out of 10 experience. 412 00:19:15,499 --> 00:19:18,739 He says, 5 times received I 40 stripes. 413 00:19:18,739 --> 00:19:20,059 Saved ones of the Jews, right? 414 00:19:20,059 --> 00:19:21,979 4 times I received 39 stripes. 415 00:19:21,979 --> 00:19:24,139 He said, a night and a day in the deep. 416 00:19:25,719 --> 00:19:26,599 Not a beach guy. 417 00:19:27,719 --> 00:19:29,959 If I spend any time in the deep, it's a bad day. 418 00:19:30,279 --> 00:19:33,439 But he spent a night and a half in the deep like he lived a 419 00:19:33,439 --> 00:19:33,919 rough life. 420 00:19:33,919 --> 00:19:36,559 And I'm sure Timothy's probably reading this from his non 421 00:19:36,559 --> 00:19:41,239 house arrest pending execution where he was and he's like, yeah, 422 00:19:41,559 --> 00:19:43,079 I'm glad I'm not running that race. 423 00:19:43,559 --> 00:19:44,439 Good job, Paul. 424 00:19:44,439 --> 00:19:46,119 But I'm glad it's not me. 425 00:19:46,919 --> 00:19:50,359 Comparison can very quickly distract from your purpose, but it's 426 00:19:50,359 --> 00:19:51,479 also a thief of joy. 427 00:19:52,179 --> 00:19:54,539 If we're so focused with what's going on with everyone else, 428 00:19:54,539 --> 00:19:56,939 it's going to be so hard to be happy with what's going on in my 429 00:19:56,939 --> 00:19:57,219 life. 430 00:19:58,979 --> 00:20:00,619 Galatians, chapter 6, verse 4. 431 00:20:00,619 --> 00:20:06,579 He says, Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have 432 00:20:06,579 --> 00:20:09,139 rejoicing in himself alone and not in another. 433 00:20:10,419 --> 00:20:11,379 Prove your own work. 434 00:20:13,059 --> 00:20:17,059 Don't be so focused with everyone else. 435 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,119 I could tell you can name names too. 436 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:22,159 But we won't do that because that's bad. 437 00:20:22,159 --> 00:20:24,479 And we're on the Internet and I'm Facebook friends with most of 438 00:20:24,479 --> 00:20:29,079 them, but I can name names of people I went to college with. 439 00:20:29,399 --> 00:20:30,639 Who everyone in the college. 440 00:20:30,639 --> 00:20:33,879 They won the preacher boy competition and all the staff had 441 00:20:33,879 --> 00:20:35,679 their favorites and they were there and this and that. 442 00:20:35,679 --> 00:20:39,559 And they were like, you know, the next Billy Sunday reincarnate, 443 00:20:39,559 --> 00:20:43,729 you know, but they got distracted, they fell off. 444 00:20:45,089 --> 00:20:46,769 Don't get distracted with everyone else. 445 00:20:46,769 --> 00:20:48,369 They focus on your race. 446 00:20:51,729 --> 00:20:55,689 Kind of a controversial figure, but Norman peale in the 19th 447 00:20:55,689 --> 00:20:58,569 century wrote one of the first faith based self help books. 448 00:20:58,569 --> 00:21:00,369 But he said a very interesting quote in it. 449 00:21:00,369 --> 00:21:02,529 He said, it is always too soon to quit. 450 00:21:04,049 --> 00:21:04,769 It's true. 451 00:21:05,729 --> 00:21:07,169 God doesn't call us to quit. 452 00:21:07,489 --> 00:21:10,409 He calls us to keep moving forward every single day, every single 453 00:21:10,409 --> 00:21:10,689 week. 454 00:21:11,199 --> 00:21:13,039 It is always too soon to quit. 455 00:21:15,599 --> 00:21:19,319 Peter, seeing him, saith to Jesus, lord, what shall this man 456 00:21:19,319 --> 00:21:19,479 do? 457 00:21:19,479 --> 00:21:22,759 And Jesus said unto him, if I will, that he tarry till I come, 458 00:21:22,759 --> 00:21:23,999 what is that to thee? 459 00:21:24,399 --> 00:21:25,519 Follow thou me. 460 00:21:27,039 --> 00:21:28,559 Jesus said basically the same thing. 461 00:21:29,279 --> 00:21:32,679 Doesn't matter what I'm doing with John Peter, it doesn't matter 462 00:21:32,679 --> 00:21:34,279 what I'm doing with Tyler. 463 00:21:34,279 --> 00:21:38,979 It doesn't matter what I'm doing with whoever follow thou me. 464 00:21:39,619 --> 00:21:42,219 So the first decision we have to make is we have to make the decision 465 00:21:42,219 --> 00:21:43,299 to fight the right battle. 466 00:21:43,299 --> 00:21:46,339 Secondly, we have to make the decision to run your race. 467 00:21:46,339 --> 00:21:49,699 But thirdly, you have to make the decision to keep the faith. 468 00:21:49,939 --> 00:21:51,659 Look at the third part of that verse there. 469 00:21:51,659 --> 00:21:55,459 He says, I have finished my course and I have kept the faith. 470 00:21:57,379 --> 00:21:58,339 What a broad statement. 471 00:21:59,459 --> 00:22:00,899 I have kept the faith. 472 00:22:01,299 --> 00:22:05,049 I don't know if you've ever liked, seen a set of theology books 473 00:22:05,049 --> 00:22:08,249 from beginning to end, like, if that's what we call the faith. 474 00:22:08,249 --> 00:22:10,849 There's an awful lot in there, right? 475 00:22:13,089 --> 00:22:14,209 What's he teaching here? 476 00:22:14,209 --> 00:22:16,929 He's saying that faithfulness matters more than emotion. 477 00:22:17,809 --> 00:22:19,889 We talked about this last week a little bit, right? 478 00:22:20,049 --> 00:22:22,849 Faithfulness is a decision that we can make. 479 00:22:23,009 --> 00:22:24,249 Emotion is what we feel. 480 00:22:24,249 --> 00:22:29,739 We don't always feel what we ought to be doing, but faithfulness 481 00:22:29,739 --> 00:22:30,619 is what matters. 482 00:22:32,139 --> 00:22:37,299 As a teenager you get maybe more to an extreme than we do as 483 00:22:37,299 --> 00:22:44,458 an adult, you get, I call it Camp Christianity, where you get 484 00:22:44,458 --> 00:22:45,499 the opportunity every year. 485 00:22:45,499 --> 00:22:46,779 And it's a great opportunity. 486 00:22:46,779 --> 00:22:49,659 And it's by far the best spiritual opportunity that our kids 487 00:22:49,659 --> 00:22:49,979 have. 488 00:22:50,219 --> 00:22:56,069 But they put their phones away, they go to a place that they 489 00:22:56,069 --> 00:22:57,789 know in their minds that the Lord works. 490 00:22:59,949 --> 00:23:03,149 And they're disconnected from everything else except from their 491 00:23:03,149 --> 00:23:04,189 friends and from God. 492 00:23:05,389 --> 00:23:07,789 And God always works in their heart every year. 493 00:23:11,149 --> 00:23:15,669 The challenge with that is there's a lot of people that learn 494 00:23:15,669 --> 00:23:18,109 to live off of Camp Christianity. 495 00:23:19,069 --> 00:23:24,569 They need the yearly, annual quarterly jolt. 496 00:23:26,169 --> 00:23:30,009 The reality of being an adult and moving into a mature Christian 497 00:23:30,009 --> 00:23:33,489 faith is learning that faithfulness matters more than the 498 00:23:33,489 --> 00:23:34,969 emotion you might feel at camp. 499 00:23:37,289 --> 00:23:42,529 And while even as adults, I still enjoy camp, I still enjoy the 500 00:23:42,529 --> 00:23:45,249 revival meetings, I still enjoy preacher fellowships, I still 501 00:23:45,249 --> 00:23:49,869 enjoy all of these things, things that we do, you have to learn 502 00:23:49,869 --> 00:23:52,109 to move beyond that in your Christian life. 503 00:23:52,109 --> 00:23:53,389 You can't live off of that. 504 00:23:54,349 --> 00:23:58,629 The apostle Paul talks about spiritual babes who are living off 505 00:23:58,629 --> 00:24:00,029 of milk rather than meat. 506 00:24:00,589 --> 00:24:04,549 You're not going to live off of one meal a year, especially if 507 00:24:04,549 --> 00:24:06,189 you move away and go somewhere to college. 508 00:24:07,309 --> 00:24:08,989 You need to learn to feed yourself. 509 00:24:09,869 --> 00:24:12,509 You need to learn to dig into the Word and get your own meat. 510 00:24:13,999 --> 00:24:15,839 Faithfulness matters more than emotion. 511 00:24:16,799 --> 00:24:19,999 Revelation, chapter 2, verse 10 says, Be faithful unto death, 512 00:24:20,159 --> 00:24:22,639 and I will give thee a crown of life. 513 00:24:23,519 --> 00:24:27,839 Every year we get a gift for the teens and the graduates. 514 00:24:27,839 --> 00:24:30,959 Not all the teens, but we get a gift for the graduates. 515 00:24:31,199 --> 00:24:34,079 And this year we got them a book, but we also got them a journal. 516 00:24:34,559 --> 00:24:39,279 And I wouldn't normally talk about this, but, Matt, yours is special. 517 00:24:40,589 --> 00:24:45,069 There's only one of them, and so it's kind of masculine anyways. 518 00:24:45,069 --> 00:24:47,389 You guys wouldn't like it, but if there's three, I was going to 519 00:24:47,389 --> 00:24:49,869 get it because it's a leather journal, and on the front it has 520 00:24:49,869 --> 00:24:53,069 the inscription good plus faithful. 521 00:24:53,309 --> 00:24:55,789 And then on the back is this verse Revelation 2:10. 522 00:24:56,029 --> 00:24:59,669 And it's a reminder every time you look at it that that is the qualifications 523 00:24:59,669 --> 00:25:03,069 of a faithful Christian life is to be good and to be faithful. 524 00:25:03,629 --> 00:25:07,039 And for all of them who are faithful unto death, I will give 525 00:25:07,039 --> 00:25:08,199 thee a crown of life. 526 00:25:09,239 --> 00:25:10,279 First Corinthians 15. 527 00:25:10,279 --> 00:25:12,799 He says, Thou, therefore, my brethren, be steadfast, be unmovable, 528 00:25:12,799 --> 00:25:14,839 always abounding in the work of the Lord. 529 00:25:14,839 --> 00:25:15,079 Right? 530 00:25:15,079 --> 00:25:16,759 We should be unmovable in our faith. 531 00:25:16,839 --> 00:25:20,119 It's something that even though whatever may come our way, 532 00:25:20,119 --> 00:25:23,079 whatever may shake us, we can stand firm in the faith that God 533 00:25:23,079 --> 00:25:24,679 has given us, because we understand that. 534 00:25:24,679 --> 00:25:27,319 It doesn't matter necessarily how I feel. 535 00:25:27,639 --> 00:25:30,119 What matters is the faithfulness that is behind it. 536 00:25:32,289 --> 00:25:34,769 So not only do we see that faithfulness matters more than emotion, 537 00:25:34,769 --> 00:25:40,529 but transition seasons are often a spiritual turning point. 538 00:25:41,969 --> 00:25:46,809 If you think about your schooling years, you think about 539 00:25:46,809 --> 00:25:48,449 the time that you were in high school. 540 00:25:49,009 --> 00:25:50,769 Summer is always a big season. 541 00:25:51,809 --> 00:25:54,609 You get out of the rhythm that you get into. 542 00:25:55,809 --> 00:25:58,369 The summer slump is a very real theme, by the way, in churches, 543 00:25:58,369 --> 00:25:59,729 because you get out of the rhythm. 544 00:26:01,309 --> 00:26:03,789 You're out on vacation, whatever it may be, right? 545 00:26:04,589 --> 00:26:08,669 But you get out of the routine that you have dug into, out of the 546 00:26:08,749 --> 00:26:11,949 established habits that you have as you're Following Lord's will. 547 00:26:12,589 --> 00:26:16,669 And you learn to realize that these transition seasons can be very 548 00:26:16,669 --> 00:26:18,509 significant in your spiritual life. 549 00:26:19,709 --> 00:26:23,509 In fact, transition seasons often either strengthen faith or 550 00:26:23,509 --> 00:26:24,269 weaken it. 551 00:26:26,599 --> 00:26:29,719 See, when structure disappears, that's when you see your 552 00:26:29,719 --> 00:26:30,439 character. 553 00:26:31,239 --> 00:26:35,239 That's when your discipline is tested, and that's when your priorities 554 00:26:35,719 --> 00:26:36,599 become obvious. 555 00:26:37,879 --> 00:26:41,959 Sometimes, if we're not careful as church members or bystanders, 556 00:26:41,959 --> 00:26:45,199 we can look at students who have finished college or students 557 00:26:45,199 --> 00:26:46,439 who are finishing high school. 558 00:26:46,759 --> 00:26:49,599 And at the end of the summer, we can look back and be like, wow, 559 00:26:49,599 --> 00:26:50,999 they change so fast. 560 00:26:51,549 --> 00:26:52,189 They didn't change. 561 00:26:52,909 --> 00:26:55,629 It just revealed what was already there. 562 00:26:58,749 --> 00:27:02,909 If you're going through a season of transition in your life, 563 00:27:03,789 --> 00:27:06,189 can I encourage you to think through that same thing? 564 00:27:07,549 --> 00:27:10,309 It's easy to point at students and be like, oh, yeah, well, the 565 00:27:10,309 --> 00:27:12,429 structure of school, gone, and they're all lazy now. 566 00:27:12,749 --> 00:27:15,709 Okay, what about when things change in my life? 567 00:27:16,509 --> 00:27:20,359 When my structure is gone, when my flow and rhythm are out of 568 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:21,519 sync, what happens then? 569 00:27:22,079 --> 00:27:23,519 What's revealed in my life? 570 00:27:23,519 --> 00:27:24,719 What's shown in my life? 571 00:27:28,959 --> 00:27:31,039 That's when the discipline becomes really important. 572 00:27:32,719 --> 00:27:39,119 Staying in church, staying in Bibles, in your Bible, staying around 573 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:41,599 godly influences accountability. 574 00:27:42,959 --> 00:27:44,319 Staying clean spiritually. 575 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:46,719 You may say, all those things are for teenagers. 576 00:27:46,719 --> 00:27:47,439 No, they're not. 577 00:27:47,439 --> 00:27:49,759 They're like foundational truths of the Christian life. 578 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:54,199 No matter what's happening in our life, these are things that ought 579 00:27:54,199 --> 00:27:56,959 to remain in each and every one of our lives. 580 00:27:57,519 --> 00:27:59,559 You may say, well, I'm here now, aren't I? 581 00:27:59,559 --> 00:28:00,559 I'm staying in church. 582 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:04,079 You know, staying in church, like, also means being plugged into 583 00:28:04,079 --> 00:28:06,159 church too, right? 584 00:28:07,679 --> 00:28:09,839 Bodies in the seats don't really count. 585 00:28:10,479 --> 00:28:11,319 It's being a part. 586 00:28:11,319 --> 00:28:12,959 Being, enjoying a part of it. 587 00:28:13,359 --> 00:28:18,959 Staying in your Bible doesn't mean just in the morning, did it? 588 00:28:19,199 --> 00:28:19,599 Done. 589 00:28:20,559 --> 00:28:24,359 No, but actually digging into the word, finding something to apply 590 00:28:24,359 --> 00:28:26,719 to your life and hold onto each and every day. 591 00:28:27,039 --> 00:28:29,959 I think one of the hardest things as we dig into our adult lives 592 00:28:29,959 --> 00:28:32,399 is staying around godly influences. 593 00:28:33,759 --> 00:28:38,489 Your relationships get deeper as you get older, and it's not just 594 00:28:38,489 --> 00:28:40,209 like, well, that's my buddy that I hang out with at school. 595 00:28:40,209 --> 00:28:42,409 It's like, well, this is my best friend that I've known for 15 596 00:28:42,569 --> 00:28:47,729 years or 20 years or, you know, 30 years or 40 years or however 597 00:28:47,729 --> 00:28:48,569 long it is, right? 598 00:28:49,689 --> 00:28:50,809 It becomes harder. 599 00:28:50,969 --> 00:28:53,489 But what happens when they're no longer a godly influence on your 600 00:28:53,489 --> 00:28:53,769 life? 601 00:28:56,569 --> 00:28:59,089 All the things that we would like to say to teenagers still apply 602 00:28:59,089 --> 00:28:59,769 to us too. 603 00:29:01,699 --> 00:29:01,939 Right? 604 00:29:03,299 --> 00:29:04,219 We always talk about. 605 00:29:04,219 --> 00:29:05,659 And again, it's so Easy. 606 00:29:05,659 --> 00:29:08,019 When we look at others, and not as ourselves, but we look at 607 00:29:08,019 --> 00:29:10,619 others and we're like, ah, those friends are gonna drag them 608 00:29:10,619 --> 00:29:10,859 down. 609 00:29:10,859 --> 00:29:11,779 What about your friends? 610 00:29:13,539 --> 00:29:15,659 Are your friends gonna bring you up or are they gonna drag you 611 00:29:15,659 --> 00:29:15,939 down? 612 00:29:16,899 --> 00:29:17,939 It's a true statement. 613 00:29:18,019 --> 00:29:20,139 If you want to know what you'll look like in five years, look 614 00:29:20,139 --> 00:29:20,659 at your friends. 615 00:29:22,659 --> 00:29:23,219 That's it. 616 00:29:24,499 --> 00:29:28,179 But the seasons of transition are very vulnerable moments spiritually 617 00:29:28,179 --> 00:29:28,739 in your life. 618 00:29:29,979 --> 00:29:31,779 There are moments where if you're not careful, you let your 619 00:29:31,779 --> 00:29:35,499 guard down, you feel a little bit of freedom. 620 00:29:36,059 --> 00:29:41,579 No longer 8am classes and no more 6am basketball practices or 621 00:29:41,739 --> 00:29:44,779 after school volleyball practices or whatever it may be, 622 00:29:45,419 --> 00:29:46,939 and you feel a little bit of freedom. 623 00:29:46,939 --> 00:29:50,899 And the temptation is to lose the spiritual discipline that you've 624 00:29:50,899 --> 00:29:52,699 instilled in those routines. 625 00:29:53,739 --> 00:30:01,289 It takes intentional, focused decisions to choose to stay faithful, 626 00:30:01,289 --> 00:30:02,689 even in moments of transition. 627 00:30:05,169 --> 00:30:07,249 They are often spiritual turning points. 628 00:30:09,009 --> 00:30:11,769 The most amazing part of this entire verse is that Paul could honestly 629 00:30:11,769 --> 00:30:15,689 say, I have fought the right fight, I have ran the right race, 630 00:30:15,689 --> 00:30:16,929 and I have kept the faith. 631 00:30:17,649 --> 00:30:19,609 I always think about this every time I read this. 632 00:30:19,609 --> 00:30:23,319 Paul was writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, meaning 633 00:30:23,319 --> 00:30:25,879 what he wrote down in a definitive statement cannot be a 634 00:30:25,879 --> 00:30:26,239 lie. 635 00:30:29,119 --> 00:30:32,679 I could lie to you tonight and say the same words and say that this 636 00:30:32,679 --> 00:30:34,719 is true about Tyler's life, but it's not. 637 00:30:35,599 --> 00:30:38,119 And I find the most interesting part about this is Paul 638 00:30:38,119 --> 00:30:41,479 looked at this and by his own life, under inspiration of the Holy 639 00:30:41,479 --> 00:30:45,439 Ghost, could look back and say, I did a pretty good job. 640 00:30:47,679 --> 00:30:48,719 I did pretty good. 641 00:30:49,649 --> 00:30:53,129 He never claimed perfection, but he looked back and he said, generally 642 00:30:53,129 --> 00:30:56,609 speaking, I did the right things that a Christian should do. 643 00:30:59,649 --> 00:31:01,529 So the challenge is real simple. 644 00:31:01,529 --> 00:31:04,809 Tonight there are three decisions that we have to make each 645 00:31:04,809 --> 00:31:05,489 and every day. 646 00:31:06,289 --> 00:31:10,609 We have to fight the right battles, we have to run our race, 647 00:31:11,969 --> 00:31:17,579 and we have to keep the faith, keep it, hold on to it, cherish it. 648 00:31:18,699 --> 00:31:22,219 Will you make those three decisions each and every day as we 649 00:31:22,219 --> 00:31:24,259 all stand with our head bowed and eyes closed as our musicians 650 00:31:24,259 --> 00:31:25,899 make our way to the four, to the. 651 00:31:25,899 --> 00:31:26,459 To the front. 652 00:31:27,259 --> 00:31:31,739 We'll have a verse of invitation after we pray.