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And we'll continue to be
looking forward to hearing the good

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things that come out of
Heritage Baptist Church.

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If you're not familiar with
Southland Christian Ministries, it

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is primarily a youth camp.

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We have 25 full time employees.

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We have a year round facility
that is serving local churches and

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we have a lot of resources
available to you.

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I mentioned this morning a lot
of adult events.

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I would really encourage you
to take a look at the adult events

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00:00:54,899 --> 00:00:58,659
at the website
southlandcamp.org and like us on

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00:00:58,659 --> 00:01:01,619
social media and follow us on
social media.

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That'll help you keep engaged
in the camp that your, your juniors

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00:01:05,819 --> 00:01:06,819
and teens come to.

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But it'll also show you some
opportunities that might be good

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for you as adults.

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We also have a family camp
that we do always the July 4th week

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during the middle of the
summer and we have a good time with,

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with that.

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I encourage you to take a take
a look at that of course as well.

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We also have a Ministry of
Music, southlandmusic.org you can

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check that out.

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We have a lot of recordings
that we've produced that are all

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available digitally for you to
enjoy and with full orchestra.

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The teens might remember our
theme recording this summer.

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What we try to do is set a
theme and then give them music that

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they can enjoy throughout the
week of camp and then they can listen

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to it on an ongoing basis to
remember their decisions.

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And the theme was, anybody
over there know teenagers take courage?

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That's right.

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Good job.

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You guys listened well and we
had a theme song.

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And we studied the life of
Daniel who in the midst of a wicked

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culture as a young man was
willing to take courage and do the

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right thing and definitely
want to continue to remind the young

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people about that.

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We do a podcast also that's
available for anyone to listen to.

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It's specifically meant to be
for the teenagers that come to help

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them on a regular basis hear
the word of God and walk and walk

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what they say, they talk what
what their talk is.

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And it's called Walk Talks.

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So you can listen to that podcast.

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And we're doing a study
through the greatest sermon ever

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preached, the Sermon on the Mount.

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And that's the theme right now.

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And we just actually started that.

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The Way of the King is the
title of the podcast series on the

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Walk Talks.

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And so we also have a sermon
podcast so you can hear a lot of

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the sermons.

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So if you're interested in
hearing some of the preaching that

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goes on at Southland Christian
Camp, you can all take advantage

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of that in those digital formats.

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00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:58,199
And if there's anything we can
ever do to be a blessing to you and

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your ministry and to your
families, the families here in this

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ministry.

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We want to do that.

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And we're so thankful for the
young people in particular.

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This past summer, we saw over
150 professions of faith as the gospel

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was preached throughout the summer.

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About 2,400 campers that came
through the camp.

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That's roughly around 300 a
week as we go throughout the summer.

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If you're ever traveling I20
across east of here, of course we'd

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love for you to stop by and
visit the camp, show you around a

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little bit.

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It's just about 15 minutes off
of Interstate 20, just south of Minden,

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Louisiana, and a little town
called Ringgold, Louisiana.

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Southland was the Bible Memory
association camp.

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BMA Miracle Camp is what they
called it.

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And they had several camps
around the country up until the early

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90s.

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And then it changed overhands
and became Southland Christian Camp

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at that time.

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And there's a history of that
on the.

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On the website if you're
interested in seeing a little more

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of the history there.

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But ministry for the word of
God and the gospel sake has been

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going on on that property
since the 1940s.

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And so we're thankful for the
camp property.

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We're updating the facility.

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We have some projects going
on, new sandlot volleyball courts

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and pickleball courts that
we're finishing up right now, a new

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guy's cabin and several other
things that are going on at the camp.

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We definitely covet your prayers.

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We love partnering with
churches just like yours.

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And thank you for praying for
us and involving yourselves with

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the ministry of Southland.

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It's been a joy to be able to
be here with you today.

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Now, I told you this morning,
we're going to look at a passage

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of scripture that I hope will
be an encouragement to us and a blessing

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to us and a challenge to us
with this theme, having the energy

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to endure.

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If you'll do this with me and
stand, we're going to read the scripture

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together and we're going to do
this responsively.

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I'll read the first, the odd
numbered verses, the first, the third,

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and then together you join in
on the even numbered verses.

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So we'll end together in verse 18.

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And I want you to let the word
of God to fall on your ears as we

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hear it and to soak into your heart.

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And then we'll make reference
to some points that I hope will be

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a help to us as we study the
life of the apostle Paul and his

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own personal testimony and
desire to not quit his desire to

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not faint.

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So I'll begin in.

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We're in second Corinthians,
chapter four, and we'll read together.

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I'll read the odd numbered
verses and you join with me on the

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even numbered verses.

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Therefore, seeing we have this
ministry, as we have received mercy,

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we faint not, but have
renounced the hidden things of dishonesty.

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Not walking in craftiness nor
handling the word of God deceitfully,

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but by a manifestation of the
truth, commending ourselves to every

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man's conscience in the sight
of God.

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But if our gospel be hid, it
is hid to them that are lost in whom

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the God of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which believe

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not, lest the light of the
glorious gospel of Christ, who is

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the image of God, should shine
unto them.

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For we preach not ourselves,
but but Christ Jesus the Lord, and

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ourselves your servants.

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For Jesus sake.

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For God, who hath commanded
the light to shine out of darkness,

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has shined in our hearts to
give the light of the knowledge of

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the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ.

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But we have this treasure in
earthen vessels that the excellency

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of the power may be of God and
not of us.

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We are troubled on every side,
yet not distressed.

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We are perplexed, but not in despair.

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Persecuted, but not forsaken,
Cast down, but not destroyed.

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Always bearing about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus.

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That the life also of Jesus
might be made manifest in our body.

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For we which live are alway
delivered unto death.

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For Jesus sake, that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest

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in our mortal flesh.

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So then death worketh in us,
but life in you.

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We having the same spirit of
faith, according as it is written,

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I believed, and therefore have
I spoken.

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We also believe, and therefore
speak, knowing that he which raised

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up the Lord Jesus shall raise
up us also by Jesus and shall present

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us with you.

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For all things are for your sakes.

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That the abundant grace might,
through the thanksgiving of many,

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redound to the glory of God.

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For which cause we faint not.

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But though our outward man
perish, yet the inward man is renewed

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day by day.

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For our light affliction,
which is but for a moment, worketh

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for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory, while

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we look not at the things
which are seen, but at the things

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which are not seen.

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For the things which are seen
are temporal, but the things which

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are not seen are eternal.

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Lord, would you add your
blessing to the reading of the Word

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of God and the preaching of
the Word of God.

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Fill our hearts with your Truth.

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Holy Spirit, speak and convict
and confront and challenge us to

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change.

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Tonight, in Jesus name I pray
and everyone says Amen.

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Thank you for reading the
scripture with me.

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And we'll make reference to
these verses as we go throughout

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the message tonight.

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The books of first and second
Corinthians are good books for every

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church to study.

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The first book, the Apostle
Paul spends a lot of time dealing

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with specific issues that all
churches go through.

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And that's why it's still a
very good book.

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And under inspiration, every
book's a good book.

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And the second book is a book
where the Apostle Paul is actually

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defending his own apostleship.

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Here in this text, where we
are, we are looking is in a section

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of scripture where he's
personally trying to communicate

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his heart and his testimony of
not quitting, not fainting, but continuing

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to minister even though his
ministry was seemingly falling on

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deaf ears.

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Have you ever had a time where
you wanted to throw in the towel?

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Have you ever had a time where
you wanted to quit?

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Have you ever had a time where
it felt so dark, so heavy that you

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couldn't trudge forward?

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Well, that's where the Apostle
Paul is in this text.

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Now how many of you, that's an
encouragement to you that if the

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Apostle Paul can go through
what he went through and continue

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to be faithful, how many of
you know we can be faithful as well?

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Many years ago, my brother
Mark and I, we were traveling in

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an evangelistic team.

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I have an identical twin brother.

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His name is Mark.

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00:09:51,279 --> 00:09:52,359
He looks just like me.

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00:09:52,359 --> 00:09:54,959
If he was here, you would, you
would only tell us apart because

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I wear glasses and he does not.

187
00:09:57,279 --> 00:09:59,359
We both marry girls with the
same name.

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00:09:59,519 --> 00:10:02,479
My brother married a girl by
the name of Amy and I married a girl

189
00:10:02,479 --> 00:10:03,479
by the name of Amy.

190
00:10:03,479 --> 00:10:05,709
And it was always funny
because we would show up to churches

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00:10:05,709 --> 00:10:08,709
to do our evangelistic
meetings and people would ask the

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00:10:08,709 --> 00:10:11,109
Amy's if they were sisters.

193
00:10:11,829 --> 00:10:13,309
I thought that was always funny.

194
00:10:13,309 --> 00:10:15,669
No, they're not sisters
because their mom would not name

195
00:10:15,669 --> 00:10:16,469
them the same name.

196
00:10:16,469 --> 00:10:19,029
But anyway, they were
definitely sisters in law.

197
00:10:19,269 --> 00:10:22,989
We named all of our children
with M letters, my brother Mark's

198
00:10:22,989 --> 00:10:26,389
kids, as we traveled the road
in RVs church to church.

199
00:10:26,389 --> 00:10:30,149
My brother Mark's kids were
Megan, Madison, Morgan and Meredith.

200
00:10:30,849 --> 00:10:34,169
And my kids were Micah,
Malachi, Michaela and McKenna.

201
00:10:34,169 --> 00:10:36,289
We tried to confuse the
churches, that's for sure.

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00:10:37,009 --> 00:10:41,089
Well, you know, churches even,
even this, this weekend, churches

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00:10:41,089 --> 00:10:42,529
like to take care of the preachers.

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00:10:42,529 --> 00:10:44,769
And so one of the ways they
like to take care of the preachers,

205
00:10:44,769 --> 00:10:47,489
which I was Always glad for is
to feed them.

206
00:10:48,209 --> 00:10:50,009
And we loved, I love to eat.

207
00:10:50,009 --> 00:10:51,409
Anybody else out there like that?

208
00:10:51,489 --> 00:10:53,609
My wife's the type of person
that eats to live.

209
00:10:53,609 --> 00:10:56,929
I'm the type of person that
lives to eat, that's for sure.

210
00:10:57,009 --> 00:10:58,689
There's a big difference
between the two.

211
00:10:59,089 --> 00:11:03,009
And what we decided to do is
after several years of traveling

212
00:11:03,009 --> 00:11:05,289
on the road and all the
desserts and all the things that

213
00:11:05,289 --> 00:11:09,009
people were given to us, we
decided that we better do something

214
00:11:09,329 --> 00:11:11,489
regular in physical exercise.

215
00:11:12,048 --> 00:11:14,649
So a friend of ours challenged
my brother Mark and I.

216
00:11:14,649 --> 00:11:17,969
This was a college friend and
after we did this, I don't know if

217
00:11:17,969 --> 00:11:21,889
he's still my friend, but
anyway, he challenged us to train

218
00:11:22,409 --> 00:11:24,329
and run a marathon.

219
00:11:25,369 --> 00:11:26,489
Now how many of you in here?

220
00:11:26,489 --> 00:11:29,449
Is there anyone in here that
has ever run a marathon or more?

221
00:11:30,329 --> 00:11:31,169
Anybody at all?

222
00:11:31,169 --> 00:11:32,649
Okay, anybody?

223
00:11:32,809 --> 00:11:33,449
10K?

224
00:11:33,689 --> 00:11:35,009
Some 10k ers out there?

225
00:11:35,009 --> 00:11:35,929
Okay, a few people.

226
00:11:36,169 --> 00:11:38,089
5K, 50 yard dash.

227
00:11:39,049 --> 00:11:43,209
The most I had ever run was in
elementary school at field day.

228
00:11:43,209 --> 00:11:48,089
That was the most I had ever
run like a 50 yard dash or 400, 400

229
00:11:48,089 --> 00:11:50,369
meters around the track as an
elementary school kid.

230
00:11:50,369 --> 00:11:52,649
That was the most I had ever
done in any kind of race.

231
00:11:52,649 --> 00:11:56,969
And so I had never really
thought that running would ever be

232
00:11:56,969 --> 00:11:57,169
fun.

233
00:11:57,169 --> 00:11:57,849
And guess what?

234
00:11:57,849 --> 00:12:02,049
After training and running two
marathons, I still will tell you,

235
00:12:02,129 --> 00:12:03,489
running is still not fun.

236
00:12:03,489 --> 00:12:04,049
Amen.

237
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I never got to the point
where, yeah, I just look forward

238
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to that run.

239
00:12:08,609 --> 00:12:12,489
Well, what I learned in
running two marathons, which I would

240
00:12:12,489 --> 00:12:15,649
definitely encourage you to
train for a marathon if you're still

241
00:12:15,649 --> 00:12:18,729
in, in condition that to do
that, I would encourage you to do

242
00:12:18,729 --> 00:12:19,009
it.

243
00:12:19,009 --> 00:12:21,269
Life lessons galore.

244
00:12:21,269 --> 00:12:23,789
Some of those I'm going to
share with you even in the message

245
00:12:23,789 --> 00:12:24,269
tonight.

246
00:12:24,669 --> 00:12:26,509
But I Learned I ran two marathons.

247
00:12:26,509 --> 00:12:29,309
My brother Mark actually ran
15 marathons.

248
00:12:29,629 --> 00:12:30,589
Good for him.

249
00:12:32,589 --> 00:12:33,789
I always cheered him on.

250
00:12:33,789 --> 00:12:35,909
Like I did two and I was like,
that's enough for me.

251
00:12:35,909 --> 00:12:38,629
And I've run a few other like
half marathons and things like that

252
00:12:38,629 --> 00:12:38,949
since.

253
00:12:38,949 --> 00:12:41,989
And the fact of the matter is
I exercise so I can eat whatever

254
00:12:41,989 --> 00:12:42,389
I want.

255
00:12:42,389 --> 00:12:43,909
That's, that's the reason I exercise.

256
00:12:43,909 --> 00:12:47,839
It's never been really fun,
but I learned a lot of things from

257
00:12:47,839 --> 00:12:48,959
the marathon race.

258
00:12:48,959 --> 00:12:52,039
See in the first marathon,
it's 26.2 miles.

259
00:12:52,039 --> 00:12:55,839
I had never run any kind of
distances and every training run

260
00:12:55,839 --> 00:12:59,599
that I did in the 18 weeks
prior to the marathon was giving

261
00:12:59,599 --> 00:13:03,079
me the next record for my
amount of running.

262
00:13:03,239 --> 00:13:06,079
So the one first started off
like I had never run more than three

263
00:13:06,079 --> 00:13:06,439
miles.

264
00:13:06,439 --> 00:13:09,359
And so When I ran five miles,
I was like, wow, I actually can do

265
00:13:09,359 --> 00:13:09,639
this.

266
00:13:10,199 --> 00:13:13,239
Then the next week I ran seven
miles, and the next week I ran like

267
00:13:13,239 --> 00:13:14,439
nine miles, et cetera.

268
00:13:14,519 --> 00:13:18,569
Up till 21 miles was the most
that you run during the training.

269
00:13:19,129 --> 00:13:22,849
So when you come to the
marathon, you've never run 26.2 miles.

270
00:13:22,849 --> 00:13:27,209
You've just run, in my case,
21 miles at one time, which was bad

271
00:13:27,209 --> 00:13:32,249
enough, I will tell you, but
the marathon is, is actually really,

272
00:13:32,249 --> 00:13:33,209
really awesome.

273
00:13:33,609 --> 00:13:35,489
You're like, come on, are you serious?

274
00:13:35,489 --> 00:13:37,369
Well, there's people cheering
you on.

275
00:13:38,409 --> 00:13:42,369
There's places along the way
that are giving you Gatorade and

276
00:13:42,369 --> 00:13:44,649
water and other treats along
the way.

277
00:13:45,289 --> 00:13:49,129
And then at the end of the
race, your family's there and there's

278
00:13:49,129 --> 00:13:51,769
elation and you get a medal.

279
00:13:52,009 --> 00:13:56,009
Now you paid to get the medal
and everything else that comes along

280
00:13:56,009 --> 00:13:56,489
with it.

281
00:13:56,649 --> 00:13:58,969
You paid to tear up your body
like that.

282
00:13:59,769 --> 00:14:03,649
But there's a lot of cool
aspects of the marathon that I want

283
00:14:03,649 --> 00:14:07,929
to relate to us, because life
is like a marathon.

284
00:14:08,249 --> 00:14:09,209
Did you know that?

285
00:14:10,169 --> 00:14:13,169
Well, my first marathon, being
a competitor, that was.

286
00:14:13,169 --> 00:14:15,459
Mark and I decided we were
going to try.

287
00:14:15,539 --> 00:14:18,099
We didn't really study it a
whole lot, but we were going to try

288
00:14:18,419 --> 00:14:22,659
to run the whole race without
stopping, without walking, without

289
00:14:22,659 --> 00:14:25,059
resting, without stopping at all.

290
00:14:25,539 --> 00:14:28,459
And if you've ever done any
kind of long distance run that's

291
00:14:28,459 --> 00:14:29,299
not recommended.

292
00:14:29,539 --> 00:14:33,419
Well, I found out in that
first marathon at mile number 23

293
00:14:33,419 --> 00:14:37,859
in Washington, D.C. i did what
marathoners call hit the wall.

294
00:14:38,739 --> 00:14:40,099
Do you know what hitting the
wall is?

295
00:14:40,099 --> 00:14:40,739
It's when you're.

296
00:14:40,739 --> 00:14:40,949
When.

297
00:14:41,019 --> 00:14:43,819
When your mind says go, but
your body says no.

298
00:14:44,859 --> 00:14:48,099
It's when literally,
physically exhaustion sets in.

299
00:14:48,099 --> 00:14:51,379
Your muscles don't have the
right nutrition, and before long

300
00:14:51,379 --> 00:14:52,619
you start pulling muscles.

301
00:14:52,619 --> 00:14:54,859
Some people collapse, some
people pass out.

302
00:14:55,099 --> 00:14:57,659
Some people actually quit the
race when they hit the wall.

303
00:14:57,819 --> 00:15:01,099
Thankfully, I didn't have to
quit the race, but I did have a major

304
00:15:01,259 --> 00:15:03,379
hamstring pull, if you know
what I mean.

305
00:15:03,379 --> 00:15:07,539
It didn't rip in half, but it
actually seized up like it was going

306
00:15:07,539 --> 00:15:08,379
to rip in half.

307
00:15:09,029 --> 00:15:12,749
I basically hobbled like this
from mile 23 for the rest of the

308
00:15:12,749 --> 00:15:13,349
marathon.

309
00:15:14,549 --> 00:15:15,949
Did my brother Mark wait for me?

310
00:15:15,949 --> 00:15:17,189
Did my brother Mark help me?

311
00:15:17,189 --> 00:15:18,709
Did my brother Mark stay with me?

312
00:15:18,789 --> 00:15:19,589
No, he didn't.

313
00:15:19,589 --> 00:15:20,189
Shame on him.

314
00:15:20,189 --> 00:15:21,349
But anyway, no.

315
00:15:21,509 --> 00:15:23,989
One of the things you learn is
you got to run your own race.

316
00:15:24,309 --> 00:15:26,909
But the other thing you got to
learn is you got to bear one another's

317
00:15:26,909 --> 00:15:27,549
burdens, right?

318
00:15:27,549 --> 00:15:29,269
Anyway, he should have stayed
with me.

319
00:15:29,269 --> 00:15:30,869
There's A spiritual lesson in that.

320
00:15:31,189 --> 00:15:32,509
But I did finish the race.

321
00:15:32,509 --> 00:15:35,669
But I learned something very
valuable in that first marathon that,

322
00:15:35,739 --> 00:15:39,579
that I put into practice in my
second marathon in Akron, Ohio.

323
00:15:40,219 --> 00:15:43,539
And I finished that marathon
still under the four hour timeframe

324
00:15:43,539 --> 00:15:44,499
that I was shooting for.

325
00:15:44,499 --> 00:15:46,939
I finished in like 3 hours and
48 minutes.

326
00:15:46,939 --> 00:15:48,699
The first marathon this.

327
00:15:48,699 --> 00:15:51,659
And we didn't stop, but I
definitely had to walk, basically

328
00:15:51,738 --> 00:15:56,059
walk trot from mile 23 to mile
to the, to the finish line.

329
00:15:56,299 --> 00:15:59,899
But in Akron, after
understanding that it would be really

330
00:15:59,899 --> 00:16:04,319
wise for me to take advantage
of the rest stops, not necessarily

331
00:16:04,319 --> 00:16:06,399
sit down, take a nap, though.

332
00:16:06,399 --> 00:16:09,719
Some ultra marathoners do that
when they're running the 300 kilometers

333
00:16:09,719 --> 00:16:13,079
or the 150 kilometer, 150
miles that some of those guys that

334
00:16:13,079 --> 00:16:16,839
are insane, that's what they
do, you know, the ultra marathoners.

335
00:16:16,839 --> 00:16:19,039
I mean, I'm a wimp, just
running a marathon.

336
00:16:19,359 --> 00:16:21,199
Get out there and run an ultramarathon.

337
00:16:21,199 --> 00:16:24,079
That's something I will never
do, I promise you that.

338
00:16:24,399 --> 00:16:29,279
I just saw a documentary about
these guys that, that ran a 300 kilometer

339
00:16:29,279 --> 00:16:34,629
trail, trail marathon, ultra
marathon, four different trails in

340
00:16:34,629 --> 00:16:38,029
Hong Kong that took them up
over the mountains, 300 kilometers

341
00:16:38,029 --> 00:16:38,989
continuously.

342
00:16:39,309 --> 00:16:41,709
They slept on basically on the trail.

343
00:16:42,349 --> 00:16:44,189
10 minutes here, 15 minutes there.

344
00:16:44,189 --> 00:16:44,669
And for.

345
00:16:44,989 --> 00:16:46,228
That can't be good for you.

346
00:16:46,228 --> 00:16:48,229
But anyway, that's, that's not
part of the message.

347
00:16:48,229 --> 00:16:48,829
But anyway.

348
00:16:49,789 --> 00:16:51,789
Second marathon, Akron, Ohio.

349
00:16:52,189 --> 00:16:55,549
Stopping at the rest stops,
getting the nutrition that I needed,

350
00:16:55,939 --> 00:16:58,779
getting the Gatorade, taking
time with the Gatorade, taking time

351
00:16:58,779 --> 00:17:03,019
with the water and enjoying
those stops along the way, usually

352
00:17:03,019 --> 00:17:05,779
every mile and a half, every
two miles or something like that.

353
00:17:06,099 --> 00:17:06,739
Guess what?

354
00:17:06,819 --> 00:17:07,939
Never hit the wall.

355
00:17:08,339 --> 00:17:09,379
That was a good experience.

356
00:17:10,419 --> 00:17:12,179
Finished with a smile on my face.

357
00:17:12,179 --> 00:17:16,699
It was still somewhat painful
because you're tired, you're exhausted

358
00:17:16,699 --> 00:17:19,379
at the end of the race, but
you finished better.

359
00:17:19,939 --> 00:17:20,339
Why?

360
00:17:20,819 --> 00:17:25,139
Because you had energy
inputted into your system along the

361
00:17:25,139 --> 00:17:25,379
way.

362
00:17:25,379 --> 00:17:29,579
You had rest stops along the
way to give you the fuel that you

363
00:17:29,579 --> 00:17:31,659
needed to finish the race strong.

364
00:17:31,819 --> 00:17:33,659
Are you seeing where I'm going spiritually?

365
00:17:34,779 --> 00:17:38,459
Well, here in this text, what
we find is some spiritual rest points.

366
00:17:39,179 --> 00:17:44,459
We cannot endure the marathon
in life without taking advantage

367
00:17:44,859 --> 00:17:50,069
of the rest stops and making
sure we are fueling our life with.

368
00:17:50,299 --> 00:17:53,779
Well, now I'm the type of
person when I drive my car and I

369
00:17:53,779 --> 00:17:57,979
start to see it getting too
empty in its fuel, I like to kind

370
00:17:57,979 --> 00:18:00,179
of press the envelope and see
how far I can go.

371
00:18:00,179 --> 00:18:01,339
Is anybody else like that?

372
00:18:01,499 --> 00:18:03,579
Most men are kind of, kind of
like that.

373
00:18:03,579 --> 00:18:04,459
My wife's like you better.

374
00:18:04,459 --> 00:18:05,099
We better get.

375
00:18:05,339 --> 00:18:06,218
Better get fuel.

376
00:18:06,218 --> 00:18:07,019
Oh, it's okay.

377
00:18:07,099 --> 00:18:09,099
It's running on fumes right now.

378
00:18:09,419 --> 00:18:13,339
And that has caused me to run
out of gas a few times in my life.

379
00:18:13,579 --> 00:18:14,619
Some of you are smiling.

380
00:18:14,619 --> 00:18:15,659
You know what I'm talking about.

381
00:18:16,129 --> 00:18:19,409
And my wife's like, why didn't
you just stop and refuel ahead of

382
00:18:19,409 --> 00:18:19,889
the game?

383
00:18:20,289 --> 00:18:21,409
And that's a good question.

384
00:18:23,009 --> 00:18:26,209
You can't make it to the
destination if you don't refuel.

385
00:18:27,329 --> 00:18:31,129
And I want to talk about these
refueling stops, what they look like,

386
00:18:31,129 --> 00:18:35,089
and relate that to the
physical experience that I had in

387
00:18:35,089 --> 00:18:39,449
the physical marathon, the
physical race, and talk about the

388
00:18:39,449 --> 00:18:43,299
race of life and what we need
for our life.

389
00:18:43,299 --> 00:18:47,059
And again, this is coming
directly from the Apostle Paul in

390
00:18:47,059 --> 00:18:49,259
a moment where he's going
through it.

391
00:18:49,739 --> 00:18:53,539
He's going through the hard
trial of the more abundantly he loves

392
00:18:53,539 --> 00:18:55,179
them, the less he's being loved.

393
00:18:55,499 --> 00:18:58,779
All right, so as we go through
this, we're going to go kind of step

394
00:18:58,779 --> 00:19:00,139
by step through the text.

395
00:19:00,459 --> 00:19:04,499
The first thing I want you to
notice that relate is relatable from

396
00:19:04,499 --> 00:19:05,739
the physical marathon.

397
00:19:05,739 --> 00:19:09,659
That actually is very easy to
see in the first few verses here.

398
00:19:10,799 --> 00:19:14,719
Number one, There are certain
things in those rest times that have

399
00:19:14,719 --> 00:19:16,879
to be rejected out of our life.

400
00:19:18,079 --> 00:19:20,879
If you're taking notes
tonight, number one is the rest stop

401
00:19:20,879 --> 00:19:21,999
of rejection.

402
00:19:22,559 --> 00:19:23,359
Rejection.

403
00:19:23,599 --> 00:19:26,159
See, when I choose to run a
marathon, there's certain things

404
00:19:26,159 --> 00:19:27,439
I start to say no to.

405
00:19:27,759 --> 00:19:31,079
I'm not running along the
marathon, eating Dunkin Donuts along

406
00:19:31,079 --> 00:19:31,599
the way.

407
00:19:32,159 --> 00:19:35,839
I'm not getting Coca Cola at
the rest stops.

408
00:19:35,839 --> 00:19:39,529
I'm getting water at and
electrolytes and Gatorade at the

409
00:19:39,529 --> 00:19:40,249
rest stops.

410
00:19:40,249 --> 00:19:43,409
There are certain things
marathoners just say no to.

411
00:19:43,409 --> 00:19:43,769
Right?

412
00:19:43,769 --> 00:19:47,329
Because they want to be
physically in shape in order for

413
00:19:47,329 --> 00:19:48,449
them to run the race.

414
00:19:48,449 --> 00:19:48,809
Well.

415
00:19:48,969 --> 00:19:51,489
Well, spiritually speaking,
folks, how many of you know, there

416
00:19:51,489 --> 00:19:53,769
are a lot of things that we
have to say no to.

417
00:19:54,969 --> 00:20:00,609
And we, in the times where we
feel like we can't go on, is not

418
00:20:00,609 --> 00:20:04,529
the time to continually go
after things that are going to harm

419
00:20:04,529 --> 00:20:05,129
us or.

420
00:20:05,279 --> 00:20:09,839
But to continually reject
things out of our life that would

421
00:20:09,919 --> 00:20:11,199
delay our.

422
00:20:11,199 --> 00:20:15,759
Our trip of life and that
would hinder our relationship with

423
00:20:15,759 --> 00:20:16,079
God.

424
00:20:16,079 --> 00:20:19,719
Now, in the Apostle Paul's
case, in the first few verses, we

425
00:20:19,719 --> 00:20:20,639
know this is a theme.

426
00:20:20,639 --> 00:20:21,839
He says, we're not going to quit.

427
00:20:21,839 --> 00:20:22,799
We're not going to faint.

428
00:20:22,799 --> 00:20:25,119
He says it in verse 1, and he
says it in verse 16.

429
00:20:25,439 --> 00:20:26,399
We faint not.

430
00:20:26,799 --> 00:20:29,879
But instead, I will continue
to renounce the hidden things of

431
00:20:29,879 --> 00:20:30,479
dishonesty.

432
00:20:31,669 --> 00:20:33,589
I will renounce the hidden
things that dishonest.

433
00:20:33,589 --> 00:20:34,389
You know what this is?

434
00:20:35,749 --> 00:20:37,509
Denouncing lies out of your life.

435
00:20:38,629 --> 00:20:40,949
You know, anytime we fall into
sin, it's because we're believing

436
00:20:40,949 --> 00:20:41,509
a lie.

437
00:20:42,629 --> 00:20:45,469
We need to wake up and not
deceive ourselves and be deceived

438
00:20:45,469 --> 00:20:47,189
by the world and the flesh and
the devil.

439
00:20:47,189 --> 00:20:51,269
But renounce the things of
dishonesty, the things that are going

440
00:20:51,269 --> 00:20:56,189
on inside that or outside of
our life, cleansing our hands, cleansing

441
00:20:56,189 --> 00:20:56,869
our hearts.

442
00:20:57,599 --> 00:20:59,719
Not walking in craftiness as a preacher.

443
00:20:59,719 --> 00:21:02,079
He's saying, I'm not going to
be a swindler.

444
00:21:02,239 --> 00:21:04,239
I'm not going to be somebody
that manipulates.

445
00:21:04,239 --> 00:21:07,599
And this, this translates into
all of our lives where we try to

446
00:21:07,839 --> 00:21:14,119
save face with our lives many
times and act the way we should when

447
00:21:14,119 --> 00:21:15,999
we know it's not real.

448
00:21:17,279 --> 00:21:19,679
That has to be renounced out
of our life, doesn't it?

449
00:21:20,399 --> 00:21:25,519
Renouncing deception,
renouncing the manipulation of our

450
00:21:25,519 --> 00:21:26,079
life to.

451
00:21:26,519 --> 00:21:29,159
And the hypocrisy out of our life.

452
00:21:29,239 --> 00:21:32,519
He also says, nor handling the
word of God deceitfully.

453
00:21:32,999 --> 00:21:35,559
This is of course, as a
preacher, very important.

454
00:21:35,639 --> 00:21:39,479
We better preach what the
Bible says and handle it well and

455
00:21:39,479 --> 00:21:40,199
honestly.

456
00:21:40,359 --> 00:21:43,599
And he's saying, guys, he's
talking to this church that's not

457
00:21:43,599 --> 00:21:44,359
listening to him.

458
00:21:44,439 --> 00:21:45,999
They're doubting his apostleship.

459
00:21:45,999 --> 00:21:49,399
And he says, look, I'm just
speaking to you, the truth of God,

460
00:21:49,639 --> 00:21:50,399
straightforward.

461
00:21:50,399 --> 00:21:52,759
I'm going to give it to you as
thus saith the Lord.

462
00:21:53,239 --> 00:21:55,719
I'm not teaching it
deceitfully for my own good.

463
00:21:56,679 --> 00:22:00,439
How many of you know there's a
lot of religion and a lot of churches

464
00:22:00,679 --> 00:22:07,639
that are teaching it falsely
and in a deceptive way and in a manipulative

465
00:22:07,639 --> 00:22:08,039
way.

466
00:22:08,359 --> 00:22:10,479
But Paul is saying, I'm not
going to do that.

467
00:22:10,479 --> 00:22:11,799
I'm going to renounce that.

468
00:22:11,879 --> 00:22:16,039
The tendency to try to appeal
to the crowd, the tendency to try

469
00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:18,439
to not be what I actually.

470
00:22:19,119 --> 00:22:21,359
And to live in hypocrisy.

471
00:22:21,359 --> 00:22:22,519
I'm going to renounce that.

472
00:22:22,519 --> 00:22:26,639
To renounce hidden things, the
lies and the deception that's all

473
00:22:26,639 --> 00:22:27,359
around us.

474
00:22:27,519 --> 00:22:30,999
But instead I will but by
manifestation of the truth, commend

475
00:22:30,999 --> 00:22:33,439
myself to every man's
conscience in the sight of God.

476
00:22:33,439 --> 00:22:33,759
I will.

477
00:22:33,759 --> 00:22:34,879
I will stand before God.

478
00:22:34,879 --> 00:22:38,719
You're only as spiritual as
you are before the eyes of God alone.

479
00:22:40,399 --> 00:22:43,759
Commending yourself to
renounce anything out of your life

480
00:22:44,809 --> 00:22:48,809
because you will not make it
in the marathon of life if you harbor

481
00:22:48,809 --> 00:22:50,969
sin, hide sin and cover it up.

482
00:22:52,089 --> 00:22:53,969
He that covers his sin shall
not prosper.

483
00:22:53,969 --> 00:22:57,449
But whoso confesseth and
forsaketh it shall have mercy.

484
00:22:57,769 --> 00:23:00,809
Praise the Lord that there's
mercy with God.

485
00:23:01,449 --> 00:23:02,809
So confess, don't cover.

486
00:23:02,809 --> 00:23:03,929
God sees it already.

487
00:23:03,929 --> 00:23:05,689
He already knows what's going on.

488
00:23:06,009 --> 00:23:08,769
Stop trying to run the race of
life with all the baggage.

489
00:23:08,769 --> 00:23:12,869
Lay aside every weight and the
sin that that does so easily beset

490
00:23:12,869 --> 00:23:15,629
you and run with patience the
race that is set before you.

491
00:23:15,709 --> 00:23:19,589
Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, it's all

492
00:23:19,589 --> 00:23:20,189
through Scripture.

493
00:23:20,189 --> 00:23:22,949
Life is like a race, but we
can get weighed down if we don't

494
00:23:22,949 --> 00:23:25,709
renounce the things that need
to be renounced out of our lives.

495
00:23:26,109 --> 00:23:28,509
You will never endure in faithfulness.

496
00:23:28,909 --> 00:23:33,829
If you're hanging on to
harboring or hiding wickedness, renounce

497
00:23:33,829 --> 00:23:34,109
it.

498
00:23:35,149 --> 00:23:37,949
Paul says, number one, that's
a priority.

499
00:23:37,949 --> 00:23:40,229
It's almost a prerequisite for
your race.

500
00:23:40,229 --> 00:23:43,859
But it's as you go throughout
the race, you're not grabbing a hold

501
00:23:43,859 --> 00:23:46,739
of the things that are going
to make you heavy in the race.

502
00:23:47,059 --> 00:23:50,939
You're actually trying to stay
lighter in the race, eat healthier

503
00:23:50,939 --> 00:23:51,699
in the race.

504
00:23:53,139 --> 00:23:55,099
And that's what we need in our
life as well.

505
00:23:55,099 --> 00:23:59,819
So number one is renouncing
certain things, rejection out of

506
00:23:59,819 --> 00:24:00,259
our life.

507
00:24:00,579 --> 00:24:04,019
What needs to be rejected out
of your life so that you can faithfully

508
00:24:04,019 --> 00:24:04,579
endure?

509
00:24:05,299 --> 00:24:09,099
Number two, I want you to
notice, not only is there rejection,

510
00:24:09,099 --> 00:24:10,819
but number two, there's reflection.

511
00:24:11,989 --> 00:24:14,229
The second word is the word reflection.

512
00:24:14,789 --> 00:24:18,229
And this is when in verse
three, he says, and by the way, if

513
00:24:18,229 --> 00:24:21,589
you do not reject, you will
not reflect.

514
00:24:22,869 --> 00:24:23,349
Say that.

515
00:24:23,349 --> 00:24:24,469
Let me say that one more time.

516
00:24:24,949 --> 00:24:28,629
If you do not reject the
sinfulness out of your life as a

517
00:24:28,629 --> 00:24:32,589
Christian, you will not be
properly reflecting the light of

518
00:24:32,589 --> 00:24:35,189
the glorious gospel to the
lost people around you.

519
00:24:36,799 --> 00:24:41,639
But this is also encouraging
for us because here we find the motivation

520
00:24:41,639 --> 00:24:47,479
for our existence is to be
reflected on and reflected out of

521
00:24:47,479 --> 00:24:48,079
our life.

522
00:24:48,479 --> 00:24:50,039
Two ideas of reflection, right?

523
00:24:50,039 --> 00:24:51,599
It's like the thinker statue.

524
00:24:51,839 --> 00:24:57,239
I want you to reflect in the
sense that our lives are to be consumed

525
00:24:57,239 --> 00:24:59,279
with two things that are in
the verses to follow.

526
00:24:59,759 --> 00:25:02,479
The gospel and the glory of God.

527
00:25:02,789 --> 00:25:03,429
Say them together.

528
00:25:03,749 --> 00:25:06,269
The gospel and the glory of God.

529
00:25:06,269 --> 00:25:06,949
One more time.

530
00:25:07,029 --> 00:25:09,229
The gospel and the glory of God.

531
00:25:09,229 --> 00:25:12,629
We must spend a lot of time
reflecting and thinking and being

532
00:25:12,629 --> 00:25:17,549
motivated and stirred in our
soul about the gospel and about the

533
00:25:17,549 --> 00:25:18,469
glory of God.

534
00:25:18,789 --> 00:25:20,069
This is our motivation.

535
00:25:20,309 --> 00:25:21,909
This is why we do what we do.

536
00:25:21,909 --> 00:25:25,269
This is what gets us to the
finish line, which in the spiritual

537
00:25:25,269 --> 00:25:28,149
sense is when we cross over
Jordan, right?

538
00:25:28,419 --> 00:25:28,619
And.

539
00:25:28,619 --> 00:25:30,259
Or he comes and takes us home.

540
00:25:30,259 --> 00:25:32,499
And don't you want to finish?

541
00:25:32,499 --> 00:25:35,499
Well, you keep the Gospel and
the glory of God.

542
00:25:35,499 --> 00:25:39,779
In mind you reflecting upon
it, the death, burial, resurrection,

543
00:25:39,939 --> 00:25:45,139
the glorious truths that the
gospel, the salvation theology brings

544
00:25:45,139 --> 00:25:48,899
to light to keep us
encouraged, to keep us motivated.

545
00:25:49,219 --> 00:25:51,339
And then second of all, the
glory of God.

546
00:25:51,339 --> 00:25:53,619
You see, it's not just all
about the gospel.

547
00:25:53,719 --> 00:25:56,509
The it's actually more all
about the glory of God.

548
00:25:57,229 --> 00:26:01,869
Our lives are to be magnific
magnification devices for the greatness

549
00:26:02,269 --> 00:26:04,829
and the character of our great God.

550
00:26:05,229 --> 00:26:08,469
And whatsoever you do, the
Bible says, glorify God, whether

551
00:26:08,469 --> 00:26:11,389
you eat or drink or whatever,
you do, do all to the glory of God.

552
00:26:11,469 --> 00:26:14,189
All right, so reflecting on
that motivates us.

553
00:26:14,909 --> 00:26:17,069
It keeps us running in the race.

554
00:26:18,589 --> 00:26:23,479
You know, to be honest with
you, the physical marathon, there

555
00:26:23,479 --> 00:26:27,679
has to be something that's
motivating you because why in the

556
00:26:27,679 --> 00:26:30,879
world are you out there kind
of putting your body through that

557
00:26:30,879 --> 00:26:34,079
26.2 miles, in that case in a marathon.

558
00:26:34,079 --> 00:26:37,279
I was thinking that when I was
watching the documentary, what possesses

559
00:26:37,279 --> 00:26:38,919
somebody to do what they were doing?

560
00:26:39,239 --> 00:26:43,239
And they started to talk about
some of the different motivations.

561
00:26:43,879 --> 00:26:47,639
And some of those things would
not motivate me, however, to run

562
00:26:47,639 --> 00:26:50,039
300 km in a mountain race.

563
00:26:51,079 --> 00:26:54,999
But something motivated me to
put one foot in front of the other,

564
00:26:54,999 --> 00:26:58,439
to run a full marathon, to run
two marathons.

565
00:26:59,399 --> 00:27:00,839
There's always a motivation.

566
00:27:00,919 --> 00:27:01,719
Mark this down.

567
00:27:01,799 --> 00:27:04,999
Everybody has something that's
motivating them.

568
00:27:05,959 --> 00:27:09,359
The problem is when we're
motivated by the things that should

569
00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:13,269
be renounced out of our life,
then our motivation takes us the

570
00:27:13,269 --> 00:27:14,269
wrong way in life.

571
00:27:15,069 --> 00:27:18,629
But when the motivation is
proper, reflected upon in the sense

572
00:27:18,629 --> 00:27:23,509
of thinking upon it, letting
it stir our lives, helps keep us

573
00:27:23,509 --> 00:27:27,109
moving forward, helps us to be
faithful when it seems like all is

574
00:27:27,109 --> 00:27:27,469
lost.

575
00:27:27,789 --> 00:27:28,189
Why?

576
00:27:28,749 --> 00:27:30,349
Because we're not here for ourselves.

577
00:27:30,349 --> 00:27:33,149
We're here for the gospel and
we're here for the glory of God,

578
00:27:33,149 --> 00:27:33,549
folks.

579
00:27:34,589 --> 00:27:36,109
That's what's motivating us.

580
00:27:37,549 --> 00:27:42,859
And one day, if we're faithful
in the short marathon race of called

581
00:27:42,859 --> 00:27:46,339
life, will hear him say, well
done, thou good and faithful servant.

582
00:27:47,059 --> 00:27:51,179
Now this text also brings to
light the second idea of this idea

583
00:27:51,179 --> 00:27:52,059
of reflection.

584
00:27:52,059 --> 00:27:55,099
It's not just good enough to
think about it, be motivated by it.

585
00:27:55,099 --> 00:27:55,459
No.

586
00:27:55,779 --> 00:27:58,139
Now it needs to come out of
our existence.

587
00:27:58,139 --> 00:28:00,299
It needs to shine out of us.

588
00:28:00,299 --> 00:28:04,059
Because if our gospel is hid,
it is hid to them that are lost.

589
00:28:04,059 --> 00:28:06,019
Do you know there's a lost and
dying world out there?

590
00:28:06,019 --> 00:28:07,299
There's people all around you.

591
00:28:07,699 --> 00:28:11,379
You need to be very serious
about your sphere of influence.

592
00:28:12,339 --> 00:28:16,059
And if you hang on and don't
reject sin, your sphere of influence

593
00:28:16,059 --> 00:28:19,139
is going to see sinfulness and
hypocrisy out of your life.

594
00:28:20,019 --> 00:28:22,779
But when you are motivated by
the gospel and the glory of God,

595
00:28:22,779 --> 00:28:27,299
you can reflect the light of
the gospel in the way that you behave.

596
00:28:28,659 --> 00:28:32,179
And what we believe determines
the way we behave.

597
00:28:33,149 --> 00:28:36,469
And when we go out and we live
the way we're supposed to live and

598
00:28:36,469 --> 00:28:39,309
we make decisions the way
we're supposed to make the decisions,

599
00:28:39,309 --> 00:28:41,149
then our gospel shines brightly.

600
00:28:41,149 --> 00:28:44,909
It's not hid do you remember
the old, old Sunday school song?

601
00:28:46,029 --> 00:28:48,149
This little light of mine, I'm
going to let it shine.

602
00:28:48,149 --> 00:28:51,829
We won't sing it tonight, but
hide it under a bushel.

603
00:28:51,829 --> 00:28:55,229
No, you know, don't let Satan
it out.

604
00:28:56,189 --> 00:28:58,669
Let the light of God shine, folks.

605
00:28:58,669 --> 00:29:00,509
That's what motivates our existence.

606
00:29:01,729 --> 00:29:04,049
Whom the God of this world
hath blinded the mind.

607
00:29:04,049 --> 00:29:06,929
So the devil's at work
blinding the minds of those around

608
00:29:06,929 --> 00:29:07,329
us.

609
00:29:07,969 --> 00:29:11,929
And Paul, remember, he's
reflecting this in reference to his

610
00:29:11,929 --> 00:29:12,769
own experience.

611
00:29:13,809 --> 00:29:17,489
I'm not going to quit because
I'm not here to serve just you.

612
00:29:17,809 --> 00:29:19,089
I'm here to serve God.

613
00:29:19,249 --> 00:29:20,529
I'm here to preach Christ.

614
00:29:20,689 --> 00:29:22,049
I'm here to give the gospel.

615
00:29:22,049 --> 00:29:23,409
I'm here to glorify God.

616
00:29:23,969 --> 00:29:25,729
Not everybody's going to like that.

617
00:29:26,619 --> 00:29:28,619
Not everybody's going to
welcome that.

618
00:29:28,939 --> 00:29:32,899
But it's not going to hinder
us running the race and it's not

619
00:29:32,899 --> 00:29:36,619
going to cause us to hide our
light, you see, lest the light of

620
00:29:36,619 --> 00:29:39,419
the glorious gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine

621
00:29:39,419 --> 00:29:40,059
unto them.

622
00:29:40,139 --> 00:29:42,819
For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord.

623
00:29:42,819 --> 00:29:43,739
We read these verses.

624
00:29:43,739 --> 00:29:44,619
Notice verse 6.

625
00:29:44,859 --> 00:29:47,259
For God commandeth the light
to shine out of darkness.

626
00:29:47,259 --> 00:29:48,539
How many of you are glad for that?

627
00:29:49,259 --> 00:29:53,509
He shined in our hearts it if
you're saved tonight, say amen.

628
00:29:53,989 --> 00:29:56,789
He shined the light of the
gospel in your heart.

629
00:29:58,069 --> 00:29:59,589
Don't let Satan blow it out.

630
00:29:59,829 --> 00:30:02,829
Which by the way, he can't
blow it out in the sense of take

631
00:30:02,829 --> 00:30:03,749
away your soul.

632
00:30:04,229 --> 00:30:05,669
Once you're saved, you're
always saved.

633
00:30:05,669 --> 00:30:06,549
Hallelujah.

634
00:30:07,109 --> 00:30:09,349
But he sure can dim your light.

635
00:30:10,069 --> 00:30:12,549
He sure can yield your light ineffective.

636
00:30:12,869 --> 00:30:16,949
He sure can make your light
very confusing to the lost world.

637
00:30:18,319 --> 00:30:21,599
He says there he has shined it
in our hearts for this purpose to

638
00:30:21,599 --> 00:30:24,399
give the light of the
knowledge of the glory of God in

639
00:30:24,399 --> 00:30:25,439
the face of Jesus Christ.

640
00:30:25,759 --> 00:30:27,919
We're the lower lights
mentioned that this morning.

641
00:30:27,919 --> 00:30:30,959
We're to be burning brightly,
shining for the glory of God.

642
00:30:30,959 --> 00:30:33,358
And folks, verse seven is one
of my favorite verses in all the

643
00:30:33,358 --> 00:30:34,079
new Testament.

644
00:30:34,319 --> 00:30:38,839
This is the treasure that we
have in this earthen vessel that

645
00:30:38,839 --> 00:30:43,119
God wants to use us to declare
his gospel and to shine his glory.

646
00:30:44,799 --> 00:30:49,039
That the excellency of the
power may be of God and not of us.

647
00:30:49,839 --> 00:30:51,199
What a wonderful verse.

648
00:30:52,159 --> 00:30:53,759
What a humbling verse.

649
00:30:54,559 --> 00:30:56,319
What a powerful thought.

650
00:30:57,039 --> 00:30:59,559
You don't live for you if
you're a child of God.

651
00:30:59,559 --> 00:31:01,279
You live for the glory of God.

652
00:31:02,319 --> 00:31:04,919
You live to magnify Christ in
your body.

653
00:31:04,919 --> 00:31:08,519
Whether you live or whether
you die, the Bible says, and that

654
00:31:08,519 --> 00:31:17,029
is an incredible privilege to
motivate our existence, to live for

655
00:31:17,029 --> 00:31:18,629
the gospel and the glory of God.

656
00:31:18,629 --> 00:31:21,309
Folks, this is a rest stop
that we need.

657
00:31:21,309 --> 00:31:25,229
In times where we want to
quit, this is in times where faithfulness

658
00:31:25,229 --> 00:31:25,829
is hard.

659
00:31:26,069 --> 00:31:30,789
In times where we want to
falter or give up, we need to remember

660
00:31:31,429 --> 00:31:35,669
that it's about the gospel and
the glory of God, not about our comfort,

661
00:31:37,119 --> 00:31:40,639
not about our ease, not about
the applause of men.

662
00:31:41,439 --> 00:31:46,519
It's about the applause of God
to hear him say, well done.

663
00:31:46,519 --> 00:31:49,359
Now I just want to encourage
us to reflect on that.

664
00:31:50,399 --> 00:31:51,399
Everybody faces.

665
00:31:51,399 --> 00:31:53,199
I mean, the Apostle Paul's
facing it.

666
00:31:53,679 --> 00:31:54,639
We face it.

667
00:31:55,359 --> 00:31:58,079
Times where we want to quit,
times where we want to faint.

668
00:31:58,399 --> 00:32:01,999
But we got to remember what
this is all about, why we're all

669
00:32:01,999 --> 00:32:05,459
here for the gospel and the
glory of God's sake.

670
00:32:05,459 --> 00:32:06,339
Reflection.

671
00:32:07,139 --> 00:32:07,859
Reflection.

672
00:32:07,859 --> 00:32:09,779
This is the motivation for our.

673
00:32:10,179 --> 00:32:12,659
For our race called life.

674
00:32:12,979 --> 00:32:14,139
Number three, rest stop.

675
00:32:14,139 --> 00:32:18,139
As we're running, we're into
mile like six or eight now, and we're.

676
00:32:18,139 --> 00:32:19,699
We're getting to the next rest stop.

677
00:32:19,699 --> 00:32:20,499
What's the next one?

678
00:32:20,499 --> 00:32:21,099
Renounce.

679
00:32:21,099 --> 00:32:22,939
Reject certain things out of
your life.

680
00:32:22,939 --> 00:32:26,379
Number two, reflection of the
gospel and the glory of God.

681
00:32:26,379 --> 00:32:27,059
Number three.

682
00:32:27,939 --> 00:32:28,739
Renewal.

683
00:32:29,799 --> 00:32:30,439
Renewal.

684
00:32:30,519 --> 00:32:36,239
This is where in the marathon
they give you these cool things that

685
00:32:36,239 --> 00:32:40,439
are sometimes put in gels or
stuff you squeeze in your mouth or

686
00:32:40,439 --> 00:32:45,479
in jelly beans or little gel
cubes, and sometimes you mix it in

687
00:32:45,479 --> 00:32:49,479
some water, extra
electrolytes, extra energy, extra

688
00:32:49,479 --> 00:32:52,639
nutrients that immediately go
to the right place.

689
00:32:52,639 --> 00:32:57,679
They say so that as you're
running, you're renewing your physical

690
00:32:57,679 --> 00:32:58,039
body.

691
00:32:58,709 --> 00:33:02,229
I learned in the first race
that that's very, very important

692
00:33:03,189 --> 00:33:06,469
because I hit the wall in the
first race because I hadn't renewed

693
00:33:06,469 --> 00:33:09,589
myself well in the nutrition
that was necessary for my life.

694
00:33:10,229 --> 00:33:12,069
I was hurting, I was struggling.

695
00:33:12,069 --> 00:33:15,669
And the reason was because I
hadn't renewed myself.

696
00:33:16,149 --> 00:33:21,029
The second marathon, I changed
my tactic and I read up on it and

697
00:33:21,029 --> 00:33:24,029
I actually took my time,
actually walked and sometimes even

698
00:33:24,029 --> 00:33:27,079
physically stopped at those
rest stations to took advantage of

699
00:33:27,079 --> 00:33:29,839
the nice people that were
There giving us all the food and

700
00:33:29,839 --> 00:33:32,279
the extra nutrients that I
needed along the way.

701
00:33:32,439 --> 00:33:33,559
And guess what?

702
00:33:33,959 --> 00:33:35,399
It made a huge difference.

703
00:33:36,359 --> 00:33:38,599
Renewal makes a huge difference.

704
00:33:38,919 --> 00:33:41,559
Now I want you to notice why
we need renewal.

705
00:33:41,719 --> 00:33:45,559
The verses talk about the
apostle Paul going through trouble

706
00:33:45,799 --> 00:33:46,839
on every side.

707
00:33:48,119 --> 00:33:56,169
Perplexities, persecutions,
being cast down, bearing about the

708
00:33:56,169 --> 00:33:57,809
suffering of the body of Christ.

709
00:33:57,809 --> 00:34:02,769
You see that working, and he
reflects that suffering.

710
00:34:02,769 --> 00:34:05,009
To be called like then death
worketh in us.

711
00:34:05,009 --> 00:34:08,489
That's in reference to the
suffering that he's partnering in

712
00:34:08,489 --> 00:34:09,649
the death of Jesus Christ.

713
00:34:09,729 --> 00:34:14,209
So as we suffer, God brings
forth life out of our suffering.

714
00:34:15,089 --> 00:34:17,089
That's what he says in verse,
in verse 12.

715
00:34:17,329 --> 00:34:18,689
So then death worketh in us.

716
00:34:18,689 --> 00:34:20,749
But life you.

717
00:34:20,989 --> 00:34:22,629
So even though I'm going
through these.

718
00:34:22,629 --> 00:34:25,949
These times of suffering, I
want to renew myself.

719
00:34:25,949 --> 00:34:30,149
Because what God is doing out
of the suffering or the hurting or

720
00:34:30,149 --> 00:34:33,669
the times of difficulty in our
lives is he's actually going to work

721
00:34:33,669 --> 00:34:36,829
that out for good in our lives
and in the lives of other people.

722
00:34:38,349 --> 00:34:41,789
We having the same spirit of
faith and talking about his own faithfulness

723
00:34:41,789 --> 00:34:42,629
in walking forward.

724
00:34:42,629 --> 00:34:43,509
And the way.

725
00:34:43,509 --> 00:34:46,858
The way we see the idea of
renewal is, is in verse 16.

726
00:34:46,858 --> 00:34:50,298
For which cause we faint not,
though our outward man perish.

727
00:34:50,298 --> 00:34:55,978
Ever been there yet the inward
man is what renewed day by day.

728
00:34:56,378 --> 00:35:00,578
So this physical renewal can
be related to the spiritual renewal.

729
00:35:00,578 --> 00:35:04,938
The physical renewal is
internal nutrition going to the body

730
00:35:04,938 --> 00:35:10,258
to physically help us maintain
the energy, to continue to put one

731
00:35:10,258 --> 00:35:12,818
foot in front of the other
even into the latter parts of the

732
00:35:12,818 --> 00:35:13,418
marathon.

733
00:35:13,949 --> 00:35:16,189
So that you're getting to the
end of the race and you're still

734
00:35:16,189 --> 00:35:17,069
feeling strong.

735
00:35:18,509 --> 00:35:19,389
Don't you want that?

736
00:35:19,389 --> 00:35:20,349
Spiritually speaking?

737
00:35:21,149 --> 00:35:24,349
And it's all internal,
spiritually speaking as well.

738
00:35:24,669 --> 00:35:25,949
It's all about our heart.

739
00:35:25,949 --> 00:35:28,509
It's all about guarding our
heart with all diligence.

740
00:35:28,509 --> 00:35:30,109
For out of it are the issues
of life.

741
00:35:30,109 --> 00:35:33,549
And so in order to do that, we
need to renew ourselves.

742
00:35:33,869 --> 00:35:34,829
Here's the phrase.

743
00:35:34,829 --> 00:35:38,749
Day by day, day by day is the
only way.

744
00:35:39,239 --> 00:35:39,799
Say that together.

745
00:35:40,279 --> 00:35:42,999
Day by day is the only way.

746
00:35:43,959 --> 00:35:47,799
One foot in front of the other
could be termed each day after another.

747
00:35:47,879 --> 00:35:48,279
Right?

748
00:35:49,319 --> 00:35:51,719
Just doing what you know is right.

749
00:35:52,279 --> 00:35:55,319
Doing those spiritual
disciplines that will renew your

750
00:35:55,319 --> 00:35:56,079
spiritual life.

751
00:35:56,079 --> 00:35:58,439
Your heart will be in touch
with God.

752
00:35:58,439 --> 00:36:02,279
Getting to know God,
disciplining yourself day by day

753
00:36:02,439 --> 00:36:08,449
to be in His Word, to memorize
His Word, to meditate on His Word.

754
00:36:09,249 --> 00:36:13,609
Spending much time in prayer,
communicating with God, listening

755
00:36:13,609 --> 00:36:16,529
to God, which I think is a
lost art these days.

756
00:36:16,769 --> 00:36:20,768
Meditation is all consuming in
all of those things.

757
00:36:20,768 --> 00:36:24,169
It's taking in the word of
God, letting it soak into our lives

758
00:36:24,169 --> 00:36:25,889
and listening to the will of God.

759
00:36:26,129 --> 00:36:29,649
And as we pray and say, lord,
speak to me, guess what?

760
00:36:29,649 --> 00:36:32,719
God will speak and we will hear.

761
00:36:32,799 --> 00:36:36,159
Not a physical voice, but
spiritually speaking through his

762
00:36:36,159 --> 00:36:38,879
Word he will renew our hearts.

763
00:36:39,359 --> 00:36:39,799
Folks.

764
00:36:39,799 --> 00:36:42,799
That's why we need this book
every single day.

765
00:36:44,079 --> 00:36:47,599
Make much of the word of God
more to be desired.

766
00:36:47,599 --> 00:36:50,399
Are they than gold, sweeter
also than honey and the honeycomb.

767
00:36:50,479 --> 00:36:52,839
Moreover, by them is thy
servant warned.

768
00:36:52,839 --> 00:36:55,039
And in keeping of them there
is great reward.

769
00:36:55,199 --> 00:36:58,439
Can I just say that we are
living in a day with more tools,

770
00:36:58,439 --> 00:37:01,559
more access, more availability
to to this wonderful book.

771
00:37:01,559 --> 00:37:05,679
But we're in the most Bible
illiterate society known to mankind

772
00:37:06,799 --> 00:37:10,359
because at the same time the
devil takes the technology and he

773
00:37:10,359 --> 00:37:13,439
turns it into worldliness,
flesh, selfishness.

774
00:37:13,599 --> 00:37:16,999
And people are spending hours
and hours and hours on social media

775
00:37:16,999 --> 00:37:21,119
and on video games and all the
other aspects of technology and then

776
00:37:21,119 --> 00:37:23,039
say they don't have time to
read their Bible.

777
00:37:24,559 --> 00:37:27,459
No, we need to make time for
our Bible.

778
00:37:28,179 --> 00:37:31,299
We need to love this book, we
need to learn this book, we need

779
00:37:31,299 --> 00:37:34,299
to listen to this book and we
need to live this book.

780
00:37:34,299 --> 00:37:37,859
This is the key to our day by
day renewal.

781
00:37:38,659 --> 00:37:40,579
And it's not just something
the kids sing.

782
00:37:40,659 --> 00:37:44,179
Read your Bible, pray every
day and you'll grow, grow, grow.

783
00:37:44,259 --> 00:37:45,939
No, that is actually true.

784
00:37:47,139 --> 00:37:48,819
It is absolutely true.

785
00:37:48,899 --> 00:37:52,339
There is a miraculous work
that God does through the inspiration

786
00:37:52,339 --> 00:37:55,619
of scripture as it falls upon
our hearts and, and as we heed it

787
00:37:55,619 --> 00:37:56,619
and we obey it.

788
00:37:57,019 --> 00:38:01,259
The Bible is so clear, we need
to love this book so much more than

789
00:38:01,259 --> 00:38:02,459
our necessary food.

790
00:38:02,699 --> 00:38:05,659
Is not my word like a hammer
that break at the rock in pieces?

791
00:38:06,059 --> 00:38:09,019
God's word is a lamp into our
feet and a light into our path.

792
00:38:09,019 --> 00:38:11,659
Is it not like the snow and
the rain that falls from heaven?

793
00:38:11,659 --> 00:38:12,419
So is my word.

794
00:38:12,419 --> 00:38:13,739
It will not return void.

795
00:38:13,819 --> 00:38:16,379
It will accomplish that which
it pleases in our life.

796
00:38:17,259 --> 00:38:17,739
You say?

797
00:38:17,739 --> 00:38:18,939
Well, it's hard to understand.

798
00:38:19,019 --> 00:38:22,299
Well, get some a commentary to
help understand it.

799
00:38:22,299 --> 00:38:25,099
Read a devotional and
devotional journal.

800
00:38:25,339 --> 00:38:29,359
Take notes to what God God is
and take a takeaway with you every

801
00:38:29,359 --> 00:38:30,039
single day.

802
00:38:30,039 --> 00:38:33,159
And it will encourage your
heart to stay faithful in the race

803
00:38:33,159 --> 00:38:36,279
no matter how many
perplexities, no matter how much

804
00:38:36,279 --> 00:38:37,159
trouble is coming.

805
00:38:37,559 --> 00:38:41,639
That's how the Apostle Paul
could say we were troubled, yet not

806
00:38:41,639 --> 00:38:42,359
distressed.

807
00:38:42,759 --> 00:38:45,479
We were perplexed, but not in despair.

808
00:38:46,039 --> 00:38:50,359
Can we live in a perplexed
world and a troubled world and still

809
00:38:50,519 --> 00:38:52,919
rise to the challenge not
being in despair?

810
00:38:54,329 --> 00:38:56,089
I believe it's wrong to be in despair.

811
00:38:56,969 --> 00:38:58,809
God's people should not be in despair.

812
00:38:58,889 --> 00:39:01,369
Anxiety should not fill our hearts.

813
00:39:01,369 --> 00:39:03,129
Peace should fill our hearts.

814
00:39:03,369 --> 00:39:05,129
That passeth all understanding.

815
00:39:06,009 --> 00:39:09,689
Is it possible to be cast down
but not destroyed?

816
00:39:10,329 --> 00:39:11,289
Absolutely.

817
00:39:11,849 --> 00:39:15,089
And by the way, when you
suffer, you're suffering for the

818
00:39:15,089 --> 00:39:15,689
sake of Christ.

819
00:39:15,689 --> 00:39:18,969
You're suffering for a reason
and for a purpose.

820
00:39:19,079 --> 00:39:19,239
And.

821
00:39:19,309 --> 00:39:22,349
And it's right alongside with
the suffering of Jesus Christ.

822
00:39:23,309 --> 00:39:25,149
And are we any greater than
our Master?

823
00:39:25,149 --> 00:39:26,989
If he suffered, we're going to
suffer too.

824
00:39:28,029 --> 00:39:30,349
And in order to make it
through the suffering, folks.

825
00:39:30,349 --> 00:39:33,829
Which, by the way, pales in
comparison to Paul's suffering.

826
00:39:33,829 --> 00:39:37,989
It pales compared to the
suffering of those like you read

827
00:39:37,989 --> 00:39:39,949
in the Fox's Book of Martyrs.

828
00:39:39,949 --> 00:39:43,949
It pales into comparison to
Hebrews, chapter 11, type suffering.

829
00:39:43,949 --> 00:39:47,229
And it pales in comparison to
the suffering of most of the world

830
00:39:48,129 --> 00:39:50,449
right now for the cause of Christ.

831
00:39:51,009 --> 00:39:54,729
However, there is still
suffering if we faithfully live for

832
00:39:54,729 --> 00:39:55,009
Christ.

833
00:39:55,649 --> 00:39:59,769
If I'm faithfully running the
marathon and I'm doing the best I

834
00:39:59,769 --> 00:40:03,249
can to nutrition my life,
there's still some painfulness.

835
00:40:03,249 --> 00:40:04,209
I will tell you.

836
00:40:04,849 --> 00:40:08,529
Your muscles are still getting
tired, you're still worn out.

837
00:40:09,329 --> 00:40:13,249
And that's why you need the
daily renewal of the soul.

838
00:40:15,189 --> 00:40:19,989
This is so crucial for our
energy to endure, to refuel our life

839
00:40:20,389 --> 00:40:21,269
day by day.

840
00:40:21,269 --> 00:40:22,709
All right, so rejection.

841
00:40:23,349 --> 00:40:24,629
We have reflection.

842
00:40:25,429 --> 00:40:26,629
We have renewal.

843
00:40:26,949 --> 00:40:30,829
Now, towards the end of the
chapter, I want you to notice the

844
00:40:30,829 --> 00:40:32,869
fourth word is that of remembrance.

845
00:40:33,029 --> 00:40:34,949
A rest stop of remembrance.

846
00:40:35,669 --> 00:40:39,589
All through Scripture we get
challenged to remember our God, to

847
00:40:39,589 --> 00:40:42,659
remember his promises, to
remember, to not forget the works

848
00:40:42,659 --> 00:40:43,219
of God.

849
00:40:43,699 --> 00:40:46,259
It's crucial for us to
remember certain things.

850
00:40:47,139 --> 00:40:52,099
And here he says in verse 17,
some things that we need to remember

851
00:40:52,579 --> 00:40:57,819
about life and about this race
for our light affliction, which is

852
00:40:57,819 --> 00:40:58,659
but for a moment.

853
00:40:58,659 --> 00:41:03,179
Now the Apostle Paul's writing
about his own suffering and he's

854
00:41:03,179 --> 00:41:03,939
calling it light.

855
00:41:05,139 --> 00:41:06,419
I find that interesting.

856
00:41:06,499 --> 00:41:08,179
That didn't mean it didn't hurt.

857
00:41:08,179 --> 00:41:09,299
It didn't mean that.

858
00:41:09,459 --> 00:41:12,499
I mean, he talked already
about the persecution and the perplexities

859
00:41:12,499 --> 00:41:13,129
and the trouble.

860
00:41:13,519 --> 00:41:16,159
I mean, surely in his humanity
that that hurt.

861
00:41:16,159 --> 00:41:19,159
But he's saying, really, it's
light in comparison.

862
00:41:19,159 --> 00:41:23,679
It's light in comparison to
what the eternal life that is, that

863
00:41:23,679 --> 00:41:27,559
affords us the one day that
when the short, simple life is over,

864
00:41:27,559 --> 00:41:31,719
it's light, really, it's light
and it's short, which is but for

865
00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:32,159
a moment.

866
00:41:32,159 --> 00:41:35,719
That's the second thing we
need to remember that this life and

867
00:41:35,719 --> 00:41:40,819
what we face in this life is
light and short in comparison to

868
00:41:40,819 --> 00:41:41,539
what is ahead.

869
00:41:42,499 --> 00:41:45,379
And so we should live with the
eternal in mind.

870
00:41:45,619 --> 00:41:46,419
Higher ground.

871
00:41:46,499 --> 00:41:47,299
We sang it.

872
00:41:48,179 --> 00:41:51,619
To live in the eternal realm
is what he's talking about here.

873
00:41:51,619 --> 00:41:54,539
Not living based upon the
things which we see, but on the things

874
00:41:54,539 --> 00:41:57,779
which are not seen, because
the things which we see are temporal.

875
00:41:58,419 --> 00:42:00,419
How many of you are glad this
world's not our home?

876
00:42:00,979 --> 00:42:02,419
We're just passing through.

877
00:42:02,739 --> 00:42:05,339
But the things which are not
seen are eternal.

878
00:42:05,339 --> 00:42:05,699
You know what?

879
00:42:05,699 --> 00:42:08,779
We need to remember that life
is not about the here and now.

880
00:42:10,219 --> 00:42:11,059
Are you listening?

881
00:42:11,059 --> 00:42:12,539
Life is not about the here and now.

882
00:42:12,539 --> 00:42:13,739
It's about the ever after.

883
00:42:14,619 --> 00:42:15,819
We don't live for here.

884
00:42:15,819 --> 00:42:16,699
We live for there.

885
00:42:17,899 --> 00:42:23,579
And when you live for there,
it motivates your race, it causes

886
00:42:23,579 --> 00:42:28,259
you to be confident in your
God and in his promises, and you're

887
00:42:28,259 --> 00:42:32,179
able to, in obedience, follow
his path even when you don't see

888
00:42:32,179 --> 00:42:36,479
all the results as quickly as
you want to see them, which is challenging

889
00:42:36,479 --> 00:42:37,039
at times.

890
00:42:37,519 --> 00:42:40,599
You know and trust that it's
bearing fruit because you're being

891
00:42:40,599 --> 00:42:41,199
faithful.

892
00:42:41,439 --> 00:42:44,959
Just trust it that God is
bearing fruit out of your faithful

893
00:42:44,959 --> 00:42:45,279
life.

894
00:42:45,999 --> 00:42:49,279
And that one day he, we, we
will stand before God and give an

895
00:42:49,279 --> 00:42:51,639
account of what we did or
didn't do for the cause of Christ.

896
00:42:51,639 --> 00:42:54,799
I don't think we're going to
be judged for our sin at that, that

897
00:42:54,799 --> 00:42:55,919
judgment seat of Christ.

898
00:42:55,919 --> 00:42:56,679
Hallelujah.

899
00:42:56,679 --> 00:42:58,879
It's all under the sin, is all
under the blood.

900
00:42:59,119 --> 00:43:02,359
But I do think that there will
be crowns passed out based upon what

901
00:43:02,359 --> 00:43:05,279
we did or didn't do for the
cause of Christ.

902
00:43:05,999 --> 00:43:08,999
And the Bible teaches that you
can either have gold, silver, or

903
00:43:08,999 --> 00:43:11,359
precious stones or wood, hay
and stubble.

904
00:43:11,759 --> 00:43:13,359
Which one sounds better to you?

905
00:43:14,399 --> 00:43:16,639
This is why we got to endure.

906
00:43:16,959 --> 00:43:18,439
We got to live for the eternal.

907
00:43:18,439 --> 00:43:22,479
We got to live for the praise
of God, for the crowns of heaven,

908
00:43:22,639 --> 00:43:26,399
and know that God will honor
and reward the faithful soul.

909
00:43:26,479 --> 00:43:28,159
The faithful servant of God.

910
00:43:28,799 --> 00:43:30,039
Don't live for the here and now.

911
00:43:30,039 --> 00:43:34,399
I'm telling you, most
Christians today live for the here

912
00:43:34,399 --> 00:43:34,919
and now.

913
00:43:36,359 --> 00:43:38,679
And they need to get their
eyes on the ever after.

914
00:43:39,799 --> 00:43:43,719
This is a struggle for all of
us as believers because we live in

915
00:43:43,719 --> 00:43:44,519
what we see.

916
00:43:45,559 --> 00:43:48,279
And we have the struggle of
what we see.

917
00:43:48,279 --> 00:43:51,319
The world, the flesh and the
devil, and it's all around us.

918
00:43:52,119 --> 00:43:54,519
But we got to keep our eyes
fixed on the prize.

919
00:43:54,679 --> 00:43:56,199
Live for that which is eternal.

920
00:43:56,669 --> 00:43:58,669
This is why I love CS Lewis.

921
00:43:58,749 --> 00:44:00,029
Some of the things that he's written.

922
00:44:00,269 --> 00:44:02,949
He's not perfect and
definitely, definitely not everything

923
00:44:02,949 --> 00:44:04,429
I would recommend for you.

924
00:44:04,509 --> 00:44:10,149
But the Chronicles of Narnia
and how he relays through those wonderful

925
00:44:10,149 --> 00:44:10,509
stories.

926
00:44:10,509 --> 00:44:13,189
And even some of the
renditions that have been put to

927
00:44:13,189 --> 00:44:16,869
film have bring to light that
we're not living for this world.

928
00:44:16,869 --> 00:44:18,749
We're living for another world.

929
00:44:19,389 --> 00:44:20,749
We're living for that world.

930
00:44:21,709 --> 00:44:23,469
Heaven is our eternal home.

931
00:44:23,999 --> 00:44:25,599
Live on a higher plane.

932
00:44:25,599 --> 00:44:27,199
I want to live above the world.

933
00:44:27,199 --> 00:44:31,359
Though Satan's darts at me are
hurled Though some may dwell where

934
00:44:31,359 --> 00:44:36,399
these abound My prayer, my aim
is higher ground.

935
00:44:36,879 --> 00:44:37,999
That's where we need to live.

936
00:44:37,999 --> 00:44:41,439
You will not make it in life
if you're not living on the higher

937
00:44:41,439 --> 00:44:41,839
ground.

938
00:44:42,639 --> 00:44:44,839
There's one final thing, and I
want you to see it.

939
00:44:44,839 --> 00:44:46,039
And it's not in chapter four.

940
00:44:46,039 --> 00:44:47,639
It actually flows into chapter five.

941
00:44:47,639 --> 00:44:48,719
And they're definitely connected.

942
00:44:48,719 --> 00:44:54,089
As Paul continues the thought
we need rejection, rejection of stuff

943
00:44:54,089 --> 00:44:54,729
out of our life.

944
00:44:54,729 --> 00:44:57,369
What needs to be rejected out
of your life so that you can have

945
00:44:57,369 --> 00:44:58,449
the energy to endure?

946
00:44:59,489 --> 00:45:04,649
What sin, what lack of
motivation, what focus needs to be

947
00:45:04,649 --> 00:45:05,489
readjusted?

948
00:45:05,969 --> 00:45:10,769
What worldliness needs to be
purged out of your life, reflecting

949
00:45:10,769 --> 00:45:12,489
the gospel and the glory of God.

950
00:45:12,489 --> 00:45:17,369
Live with a motivation of what
Jesus Christ did for us and live

951
00:45:17,369 --> 00:45:18,889
for the glory of God's sake.

952
00:45:19,209 --> 00:45:22,889
Renewal moment by moment, day
by day in the word of God.

953
00:45:23,209 --> 00:45:26,329
Walking in the will of God,
spending time with God, our spiritual

954
00:45:26,329 --> 00:45:29,569
disciplines, living and
remembering that this life is not

955
00:45:29,569 --> 00:45:30,729
what life is all about.

956
00:45:31,049 --> 00:45:33,129
Life is about the ever after.

957
00:45:34,089 --> 00:45:37,609
And then the final point I
want you to see is that of you probably

958
00:45:37,609 --> 00:45:37,969
guessed.

959
00:45:37,969 --> 00:45:41,129
Start with the letter R. It's
the word resolve.

960
00:45:41,849 --> 00:45:45,739
It's the word resolve telling
you, running the marathon, if you

961
00:45:45,739 --> 00:45:48,739
don't have resolve, you're
going to quit about halfway through.

962
00:45:49,139 --> 00:45:52,819
The hardest part for me in
that first marathon was they had

963
00:45:52,899 --> 00:45:54,579
half marathoners running.

964
00:45:54,819 --> 00:45:58,859
And we got to the spot where
the half marathoners were finishing

965
00:45:58,859 --> 00:46:03,419
the race, and it had an arrow
pointing that way to the finish of

966
00:46:03,419 --> 00:46:04,579
the half marathon.

967
00:46:05,139 --> 00:46:09,459
And all the marathoners were
passing by their finish line.

968
00:46:10,789 --> 00:46:12,949
Had to run another half marathon.

969
00:46:13,509 --> 00:46:15,269
That was a tough spot for me.

970
00:46:15,429 --> 00:46:19,829
I had to have a lot of resolve
to continue to run my race, which

971
00:46:19,829 --> 00:46:23,829
was the marathon race, even
though it sure looked nice for the

972
00:46:23,829 --> 00:46:26,229
half marathoners to finish
their race right there.

973
00:46:26,709 --> 00:46:29,469
What I learned is that
everybody has to resolve to run their

974
00:46:29,469 --> 00:46:30,149
own race.

975
00:46:31,349 --> 00:46:33,229
Stop comparing yourself among yourself.

976
00:46:33,229 --> 00:46:34,229
That's not wise.

977
00:46:34,949 --> 00:46:37,589
Take personal responsibility
for your own race.

978
00:46:38,589 --> 00:46:41,429
Resolve to rise to the
challenge regardless of anyone else

979
00:46:41,429 --> 00:46:42,109
around you.

980
00:46:42,589 --> 00:46:44,029
Be confident in your God.

981
00:46:44,029 --> 00:46:45,709
Be confident in the way that
you're living.

982
00:46:45,709 --> 00:46:48,029
And walk by faith and not by sight.

983
00:46:48,029 --> 00:46:51,389
These are all truths that are
in chapter five and continuing that

984
00:46:51,389 --> 00:46:55,589
theme, Paul is expressing it
for himself and on behalf of some

985
00:46:55,589 --> 00:46:56,509
of the other apostles.

986
00:46:56,509 --> 00:47:00,349
I believe as well, because he
says, for we know that if our earthly

987
00:47:00,349 --> 00:47:03,109
house of this tabernacle is
dissolved, we have a building of

988
00:47:03,109 --> 00:47:04,789
God we're not concerned with.

989
00:47:05,749 --> 00:47:09,309
We want you to respond to our
ministry, but if you don't, we're

990
00:47:09,309 --> 00:47:12,629
still going to be faithful
because we answer to God, not you.

991
00:47:13,189 --> 00:47:14,469
For in this we groan.

992
00:47:14,469 --> 00:47:17,309
In this life we groan
earnestly, desiring to be clothed

993
00:47:17,309 --> 00:47:19,149
upon from our house, which is
from heaven.

994
00:47:19,149 --> 00:47:21,429
Skipping down a few verses,
verse 7.

995
00:47:22,149 --> 00:47:23,229
I'm sorry, verse 6.

996
00:47:23,229 --> 00:47:26,749
Therefore watch the confidence
of the apostle Paul, having gone

997
00:47:26,749 --> 00:47:29,229
through the hard times,
wanting to have the energy to endure

998
00:47:29,229 --> 00:47:30,789
the resolve to continue forward.

999
00:47:31,519 --> 00:47:34,639
Therefore, we are always
confident knowing.

1000
00:47:35,839 --> 00:47:37,839
We are always confident knowing.

1001
00:47:37,839 --> 00:47:43,159
That sure relates a lot of
resolve, does it not, that whilst

1002
00:47:43,159 --> 00:47:46,639
we are at home in the body, we
are absent from the Lord.

1003
00:47:46,639 --> 00:47:47,679
We're not actually here.

1004
00:47:47,679 --> 00:47:49,199
We're here, we're living for there.

1005
00:47:49,759 --> 00:47:53,239
We're here to live for the
glory of the Lord, he says, and we're

1006
00:47:53,239 --> 00:47:56,159
walking by faith and not by sight.

1007
00:47:57,209 --> 00:48:00,169
We are confident, I say, and
willing rather to be absent from

1008
00:48:00,169 --> 00:48:02,809
the body and to be present
with the Lord.

1009
00:48:02,809 --> 00:48:04,009
And notice verse nine.

1010
00:48:04,409 --> 00:48:07,129
Read the first three words of
verse nine.

1011
00:48:07,609 --> 00:48:09,769
Wherefore we labor.

1012
00:48:10,009 --> 00:48:10,889
One more time.

1013
00:48:11,289 --> 00:48:12,969
Wherefore we labor.

1014
00:48:12,969 --> 00:48:14,489
Paul, you could have given up.

1015
00:48:15,449 --> 00:48:17,289
Some would say rightfully so.

1016
00:48:17,289 --> 00:48:20,489
Humanly speaking, you went
through this and this and this and

1017
00:48:20,489 --> 00:48:20,729
this.

1018
00:48:20,729 --> 00:48:22,809
And you read the stories of
people in the Bible.

1019
00:48:22,809 --> 00:48:27,279
And in some ways, humanly
speaking, we're like, boy, they would

1020
00:48:27,279 --> 00:48:28,439
have every right to give up.

1021
00:48:28,439 --> 00:48:30,359
But no, they didn't have every
right to give up.

1022
00:48:30,359 --> 00:48:31,999
And I'm glad they didn't give up.

1023
00:48:32,159 --> 00:48:36,079
He says, in spite of all of
this, we will labor more.

1024
00:48:36,559 --> 00:48:38,479
We'll continue to move forward.

1025
00:48:39,439 --> 00:48:40,079
We're not.

1026
00:48:40,079 --> 00:48:41,919
God's not done with us yet.

1027
00:48:42,079 --> 00:48:43,759
Wherefore we labor.

1028
00:48:44,159 --> 00:48:48,119
And that's a wonderful phrase
in verse nine, Wherefore we labor.

1029
00:48:48,119 --> 00:48:51,119
That whether present or
absent, we may be accepted of him.

1030
00:48:51,119 --> 00:48:54,399
And I want you to notice this
as we think about this idea of resolve.

1031
00:48:54,879 --> 00:48:58,239
Because resolve is not just
picking ourselves up by our bootstraps.

1032
00:48:59,119 --> 00:48:59,999
Self dependence.

1033
00:48:59,999 --> 00:49:01,599
We preached against that this morning.

1034
00:49:02,079 --> 00:49:04,879
This isn't just girding up in
our own strength.

1035
00:49:04,959 --> 00:49:07,519
I want you to notice what
motivates his resolve.

1036
00:49:08,079 --> 00:49:09,679
It's everything we've already
talked about.

1037
00:49:09,679 --> 00:49:12,319
But look here as we continue
in verse 10.

1038
00:49:12,799 --> 00:49:16,879
For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ, that

1039
00:49:16,879 --> 00:49:19,559
everyone may receive the
things done in his body according

1040
00:49:19,559 --> 00:49:21,399
to that he hath done, whether
it be good or bad.

1041
00:49:21,399 --> 00:49:23,359
You know what was motivating
his resolve?

1042
00:49:23,839 --> 00:49:27,879
That he didn't want to get to
heaven someday and stand before the

1043
00:49:27,879 --> 00:49:33,639
judgment seat and have his
Savior look at him and ask, why'd

1044
00:49:33,639 --> 00:49:34,159
you quit?

1045
00:49:35,039 --> 00:49:36,239
Why'd you give up?

1046
00:49:37,119 --> 00:49:38,879
It was hard, but I was with you.

1047
00:49:39,358 --> 00:49:40,879
You should have remained faithful.

1048
00:49:41,359 --> 00:49:44,439
So what was motivating his
resolve was the gospel, the glory

1049
00:49:44,439 --> 00:49:47,759
of God, everything we've
already talked about, his daily renewal,

1050
00:49:47,839 --> 00:49:49,849
his living for that which is
eternal, and.

1051
00:49:49,999 --> 00:49:53,239
And one day being willing to
stand before God, having laid it

1052
00:49:53,239 --> 00:49:57,599
all out, knowing that he did
his best for Jesus Christ, having

1053
00:49:57,599 --> 00:50:00,879
given his all, all the way to
the finish line.

1054
00:50:01,759 --> 00:50:05,679
Let me tell you, the finish
line is elation.

1055
00:50:06,559 --> 00:50:10,079
The finish line is like
glorious when you run a physical

1056
00:50:10,079 --> 00:50:10,799
marathon.

1057
00:50:11,759 --> 00:50:15,119
But if you quit, it's like nobody.

1058
00:50:15,529 --> 00:50:18,089
You don't want anyone to know
that you quit, right?

1059
00:50:19,769 --> 00:50:21,929
So I believe there's going to
be elation.

1060
00:50:22,009 --> 00:50:22,489
There's.

1061
00:50:22,489 --> 00:50:22,929
When we.

1062
00:50:22,929 --> 00:50:26,649
When we step foot into heaven
and we stand before our God, there's

1063
00:50:26,649 --> 00:50:30,889
going to be elation for those
who faithfully gave all they could

1064
00:50:30,889 --> 00:50:34,409
give to resolve to live for
the glory of the Lord and faithfully

1065
00:50:34,409 --> 00:50:34,889
endure.

1066
00:50:35,129 --> 00:50:36,249
Endured to the end.

1067
00:50:37,209 --> 00:50:42,019
But I do believe there will be
tears of regret and at that judgment

1068
00:50:42,339 --> 00:50:44,659
for those who were saved.

1069
00:50:44,659 --> 00:50:49,099
Maybe so as by fire, the
scriptures talk about who maybe have

1070
00:50:49,099 --> 00:50:52,019
just wood, hay and stubble.

1071
00:50:52,979 --> 00:50:54,979
So we need to be motivated properly.

1072
00:50:55,299 --> 00:50:56,899
We need to run the race well.

1073
00:50:57,619 --> 00:50:59,779
We need to renew ourselves day
by day.

1074
00:51:00,179 --> 00:51:02,019
We need to live for eternal things.

1075
00:51:02,499 --> 00:51:05,099
We need to remember that we
will give an answer for whether we

1076
00:51:05,099 --> 00:51:08,249
were faithful or weren't
faithful with all that God wanted

1077
00:51:08,249 --> 00:51:11,409
us to do as individuals, as
families, as a church.

1078
00:51:12,689 --> 00:51:14,689
And I sure want to hear him
say, well done.

1079
00:51:15,489 --> 00:51:19,009
I want to get to that finish
line and know that I've done my best

1080
00:51:19,009 --> 00:51:19,849
for Jesus Christ.

1081
00:51:19,849 --> 00:51:23,889
Don't you looking unto Jesus,
the author and finisher of our faith.

1082
00:51:24,529 --> 00:51:29,889
So I'll say what Paul said in
Philippians, chapter three, I press

1083
00:51:29,889 --> 00:51:33,009
toward the mark for the prize
of the high calling of God in Christ

1084
00:51:33,009 --> 00:51:33,569
Jesus.

1085
00:51:34,599 --> 00:51:37,959
Can I encourage us to press
on, to endure?

1086
00:51:38,679 --> 00:51:44,439
It's way more important than a
physical marathon to nutrition ourselves

1087
00:51:44,439 --> 00:51:50,078
well, to run the race right,
to have the right motivations to

1088
00:51:50,078 --> 00:51:52,279
take the rest stops that are necessary.

1089
00:51:52,359 --> 00:51:57,399
So tonight, as you think about
your life, and I think about my life

1090
00:51:58,279 --> 00:52:02,159
and the toil that oftentimes
life brings, or maybe where you're

1091
00:52:02,159 --> 00:52:05,279
at even right now in some of
the struggles that you're facing

1092
00:52:05,279 --> 00:52:08,099
and the difficult difficulties
that maybe you're facing personally

1093
00:52:08,419 --> 00:52:09,219
in your life.

1094
00:52:10,179 --> 00:52:15,179
What needs to happen so that
you will refuel and not run out of

1095
00:52:15,179 --> 00:52:18,539
gas, if you will be stuck on
the side sideline?

1096
00:52:18,539 --> 00:52:25,099
When God wants to keep using
you, God wants to use you right where

1097
00:52:25,099 --> 00:52:28,379
you are, with the sphere of
influence that you're around, with

1098
00:52:28,379 --> 00:52:32,549
the community that you're in
right here, right now.

1099
00:52:33,429 --> 00:52:34,469
Let's not quit.

1100
00:52:34,709 --> 00:52:36,949
We faint not.

1101
00:52:36,949 --> 00:52:37,669
Say it together.

1102
00:52:38,069 --> 00:52:40,149
We faint not.

1103
00:52:40,469 --> 00:52:43,109
Lord, would you minister to
our hearts the truths of the word

1104
00:52:43,109 --> 00:52:43,549
of God?

1105
00:52:43,549 --> 00:52:47,269
From the Apostle Paul to our
hearts Tonight.

1106
00:52:51,429 --> 00:52:55,989
We look at the world, the mess
that we're all in.

1107
00:52:57,279 --> 00:53:00,519
It shouldn't surprise us
because the Bible says it will wax

1108
00:53:00,519 --> 00:53:01,439
worse and worse.

1109
00:53:01,439 --> 00:53:07,039
But so often we allow it to
deter us, to cause us to be idle

1110
00:53:07,119 --> 00:53:08,399
rather than more fervent.

1111
00:53:09,919 --> 00:53:13,199
Help us to set aside the
world, the flesh, the devil.

1112
00:53:13,199 --> 00:53:14,799
Renounce the things out of our life.

1113
00:53:17,119 --> 00:53:21,799
Meditate and think about our
purposes, to live for the gospel

1114
00:53:21,799 --> 00:53:22,879
and the glory of God.

1115
00:53:24,409 --> 00:53:27,689
That there are people around
us that need, need the Savior, that

1116
00:53:27,689 --> 00:53:29,369
our light matters.

1117
00:53:31,289 --> 00:53:36,409
He would help us to endure for
that purpose, Lord, renew our hearts

1118
00:53:36,409 --> 00:53:37,209
day by day.

1119
00:53:38,489 --> 00:53:40,969
Our outward man is perishing.

1120
00:53:41,129 --> 00:53:46,569
But we know we can endure when
the inner man has that renewal.

1121
00:53:46,969 --> 00:53:50,779
Day by day, with grace and
thanksgiving, the glory of God can

1122
00:53:50,779 --> 00:53:52,019
redound out of our life.

1123
00:53:53,059 --> 00:53:56,659
Help us to remember that life
is short.

1124
00:53:57,459 --> 00:54:01,419
We're here for a moment that
the hardships we face and the difficulties

1125
00:54:01,419 --> 00:54:05,059
that we go through, they will
pass their affliction.

1126
00:54:05,059 --> 00:54:05,739
They're real.

1127
00:54:05,739 --> 00:54:08,499
They hurt sometimes, but
they're light and they're short.

1128
00:54:09,059 --> 00:54:11,539
And we're not living this life
for the here and now.

1129
00:54:11,539 --> 00:54:12,979
We're living for the ever after.

1130
00:54:14,179 --> 00:54:19,399
Encourage our hearts to live
by faith and not by sight so that

1131
00:54:19,399 --> 00:54:21,719
we'll resolve to labor more
for you.

1132
00:54:22,279 --> 00:54:23,559
You're not done with us yet.

1133
00:54:24,279 --> 00:54:25,239
We're still here.

1134
00:54:26,039 --> 00:54:27,559
You've called us to serve.

1135
00:54:28,359 --> 00:54:31,998
You want Christ to be lived
out of our lives in the light of

1136
00:54:31,998 --> 00:54:34,759
him shining brightly to the
world around us.

1137
00:54:36,279 --> 00:54:39,399
So Lord, would you please help
us all to have the energy to endure

1138
00:54:39,959 --> 00:54:41,239
all the way to the finish.

1139
00:54:42,249 --> 00:54:46,689
And we look forward to being
there, face to face with you, walking

1140
00:54:46,689 --> 00:54:51,049
the streets of gold, living
forever on that true eternal plane

1141
00:54:51,369 --> 00:54:52,409
of higher ground.

1142
00:54:53,769 --> 00:54:57,049
Speak in a powerful way in our
hearts tonight as we conclude with

1143
00:54:57,049 --> 00:54:57,729
the invitation.

1144
00:54:57,729 --> 00:55:03,809
Would you help us to respond,
Confess, recommit, make changes in

1145
00:55:03,809 --> 00:55:08,129
our life so that we won't
quit, we won't faint, but we will

1146
00:55:08,129 --> 00:55:09,449
have the energy to endure.

1147
00:55:10,329 --> 00:55:12,169
We pray these things in Jesus name.

1148
00:55:12,169 --> 00:55:12,649
Amen.

1149
00:55:12,649 --> 00:55:12,909
Let's.