1 00:00:00,030 --> 00:00:03,630 My name is Marcel Hall, and I'm one of the ministers here in Orange County and 2 00:00:03,630 --> 00:00:07,490 grateful and honored to be able to preach, got word haven't been able, uh, haven't 3 00:00:07,490 --> 00:00:11,310 spoken in a long time, so I might be a little rusty, and so I'm sorry about that, 4 00:00:12,229 --> 00:00:15,969 I'm just playing, but, alright, so, uh, actually I might be a little rusty, but 5 00:00:15,969 --> 00:00:19,929 anyhow, we're gonna have a good time, as was mentioned, the Olympics end today, 6 00:00:20,409 --> 00:00:24,700 and I don't know about you, but I've been fired up about the Olympics my daughters, 7 00:00:24,700 --> 00:00:28,520 they do competitive swimming, so we've been we've had a different angle this year 8 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:33,309 looking at the Olympics because we can appreciate the swimmers a whole lot more. 9 00:00:33,309 --> 00:00:34,349 And so we've been into it. 10 00:00:34,359 --> 00:00:35,169 We just caught up. 11 00:00:35,179 --> 00:00:39,170 We recorded things and we're fired up to see what's going to happen today. 12 00:00:39,170 --> 00:00:43,320 Hopefully USA gets a couple more golds and, uh, gets beats, has the 13 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,800 number one slot as far as golds go. 14 00:00:46,050 --> 00:00:50,260 Uh, but the Olympics are inspiring to see and to hear the story. 15 00:00:50,770 --> 00:00:54,780 People who persevered or people who had challenges when they were growing up 16 00:00:54,780 --> 00:01:00,200 and now to be elite athletes and just to make it to the Olympics is a huge feat. 17 00:01:00,890 --> 00:01:04,819 But then for those who have the ability and the fortune to 18 00:01:05,060 --> 00:01:06,500 medal, that's pretty incredible. 19 00:01:06,500 --> 00:01:09,420 And then you also have the other side, the agony of defeat. 20 00:01:10,650 --> 00:01:15,200 Those in the pain and the working so hard, but yet not achieving their dreams. 21 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:17,060 And we know in the scriptures that. 22 00:01:17,410 --> 00:01:21,740 They're actually parallels to athletes and really the Olympics 23 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:23,990 and our spiritual journey. 24 00:01:24,580 --> 00:01:29,580 And so we started, as Daniel mentioned, a series during the Olympics which 25 00:01:29,580 --> 00:01:31,959 we called the greater worth in gold. 26 00:01:32,529 --> 00:01:36,270 And so we're learning from the Olympics, things that apply to our faith. 27 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:42,060 And how we can take these lessons and apply them in our walk with God. 28 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:46,490 And the Christian faith and journey actually is compared many times in 29 00:01:46,490 --> 00:01:48,940 scriptures with athletic events. 30 00:01:49,050 --> 00:01:51,690 And so the first week, we talked about the goal. 31 00:01:52,500 --> 00:01:55,100 And the, this is the scripture that was the main text. 32 00:01:55,100 --> 00:01:59,070 It says, these have come so that the proven genuineness of your 33 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,770 faith of greater worth than gold. 34 00:02:03,110 --> 00:02:06,640 Again, it's been our main scripture here throughout the couple of weeks. 35 00:02:06,950 --> 00:02:11,170 Which perishes even though refined by fire may result in praise, glory, and 36 00:02:11,230 --> 00:02:14,450 honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 37 00:02:14,450 --> 00:02:20,110 And to have a proven genuine faith that is of greater worth than gold. 38 00:02:20,540 --> 00:02:24,450 That's what you and I have, and this is the goal that God is trying to do 39 00:02:24,450 --> 00:02:29,050 in our lives, is refine this faith, so that it can be imperishable. 40 00:02:29,270 --> 00:02:31,320 And then we talked about the training. 41 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:36,649 Dallas Kawhi, uh, priest on this passage, 1 Corinthians 9, 24 27. 42 00:02:36,650 --> 00:02:41,400 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? 43 00:02:41,410 --> 00:02:43,280 Run in such a way as to get the prize. 44 00:02:43,590 --> 00:02:47,610 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. 45 00:02:48,100 --> 00:02:50,610 They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get 46 00:02:50,610 --> 00:02:53,110 a crown that will last forever. 47 00:02:53,620 --> 00:02:56,040 Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly. 48 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:57,930 I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 49 00:02:57,950 --> 00:03:01,900 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I 50 00:03:01,930 --> 00:03:06,520 preach to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 51 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,930 And we talked about how training is required in our faith. 52 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:14,080 And today we're going to be talking about, , victory. 53 00:03:14,270 --> 00:03:15,806 that's supposed to say victory, but it says faith. 54 00:03:16,986 --> 00:03:18,026 I told you I'm a little rusty. 55 00:03:18,066 --> 00:03:18,726 So there you go. 56 00:03:18,856 --> 00:03:19,856 So it's victory. 57 00:03:19,866 --> 00:03:23,286 We're going to be talking about victory today and achieving 58 00:03:23,286 --> 00:03:25,626 the victory in our faith. 59 00:03:26,186 --> 00:03:27,196 Let's go to God in prayer. 60 00:03:27,216 --> 00:03:31,236 God, thank you so much, uh, for the chance to have some fun, to, uh, 61 00:03:31,276 --> 00:03:35,496 compete, to be able to sing out to you, to already encourage one another, to 62 00:03:35,496 --> 00:03:39,916 hear about how, uh, one another, how we're doing and father, we continue 63 00:03:39,916 --> 00:03:45,616 to pray for each other and God, we pray right now that your word may be. 64 00:03:45,856 --> 00:03:46,376 spoken. 65 00:03:46,796 --> 00:03:49,176 Father, I know you have a message for every single one 66 00:03:49,176 --> 00:03:50,566 of us, no matter where we are. 67 00:03:50,876 --> 00:03:55,305 Father, we pray that you cast it aside anything that disrupts so that we may 68 00:03:55,305 --> 00:03:57,596 hear from you in the name of Jesus. 69 00:03:57,736 --> 00:03:58,356 Amen. 70 00:03:59,426 --> 00:04:02,036 Again, we're talking about victory in faith. 71 00:04:02,816 --> 00:04:06,036 You know, to achieve victory in the Olympics is the greatest 72 00:04:06,036 --> 00:04:08,586 achievement in all of athletics. 73 00:04:09,016 --> 00:04:14,226 The joy, the relief, the excitement, the change for their future. 74 00:04:14,861 --> 00:04:18,630 You know, spiritually achieving victory in faith is even 75 00:04:18,630 --> 00:04:25,071 greater, the joy, the relief, the excitement, but the eternal rewards. 76 00:04:25,901 --> 00:04:31,611 You know, we have to ask this question, what is the victory of our faith? 77 00:04:33,591 --> 00:04:37,331 The Apostle Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit is going to give us 78 00:04:37,331 --> 00:04:39,921 this answer here to this question. 79 00:04:39,921 --> 00:04:41,961 So we're going to go on over to second Timothy. 80 00:04:42,236 --> 00:04:42,946 Chapter four. 81 00:04:42,946 --> 00:04:44,776 Brothers and sisters, are you with me this morning? 82 00:04:45,536 --> 00:04:47,256 Second Timothy chapter four. 83 00:04:47,256 --> 00:04:49,546 This is a letter by, , the apostle Paul. 84 00:04:49,546 --> 00:04:52,546 He writes a letter to his protege, Timothy, who is 85 00:04:52,546 --> 00:04:53,946 really like a son in the faith. 86 00:04:53,956 --> 00:04:57,506 They've been through many battles and went out and shared the faith and 87 00:04:57,506 --> 00:05:01,696 he's trained him and in this letter he writes, giving him some more wisdom. 88 00:05:01,696 --> 00:05:04,886 He's imparting wisdom and he's charging Timothy to take the 89 00:05:04,886 --> 00:05:09,946 mantle, to take the baton and to go ahead and continue the good work. 90 00:05:10,256 --> 00:05:14,016 In which he's been trained in now thing that's also important to know is that 91 00:05:14,196 --> 00:05:19,076 Paul at this time He's actually imprisoned and he's awaiting the sentence and he's 92 00:05:19,076 --> 00:05:24,786 convinced and he knows that actually his death is Coming and so that's the 93 00:05:24,816 --> 00:05:29,696 context of the overall letter And so we take it up in 2nd Timothy chapter 4 we 94 00:05:29,696 --> 00:05:36,046 come really to the close of His letter to Timothy and he says for I'm already 95 00:05:36,056 --> 00:05:40,826 being poured out like a drink offering You And the time of my departure is near. 96 00:05:41,316 --> 00:05:42,646 I have fought the good fight. 97 00:05:43,076 --> 00:05:44,336 I have finished the race. 98 00:05:44,376 --> 00:05:46,256 I have kept the faith. 99 00:05:47,056 --> 00:05:49,936 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which 100 00:05:49,936 --> 00:05:54,026 the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day. 101 00:05:54,286 --> 00:05:59,856 And not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing. 102 00:05:59,856 --> 00:06:01,356 We'll stop right there. 103 00:06:02,096 --> 00:06:06,856 Paul uses this imagery of the Greek sporting games, the Phanhelic, uh, 104 00:06:06,856 --> 00:06:12,606 uh, Greek, uh, games to, to describe and to reveal this incredible truth 105 00:06:14,436 --> 00:06:18,516 that lays for every follower of Jesus. 106 00:06:19,806 --> 00:06:24,126 And he goes on, and, and, and really to capture what he says is, 107 00:06:24,176 --> 00:06:27,076 Here's the victory of our faith. 108 00:06:27,106 --> 00:06:30,086 And it's this, is that achieving victory in faith. 109 00:06:30,166 --> 00:06:33,666 It means remaining faithful to God until the end. 110 00:06:35,486 --> 00:06:44,006 The victory in our faith isn't a medal, it's to be faithful to God till the end. 111 00:06:45,226 --> 00:06:48,996 And that's how he summarizes our spiritual journey. 112 00:06:48,996 --> 00:06:52,876 You know Olympians, they're achieving, to achieve victory is what? 113 00:06:53,056 --> 00:06:53,586 A medal. 114 00:06:54,016 --> 00:06:56,186 Gold, silver, bronze. 115 00:06:57,056 --> 00:06:59,266 But for the disciples of Jesus. 116 00:06:59,856 --> 00:07:05,776 Achieving victory is to end our lives faithful to our God. 117 00:07:07,236 --> 00:07:10,566 That's our victory in faith. 118 00:07:10,906 --> 00:07:13,706 And so we're gonna break down this text some more, and so let's 119 00:07:13,706 --> 00:07:14,866 go ahead and let's look at it. 120 00:07:15,156 --> 00:07:17,996 He says, For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and 121 00:07:17,996 --> 00:07:19,966 the time for My departure is near. 122 00:07:20,216 --> 00:07:21,326 This is a euphemism. 123 00:07:21,336 --> 00:07:25,041 He's, he's alluding to his, His impending death. 124 00:07:25,081 --> 00:07:27,731 And so he says, Hey, my time to depart is near. 125 00:07:27,731 --> 00:07:30,231 He's not talking about departing from his sentencing. 126 00:07:30,281 --> 00:07:32,061 He's talking about departing from life. 127 00:07:32,651 --> 00:07:34,461 And so this is really interesting. 128 00:07:34,461 --> 00:07:35,121 It's so cool. 129 00:07:35,121 --> 00:07:39,131 When you think about that is his perspective and the things he reveals 130 00:07:39,201 --> 00:07:43,271 after sharing this, you know, I was just in Virginia a couple weeks ago 131 00:07:43,271 --> 00:07:47,391 with my dad who was literally dying and there's something different 132 00:07:47,391 --> 00:07:48,591 when you know, you are dying. 133 00:07:49,616 --> 00:07:52,916 What you want to connect, what you want to say, there's something different. 134 00:07:52,926 --> 00:07:56,506 Your view about life changes drastically. 135 00:07:57,746 --> 00:08:04,596 And so Paul here, knowing that his death is coming, he goes on and he says this, 136 00:08:04,606 --> 00:08:12,366 he says, I have fought the good fight, finish the race and kept the faith. 137 00:08:13,486 --> 00:08:17,786 He uses these athletic metaphors to help us understand what 138 00:08:17,786 --> 00:08:20,186 our Christian journey is like. 139 00:08:20,786 --> 00:08:24,336 And you know, the ancient Greeks, they had four, uh, kind of sporting 140 00:08:24,336 --> 00:08:27,526 games, which the Olympics were the, the, the ground jewel. 141 00:08:27,536 --> 00:08:28,736 That was the biggest one. 142 00:08:29,026 --> 00:08:32,466 And, and many people, many scholars believe Paul is referring, referring 143 00:08:32,466 --> 00:08:36,826 more to the, this mean, uh, games, which would take place every two years. 144 00:08:36,836 --> 00:08:37,806 So you had the Olympics. 145 00:08:38,101 --> 00:08:40,681 And then you have these games, and then every two years, you 146 00:08:40,681 --> 00:08:42,621 would have, uh, these games here. 147 00:08:42,621 --> 00:08:45,651 And he goes on and he says, I have fought the good fights. 148 00:08:45,991 --> 00:08:49,131 And so in these games, they would have matches of wrestling. 149 00:08:49,131 --> 00:08:53,061 That's one of the most classic, you know, battles and competitions you could have. 150 00:08:54,071 --> 00:08:55,951 And they would have battles and they would wrestle. 151 00:08:55,951 --> 00:08:58,731 And you know, it's kind of a weird thing that they would wrestle naked, but 152 00:08:58,731 --> 00:09:00,121 we're not gonna talk about that, okay? 153 00:09:00,121 --> 00:09:00,851 You know what I'm saying? 154 00:09:01,681 --> 00:09:04,001 And so that they would fight and they would have boxing matches. 155 00:09:04,001 --> 00:09:06,161 And so he says, hey, he's alluding back. 156 00:09:06,736 --> 00:09:10,126 And so that everybody can understand because they're familiar with the games. 157 00:09:10,416 --> 00:09:12,386 He says, I have fought the good fight. 158 00:09:12,386 --> 00:09:13,276 I've wrestled. 159 00:09:14,376 --> 00:09:15,756 I've had opposition. 160 00:09:16,896 --> 00:09:18,156 But I've fought the good fights. 161 00:09:19,266 --> 00:09:21,516 He says, I have finished the race. 162 00:09:21,516 --> 00:09:26,346 They would have uh, horse races or chariot races, but they also had foot races. 163 00:09:26,816 --> 00:09:29,256 And they would run around and it was, you know, you look up, 164 00:09:29,256 --> 00:09:32,576 it's almost the equivalent of the 400 meter race that we have. 165 00:09:32,576 --> 00:09:34,106 So one time around the track. 166 00:09:34,576 --> 00:09:36,046 He says, I have finished. 167 00:09:36,786 --> 00:09:43,326 The race, and he says, I have kept the faith and this probably or possibly 168 00:09:43,326 --> 00:09:47,546 could be referring to the, again, the athletes in the games, because before 169 00:09:47,546 --> 00:09:50,736 the games officially started, they had a ceremony and they had to pledge 170 00:09:50,736 --> 00:09:53,516 that they would compete by the rules. 171 00:09:54,856 --> 00:09:58,106 And so he could be saying, Hey, I have kept my oath. 172 00:09:58,696 --> 00:10:00,786 I have followed the rules of Christ. 173 00:10:01,446 --> 00:10:04,816 I think more likely meaning I have been faithful to God. 174 00:10:06,736 --> 00:10:07,866 But what is the results? 175 00:10:08,436 --> 00:10:10,416 What is the prize that Paul says? 176 00:10:10,416 --> 00:10:13,486 Okay, if we have the victory, where does that victory lead to? 177 00:10:13,486 --> 00:10:19,256 What's the reward for completing our faith, for finishing faithful to God? 178 00:10:19,406 --> 00:10:23,706 He says this, it's the crown of righteousness. 179 00:10:24,976 --> 00:10:29,836 Now for the ancient winners, they would receive, uh, the, the, the, the, the 180 00:10:29,846 --> 00:10:32,266 laurel, uh, laurel, uh, uh, wreath here. 181 00:10:32,596 --> 00:10:35,476 And so sometimes it might be a celery, depending on the 182 00:10:35,476 --> 00:10:37,076 games, or a pine, or olives. 183 00:10:37,296 --> 00:10:40,066 And so this was a prize, and so you would receive this. 184 00:10:40,066 --> 00:10:42,946 And we've all seen pictures, right, where we've seen somebody from, 185 00:10:43,116 --> 00:10:45,856 from ancient Greek times, and they had the wreath on their head. 186 00:10:45,856 --> 00:10:49,736 And so that was the crown that they would receive for being a 187 00:10:49,746 --> 00:10:53,336 victor in their specific game. 188 00:10:53,546 --> 00:10:57,846 And Paul says, okay, hey, look, we're not receiving this type of crown. 189 00:10:57,846 --> 00:11:00,756 He says we're getting the crown of righteousness. 190 00:11:03,836 --> 00:11:07,106 The crown of righteousness. 191 00:11:07,936 --> 00:11:11,866 And you know, this crown could be because Paul has been righteous, which 192 00:11:11,866 --> 00:11:14,276 would mean because Christ was upon him. 193 00:11:14,586 --> 00:11:16,716 He said, I'm righteous only because of Christ. 194 00:11:16,716 --> 00:11:20,776 And if you read others of Paul's letters, you know, that is definitely a 195 00:11:20,776 --> 00:11:22,686 possibility of what he's referring to. 196 00:11:22,846 --> 00:11:27,566 Not righteous as if I've never sinned, but righteous because Christ has been in me. 197 00:11:28,661 --> 00:11:33,691 Also, the possibility that the crown is what's righteous and it says here 198 00:11:33,691 --> 00:11:35,271 is given by the righteous judge. 199 00:11:35,461 --> 00:11:40,321 So only a righteous judge would give a righteous crown, therefore completing and 200 00:11:40,321 --> 00:11:42,671 fulfilling our righteousness in Christ. 201 00:11:45,351 --> 00:11:49,131 Whether it's both, the point is that we receive a spiritual 202 00:11:49,131 --> 00:11:54,561 crown from the almighty judge, Jesus, the righteous judge. 203 00:11:54,821 --> 00:11:55,531 You know, judges. 204 00:11:55,886 --> 00:11:59,726 They, they might be able to be paid off back then or, or, or whatnot. 205 00:11:59,726 --> 00:12:02,496 But he says, or he may be referring to his judgment that 206 00:12:02,496 --> 00:12:03,856 awaits, which will be unrighteous. 207 00:12:05,616 --> 00:12:12,406 But he says, the righteous judge will give me a crown of righteousness. 208 00:12:12,496 --> 00:12:15,276 You know, that crown that we showed earlier, obviously 209 00:12:15,366 --> 00:12:16,726 that crown wouldn't last. 210 00:12:17,296 --> 00:12:19,116 It would wither after a couple of days. 211 00:12:19,841 --> 00:12:23,821 But Paul is certain that our crown, the crown that awaits him, 212 00:12:23,941 --> 00:12:26,471 is one that would never fade. 213 00:12:27,671 --> 00:12:31,361 We go back to 1 Corinthians 9, he says they do it to get a crown that 214 00:12:31,361 --> 00:12:34,681 will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last how long? 215 00:12:35,821 --> 00:12:36,540 Forever. 216 00:12:37,191 --> 00:12:42,411 This doesn't fade, this doesn't dim when there's too much light exposure. 217 00:12:43,021 --> 00:12:46,001 This isn't going to wither and fade, this won't get old and 218 00:12:46,001 --> 00:12:48,651 crusty, no this crown will last. 219 00:12:50,246 --> 00:12:54,346 Forever, he has finished the competition and now awaits 220 00:12:54,386 --> 00:12:56,466 the award ceremony from God. 221 00:12:58,506 --> 00:13:02,256 And this is when the Savior returns. 222 00:13:03,716 --> 00:13:06,186 You know, this is an amazing perspective, isn't it? 223 00:13:06,816 --> 00:13:10,576 When you think again, like, wow, what perspective about life? 224 00:13:11,146 --> 00:13:13,456 What perspective about death? 225 00:13:13,866 --> 00:13:17,256 About the Christian journey and our faith journey. 226 00:13:18,091 --> 00:13:22,571 Amazing confidence and resolve and trust. 227 00:13:23,941 --> 00:13:27,181 I don't know about you, but I want to be like that when I get older. 228 00:13:28,551 --> 00:13:32,081 I want to have that same confidence, that same trust, that same 229 00:13:32,081 --> 00:13:36,961 resolve, but I don't want to have it just when I'm on my deathbed. 230 00:13:36,961 --> 00:13:39,161 I want to have that today. 231 00:13:41,001 --> 00:13:46,011 And I believe that the scriptures are leading us to have this faith, resolve and 232 00:13:46,021 --> 00:13:51,191 trust Today as well, because here's the incredible thing, brothers and sisters. 233 00:13:51,191 --> 00:13:51,851 I hope you caught it. 234 00:13:51,871 --> 00:13:53,111 We're going to talk about this right now. 235 00:13:53,371 --> 00:13:55,831 Here's the incredible thing is that here's what he says. 236 00:13:55,831 --> 00:13:57,241 Is that crown of righteousness? 237 00:13:57,251 --> 00:13:57,781 What did he say? 238 00:13:57,961 --> 00:14:03,131 It's not only for him, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 239 00:14:05,171 --> 00:14:10,201 Not just for Paul is this cool crown of righteousness, but this 240 00:14:10,221 --> 00:14:15,576 crown will be placed upon every soul who is in Christ Jesus. 241 00:14:15,916 --> 00:14:19,436 Jesus, you know, we can think this is only for the superstars. 242 00:14:19,436 --> 00:14:20,776 We're like, Paul, he's a superstar. 243 00:14:20,886 --> 00:14:22,526 It makes sense for him to get one. 244 00:14:23,526 --> 00:14:25,836 He's like the Simone Biles in the face. 245 00:14:27,106 --> 00:14:28,486 He's a superstar, you know what I mean? 246 00:14:28,486 --> 00:14:30,636 And we can think, well, yeah, it makes sense. 247 00:14:30,686 --> 00:14:31,486 But no, he's saying no. 248 00:14:31,516 --> 00:14:32,066 Guess what? 249 00:14:32,216 --> 00:14:35,356 Everybody who's on the team who completed the race, they're 250 00:14:35,356 --> 00:14:37,326 going to receive the same reward. 251 00:14:38,806 --> 00:14:39,866 Because that's you and me. 252 00:14:41,006 --> 00:14:44,506 You know, it made me think of, uh, the, the, the women's gymnastic team. 253 00:14:45,731 --> 00:14:47,521 And some of you guys ran into it, man, it's crazy. 254 00:14:47,521 --> 00:14:49,721 There's some drama going on right there if you read about it. 255 00:14:49,721 --> 00:14:51,811 They're trying to rescind one of the bronze medals, but we 256 00:14:51,811 --> 00:14:53,011 won't get into that right now. 257 00:14:53,371 --> 00:14:55,861 Um, in this you can see there's five. 258 00:14:56,061 --> 00:14:59,391 Now some of you, you might be looking going, you know what? 259 00:15:00,171 --> 00:15:04,081 The one on the, uh, look on the far right, I don't remember that girl. 260 00:15:04,831 --> 00:15:05,531 What did she do? 261 00:15:05,541 --> 00:15:07,511 Her name is, uh, Hesley Rivera. 262 00:15:08,471 --> 00:15:13,291 She competed in one event to qualify. 263 00:15:14,181 --> 00:15:16,571 For the finals, and then you never saw the girl again. 264 00:15:17,721 --> 00:15:20,601 They would only show her in the stand, and she'd be smiling like, yeah. 265 00:15:21,281 --> 00:15:23,931 She wasn't even on the side, like, she wasn't even geared 266 00:15:23,931 --> 00:15:25,271 up, she wasn't even dressed. 267 00:15:25,721 --> 00:15:29,351 But guess what, when it was time for the awards, what did she receive? 268 00:15:30,871 --> 00:15:32,931 The same gold medal that Simone Biles has. 269 00:15:35,371 --> 00:15:36,721 Now think about that for a second. 270 00:15:37,386 --> 00:15:40,256 She put in the work, she put in the efforts, but she's not the 271 00:15:40,256 --> 00:15:42,306 superstar, but guess what, her reward? 272 00:15:42,486 --> 00:15:43,766 It's the same thing. 273 00:15:46,136 --> 00:15:47,706 Brethren and sisters, what does it say? 274 00:15:48,266 --> 00:15:49,206 Did y'all catch that? 275 00:15:49,206 --> 00:15:50,216 What does it say? 276 00:15:50,476 --> 00:15:51,086 That what? 277 00:15:51,146 --> 00:15:53,796 It's for all who long for His appearance. 278 00:15:53,806 --> 00:15:54,915 It's for you and me! 279 00:15:56,246 --> 00:15:57,726 So we don't have to be the superstar. 280 00:15:57,756 --> 00:16:01,426 Yes, we should try our very best, but if we're not the superstar, 281 00:16:01,466 --> 00:16:06,066 we're going to see the same spiritual reward as Paul the Apostle. 282 00:16:08,306 --> 00:16:09,236 That's incredible. 283 00:16:11,626 --> 00:16:15,676 That's incredible that we get to receive this. 284 00:16:16,636 --> 00:16:20,136 What, what, what, what, oh my goodness, I wish we could understand this. 285 00:16:22,206 --> 00:16:26,846 We get a chance to receive this reward, all who are in Christ Jesus. 286 00:16:27,206 --> 00:16:28,766 You know, Paul says something interesting. 287 00:16:29,776 --> 00:16:30,946 He says, I have finished the race. 288 00:16:30,946 --> 00:16:32,616 He didn't say I finished the race first. 289 00:16:33,326 --> 00:16:33,956 Did you notice that? 290 00:16:35,076 --> 00:16:36,216 He actually didn't claim gold. 291 00:16:36,956 --> 00:16:38,236 He said, I just finished the race. 292 00:16:39,386 --> 00:16:39,796 Guess what? 293 00:16:39,796 --> 00:16:42,026 And we just finished the race. 294 00:16:42,726 --> 00:16:45,076 It's not about really trying to be first in this race. 295 00:16:46,056 --> 00:16:53,356 It's about finishing the race of our faith and the eternal award awaits us. 296 00:16:54,846 --> 00:16:59,446 But now it does say this, for those who longs for his appearing, 297 00:16:59,446 --> 00:17:03,156 that word long actually is the same, uh, word for love, agape. 298 00:17:04,786 --> 00:17:05,826 So it actually could be. 299 00:17:06,246 --> 00:17:12,915 Actually, more accurately translated as for all who have loved his appearance. 300 00:17:15,226 --> 00:17:19,846 And so there's the same principle, there's this desire for Jesus. 301 00:17:20,445 --> 00:17:25,826 There's a longing for Christ to appear for his second coming. 302 00:17:26,326 --> 00:17:34,116 But there's this love, this longing, this attitude to be with Jesus forever. 303 00:17:36,826 --> 00:17:38,896 Now, again, we have to make sure we understand this caveat. 304 00:17:39,566 --> 00:17:42,106 It's not for all who just claim to be a Christian. 305 00:17:43,356 --> 00:17:48,516 He says this is the word for all who have loved or longed for Christ's appearing. 306 00:17:49,856 --> 00:17:51,346 And so we have to ask this question. 307 00:17:52,936 --> 00:17:55,616 Am I longing or loving His appearing? 308 00:17:58,066 --> 00:18:03,746 You know, I, I, I want to caution because my fear is some of us will answer 309 00:18:03,746 --> 00:18:05,456 that question too quickly with a yes. 310 00:18:07,216 --> 00:18:07,536 What's that? 311 00:18:07,536 --> 00:18:07,626 Yeah. 312 00:18:07,826 --> 00:18:08,066 Yep. 313 00:18:08,636 --> 00:18:08,776 Yep. 314 00:18:08,806 --> 00:18:09,386 That's me. 315 00:18:10,576 --> 00:18:15,106 But as I had a chance, and actually it was a little more yesterday than prior 316 00:18:15,106 --> 00:18:20,666 in the week, I was really humbled and sobered by, you know what, I, I do 317 00:18:20,676 --> 00:18:28,666 long for his appearing, but I focus too much on the blessings in the now. 318 00:18:29,826 --> 00:18:30,956 You guys get what I'm saying? 319 00:18:31,966 --> 00:18:35,146 It's like, yes, I want you to return and I'll tell God, I say, 320 00:18:35,146 --> 00:18:37,326 God, I want you to return, but I just have some family members that 321 00:18:37,336 --> 00:18:38,306 haven't made the decision yet. 322 00:18:38,306 --> 00:18:41,756 So can you just hold off a little bit until they get into this? 323 00:18:41,756 --> 00:18:42,486 You know what I mean? 324 00:18:42,906 --> 00:18:43,606 And that's sincere. 325 00:18:43,606 --> 00:18:45,076 I'm like, I just, God, you know this. 326 00:18:45,246 --> 00:18:46,336 I want you to come over. 327 00:18:46,336 --> 00:18:47,506 You just hold off on that. 328 00:18:47,636 --> 00:18:49,786 I would like to see Europe, but it's okay if I can't. 329 00:18:49,826 --> 00:18:50,646 You know what I'm saying? 330 00:18:51,956 --> 00:18:54,966 But I'm like, God, but then I noticed that I, I battled this 331 00:18:55,026 --> 00:18:57,246 tension and I'll tell God this on. 332 00:18:57,526 --> 00:18:58,446 I'm like, God, I. 333 00:18:58,641 --> 00:19:02,731 I, I, I just, the way I am right now, I need your help because it's hard for 334 00:19:02,741 --> 00:19:07,911 me to keep in view eternity and, and, and not mess up the here and now or 335 00:19:07,911 --> 00:19:11,061 I look too much at the here and now and then I forget eternity's on us. 336 00:19:11,241 --> 00:19:12,091 So I need your help. 337 00:19:12,091 --> 00:19:13,101 You guys get what I'm saying? 338 00:19:13,721 --> 00:19:14,881 And so I love God. 339 00:19:14,881 --> 00:19:20,251 I can't wait to be a God, but my challenge here is that I, I, I really appreciate and 340 00:19:20,251 --> 00:19:21,901 enjoy the blessings of the here and now. 341 00:19:23,936 --> 00:19:25,456 And so God, I have to pray. 342 00:19:25,456 --> 00:19:28,536 And if you want to say a prayer for him, pray that again, that I can 343 00:19:28,546 --> 00:19:33,326 hold it in tension, both of these things that yes, I can be, you 344 00:19:33,326 --> 00:19:35,166 know, presence with what's going on. 345 00:19:35,386 --> 00:19:36,796 I can appreciate and praise God. 346 00:19:37,076 --> 00:19:39,786 But yet that's not my reward. 347 00:19:41,596 --> 00:19:46,566 My reward is the crown of righteousness of eternity with God Almighty. 348 00:19:47,816 --> 00:19:50,176 And so again, it's a war. 349 00:19:50,671 --> 00:19:57,641 It's for those who are keeping or who have fought the fight, who has finished 350 00:19:58,721 --> 00:20:02,151 the race and have kept the faith. 351 00:20:03,411 --> 00:20:06,121 You know, Paul's comments, you can say, wow, that sounds either 352 00:20:06,121 --> 00:20:09,951 he's either possibly arrogant or he's deceived about where he's 353 00:20:10,101 --> 00:20:12,301 at or he's truly lived this out. 354 00:20:14,031 --> 00:20:14,851 I think it's that. 355 00:20:15,321 --> 00:20:17,221 I think Paul knew who knew God. 356 00:20:17,801 --> 00:20:18,331 He knew. 357 00:20:18,816 --> 00:20:20,536 He knew what his life was like in Christ. 358 00:20:21,536 --> 00:20:26,826 And so it wasn't arrogance, it wasn't deception, but he knew real from the 359 00:20:26,826 --> 00:20:29,066 fake, that he wasn't counterfeit. 360 00:20:29,106 --> 00:20:32,626 He knew the character of God, he knew God's love and the grace 361 00:20:32,926 --> 00:20:37,656 that he found only in Jesus through his relationship with God. 362 00:20:38,726 --> 00:20:43,556 He knew he wasn't perfect, but he knew he was a real disciple of Jesus. 363 00:20:44,256 --> 00:20:46,466 You know, you can tell if you long for Jesus paring. 364 00:20:47,156 --> 00:20:48,526 By how you are living today, 365 00:20:51,006 --> 00:20:57,046 we can tell if we're longing or loving for his appearing by how we live today. 366 00:20:58,206 --> 00:21:03,746 Does your life reveal that you desire to be with God, that you're looking 367 00:21:03,746 --> 00:21:06,456 forward to the coming of Jesus someday? 368 00:21:06,456 --> 00:21:11,896 Do you spend time with God, making every effort to add to your 369 00:21:11,906 --> 00:21:14,206 faith to become more like Jesus? 370 00:21:15,371 --> 00:21:19,821 And do your choices show that Jesus would accept it if he came back today? 371 00:21:21,361 --> 00:21:25,801 Again, let's hold off on answering the question too quickly so that we can 372 00:21:25,801 --> 00:21:31,421 make sure the spirit can minister to us and refine this where necessary. 373 00:21:33,771 --> 00:21:40,661 And wherever you are, the beauty of the day is that God's grace 374 00:21:40,721 --> 00:21:42,981 is being offered to you today. 375 00:21:44,311 --> 00:21:49,781 Meaning you have an opportunity to make a decision to either get back on 376 00:21:49,831 --> 00:21:55,021 track, or for some of us, we've never made a decision to truly follow Jesus. 377 00:21:55,071 --> 00:21:56,741 You can make decisions today. 378 00:21:57,861 --> 00:22:02,221 And so every one of us, no matter where we are, there's hope today for our 379 00:22:02,221 --> 00:22:07,371 lives, and we can make a decision to go on this faith journey with Christ. 380 00:22:08,141 --> 00:22:09,811 Brothers and sisters, are you still with me here? 381 00:22:10,921 --> 00:22:14,491 You know, Olympic athletes, they dedicate their lives to their sport. 382 00:22:15,501 --> 00:22:21,661 As we see here from Paul, he, he gave his life to the only cause worth his devotion. 383 00:22:22,471 --> 00:22:29,201 And you know, we too, we too need to live wholeheartedly for God in 384 00:22:29,201 --> 00:22:35,441 response to Jesus for all that he is and all that he has and all that 385 00:22:35,441 --> 00:22:37,911 he is and will do in our lives. 386 00:22:38,676 --> 00:22:43,216 You know, the Olympic athletes, they need to give it their all and just 387 00:22:43,536 --> 00:22:49,596 like them, we need to give it our all because giving half won't cut it. 388 00:22:51,706 --> 00:22:56,976 Giving yourself half commitment won't cut it in the faith spiritually. 389 00:22:57,586 --> 00:22:58,106 Why? 390 00:22:58,316 --> 00:23:00,656 Well, we'll be less confident of our salvation. 391 00:23:01,746 --> 00:23:03,026 I'm not really sure. 392 00:23:03,026 --> 00:23:07,726 I, uh, well, if I'm giving my all, I don't need to have this fear. 393 00:23:09,671 --> 00:23:13,351 But also, when we're given half commitment, oftentimes 394 00:23:13,351 --> 00:23:14,401 it leads to quitting. 395 00:23:16,351 --> 00:23:20,311 And what, we know the old phrase, quitting, what, quitters never what? 396 00:23:21,781 --> 00:23:22,331 Prosper. 397 00:23:22,911 --> 00:23:23,591 Some of you know it. 398 00:23:23,591 --> 00:23:25,881 Okay, listen, everybody, quitters never prosper. 399 00:23:25,921 --> 00:23:26,691 Okay, here you go. 400 00:23:27,421 --> 00:23:27,891 Why? 401 00:23:28,001 --> 00:23:28,951 Because they stop. 402 00:23:29,631 --> 00:23:31,281 So there's no prosperity. 403 00:23:32,651 --> 00:23:34,601 They stop before they can receive it. 404 00:23:35,701 --> 00:23:39,871 And when we give half commitment, it will lead to ultimately quitting 405 00:23:40,051 --> 00:23:45,041 and therefore forfeiting and missing out on that crown of righteousness. 406 00:23:45,111 --> 00:23:46,261 Wow, how sad would that be? 407 00:23:47,971 --> 00:23:50,131 But when we give full commitment, we don't have to worry about that. 408 00:23:50,131 --> 00:23:50,491 Why? 409 00:23:50,671 --> 00:23:53,031 Because we're going to stay faithful. 410 00:23:54,271 --> 00:23:57,771 Here I believe the application here for all of us today is 411 00:23:57,771 --> 00:23:59,606 to stay faithful to the end. 412 00:24:00,696 --> 00:24:06,396 To make a decision that Jesus, I will be faithful to you for my whole 413 00:24:06,516 --> 00:24:10,796 lifetime because you were faithful on the cross, you didn't come down, 414 00:24:10,926 --> 00:24:15,616 you've been faithful to me, and the only proper response is to be faithful 415 00:24:15,616 --> 00:24:17,796 to you until the day you call me home. 416 00:24:19,036 --> 00:24:19,896 It's a decision. 417 00:24:19,896 --> 00:24:20,816 It's a mindset. 418 00:24:21,556 --> 00:24:25,966 I am going to see you face to face and it will be a welcoming 419 00:24:26,096 --> 00:24:27,306 and not a day of judgment. 420 00:24:27,306 --> 00:24:27,336 Amen. 421 00:24:29,606 --> 00:24:32,926 I might not be perfect, but I'm going to finish this race. 422 00:24:33,766 --> 00:24:37,786 I may stumble and fall, but trust I'm going to finish this race. 423 00:24:39,456 --> 00:24:42,426 I'm going to be faithful to the end. 424 00:24:43,346 --> 00:24:45,626 That means we need to daily fight the good fight. 425 00:24:45,626 --> 00:24:46,536 You guys with me here? 426 00:24:47,346 --> 00:24:50,866 That means we need to daily run to the finish line. 427 00:24:51,596 --> 00:24:53,966 That means daily we need to keep the faith. 428 00:24:55,441 --> 00:24:58,891 You know, it's the training that Dallas referred to a couple of weeks ago. 429 00:24:59,351 --> 00:25:02,651 The training that now leads to eternal reward. 430 00:25:02,651 --> 00:25:03,381 I love what he said. 431 00:25:03,461 --> 00:25:07,951 He said, life is too short and eternity is too long to take days off. 432 00:25:09,831 --> 00:25:13,391 You know, you can't take days off if you're trying to win an Olympic medal. 433 00:25:14,731 --> 00:25:16,351 Hey, I want to win the gold. 434 00:25:16,431 --> 00:25:18,931 Now, I'm going to take a month off to just kind of chill and relax. 435 00:25:18,961 --> 00:25:20,071 That doesn't work, buddy. 436 00:25:21,091 --> 00:25:21,961 You know what I'm saying? 437 00:25:22,771 --> 00:25:25,271 And so we can't be like, yeah, man, I'm just looking 438 00:25:25,271 --> 00:25:26,511 forward to the eternal rewards. 439 00:25:26,641 --> 00:25:28,451 But you know, for the next two weeks, I just got to be 440 00:25:28,451 --> 00:25:31,771 about me, give it to my flesh. 441 00:25:33,361 --> 00:25:35,761 Let me go ahead, God, you know, I love you, but I'm going to just take a step 442 00:25:35,761 --> 00:25:41,061 outside of your will for a week, that's not going to lead to eternal rewards. 443 00:25:43,611 --> 00:25:47,321 We need to go back to the basics, you know, personal devotional time with God. 444 00:25:47,321 --> 00:25:47,781 Remember that? 445 00:25:48,936 --> 00:25:50,626 The basics are the basics for a reason. 446 00:25:50,846 --> 00:25:53,326 If you don't have the basics, then you can't do anything else. 447 00:25:54,556 --> 00:25:56,756 We need to be involved in people's lives and allowing others 448 00:25:56,766 --> 00:25:58,166 to be involved in our lives. 449 00:25:58,826 --> 00:26:01,116 We're getting open about our sin, our temptations. 450 00:26:01,206 --> 00:26:02,536 Hey, here's what I'm struggling with. 451 00:26:02,536 --> 00:26:03,586 Here's what I'm fearful of. 452 00:26:03,756 --> 00:26:04,626 Can you help me? 453 00:26:04,626 --> 00:26:05,586 Can we pray for each other? 454 00:26:05,586 --> 00:26:07,666 Can I be in your life and help you as well? 455 00:26:08,756 --> 00:26:09,756 It's showing up. 456 00:26:10,911 --> 00:26:13,921 Being, not only on Sunday service, but being when the family group 457 00:26:13,931 --> 00:26:16,221 meets together, being together when the midweek happens. 458 00:26:16,221 --> 00:26:17,231 Oh, no, did he go there? 459 00:26:17,231 --> 00:26:18,261 Yes, I did. 460 00:26:20,681 --> 00:26:22,081 I would say it again, but I forgot what I said. 461 00:26:22,121 --> 00:26:22,671 I'm just playing. 462 00:26:26,501 --> 00:26:27,951 But again, we can't be pointing fingers. 463 00:26:27,951 --> 00:26:29,821 If any of us are like, yep, that's where so and so, you 464 00:26:29,821 --> 00:26:31,231 need to think about me first. 465 00:26:32,461 --> 00:26:36,511 Am I doing the things daily in my life that show I'm still on the 466 00:26:36,511 --> 00:26:39,401 path and I'm still running the race that God has called me towards? 467 00:26:41,636 --> 00:26:42,806 And again, it's like this. 468 00:26:42,806 --> 00:26:44,156 Hey, let's do this together. 469 00:26:44,756 --> 00:26:45,866 It's not like, Ooh, look at you. 470 00:26:45,866 --> 00:26:46,166 You did. 471 00:26:46,426 --> 00:26:46,786 Uh huh. 472 00:26:46,786 --> 00:26:47,036 Yeah. 473 00:26:49,516 --> 00:26:50,386 No, no, no, no, brother. 474 00:26:50,386 --> 00:26:51,736 Hey, let me help you on up. 475 00:26:52,106 --> 00:26:52,516 Hey, you know what? 476 00:26:52,516 --> 00:26:53,156 I'm a little slow. 477 00:26:53,156 --> 00:26:54,366 Hey, hey, hey, help me out, man. 478 00:26:54,566 --> 00:26:55,156 I'm getting a little tired. 479 00:26:55,326 --> 00:26:56,516 I'm thinking about stopping. 480 00:26:57,966 --> 00:26:58,966 I need your help. 481 00:27:00,186 --> 00:27:01,766 For instance, it's the basics. 482 00:27:01,926 --> 00:27:04,906 It's that training that leads to eternal rewards. 483 00:27:07,776 --> 00:27:08,886 Serving in the church. 484 00:27:09,561 --> 00:27:12,421 Sharing the good news of people who aren't running toward the finish line. 485 00:27:14,331 --> 00:27:16,131 You know, there's a lot of people who aren't running toward the finish line. 486 00:27:17,251 --> 00:27:20,411 And here we are, we're trying, but we see people on the 487 00:27:20,411 --> 00:27:21,471 sideline, we're not calling them. 488 00:27:23,731 --> 00:27:27,151 What's, what's, oh wait, they won't have that crown of righteousness. 489 00:27:29,441 --> 00:27:32,581 But God wants to use us to join Him in His work. 490 00:27:33,311 --> 00:27:35,591 To bring others into the fold. 491 00:27:36,111 --> 00:27:38,471 So that they too can have the crown of righteousness. 492 00:27:38,471 --> 00:27:39,841 Brothers and sisters, are you with me here? 493 00:27:40,986 --> 00:27:42,736 You know, some days are harder than others. 494 00:27:43,116 --> 00:27:44,316 Some days we do better. 495 00:27:45,296 --> 00:27:46,946 Some days they're tough. 496 00:27:46,946 --> 00:27:48,866 Some days they're awesome. 497 00:27:49,636 --> 00:27:52,986 But this is that genuine faith that Daniel referred to. 498 00:27:53,446 --> 00:27:55,606 That genuine faith that's worth more than gold. 499 00:27:57,756 --> 00:28:00,976 That faith that's been tested and it's proven to be genuine. 500 00:28:02,216 --> 00:28:05,486 Anything that's tested to be genuine, you have to, you have to examine it. 501 00:28:06,096 --> 00:28:06,876 Let's make sure. 502 00:28:06,876 --> 00:28:07,976 Let's run it through some tests. 503 00:28:08,186 --> 00:28:10,636 Let's examine to make sure it's real. 504 00:28:11,186 --> 00:28:15,326 And so as we persevere, we can see for ourselves, but most of all, to the glory 505 00:28:15,326 --> 00:28:17,996 of God, our faith is genuine and real. 506 00:28:19,466 --> 00:28:21,686 And it's worth more than gold. 507 00:28:23,036 --> 00:28:26,766 So let's remember the eternal crown that awaits us. 508 00:28:27,296 --> 00:28:31,816 I love what, uh, there's the, uh, track star, Gabby Thomas. 509 00:28:32,781 --> 00:28:37,321 She, uh, she ran, uh, man, she had like three gold medals, but she ran a 200 510 00:28:37,831 --> 00:28:41,331 and we were watching it and after the, uh, the second heat, I believe, yeah, 511 00:28:41,331 --> 00:28:43,121 second heat, but it was the semifinals. 512 00:28:43,321 --> 00:28:45,951 She said this, and they asked her this question. 513 00:28:45,951 --> 00:28:50,781 They said, hey, You know, you're so good down the back stretch, the last 60 meters. 514 00:28:50,821 --> 00:28:53,581 You know, when you're coming in because of the 200, so they make a turn. 515 00:28:53,811 --> 00:28:57,771 And so they said, why are you so good down that back stretch, 516 00:28:57,771 --> 00:28:59,041 the last part of the race? 517 00:28:59,041 --> 00:28:59,911 And here's what she said. 518 00:29:00,111 --> 00:29:04,571 She says, I feel so happy running when I see the finish line in my sights. 519 00:29:05,331 --> 00:29:10,581 I just have that boost and I know I can get there, stretch my legs out and go. 520 00:29:11,531 --> 00:29:15,451 She says, man, I'm coming across that turn and I see the finish line. 521 00:29:16,636 --> 00:29:19,466 And she said, I just get happy and it gives me a boost. 522 00:29:20,176 --> 00:29:21,546 She's like, well, I'm gonna get these girls. 523 00:29:21,546 --> 00:29:22,216 You know what I'm saying? 524 00:29:25,216 --> 00:29:26,786 She said, it's the finish line though. 525 00:29:28,236 --> 00:29:29,396 It says, see the finish line. 526 00:29:29,396 --> 00:29:32,736 And it motivates her. 527 00:29:33,276 --> 00:29:34,696 She's already running fast. 528 00:29:35,796 --> 00:29:37,876 But it gives her that extra boost. 529 00:29:39,566 --> 00:29:42,466 You know, our eternal finish line can give us that boost. 530 00:29:43,981 --> 00:29:47,591 It can motivate us to persevere when life gets hard and we have some heartache. 531 00:29:48,491 --> 00:29:52,111 It can motivate us to overcome that sin and that temptation. 532 00:29:53,151 --> 00:29:56,251 It can give us that boost to motivate us to focus on the right 533 00:29:56,251 --> 00:29:58,211 things and prioritize correctly. 534 00:30:01,311 --> 00:30:05,781 And I believe one of the things I love is when you see the 535 00:30:05,781 --> 00:30:10,501 Olympians, especially those who win medals, how fired up they are. 536 00:30:11,771 --> 00:30:14,771 You know, the ones who win gold sometimes, or even silver, 537 00:30:14,771 --> 00:30:16,241 bronze, and they're crying. 538 00:30:16,241 --> 00:30:18,211 And, oh, I can't believe it. 539 00:30:18,211 --> 00:30:18,691 You know what I mean? 540 00:30:18,701 --> 00:30:20,511 Like, are they sad or are they happy? 541 00:30:20,511 --> 00:30:21,721 You know, sometimes you don't really know. 542 00:30:22,751 --> 00:30:24,461 But they're just crying or they're so elated. 543 00:30:24,461 --> 00:30:26,201 They just can't, they're just jumping around. 544 00:30:26,201 --> 00:30:27,351 They're so excited. 545 00:30:27,531 --> 00:30:29,691 And the thing that hit me the other day as I was watching, I 546 00:30:29,691 --> 00:30:30,901 was like, they have no regrets. 547 00:30:33,141 --> 00:30:34,981 When Olympians, they medal, there's no regrets. 548 00:30:34,981 --> 00:30:35,501 You never see them. 549 00:30:35,631 --> 00:30:36,271 You know what? 550 00:30:36,301 --> 00:30:38,281 I kind of regret training so much. 551 00:30:39,946 --> 00:30:41,486 I really wish I wouldn't have done all this. 552 00:30:41,486 --> 00:30:43,266 Oh, you know, it's not really all that. 553 00:30:43,266 --> 00:30:44,116 I don't think it's worth it. 554 00:30:44,286 --> 00:30:45,716 Have you ever seen that? 555 00:30:46,856 --> 00:30:49,936 No, they go into today's show the next morning and all they do is just smile. 556 00:30:51,276 --> 00:30:53,116 Because they're talking about man and what they say. 557 00:30:53,186 --> 00:30:54,456 It was worth it. 558 00:30:55,746 --> 00:30:58,706 The hard times, the discipline, the training was worth it. 559 00:31:01,086 --> 00:31:02,546 You know, I believe spiritually. 560 00:31:04,146 --> 00:31:07,256 When we get to heaven, we'll have the same mindset. 561 00:31:08,601 --> 00:31:09,171 It was worth it. 562 00:31:10,921 --> 00:31:13,951 When the day of that spiritual podium, when we're receiving 563 00:31:13,951 --> 00:31:17,701 the crown of righteousness, not one of us are ever going to say, 564 00:31:17,701 --> 00:31:18,841 you know, it wasn't worth it. 565 00:31:20,011 --> 00:31:23,221 I wish I wouldn't have given so much. 566 00:31:24,411 --> 00:31:27,581 I wish I wouldn't have sacrificed so much for this. 567 00:31:28,551 --> 00:31:30,091 I don't believe we'll have one regret. 568 00:31:31,381 --> 00:31:33,571 If any, we'll have regret that we didn't give more. 569 00:31:36,121 --> 00:31:37,621 And so we can learn again. 570 00:31:38,751 --> 00:31:40,261 The lessons from the Olympics. 571 00:31:41,121 --> 00:31:43,881 You know, another thing that hit me, modern Olympians, they step off the 572 00:31:43,881 --> 00:31:48,801 podium and they usually go celebrate or some of them retire depending on their 573 00:31:48,821 --> 00:31:51,231 age or something about the next Olympics. 574 00:31:51,271 --> 00:31:51,651 Right? 575 00:31:52,131 --> 00:31:58,231 You know, but for us, we have eternity with God, the angels and 576 00:31:58,231 --> 00:32:00,021 all of God's people to celebrate. 577 00:32:02,361 --> 00:32:03,141 Doesn't even compare. 578 00:32:04,806 --> 00:32:09,006 And so as we come in for a close for the sermon and for the series, you 579 00:32:09,006 --> 00:32:12,726 know, the Olympians will remind us again, the Olympians achieving victory 580 00:32:12,726 --> 00:32:18,346 is gold, silver, or bronze, but for the disciples of Jesus, achieving victory 581 00:32:18,526 --> 00:32:22,186 is to end this life faithful to God. 582 00:32:23,846 --> 00:32:27,686 And God wants you and I to have the same confidence that Paul has 583 00:32:28,126 --> 00:32:30,726 and achieve victory in our faith. 584 00:32:31,656 --> 00:32:37,106 God wants us to persevere so we too can receive the eternal treasures in Jesus. 585 00:32:37,566 --> 00:32:43,236 So let's remember that the faith, which really is our life in Jesus, that it's 586 00:32:43,246 --> 00:32:51,196 proven and refined, that it's a greater worth than gold and that our faith in 587 00:32:51,196 --> 00:32:58,526 Jesus requires training and that our faith in Jesus leads to eternal life. 588 00:32:59,406 --> 00:33:00,006 Victory. 589 00:33:01,166 --> 00:33:06,806 Let's celebrate the journey of faith and the ultimate reward that awaits 590 00:33:06,896 --> 00:33:13,076 us all who fight the good fight, who finished the race and keep the faith. 591 00:33:14,446 --> 00:33:18,276 Right now we're going to take communion and community time where we reflect 592 00:33:18,386 --> 00:33:22,576 and remember Jesus is a sacrifice upon the cross and we take the emblems 593 00:33:22,576 --> 00:33:26,866 representing his blood and his body of a sacrifice for our salvation. 594 00:33:27,126 --> 00:33:27,166 Amen. 595 00:33:28,006 --> 00:33:28,406 And amen. 596 00:33:28,736 --> 00:33:32,456 I want to say this last thing, and, and again using the analogy and the metaphor 597 00:33:32,456 --> 00:33:36,086 of, of the Olympics here, is that the Olympians, you, when, when they're on 598 00:33:36,086 --> 00:33:40,796 the podium, what do they, they usually have on their either USA outfit right? 599 00:33:40,796 --> 00:33:44,696 Or whatever country they're from, and uh, or they have, uh, may 600 00:33:44,726 --> 00:33:46,736 maybe their sponsors are on right. 601 00:33:46,736 --> 00:33:49,406 Nike, Adidas, or whatever the case may be. 602 00:33:49,406 --> 00:33:49,736 Right? 603 00:33:50,066 --> 00:33:52,256 But, you know, we have our uniforms. 604 00:33:55,226 --> 00:33:57,146 It's Christ in the cross. 605 00:33:59,886 --> 00:34:05,566 Because on them, we represented because again, as they're 606 00:34:05,566 --> 00:34:09,835 representing either USA or Nike or whatever, we're representing Christ. 607 00:34:10,826 --> 00:34:12,426 We've been sponsored by Christ. 608 00:34:12,446 --> 00:34:17,186 We've been covered by the blood of Christ and we've been empowered 609 00:34:17,496 --> 00:34:20,565 by what Jesus did on the cross. 610 00:34:21,426 --> 00:34:24,786 Let's close out here in second Timothy four, verse seven and 611 00:34:24,786 --> 00:34:26,045 eight, I have fought the good fight. 612 00:34:26,641 --> 00:34:27,860 I have finished the race. 613 00:34:27,911 --> 00:34:30,351 I have kept the faith. 614 00:34:31,281 --> 00:34:36,190 Now there is in store for us the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the 615 00:34:36,190 --> 00:34:41,281 righteous judge will award to us on that day and not only to us, but also to 616 00:34:41,331 --> 00:34:45,221 all who have longed for his appearing. 617 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:45,971 Let's pray. 618 00:34:46,601 --> 00:34:51,710 Father in heaven, I thank you so much for the scriptures, for the comfort, for 619 00:34:51,710 --> 00:34:55,920 the encouragement, for the perspective. 620 00:34:56,366 --> 00:35:01,896 That you give us the revelation that we have a, we have an eternal crown that 621 00:35:01,896 --> 00:35:04,736 awaits us on the day that Jesus returns. 622 00:35:05,376 --> 00:35:08,726 God, we thank you so much for that promise. 623 00:35:08,806 --> 00:35:15,736 We thank you that we can have victory today by being faithful to you. 624 00:35:16,266 --> 00:35:19,706 Thank you for Jesus and his example in his life. 625 00:35:19,706 --> 00:35:21,626 How he was faithful to his cause. 626 00:35:21,926 --> 00:35:25,036 Thank you for his faithfulness by staying upon the cross. 627 00:35:25,586 --> 00:35:30,206 Thank you by showing your faithfulness by resurrecting him from the dead. 628 00:35:30,206 --> 00:35:35,386 And thank you so much for calling us to run the race of faith. 629 00:35:35,876 --> 00:35:41,206 I pray, Lord, that not only you accept our offering, but Father, that we 630 00:35:41,206 --> 00:35:46,386 too can follow Jesus example, that we can fight the good fight, we can 631 00:35:46,386 --> 00:35:49,126 finish the race, and keep the faith. 632 00:35:49,176 --> 00:35:50,456 It's in his name we pray. 633 00:35:50,886 --> 00:35:51,146 Amen.