WEBVTT 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.640 Hello, I'm Pastor Creighton, and thank you for tuning into New Sun Churches Podcast. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:15.359 We're a gospel centered church in Port Perry, Ontario, proclaiming the true and life-giving word of Jesus as we love and serve our neighbors. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.239 May God bless you today through his life-giving word. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:26.000 The second lesson is from Philippines chapter 3, verses 7 to 14. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:32.960 But whether ever I gain, I had, I count it as a loss for the sake of Christ. 00:00:33.200 --> 00:00:39.840 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:48.399 For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him. 00:00:48.960 --> 00:01:12.239 Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:19.040 Not that I have already attained this or I'm already perfect, but I press on to make it my own. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:22.640 Because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:27.200 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. 00:01:27.519 --> 00:01:40.560 But one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, the word of the Lord. 00:01:42.879 --> 00:01:44.879 As we stand, let us pray. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:02:07.599 Father in heaven, we pray that by your Holy Spirit you will open the eyes of our hearts to the glory of Jesus, that we will know ourselves to be those who are loved by the Lord Jesus and those who are called to live for Him, to the glory of God, to the glory in this community and in our own families. 00:02:07.760 --> 00:02:09.120 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:09.759 Amen. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:12.800 Please be seated. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:23.360 Well, it is uh it is a great joy to be here today for this uh rededication. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:32.800 Uh and it's also, I think it's great that after the sermon as well, we are going to commission Mike Tweedle as a lay leader in this parish. 00:02:32.960 --> 00:02:46.800 He's done a lot of work uh in this, and it's so appropriate because we're saying that this gift of this church, uh thanks to your generosity, God working through you, the purpose of it is for ministry. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:56.560 And we have somebody who's dedicating his life to ministry as a lay leader uh right after rededicating this par this uh church. 00:02:56.800 --> 00:03:01.039 So um it's it's great timing all the way around, and well done. 00:03:01.280 --> 00:03:17.599 And well done, uh well done, Creighton and uh and Rachel as well, in your leadership of this church uh and for your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and his mission, which is so important in all of this over all these years as well. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:25.120 Uh so grateful for God's working and very encouraged for God's working in you both in um through these years. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:30.479 Uh and uh very thankful also for uh Howard Edwards being with us. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:52.240 He is our executive director, and uh he came to us as a gift by God to this diocese because we were praying that we would um somebody would apply for this position who really knew numbers and uh accountancy very well, and also who loved the mission of the church. 00:03:52.400 --> 00:04:15.919 And so on the last day of the um the search, he put in his application, and we saw that he he was not only somebody who was an accountant and had an accountant company, but also had a mission um organization he started uh in Africa and uh was often in Tanzania. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:21.199 And I think you also won the prize for evangelism at the theological college where you went as well. 00:04:21.360 --> 00:04:23.360 What a combination to have those two together. 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:31.680 I'm not saying that uh accountants are not spiritual people, but I am saying it's wonderful to have that combination uh together. 00:04:31.839 --> 00:04:38.160 And uh our reading today from Philippians, I want to talk to you about, and it is a lot about this. 00:04:38.560 --> 00:04:44.480 This is a reading that warms the hearts of accountants and people who love numbers and budgets. 00:04:44.720 --> 00:05:00.240 Uh you're gonna be curious now about this, but uh, it will warm their hearts because it is all about valuation, it's about profit and loss, uh, and it's about treasure, it's about what is really valuable in life. 00:05:00.560 --> 00:05:04.240 And uh this uh I want you to turn there. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:05.600 Uh, we'll follow along here. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:08.959 It's this great chapter three, it's a beautiful passage. 00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:12.720 And in it you hear Paul's testimony. 00:05:13.120 --> 00:05:21.519 It talks about what is important in his life because he has told this little church in Philippi, who's going through some tough times. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:27.199 There's some divisions uh that are happening, there's some very strange teaching coming in as well. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:28.639 They've got challenges. 00:05:28.720 --> 00:05:33.600 Uh but he's but Paul says, I want you to rejoice in the Lord Jesus. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:44.639 There's lots, there's every reason to rejoice in him, and you will find yourselves united as you rejoice in Jesus, as you value him. 00:05:45.040 --> 00:05:46.639 There's unity that comes from there. 00:05:46.720 --> 00:05:48.480 That's very powerful. 00:05:49.040 --> 00:05:56.879 And uh he talks about his testimony in terms of valuing Jesus above everything else. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:01.120 And what he's doing is he's remembering here Jesus' words. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:10.000 Do you remember the picture, the parable that Jesus gives about the kingdom of heaven, which is about life under the rule of Jesus? 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:17.279 He said, The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field where a man finds it and he hides it. 00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:23.199 And for joy over it, he goes and he sells all that he has and he buys that field. 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:30.399 Or he says, right afterwards, um, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:38.399 And who, when he had found one pearl of great price, sells all that he has and bought it. 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:41.279 Um, my boys growing up, they loved this story. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:47.199 There was something about throwing everything away for the sake of something that valuable that really spoke to them. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:59.360 And you see, what happened is that in Paul's life, he found the gift that surpasses all worth in this world, and he wanted to know Jesus more and more. 00:06:59.920 --> 00:07:01.680 That's what his life was about. 00:07:01.839 --> 00:07:07.839 It is he treasures Jesus so much, he recognizes the value of Jesus so much. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.720 He wants him to know, he wants to know him more and more. 00:07:11.040 --> 00:07:20.079 And um, so Paul shares a little bit uh about what his life looks like that values Jesus so much. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:21.360 It's a testimony to us. 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:23.759 And I'd love to hear each of your testimonies. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:33.920 We don't have time today, but it will involve a time when you come to value the Lord Jesus if you are a follower of Christ yet. 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:40.160 And that's why there's so many eyes in this chapter three, verses four through fourteen. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:45.439 Um and uh, if you look at verse eight, here's what he comes down to. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:47.360 Here's the center of his life. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:50.560 He determines the valuation of everything about himself. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:54.800 He looks at his assets, he looks at his liabilities. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:56.879 Um you're smiling now. 00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:00.000 Um Howard. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:04.959 Howard, by the way, where did where did you first hear that uh that this was paid off? 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:07.680 This uh uh this church was paid off. 00:08:07.759 --> 00:08:09.600 Where what were you doing when you heard about this? 00:08:09.920 --> 00:08:11.199 I was getting my flu shot. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:13.360 Oh, very that's that's quite amazing. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:17.439 What was your response when Creighton said, our mortgage is paid off? 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:21.199 I was uh in tears in the aisles of the shopper's drop. 00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:22.639 Oh, very good. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:25.519 Well, that's very good to hear. 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:34.879 Um this is what this is this is numbers sanctified, you know, and uh debt sanctified. 00:08:35.039 --> 00:08:36.159 This is God's work. 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:47.039 And he says, look, when I look at the valuation of my life, I count everything as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing the Lord Jesus. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:49.519 That's what I've come down to in my life. 00:08:49.759 --> 00:08:51.759 And that's why he is able to rejoice. 00:08:51.919 --> 00:09:00.080 He's writing from prison, and he says, That's why I'm able to rejoice in everything, even though it can be very hard in life. 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:07.039 And that's why you as a church can rejoice in the Lord Jesus always. 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:13.519 Now, Paul says he has to give a little bit of a resume in verse 4. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:22.639 And the reason he does it is because these teachers are coming in and they're saying, We are very spiritual, we have better credentials than Paul. 00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:27.600 We have much more reason than anyone to be acceptable to God. 00:09:27.840 --> 00:09:30.480 So Paul says, Well, let me tell you something. 00:09:30.639 --> 00:09:32.799 My resume is better than yours. 00:09:34.159 --> 00:09:36.960 He said, I have reason for confidence in the flesh also. 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:40.240 If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more. 00:09:40.480 --> 00:09:48.240 Circumcised on the eighth day, which all Jewish boys were, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. 00:09:48.399 --> 00:09:51.039 I lived this life more than anybody, as to the law. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:53.120 As to the law, a Pharisee. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:10:03.279 As to zeal, I actually persecuted the church because I saw it as a threat to being this original religion, this original faith. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:09.279 Um and as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 00:10:09.440 --> 00:10:12.159 I I was a very good living person. 00:10:12.320 --> 00:10:19.200 But whatever gain I had, and here he says it, I count as loss for the sake of the Lord Jesus. 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:20.879 Something happened to him. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:29.440 There was something that happened that changed his whole balance sheet, the valuation that he had been auditing his life on. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:37.519 And that thing that happened was his trip to Damascus, which you're all aware of, I hope. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:42.320 Because what happened on that is that a huge light came into his life. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:44.080 It knocked him off the horse. 00:10:44.240 --> 00:10:52.960 The light's very important because what that did was the windows of his life towards God were opened up. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:59.279 I love the fact that this church, I think you might all know it, had no windows in it when you bought it. 00:11:00.320 --> 00:11:07.440 Uh and it may be to be whatever happened in here's secret, but it meant it was dark in natural light. 00:11:07.679 --> 00:11:14.240 This is a very bright space because you have added windows, huge windows, into this place. 00:11:14.639 --> 00:11:16.879 And you see, this is what was happening for Paul. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:21.279 He was dark towards the Lord Jesus. 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.559 He did not know it. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:26.879 And here's a voice that says, Paul, why are you persecuting me? 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:39.679 Suddenly he realizes that the one that he was saying could not have died on a cross for the sins, could not have been a dis could not have been the Messiah, could not have risen from the dead. 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:45.840 That one that he has torn down is the living God. 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:49.039 Now that will turn your life upside down. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:53.679 And that will change your valuation of your life, your balance sheet. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:57.600 And it turns the values of the world upside down as well. 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.480 That's the crisis that changed everything. 00:12:00.559 --> 00:12:05.200 And it was the most wonderful crisis he could have experienced. 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:16.000 And so for him, the great balance sheet is that for Jesus' sake, I've suffered the loss of all things, counted them rubbish in order to gain Christ. 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:21.279 The great value, he says, is that I am found in the Lord Jesus. 00:12:21.440 --> 00:12:22.879 I am actually found. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:24.480 That's my identity. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:31.600 That is the fulfillment of everything, is that I am found in the Lord Jesus. 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:38.080 I want you to look at verses 9 through 11 because this is what it meant that he was found. 00:12:38.159 --> 00:12:42.399 And I think it's good just for a moment to look at this a little bit more closely. 00:12:42.720 --> 00:12:50.080 He describes the Christian life in verses 9 through 11 of the past, the present, and the future. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:55.200 And what he says about the past is in verse 9. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:13:01.600 He says, I'm found in him, and here's what it looks like to be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:04.240 And we are a very self-righteous people in Canada. 00:13:04.399 --> 00:13:05.840 We need to admit this. 00:13:06.799 --> 00:13:10.240 No matter if we're a Christian or not, we get self-righteous. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:14.000 We are above others. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:25.679 But he says, he says, I'm not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in the Lord Jesus, the righteousness from God that depends on faith. 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:32.879 You, if you are a Christian, come into this life by simply putting your faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:13:33.200 --> 00:13:36.080 And he covers you ritual righteousness. 00:13:36.320 --> 00:13:39.039 You actually give to him your sin. 00:13:40.240 --> 00:13:41.919 Wow, what a gift. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:45.840 And you receive from him his righteousness. 00:13:46.080 --> 00:13:48.080 That's why it's actually good to wear robes. 00:13:48.320 --> 00:13:52.480 It's a reminder of what the Lord Jesus does for us before God. 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:58.879 We are considered to be perfectly acceptable to God, which is humbling because I know I am sinful. 00:13:59.120 --> 00:14:07.039 I know I am not in that pos in that, haven't lived out yet what God has made over me. 00:14:07.600 --> 00:14:17.360 But he accepts me perfectly as I live this life, as I grow in it, as God forgives my sins, and as I live for him very, very imperfectly. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:19.279 And then look at verse 10. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:21.759 That was the past, that's how you come in. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:26.639 It's simply by grace, by God giving you faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:33.200 And then in verse 10, it says, That I may know him now, that I actually may know the living God now. 00:14:33.519 --> 00:14:36.000 That's what he just wants more and more of. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:39.279 And the power of his resurrection. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:42.320 That actually God's power is at work in you. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:46.240 And this is what is a gift for us, that God is working in us. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:52.879 It says at the very beginning of this letter, he says, He who began a good work in you, he will complete it. 00:14:53.200 --> 00:14:54.399 He's actually doing this work. 00:14:54.480 --> 00:15:06.240 This is such a hopeful thing when I think of many failures and many setbacks, that in it all, God's actually bringing me to that place, that He, we will see Him face to face. 00:15:06.399 --> 00:15:07.200 What a gift. 00:15:09.519 --> 00:15:15.679 And then finally, that you know, this happens that we can share in sufferings. 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:26.320 And then what that means is that we are actually serving the Lord Jesus, sacrificing ourselves for the sake of the blessing of others as well, knowing what that's about. 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:35.200 And what is ahead of us, that by means, any means possible, in verse 11, I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:37.120 That is what is before us. 00:15:37.360 --> 00:15:49.759 The resurrection is a new resurrection body that will be forever, and the whole purpose of that is to actually live in the presence of the living God for eternity. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:56.240 To know that goodness, the joy, the adventure of living for Him in His very presence. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:03.039 That is what is ahead for all those who take that step of faith of verse 9. 00:16:03.279 --> 00:16:05.919 So that's why Paul rejoices in the Lord. 00:16:06.080 --> 00:16:09.279 This is defines his whole life, even in prison. 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:19.200 Now I want to just go into now, well, what does it look like to live that life of valuing the Lord Jesus? 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:22.559 I just want to look at that practically for a couple minutes here. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:24.000 Look at verse 12. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:36.320 He says, I haven't already obtained this, or I am already perfect, even though God's put that kind of robe on us, but I press on to make it my own because Jesus has made me his own. 00:16:36.559 --> 00:16:51.120 Brothers, I don't consider I've made it my own, but the thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in the Lord Jesus. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.360 This is a new picture he's giving us. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:03.120 He was talking about the life of the accountant and looking at budgets, the budget of my life, what is valued. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:05.359 Now he turns to the Olympics. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.680 We're in the Olympic season here. 00:17:07.920 --> 00:17:12.000 And we're talking about the Christian life as a race. 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:22.160 And he talks about the fact that the race that we are running is all about wanting to know the Lord Jesus more and more. 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:27.279 You know, there's a change that takes place in us when we see the value of the Lord Jesus. 00:17:27.519 --> 00:17:38.400 Um where we were very unsatisfied about our material possessions. 00:17:38.960 --> 00:17:40.559 I want more, I want more. 00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:45.519 And we're very complacent and sort of satisfied with our with our spiritual life. 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:49.519 Oh, I'm a good person, you know, God, you know, I'm I'm fine the way I am. 00:17:49.839 --> 00:17:55.759 Suddenly you change from wanting more and more of the Lord Jesus. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:17:58.559 Not satisfied, wanting more. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:03.920 And you are satisfied with what you have. 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:11.440 You know, you're still working hard in life and you're and you're ambitious in your work, but you're satisfied with what you've received. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.759 What a huge change that is. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:18.640 Uh it's it's a change that takes place because Jesus changes our heart. 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.279 And Paul says, you know, I haven't attained it. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:25.359 Um it's not that I've already obtained this uh or perfect. 00:18:25.519 --> 00:18:28.799 I haven't I haven't taken hold of God in my life. 00:18:28.960 --> 00:18:30.880 And I like this because he's humble. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:34.400 Here's the great missionary and teacher of the church. 00:18:34.559 --> 00:18:39.039 Um I mean, the effect that he had on the world is remarkable. 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:41.119 That extends to today. 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:45.680 It's, I mean, Paul was the uh spark for that, the great missionary. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:48.400 And yet he says, I haven't arrived. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:57.519 You know, God, you know, be encouraged by that, all of us, because God is doing that work, he's moving you towards what he has for you. 00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:03.599 And then he says, I haven't arrived yet, but here's what I'm doing: I'm pressing on. 00:19:03.839 --> 00:19:08.640 And he says, I press it on to make my own because why do I do this? 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:17.200 It's not really an anxious striving, because he says, I'm I'm pressing on because Christ has already made me his own. 00:19:17.599 --> 00:19:19.680 He's already done this for me. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:22.000 And that's why I press on. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:24.240 We belong to him, and that can never change. 00:19:24.400 --> 00:19:25.200 That's the gospel. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:27.839 We have been adopted by Jesus. 00:19:28.079 --> 00:19:30.400 And you can't change that once you're adopted. 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:34.240 Once a daughter or a son of God, always that. 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:36.000 That's the treasure. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:45.359 He gives us that prize now, and we press on because we know we will see the one who has adopted us, and it moves us forward. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:50.000 That seeing Jesus is such a powerful thing for us. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:20:06.960 Um of the things that was striking for me in watching the Olympics is the, I think it's crazy what they do, but the the cross-country skiers, what they put themselves through, is unbelievable. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:13.119 And so you will see them at the end of the race collapsing, and it looks like they're gonna die. 00:20:13.839 --> 00:20:17.599 And I'm thinking, why did they put themselves through this? 00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:20.160 Why push yourself that hard? 00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:26.000 And of course, the reason is because they really want that gold medal. 00:20:26.160 --> 00:20:32.240 They there is a prize that is ahead that is really worthwhile, that they would dedicate their lives to. 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:38.640 It is so good to be able to be successful in that, that they are gonna press ahead. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:45.519 Well, Jesus here is saying, what Paul is saying about Jesus is that you will have that prize ahead of you. 00:20:45.759 --> 00:20:47.680 It is an absolute certainty. 00:20:47.839 --> 00:20:50.480 And that pushes you in a very good way. 00:20:50.640 --> 00:21:00.880 It it it strengthens you, just as a cross-cut skier is strengthened to say, I want to finish, I want to have that medal at the end. 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:14.880 But then the second thing he says is he says, um he says, I press on to make it my own because he's made me his own, but I also press on to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.480 Isn't it interesting? 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:23.920 It's not just that uh he's been invited into this race and that he is looking ahead to what God will do. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:32.400 Um, he is also saying that God is calling him continually in this race, that he's actually working in them. 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:42.559 There is the gift of God's presence by his Holy Spirit in him, renewing you in the living relationship with the Lord Jesus as you're running this race. 00:21:43.200 --> 00:21:48.720 In fact, Paul says back in 2 Corinthians 4 that we have this treasure in jars of clay. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:57.839 You know, we we have this body that gives out, and we have maybe more and more as we get older, we see that there is jars of clay that has little chips and holes and so and so forth. 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:59.359 But he says, you know what? 00:21:59.519 --> 00:22:03.920 Um It's to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 00:22:04.079 --> 00:22:10.240 So we don't lose heart in this race, though our outer self is wasting away. 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:12.720 Paul's towards the end of his life here saying this. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:18.480 He says, our inner self is being renewed day by day, day by day. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:26.160 I think of another Olympic speed skater, and he won, his name was Jordan Stoltz. 00:22:26.240 --> 00:22:32.079 He won a gold in the 1,500-meter speed skating. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:37.200 The extraordinary thing about him was that he got stronger as the race went on. 00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:43.839 At the end, that's the feature, is he got stronger towards the end and he pulled away. 00:22:44.079 --> 00:22:45.920 And this is what this is saying to us. 00:22:46.240 --> 00:22:52.799 God, as we keep going on the race, as we get closer to the end, is actually renewing us day by day. 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:55.759 He has made everyone who trusts in God a new creation. 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:57.279 That's what he did for you. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:08.160 But notice that he keeps on pressing on because God is calling you to cooperate with the perfect healing of your body, mind, and soul. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:10.480 That's the path that we're on. 00:23:11.359 --> 00:23:16.079 I had this past year been going through physiotherapy for my shoulder. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:21.759 I don't know if any of you are going through physiotherapy, but it's uh it's a new world I haven't really been part of. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.400 And uh the clinic I go to is fantastic. 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:28.880 It's open concept, so you see everybody else uh groaning and being worked on. 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:32.640 They're getting treatment, and they're people of all ages, teenagers. 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:35.279 And the woman next to me uh one day was 77. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:38.319 She was telling me their her age. 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:46.000 And I hear about the ailments, and I hear about what is being done in their healing to reverse the breakdown of the body. 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:53.599 And all of them are pushed by the physio to cooperate with the healing of what they're doing to work on them. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:56.079 You have to do your exercises. 00:23:56.480 --> 00:23:58.640 And there was a bit of a confession that I would hear. 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:01.039 How did your exercises go this past week? 00:24:01.279 --> 00:24:05.440 Well, and I confessed as well. 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:08.000 Um, just like in church, there is confession. 00:24:08.160 --> 00:24:16.000 Um, but you see, what that physio is asking for is cooperating with the work that they are doing in healing you. 00:24:16.240 --> 00:24:19.279 That's what we are doing in the Christian life as well. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:23.119 We are cooperating with his resurrection power at work in you. 00:24:23.200 --> 00:24:25.519 And there's some days where you just don't feel like it. 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:27.920 God's still doing it as you're pressing on. 00:24:28.079 --> 00:24:31.680 There's days you're rejoicing and you just feel like you're up and ready to go. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:35.599 God's resurrection power is there for you as well. 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:37.119 He is in that work. 00:24:37.599 --> 00:24:39.680 So I want to close by just saying this. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:48.400 Um, there's three things that I would say about what it means to press onward uh in the race. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:51.200 The first thing is you have to enter the race. 00:24:51.680 --> 00:24:54.799 Um Christ must lay hold of you for himself. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:24:58.000 And we just have to welcome him laying hold of us. 00:24:58.880 --> 00:24:59.839 Call on Christ. 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:02.000 This is what he's talking about, the upward call. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:07.759 And if you haven't made that step yet, I have to say God is calling you. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:17.119 And there is an important step that we take, that we enter the race by receiving and saying yes to his call to us. 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:23.839 This is such a gift because it is the love of the God who created everything that he would call us by name. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:25.599 It is powerful. 00:25:25.759 --> 00:25:26.559 And what a gift. 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:29.119 That's why he adopts us, he knows our name. 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:34.000 Secondly, you have you focus on the treasure of the Lord Jesus. 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:38.400 That's what the prophet and uh lost sheet was in his life. 00:25:38.559 --> 00:25:51.119 It's just recognizing how valuable the Lord Jesus Christ, because that's a gift for us in resisting the things that would distract us, the idols in our life, the things that would pull us away from the Lord Jesus. 00:25:51.359 --> 00:25:59.680 Because the great prize of Jesus lies ahead of all those things that are important and sometimes very good in our life. 00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:07.200 It lies ahead, like a bright light, that puts all of those other things that are good in perspective in our race. 00:26:07.440 --> 00:26:11.680 And in fact, that light of the Lord Jesus actually surrounds us too. 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:14.400 That's the resurrection power at work in us. 00:26:14.640 --> 00:26:19.279 It changes our ambitions in our life around that one great ambition. 00:26:19.519 --> 00:26:26.640 And finally, uh, know, very simply, that you cannot fail to win the prize. 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:29.359 You can't fail to win the prize. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:33.920 All who run looking unto Jesus will win his prize. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:37.599 He who began a good work in you will complete it. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:46.079 And I love the I love a quote that uh it was actually John Piper in something I was reading about this, who really expressed it really well. 00:26:46.240 --> 00:26:48.000 I want to read this sentence for you. 00:26:48.319 --> 00:26:52.640 I reach for him because I am held by him. 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:56.559 I reach for Jesus because I am held by Jesus. 00:26:56.799 --> 00:27:04.400 I press into him because he has enclosed me with his unbreakable bands of love. 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.720 That's why I press into him. 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:11.759 He already has enclosed you with his unbreakable bands of love. 00:27:11.839 --> 00:27:15.119 This is what it means to treasure the Lord Jesus together. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:18.160 This is what is first things first in this church. 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:36.960 This is why you have bought this building, so that you can treasure the Lord Jesus, that you can know him more and more in your life, and that you can help each other to press on in this race that he has given to us with assurance in his great gospel. 00:27:37.200 --> 00:27:40.720 As great as it is to know Christ now, there is more to come. 00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:44.720 And all I want to do now is to know Christ. 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:58.559 We pray that we will catch that spirit of Paul and that the Holy Spirit will work in you so that as you leave this church you say, I want to know the Lord Jesus better. 00:27:59.200 --> 00:27:59.839 Amen. 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:04.559 We hope that you've been blessed by God's Word today. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:10.079 If you live in the Port Perry area, we hope that you'll come and worship with us in person on Sunday at 10 a.m. 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:13.759 If you'd like to learn more about Newsong Church, we'd love to connect with you. 00:28:14.000 --> 00:28:18.799 Please find our contact information at newsongportperry.ca and reach out to us. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:24.240 Newsong's ministry is entirely funded by the generous giving of those who've worshiped and journey with us. 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:32.559 If you feel called to support our ministry with a financial gift, please go to newsongportperry.ca slash giving to make your contribution. 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:35.519 Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.