WEBVTT 00:00:04.687 --> 00:00:09.733 Hi, it's Pastor Jonathan and thanks for downloading the FBC Elderado Sermon Podcast. 00:00:09.733 --> 00:00:17.100 We hope today's message will challenge and help you take the next step as you follow Jesus. 00:00:17.100 --> 00:00:41.131 So you probably are familiar with the Iditarod dog sled race, but few of you know of another race, a race that begins just one week prior that covers the exact same course. 00:00:41.131 --> 00:01:06.912 One difference though when you compare the two races the Iditarod dog sled race is a team sport, right, a musher with a team of dogs While the other race, the race that begins one week before and follows that exact same red line from Southern Alaska to Northern Alaska, is a solo sport. 00:01:06.912 --> 00:01:19.950 So for the last 20 or so years, a carefully selected group of endurance athletes have competed in a race that's called the Iditarod Trail 1000. 00:01:19.950 --> 00:01:27.811 So, without the aid of man's best friend, competitors attempt to travel from Anchorage to Gnome. 00:01:27.811 --> 00:01:31.846 That means all by himself or herself. 00:01:31.846 --> 00:01:48.572 The racer endures driving, snow blizzards, temperatures that plummet to negative 50 degrees Fahrenheit as they travel 1000 miles. 00:01:48.572 --> 00:01:53.709 At the beginning of the race, an athlete is given a choice when they sign up. 00:01:53.709 --> 00:02:00.052 They can choose to make the journey on bike, a bike that's outfitted with snow tires. 00:02:00.052 --> 00:02:10.623 They can choose to cover the 1000 miles using cross country skis, or they can choose to cover the 1000 miles on foot. 00:02:10.623 --> 00:02:15.953 1000 miles on foot from Anchorage to Gnome. 00:02:15.953 --> 00:02:27.045 And here's the thing no matter which mode of transportation they choose, the racer has to carry all of their own gear and equipment. 00:02:27.045 --> 00:02:40.409 Think about that the dog sled race the dogs pull the sled and this trail race, the racer pulls the sled behind them, whether they are hiking or biking or skiing. 00:02:40.409 --> 00:02:45.669 In 2023, 27 competitors sign up to compete in this race. 00:02:45.669 --> 00:02:49.086 13 crossed the finish line. 00:02:49.086 --> 00:02:55.310 That means 14 of them somewhere along the course decided I'm not going to make it. 00:02:55.310 --> 00:02:56.819 So. 00:02:56.819 --> 00:03:03.673 The first person in 2023 to cross the finish line needed 17 days to run that race. 00:03:03.673 --> 00:03:05.423 They were on a bike. 00:03:05.423 --> 00:03:10.593 The 13th person in 2023, the last person across the finish line. 00:03:10.593 --> 00:03:15.930 They required almost 29 days to reach the finish line. 00:03:15.930 --> 00:03:33.070 They were on foot, and now that I did a trail 1000, it totally makes sense why the promoters of the race call it the world's longest, toughest race. 00:03:35.020 --> 00:03:36.242 Does anybody want to go sign up for it? 00:03:36.242 --> 00:03:49.308 As you listen to the description of that race, maybe you thought to yourself it wouldn't ever even cross my mind to sign up for a race like that. 00:03:49.308 --> 00:03:51.647 I could never do that. 00:03:51.647 --> 00:03:53.826 I don't like cold or camping. 00:03:53.826 --> 00:04:01.223 I don't even like to lug my groceries from the carport to the kitchen, let alone across an entire state. 00:04:01.223 --> 00:04:07.531 You think to yourself I don't like driving a thousand miles. 00:04:07.531 --> 00:04:13.330 Why would I ever want to ski, walk or bike 1000 miles in the snow? 00:04:13.330 --> 00:04:20.831 Think to yourself I would never, ever, ever sign up for that race. 00:04:20.831 --> 00:04:33.161 But what if I told you that the world's longest, toughest race doesn't even give you a choice At the end of the race? 00:04:33.161 --> 00:04:36.771 One year a competitor was asked this question. 00:04:36.771 --> 00:04:40.389 He was asked was this the hardest thing you've ever done? 00:04:40.389 --> 00:04:43.485 And this was his response. 00:04:43.605 --> 00:04:57.728 If we go to the next slide, if we are talking about life stuff, then no, I've had personal challenges that dwarf this race. 00:04:57.728 --> 00:05:00.774 Think about it. 00:05:00.774 --> 00:05:02.483 Think about your life. 00:05:02.483 --> 00:05:11.322 Think about a single mom that you know who juggles kids and bills and work and household chores. 00:05:11.322 --> 00:05:19.632 She's in the midst of a race that is far more difficult than 30 days in driving snow. 00:05:19.632 --> 00:05:25.271 Or you think about husbands and wives who've just been married for decades. 00:05:25.271 --> 00:05:31.379 You're in the middle of a race that is more difficult than the Auditorat Trail 1000. 00:05:31.379 --> 00:05:36.425 Because, like, being married isn't easy, raising kids is a challenge. 00:05:36.425 --> 00:05:39.242 Being old isn't very fun. 00:05:39.242 --> 00:05:45.512 Yet you run and go and go and live every single day. 00:05:45.512 --> 00:05:57.725 Or some of you, you just lost your spouse unexpectedly and you're trying to move into the next section of the race and endure. 00:05:57.786 --> 00:06:03.122 To another chapter of the race, or to students in the room. 00:06:03.122 --> 00:06:08.012 You go to school every single day and sitting in class just isn't your jam. 00:06:08.012 --> 00:06:09.644 You're not up for it. 00:06:09.644 --> 00:06:12.264 Or maybe you struggle with friends. 00:06:12.264 --> 00:06:15.286 You don't know what you want to do with your life. 00:06:15.286 --> 00:06:21.629 You don't feel like you fit in, but you just keep going, day after day after day. 00:06:21.629 --> 00:06:25.903 Or you think about teachers in the room. 00:06:25.903 --> 00:06:27.942 School's been in session. 00:06:27.942 --> 00:06:28.142 What? 00:06:28.142 --> 00:06:28.625 Two weeks? 00:06:28.625 --> 00:06:29.500 Right, two weeks. 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:32.367 And you've got kids in your class that are already pushing you to the brink. 00:06:32.367 --> 00:06:37.608 You've got to endure it till the end of May. 00:06:37.608 --> 00:06:40.266 You can't give up. 00:06:40.266 --> 00:06:43.048 You have to keep running the race. 00:06:45.221 --> 00:06:53.862 A race like the Auditorat Trail 1000 is a perfect metaphor for the life that all of us live on this earth. 00:06:53.862 --> 00:07:00.209 Life is the world's toughest, longest race. 00:07:00.209 --> 00:07:03.505 Scripture agrees with that comparison. 00:07:03.505 --> 00:07:06.226 Hebrews chapter 12 puts it this way. 00:07:06.226 --> 00:07:12.732 It says and let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 00:07:12.732 --> 00:07:18.148 The key word in Hebrews chapter 12, verse one, is that word endurance. 00:07:20.220 --> 00:07:24.009 Endurance tells us that our life isn't a sprint. 00:07:24.009 --> 00:07:27.045 Our life is a marathon. 00:07:27.045 --> 00:07:34.391 It tells us that the days of life can often feel long, monotonous. 00:07:34.391 --> 00:07:44.247 It's like when you're a young mom and you go to the grocery store with your toddler, and your toddler won't stop screaming. 00:07:44.247 --> 00:07:53.502 They refuse to sit in the buggy and you think everyone is staring at you and you feel like you just want to shout. 00:07:53.502 --> 00:07:54.906 When will this ever end? 00:07:54.906 --> 00:08:04.752 Or you're stuck in a job that isn't fulfilling and you wonder when will I get my chance? 00:08:04.752 --> 00:08:16.569 Or you find it hard to leave your home, or you have an extended stay in the hospital, or you live in a nursing home and you wonder yourself when will I ever get out of here? 00:08:16.569 --> 00:08:38.519 When days are long, it's really easy to feel like the day is overwhelming, isn't it that when the days are long, life feels overwhelmingly messy and even overwhelmingly meaningless, and that's why we need endurance. 00:08:38.519 --> 00:09:09.383 Endurance also tells us that life is not this even flat course, that all of our lives will have uphill climbs, each of our lives will have uneven rocky terrain, there'll be gusting winds, and there will be moments and circumstances in each of our lives that are so daunting and so confusing it's easy to want to give up, and that's why we need endurance. 00:09:11.394 --> 00:09:27.102 In the realm of sports, you gotta define endurance this way Athletic endurance is the ability to retain a standard of physical performance for an extended period of time, especially in the midst of hardship. 00:09:27.102 --> 00:09:29.019 That's athletic endurance. 00:09:29.019 --> 00:09:33.240 That's the endurance of that trail race that we've mentioned earlier. 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:42.624 But you and I, while it's nice to have athletic endurance, really what we need is spiritual endurance. 00:09:42.624 --> 00:09:54.418 Spiritual endurance here's how I would define it Following Jesus, especially when the days are long and life is hard. 00:09:54.418 --> 00:10:02.034 When the days are long, here's what I know is true about my own life, and so imagine it's probably true about your life. 00:10:03.427 --> 00:10:08.759 When days are long and overwhelming, it becomes really easy to replace healthy habits with unhealthy habits. 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:32.283 It becomes really easy to replace times reading God's word, times in prayer and times in personal worship with binging, binging Netflix and sometimes in prayer, in personal worship, with binging, binging Netflix and binging on food and binging on YouTube and binging on cable news, like we just feed ourselves more and more and more stuff. 00:10:32.283 --> 00:10:43.982 Or we replace those healthy habits with buying something new, new clothes, a new car, even if it puts us into even more debt. 00:10:43.982 --> 00:10:54.620 Or you come home from work every day and the days are long and the only way you know how to make it through the day is to have one more drink every single day when you get home. 00:10:54.620 --> 00:11:03.102 Or maybe you just live because the days are long and this spiral of speculation. 00:11:03.102 --> 00:11:14.181 All you do is play out in your mind all the ways that life could go wrong or bad, instead of living in the present. 00:11:14.181 --> 00:11:27.100 And when hardship emerges without spiritual endurance, there's what happens we cut corners Without spiritual endurance. 00:11:27.235 --> 00:11:46.386 That's when we make small compromises in our life, because we all will eventually choose the path of least resistance, and that path always places us in the current of culture, in the rushing, torrent current of culture. 00:11:46.386 --> 00:12:05.957 It's vital that you and I develop spiritual endurance so that when the days are long and I promise, if your days aren't long right now there will be a day, there will be a season in life when your days are long, when life is hard. 00:12:05.957 --> 00:12:21.104 Your life may be really easy right now, but I promise you there will be a day, there will be a season, an extended season in life when your life is hard, and maybe your days are long right now and your days are hard right now, and you understand exactly what I'm talking about. 00:12:21.104 --> 00:12:42.298 But no matter who you are, in the season of life that you're in, you need spiritual endurance so that, even when the days are long and life is hard, you can glorify Christ with your life, so that you can be a witness for Christ in the world, so that you can bring honor to Jesus when you go to work and when you go to school and when you go to the ball field. 00:12:42.298 --> 00:12:57.427 We have to recognize the necessity that all of us, if we wanna follow Jesus in this world, we are going to need to develop spiritual endurance. 00:12:58.875 --> 00:13:17.003 So this morning, as we continue our study, dear Church, we're gonna look at Jesus's letter to the church at Philadelphia, and in Jesus's letter to the church at Philadelphia, he highlights what I believe are three keys for spiritual endurance. 00:13:17.003 --> 00:13:38.681 So the church at Philadelphia is a church that has nurtured spiritual endurance within itself already, but I think we can learn from what Jesus encourages them with, what they've gotten right and so that we can apply it in our own life, and that their endurance would be something we see developed and nurtured within each and every one of us. 00:13:38.681 --> 00:13:52.304 So the three keys that Jesus, I think, lays out for us for spiritual endurance are this motivation, dedication and celebration, motivation, dedication and celebration. 00:13:52.304 --> 00:13:58.359 So let's turn the first key motivation, revelation, chapter three. 00:13:58.359 --> 00:14:00.085 I'm gonna read verses seven through nine. 00:14:00.085 --> 00:14:11.282 And it says this to the angel of the church in Philadelphia right, these are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. 00:14:11.282 --> 00:14:15.801 What he opens, no one can shut, and what he shuts, no one can open. 00:14:15.801 --> 00:14:19.336 I know your deeds, see. 00:14:19.336 --> 00:14:22.480 I've placed before you an open door that no one can shut. 00:14:22.480 --> 00:14:28.563 I know that you have a little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 00:14:28.563 --> 00:14:44.086 I will make those who are the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews, though they are not but are liars, I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 00:14:46.315 --> 00:14:57.003 In verse seven, at the beginning of this letter, jesus uses three phrases to identify himself, to introduce himself to this congregation of brotherly love. 00:14:57.003 --> 00:15:00.363 First, jesus says that he is holy. 00:15:00.363 --> 00:15:05.105 More literally translated, he is the holy one. 00:15:05.105 --> 00:15:27.120 Throughout the Old Testament, there is one being, one entity, one person who is called the holy one, the one true God of Israel, the living God, the God who made a covenant with Abraham, the God, who is the God of the Exodus and part of the waters of the Red Sea. 00:15:27.120 --> 00:15:33.687 Jesus says I am the holy one, I am God. 00:15:33.687 --> 00:15:36.399 Listen to me. 00:15:38.255 --> 00:15:40.623 But not everyone in Philadelphia shared this belief. 00:15:40.623 --> 00:15:43.496 You know Jesus. 00:15:43.496 --> 00:15:47.738 He identifies a group of Jews who lived in the city of Philadelphia and he calls them what? 00:15:47.738 --> 00:15:50.225 The synagogue of Satan. 00:15:50.225 --> 00:16:07.302 There is a group of Jews who are hostile to the church, who reject the idea, the notion, the belief, the universal truth of all the universe that Jesus is God, and so they attack God's people, they make life difficult for the church. 00:16:07.302 --> 00:16:12.359 They make sure the days for a Christian are what long the days for a Christian? 00:16:12.359 --> 00:16:13.964 They are hard. 00:16:13.964 --> 00:16:27.384 Jesus reminds this congregation that he is God, because he doesn't want them to compromise, he doesn't want them to forget the fact of who he is. 00:16:27.384 --> 00:16:29.219 He is God. 00:16:30.595 --> 00:16:32.320 And then Jesus says that he is true. 00:16:32.320 --> 00:16:36.582 Better translated, he is the true one. 00:16:36.582 --> 00:16:41.003 Jesus is authentic, he is genuine. 00:16:41.003 --> 00:17:05.557 And that's so significant when you consider this synagogue of Satan, because for centuries they had been looking for the true, the real, the genuine Messiah, and for centuries there had been men who had arisen within Israel who said they were the Messiah, but they were fakes and they were frauds and they were phonies. 00:17:05.557 --> 00:17:07.223 Their claim was unfounded. 00:17:07.223 --> 00:17:15.027 And so when Jesus says I am the true one, he is saying I am the Messiah. 00:17:15.027 --> 00:17:26.587 Jesus is Messiah, he is God's anointed one, he is the one who has come to bring God's kingdom and salvation to this earth. 00:17:28.375 --> 00:17:33.406 And then Jesus says he says he holds the key of David. 00:17:33.406 --> 00:17:36.259 He holds the key of David. 00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:47.946 So the background of that word of introduction is this little known story that's recorded in the 22nd chapter of Isaiah. 00:17:47.946 --> 00:18:01.230 In that chapter, a man named Eliachim is elevated by God to become the chief of staff for King Hezekiah. 00:18:01.230 --> 00:18:17.939 So in that role as chief of staff, eliachim would control who had access to the throne room of the king, who could enter in to his presence Within the kingdom. 00:18:17.939 --> 00:18:22.228 That is a position of importance and it's a position of authority. 00:18:22.228 --> 00:18:30.615 To symbolize the weight of that position, then he receives this giant, one of a kind key that he has to carry on his shoulder. 00:18:30.615 --> 00:18:33.595 It's too heavy for his hands, too big for his arms. 00:18:33.595 --> 00:18:36.239 He has to carry it on his shoulder. 00:18:36.239 --> 00:18:40.153 It's placed on his shoulder, but something happens. 00:18:40.153 --> 00:18:45.555 The key is transferred to a new owner. 00:18:45.555 --> 00:18:51.653 Jesus is the new and greater Eliachim. 00:18:51.653 --> 00:18:57.471 Jesus holds that very same key. 00:18:57.471 --> 00:19:03.035 But Jesus grants access not to an earthly king in his throne room, but to the throne room of his heavenly father. 00:19:03.035 --> 00:19:05.824 The throne room of his heavenly father. 00:19:05.824 --> 00:19:10.082 Because he holds the key. 00:19:10.082 --> 00:19:17.627 He is the one who allows men and women to have a relationship with God. 00:19:20.694 --> 00:19:26.208 In John 14, chapter six, jesus says I am the way, I am the way. 00:19:26.208 --> 00:19:31.403 No one comes to the father except through me. 00:19:31.403 --> 00:19:49.126 Jesus, by his cross and resurrection, has opened the door that leads to the throne room of his father, a door that leads the way to eternal life in the kingdom of God. 00:19:49.126 --> 00:19:52.143 Only Jesus can open that door. 00:19:52.143 --> 00:19:57.307 And once Jesus opens that door, no one can close it. 00:19:57.307 --> 00:20:00.023 Do you hear what that means? 00:20:00.023 --> 00:20:04.104 It means anyone, anyone. 00:20:04.104 --> 00:20:15.690 If they put their faith in Jesus Christ and receive the free gift of salvation, anyone can have a relationship with God. 00:20:15.690 --> 00:20:18.374 And that was so important to those people who lived in Philadelphia. 00:20:18.374 --> 00:20:23.983 Because the synagogue of Satan, they believed, if you weren't a member of the synagogue, you couldn't have a relationship with God. 00:20:23.983 --> 00:20:27.279 And she's like no, no, no, no, no, no. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:30.423 You don't hold the key to David, the key of David. 00:20:30.423 --> 00:20:31.599 I hold the key of David. 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:33.462 I am the way. 00:20:33.462 --> 00:20:39.707 I am the way because of my cross and resurrection, because I lived a perfect life. 00:20:39.707 --> 00:20:40.921 I died a synatonic death. 00:20:40.921 --> 00:20:42.039 I rose again on the third day. 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:45.345 I opened the way to the father. 00:20:48.398 --> 00:21:10.969 Jesus begins with those three words of introduction, because it's only when we see clearly who Jesus is, that Jesus is God, that Jesus is the Messiah, that Jesus is the way, will we have the right motivation to develop spiritual endurance. 00:21:10.969 --> 00:21:14.575 No other motivation is up for the task. 00:21:14.575 --> 00:21:24.232 You will not develop spiritual endurance if your motivation is to raise your kids in church. 00:21:24.232 --> 00:21:30.434 You will not develop spiritual endurance if morality is your goal. 00:21:30.434 --> 00:21:38.007 You won't develop spiritual endurance if you want to live a blessed life, your best life now, you won't develop it. 00:21:38.007 --> 00:21:48.295 Following Jesus, especially when the days are long and life is hard, will only occur when you're motivated by Jesus. 00:21:48.295 --> 00:21:58.994 It's why Hebrews 12, verse two, tells us that in the midst of running a long and tough race, you need to fix and focus your eyes on Jesus Christ. 00:21:58.994 --> 00:22:03.156 We fix and focus our eyes on Him, on Jesus Christ. 00:22:03.156 --> 00:22:12.871 We fix and focus our eyes on Him in times of personal Bible study, in times of prayer and moments of worship. 00:22:12.871 --> 00:22:27.502 We fix our eyes on Jesus when we fellowship with other believers, when we serve within our church, when we gather in this room, in this space for corporate worship, each week, here again, to develop spiritual endurance. 00:22:27.502 --> 00:22:29.007 Jesus must be your motivation. 00:22:29.007 --> 00:22:38.068 You must be motivated by the fact that Jesus is God, that Jesus is the Messiah, that Jesus is the way. 00:22:38.068 --> 00:22:41.803 No other motivation is up for the task. 00:22:44.255 --> 00:22:46.662 Now let's go to key number two, dedication. 00:22:46.662 --> 00:22:49.458 Back to Revelation three. 00:22:49.458 --> 00:22:50.421 Read verse, verse 10. 00:22:50.421 --> 00:23:06.030 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 00:23:06.030 --> 00:23:16.410 First thing I just want to point out Jesus doesn't promise the avoidance of trial or tribulation in the life of His church. 00:23:16.410 --> 00:23:19.674 He doesn't promise avoiding those things. 00:23:19.674 --> 00:23:25.115 He says I will protect you in the midst of them, even as they are occurring to you. 00:23:25.115 --> 00:23:35.142 That judgment, that trial, that moment that puts you at the edge In God's final judgment of unbelievers. 00:23:35.142 --> 00:23:41.434 You're going to see it happening around you in this world, but you're not going to be overcome by it, because you are saved by me. 00:23:41.434 --> 00:23:42.515 I will protect you. 00:23:46.305 --> 00:23:54.711 Now the word dedication isn't explicit in that single verse, but it's present, if you notice. 00:23:54.711 --> 00:23:56.015 In that verse there's this phrase you have kept my command. 00:23:56.015 --> 00:23:57.755 The phrase you have kept my command. 00:23:57.755 --> 00:24:03.494 That phrase also appears earlier in verse eight. 00:24:03.494 --> 00:24:14.369 The translation you have kept my command doesn't truly capture the weight of what Jesus wants to when he is describing the life of the church at Philadelphia. 00:24:14.369 --> 00:24:27.633 He's not just saying you have kept my command, he is saying you are persisting in obedience Every single day. 00:24:27.633 --> 00:24:43.373 You are obedient to me, and that reminds me that I must be daily dedicated to obeying Jesus Christ If I want to develop and nurture spiritual endurance. 00:24:43.373 --> 00:24:44.075 I must obey Jesus when it is easy. 00:24:44.075 --> 00:24:46.095 I must obey Jesus when it is hard. 00:24:46.095 --> 00:24:50.865 I must obey Jesus when it does not make sense. 00:24:50.865 --> 00:25:02.452 From the moment that I wake up and roll out of bed to the moment I walk through my office or the hallways at school, till the moment I lay down and close my eyes, my dedication must be to persist in obedience. 00:25:02.452 --> 00:25:07.010 If we'll go to the next slide, we'll go forward. 00:25:07.030 --> 00:25:08.055 That's a runner. 00:25:08.055 --> 00:25:22.465 His name is Hella Hella Sebebe, and he knows a thing or two about dedication. 00:25:22.465 --> 00:25:34.743 So Hella grew up playing soccer in on dirt fields in the country of Mali and it was always his dream to play professional soccer. 00:25:34.743 --> 00:25:42.704 So he gets this opportunity to move to the United States into attend college and he's a pretty good Division I soccer player. 00:25:42.704 --> 00:25:49.861 And then he graduates and he hopes to sign a contract in the United States for playing professional soccer. 00:25:49.861 --> 00:25:58.878 Well, the team he thinks he's going to sign with they call him one day and say, hey, it's just not going to work out, we need to sign some other players. 00:25:58.878 --> 00:26:02.515 And like his dream in that moment is crushed. 00:26:02.515 --> 00:26:11.263 Like he goes back to those dirt fields in his home country and he thinks I've worked for all of this and it is for nothing. 00:26:11.263 --> 00:26:16.727 And he is at this super, super low point in life. 00:26:16.727 --> 00:26:18.540 He doesn't know what he's going to do next. 00:26:18.540 --> 00:26:37.542 And then he decides he's going to dedicate himself to running and he decides that he is going to commit to running for at least 10 minutes for the next 14 days and that's all the way back in the year 2017. 00:26:37.542 --> 00:26:54.423 And now the year is 2023 and Hela has run at least two miles for over 2000 consecutive days, rain or shine, sleet or snow, 105 outside. 00:26:54.423 --> 00:26:59.441 He's out there running and running. 00:26:59.441 --> 00:27:16.382 He's also run a 100 mile ultra marathon and he also channeled his inner force gump and he ran it across the United States, and his dedication to running, I think, teaches us something about our own dedication when it comes to obeying Jesus Christ. 00:27:16.382 --> 00:27:23.265 His dedication began with simple short runs two mile runs. 00:27:25.835 --> 00:27:37.105 So, too, our obedience to Christ begins with simple acts of obedience, and a good portion of our obedience to Jesus falls into that category. 00:27:37.105 --> 00:27:47.763 Simple acts of obedience Just think about how you speak to the people closest to you in your life, relationally and in proximity to you. 00:27:47.763 --> 00:27:52.259 How do you speak to them, how do you think about them and how do you treat them. 00:27:52.259 --> 00:27:55.121 Simple acts of obedience. 00:27:55.121 --> 00:27:59.726 Think about what's on your mind and what's on your screen when no one is around. 00:27:59.726 --> 00:28:10.919 Simple acts of obedience, because obedience in the ordinary moments of life prepares us for obedience in those extraordinary moments, the moments right now. 00:28:10.919 --> 00:28:16.700 Maybe you don't think you could ever obey Christ and do what he's asking you to do. 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:23.816 You know it prepares us for those moments when we obey Christ and he pushes us out of our comfort zone. 00:28:23.816 --> 00:28:37.508 To go on a mission trip, to witness and share Jesus with a friend, to speak out on behalf of Jesus and to defend Jesus publicly. 00:28:37.508 --> 00:28:44.763 To pray in front of a group of people, to stand up for someone who's being bullied or mocked. 00:28:44.763 --> 00:28:52.525 What's your 100 mile cross country act of obedience? 00:28:52.525 --> 00:28:55.855 What's it going to be? 00:28:55.855 --> 00:29:01.646 Maybe you already know what it is, but listen to be prepared to endure that act of obedience. 00:29:02.694 --> 00:29:14.140 It takes thousands, right Thousands, of ordinary, daily acts of obedience where you come to trust not in your own strength, but in the strength of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:21.924 Cooperating with the Holy Spirit and really that's the key to obedience is learning to cooperate with the spirit of God. 00:29:21.924 --> 00:29:37.686 Not to rely on your own strength we talked about this last week not to rely on your own strength, but to cooperate with the spirit of God, who is nudging you and wants to empower you to obey Jesus. 00:29:37.686 --> 00:29:45.208 So motivation for spiritual endurance Jesus, only Jesus. 00:29:45.208 --> 00:29:49.279 Our dedication we're dedicated to obeying Jesus. 00:29:50.316 --> 00:29:55.645 And now celebration, verse 11, I am coming soon. 00:29:55.645 --> 00:30:04.317 Belong to what you have, so that no one will take your crown, the one who is victorious. 00:30:04.317 --> 00:30:07.003 I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. 00:30:07.003 --> 00:30:10.319 Never again will they leave it. 00:30:10.319 --> 00:30:22.922 I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God, and I will also write on them my new name. 00:30:22.922 --> 00:30:32.406 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the spirit says to the churches. 00:30:32.406 --> 00:30:38.965 Ultimately, our spiritual endurance looks to the future. 00:30:38.965 --> 00:30:43.782 It anticipates a great celebration. 00:30:45.755 --> 00:30:51.965 The opening statement of verse 11 is one of my favorites in all the Bible. 00:30:51.965 --> 00:31:01.517 I am coming soon, jesus. 00:31:01.517 --> 00:31:03.080 He can't come soon enough. 00:31:03.080 --> 00:31:09.303 He's our motivation and he's returning. 00:31:09.303 --> 00:31:21.130 And the reality of his return is why we can and we must endure in preparation for that celebration. 00:31:21.130 --> 00:31:23.401 Because he passes out some party hats. 00:31:23.401 --> 00:31:29.163 He goes here's your crown, here's your crown, here's your crown, here's your crown. 00:31:29.163 --> 00:31:38.059 First Peter, chapter five, verse four, tells us the crown that he gives us is a crown that will never fade away. 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:47.359 He promises to all those who attend you will not receive presents, but you will receive my presence. 00:31:47.359 --> 00:32:00.924 You will be pillars in the temple of God, you will be firmly established in the household and in the kingdom of God and nothing will remove you from God's presence and God's future. 00:32:02.714 --> 00:32:04.981 And then, at the party, jesus, he likes to play a game. 00:32:04.981 --> 00:32:06.979 He plays the name game. 00:32:06.979 --> 00:32:13.027 He has all of his friends around and he looks at them and says I've got three names I want to give for you. 00:32:13.027 --> 00:32:13.695 I don't. 00:32:13.695 --> 00:32:17.800 I don't worry about what your mom called you, I don't worry about what I'm going to call you. 00:32:17.800 --> 00:32:27.405 And he says I'm going to put the name upon you of your God, of my God, because you're his child. 00:32:27.405 --> 00:32:36.182 I'm going to write upon you the name of his city because you're going to be citizens in his kingdom forever and ever and ever. 00:32:36.182 --> 00:32:39.843 And I'm going to write upon you my new name. 00:32:39.843 --> 00:32:42.461 Funny thing, we don't have a clue what that name is. 00:32:42.461 --> 00:32:48.365 It's hidden from us in the present, but it will be revealed to us in the future. 00:32:48.365 --> 00:32:52.628 But the name that Jesus writes on us, that is his new name. 00:32:52.628 --> 00:33:04.642 It's just a reminder, one more reminder that we are in relationship with him, that we belong to him and to be a part of that future celebration. 00:33:04.642 --> 00:33:09.551 That's proof positive that you've endured to the end. 00:33:09.551 --> 00:33:16.527 Thank you that you followed Jesus, especially when days were long and life was hard. 00:33:16.527 --> 00:33:27.849 But we also, in the present, we look forward to that day because why, jesus, you can't come soon enough? 00:33:27.849 --> 00:33:32.140 Jesus is who we're waiting for. 00:33:32.140 --> 00:33:39.446 Jesus is who we are living for here again, even when the days are long and life is hard. 00:33:42.375 --> 00:33:47.982 So the Littlerock Marathon is going to be held next March, like it is every single year, first weekend in March. 00:33:47.982 --> 00:33:49.769 Don't worry, I'm not signing up. 00:33:49.769 --> 00:33:51.095 I've thought about it before. 00:33:51.095 --> 00:33:55.095 I even had training plans multiple times, but I've never carried it through. 00:33:55.095 --> 00:33:57.128 Something's always come up. 00:33:57.128 --> 00:33:58.095 It's just like too long, too hard. 00:33:58.095 --> 00:34:00.961 Half marathon, full marathon, I'm not going to do it. 00:34:00.961 --> 00:34:13.668 Maybe someday and maybe when you hear the word marathon again in your head, it's that I'd never think about signing up for a race like that. 00:34:13.668 --> 00:34:19.713 But again, what if your longest and toughest race isn't a marathon? 00:34:19.713 --> 00:34:20.094 You signed up for. 00:34:20.094 --> 00:34:29.307 It's the life that you were called to live on this earth, and that is why you need spiritual endurance. 00:34:31.237 --> 00:34:38.170 And as we develop spiritual endurance, don't ever forget what Jesus endured for you. 00:34:38.170 --> 00:34:50.599 Hebrews, chapter 12, verses two and three Jesus, he's the pioneer and perfecter of faith For the joy, said before him. 00:34:50.599 --> 00:34:58.331 He endured the cross, scorning at shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 00:34:58.331 --> 00:35:12.074 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 00:35:12.074 --> 00:35:23.471 Jesus endured the cross for the world, for his church, for our salvation. 00:35:23.471 --> 00:35:39.065 Because he endured so much for us in this world, we are going to endure for him, we are going to pursue him, we are going to live for him so that we can honor him and glorify him and be a witness for him. 00:35:39.065 --> 00:36:02.094 Especially when the days are long, especially when life is hard, let's stand together and pray, friends in the room, as you bow your head and close your eyes. 00:36:02.094 --> 00:36:15.130 We have to develop spiritual endurance before the days are long and life is hard. 00:36:15.130 --> 00:36:19.485 We have to work on it consistently throughout our lives. 00:36:21.742 --> 00:36:25.074 So think about what's motivating you in your relationship with God right now. 00:36:25.074 --> 00:36:32.974 Is it anything other than who Jesus is, that you want to know him more? 00:36:32.974 --> 00:36:38.128 He is God, he is Messiah, he is the way. 00:36:38.128 --> 00:36:45.094 So I pray, god, we would fix and focus our eyes on Jesus Christ. 00:36:45.094 --> 00:36:54.525 Can you think about tomorrow morning, when you wake up, what's going to be the first simple act of obedience? 00:36:54.525 --> 00:37:01.934 Jesus is calling you, calling and asking you to fulfill. 00:37:01.934 --> 00:37:06.954 Is it going to be how you speak to your kid or how you answer your parent? 00:37:06.954 --> 00:37:17.286 Is it going to be how you reply to that first email that's in your inbox, or how you think about the driver who cuts you off? 00:37:17.286 --> 00:37:22.849 What's that simple act of obedience? 00:37:22.849 --> 00:37:27.054 Holy Spirit empower us to be dedicated to God. 00:37:27.054 --> 00:37:30.840 What's that simple act of obedience? 00:37:30.840 --> 00:37:43.961 Holy Spirit empower us to be dedicated to obeying our Lord and Savior, jesus, we need your strength to obey. 00:37:47.800 --> 00:37:59.423 And can you imagine the day when Jesus comes back, when the celebration begins, when our faith becomes site? 00:37:59.423 --> 00:38:02.842 Heaven and earth are made new. 00:38:02.842 --> 00:38:11.688 All those who are in Christ are raised from the dead to resurrection life. 00:38:11.688 --> 00:38:15.440 We celebrate. 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:20.989 We celebrate what Jesus will do in the future. 00:38:20.989 --> 00:38:24.364 Jesus, we believe you will come again. 00:38:24.364 --> 00:38:27.961 We can't wait for that day to arrive. 00:38:27.961 --> 00:38:30.007 We can't wait for it. 00:38:30.007 --> 00:38:32.762 We want to be ready for it. 00:38:32.762 --> 00:38:39.074 So we're going to endure in the present to honor and glorify you with our lives, no matter what occurs. 00:38:42.081 --> 00:38:44.628 Holy Spirit, nurture that endurance within us. 00:38:44.628 --> 00:38:50.903 Pick us up when we fall down, lift our eyes to heaven when our eyes hit the ground. 00:38:50.903 --> 00:38:58.686 And, jesus, we remember what you have endured for us. 00:38:58.686 --> 00:39:00.981 You endured the cross. 00:39:00.981 --> 00:39:10.349 You endured the cross, and what you endured is so much more than what you are asking us to endure in this world. 00:39:10.349 --> 00:39:16.054 It's sometimes hard to remember it, sometimes we don't want to admit it, but we know it's true. 00:39:16.054 --> 00:39:25.240 You endured so much for us and so we just want to live for you. 00:39:25.240 --> 00:39:43.253 And this morning, if you don't yet know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, if you want to know how to endure when the days are long. 00:39:43.253 --> 00:39:44.094 How to endure when life is hard? 00:39:44.094 --> 00:39:58.293 It all begins by putting your faith and hope and trust in Jesus Christ Amen.