WEBVTT 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:17.039 Good morning, everybody. 00:00:17.679 --> 00:00:19.760 Hope you've had a good week. 00:00:20.239 --> 00:00:21.600 I believe I did. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:27.920 Sometimes always I don't know. 00:00:30.160 --> 00:00:32.479 We can get mega hectic or something. 00:00:32.560 --> 00:00:32.960 I don't know. 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:34.960 We pay too much sometimes. 00:00:36.159 --> 00:00:41.520 A nice calm Sunday morning's always a good thing to have. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:01:22.560 If you will uh turn to page three forty nine, wow. 00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:23.840 Sorry. 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:50.959 So I'll engage them in the world. 00:02:01.760 --> 00:02:03.680 Oh how he loves you. 00:02:07.200 --> 00:02:09.199 Oh how we loved you. 00:02:12.159 --> 00:02:15.840 He gave you some kids. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:20.080 Oh how he lost you. 00:02:20.879 --> 00:02:23.039 Oh how we lost you. 00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:25.919 Oh how we lost you. 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:38.240 It's the force to show. 00:02:46.240 --> 00:02:48.560 Oh how he loves you. 00:02:49.120 --> 00:02:51.120 Oh how he loves you. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:55.039 Oh how he loves you when me. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:59.759 Oh how he loves you. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:06.159 Oh how he loves you and me. 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:10.560 He gave his life. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:13.280 What what could he give? 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:16.159 Oh how he loves you. 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:18.879 Oh how he loves him. 00:03:19.840 --> 00:03:30.000 Oh how he loves you when we turn three. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:02.000 How about how about three thirty? 00:06:53.839 --> 00:06:54.720 Are you done? 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:02.319 Are you watching the bird of the land? 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:06.639 Are you gonna start to sleep? 00:07:08.720 --> 00:07:12.319 Are you watching the bird of the land? 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:29.600 An accessory prayer. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:30.879 Does anybody have anything? 00:07:37.040 --> 00:07:37.600 Richard? 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:38.800 Uh oh. 00:07:39.360 --> 00:07:44.079 Continue to keep all the real sisters over there in Venezuela in her prayers. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:45.759 That's pretty rough. 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:50.480 Back to back earthquake, so we're still all people that they can't find. 00:07:50.959 --> 00:07:51.439 Yeah. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.199 It's a sad time over there for sure. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:57.600 Anybody? 00:07:58.399 --> 00:08:00.000 Keep mom and dad in your prayers. 00:08:00.160 --> 00:08:07.439 Dad's got the all going stuff, but mom, she's not been sleeping good lately, so she's not doing very well. 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:09.120 Bless her heart. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:13.199 Probably a lot of worrying about dad too. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:17.199 Anybody else? 00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.240 Luke? 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:36.639 All right. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:39.440 If we'll bow your heads. 00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:51.360 Father, we come to you once again on a beautiful Sunday morning to love and to worship you and uh to hear the words that you want us to hear today, God. 00:08:51.519 --> 00:09:15.759 And uh but first of all, we'd like to bring our friends, our relatives, our loved ones to you this morning, just lifting it up to you, God, to uh have you do your will for them and to uh help them and mend their mend their problems and their spirit and their their pains and everything that they're going through this morning, God. 00:09:15.919 --> 00:09:21.279 Just uh just spread a little bit of that love that you so freely give. 00:09:22.080 --> 00:09:25.840 We ask these things in your Son, our Lord and Savior's name, Jesus Christ. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:26.639 Amen. 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:03.440 I'm just thankful to have little ones back there. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:05.840 We need winter back there with us, too. 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:09.039 It's just so much fun. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:12.720 Has anybody got anything particular they want to mention this morning? 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:19.120 Uh my wife took a little tumble yesterday. 00:10:20.080 --> 00:10:27.919 I wasn't even close, but I got the ball, but I just learned how to file, don't I? 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.320 Must have done pretty good. 00:10:31.200 --> 00:10:31.840 It's crazy. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:38.480 I was trying to put one of those phone-up chairs in the bag, and I got my foot caught in the strap, and I was pulling my foot back first. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:56.879 I knew I was gonna go face first, and I thought I couldn't do that, and I just turned around backwards and land on my honey, and this day when one of our friends was standing there, and he said, Leave it to bat, but I didn't get hurt. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:02.639 So I said, These fifty thousand dollars and these I cannot go back and do again. 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:06.159 Oh, anybody you got anything else to mention? 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:09.120 Richard. 00:11:09.519 --> 00:11:14.080 I'm certainly thankful for rain hair with 100 degree weather going. 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:16.320 I know, I was thinking about that too. 00:11:16.480 --> 00:11:17.519 No, it's not this humid. 00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:21.039 It has cost when we got out down here, the humidity was awful. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.799 We stepped out of a car. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:25.679 But yeah, I'm very thankful for that too. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:27.120 Very thankful. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.360 We needed some rain too, we did. 00:11:31.519 --> 00:11:32.720 Anything else? 00:11:33.120 --> 00:11:33.919 Yes, Lou. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:36.320 What's going on in the world? 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:37.360 I know. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.039 Yeah. 00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:50.240 When you see that many earthquakes happening in just a couple of days, it's we see a lot of prophecy happening right before our eyes. 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.120 We do. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:53.519 And just pray for those people. 00:11:53.600 --> 00:11:57.039 I mean, a lot so many people have been affected, and it's it's hard to watch. 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:59.440 I've only seen little bits and pieces. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:01.919 Yeah. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:04.240 Philippines, two in Venezuela. 00:12:04.320 --> 00:12:04.399 Yeah. 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:09.360 One in California, and I forget where the other one was at, but there were six of them. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:11.919 That don't wake people up. 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.200 I don't know what will do. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:15.279 You know, it's amazing. 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.960 Um, I'm not sure if Keith mentioned Lisa's mother, Mary Lou, passed away. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:23.279 Um yeah. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:28.639 And as hard as it was for Lisa, I think um she was ready. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:46.240 And I mean, some of y'all know that feeling, just knowing when someone is ready to leave this world for the next, and they do have some precious moments that they shared with her, and some videos of her actually when she was coherent, um, just like two days before she passed away. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:50.799 But after that, it was after that she just sort of went downhill really quick. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:56.720 There's a situation there in the family, but God's good and God will take care of it. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:59.919 I'm just thankful that Lisa is okay. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:10.240 And that um she Chris did take her away for a few days just to get her out of town, just to give her a break, because she's been there 24-7 for weeks now. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:14.559 Um anyone else got anything to mention? 00:13:14.720 --> 00:13:15.440 Yes, Jake. 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:18.720 I'm screwed for where we live in the country we live in. 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:20.080 I mean, it's crazy as everything is. 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:20.960 It's kind of cool. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:28.000 Seeing all the media on like the World Cup and like everybody's hearing like talking about things that we take for granted on ranch straight. 00:13:28.240 --> 00:13:30.240 I know! That's what I was getting ready to say, Jake. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:31.840 I mean, they're like in love with ranch. 00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:36.879 I know how scary it is. 00:13:37.039 --> 00:13:42.399 We'd like me to go out and walk around like these other places that it's amazing. 00:13:43.360 --> 00:13:53.840 It's what I was talking to Keith about, you know, used to because some it's so important that he mentions it so many times in the Bible, breaking bread, and I don't think we realize just how precious food was. 00:13:54.399 --> 00:14:06.240 And it was such a commodity, and now we take it for granted because we are in one of the richest cur countries in the world, but there's places that still a bite of food is so precious, and we are we are blessed. 00:14:09.039 --> 00:14:10.000 Yeah, yeah. 00:14:11.360 --> 00:14:15.120 And the other countries coming in and how much they do appreciate it, you know. 00:14:15.200 --> 00:14:16.799 That's that's amazing. 00:14:18.240 --> 00:14:19.440 All right, nothing else. 00:14:19.600 --> 00:14:20.879 We'll bow our heads. 00:14:22.080 --> 00:14:26.320 Our father, we just come before you this morning, uh, a very thankful heart. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:32.000 Um we can stand here for days and talk about the things that we have watched you do. 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:35.679 We saw your hand on it, and we see the love in it. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:41.120 Even though it may be hard, you are always there with us as we go through the valleys and the dark times. 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:51.279 And we're just very thankful for the day that's coming when we know that your son will re-enter the heaven here, and we will get to see him face to face. 00:14:51.919 --> 00:14:56.320 And there'll be no more suffering and no more pain for any anyone else left. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:15:02.000 And that uh we'll get to be joined together with you through his blood. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:04.399 I'm just thankful for my church family. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:11.600 I'm thankful for these kids and how precious they are, and just lift up this to you and your son, Jesus Christ's name, Lord. 00:15:11.840 --> 00:15:12.480 Amen. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:14.960 And accept the headmarine. 00:15:27.039 --> 00:15:27.919 Good morning. 00:15:28.399 --> 00:15:31.200 I'm gonna read Romans 12, 3 through 8. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:43.840 For by the grace given me I save every one of you, do not think of yourself more highly than you all, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:55.120 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 00:15:55.440 --> 00:15:58.879 We have different gifts according to the grace given to each of us. 00:15:59.120 --> 00:16:03.279 If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith. 00:16:03.440 --> 00:16:05.360 If it is serving, then serve. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.080 And if it is if it is teaching, then teach. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:11.039 If it is to encourage, then give encouragement. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:13.600 If it is giving, then give generously. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:17.279 If it is to lead, do it diligent diligently. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:20.240 If it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:22.000 Now we have Jenny. 00:16:33.600 --> 00:16:40.159 This is a piece by Anne Graham Watts, The Cross, our Statue of Liberty. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:50.000 Next month we will be celebrating our nation's 205th birthday, July the 4th, our National Day of Independence. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:52.480 All events have been planned. 00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:56.240 From a Grand Prix car race in Washington, D.C. 00:16:56.480 --> 00:17:16.000 to the UFC fight at the White House, to the World Cup plays to major American cities, to fireworks, display in almost every city and town are designed to cause America to celebrate our freedom that has been found and fought for. 00:17:54.640 --> 00:18:07.680 While asking him to continue to bless America, there is another Statue of Liberty that also reminds us to celebrate freedom that has been found and died for. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:17.359 Although I have never seen it with my physical eyes, I have impacted my life much more than the lady in New York Harbor. 00:18:17.519 --> 00:18:31.680 It is the cross and the vision of every crest to move me to thank God afresh for setting me free from bondage to self, sin and the power of Satan. 00:18:32.880 --> 00:18:39.599 In gratitude for the cross, what will you do to live in the freedom Jesus died to give you? 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:47.839 This year, celebrate that freedom by telling someone else about how they can be set free from self, sin, and Satan. 00:18:48.079 --> 00:19:16.799 Tell them about the cross, the God's statue of liberty seven seventy four. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:25.680 Got blind sided this past week. 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:33.200 I made mention to you before my Chinese gynecologist's doctor. 00:23:36.079 --> 00:23:37.599 You know the story behind that. 00:23:37.680 --> 00:23:42.319 He's specialized in women's care whenever my doctor passed on. 00:23:42.960 --> 00:23:44.240 So that's who I got. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:47.839 So I just always jokingly called him my Chinese gynecologist. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:52.160 Well, I suppose went back next Tuesday. 00:23:52.799 --> 00:23:58.400 Have to go take blood work every quarter to make sure the arthritis medicine ain't killing the rest of me. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:02.160 So they called me about a month ago. 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:06.079 Said we need to reschedule your appointment for the following week. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.279 I said, that's fine. 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:07.839 I know. 00:24:09.119 --> 00:24:19.599 Well, they sent me a letter in the mail this past Tuesday said that my Chinese gynecologist was no longer working there and I needed to find myself another doctor. 00:24:20.799 --> 00:24:26.559 Which wouldn't, you know, I mean, I didn't like take it, I didn't lay down crying or nothing like that. 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:30.720 But the state has this lovely new insurance called Aetno. 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:41.200 And if uh if you ever hear of it or if you're ever presented with the opportunity to get it, you'd be better off just going to see your local veterinarian. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:48.240 But that being said, I was able to find me another medical professional. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:53.119 So I'm still on track to be healthy. 00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:56.319 I know y'all don't care, but I just had to get that off my chest. 00:24:58.720 --> 00:25:03.839 I guess all them years of me poking fun at him serves me right. 00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:04.880 All right. 00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:16.640 Um as we've already been uh talking a little bit about this morning, there's a lot of buzz going on in our country right now with uh the world of athletics. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:26.240 Our own Carolina Hurricanes hockey team winning the Stanley Cup, and of course, all this excitement with uh soccer games. 00:25:26.960 --> 00:25:31.359 I'd asked how many of y'all was uh hockey fans? 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:41.440 Never really thought about it until all of a sudden a little old bunch of rednecks from Raleigh started swatting the ball pretty good, or the puck, or whatever they call it. 00:25:41.599 --> 00:25:45.920 I've always kind of, you know, I've looked at it through the years. 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:49.680 I guess I mainly kind of enjoyed it because it's a violet. 00:25:49.920 --> 00:25:53.359 Most hockey players ain't got but about four teeth. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:26:05.920 Now, when it comes to soccer, I never was much of an interested in it, but I will say a couple weeks ago I was down at my son's and we sat there and watched one. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:17.839 Part of a game, I asked him, I said, uh, these soccer players, you know, they're supposed to be tough, you know, athletic people, and it's like the slightest little old thing. 00:26:18.000 --> 00:26:23.440 One guy kind of barely bumped one, and the dude fell down like he was in cardiac arrest or something. 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:27.519 He said, Yeah, Dad said there's a lot of drama in the soccer. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:40.720 But anyway, anyway, I this past week in studying, I imagine that the apostle Paul must have been a pretty dedicated sports fan himself. 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:48.160 Because we all can notice that in in many of his letters he uses sports metaphors. 00:26:48.400 --> 00:26:53.200 He likens our Christian life, our Christian walk as a race. 00:26:53.519 --> 00:27:02.640 If you will look with me this morning over to the book of 1 Corinthians, we're going to look at 1 Corinthians and beginning in verse 24. 00:27:04.240 --> 00:27:12.880 Here we have the apostle Paul writing us, do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. 00:27:13.200 --> 00:27:16.079 Run in such a way as to get the prize. 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:20.720 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:27.119 They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:31.440 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly. 00:27:31.680 --> 00:27:34.559 I do not fight like a boxer beat in the air. 00:27:34.880 --> 00:27:46.640 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:57.519 Father God, we thank you for your word, and as we explore it this morning, we pray you would open our hearts, open our ears, open our minds to receive the word that you have for us. 00:27:57.839 --> 00:28:03.519 We pray, Father, that we only hear your words that you would strengthen us and equip us for righteousness. 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:05.839 We thank you and praise you in Jesus' name. 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:06.799 Amen. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:26.160 And this short, short passage, Paul in these four verses, gives us four crucial traits of the Christian life well lived. 00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:32.799 In verse 24, here he challenges us to run to win. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:38.319 And he begins by emphasizing the obvious. 00:28:38.640 --> 00:28:42.000 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run? 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:45.359 Well, yeah, Paul, I kind of gathered that. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:48.400 I mean, that's the point of a race, is it not? 00:28:48.559 --> 00:28:53.359 Um, everybody lines up, the fella shoots a gun, and off you go. 00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:56.799 So, exactly what are you trying to tell me here? 00:28:57.759 --> 00:29:14.000 What Paul is telling us here is that each and every one of us as Christians, we're all participants in the race of life, and how well we run will determine our heavenly reward. 00:29:15.440 --> 00:29:35.599 Paul uses this metaphor of running a race to describe the perseverance and the discipline and the focus required in the Christian faith, emphasizing endurance, keeping our focus on the ultimate goal, and living with purpose. 00:29:36.640 --> 00:29:39.440 That sums up the Christian life. 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:46.880 I'll eventually get this coughed up. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:55.839 He goes on to say that all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. 00:29:56.160 --> 00:29:59.119 Run in such a way as to get the prize. 00:29:59.359 --> 00:30:09.839 At first, Reed that could be somewhat confusing, confusing, as we parallel that with the Christian journey. 00:30:10.079 --> 00:30:15.920 Does this mean that uh somehow someone could outrun me and win my prize? 00:30:17.039 --> 00:30:20.079 Well, that that wouldn't hardly be fair, would it? 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:34.160 I mean, if you line me up out here at the starting line and you put Patrick beside of me and the gun goes off, and assuming they don't shoot Patrick, who's do you think's gonna win that race? 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:38.079 He's younger, he's stronger. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:47.200 So that wouldn't hardly be fair if I was paired up alongside a Olympic, you know, athlete. 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:50.559 But that's not the point that Paul's making. 00:30:53.119 --> 00:30:58.559 Has anyone ever ran a marathon other than Jenny? 00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:07.039 While you're all sitting down, I'll tell you. 00:31:07.279 --> 00:31:12.960 A marathon is a race that stretches 26.2 miles. 00:31:14.000 --> 00:31:17.039 I guess maybe that's what it translated to in the Greek. 00:31:17.200 --> 00:31:19.680 Marathon 26.2 miles. 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:22.400 26.2 miles. 00:31:22.480 --> 00:31:23.839 Y'all did hear that, right? 00:31:24.079 --> 00:31:24.799 It's a race. 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:31.279 Okay, fewer than 1% of the current global population has ever ran a marathon. 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:34.240 In my brain, that's for obvious reasons. 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:43.359 But of those dedicated people, and there are a lot of dedicated people who make this their life's mission to run marathons. 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:45.839 Maybe they never had Legos growing up. 00:31:45.920 --> 00:31:58.079 I don't know, but the average time that it takes to complete this 26.2 mile long race is what would you guess? 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:03.519 I think, you know, it may is you know, two weeks, four days. 00:32:03.920 --> 00:32:04.240 No. 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:11.599 The average time that it takes to complete this marathon is four hours and thirty minutes. 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:16.799 Four hours and thirty minutes to run 26 miles. 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:20.559 I got to thinking about that this week. 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:22.480 I'm like, well, it's been a while. 00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:25.039 I mean, I used to hike in out of gorge all the time. 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:27.920 I got to thinking, no, any more. 00:32:28.559 --> 00:32:36.960 It'd probably take me about 20 30 minutes to get up the gumption to even start it. 00:32:37.200 --> 00:32:45.359 And then it'd probably take uh, you know, the first mile into it, it'd take me four or five airs and a couple of ambulance escorts. 00:32:47.119 --> 00:33:09.599 But for the most avid runners, those who set out to do this, who want to do this, who want to run this 26.2 miles, most avid runners, the avid runners don't necessarily expect a win to be crossing the finish line first. 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:11.839 Does that make sense? 00:33:12.240 --> 00:33:15.440 Some of these marathons we've seen them on TV, Boston Marathon. 00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:17.519 20,000 people is gonna run it. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:18.480 What's the point? 00:33:18.880 --> 00:33:21.279 I mean, just that would say, why am I gonna run against 20,000 people? 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:22.400 They don't want them gonna win. 00:33:22.480 --> 00:33:23.519 It ain't gonna be me. 00:33:23.759 --> 00:33:28.000 But for most runners, a win is not finishing first. 00:33:29.440 --> 00:33:38.000 Most marathon runners consider a win to be finishing with a better time than they had in their previous races. 00:33:39.759 --> 00:33:43.440 In other words, to be constantly improving their time. 00:33:44.559 --> 00:33:54.559 So, hey, I might not have run through the ribbon first this go-round, but I was 20 minutes faster in this race than I was the one I ran a month ago. 00:33:54.799 --> 00:33:57.759 That's considered the win to most avid runners. 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:02.480 It's an individual victory. 00:34:03.200 --> 00:34:06.319 An individual victory. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:09.199 And I think that's what Paul's speaking to here. 00:34:09.679 --> 00:34:13.360 As Christians, we are in an individual race. 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:16.559 No one can race for us. 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:22.639 No one can race on our behalf, no one can be Christian for us. 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:30.239 We can't be enough good enough Christian to get our children into heaven. 00:34:30.400 --> 00:34:34.960 We can't be a good enough Christian to get our neighbor down the street into heaven. 00:34:37.119 --> 00:34:40.719 We have to put forth the effort for ourselves. 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:52.000 And here's Paul is telling us to live out our Christianity in such a way as to receive the best possible prize in eternity. 00:34:52.800 --> 00:34:57.679 Because after all, that's the ultimate goal in eternity. 00:34:58.079 --> 00:35:01.920 He tells us in 2 Corinthians 5 and verse 10. 00:35:02.880 --> 00:35:19.199 Paul again tells us, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 00:35:24.400 --> 00:35:28.719 There's coming a day in the very near future. 00:35:29.119 --> 00:35:46.480 And as we've already talked about this morning, with the with all the things going on, and as students of the Bible, as students of God's prophetic word, we see all the things that he's told us in his book starting to make sense, starting to come true. 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:48.480 We see that. 00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:57.039 But in the near future, all believers, all of us will be caught up into heaven. 00:35:57.519 --> 00:35:58.719 We call that what? 00:36:00.079 --> 00:36:01.679 That's the rapture. 00:36:02.639 --> 00:36:14.079 And we'll all stand before our Lord at that time when all God's wrath is being poured out on the earth beneath us. 00:36:14.480 --> 00:36:25.199 We're going to be standing before our Lord Jesus Christ, and we're going to receive the rewards accordingly to how well we ran our race. 00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:42.000 Jesus tells us Himself in Revelation 22, verse 12, and behold, I am coming quickly, and my reward is with me to give to everyone according to his where's that dirty word, work. 00:36:46.480 --> 00:36:53.039 So many in Christianity gripe back and forth about this whole concept of work. 00:36:54.480 --> 00:37:01.280 And I can say we we could probably all understand there's a lot of lazy Christians. 00:37:01.440 --> 00:37:03.360 There's a lot that don't want to work. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:11.440 And they use the reasoning when I don't have to work, I'm not going to work because my salvation ain't based on how much I do. 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:12.159 You're right. 00:37:12.239 --> 00:37:14.159 It is not in any way. 00:37:15.679 --> 00:37:20.480 God didn't save near one of us because we deserved it. 00:37:21.440 --> 00:37:24.719 He didn't save because of what we did. 00:37:25.199 --> 00:37:27.599 He saved us because he loved us. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:35.519 And he saved us to work, to do what he's called us to do. 00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:38.480 And it's spoken of earlier. 00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:40.719 We were all given gifts. 00:37:41.519 --> 00:37:46.000 Each and every one of you, each and every one of us has a gift. 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:49.280 Some of us it's just looking pretty. 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:53.599 We've all been through that. 00:38:56.320 --> 00:39:04.719 But strong Christians, we know where to go to remedy that situation, and we bounce back. 00:39:04.880 --> 00:39:07.440 We're all gonna have those Eeyore moments. 00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:13.360 But we need to make sure that we're doing what we need to do to get back to have them win at the poo moments. 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:23.920 I believe this was the same attitude that Paul had and why he wrote these instructions for us. 00:39:24.639 --> 00:39:34.400 Paul tells us over in Acts 20, verse 24, however, I consider my life worth nothing to me. 00:39:41.039 --> 00:39:43.519 Hold on, let me get back to where I'm supposed to be. 00:39:43.679 --> 00:39:46.400 I consider my life worth nothing to me. 00:39:46.719 --> 00:39:54.159 My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me. 00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:59.599 The task of testifying to the God to the good news of God's grace. 00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:10.400 Think about how radically different Western Christianity would look if we all adopted that same attitude each and every day. 00:40:11.360 --> 00:40:30.639 As has already been mentioned, we look at the people coming into this country for these soccer games, and they're overwhelmed at the wealth, at the freedom, at the selection we have in this country. 00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:33.679 It's like no other nation in the world. 00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:41.360 Anything you could possibly desire, it's within reach in this country. 00:40:41.760 --> 00:40:44.320 And too many of these poor people needs other countries. 00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:45.519 Can't even get registered. 00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:50.159 Imagine how they'd feel if they ever had a thousand dollars. 00:40:51.360 --> 00:40:53.440 Honey mustard, huh? 00:40:54.639 --> 00:40:58.559 Verse 24, Paul urges us to run to win. 00:40:59.199 --> 00:41:00.719 To run to win. 00:41:01.119 --> 00:41:02.960 We go on in verse 25. 00:41:03.199 --> 00:41:06.800 Paul urges us to focus on the prize. 00:41:17.599 --> 00:41:23.599 They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:33.360 At the time Paul wrote his letters to the Corinthians, it's believed he spent about 18 months in their presence. 00:41:33.679 --> 00:41:39.440 And during that time, he would have most likely witnessed the Isthmian Games. 00:41:40.800 --> 00:41:47.360 The Isthmian Games were a very popular athletic event that took place every other year. 00:41:47.840 --> 00:41:53.599 They were second in popularity only to the Olympic Games that we've all heard about. 00:41:54.719 --> 00:42:04.159 The Isthmian Games were held the year before the Olympics, and the year right after the Olympics. 00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:14.239 And these games consisted of foot races, wrestling, boxing, and chariot races. 00:42:14.800 --> 00:42:17.119 Sounds like a redneck's dream, don't it? 00:42:17.679 --> 00:42:21.840 Just throw in a couple of chili dogs and a keg of beer. 00:42:23.280 --> 00:42:34.079 The athletes in these Istmian games would vigorously train for up to ten months before the games began in hopes of winning. 00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:40.159 And for their devotion and perseverance, the winners would receive a crown. 00:42:41.519 --> 00:42:45.920 Originally it was made from wild celery leaves. 00:42:46.320 --> 00:42:53.280 Later on, I guess, I don't know, they started running low on wild celery, they started making them out of pine branches. 00:42:54.000 --> 00:42:58.079 They would make them a crown and they would stand up. 00:42:58.960 --> 00:43:00.719 They were victorious. 00:43:01.119 --> 00:43:10.079 And this nice crown they got, after just a few days, few weeks, well, it'd wither up and it'd blow away. 00:43:12.719 --> 00:43:17.599 Imagine strict, strenuous training for months. 00:43:18.000 --> 00:43:25.840 Only to receive a crown, a prize, that would only be yours for a short time. 00:43:26.400 --> 00:43:30.480 What would you have to tell their grandbabies whenever they come along? 00:43:30.880 --> 00:43:38.480 Yeah, back in 10, 09, 10, I won the wrestling at the Isthmene games. 00:43:38.800 --> 00:43:41.679 Now really, Pappy, where she be proof. 00:43:42.400 --> 00:43:43.599 Well it rotted. 00:43:44.320 --> 00:43:45.280 Come on. 00:43:48.559 --> 00:43:59.679 But here Paul reminds us that in our Christian race, that when we train, when we persevere and endure, we'll receive a crown that. 00:44:00.159 --> 00:44:02.079 Will last forever. 00:44:02.639 --> 00:44:13.840 And I can't help but think, because y'all know I'm very twisted in my mind, but I can't help but think whenever we get to that point, all right, we're walking down the streets of glory. 00:44:14.480 --> 00:44:22.719 And most ladies, you can appreciate this if you're walking down a street and you pass a group of boys. 00:44:24.320 --> 00:44:29.280 Well no, you pass a say a group of men, aged 13 to 130. 00:44:29.519 --> 00:44:32.800 You walk by them and what do they automatically do? 00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:39.199 They walk on down there with you, don't they? 00:44:39.760 --> 00:44:42.800 I can't help but think about what it looked like in heaven. 00:44:43.360 --> 00:44:45.920 Here we are walking down the street. 00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:48.719 Got our little crowns on. 00:44:49.599 --> 00:44:51.519 And here comes Billy Graham. 00:44:53.199 --> 00:44:56.639 We gotta make room for his crown and watch it walking on down the ground. 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:04.880 That's what the running the race to win individually looks like. 00:45:06.079 --> 00:45:08.480 We're all gonna have that crown. 00:45:09.119 --> 00:45:12.639 Some's gonna be big, some's gonna be prettier than others. 00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:14.480 A lot of people say that's fine. 00:45:14.639 --> 00:45:16.480 I just want to get there and have one. 00:45:20.159 --> 00:45:23.199 So how do we train in our Christian life? 00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:48.079 Well, by exercising spiritual discipline, by being attentive to what we do, by rejecting our fleshly desires, and rejecting seeking after worldly pleasures, and instead focusing on Christ-like habits, like what we're doing today. 00:45:48.400 --> 00:46:02.480 Coming to church, spending time in prayer and worship, Bible study, and serving our brothers and sisters in Christ, and ultimately doing what we were called to do, ministering to the lost. 00:46:03.840 --> 00:46:28.000 Hebrews 12, verses 1 and 2, we read, Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. 00:46:29.599 --> 00:46:35.280 It is difficult as we go day in, day out, living life. 00:46:36.000 --> 00:46:44.159 It's hard sometimes if we we have to make it a effort to stay focused on godly living. 00:46:45.119 --> 00:46:54.159 Verse 26, Paul encourages us to know our game, to understand the race that we're in and why we're in it. 00:46:54.880 --> 00:47:00.480 If you ever ask yourself, here I am at this age, how did I end up being a Christian? 00:47:01.440 --> 00:47:03.119 You ever thought about that? 00:47:06.559 --> 00:47:10.320 We're to know our game, to understand what's before us. 00:47:10.400 --> 00:47:13.519 Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly. 00:47:13.760 --> 00:47:16.719 I do not fight like a boxer beat in the air. 00:47:17.679 --> 00:47:24.719 Great athletes train with dedication and devotion to their sport. 00:47:26.000 --> 00:47:34.719 They don't just haphazardly hang out at the gym or the court or the field of play. 00:47:35.920 --> 00:47:37.440 Trust me, I've tried that. 00:47:37.679 --> 00:47:42.159 I got one at trade machines one time, set it right beside my recliner. 00:47:42.320 --> 00:47:43.840 I ain't lost a pound. 00:47:45.840 --> 00:47:48.639 They follow a strict regime. 00:47:49.119 --> 00:47:52.559 They push themselves harder and harder. 00:47:53.440 --> 00:47:59.440 They deny themselves temporary pleasures to achieve long-term goals. 00:48:00.880 --> 00:48:09.119 They endure the sore muscles and the fatigue in order to reach their maximum potential. 00:48:11.280 --> 00:48:14.320 They stay laser focused on our goal. 00:48:15.280 --> 00:48:25.199 Paul uses this analogy to describe how we as Christ followers must also be just as dedicated in our Christian journey. 00:48:26.159 --> 00:48:29.840 Because we're all each and every one in this race. 00:48:30.480 --> 00:48:42.639 We must stay focused on kingdom work and not become distracted by our worldly pursuits or our worldly trials. 00:48:44.159 --> 00:48:47.440 You know, for me, maybe it's happened to you too. 00:48:47.519 --> 00:48:53.599 There's times in life when you think, I'm doing pretty good, I'm doing pretty good, I'm reading, I'm praying, I'm I'm doing pretty good. 00:48:53.840 --> 00:48:55.599 And then all of a sudden, what happens? 00:48:55.920 --> 00:48:57.199 Wheels fall off. 00:48:58.000 --> 00:48:58.960 Oh no. 00:48:59.119 --> 00:49:02.239 Well, I can't do nothing until I get this fixed. 00:49:03.280 --> 00:49:07.039 You know, I can't do anything until this heals up. 00:49:08.639 --> 00:49:19.760 I think what he's focusing on here is that's the very time when we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 00:49:20.079 --> 00:49:28.880 Whenever things are going good and all of a sudden a hiccup comes, and we gotta sit in that same doctor's office with all those long faces. 00:49:29.599 --> 00:49:31.519 We don't have to be that long faced. 00:49:31.599 --> 00:49:33.360 We can be that encouragement. 00:49:35.039 --> 00:49:40.480 Whenever we're sitting in that line down there at the unemployment office because we've just lost our job. 00:49:41.519 --> 00:49:43.920 We don't have to be that long faced. 00:49:44.480 --> 00:49:45.599 We're Christians. 00:49:45.760 --> 00:49:48.639 We belong to our Heavenly Father. 00:49:48.960 --> 00:49:56.000 He's promised us no matter what this world throws at us, lose your job, you're still gonna be fed. 00:49:56.079 --> 00:49:57.920 You're still gonna be taken care of. 00:49:58.320 --> 00:50:02.719 You get sick, well, probably you're gonna be healed. 00:50:02.960 --> 00:50:06.320 If not, you're ultimately gonna be healed forever. 00:50:07.280 --> 00:50:12.639