WEBVTT 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:11.759 You're listening to the road of the pastor teacher Steve Holt. 00:00:12.560 --> 00:00:18.559 You know that the Lord says through Paul, therefore anyone is in Christ is a new creation. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:23.440 All things have passed away, behold, all things have become new. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:25.519 Do you know that you have a new heart? 00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:34.159 Do you know that when you received Christ, he took that heart and heart, he gave you a spirit of flesh, he gave you a heart of flesh, they gave you a tenderness you didn't have. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:35.280 You have that. 00:00:36.399 --> 00:00:41.200 Today, Pastor Steve continues his series on the Book of Revelation. 00:00:41.520 --> 00:00:47.039 At The Road, our vision is to raise up wholehearted disciples of Jesus Christ. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:51.600 For more information on the road, visit the Road.org. 00:00:51.759 --> 00:00:56.880 We hope you are encouraged by today's message from Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:01:00.799 --> 00:01:08.480 Well, we have been in a series where I took off from another series that I was in on Philippians. 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:17.680 And we were talking about the leverage of joy for several months, and then we came to this verse that talked about worshiping in the spirit. 00:01:17.920 --> 00:01:22.640 And too bad if you don't like this, but I kind of like to be led by the spirit. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:27.760 And I felt like God led me to talk on worship, beauty, and presence. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:30.640 And so we did that for like six weeks. 00:01:30.959 --> 00:01:32.719 But I'm coming back to Philippians. 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:37.040 So we're coming back to the leverage of joy in the next several weeks. 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:40.079 We're gonna finish up this awesome book of Philippians. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:42.400 Look up here if you haven't seen this before. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:50.959 This is an illustration that I talked about during that time of how joy is like a leverage in our life. 00:01:51.200 --> 00:02:00.480 That if we cultivate joy in our life, it's amazing what we can lift in the way of pressures and difficulties that come our way. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:13.520 And so I gave this illustration that joy is that whole idea of, you know, when you move joy into your problems and into your struggles, everything just lifts a whole lot easier. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:17.280 And the book of Philippians is about joy. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:27.840 So turn in your Bibles, if you have your Bibles with you, to Philippians chapter 3, and some of you may remember we got to about verse 12. 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:30.240 So that's where we are, Philippians 3.12. 00:02:30.319 --> 00:02:36.960 And I want to call this today contending, contending for your joyful destiny. 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:41.919 Now, here's what I believe. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:03:07.680 I believe that as we discover God's beauty in meditation, worship, prayer, as you see as beauty in nature, there is a work of God in that that brings a beauty in your heart and brings a beauty in your life. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:24.319 So there's something beautiful that happens within you as you meditate on, focus on, and as, and in the passage that we looked at so extensively over the last few weeks, behold the beauty of the Lord. 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:25.919 Psalm 27, 4. 00:03:26.080 --> 00:03:30.560 That was the one thing that David was after was beholding the beauty of the Lord. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:32.639 Now listen, here's what I believe. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:50.479 I believe that as you make it a habit to start beholding the beauty of the Lord through worship, through prayer, through uh recognize it in people, recognize it in nature, God does a work in your heart of beauty. 00:03:50.719 --> 00:03:54.240 So you start to resonate with what you behold. 00:03:55.520 --> 00:04:07.199 So if you've ever seen anybody who's addicted to drugs, if you've ever been around someone who's heavily addicted to porn, you become like what you behold. 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:09.039 Don't miss that, folks. 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:10.639 You become like what you behold. 00:04:10.800 --> 00:04:18.800 If you behold, if you behold porn on a regular basis, you're gonna become like that. 00:04:19.600 --> 00:04:23.040 If you behold idols, the scriptures are all clear. 00:04:23.279 --> 00:04:35.600 Very interesting that in Scripture, almost every time you have a reference to idolatry or idol worship, it's correlated with adultery. 00:04:36.240 --> 00:04:37.759 Well, why is that? 00:04:38.480 --> 00:04:40.720 Because you become like what you behold. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:56.319 And so as you become allegiance to idols, you break allegiances with your loyalties of your life because you become like the idol, and oftentimes it leads to adultery and affairs and stuff. 00:04:56.959 --> 00:05:12.160 And so when we talk about contending for our destiny, I want to preface it by saying that God works in you so that he can work through you. 00:05:12.480 --> 00:05:15.279 God works in you so that he can work through you. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:22.879 So he does this beautiful work on the interior that begins to overflow into your life on the exterior. 00:05:23.199 --> 00:05:24.319 Does that make sense? 00:05:24.480 --> 00:05:39.360 That's why I've said to you single guys out there, and I should say it to single women too, the most beautiful women that you see on those Budweiser commercials don't exist out there in the bars. 00:05:40.079 --> 00:05:45.519 Those are models, and they and they they put things on them to look a certain way. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:50.560 The most beautiful women in Colorado Springs are right here. 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.319 The most beautiful, most handsome men are right here. 00:05:54.800 --> 00:06:01.360 Because they're learning to behold the beauty of the Lord, thus, their character is being changed. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:10.800 And as that character is being changed, there's a beauty that actually starts to express itself in skin color and in the beauty on the exterior. 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:14.480 Absolutely a biological truth. 00:06:15.199 --> 00:06:22.720 And so Paul here is talking about what he's contending for in his life. 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:25.120 And so I want you to see it two ways. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:38.319 Is that when I talk about contending for your destiny, part one is contending for the beauty of your heart by knowing Christ, falling in love with him. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:44.399 But then God didn't make us just to sit around and just behold him all day long. 00:06:44.639 --> 00:06:54.240 I mean, there's those in the monastic movement that they've given themselves to 10 or 12 hours a day, and that's all they do is, you know, contend for the beauty of their soul. 00:06:54.319 --> 00:06:55.199 And there's nothing wrong with that. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:06:55.600 It's great. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:58.720 The Benedictine monks do the Augustinian monks, that's fine. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:01.839 I have nothing but but admiration for those guys. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:23.279 But for most of us, this contending then expresses itself, men and women, it expresses itself through some kind of a destiny, some kind of a calling on our life in business or education or government or uh or media and artistic, whatever. 00:07:24.079 --> 00:07:27.040 God works in you so that He can work outside of you. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:28.560 He works in you so he can work through you. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:31.600 So look at verse 12 of Philippians 3. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:36.560 So I want you to see it from two angles, not only interior, but also exterior. 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:48.560 Not that I've already attained or am already perfected, but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. 00:07:49.040 --> 00:08:01.920 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:09.759 I press, second time he said that, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call. 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:16.079 In my Bible, I circle that upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:08:16.399 --> 00:08:24.720 Therefore, therefore, in other words, all that we've read before, therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:30.240 And if anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:40.559 Nevertheless, to the degree that we've already attained it, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:41.759 It's very interesting, actually. 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:46.799 That word rule there is where you have the rule of Benedict and the benedicting order. 00:08:47.120 --> 00:08:50.080 This is the verse it came from, the rule of Saint Benedict. 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:54.399 I want to give you five things, and they all start with a D, because I'm a pastor, okay? 00:08:54.559 --> 00:09:00.799 So five D's I want you to remember about contending for your destiny inside, in your interior, but also in your exterior. 00:09:00.879 --> 00:09:01.360 Here's the first one. 00:09:01.519 --> 00:09:03.679 The first one is dissatisfaction. 00:09:03.919 --> 00:09:05.120 Look at verse 12. 00:09:05.360 --> 00:09:06.720 Dissatisfaction. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:09.039 Not that I've already attained. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:13.200 Now, this is the guy who's been who's been taken up by the Lord into the third heaven. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:19.039 I mean, he has seen power, he has seen healings, he has seen uh mighty works of God. 00:09:19.200 --> 00:09:28.720 He says, not that I've already attained or I'm already perfected, but I press on that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 00:09:28.879 --> 00:09:33.679 Listen, brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended it yet. 00:09:33.840 --> 00:09:43.679 So there has to be, men and women, to come into your destiny, you have to have a holy dissatisfaction with where you currently are. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:48.720 And what happens for many of us is we look around and go, well, I go to church on Sundays. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:57.440 You know, I tithe, we give, we even went on Springs Initiative and painted some people's houses, and I'm doing better than most people that I know. 00:09:57.519 --> 00:10:00.159 You ought to see the jokers at my job and stuff. 00:10:00.240 --> 00:10:05.279 And so we become satisfied and we stagnate spiritually. 00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:09.120 And Paul's saying, I am not satisfied. 00:10:09.360 --> 00:10:10.720 I am not satisfied. 00:10:10.960 --> 00:10:16.720 Here's the deal: we can be at peace with Jesus, but not satisfied with our walk with Jesus. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:19.200 In other words, we know that we're saved. 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:29.120 I want everybody to know that if you've given your heart to Christ by faith, the grace of God covers you, you have salvation. 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:39.120 He's talking about the sanctification power that comes through a dissatisfied life where we want more. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:45.919 So I believe verse 12 is correlated with verse 10. 00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:48.080 Verse 12 is correlated with verse 10. 00:10:48.159 --> 00:10:55.360 So he says, I'm not, I haven't attained it, I'm not already perfected, but I am gonna press on. 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:56.639 Well, what's he pressing in on? 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:58.559 I think it's the two verses before. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:08.960 Here's what he says, that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being conformed to his death. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:10.320 Here's what Paul's saying. 00:11:10.559 --> 00:11:13.360 I want more power in my life. 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:17.919 I have not attained it, but I want the power of the resurrection. 00:11:18.080 --> 00:11:20.799 That's how I'm gonna intimately know him. 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:23.919 So that's why I love biographies. 00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:26.080 Encourage you to read biographies. 00:11:26.240 --> 00:11:30.720 Even read biographies that are that are by weird people. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:37.360 By the way, most biographies are people that if you'd known them in their life, you would have said they're weirdos. 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:45.600 But then they make statues of them later because they were so, they did so many things great for God or for government or whatever it might be. 00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:58.399 But to read Christian biographies is powerful because you see men and women just like us who did extraordinary things because they believed in the power of God working through them. 00:11:58.639 --> 00:12:01.039 God had worked in them to work through them. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:02.799 I think I shared a couple weeks ago. 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:09.279 I just, you know, I watched again Amazing Grace on William Wilberforce. 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:13.919 And here was a guy that was set up to be probably a prime minister. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:16.240 He was he was an up-and-coming star. 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:22.480 And he gave it up because he was passionate about the abolition of slavery. 00:12:23.039 --> 00:12:24.879 And really, it cost him his career. 00:12:25.039 --> 00:12:26.960 I was moved by that. 00:12:27.519 --> 00:12:29.440 That got me fired up. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:36.399 And so you guys know several weeks ago we had a little a little baby, a little four-year-old. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:39.039 I consider that like a baby, a four-year-old that drowned. 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:44.720 And so Deborah and I rushed up to Denver to pray for that precious little child. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:45.759 And all of you prayed. 00:12:45.919 --> 00:12:46.960 Remember, we all prayed together. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:49.360 We stopped the service and we prayed for that little child. 00:12:49.440 --> 00:12:51.120 I had so much faith. 00:12:51.440 --> 00:12:52.960 Deborah and I were fired up. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:56.559 We just knew God was gonna resurrect that little child. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:13:03.120 And we prayed with authority and we prayed with power there at the children's hospital, and the baby died. 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:10.399 I have no regrets about going up there and believing God that he could heal because he could have. 00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.080 But I'm not God. 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:14.960 But I'm being obedient to pray. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:17.840 Here's what I found: I'm a genius. 00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:29.519 I found that when you pray, when you actually step out and pray for someone for healing, more people get healed than when you don't. 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:31.759 I told you I was a genius. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:32.799 I'm from Georgia. 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:34.879 I'm not real smart, I figured it out. 00:13:35.039 --> 00:13:49.679 But here's the reality is that um that God wants all of us to be dissatisfied with our Christian life and going for more and spending time in his word and worshiping, learning how to worship in greater measure. 00:13:51.360 --> 00:14:01.759 So we were on a flight to uh a couple weeks ago, we were on a flight to uh to uh Palm Desert to go see HB London, my dear friend, who's got colon cancer. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:16.000 We're sitting on this flight next to this guy, and he's got big earphones on, so there's not really a chance to talk, but he took him off at one point and we started uh a conversation, and and I said to him, Man, what do you think about the kingdom of God? 00:14:17.039 --> 00:14:18.559 And he went, What? 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:23.440 I said, You know the kingdom of God is all around us? 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:36.879 And that started the conversation, and as we started to come down in that plane after our conversation about the kingdom of God, I said, Would you like to receive the king of the kingdom, Jesus Christ? 00:14:37.039 --> 00:14:37.840 He said, Yes. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:42.000 And so we prayed, he prayed, receive Christ with me. 00:14:42.320 --> 00:14:45.360 We landed that plane in more ways than one. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:53.279 And he and he looked, after we prayed together, he looks up and he goes, Man, I'm so excited. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:15:07.919 Young 22-year-old young man works in the oil fields, and then we left, and you know how it is, he had the uh the aisle seat, so he got his stuff, he took off, and then it took us a while to get our stuff, so I didn't think I'd see him again. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:16.240 And we're leaving and we're going down that that hallway there at Ontario Airport, and Liz goes, Isn't that the guy that that prayed received Christ with you? 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:17.840 I said, Yeah, oh yeah, that is him. 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:24.159 And he was already in that inspiration section of choice books, looking for a Bible, because he didn't have one. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:32.960 And then we were up in Chico after that, and we're in Chico, and we're at a farmer's market, and this guy just starts talking to me. 00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:35.360 And he just I said, Dude, you talk a lot. 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.639 I didn't even know him, you know. 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:37.840 And he says, Yeah, I do. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.159 And I go, Do you ever come up for breath? 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.440 Because I can't ever get in a word edgewash with the way you're talking. 00:15:43.679 --> 00:15:52.000 And then he and then we start laughing, and then turns out he goes, he goes, Yeah, yeah, I lost half my brain one time. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:53.919 And I said, Oh, you did? 00:15:54.159 --> 00:15:56.639 Doesn't seem like it's affected your speech at all. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:01.039 And and so he takes off his hat and he's got this hole, like a hole right here. 00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:07.679 That's he said, 22 years ago went through the the uh windshield of my of my truck in Wyoming. 00:16:07.919 --> 00:16:11.919 And I said, and they and then they put everything, kind of put it all back in there and stuff. 00:16:12.080 --> 00:16:13.919 And I went, wow, well, that's great. 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:15.840 I mean, you're a walking miracle. 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:22.399 Isn't it amazing how the kingdom works that your brain actually has the ability to heal itself? 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:24.639 And he was, yeah, yeah. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.799 And I said, So how's it going for you? 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:29.279 And he goes, Well, I'm having trouble with my right shoulder. 00:16:29.440 --> 00:16:30.799 I said, Well, let's pray for it right now. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.480 Let's ask God to heal it. 00:16:32.799 --> 00:16:39.919 And so we prayed for his shoulder, and he fell down, he foamed at the mouth, and he got up and he was completely healed. 00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:41.279 No, that didn't happen. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:44.720 But well, we prayed for his shoulder. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:57.679 Here's what I found though, that there is this, there is this correlation between verse 10 to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering. 00:16:57.919 --> 00:17:07.119 God spoke to me many times this this word years ago, and I and it, I always think of it when I read this, and it was these words. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:13.759 He said, If you go after my power, you will get my suffering. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:18.000 If you go after my power, you will get my suffering. 00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:25.200 And here's what I think the Lord meant when he spoke that to me is that you'll be called a fanatic. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:27.839 You'll be called a fool. 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:33.839 Because when we go after more, most people won't go with you. 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:36.319 Most people won't go with you. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.039 Let's be a church. 00:17:40.000 --> 00:17:47.920 Let's be a family that is dissatisfied with where we're at and we want more. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:55.759 And that in so wanting more, we'd be willing also to join into the fellowship of Christ's suffering. 00:17:56.079 --> 00:18:00.160 Because let me tell you, folks, if you can't be bought, you'll do anything. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:04.960 If you can't be bought, you'll do anything. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:07.759 Most people can be bought off. 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:15.359 They can be bought off with money, they can be bought off with sex, they can be bought off with uh promotions, whatever. 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:17.039 What is your price? 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:19.519 What is your price? 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:30.480 Because if it's to know Christ and the power of his resurrection to be dissatisfied with where you're at and want more of the Lord, you cannot be bought. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:34.000 And that, listen, folks, everybody look at me. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.440 That's freedom. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:39.039 That's freedom in your heart when you can't be bought. 00:18:39.279 --> 00:18:44.000 That's freedom in your heart when all you want is more of Christ. 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.839 Verse 13. 00:18:46.240 --> 00:18:53.920 And then he says this, he says, I do not count myself to have apprehended it yet, but one thing I do. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:55.839 One thing I do. 00:18:56.000 --> 00:18:57.359 Number two, devotion. 00:18:57.599 --> 00:18:59.359 A devotion to one thing. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:03.440 One thing is really a kind of a cool little phrase in the Bible. 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:07.200 Jesus said to the rich young ruler, one thing you still lack. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:11.599 Jesus said to busy Martha, only one thing is needful. 00:19:13.119 --> 00:19:19.759 One thing I know, exclaimed the man who had received his sight by the power of Christ. 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:27.599 And then David says in Psalm 27, 4, This one thing I behold, this one thing that I'm after is the beauty of the Lord. 00:19:28.400 --> 00:19:30.319 So I think there's two parts to this. 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.440 I said this earlier. 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:43.039 I think what I see in this passage is there's a one thing in your heart to go after the Lord, but then there's a one thing that God's called you to do. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.720 So there's a be and a do. 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:45.759 There's a be and a do. 00:19:45.839 --> 00:19:50.559 There's a being, there's a God working in you so that he can work through you. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.759 And so D.L. 00:19:51.920 --> 00:20:00.240 Moody, back in 1871, was working in Chicago with the YMCA. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:04.480 He was working in itinerant evangelist stuff that he was doing. 00:20:04.640 --> 00:20:09.920 He was also involved in the Sunday school movement that was just getting started, and it was the Great Chicago Fire. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:14.319 And the Great Chicago Fire burned up everything that he had done at that point. 00:20:14.400 --> 00:20:15.519 And that's when D.L. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:21.359 Moody committed himself to this one thing in his life, which was evangelism. 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:25.839 And when he gave himself to being an evangelist, millions heard the gospel. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:27.599 God has one thing. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:34.319 You never, the problem for all of us is we dabble in so many things and we never get to one thing. 00:20:34.960 --> 00:20:39.039 And so that one thing, that devotion to the Lord. 00:20:39.279 --> 00:20:44.000 I think most of you are understanding that in your own life, or you wouldn't be here this morning. 00:20:44.160 --> 00:20:50.240 It's way too beautiful a day to be sitting in here unless you've got a one thing perspective. 00:20:50.400 --> 00:21:01.599 And I would challenge you and push on that, that as you become and develop that one thing of worship and prayer in your life, God's going to show you your destiny. 00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:06.400 Contend for the Lord, and God will contend for you for the destiny. 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:15.359 If you'll contend for knowing Him, He'll contend for you knowing your destiny in your own life. 00:21:16.400 --> 00:21:17.680 He continues. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:19.200 Forgetting. 00:21:19.359 --> 00:21:21.920 This is the part that's really hard. 00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:32.000 Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. 00:21:32.799 --> 00:21:33.759 Direction. 00:21:34.799 --> 00:21:40.240 Direction with the Lord is always future oriented. 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:42.799 It's always forward. 00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:46.000 Many people are controlled by their past. 00:21:46.799 --> 00:21:49.759 Many are controlled because of a divorce. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:51.519 Or abuse. 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:54.000 Or regret. 00:21:55.359 --> 00:21:58.559 How many of you would honestly say you carry some regret? 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.759 Amen. 00:22:00.799 --> 00:22:02.240 And the rest of you are liars. 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.039 You know you do. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:05.759 But we have regret. 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:07.839 All of us have regret in our life. 00:22:08.160 --> 00:22:10.240 And it can control us. 00:22:10.400 --> 00:22:12.400 It actually can consume us. 00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:19.599 Some people are consumed by hatred, consumed by what was done. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:28.319 We definitely live in a culture that I think we could call the American culture right now is moving more and more toward victimology. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:34.960 I mean, how to be a victim for everybody and what everybody did wrong to you instead of owning your stuff. 00:22:35.119 --> 00:22:45.119 Yes, that's been done to everybody here, some to a greater extent than others, but the point is, Paul's saying, forgetting the past, I'm going to look to the future. 00:22:45.279 --> 00:22:46.480 That's my direction. 00:22:46.960 --> 00:22:49.200 I mean, Paul murdered people. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:54.559 He ripped families apart and imprisoned them in it. 00:22:54.640 --> 00:23:00.960 And we'd be hard-pressed not to prove that some of them died in those Roman and Jewish prisons. 00:23:01.440 --> 00:23:07.759 He carried that kind of regret because he and he became a believer of the people he was persecuting. 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.240 And he tortured them. 00:23:10.559 --> 00:23:13.759 And yet he said, forgetting those things which lay behind. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:17.440 And by the way, in the Greek, it doesn't mean forget like you can't remember. 00:23:17.680 --> 00:23:24.400 You'd have to be, you know, you'd have to have Alzheimer's to forget some of the things that have happened to you. 00:23:24.559 --> 00:23:29.759 He's saying that the word means not being influenced by. 00:23:30.559 --> 00:23:33.119 Not being influenced by. 00:23:34.319 --> 00:23:35.519 God does it. 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:38.799 You know that God forgets your sins? 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:40.880 Here's what he says. 00:23:41.119 --> 00:23:45.599 Hebrews 10, 17, your sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:53.599 You know that the Lord says through Paul, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he's a new creation. 00:23:53.839 --> 00:23:55.680 Old things have passed away. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:58.400 Behold, all things have become new. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:00.720 Do you know that you have a new heart? 00:24:01.039 --> 00:24:09.200 Do you know that when you received Christ, He took that hardened heart and He gave you a spirit of flesh, He gave you a heart of flesh, that He gave you a tenderness you didn't have? 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:10.319 You have that. 00:24:10.640 --> 00:24:13.440 Now your spouse might say you don't, but you do. 00:24:14.160 --> 00:24:20.240 That's actually part of one of the messages that we give in the wilderness encounter is your new heart. 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:22.160 You've been given a new heart. 00:24:22.640 --> 00:24:25.599 You've got to start believing that you have a new heart. 00:24:26.400 --> 00:24:33.759 Because until you believe that, we live in the past that we tend to drive the bus looking in the rearview mirror. 00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:40.640 And in this particular passage, most commentators believe that what he's talking about is a chariot race. 00:24:40.880 --> 00:24:42.079 Not actually a running race. 00:24:42.160 --> 00:24:43.519 He's actually talking about a chariot race. 00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.559 Can you imagine a guy? 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:51.839 I don't know if you've seen any of the movies like Gladiator and stuff, but it's one guy in a little small platform. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:54.480 They believe it was about two by two feet. 00:24:54.720 --> 00:25:04.160 So about four square feet of platform with all these horses, sometimes as many as eight horses in front, and you're trying to direct that and you're constantly looking back. 00:25:04.559 --> 00:25:05.920 You see the danger of that? 00:25:06.079 --> 00:25:07.920 He's saying, don't look back. 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:11.200 You're a new creation in Christ. 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:14.000 The old has passed away. 00:25:14.319 --> 00:25:16.480 Quit lingering there. 00:25:17.920 --> 00:25:24.720 Now, many of you know that have been with us for a while, you know what a big believer I am in facing your past. 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:30.720 Because until you face it and deal with it, you can't be wholehearted. 00:25:30.960 --> 00:25:39.519 So there is a point where you face it, you release forgiveness, you begin to work that through, but then you're doing that because you want to move forward. 00:25:39.680 --> 00:25:40.559 Does that make sense? 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.359 You're doing that. 00:25:41.440 --> 00:25:51.680 You can either be tied down to it by constantly staring at it and blaming everybody, a lot of times yourself, or facing it because I'm moving toward the future. 00:25:51.839 --> 00:25:57.440 And so I'm going to work on this so that God can use me because I'm dissatisfied. 00:25:57.599 --> 00:26:06.799 I'm dissatisfied with where I'm at, and I've got these hang-ups and these habits in my life because of the past, but I want to break the influence of the past. 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.319 That's what he's saying. 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:12.720 So that I can walk in the power of the Holy Spirit moving forward. 00:26:13.279 --> 00:26:14.319 Verse 14. 00:26:14.480 --> 00:26:15.440 I press. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:17.440 I press, second time he says that. 00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:26.240 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 00:26:26.400 --> 00:26:27.519 Determination. 00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:33.200 An athlete doesn't become a champion without determination. 00:26:33.440 --> 00:26:41.200 A spirit-filled believer is not going to see God mightily work in their lives without determination. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:50.559 I don't know about you, but I think we signed up here at this church to not look like everybody else. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:52.559 We're outliers. 00:26:52.799 --> 00:26:57.920 That's why we named it Outlier University, which by the way starts in September. 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:00.079 Eight classes that we're doing. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:03.759 And I'm doing a class on Sunday nights at 5:30. 00:27:04.640 --> 00:27:06.319 More on that in a second. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:19.440 But this determination, this tenacity, this stictuativeness of wanting the power of God in our families. 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:24.559 In how we make decisions, praying about stuff, asking God. 00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:27.279 God, I need dreams and visions. 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:29.519 I need you to speak to me from the word. 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:33.359 Because let me tell you, folks, the easiest route is to do it. 00:27:33.440 --> 00:27:36.480 Everybody else just does because it's convenient. 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:45.839 And I can tell you from personal experience raising seven kids that personal convenience is usually wrong. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:49.039 Okay, you can take that one to the bank. 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:51.279 You can put that in your pipe and smoke it. 00:27:51.440 --> 00:27:52.799 Because here's what I believe. 00:27:52.960 --> 00:28:02.880 I believe that most of the time the reason most people are depressed, most people are struggling with all these areas of their life is because they just do what's convenient. 00:28:02.960 --> 00:28:07.599 And going the way of the Lord is usually not convenient. 00:28:08.640 --> 00:28:09.519 It's not. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:23.759 One word characterized Saint Teresa's personality. 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:25.359 It was determination. 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:36.640 One author said, once she had decided on a course of action, especially if she was convinced it was what God wanted of her, she would not be thwarted. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:41.759 Men and women, determination is huge. 00:28:41.920 --> 00:28:44.960 You're gonna have setbacks, you're gonna have failures. 00:28:46.640 --> 00:28:47.759 Take risks. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.000 Take risks. 00:28:51.039 --> 00:28:52.160 Take risk. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:55.759 Faith is spelled R-I-S-K. 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:57.599 Risk. 00:28:58.960 --> 00:29:01.920 And then lastly, verses 15 and 16. 00:29:03.200 --> 00:29:06.960 Therefore, let us, as many as are mature, have this mind. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:13.039 And if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 00:29:13.440 --> 00:29:22.079 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. 00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:25.680 Lastly, discipline. 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:35.440 I mean, we can have dissatisfaction and we can have devotion and we can have direction and we can have determination, but if we don't have discipline, it doesn't go anywhere. 00:29:35.680 --> 00:29:39.519 And I'm talking about the discipline of getting up early and spending time with the Lord. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:42.880 If you're not in God's word, you're not going to know God's will. 00:29:43.119 --> 00:29:46.319 If you're not in God's word, you're not going to know God's will. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:53.359 95% of everything you need to know about God and his will is found right here. 00:29:53.920 --> 00:29:56.400 Don't need a revelation of Gabriel. 00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:58.160 You don't need Gabriel coming to you. 00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:02.079 You don't need Moses looking like Charlton Heston walking in the room. 00:30:02.319 --> 00:30:04.559 You don't need visions and dreams all the time. 00:30:04.799 --> 00:30:05.519 It's right here. 00:30:05.680 --> 00:30:08.960 95% of everything we know is right here. 00:30:09.839 --> 00:30:20.240 So the discipline of the interior that leads to the discovery of the destiny on the exterior is discipline spending time with God. 00:30:21.039 --> 00:30:22.799 That's the first one thing. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.640 That's the first one thing. 00:30:24.880 --> 00:30:32.799 And then God's going to give you, as you walk with Him, something that He's called you to do that's unique to you. 00:30:33.200 --> 00:30:34.960 Because there's a be and a do. 00:30:36.079 --> 00:30:43.680 And I know for my wife, the biggest, I think Liz would say that the most important thing in her destiny has been to disciple our kids. 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:46.079 That's the most important thing. 00:30:46.240 --> 00:30:50.640 Nothing gets in the way of her discipling our kids. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.200 So discipline. 00:30:53.440 --> 00:30:58.640 So on, I don't know, I think September 16th, which is the opening day. 00:30:58.720 --> 00:31:01.279 That's the opening day of the church season, by the way. 00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:05.119 We'll be throwing out Cracker Jacks and, you know, peanuts. 00:31:05.359 --> 00:31:08.240 But opening day is September 16th at the road. 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:14.160 And that night at 5:30, I'm going to start teaching a class called Fire Within. 00:31:14.400 --> 00:31:18.240 Fire within, the disciplines of a worshiper and warrior. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.599 It's for men and women. 00:31:19.680 --> 00:31:20.720 It's for young people. 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:22.799 It's for older folks. 00:31:23.359 --> 00:31:29.920 What are those disciplines that enable us to walk in with this fire within? 00:31:30.079 --> 00:31:31.680 I'm going to talk about prayer walking. 00:31:31.759 --> 00:31:33.440 I'm going to talk about how to read the Bible. 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:35.200 I'm going to talk about how to meditate in the Bible. 00:31:35.279 --> 00:31:36.079 I'm going to talk about prayer. 00:31:36.160 --> 00:31:38.559 I'm talking about how to read how to pray the scriptures. 00:31:38.720 --> 00:31:39.920 We're going to talk about fasting. 00:31:40.079 --> 00:31:41.440 All those disciplines. 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:43.920 And that's at 5 30 on Sunday night. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:50.079 You've been listening to The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt. 00:31:50.559 --> 00:31:53.200 We hope you have been blessed by today's message. 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:57.279 To connect with us further, visit theroad.org. 00:31:57.519 --> 00:32:08.480 If you are walking through a difficult time and we want to pray for you, go to theroad.org, click on the ministries tab, and go to our prayer page to send us your prayer request. 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:10.720 Thanks again for tuning in today. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:16.640 Be sure to listen to the next edition of The Road with Pastor Teacher Steve Holt.