WEBVTT 00:00:00.190 --> 00:00:04.179 We're so glad that you've joined us today on the relevant church podcast. 00:00:04.540 --> 00:00:15.490 There's so much God wants to do in and through you as you listen to this message, if you want to learn more about relevant church, visit us online@thisisrelevant.cc. 00:00:18.879 --> 00:00:20.019 Thank you, bad everybody. 00:00:20.021 --> 00:00:22.239 Give a shout out to the band right behind us. 00:00:24.940 --> 00:00:29.050 Kaylin ed, we've had this running joke around relevant church. 00:00:29.050 --> 00:00:29.800 Where's Tiffany at? 00:00:29.800 --> 00:00:33.039 Tiffany wore this shirt, let's say killing it every day. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:35.140 Not every day. 00:00:35.140 --> 00:00:35.829 We're killing it. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:51.189 Earth day, and it was crazy because it was the beginning of our series called the amazing race and we talked about how we are all on a race, whether we are in a race by choice or we are on a race by default, but it doesn't matter. 00:00:51.191 --> 00:00:56.079 We go run our race and we going to kill it when earth day we go and kill it. 00:00:56.109 --> 00:00:56.950 Earth day. 00:00:57.369 --> 00:01:00.250 Hey, so listen, if this is your first time here, just want to say welcome home. 00:01:00.250 --> 00:01:00.960 My name is[inaudible]. 00:01:01.090 --> 00:01:04.269 I'm one of the servants here at relevant church and at relevant church. 00:01:04.280 --> 00:01:06.579 We really want to do one thing and one thing. 00:01:06.579 --> 00:01:20.409 Well we want to help everybody around us discover one important life changing game, changing race, changing fact that Jesus is relevant. 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:21.969 That's right. 00:01:22.090 --> 00:01:32.799 And because Jesus relevant, we want to create an atmosphere here where we learned to passionately follow Jesus, what we learned to love across boundaries and make a tangible difference in our community, region and world. 00:01:33.010 --> 00:01:34.659 And, and this is what we say around relevant. 00:01:34.719 --> 00:01:37.269 Hey we are, we are a growing church. 00:01:37.390 --> 00:01:39.519 We have not reached our shoe size yet. 00:01:39.609 --> 00:01:41.799 There's plenty of room at the table for you. 00:01:41.801 --> 00:01:45.849 So if you are looking for a home church, if you're kind of like, Hey, I'm just kinda checking things out. 00:01:45.909 --> 00:01:53.200 Maybe you saw the post on Facebook, maybe one of your friends invited you and you're like, Hey, I've always wanted to go see what's happening here at relevant church. 00:01:53.829 --> 00:01:57.519 Well today you're here and we want to say welcome home. 00:01:57.969 --> 00:02:03.519 If you are looking for a home church, we would love for you to join us on the journey and hang out with us. 00:02:03.521 --> 00:02:06.790 In fact, in a week, right in a week we have a starting point. 00:02:07.269 --> 00:02:17.139 So starting point is kind of one of the first steps to just get to know relevant church and get to meet some of the staff, get to hear some of the, the heartbeat and the vision and, and who we are as a church. 00:02:17.140 --> 00:02:19.210 So we'd love to invite you out to that. 00:02:19.780 --> 00:02:23.379 Um, I usually start off each message with kind of a shout up. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:27.819 And before I do, listen, if you're getting a little thirsty, we've got plenty of water bottles. 00:02:27.820 --> 00:02:29.620 We've got, I call it room temperature. 00:02:29.621 --> 00:02:31.270 It's actually outside temperature water. 00:02:31.840 --> 00:02:34.810 So if you're looking for some outside temperature water, we got some for you. 00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:38.289 We've got some cold water for you, some ice cold water for you. 00:02:38.620 --> 00:02:41.830 So if you want, want to go ahead and raise your hand and we'll get one to you. 00:02:42.189 --> 00:02:52.210 But usually like I start off the message with kind of like a shout out, um, just to give honor to where honors do see our churches about giving honor to where honors do. 00:02:52.211 --> 00:02:55.750 So this morning I want you guys to help me. 00:02:56.020 --> 00:03:03.080 Just make some noise and get some honor to crew that's been working here since 7:00 AM this morning. 00:03:03.500 --> 00:03:06.460 Come on, let's, let's get a little[inaudible]. 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:13.800 Listen, we got some amazing dedicated crew here at relevant church. 00:03:14.069 --> 00:03:15.689 Did he just say[inaudible] over there? 00:03:17.099 --> 00:03:18.240 Yeah, yeah. 00:03:18.750 --> 00:03:19.830 John the drummer. 00:03:20.729 --> 00:03:21.000 Love that guy. 00:03:21.001 --> 00:03:21.930 So much energy. 00:03:22.169 --> 00:03:28.710 But yeah, we went through some hardships this morning, so y'all were supposed to be on that backlog over there. 00:03:28.889 --> 00:03:40.590 We had it set up all the way facing that way and then sprinkler said, and we're like, man, we can't let them folk sit off and wet grass even though some of y'all opted to this, all white guys, it's all good. 00:03:40.889 --> 00:03:43.139 But we wanted to create a space where you guys were comfortable. 00:03:43.140 --> 00:03:49.229 So you gotta you caught us in the middle of a flip as we're flipping the stage, flipping everything. 00:03:49.230 --> 00:03:52.169 So Hey, we're so glad you guys are here. 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:55.800 And uh, before I jump into the message, let me just go ahead and pray real quick. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:04:01.409 Just want to spend a few times just going through, uh, this amazing text and we've just been going through. 00:04:01.409 --> 00:04:01.919 So let's pray. 00:04:02.129 --> 00:04:02.460 Work with God. 00:04:02.461 --> 00:04:04.020 Thank you so much for bringing us here today. 00:04:04.409 --> 00:04:11.340 God, we ask that your Holy spirit will, will, will meet us here, speak to us, allow this word to speak to us tangibly. 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:21.449 Transformationally and so Lord, that weekend as we do come as we are, but we can leave greater and we ask all these things in your son's name, Jesus Christ. 00:04:21.451 --> 00:04:24.360 And everybody said amen. 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:26.189 So like I said, we're wrapping up a series. 00:04:26.190 --> 00:04:33.180 This is part four of a series called the amazing racist, but really fun series to do. 00:04:33.930 --> 00:04:40.290 Um, it's been interactive, so it's taken our whole mind, body, and spirit throughout the week. 00:04:40.350 --> 00:04:43.500 We've been doing challenges at church in the middle of church. 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:44.459 We've been doing challenges. 00:04:44.461 --> 00:04:50.550 I mean, we were up pull ups in church and we were drinking, uh, exercise shakes or whatever it was. 00:04:50.699 --> 00:04:52.980 There was a lot of crazy things that we did. 00:04:53.100 --> 00:04:56.519 We made church for let's say, here's a pill at relevant. 00:04:56.579 --> 00:05:00.180 We take God seriously, but we don't take ourselves too seriously. 00:05:00.449 --> 00:05:02.189 So, so we like to have fun. 00:05:02.220 --> 00:05:07.470 So in the first message we discovered something that I shared earlier, that we're all in a race. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:11.879 Every single one of us is in a race, whether by choice or by default. 00:05:11.880 --> 00:05:12.779 And how do I know? 00:05:13.019 --> 00:05:23.730 Because racists have a beginning and raises have an end and in life you were born and there's going to be a time where you won't be born anymore. 00:05:25.680 --> 00:05:31.949 And so you seek to be born and um, we want to finish strong. 00:05:32.279 --> 00:05:36.000 Every single one of us here wants to finish life strong. 00:05:36.000 --> 00:05:41.819 So whether we're in a race by choice, some of us are in the race of marriage, some of us are in the race of parenting. 00:05:41.910 --> 00:05:43.800 Some of us are in the race of our careers. 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:44.579 Education. 00:05:44.790 --> 00:05:48.360 Everybody is in a race by choice or by default. 00:05:48.389 --> 00:05:55.980 And because we're in a race by choice or by default, we realize that the algorithm of this world is to pull you back to average. 00:05:56.819 --> 00:06:00.060 How of you guys know that it's better to just sit and do nothing? 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:01.829 Sometimes it's like I just don't want to do anything. 00:06:01.980 --> 00:06:10.079 Here's the reality is if you're like me, Netflix and a bowl of ice cream is perfect, it's perfect. 00:06:10.410 --> 00:06:12.329 The algorithm of life was to pull you back. 00:06:12.331 --> 00:06:22.920 In fact, the algorithm of life wants to destroy your rates, but we discovered that when you make a decision to follow Jesus Christ, scripture says those who are born in Christ are a new creation. 00:06:23.610 --> 00:06:24.779 All things become new. 00:06:24.781 --> 00:06:26.639 Everything past becomes old. 00:06:26.790 --> 00:06:34.050 Listen, Oh, we just discovered that we are designed with the new DNA and our DNA is designed to be designed to win. 00:06:34.050 --> 00:06:37.439 So if we're going to be in a race, we got to compete, not concede. 00:06:38.129 --> 00:06:39.509 We got to compete, not can see. 00:06:39.600 --> 00:06:44.370 And then the second message we talked about how sometimes it gets, it gets tough while you're running. 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:52.980 Anybody has done like a marathon or the mud runner or whatever it is you're running and you get tired. 00:06:53.459 --> 00:06:57.660 And there are times where you just want to quit and you've got to remind yourself, why am I running? 00:06:57.661 --> 00:07:07.199 And some of us are in here today and maybe you haven't been here for the whole series, but you're in that zone right now in your life where you're like, I don't even know why I'm running anymore. 00:07:07.230 --> 00:07:09.149 I don't know why I get up every single day. 00:07:09.420 --> 00:07:11.699 I don't know why I'm in this relationship anymore. 00:07:11.819 --> 00:07:20.459 And the reality is if we don't know our why, it's easy to get distracted if we don't know our why, it's easy to quit. 00:07:21.269 --> 00:07:24.689 So we discovered in the second message that you got to start with the vision. 00:07:25.230 --> 00:07:32.220 Start with the visit of the scripture that says, write the vision, make it plain that you will run when you read it and you won't fit. 00:07:33.120 --> 00:07:34.829 Which brought us to last week's message. 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:46.259 Last week we were, we're in this series again where we've broken up now into four teams as a church and we've recognized that your team matters, your team matters. 00:07:46.819 --> 00:07:56.129 The people who are running alongside and you're the people who you're running alongside and the people who ran before you, the people who are gonna run after you, they all matter. 00:07:56.160 --> 00:07:59.279 And we realize that my team affects my race. 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:06.720 And Jim Rohn said this, he popularized the statement, he says, you are the average of the five people closest to you. 00:08:08.399 --> 00:08:11.459 And some of us are wondering why we are stuttering on our race. 00:08:11.459 --> 00:08:20.490 Maybe we need to look at the team we're running with and some of us need to really take a look and see how we are affecting the team that we're running with. 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.730 And maybe it's not them effecting us. 00:08:23.730 --> 00:08:25.230 Maybe it's us affecting them. 00:08:25.350 --> 00:08:32.039 And so we realize that because my actions impact somebody else, I need to make sure that I'm setting the pace. 00:08:32.730 --> 00:08:42.269 I'm setting a pace so that when I hand off the Baton, when I'm running alongside with somebody, I can set the pace and pass the Baton hot. 00:08:43.889 --> 00:08:45.240 We want to pass the Baton high. 00:08:45.509 --> 00:08:47.309 When we know that we're running a relay. 00:08:48.090 --> 00:08:53.070 It doesn't matter how fast you are, what matters is the person who ran right before you. 00:08:54.269 --> 00:08:59.799 So for some of us, our, our race has been delayed because the people who ran before us slowed us down. 00:09:00.789 --> 00:09:02.320 But he is a reality in life. 00:09:02.350 --> 00:09:14.440 You've got to set, set the trajectory for the future, and you can set the pace for the people who would come in after you, which brings us to today's message. 00:09:14.769 --> 00:09:17.860 All these messages are online, would love for you to go and check them out. 00:09:18.429 --> 00:09:20.049 And I'm in a race, y'all. 00:09:20.950 --> 00:09:27.789 I'm in a race that I've not really been when I'm gonna tell you what race I'm at. 00:09:28.360 --> 00:09:30.039 I'm in the weight loss rates. 00:09:31.779 --> 00:09:37.330 I've been saying, everybody has heard me say I'm trying to lose weight. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:39.370 That's a lie. 00:09:40.269 --> 00:09:41.230 I'm not trying. 00:09:42.370 --> 00:09:43.720 I hope to lose weight. 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:46.120 I wish I lost weight. 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:51.580 But the reality is I am not running this race like I should. 00:09:52.330 --> 00:09:54.220 Um, I checked the scale from the beginning of the year. 00:09:54.340 --> 00:09:56.500 I'm like, listen, I wanna I want to lose weight. 00:09:56.740 --> 00:09:59.230 This, this year, everything is going to be really good. 00:10:00.100 --> 00:10:00.340 It's all right. 00:10:00.341 --> 00:10:02.379 That's just the Holy spirit saying, yeah, keep going, preacher. 00:10:02.559 --> 00:10:03.429 Preach your brother. 00:10:05.110 --> 00:10:11.649 But from the beginning he has been saying, man, I need, I need to lose some weight and yo, I lost negative 11 pounds. 00:10:14.679 --> 00:10:16.210 Somebody's going to catch that when they're going home today. 00:10:17.379 --> 00:10:22.240 I lost negative 11 about, I gained 11 pounds this year. 00:10:23.529 --> 00:10:24.340 It's okay. 00:10:24.341 --> 00:10:25.059 Thank you, Rhonda. 00:10:25.240 --> 00:10:25.289 Thank you. 00:10:25.291 --> 00:10:26.080 I got some support. 00:10:26.200 --> 00:10:27.580 My wife still loves all of this. 00:10:27.581 --> 00:10:28.029 Goodness. 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:29.139 Come on. 00:10:31.330 --> 00:10:40.269 But it was so crazy because how many of you guys know when you put on like a pair of jeans, when they come out of the washer, pulled on a pair of pants, when they come out of the walls, come out of the dry, whatever. 00:10:40.299 --> 00:10:41.169 They're a little snug. 00:10:41.171 --> 00:10:42.250 They're a little tight, right? 00:10:42.490 --> 00:10:44.620 And so all you gotta do is break them in a little bit, right? 00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:45.549 You're breaking mic. 00:10:45.789 --> 00:10:46.990 So you're breaking your pants. 00:10:47.169 --> 00:10:49.750 You're, yeah, you're walking around, you're like, okay, cool. 00:10:49.840 --> 00:10:55.090 And then, uh, for most guys, if you're like me, listen, I don't, I'm not going to mess up my jeans that easy. 00:10:55.120 --> 00:10:59.049 So what I'll do as I was folding back and I'll put them up and I'll wear them the next time. 00:10:59.169 --> 00:11:04.990 And how many of you guys know when you put on the jeans for the second time, they're a little looser than they were when you first put them on. 00:11:05.950 --> 00:11:06.940 That didn't happen to me. 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:16.990 I went to put on the teens that I broke it in all day, like two days later I got in and there were tighter than they were when I first tried to put them on out the wash. 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:19.509 that's a problem. 00:11:20.889 --> 00:11:24.580 I realize portion control is not my spiritual gift. 00:11:26.620 --> 00:11:28.480 Listen, I love to eat. 00:11:29.080 --> 00:11:30.610 I love to graze. 00:11:31.210 --> 00:11:35.799 If you leave food around, listen, all of y'all follow my Facebook posts or anything like that. 00:11:36.009 --> 00:11:50.200 My bout a week ago, I was hungry on a Saturday in the office and the worst thing you can do in our offices is leave food because I'll find it and I'll eat it and thank you, a lupus for your ministry and giving me all the food in your office. 00:11:50.201 --> 00:11:51.399 He's got a fridge in his office. 00:11:51.400 --> 00:11:53.019 There was like tortilla as they did all. 00:11:53.299 --> 00:11:59.750 I went ham, so I discovered that I have a real problem with portion control. 00:11:59.750 --> 00:12:03.139 So this week I was traveling and I was out of state and I was really hungry. 00:12:03.140 --> 00:12:11.419 I was famous and we went to a fast food restaurant because my friend's son wanted some McDonald's and I was just like, man, I really shouldn't eat this McDonald's but I'm really happy. 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:14.029 And he's like, dude, I know you've been talking about you want us to lose some weight. 00:12:14.090 --> 00:12:15.230 How about we go get something? 00:12:15.590 --> 00:12:16.029 It helped people. 00:12:16.049 --> 00:12:18.110 I'm like, but I'm hungry now. 00:12:19.309 --> 00:12:20.659 I just eat something now. 00:12:21.230 --> 00:12:34.759 So I ordered some McDonald's and shout out to anybody who works at McDonald's, not hating on you, but those fries did not do well with me from that on his set, the trajectory of that tire week and it was just like earlier, right? 00:12:35.360 --> 00:12:40.940 And but the crazy thing is instead of saying, okay, I ate this, I need to watch what I eat after this. 00:12:41.059 --> 00:12:43.730 What did I continue to do in junk for the rest of the week? 00:12:44.870 --> 00:12:48.230 And I'm telling the people, man, I need to lose some weight as I eat this cake. 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:57.139 And then the crazy thing though, somebody in the office who is a fitness instructor at the office I was in and she was looking at me, she was like, you know, you're not going to lose weight like that. 00:12:57.169 --> 00:12:58.460 I'm like, don't judge me girl. 00:12:58.820 --> 00:13:00.169 Only the Lord can judge me. 00:13:03.169 --> 00:13:09.950 But here's the deal I discovered when it comes to food, when it comes to the race of weight loss, I have no self control. 00:13:10.970 --> 00:13:30.710 I have no self control and if we're honest, for some of us we are running races where we are undisciplined, we're running racist where we have no self control, but there's a group of individuals in this life who have self control, who got disciplined, who are incredibly all sematic and it's athletes. 00:13:31.519 --> 00:13:33.830 Athletes have incredible self-control. 00:13:33.860 --> 00:13:38.629 If you've ever been an athlete and you've been running your race as an athlete, thank you, thank you, thank you. 00:13:38.730 --> 00:13:40.669 You will discover like, man, you know what? 00:13:41.389 --> 00:13:43.909 I've gotta be self controlled to have activity. 00:13:43.970 --> 00:13:45.559 Even the Bible talks about it. 00:13:47.389 --> 00:13:48.799 I wish I had it on the screen. 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:56.029 I'm not going to lie, I forgot to put it up, but there's a text in first Corinthians nine 24 it's just the trajectory of the day. 00:13:56.029 --> 00:13:56.720 It's all good. 00:13:58.639 --> 00:14:14.149 In first Corinthians nine 24 through 27 this is the text we've kinda been at and the writer Paul is writing this to a church that he planted and he says this, do you not know that in a race all the runners run but only one receives the prize. 00:14:14.779 --> 00:14:26.110 So run that you may have tainted every athlete exercises, self-control in all things, athletes, exercise, self control and all things. 00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:31.360 He's writing to a group of individuals who have what's called the Isthmian games taking place. 00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:34.779 There were the only other games as popular as the Olympic games. 00:14:34.780 --> 00:14:36.100 This is like way back in the day. 00:14:36.980 --> 00:14:43.370 So he's using this terminology of athletes and athleticism because this is taking place right now. 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:50.179 Like they are seeing these athletes go so they can tangibly see what an athlete is doing to, to train for the race. 00:14:50.181 --> 00:14:55.850 They're out there watching games, they're out there seeing people, uh, sweat and do all their hard work. 00:14:55.909 --> 00:14:57.110 And so he's like, you know what? 00:14:57.169 --> 00:15:20.509 The race of life, the race of ministry, the race of your marriage, the race of everything around you, it's founded on self control, says every athlete exercise is self control in everything, and in the context here, he's talking about how he's had to exercise self-control to be a minister, to be a pastor. 00:15:20.510 --> 00:15:29.690 That's the context in which he's writing this ed, and I don't know if you guys knew, I don't know if there's any pastors or foreign pastors in the audience, but it takes self-control to be a pastor. 00:15:31.309 --> 00:15:37.220 I see somebody who just shook their head and said, yup, because when you're a pastor, you hear things. 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:39.529 People say stuff to you. 00:15:41.590 --> 00:15:45.919 Then you want to respond in a certain way and you just smile. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.049 Praise God. 00:15:49.009 --> 00:15:50.419 Oh hallelujah. 00:15:50.450 --> 00:15:51.860 Praying for you in your head. 00:15:51.860 --> 00:15:53.149 You're like, man, I can't stand you. 00:15:53.150 --> 00:15:54.289 I want to smack you upside your head. 00:15:55.580 --> 00:15:56.149 Stop it. 00:15:56.179 --> 00:15:58.950 You're whining quit. 00:15:59.419 --> 00:16:00.440 It's your fault. 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:09.769 It's like you've got to exercise the self control to be administered and a pastor and Paul is saying, listen, every athlete exercises self-control. 00:16:09.889 --> 00:16:10.879 Earlier in the text. 00:16:10.880 --> 00:16:12.830 He says it like this, talking about him, sir. 00:16:12.831 --> 00:16:26.559 First Corinthians nine I'm 19 he says, for though I am free from all men, I think we've got a tech support for though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all. 00:16:26.561 --> 00:16:31.960 In fact, in other Texas says, I've made myself a slave to all that. 00:16:31.961 --> 00:16:37.539 I may win more, meaning I may win more people to the message of the gospel. 00:16:38.230 --> 00:16:39.220 Let me ask you a question. 00:16:39.279 --> 00:16:43.360 In your race, no one's making you run the race. 00:16:43.450 --> 00:16:45.669 I guarantee you the races that you're renting. 00:16:45.671 --> 00:16:48.340 For many of you, you chose the race that you're in. 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:54.789 Are you committed to your own race even though you're free to do whatever you want? 00:16:55.120 --> 00:17:01.139 Have you made yourself a slave in a servant to the commitment of your race? 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:03.750 Are you that committed? 00:17:04.710 --> 00:17:08.039 Are you that self control when the challenges of life comes? 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:14.279 Are you that committed to win that you made yourself a slave to the process? 00:17:17.369 --> 00:17:22.880 He says, every athlete exercises, kelp, self-control. 00:17:22.881 --> 00:17:23.210 Listen. 00:17:23.211 --> 00:17:26.420 Point number one, if you want to follow along, I'm gonna go through these points really quickly. 00:17:27.410 --> 00:17:32.390 Point number one is how I live will directly impact how I compete. 00:17:33.859 --> 00:17:37.549 How I live with directly impacts how I compete. 00:17:37.640 --> 00:17:46.549 Everybody knows then my actions will affect the reactions that I see around me. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:52.029 Eh, we live this life. 00:17:52.059 --> 00:17:56.170 One thing that you can know, I know for certain, for myself, I am my worst enemy. 00:17:57.960 --> 00:17:59.160 I can get in my own way. 00:17:59.161 --> 00:18:01.920 I can talk myself out of almost anything in life. 00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:04.319 Very reasonable. 00:18:04.329 --> 00:18:05.910 I'll never do a triathlon 00:18:06.890 --> 00:18:06.890 [inaudible] 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:09.809 because I don't believe in self torture 00:18:11.390 --> 00:18:14.990 to get your body in shape, to get your mind ready to do a triathlon. 00:18:15.140 --> 00:18:16.849 There's so much that has to go. 00:18:16.910 --> 00:18:19.009 You've got to be a slave to the process. 00:18:19.099 --> 00:18:20.779 Anybody here ever done the tar Avalara? 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:26.390 Anybody ever has done a marathon that is taking everything out of you? 00:18:26.391 --> 00:18:27.619 I know Rhonda, you're out there, right? 00:18:27.621 --> 00:18:29.839 You did that little mud runner or whatever their thing is. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:35.150 It took so much just to get ready to do that and every athlete 00:18:36.730 --> 00:18:38.980 has to understand self-control. 00:18:38.980 --> 00:18:44.920 Anybody who's watched the NBA or anything recognizes co-PI's work ethic, black mob. 00:18:44.950 --> 00:18:49.119 Everybody was like, yo, Kelly's one of the greatest F uh, players in the NBA. 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:49.539 Why? 00:18:49.540 --> 00:18:54.880 Because his self controlling his work ethic was ridiculous. 00:18:55.279 --> 00:19:01.069 He realized how he lived well impacts how he competed, how he lived, impacted how he played. 00:19:01.070 --> 00:19:08.079 So they say that Colby would get to the gym at four o'clock in the morning and then afterwards, uh, they would go to practice. 00:19:08.080 --> 00:19:10.329 And when everybody's like, man, we're done with practice. 00:19:10.330 --> 00:19:11.230 We're about to go hang out. 00:19:11.740 --> 00:19:19.089 Colby would stay in the gym for another three hours working out because he recognized how he lived will affect how he competes. 00:19:20.730 --> 00:19:25.500 Plato said this, the great philosopher and somebody needs to hear this for themselves. 00:19:25.500 --> 00:19:29.819 The first and best victory is to conquer self. 00:19:31.230 --> 00:19:34.140 We discovered that the race that we're running isn't a race against people. 00:19:34.141 --> 00:19:35.640 It's a race against ourselves. 00:19:36.420 --> 00:19:37.859 It's a race against our will. 00:19:37.861 --> 00:19:41.579 It's a race against the things that would pull us back in life. 00:19:41.609 --> 00:19:46.920 And then he goes on to say this, he says, every athlete exercises, self-control, all things they do what to receive. 00:19:46.921 --> 00:19:49.319 A pair of seborrheic, but we an imperishable. 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:49.720 Okay. 00:19:52.119 --> 00:19:52.630 There are Marine. 00:19:52.660 --> 00:20:02.200 Literally he's saying that when people ran these Isthmian games, what they got was a crowd of celery leaves around their head and he said, these people, okay, 00:20:02.259 --> 00:20:11.269 punish their bodies, work so hard to get some celery leaves around their head and it goes that way. 00:20:11.270 --> 00:20:16.670 Sometimes in life we feel like we're working so hard for things that ultimately whither away. 00:20:17.690 --> 00:20:19.910 We realize that we can't hold onto life. 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:21.890 We can't hold onto our breadth. 00:20:21.950 --> 00:20:23.450 We can't hold onto our money. 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:29.150 We can't hold on to anything because everything in this world fades away eventually. 00:20:29.210 --> 00:20:29.990 Yeah. 00:20:31.849 --> 00:20:35.869 He says they're doing it for a crown of celery leaves. 00:20:35.871 --> 00:20:43.700 They're doing it for imperishable reads, but we do it for an appears shovel. 00:20:44.869 --> 00:20:47.920 The race that we're running is for a crown, 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:53.980 a prize that is never going to fade away again, going back, that's why I wouldn't do a triathlon. 00:20:55.299 --> 00:21:07.849 I would do a triathlon if they said, after you win this, try the, after you subject your body so deeply to this process, you are going to earn health every. 00:21:08.089 --> 00:21:09.740 You will never be sick again. 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:12.319 I'll run a triathlon who was running a triathlon with me. 00:21:12.320 --> 00:21:13.640 Like we'll be in there. 00:21:14.029 --> 00:21:14.660 I'm going with it. 00:21:16.220 --> 00:21:22.730 If they said, listen, you will never have any money issues for the rest of your life. 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:24.890 Money will never run dry. 00:21:25.250 --> 00:21:26.359 I would run a triathlon. 00:21:27.369 --> 00:21:27.859 Yeah, yeah. 00:21:29.069 --> 00:21:32.940 Listen, if they told me your kids won't behave, I'm signing up. 00:21:34.230 --> 00:21:34.589 I'm with it. 00:21:34.590 --> 00:21:35.039 Let's go. 00:21:35.040 --> 00:21:35.880 What do I need to do? 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:40.079 Come on, I'm running this race. 00:21:42.549 --> 00:22:00.430 But Paul says, listen, the race that we run as people who believe in Jesus Christ, people who believe in God, people who want to commit to this race called life, uh, living with Christ, living inside of you, the race that you're running goes far beyond what you see every single day. 00:22:01.809 --> 00:22:09.039 Your race ultimately leads to a prize that is going to be impossible, one that will never go away. 00:22:09.069 --> 00:22:17.319 So whatever you do, whatever you eat or wherever you are, do everything to the glory of God. 00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:22.900 First Corinthians 10 1331 he says, so whether you eat or drink 00:22:23.029 --> 00:22:26.180 or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 00:22:26.210 --> 00:22:27.799 Because here's the reality. 00:22:27.829 --> 00:22:31.819 The race that you're running, you may think it's for you, but what did we discover last week? 00:22:31.849 --> 00:22:32.839 It's not about you. 00:22:32.950 --> 00:22:33.920 Yeah, 00:22:34.430 --> 00:22:37.009 your race is foreign you, but it's not about you. 00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:39.230 Your race impacts everybody around you. 00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:43.420 You're raised, we'll leave either a legacy of fruitfulness or a 00:22:45.549 --> 00:22:50.500 legacy of failed hopes of failed dreams. 00:22:54.109 --> 00:22:59.869 So we recognize that everything we do matters how we exercise. 00:23:00.170 --> 00:23:01.279 Self control matters. 00:23:02.059 --> 00:23:06.980 Because point number two, my reward is an earthly, it's eternal. 00:23:07.109 --> 00:23:07.930 Yeah. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.509 Yeah. 00:23:09.990 --> 00:23:12.480 Uh, my phage reward is not earthly. 00:23:12.509 --> 00:23:13.349 It's eternal. 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:19.069 Uh, the marriage reward for those who are married is not earthly. 00:23:19.070 --> 00:23:19.819 It's eternal. 00:23:19.849 --> 00:23:23.630 In fact, they say marriage is symbolic of Christ in the church. 00:23:23.730 --> 00:23:31.220 It's going to last forever in terms of the fruit that you're developing in this relationship is going to be a relationship that goes on into eternity. 00:23:31.250 --> 00:23:33.440 You won't be married in heaven, but you know what? 00:23:33.519 --> 00:23:36.220 You will receive the rewards of faithfulness. 00:23:37.049 --> 00:23:37.049 Yeah. 00:23:38.299 --> 00:23:39.619 The faith of your health, 00:23:41.539 --> 00:23:46.390 the race of your[inaudible], your health is not just earthly. 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.200 It's eternal. 00:23:47.230 --> 00:24:02.670 Because we know that even though our bodies will be changed, Lou will live in eternity with Jesus like Jesus, and as we know Jesus has maintained his body, it'll be imperishable. 00:24:02.671 --> 00:24:06.750 We won't get sick, we won't die, but we will take it with us into eternity. 00:24:06.869 --> 00:24:09.240 How are you running the race that you're running? 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:12.059 Are you running it for now or you're running it for the future? 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.650 Are you, are you living for today? 00:24:15.690 --> 00:24:17.390 Are you living for eternity? 00:24:20.700 --> 00:24:25.710 He goes on in verse 27 the last verse, so we ain't, he says, but I discipline my body and keep it under control. 00:24:27.589 --> 00:24:28.759 I disciplined my body. 00:24:28.760 --> 00:24:38.900 Literally this word discipline that he means he, it's symbolically, it's, it's, it literally is saying that like, I beat my body into submission. 00:24:40.369 --> 00:24:46.309 Now, some people have taken this practice and gone away over, boy, you know how super religious people, they're like, Oh, you beat your body. 00:24:46.339 --> 00:24:47.089 Okay, so I'm gonna love it. 00:24:47.090 --> 00:24:49.400 You wake up in the morning, beat my body to submission. 00:24:49.549 --> 00:24:50.630 No, it doesn't mean that. 00:24:52.329 --> 00:24:54.230 It means did. 00:24:54.230 --> 00:24:58.970 I'm willing to go through whatever for the sake of the prize. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:04.859 I'm willing to be subjected to whatever for the sake of winning this race. 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:19.980 I'm a willing to allow myself to endure extreme demands for purpose and, and Paul is speaking like a pastor and listen, Hey, if you want us to know what it's like to be a pastor, read Paul stuff. 00:25:20.009 --> 00:25:29.279 If you've got a pass, if you go to church, if you go to a relevant church and want to know what it is to be a pastor, read this cause he's like, listen, I endure the hardships of ministry. 00:25:30.589 --> 00:25:32.569 That's really what he's talking about for himself. 00:25:32.599 --> 00:25:33.920 That's the race that he's running. 00:25:33.950 --> 00:25:36.170 He says, listen, I get disappointed. 00:25:36.230 --> 00:25:40.369 People come into the church and they say, I love you Paul, and you're a great pastor. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.619 And then two seconds later they said, I hate you. 00:25:42.650 --> 00:25:43.730 You don't teach the gospel. 00:25:43.730 --> 00:25:47.059 And they walk out the door and you preach the same exact thing that you preach all the term. 00:25:49.619 --> 00:25:51.869 He was like, Hey, I think you're, you're, you're a great minister. 00:25:51.871 --> 00:25:53.490 I loved the mission and vision of this church. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:56.640 And then they'd come up with their own ideas and say, but I feel like we should do this. 00:25:56.641 --> 00:25:58.289 And you're like, no, we got to stick to the vision. 00:25:58.380 --> 00:26:00.119 And it's how I can't stand for the vision of this church. 00:26:00.121 --> 00:26:00.630 I gotta leave. 00:26:03.569 --> 00:26:09.539 Uh, you have to deal with sometimes giving up, uh, resources just so that you can keep the vision for. 00:26:09.630 --> 00:26:14.460 And he's like, listen, I endure whatever to make sure that I win this race. 00:26:14.549 --> 00:26:15.720 And let me ask you this. 00:26:15.809 --> 00:26:20.730 Are you willing to allow your body and your life to be beat in submission? 00:26:20.730 --> 00:26:26.670 Not physically, but sometimes emotionally just so bad you can win this race. 00:26:28.259 --> 00:26:30.619 If you've ever entered entrepreneurship, you will know. 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:32.519 Being an entrepreneur is hard. 00:26:33.059 --> 00:26:36.599 If you ever been a student, you know that being a student is hard. 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:40.680 If you've ever been married, you can pick anything in this life 00:26:41.049 --> 00:26:45.240 and you will endure hardship and trial and toil. 00:26:45.779 --> 00:26:46.319 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:50.509 Are you willing to make yourself a servant to the process? 00:26:54.359 --> 00:26:57.059 And this is true about athletes. 00:26:57.060 --> 00:26:59.009 Athletes give up what's good to accomplish. 00:26:59.010 --> 00:26:59.579 What's great 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:01.240 [inaudible] 00:27:01.490 --> 00:27:05.329 are you willing in your life to give up what's good so you can accomplish what's great? 00:27:07.299 --> 00:27:11.740 Are you willing to give up what you think is good and accomplish what's great? 00:27:11.769 --> 00:27:13.000 Because here's the reality. 00:27:13.059 --> 00:27:19.180 Many of us would rather die in comfort than thrive beyond uncertainty. 00:27:19.730 --> 00:27:19.730 Whoa. 00:27:21.609 --> 00:27:30.099 Many of us want to stay exactly where we are because it's safe because it's familiar and you're wondering why I'm living life in this dysfunctional statement. 00:27:30.101 --> 00:27:48.950 But the reality is if you would just enter the race of uncertainty and press forward and allow yourself to go through the hardship and the try on the reality that are gonna come your way anyway, there's a hope on the other side of uncertainty. 00:27:50.089 --> 00:28:00.960 And so this is my last point that I want to share with you, is the here, give me a little background to accomplish something I've never thought I would. 00:28:02.549 --> 00:28:05.220 I've gotta be willing to do something. 00:28:05.759 --> 00:28:10.740 I never thought I could accomplish something. 00:28:10.920 --> 00:28:12.630 I never thought I would. 00:28:13.559 --> 00:28:17.579 I've got to be willing to do something I never thought I could. 00:28:18.289 --> 00:28:18.289 Yeah. 00:28:18.290 --> 00:28:18.809 Yeah. 00:28:19.630 --> 00:28:22.210 Every single one of us has that in our lives. 00:28:23.769 --> 00:28:28.000 Everybody has things that we want to do with the accomplishments that we want to reach. 00:28:28.059 --> 00:28:29.440 For some of us, it's our faith. 00:28:29.441 --> 00:28:31.329 I want us to grow deeper in the word. 00:28:31.549 --> 00:28:34.180 I want to grow deeper in the relationship with my children. 00:28:34.181 --> 00:28:43.359 I want to go deeper with the relationship with my friends that I would have graduated high school with a 4.0 I want to graduate college with a 4.0 I want to pursue a business. 00:28:43.450 --> 00:28:44.680 I want to do this thing. 00:28:44.681 --> 00:28:46.029 I don't know if I could. 00:28:48.569 --> 00:28:51.200 I don't know if I'll ever be able to make it. 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:58.710 Are you willing to do the very thing that you never thought you could to get to the place that you never thought you would? 00:29:00.720 --> 00:29:02.460 What are you willing to sacrifice? 00:29:03.930 --> 00:29:05.519 What are you willing to push past? 00:29:06.930 --> 00:29:07.630 What did what? 00:29:07.640 --> 00:29:09.359 What Hills are you willing to climb? 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:13.220 What valleys are you willing to place yourself in subjection to? 00:29:21.289 --> 00:29:22.579 I don't know what it is for you 00:29:25.079 --> 00:29:25.079