1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,720 I hope you had a good week. 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:04,320 I hope you enjoyed the fourth. 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,440 If you made anything explode, I hope you were safe. 4 00:00:11,780 --> 00:00:14,840 We had so much going on in our neighborhood 5 00:00:14,840 --> 00:00:18,920 all the way up to, I don't know, even 1 a.m. or so. 6 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,960 It sounded, it was rather loud. 7 00:00:21,960 --> 00:00:23,440 My dog was not happy. 8 00:00:24,420 --> 00:00:27,040 We weren't happy past about 10 o'clock. 9 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:29,860 That's kind of where it should end, 10 00:00:29,860 --> 00:00:31,800 but I am grateful. 11 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:34,320 I thank God that we live in a country 12 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:36,680 where we can enjoy freedoms 13 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,920 such as the one that we're exercising right now, 14 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,560 where we can gather as a people who believe in a God 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:48,400 who loves us, and that the Saturday morning Sabbath 16 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:50,680 is when he has asked us in a special way 17 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:54,880 to come together and worship him, to recognize him. 18 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,680 I encourage you that while we have these freedoms, 19 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,600 while we are blessed with them, 20 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:00,720 exercise them. 21 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:05,080 It's a good thing to do, and I am thankful 22 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:07,840 that we are blessed to live in this country. 23 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,780 Not perfect, I praise God for it anyways. 24 00:01:11,940 --> 00:01:15,840 We are going to look at and consider 25 00:01:15,840 --> 00:01:19,260 two of my favorite topics today. 26 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,320 We are going to consider hiking and backpacking, 27 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:26,820 and Philippians. 28 00:01:26,820 --> 00:01:30,940 Philippians is quite possibly my favorite 29 00:01:30,940 --> 00:01:34,060 of the New Testament texts. 30 00:01:34,060 --> 00:01:36,540 There are many reasons for that. 31 00:01:36,540 --> 00:01:39,900 I like the focus on joy. 32 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:43,340 As Christians, we should be a people of joy. 33 00:01:43,340 --> 00:01:47,940 We should be recognized by others 34 00:01:49,100 --> 00:01:52,020 that we have a reason for joy. 35 00:01:52,020 --> 00:01:54,620 We don't walk around with our heads hung low, 36 00:01:54,620 --> 00:01:59,060 full of mournful, somber appearances 37 00:01:59,060 --> 00:02:03,240 as if we don't have a reason to celebrate in Jesus. 38 00:02:04,260 --> 00:02:06,340 Some Christians act like it's a sin 39 00:02:06,340 --> 00:02:09,520 to be excited about salvation and grace 40 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:10,680 and the love of God. 41 00:02:11,980 --> 00:02:15,700 Philippians makes it clear that you should have a joy 42 00:02:15,700 --> 00:02:18,540 in being a Christian, a joy in that relationship, 43 00:02:18,540 --> 00:02:22,640 and what it means to have a saving relationship with Jesus. 44 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:27,640 Philippians, in addition to that, 45 00:02:27,640 --> 00:02:32,640 speaks very much of the movement 46 00:02:32,640 --> 00:02:37,280 that God takes his people through, I guess if you will. 47 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:39,840 There's not a lot of warning, 48 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,480 there's not a lot of symbolism, 49 00:02:42,480 --> 00:02:46,960 it's not quite like Ephesians where it's really heavy 50 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:52,880 and in long sentences that are deeply theological. 51 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,840 Just so you know, don't miss out on Sabbath school. 52 00:02:54,840 --> 00:02:56,880 Ephesians is going to be great. 53 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,280 This morning's class looked at the predestination topic 54 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:03,480 that's in Ephesians chapter one, 55 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:06,920 that it's biblical but how do we understand it? 56 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:09,760 I like Philippians because it's bright. 57 00:03:09,760 --> 00:03:13,460 Paul gets to celebrate in what it is that that church, 58 00:03:13,460 --> 00:03:16,980 what he recognizes in them, 59 00:03:16,980 --> 00:03:19,580 that they are an answered prayer of his. 60 00:03:22,020 --> 00:03:24,420 It's just a really enjoyable text. 61 00:03:25,660 --> 00:03:30,660 So we're going to look at hiking and Philippians, 62 00:03:31,660 --> 00:03:33,900 and if you'll indulge me in one more brief prayer, 63 00:03:33,900 --> 00:03:34,780 we'll dive in. 64 00:03:35,740 --> 00:03:37,220 Heavenly Father, we thank you again 65 00:03:37,220 --> 00:03:38,540 for this beautiful Sabbath. 66 00:03:38,540 --> 00:03:40,260 We thank you for your inspired word 67 00:03:40,260 --> 00:03:42,980 and now as we turn our attention to it, 68 00:03:42,980 --> 00:03:46,660 we pray, we ask and we claim the promise 69 00:03:46,660 --> 00:03:49,100 of the presence of your Holy Spirit. 70 00:03:49,100 --> 00:03:51,120 As we deal with spiritual things, 71 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,340 we know we need spiritual discernment 72 00:03:53,340 --> 00:03:56,540 above and beyond our natural abilities. 73 00:03:56,540 --> 00:03:58,820 And so we ask for that right now. 74 00:03:58,820 --> 00:04:02,640 May we find you this morning, we pray in Jesus' name, amen. 75 00:04:04,420 --> 00:04:06,940 I like to tell stories about my family. 76 00:04:06,940 --> 00:04:09,140 My favorite stories are about my brothers, 77 00:04:09,140 --> 00:04:12,500 especially when they're not here to defend themselves. 78 00:04:12,500 --> 00:04:14,580 My second favorite type of stories 79 00:04:14,580 --> 00:04:17,780 are ones that involve the whole family as a whole. 80 00:04:17,780 --> 00:04:20,820 For too many years in our adult life, 81 00:04:20,820 --> 00:04:23,180 we've been in separate locations, 82 00:04:23,180 --> 00:04:26,100 kind of spread out by eight hours or 12 hours 83 00:04:26,100 --> 00:04:29,220 or 16 to 20, somewhere, I think 20, 84 00:04:29,220 --> 00:04:31,900 somewhere in there was the farthest we were spread out. 85 00:04:32,940 --> 00:04:36,380 It's nice to have everybody, most of us closer together 86 00:04:36,380 --> 00:04:39,500 and then with my younger brother moving in, all the more. 87 00:04:39,500 --> 00:04:42,280 There's just one we still have to convince. 88 00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:46,020 One of the stories that involves my family, 89 00:04:46,020 --> 00:04:49,940 and by that I mean my parents and Chris and myself 90 00:04:49,940 --> 00:04:54,200 and I think one, no, it was just us then I think, just us. 91 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,380 My boys were off with Heather somewhere 92 00:04:56,380 --> 00:04:58,660 and I thought that this was a good opportunity 93 00:04:58,660 --> 00:05:00,940 to take them for a hike. 94 00:05:00,940 --> 00:05:05,140 I like Fort Mountain State Park, just Heather was with us. 95 00:05:05,140 --> 00:05:07,260 Oh, so everyone was with us, okay. 96 00:05:07,260 --> 00:05:10,460 All right, this is in real time, I'm getting fact checked. 97 00:05:10,460 --> 00:05:13,400 Everyone was there, which makes this even better. 98 00:05:15,060 --> 00:05:17,020 I like Fort Mountain. 99 00:05:17,020 --> 00:05:18,700 I think it's a nice little state park, 100 00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:20,740 just south of here, outside of Chatsworth. 101 00:05:20,740 --> 00:05:22,220 It's got a little lake. 102 00:05:22,220 --> 00:05:24,000 It's got some really nice hiking trails. 103 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,740 That's where I had my second encounter with a bear 104 00:05:26,740 --> 00:05:28,580 and it was much closer about from me to Kevin 105 00:05:28,580 --> 00:05:29,940 right here in the front. 106 00:05:29,940 --> 00:05:32,780 And it was a big burly one, it was just bathing in a creek 107 00:05:32,780 --> 00:05:35,640 and I took a picture of it before I moved on. 108 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:40,640 But one of the times that I went out alone, 109 00:05:40,660 --> 00:05:44,340 I encountered the bear but then I also went out 110 00:05:44,340 --> 00:05:46,020 and there was this old fire tower. 111 00:05:46,020 --> 00:05:47,300 If you've ever been at Fort Mountain, 112 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:50,260 there's this old fire tower kind of up a hill 113 00:05:50,260 --> 00:05:52,260 and around and here. 114 00:05:52,260 --> 00:05:54,360 If you go up the hill and kind of around, 115 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:55,940 you get on some of the edge of the cliffs 116 00:05:55,940 --> 00:05:58,380 and you can look down over the valley and it's beautiful. 117 00:05:58,380 --> 00:06:03,380 You have this kind of sweeping view over the valley below. 118 00:06:03,380 --> 00:06:07,740 Well, when I was alone, I could just move at my own pace. 119 00:06:07,740 --> 00:06:09,780 And so I was hiking like my own pace, 120 00:06:09,780 --> 00:06:12,280 which means I'm in business and I got there, 121 00:06:12,280 --> 00:06:14,540 really didn't know how long it took me to get there 122 00:06:14,540 --> 00:06:16,860 but it felt like 15 minutes. 123 00:06:16,860 --> 00:06:18,700 That's what it felt like. 124 00:06:18,700 --> 00:06:20,500 So then I finished the rest of my hike 125 00:06:20,500 --> 00:06:22,540 and that took much longer but all I cared about 126 00:06:22,540 --> 00:06:25,680 for this story is the 15 minutes that it felt like 127 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,700 getting out to the outlook, the overlook. 128 00:06:28,700 --> 00:06:31,320 So then when I invited everybody else to go 129 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,540 on a Sabbath afternoon, it's gonna be beautiful weather. 130 00:06:33,540 --> 00:06:35,080 Y'all need to see this overlook. 131 00:06:35,080 --> 00:06:38,300 It's only a 15 minute hike. 132 00:06:38,300 --> 00:06:39,880 That's all it is. 133 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:40,720 We can do it. 134 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:41,600 It's not even that hard. 135 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,060 It's fairly smooth, maybe a slight uphill grade 136 00:06:45,060 --> 00:06:46,060 but it's 15 minutes. 137 00:06:46,060 --> 00:06:49,380 Anyone can do a slight uphill for 15 minutes. 138 00:06:49,380 --> 00:06:52,080 That's what I thought, that's what I said, let's go. 139 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:53,500 So we get out there, we get parked, 140 00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:56,780 we get ready and we go and 15 minutes passes 141 00:06:56,780 --> 00:06:57,660 and we weren't there. 142 00:06:57,660 --> 00:07:00,060 I don't even know if we were halfway. 143 00:07:00,060 --> 00:07:03,300 And I said no, no, no, I promise it's only 15 minutes. 144 00:07:03,300 --> 00:07:06,460 Maybe 15 minutes more but it's only 15 minutes. 145 00:07:07,340 --> 00:07:10,180 And so we kept hiking and we stood on rocks 146 00:07:10,180 --> 00:07:12,940 and we explored with insects and leaves 147 00:07:12,940 --> 00:07:14,780 and things that you do when you've got family 148 00:07:14,780 --> 00:07:16,300 and kids and so on. 149 00:07:16,300 --> 00:07:17,740 And so we finally get out there 150 00:07:17,740 --> 00:07:19,740 and it had definitely taken longer 151 00:07:19,740 --> 00:07:21,400 than the 15 minutes I had promised 152 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,380 even though that was my mantra the whole way. 153 00:07:23,380 --> 00:07:27,920 It's only a 15 minute hike out there and it's worth it. 154 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,120 Well, it was worth it. 155 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:32,420 It was a beautiful view but it definitely took longer 156 00:07:32,420 --> 00:07:33,860 than 15 minutes. 157 00:07:34,820 --> 00:07:39,820 And that's something like another motto or mantra 158 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:45,140 that's used more in backpacking or longer hauls. 159 00:07:45,140 --> 00:07:47,420 And that's the title of our sermon today. 160 00:07:47,420 --> 00:07:50,480 It's another half mile or so. 161 00:07:51,580 --> 00:07:55,380 It's another half mile or so. 162 00:07:55,380 --> 00:07:57,460 Now why would you say something like that? 163 00:07:57,460 --> 00:08:02,460 Why would that become a common mantra in backpacking? 164 00:08:03,940 --> 00:08:07,300 Well, it helps do a few things. 165 00:08:08,260 --> 00:08:11,100 One in particular is if you're going with youth 166 00:08:11,100 --> 00:08:15,060 or pathfinders, that's the answer to are we there yet? 167 00:08:16,100 --> 00:08:18,660 Because it's not only asked on car rides, 168 00:08:18,660 --> 00:08:21,260 it's also are we there yet? 169 00:08:21,260 --> 00:08:22,460 How much farther? 170 00:08:22,460 --> 00:08:25,340 Oh, this backpack is so heavy, et cetera, et cetera. 171 00:08:25,340 --> 00:08:27,660 So you can kind of help the kids 172 00:08:27,660 --> 00:08:31,020 and you just like a broken record, it's another half mile. 173 00:08:31,020 --> 00:08:32,240 It's another half mile. 174 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,060 Well, it does especially three things. 175 00:08:37,060 --> 00:08:42,060 This mantra, it's another half mile or so. 176 00:08:42,220 --> 00:08:45,520 One, it keeps the focus on the destination. 177 00:08:46,940 --> 00:08:48,820 It's another half mile or so. 178 00:08:48,820 --> 00:08:52,460 If you've ever done a long hike or a long backpack 179 00:08:52,460 --> 00:08:55,220 or a multi-day backpack trip, 180 00:08:55,220 --> 00:08:57,540 you can get into your head, 181 00:08:57,540 --> 00:09:01,820 I've already walked 12 miles, how much farther? 182 00:09:03,140 --> 00:09:06,380 I've already climbed so much elevation 183 00:09:06,380 --> 00:09:09,800 and crossed so many creeks and I've lost my watch 184 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:12,660 and I found it and I have a leak. 185 00:09:12,660 --> 00:09:15,540 You have so many things that can distract you 186 00:09:15,540 --> 00:09:18,480 and you can get caught up in what was, 187 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,660 but it's another half mile or so 188 00:09:21,660 --> 00:09:24,980 keeps you focused on the destination. 189 00:09:24,980 --> 00:09:26,100 That's where I'm going. 190 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:31,060 Number two, another half mile or so 191 00:09:31,060 --> 00:09:35,740 maintains a sense of urgency and imminent arrival. 192 00:09:36,980 --> 00:09:41,820 If the mantra were, it's another 20 miles or so, 193 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:44,420 what does that do to morale? 194 00:09:45,380 --> 00:09:48,480 What does that do to the already lead feeling 195 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:50,540 you get in your legs? 196 00:09:50,540 --> 00:09:53,580 What does that do to the 20 pounds that are on your back? 197 00:09:53,580 --> 00:09:56,020 Doesn't that make 20 feel like 30 or 40? 198 00:09:57,500 --> 00:09:59,740 What's special about a half mile? 199 00:09:59,740 --> 00:10:04,220 Well, most people can envision a half mile. 200 00:10:04,220 --> 00:10:06,260 If you've seen like a field and track track, 201 00:10:06,260 --> 00:10:10,300 that's two laps, roughly two laps. 202 00:10:10,300 --> 00:10:11,880 You can do a half mile. 203 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,020 A mile all of a sudden sounds daunting. 204 00:10:14,020 --> 00:10:16,860 Oh no, that's what kids do to pass PE class. 205 00:10:16,860 --> 00:10:20,620 Not a mile, that's too long, but a half mile, we like that. 206 00:10:20,620 --> 00:10:22,140 That's not a whole, that's a partial. 207 00:10:22,140 --> 00:10:23,540 I can do a half mile. 208 00:10:23,540 --> 00:10:25,620 Even if I'm walking slow, what's a half mile? 209 00:10:25,620 --> 00:10:26,620 That's not bad. 210 00:10:27,580 --> 00:10:32,580 So it makes it feel like you're already almost there. 211 00:10:35,460 --> 00:10:38,860 But it also adds a sense of urgency. 212 00:10:38,860 --> 00:10:41,380 Well, because the urgency means if I'm that close, 213 00:10:41,380 --> 00:10:43,820 well, you get that second wind. 214 00:10:43,820 --> 00:10:46,160 I can push through that last half mile 215 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:49,120 and I can get there when I want to get there. 216 00:10:50,060 --> 00:10:51,740 Now you do not wanna ask my advice 217 00:10:51,740 --> 00:10:53,740 on how to arrive at your destination on time 218 00:10:53,740 --> 00:10:58,220 because I'm notoriously late, notoriously, 219 00:10:58,220 --> 00:10:59,940 especially when it comes to backpacking 220 00:10:59,940 --> 00:11:02,320 or really most other things. 221 00:11:03,340 --> 00:11:05,340 But it's another half mile or so 222 00:11:05,340 --> 00:11:06,960 lets you know that you're almost there 223 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:08,520 and it can help you get that second wind 224 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,580 or third wind or fifth wind or whatever, 225 00:11:11,580 --> 00:11:12,780 whatever the case may be. 226 00:11:13,740 --> 00:11:17,620 And then third, finally, it's another half mile or so 227 00:11:17,620 --> 00:11:20,480 helps reduce fatigue and doubt. 228 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,920 When you're doing your long hikes 229 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:27,760 and when you're making your travels to your destination, 230 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:32,080 you pass the way marks along the road or along the trail. 231 00:11:32,080 --> 00:11:35,280 You see the little blazes that they nail onto trees 232 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:37,720 or you see the sign posts that tell you 233 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,660 I'm going to this highway intersection or this campground. 234 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,840 And that lets you know I'm on the right path. 235 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:47,600 It helps reduce the doubt. 236 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,120 It helps reduce the fatigue 237 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:52,160 because I can carry this load for another half mile. 238 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:53,600 That's fine. 239 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,240 It also, if you're in a group, 240 00:11:56,240 --> 00:11:59,120 helps renew trust in the leader 241 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,900 because when the leader says it's another half mile or so, 242 00:12:02,900 --> 00:12:05,200 the rest of the group goes okay. 243 00:12:05,200 --> 00:12:06,680 They know what they're talking about. 244 00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:09,120 They've read the map or they've been here before. 245 00:12:10,000 --> 00:12:13,880 They know where we're going and here's our length. 246 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:18,880 It's interesting that it never actually reduces trust 247 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:25,200 even though you repeat the mantra for 12 miles. 248 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,880 It's funny, it never works out that way. 249 00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:31,040 It always seems to help that trust and help the motivation 250 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:32,580 and help move it along. 251 00:12:35,900 --> 00:12:38,940 It works the same way for the Christian. 252 00:12:38,940 --> 00:12:43,940 We have our own mantra, something like this, 253 00:12:44,540 --> 00:12:49,540 but for today I'd like to use it's another half mile or so. 254 00:12:49,540 --> 00:12:52,260 And we're going to find it in Philippians, 255 00:12:52,260 --> 00:12:57,260 in chapter three, starting with what Kevin read earlier. 256 00:13:00,300 --> 00:13:02,340 I like hearing the paper's turn, 257 00:13:02,340 --> 00:13:03,860 although I don't hold it against you 258 00:13:03,860 --> 00:13:05,260 if your thumb is swiping. 259 00:13:05,260 --> 00:13:10,260 Once we get to Philippians, chapter three, are we ready? 260 00:13:12,020 --> 00:13:15,820 Leading up to this, Paul gives kind of an account 261 00:13:15,820 --> 00:13:17,620 of his history, what he was, 262 00:13:17,620 --> 00:13:22,620 a Hebrew of Hebrews, zealous, a Pharisee, et cetera. 263 00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:28,100 But then he encountered Jesus and he says in verse eight, 264 00:13:28,100 --> 00:13:31,020 I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth 265 00:13:31,020 --> 00:13:32,900 of knowing Christ as a God. 266 00:13:32,900 --> 00:13:35,620 I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth 267 00:13:35,620 --> 00:13:37,340 of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 268 00:13:37,340 --> 00:13:41,820 You see, he's first saying I had human metrics 269 00:13:41,820 --> 00:13:45,220 and then I met Jesus and all those human metrics 270 00:13:45,220 --> 00:13:48,020 mean nothing once you've met the Lord. 271 00:13:49,140 --> 00:13:50,820 That's awesome. 272 00:13:50,820 --> 00:13:52,380 Remember that, folks. 273 00:13:54,580 --> 00:13:57,580 Then he goes on to say what he's hoping for 274 00:13:57,580 --> 00:14:00,500 as a result of meeting Jesus. 275 00:14:00,500 --> 00:14:05,500 Seven, because of the power of Jesus' resurrection, 276 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:07,660 he says that by any means possible, 277 00:14:07,660 --> 00:14:10,660 I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 278 00:14:12,860 --> 00:14:17,700 By knowing Jesus, you have a hope that's victorious 279 00:14:17,700 --> 00:14:20,540 over the greatest threat that the devil has for you. 280 00:14:21,740 --> 00:14:23,500 The devil can threaten torture 281 00:14:23,500 --> 00:14:24,980 and the devil can threaten loss 282 00:14:24,980 --> 00:14:28,540 and the devil can threaten job promotions that never come 283 00:14:28,540 --> 00:14:32,540 and he can threaten family, stress and tension 284 00:14:32,540 --> 00:14:34,180 and infighting and all of that. 285 00:14:34,180 --> 00:14:35,180 He can threaten that. 286 00:14:35,180 --> 00:14:38,180 The greatest threat though is death 287 00:14:39,860 --> 00:14:41,780 because humans have not conquered that. 288 00:14:43,180 --> 00:14:47,660 We've kind of extended what used to be the median age 289 00:14:47,660 --> 00:14:49,540 into a little bit longer. 290 00:14:49,540 --> 00:14:52,380 We have ways of keeping people alive 291 00:14:52,380 --> 00:14:55,020 even if they're not living. 292 00:14:55,020 --> 00:15:00,020 You know what I mean by that, but we haven't stopped death. 293 00:15:01,020 --> 00:15:02,260 Death and taxes, right? 294 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:04,860 We haven't stopped death. 295 00:15:04,860 --> 00:15:09,380 So with that being the greatest threat that the devil has 296 00:15:09,380 --> 00:15:13,740 to say I know Jesus and because he conquered death, 297 00:15:13,740 --> 00:15:16,580 I have a hope and a resurrection to life. 298 00:15:16,580 --> 00:15:18,500 That means I have a hope and a victory 299 00:15:18,500 --> 00:15:20,500 over the greatest threat the devil has. 300 00:15:21,460 --> 00:15:23,060 Wouldn't that be nice to attain? 301 00:15:23,060 --> 00:15:25,380 Wouldn't that be great to hold onto? 302 00:15:27,220 --> 00:15:29,500 And now we get into the heart of this, 303 00:15:29,500 --> 00:15:31,700 our another half mile or so 304 00:15:33,460 --> 00:15:37,460 because he recognizes in verse 12, Paul writes this, 305 00:15:37,460 --> 00:15:42,460 not that I have already obtained this, 306 00:15:42,460 --> 00:15:46,460 that is victory over death and eternal life. 307 00:15:46,460 --> 00:15:47,580 He hasn't obtained it yet. 308 00:15:47,580 --> 00:15:49,660 Have we obtained it yet? 309 00:15:49,660 --> 00:15:50,620 No. 310 00:15:50,620 --> 00:15:53,780 Does this resonate with us then? 311 00:15:53,780 --> 00:15:57,740 Not that I've obtained it or am already perfect. 312 00:15:57,740 --> 00:16:00,020 He even acknowledges he's got room to grow, 313 00:16:00,020 --> 00:16:04,300 this pillar of faith, apostle of apostles if you will. 314 00:16:04,300 --> 00:16:06,540 Paul says he's not perfect. 315 00:16:07,860 --> 00:16:09,620 I think we can speak like Paul. 316 00:16:09,620 --> 00:16:11,340 You're in great company if you still 317 00:16:11,340 --> 00:16:13,740 find yourself imperfect today. 318 00:16:13,740 --> 00:16:15,300 It should resonate with us. 319 00:16:17,700 --> 00:16:19,460 Not that I've already obtained this 320 00:16:19,460 --> 00:16:21,100 or am already perfect, 321 00:16:21,100 --> 00:16:26,100 but I press on to make it my own 322 00:16:27,260 --> 00:16:32,260 because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 323 00:16:34,180 --> 00:16:36,220 I haven't attained it yet. 324 00:16:36,220 --> 00:16:38,020 I haven't achieved that victory. 325 00:16:38,020 --> 00:16:40,380 I'm not even perfect yet, 326 00:16:40,380 --> 00:16:42,940 but it's another half mile or so. 327 00:16:44,740 --> 00:16:45,860 I press on 328 00:16:45,860 --> 00:16:50,860 because he's made me his. 329 00:16:52,660 --> 00:16:54,300 Not because I can achieve it, 330 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:56,900 not because just by my own efforts, 331 00:16:56,900 --> 00:16:59,460 not because I'm pulling up by my bootstraps 332 00:16:59,460 --> 00:17:01,780 and it's pure meritocracy 333 00:17:01,780 --> 00:17:05,860 or all the different words that we can put into that. 334 00:17:05,860 --> 00:17:08,940 It's not because of what we can do. 335 00:17:08,940 --> 00:17:09,940 I want it. 336 00:17:09,940 --> 00:17:11,220 I want it for my own. 337 00:17:11,220 --> 00:17:12,940 I'm going to strive towards it, 338 00:17:12,940 --> 00:17:15,900 lean into it, labor for it 339 00:17:17,540 --> 00:17:20,060 because he's made me his. 340 00:17:23,340 --> 00:17:26,780 My friends, if Jesus hasn't made you his yet, 341 00:17:26,780 --> 00:17:29,140 you don't even have the power to lean into it. 342 00:17:31,260 --> 00:17:33,580 But Paul is recognizing 343 00:17:33,580 --> 00:17:37,740 that there's another half mile or so to go. 344 00:17:37,740 --> 00:17:42,740 And he's focused on our first point in verse 13. 345 00:17:45,540 --> 00:17:50,540 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own, 346 00:17:51,780 --> 00:17:53,740 but one thing I do, 347 00:17:53,740 --> 00:17:55,780 forgetting what lies behind 348 00:17:55,780 --> 00:17:59,180 and straining forward to what lies ahead. 349 00:18:00,580 --> 00:18:03,260 Our first point for it's another half mile or so 350 00:18:03,260 --> 00:18:05,700 is that it keeps the focus on the destination. 351 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:10,700 Paul had great things in his past. 352 00:18:10,700 --> 00:18:14,460 Multiple PhDs, a good upbringing, 353 00:18:14,460 --> 00:18:18,220 Roman citizenship, a high position in the church. 354 00:18:18,220 --> 00:18:21,140 He was, I guess, loved. 355 00:18:21,140 --> 00:18:23,060 He was loved by his churches 356 00:18:23,060 --> 00:18:25,380 and he struggled with the acceptance 357 00:18:25,380 --> 00:18:28,300 by the higher ups in the Jewish Christian church 358 00:18:28,300 --> 00:18:32,300 at Jerusalem, but he had many things that he could claim. 359 00:18:32,300 --> 00:18:37,300 He could even say that he's come far. 360 00:18:37,300 --> 00:18:38,580 He was a murderer. 361 00:18:38,580 --> 00:18:42,580 He could say that with tears in his eyes, 362 00:18:42,580 --> 00:18:46,580 I killed those whom were Jesus'. 363 00:18:46,580 --> 00:18:48,380 I killed them. 364 00:18:48,380 --> 00:18:51,580 And even if I wasn't the one that pulled the knife, 365 00:18:51,580 --> 00:18:53,580 I gave them to the people who did. 366 00:18:55,580 --> 00:18:57,180 But I'm not there anymore. 367 00:18:57,180 --> 00:18:58,980 He could have even said that. 368 00:18:58,980 --> 00:19:02,380 But what does he do in this verse? 369 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:05,380 He keeps his focus on the destination. 370 00:19:05,380 --> 00:19:06,580 Where is he going? 371 00:19:06,580 --> 00:19:08,980 I forget what lies behind 372 00:19:08,980 --> 00:19:12,380 and I press on forward towards the goal. 373 00:19:12,380 --> 00:19:14,980 That goal we're getting to in a moment. 374 00:19:14,980 --> 00:19:16,780 But that's our first, he's picking up. 375 00:19:16,780 --> 00:19:18,380 It's another half mile or so. 376 00:19:18,380 --> 00:19:21,980 It's not about all the mileage that we've done behind. 377 00:19:21,980 --> 00:19:24,380 Where's our destination? 378 00:19:24,380 --> 00:19:26,380 Where's our destination? 379 00:19:26,380 --> 00:19:29,380 Where are we headed, my friends? 380 00:19:29,380 --> 00:19:33,180 Well, Paul is already saying that he's headed towards eternal life, 381 00:19:33,180 --> 00:19:34,580 the resurrection from the dead. 382 00:19:34,580 --> 00:19:38,580 He's headed towards Jesus who has claimed him as his. 383 00:19:38,580 --> 00:19:42,580 That's where he's going. 384 00:19:42,580 --> 00:19:45,580 Where's your destination? 385 00:19:45,580 --> 00:19:48,180 Where are you going today? 386 00:19:48,180 --> 00:19:54,180 Are you going towards promotion and in a business? 387 00:19:54,180 --> 00:19:56,580 And the rest kind of we wonder about. 388 00:19:56,580 --> 00:20:01,180 Are you going towards, got to keep my family together, 389 00:20:01,180 --> 00:20:03,580 no matter what, at all costs, etc. 390 00:20:03,580 --> 00:20:06,180 That's a good thing, keep your family together. 391 00:20:06,180 --> 00:20:10,180 But is that your final destination? 392 00:20:10,180 --> 00:20:16,180 Is your final destination, I'm going to live forever and as long as I can 393 00:20:16,180 --> 00:20:18,180 and I'm going to take all of the medication I can 394 00:20:18,180 --> 00:20:20,580 and I'm going to cheat death and I'm going to run and hide from it. 395 00:20:20,580 --> 00:20:26,580 And I'm going to be so focused that I forget to be with other people 396 00:20:26,580 --> 00:20:29,980 or enjoy life at the risk of hurting myself. 397 00:20:29,980 --> 00:20:30,980 There are people like this. 398 00:20:30,980 --> 00:20:33,380 They're so focused on their health that they don't actually take time 399 00:20:33,380 --> 00:20:37,980 to enjoy the health they have and go and do things. 400 00:20:37,980 --> 00:20:38,980 Where's your destination? 401 00:20:38,980 --> 00:20:46,980 Is your destination on growing the Ringgold Church numerically at all costs? 402 00:20:46,980 --> 00:20:51,980 Do we just really care about getting people in the pews? 403 00:20:51,980 --> 00:20:53,980 That's a good thing. 404 00:20:53,980 --> 00:20:56,980 Is that the final destination? 405 00:20:56,980 --> 00:21:01,980 Are we as a church here at Ringgold only focused on making sure that we have 406 00:21:01,980 --> 00:21:07,980 the best events and people are well entertained and they go off with a high of excitement 407 00:21:07,980 --> 00:21:12,980 and they talk about their mountain top experience whenever they've walked in through these doors. 408 00:21:12,980 --> 00:21:20,980 Do we want that as our final destination? Are we an event-oriented church? 409 00:21:20,980 --> 00:21:22,980 Do we want to plant a church? 410 00:21:22,980 --> 00:21:26,980 Do we want... where are we going? 411 00:21:26,980 --> 00:21:29,980 Where are we going as a church? Where are you going? 412 00:21:29,980 --> 00:21:35,980 This church, the people here have a past and we've come from a past. 413 00:21:35,980 --> 00:21:38,980 Everybody does. Everyone's got a background. Everyone's got a history. 414 00:21:38,980 --> 00:21:41,980 Ringgold Church is no exception. 415 00:21:41,980 --> 00:21:44,980 And you want to remember it. 416 00:21:44,980 --> 00:21:50,980 But in light of the destination, what's more important? 417 00:21:50,980 --> 00:21:53,980 Where are we going as a church, my friends? 418 00:21:53,980 --> 00:21:56,980 We're going to heaven. 419 00:21:56,980 --> 00:22:03,980 We can put people in the pews, but if they aren't meeting Jesus, that's the wrong destination. 420 00:22:03,980 --> 00:22:10,980 We can have events, but if those events aren't leading people to Jesus, it's the wrong destination. 421 00:22:10,980 --> 00:22:15,980 We can have events, but if the events are nice and the people hate each other that are putting the events together, 422 00:22:15,980 --> 00:22:19,980 that's the wrong destination. 423 00:22:19,980 --> 00:22:22,980 The destination is heaven, my friends. 424 00:22:22,980 --> 00:22:26,980 The destination is Jesus, my friends. 425 00:22:26,980 --> 00:22:29,980 It is our focus on Jesus. 426 00:22:29,980 --> 00:22:36,980 I say we're not there yet. We are not yet perfect nor have we attained all that we want to attain. 427 00:22:36,980 --> 00:22:44,980 It's another half mile or so. 428 00:22:44,980 --> 00:22:49,980 Keep the focus on the destination. 429 00:22:49,980 --> 00:22:51,980 Pick up what Paul says. 430 00:22:51,980 --> 00:22:56,980 One thing I do, forgetting what lies behind, not that that's our focus. 431 00:22:56,980 --> 00:23:00,980 And we strain forward to what lies ahead. 432 00:23:00,980 --> 00:23:09,980 It maintains a sense of urgency and imminent arrival for the church to keep this mantra. 433 00:23:09,980 --> 00:23:17,980 Why? Because if we are keeping our focus on Jesus and we're keeping our focus on the destination, on heaven and the eternal reward, 434 00:23:17,980 --> 00:23:25,980 how does the New Testament help encourage that sense of urgency and imminent arrival? 435 00:23:25,980 --> 00:23:31,980 You have this tension between wait and be ready in the New Testament. 436 00:23:31,980 --> 00:23:39,980 Very common theme. Wait and be ready. You don't know the hour, but it's coming like tomorrow. 437 00:23:39,980 --> 00:23:45,980 If I were to summarize it, that would be the message in the New Testament. 438 00:23:45,980 --> 00:23:53,980 When we as a church are looking forward to our destination, we don't want to get into the trap that it's so far off 439 00:23:53,980 --> 00:24:03,980 we don't really have to be excited about it or excite others about it or think that it could happen very swiftly and very soon. 440 00:24:03,980 --> 00:24:05,980 That's a dangerous thing. 441 00:24:05,980 --> 00:24:12,980 That's often a reaction to too many men and women in the Adventist church even that have put dates on things. 442 00:24:12,980 --> 00:24:17,980 And then the dates come and go and everyone's disappointed. We've heard of disappointments in our church. 443 00:24:17,980 --> 00:24:27,980 And so then the reaction to that is to put it too far into the future and we lose the urgency and the imminence of it. 444 00:24:27,980 --> 00:24:36,980 It's another half mile or so would be good for us to remember because one, Jesus could come soon. 445 00:24:36,980 --> 00:24:41,980 We are told that those final moments are going to be how quick? 446 00:24:41,980 --> 00:24:49,980 Rapid. What's rapid? Fast, like Usain Bolt's fast. 447 00:24:49,980 --> 00:24:56,980 Rapid means we could be shocked and surprised at the rapidity of it. 448 00:24:56,980 --> 00:24:59,980 That means you need to be ready. 449 00:24:59,980 --> 00:25:06,980 A half mile or so, if you are focused on your destination, can take no time. 450 00:25:06,980 --> 00:25:12,980 It can feel like it just skips by and you go, Oh, my goodness, I've already arrived at my campsite. 451 00:25:12,980 --> 00:25:14,980 Let me set things up. 452 00:25:14,980 --> 00:25:18,980 It can. 453 00:25:18,980 --> 00:25:28,980 And that can happen with the return of Jesus if we don't keep that sense of urgency and its imminent return. 454 00:25:28,980 --> 00:25:30,980 He is coming to take us home. 455 00:25:30,980 --> 00:25:38,980 He will return to finish out the work that is left without the bow on it here on Earth. 456 00:25:38,980 --> 00:25:40,980 We need that bow tied. 457 00:25:40,980 --> 00:25:44,980 We need the saints in heaven and we need Satan locked up. 458 00:25:44,980 --> 00:25:45,980 And then we need the final destruction. 459 00:25:45,980 --> 00:25:48,980 We need all of that. 460 00:25:48,980 --> 00:25:55,980 And we need to keep in mind that it can happen much sooner. 461 00:25:55,980 --> 00:26:00,980 Than we can imagine. 462 00:26:00,980 --> 00:26:06,980 It shocked me just to just for to go in recent history, contemporary history. 463 00:26:06,980 --> 00:26:16,980 It shocked me in 2020 just how fast the world shut down and sent everyone home. 464 00:26:16,980 --> 00:26:25,980 I thought in my own considerations, I thought that it that it might get to that point, probably would slow down in the U.S. 465 00:26:25,980 --> 00:26:29,980 because we're stubborn and obstinate people for that kind of thing. 466 00:26:29,980 --> 00:26:38,980 It blew my mind how fast it went from one country going into lockdown to all of the U.S. going into lockdown. 467 00:26:38,980 --> 00:26:44,980 My head spun at the speed of it all and how coordinated it was. 468 00:26:44,980 --> 00:26:50,980 When the Bible talks about coordinated efforts that span the globe to enforce worship, 469 00:26:50,980 --> 00:26:57,980 to get people into something that's something like the Bible but a little different when we've got deceptions and so on, 470 00:26:57,980 --> 00:27:04,980 it'll make your head spin how quick it is if we are not prepared today for Jesus' return. 471 00:27:04,980 --> 00:27:08,980 You don't want to be that thief where he comes as a thief and caught unawares. 472 00:27:08,980 --> 00:27:13,980 You need to be ready for it, my friends. 473 00:27:13,980 --> 00:27:19,980 Jesus is coming and we need to be ready. 474 00:27:19,980 --> 00:27:26,980 Number three, it helps reduce the fatigue and doubt and it helps renew trust in the leader 475 00:27:26,980 --> 00:27:33,980 when we as Christians consider it's a half mile or so. 476 00:27:33,980 --> 00:27:42,980 Paul says in verse 14, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 477 00:27:42,980 --> 00:27:46,980 Those of us who are mature think this way and if in anything you think otherwise, 478 00:27:46,980 --> 00:27:54,980 God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 479 00:27:54,980 --> 00:28:06,980 When you press on, when you lean into, when you are running the marathon or you keep this mantra in front of you, 480 00:28:06,980 --> 00:28:11,980 you're going to get weighed down. 481 00:28:11,980 --> 00:28:16,980 It comes with being human. It comes with our physicality, our mortality. 482 00:28:16,980 --> 00:28:23,980 It comes with the sinful nature. We bear burdens. We have stresses. We get impatient. 483 00:28:23,980 --> 00:28:30,980 We think it should be done our way or in our timing or why has God chosen to move in my life in this direction 484 00:28:30,980 --> 00:28:35,980 instead of that direction. And you get fatigued. 485 00:28:35,980 --> 00:28:41,980 You don't have to raise your hand, but have we ever experienced spiritual fatigue? 486 00:28:41,980 --> 00:28:49,980 Have we ever gone through a valley where, boy, you just don't have any motivation to pick up the Bible? 487 00:28:49,980 --> 00:28:58,980 Going to church, you go because that's your ritual, not because you want to come and meet God. 488 00:28:58,980 --> 00:29:08,980 We go through this. We go through emotional and psychological and physical fatigue just dealing with each other. 489 00:29:08,980 --> 00:29:13,980 Is that true? It is. 490 00:29:13,980 --> 00:29:20,980 I'm sure someone has gotten tired of interacting with me and I'm sure I've gotten tired of interacting with others. 491 00:29:20,980 --> 00:29:30,980 It comes with being humans. We are that way. What's our goal? Heaven. 492 00:29:30,980 --> 00:29:36,980 How many of us want to see all of us there? 493 00:29:36,980 --> 00:29:48,980 That's why it's another half mile or so helps you not consider the fatigue of what we go through in this life and put up with each other. 494 00:29:48,980 --> 00:29:52,980 It keeps us focused on where we're going. 495 00:29:52,980 --> 00:29:59,980 And what do we want to see and who do we want to see when we get there? 496 00:29:59,980 --> 00:30:08,980 We talk about, you know, Jesus says, take my yoke upon you for my burden is light. Right? 497 00:30:08,980 --> 00:30:14,980 He doesn't say because your burden will go away. 498 00:30:14,980 --> 00:30:20,980 Your burden is light with Jesus. There's still a burden. 499 00:30:20,980 --> 00:30:31,980 That burden is lighter and you can make it and the fatigue is lessened when your focus is on Him and the destination you're going towards. 500 00:30:31,980 --> 00:30:37,980 And finally, the last bit for this, when you reduce your fatigue, when you reduce the doubt, 501 00:30:37,980 --> 00:30:47,980 when you can look around our society and your own personal experiences through the lens of scripture and go, we're passing a way mark. 502 00:30:47,980 --> 00:30:55,980 It's another half mile or so. This seems like it rings true out of Thessalonians or Peter or Revelation. 503 00:30:55,980 --> 00:30:59,980 It's another half mile or so. We're getting closer and closer. 504 00:30:59,980 --> 00:31:09,980 It builds trust, doesn't it? It builds trust in the Word of God and the Word of God leads you to He who gives the Word. 505 00:31:09,980 --> 00:31:18,980 He who is the Word. See, when I'm talking about it helps renew trust in the leader for the pathfinders, for the other groups that are on the trail. 506 00:31:18,980 --> 00:31:22,980 That's the adult leaders. That's those people that are going forward. 507 00:31:22,980 --> 00:31:28,980 I don't want you to misconstrue what I mean in thinking that I'm putting myself here. 508 00:31:28,980 --> 00:31:36,980 It's not about y'all thinking that this leader is who you need to be putting your trust in. 509 00:31:36,980 --> 00:31:44,980 Not in this sense. Not in eternity. Not in what this means for our destination. 510 00:31:44,980 --> 00:31:54,980 It's another half mile or so puts your trust in the capital L leader. Jesus Christ. 511 00:31:54,980 --> 00:32:02,980 It all comes from Him. Our Sabbath School lesson drew that out really nicely this week. I'm sure they're going to build on it. 512 00:32:02,980 --> 00:32:10,980 It's all about a Christ-centered plan of salvation. A Christ-centered means of getting to our destination. 513 00:32:10,980 --> 00:32:16,980 A Christ-centered way of being empowered for the work He's called us to do. Everything is Christ-centered. 514 00:32:16,980 --> 00:32:24,980 He's the leader. He's the head of the body. He's the great shepherd. He's the healer. He is all in all in our lives. 515 00:32:24,980 --> 00:32:33,980 He's the leader that as we pass along these marks and we keep our eyes on the destination, we know who's leading us there. 516 00:32:33,980 --> 00:32:45,980 So when it's another half mile or so, you are holding on to what you have attained. That's what Paul ends with. 517 00:32:45,980 --> 00:32:53,980 What have you attained? Well, for him, it was knowing Christ. That was that first comment. 518 00:32:53,980 --> 00:32:58,980 He had everything in the past. Then he knew Christ. Everything built off of knowing Christ. 519 00:32:58,980 --> 00:33:07,980 And then what has he attained? I have attained knowing Christ. I have attained knowing Christ. 520 00:33:07,980 --> 00:33:14,980 If you've ever read Ellen White's first vision, you will have read something special. 521 00:33:14,980 --> 00:33:31,980 She was given this vision in 1847. She was a teenager. She was asked to present it publicly, which she kind of pulled away from. 522 00:33:31,980 --> 00:33:38,980 She didn't like that idea, but she did. It's a beautiful account. 523 00:33:38,980 --> 00:33:46,980 We're going to read just a little bit out of the first section of it because it pertains to this. 524 00:33:46,980 --> 00:33:56,980 Quote, While I was praying at the family altar, the Holy Ghost fell upon me and I seemed to be rising higher and higher, far above the dark world. 525 00:33:56,980 --> 00:34:06,980 I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them. When a voice said to me, Look again and look a little higher. 526 00:34:06,980 --> 00:34:13,980 At this I raised my eyes and saw a straight and narrow path cast up high above the world. 527 00:34:13,980 --> 00:34:25,980 On this path, the Advent people were traveling to the city, the destination, which was at the farther end of the path. 528 00:34:25,980 --> 00:34:33,980 They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the midnight cry. 529 00:34:33,980 --> 00:34:41,980 This light shone all along the path and gave light for their feet so that they might not stumble. 530 00:34:41,980 --> 00:34:52,980 If they kept their eyes on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. 531 00:34:52,980 --> 00:34:59,980 Which means you'd expect a warning after they were safe. She goes on. 532 00:34:59,980 --> 00:35:09,980 But soon some grew weary and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. 533 00:35:09,980 --> 00:35:13,980 There are so many things that weary us in our Christian journey. 534 00:35:13,980 --> 00:35:22,980 There are so many reasons why we might think the city is still too far off. 535 00:35:22,980 --> 00:35:36,980 Continuing, then Jesus would encourage them by raising his glorious right arm and from his arm came a light which waved over the Advent band and they shouted, Hallelujah! 536 00:35:36,980 --> 00:35:45,980 Others rashly denied the light behind them and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. 537 00:35:45,980 --> 00:36:05,980 The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below. 538 00:36:05,980 --> 00:36:16,980 It's not that the Advent people on the path grossly profaned the name of Jesus. 539 00:36:16,980 --> 00:36:21,980 It's not that they took up the call of the Satanist. 540 00:36:21,980 --> 00:36:27,980 They didn't get into witchcraft and wiccan beliefs. 541 00:36:27,980 --> 00:36:35,980 They didn't go chasing after the Superman, what they can do in and of themselves. What did they do? 542 00:36:35,980 --> 00:36:48,980 They became weary of the journey, said that the city was too far off and not attainable, and they took their eyes off of the destination and the leader. 543 00:36:48,980 --> 00:36:58,980 Are we as a people too often distracted by the horizontal around us that we forget to keep our eyes on the vertical? 544 00:36:58,980 --> 00:37:05,980 Are we as a people, do we see ourselves in this first vision from the 1840s? 545 00:37:05,980 --> 00:37:12,980 Are we on the path going to the city? Yes. Yes we are. 546 00:37:12,980 --> 00:37:19,980 Is there a bright light that shines behind us illuminating the path in front of us? Yes. 547 00:37:19,980 --> 00:37:25,980 Thy word is a light unto my feet, and a light unto my path, and a lamp unto my feet. 548 00:37:25,980 --> 00:37:28,980 I think I might switch that up, I do that. 549 00:37:28,980 --> 00:37:35,980 We have a word, we have a calling, we have a mission as a people. 550 00:37:35,980 --> 00:37:43,980 Is Jesus leading us there? Yes. 551 00:37:43,980 --> 00:37:48,980 How often do we take our eyes off of the destination and the leader? 552 00:37:48,980 --> 00:37:56,980 And get so distracted with the burdens, with the people, with the stresses, with what other denominations are doing, 553 00:37:56,980 --> 00:38:02,980 or what people inside of our own church are doing in far flung parts of our country or the world, 554 00:38:02,980 --> 00:38:08,980 that we take our eyes off of Jesus and the destination He's leading us to? 555 00:38:08,980 --> 00:38:17,980 I want to encourage you, personally, individually, and as a corporate body here at Ringgold, 556 00:38:17,980 --> 00:38:24,980 it's another half mile or so. You're going to get there. 557 00:38:24,980 --> 00:38:34,980 Don't stop, don't give up, and especially don't keep your, get your focus off of Jesus and the destination. 558 00:38:34,980 --> 00:38:38,980 You have accomplished many wonderful things. 559 00:38:38,980 --> 00:38:49,980 You have a good history, a great growth opportunity, there is a solid foundation here, and you are all fine folk. 560 00:38:49,980 --> 00:38:57,980 But if you get too caught up in all of that, that you take your eyes off of Him, 561 00:38:57,980 --> 00:39:04,980 she tells us what happens to those Advent people. I'll leave it with her words. 562 00:39:04,980 --> 00:39:12,980 I want to encourage you, it's another half mile or so. 563 00:39:12,980 --> 00:39:20,980 Jesus is coming. Keep your focus on where you're going, victory over sin, victory over death and heaven. 564 00:39:20,980 --> 00:39:30,980 It's another half mile or so. Maintain your sense of urgency and the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ. 565 00:39:30,980 --> 00:39:40,980 And it's another half mile or so. Don't be so burdened by your own fatigue and doubt that you lose your trust in your leader. 566 00:39:40,980 --> 00:39:50,980 It's another half mile or so. You can make it while you follow Him, while you lean on Him, while you keep repeating. 567 00:39:50,980 --> 00:39:56,980 It's another half mile or so. Let's pray. 568 00:39:56,980 --> 00:40:00,980 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your encouraging words. 569 00:40:00,980 --> 00:40:07,980 We thank you for the unfailing leadership of Jesus. We thank you for your grace, for your mercies. 570 00:40:07,980 --> 00:40:13,980 We thank you for the faith of Jesus that sustains us and carries us forward. 571 00:40:13,980 --> 00:40:21,980 Or we are so grateful that as we stumble along this path, as we trip and fall, you don't immediately abandon us, 572 00:40:21,980 --> 00:40:28,980 but you reach out your arm to lift us again, and then you lift your arm to lead us forward. 573 00:40:28,980 --> 00:40:33,980 Or we know you look upon us in favor, and I pray that that would be very true today. 574 00:40:33,980 --> 00:40:40,980 May we as a people continue to look to you as our Savior and as our Lord. 575 00:40:40,980 --> 00:40:48,980 May we as a people commit ourselves to pressing forward toward that upward calling, that final prize that you have promised us. 576 00:40:48,980 --> 00:40:58,980 May we as a people be found faithful today, tomorrow, and forever as we expectantly wait your soon return. 577 00:40:58,980 --> 00:41:06,980 Or we thank you for hearing our prayers, and we thank you for your love, and we thank you especially for Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 578 00:41:06,980 --> 00:41:34,980 We all pray, we all ask these things, and we all say in Jesus name, Amen.