1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,640 Welcome to the Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. 2 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:14,680 We are a Bible believing church located in beautiful British Columbia, Canada. 3 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:19,640 We are proudly part of the Christian Fellowship Ministries with 3000 churches around the world. 4 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:24,400 We are a church focused on world evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. 5 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,800 Here we will share recent sermons from P.H.S.A. Church and other sermons from throughout our 6 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:29,800 fellowship. 7 00:00:29,800 --> 00:00:33,160 I am Pastor David Bigford and I will be your host for this podcast. 8 00:00:33,160 --> 00:00:37,400 I thank you for listening today and we hope these messages are a blessing to you and bring 9 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:50,360 you closer to God. 10 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,080 Welcome to the Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. 11 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:54,520 My name is David Bigford. 12 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:58,040 I am the pastor of the Potter's House Salmon Arm Church. 13 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:03,840 And today I am going to be giving a message entitled, Core Values. 14 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,160 This is something that is near and dear to my heart. 15 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:13,040 It has a lot to do with me growing up as a young man and joining the United States Marine 16 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,160 Corps. 17 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:19,280 I want to tie these core values obviously back to the scripture. 18 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:24,160 And so the core values of the Marine Corps are honor, courage, and commitment. 19 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:29,840 And with that, like I said, this is something that is near and dear to my heart. 20 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,960 When I was 14 years old, I read a book. 21 00:01:31,960 --> 00:01:37,560 This book set me on a path that affected all aspects of my life. 22 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:40,460 And it still to this day has an effect on me. 23 00:01:40,460 --> 00:01:46,640 This book was a mammoth impact within the structure or my ideology of the world. 24 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:51,360 And it helped mold my worldview. 25 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:53,840 It helped me to understand what was right and wrong. 26 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:59,720 It also began a process of self-revelation that has been with me ever since and even 27 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:00,720 to this day. 28 00:02:00,720 --> 00:02:02,680 Now, I know what you're probably thinking. 29 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:04,680 You're probably thinking, this has got to be the Bible. 30 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:07,840 This has got to be something to do with the Word of God. 31 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:12,280 And if you're thinking that, I can understand why, but you'd be wrong. 32 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:18,280 Now with that, you're probably thinking, okay, well, what else could this be? 33 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:28,000 What could impact a young man as much as you're describing other than the Word of God? 34 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:35,440 So when I was a young teenager, I was pretty angsty. 35 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:39,720 I wasn't a particularly good athlete or anything. 36 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:44,640 I was a marginally above average student, but I also tended to lean towards laziness. 37 00:02:44,640 --> 00:02:48,480 And I'd say I was part of a group of friends. 38 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:51,440 I had a good group of friends, but we weren't the cool kids. 39 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:55,160 We weren't the super popular kids, if you will. 40 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:56,160 So we were kind of uncool. 41 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:57,160 We were kind of on the fringes. 42 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:02,880 And yeah, we were a little bit geeky and stuff, but they were my friends. 43 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:09,240 And so anyway, when I was with this group of kids, I started reading this book. 44 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,520 And this book was titled Marine Sniper, 93 Confirmed Kills. 45 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:18,800 And it tells the exciting true story of Sergeant or Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, who was 46 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:25,720 a legendary Marine and a Marine sniper, obviously, during the Vietnam War. 47 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:31,280 And kind of the caption to this book, or to sum it up, is that it says like about Carlos 48 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,920 Hathcock, it says, he's silent and visible. 49 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:39,080 He lies in one position for days, barely twitching a muscle, able to control his heartbeat and 50 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:40,080 breathing. 51 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,240 His record has never been matched at 93 confirmed kills. 52 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:49,120 This is the story of Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, a Marine sniper and a legend, a military lord. 53 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:54,680 But again, you're probably thinking, what does this have to do with Christianity? 54 00:03:54,680 --> 00:04:01,880 What does this have to do with God, with Jesus, or with loving your neighbor, for example? 55 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:07,020 What does a story about a sniper have to do with the message of the cross? 56 00:04:07,020 --> 00:04:12,020 What does it have to do with how one should live their life? 57 00:04:12,020 --> 00:04:16,480 Let's look at our text, and our text this morning is going to be John 5, 19 through 58 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:17,480 24. 59 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,920 So, let's look at this before we circle back to this tale from Mayouf. 60 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:29,000 So, we pick up in verse 19, and it says, So Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, The 61 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,820 Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees his Father doing. 62 00:04:33,820 --> 00:04:36,360 For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 63 00:04:36,360 --> 00:04:40,920 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. 64 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:45,320 And greater works than these he will show him, so that you may marvel. 65 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:50,440 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to who 66 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:51,880 he will. 67 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:56,520 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son. 68 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,840 That all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. 69 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:05,240 Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father and the Father who sent him. 70 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:11,120 Truly I say to you, Whoever hears my word and believes him who has sent me has eternal life. 71 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:15,520 He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. 72 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,960 These are some really powerful words that come from our Savior Jesus Christ. 73 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:21,960 Right? 74 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:29,480 And these words exemplify a few things that we're going to dig into when we look at core 75 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,920 values. 76 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,680 The first of which is going to be honor. 77 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:41,160 We will dig into that idea of what honor is, what courage is, and what true commitment 78 00:05:41,160 --> 00:05:45,040 actually is, and what it looks like. 79 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:49,760 So going back to the story of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock and why this resonated with 80 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:58,840 me immediately as a young 14-year-old, is you see this young man who had very few options 81 00:05:58,840 --> 00:05:59,840 in life. 82 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:04,200 He came from a poor family, and when I say poor family, I'm not talking about today's 83 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:12,880 poor family, but I'm talking about the poor families of 100 years ago. 84 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:21,920 What you would think of being dirt poor, meaning they got a dirt floor kind of dirt poor. 85 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,760 Right? 86 00:06:24,760 --> 00:06:31,760 So they were so poor that young Carlos Hathcock would actually have to help put food on the 87 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:32,760 table. 88 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:39,360 Now, putting food on the table back then meant he had to go out and hunt stuff, and so it 89 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:45,400 usually came back in the form of squirrels or other critters that he was able to successfully 90 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:46,880 shoot and kill. 91 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:53,640 So he's putting a little bit of food on the table in Arkansas, Mississippi area, but it 92 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:58,480 wasn't his hard life that spoke to me because we all have a hard life. 93 00:06:58,480 --> 00:07:03,960 We all have different things in our life that make it hard in one way or another. 94 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:10,720 It wasn't the valor that he accomplished on the battlefield, and he was a very successful 95 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:15,480 Marine, but it wasn't those things that resonated with me. 96 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:21,760 The real story of Carlos Hathcock and what set me on a different path was that he was 97 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:27,440 there in country to serve his brothers. 98 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:32,840 Now if you know anything about being a sniper, snipers are usually in the Marine Corps anyway 99 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:33,840 at this period of time. 100 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:38,280 They were a two man team, so you'd think, oh, he's not really serving anybody because 101 00:07:38,280 --> 00:07:43,680 he's out there almost all on his own, which would be wrong. 102 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:48,320 His motivations were very much about service to his brothers. 103 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:53,400 Using a skill or a talent that he had in the protection of others. 104 00:07:53,400 --> 00:08:02,000 And this is exemplified towards the end of his time serving in Vietnam. 105 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:07,360 So we look at September 16th, 1969, Hathcock's career as a sniper came and took a sudden 106 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:09,360 turn. 107 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:15,720 As he was traveling down Highway 1 north of Lanning Zou, Baldy in Vietnam, his LVTP-5, 108 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:23,240 which is an armored personnel carrier he was riding on, it struck an anti-tank mine. 109 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,280 So it's his ride, it blew up. 110 00:08:27,280 --> 00:08:33,680 So here he is, they're blown up, thrown into a river. 111 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:34,680 And here he is. 112 00:08:34,680 --> 00:08:35,680 What does he do? 113 00:08:35,680 --> 00:08:40,980 Well, Hathcock pulled seven Marines out of this flame engulfed vehicle suffering severe 114 00:08:40,980 --> 00:08:45,580 burns over a good portion of his body. 115 00:08:45,580 --> 00:08:48,960 Some of them were third degree burns, his face, his arms, legs. 116 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:58,040 He kept pulling people away out of this burning wreckage until others pulled him away and 117 00:08:58,040 --> 00:09:03,440 placed him in the water because he was unaware of how badly he was being burned. 118 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:08,000 While recovering, Hathcock did receive a Purple Heart and nearly 30 years later, he finally 119 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:12,440 was awarded a Silver Star for his actions. 120 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,280 Hathcock had pulled those seven Marines out of that burning vehicle. 121 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:22,360 They were evacuated to the USS Repose, a Navy hospital ship, and then eventually to Tokyo 122 00:09:22,360 --> 00:09:24,360 and then eventually back to the States. 123 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:29,680 But this story, this is what resonated with me more than anything. 124 00:09:29,680 --> 00:09:32,280 Yeah, sure, he did some amazing feats. 125 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:34,360 And we'll talk about some of those. 126 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:39,800 But it was while reading this book that I knew that I'd wanted to become a Marine. 127 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:45,600 This is the first time I'd seen or read anything and it talked about a life of sacrifice and 128 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:50,240 this poignant life of sacrifice depicting these pages challenged my very being. 129 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:53,600 What was I living for up to that point? 130 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:58,800 And so I'm I am going to preach about the core values and I'm using this as a launching 131 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:03,600 point, but we're going to tie this into the Word of God as well. 132 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:08,480 So let's look though at what the Marines considered these values. 133 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:13,440 And this is what they actually have up on the on the website for the United States Marine 134 00:10:13,440 --> 00:10:14,440 Corps. 135 00:10:14,440 --> 00:10:17,120 It says the values are born from our nation's ideals. 136 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:24,400 So now you're looking at values that are an idyllic value, something that is necessary 137 00:10:24,400 --> 00:10:31,120 for servicemen to carry with them in order to be an example or be the best representation 138 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:34,240 of our nation. 139 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:38,800 And I know we're in Canada today, but these these ideals should be international. 140 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,640 They should cross boundaries. 141 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:46,760 So Marines live by a set of enduring core values that form the bedrock of our character. 142 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:49,960 These values guide our actions and bolster our resolve. 143 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:53,920 Honored courage and commitment lead us to victory over the physical, mental and moral 144 00:10:53,920 --> 00:11:00,040 battles faced during combat or while serving in our communities on behalf of our nation. 145 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:04,120 These are the values that ensure every fight in the current and future battles support 146 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,600 our common moral cause. 147 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,360 These values mean something. 148 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:14,120 And when you're a young Marine, these values are pounded into your head and they're actually 149 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:19,640 used as part of a sifting process that if people can't conform to these values, they're 150 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:25,980 out failure to adapt. 151 00:11:25,980 --> 00:11:29,240 So the first of these values is honor. 152 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:31,480 And this is what they say about honor. 153 00:11:31,480 --> 00:11:34,920 Honor guides Marines to exemplify. 154 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:39,600 So honor guides Marines to exemplify the ultimate and ethical and moral behavior. 155 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:41,680 Never lie, never cheat or steal. 156 00:11:41,680 --> 00:11:45,040 Abide by an uncompromising code of integrity. 157 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,440 Respect human dignity and respect others. 158 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:52,520 Honor compels Marines to act responsibly to fulfill our obligations and hold ourselves 159 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:54,880 and others accountable for every action. 160 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:56,280 So let's look at what this honor means. 161 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:00,540 Like if you'd like where to just take the dictionary definition. 162 00:12:00,540 --> 00:12:06,280 The dictionary defined it as honesty, fairness, integrity, and one's belief in actions, a 163 00:12:06,280 --> 00:12:09,720 source of credit or distinction. 164 00:12:09,720 --> 00:12:13,800 High respect as far as worth merit or rank. 165 00:12:13,800 --> 00:12:17,880 Some synonyms or similar words are dignity, faith, prestige, trust. 166 00:12:17,880 --> 00:12:20,640 But let's look also like what are the anonyms? 167 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,600 What are the opposing words to what honor is? 168 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,440 When someone lacks honor, what are they doing? 169 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:30,960 They have disregard, neglect, ignorance, or condemnation. 170 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:35,520 In Ephesians 6, 1 through 4, there's a call to children's and parents. 171 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:40,920 And it says in verse 1, children obey your parents and the Lord for it is right. 172 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:42,560 Honor your father and mother. 173 00:12:42,560 --> 00:12:46,720 This is the first commandment with a promise that it may go well with you and that you 174 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,360 may live long in the land. 175 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:55,200 Fathers do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up and discipline and instruction 176 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:56,200 for the Lord. 177 00:12:56,200 --> 00:13:01,320 That is a very powerful scripture, both for the children, but even as a father, this is 178 00:13:01,320 --> 00:13:02,680 what hits close to home. 179 00:13:02,680 --> 00:13:09,640 Because how often do we allow our anger to cause us to be dishonorable to our children, 180 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,600 trying to egg them on? 181 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:15,560 With this scripture, we could put honor into that more biblical context. 182 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:21,480 And we would look back on the text in John 5, 22 to 23. 183 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:25,640 We can see the importance of honor with the word of Jesus Christ. 184 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:30,200 In verse 22, it says, for the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the 185 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:34,720 Son, that all may honor the Son just as we honor the Father. 186 00:13:34,720 --> 00:13:40,280 Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 187 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:45,080 This overlays nicely when it talks about we know that Jesus Christ is God incarnate. 188 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:53,320 He is the human representation of God on earth, and it is this relationship that because of 189 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,240 the sacrifice, the death of Christ and the resurrection of Christ, that we can go to 190 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:03,880 Christ and be saved and be put back into right relationship with our Lord God. 191 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:07,520 But we go back to our story about Gunnery Sergeant Hathcock. 192 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:09,720 I moved to enlist in the Marine Corps. 193 00:14:09,720 --> 00:14:14,200 I had to wait a number of years before I was able to join because again, I read it at 14 194 00:14:14,200 --> 00:14:19,720 and they don't even let you join until you're 17 on what they call the delayed entry program. 195 00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:23,200 But nevertheless, I remained focused on this service. 196 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:28,480 But it wasn't until I finally made it into the Marine Corps, finally made it through 197 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:34,000 boot camp and everything else, that I came to fully understand that the honor that I 198 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:38,560 was searching for was not the Marines at all. 199 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:41,120 It was a relationship of Christ that I needed. 200 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:45,600 But before I could be saved, I still had some hard lessons to learn. 201 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:52,440 At this point in my life, I was a drunk and angry young man, but I was focused on being 202 00:14:52,440 --> 00:14:53,440 a Marine. 203 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:57,520 So when I made it through boot camp and I made it through my training, it was hard for 204 00:14:57,520 --> 00:15:05,040 me to come to the realization that something was still missing in my life. 205 00:15:05,040 --> 00:15:13,080 I came to that realization that in order to be truly honorable, I too had to honor the 206 00:15:13,080 --> 00:15:17,760 Father and the Son, Jesus Christ. 207 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:23,040 So let's look at the next core value though and see what else we can learn. 208 00:15:23,040 --> 00:15:27,400 Courage is that next core value and it's the Marines can call it this. 209 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:33,080 When you look at how they interpret what courage is, they say courage is the mental and moral 210 00:15:33,080 --> 00:15:35,880 and physical strength ingrained in Marines. 211 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,080 It carries us through the challenges of combat and AIDS and overcoming fear. 212 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:43,760 It is the inner strength that enables us to do what is right and to adhere to a higher 213 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:51,800 standard of personal conduct and make tough decisions under stress and pressure. 214 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:57,020 In Psalms 27-14, it says, wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage. 215 00:15:57,020 --> 00:15:58,480 Wait for the Lord. 216 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,720 This is repeated again in Psalm 31-24. 217 00:16:02,720 --> 00:16:06,800 See let's think about the way that this is described. 218 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,880 Courage is a mental, moral and physical strength ingrained in Marines. 219 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,680 It's what carries us through challenges. 220 00:16:14,680 --> 00:16:20,500 It's that inner strength that enables us to do what is right, to adhere to a higher standard 221 00:16:20,500 --> 00:16:24,080 of personal conduct and to make tough decisions under stress and pressure. 222 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:28,820 This has to be ingrained into your being. 223 00:16:28,820 --> 00:16:36,360 It has to become interlaced or interwoven into your soul. 224 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,640 So where do you take your courage from? 225 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:41,880 Do you take it from being part of a group called the Marines? 226 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:46,200 Or do you take it from something else, external? 227 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:50,760 I can tell you as a Christian, you have to learn to take courage in your faith in Jesus 228 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:53,680 Christ. 229 00:16:53,680 --> 00:16:58,120 Some definitions of courage are the quality of mind and spirit that enables a person to 230 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:05,120 face difficulty, danger, pain, etc. without fear or bravery. 231 00:17:05,120 --> 00:17:09,040 Some synonyms are audacity, determination, gallantry or grit. 232 00:17:09,040 --> 00:17:11,040 You might have heard that before. 233 00:17:11,040 --> 00:17:12,040 That guy has grit. 234 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:18,680 That means that he has the courage to continue to push forward. 235 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:26,260 Even with this being the first podcast on this channel, there has to be an element of 236 00:17:26,260 --> 00:17:32,240 courage to put this forth, not knowing how it will be received, not knowing if I've done 237 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:40,440 what was necessary to make it look of reasonable quality, reasonable content. 238 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:46,800 But the alternatives to courage, the anonyms are cowardice, fear, weakness. 239 00:17:46,800 --> 00:17:50,700 And none of us want to fall into those realms. 240 00:17:50,700 --> 00:17:55,040 But oftentimes what we'll do is we won't do anything and we'll pretend that it's not 241 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,600 cowardice. 242 00:17:58,600 --> 00:18:01,080 But it's definitely a lack of courage. 243 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:05,960 In Acts 23, 11, the following night, the Lord stood by him and said, Take courage for as 244 00:18:05,960 --> 00:18:08,440 you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem. 245 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:15,040 So now you must testify also in Rome. 246 00:18:15,040 --> 00:18:16,880 This is the apostle Paul getting ready. 247 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:18,120 He's been arrested. 248 00:18:18,120 --> 00:18:19,440 He's getting ready now. 249 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:26,000 He's already, you know, looking towards going to Rome. 250 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,720 He's preached the gospel in Jerusalem. 251 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:36,200 But now, now his call is to go to the seat of power for the world and to do the same. 252 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:43,360 He knows this is a one way trip, but he takes courage in the Lord. 253 00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:46,560 And we know that he fulfills his race with courage. 254 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:52,680 Now in the Marine Corps, courage and integrity were often used together because integrity 255 00:18:52,680 --> 00:18:56,680 is doing the right thing when nobody is looking. 256 00:18:56,680 --> 00:19:01,480 But it takes courage to do the right thing when everyone is looking. 257 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:06,760 But most people don't believe in doing the right thing or what you're doing is right. 258 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,840 That's when courage really takes place. 259 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:10,840 This is our walk with Christ. 260 00:19:10,840 --> 00:19:16,680 We are challenged to live a life of courage and to live according to the word of God, 261 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:21,600 even when it is not popular and even when it is really hard. 262 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:26,120 That is why the apostle Paul means or that is what the apostle Paul means when he says 263 00:19:26,120 --> 00:19:29,640 he's a slave to Christ. 264 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,720 So in Romans 1, 1, it says this is a letter from Paul, a slave to Christ chosen by God 265 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,560 to be an apostle and sent to preach the good news. 266 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:44,720 He understood that there was a responsibility that he had on his plate, a responsibility. 267 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:53,320 So even when it's hard, he had to rely on his faith in Christ and he had to move forward 268 00:19:53,320 --> 00:20:00,480 in with courage in order to honor the father, the son and the Holy Ghost. 269 00:20:00,480 --> 00:20:05,440 This takes courage, but we're not left to find this courage on your own on our own. 270 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:09,880 Throughout the Bible, we're told to rely on God and then rely on Christ for our strength. 271 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:14,440 Fear the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, but that but with that we can rely on the 272 00:20:14,440 --> 00:20:17,680 father, the son and the Holy Spirit to support us in all things. 273 00:20:17,680 --> 00:20:22,320 That is why we're called to put on that full armor of God in Ephesians 6, 13 through 20. 274 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,360 We see the armor of God explained to us. 275 00:20:26,360 --> 00:20:30,440 Therefore put on every piece of God's armor so that you will be able to resist the enemy 276 00:20:30,440 --> 00:20:32,080 in times of evil. 277 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:37,040 Even after the battle, you will still be standing firm, stand your ground, putting on the belt 278 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:41,120 of truth and the body armor of God's righteousness for shoes. 279 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:45,800 Put on the piece that comes from the good news that you will be fully prepared. 280 00:20:45,800 --> 00:20:51,000 In addition to all these hold up a shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 281 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:55,080 Put on salvation is your helmet and take the sword of the spirit, which is the word of 282 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:56,080 God. 283 00:20:56,080 --> 00:21:00,840 Pray in the spirit at all times and on every occasion, stay alert and be persistent in 284 00:21:00,840 --> 00:21:02,040 your prayers. 285 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,200 For all believers everywhere and pray for me too. 286 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:10,160 Ask God to give me the right word so I can boldly explain God's mysterious plan that 287 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:13,680 the good news is for Jews and Gentiles like. 288 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:18,220 I am in chains now still preaching this message as God's ambassador. 289 00:21:18,220 --> 00:21:24,800 So I pray I will keep on speaking boldly for him as I should. 290 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:25,800 As I should. 291 00:21:25,800 --> 00:21:32,120 I like the way that that ends because it's it clearly lays out the re the expectation 292 00:21:32,120 --> 00:21:36,920 is that you fulfill your call. 293 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:40,600 That you continue on with honor and courage. 294 00:21:40,600 --> 00:21:46,800 In one of Carlos Hathaway's more renowned stories. 295 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:52,160 He shot a sniper, an opposing sniper through his scope. 296 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:57,920 But the way that this came about was a kind of an interesting story because what was happening 297 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:05,640 was this other sniper, this Vietnamese sniper was was killing off Marines at this base, 298 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:12,160 trying to lure Carlos Hathcock out so that he could be killed as well. 299 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:17,400 So Carlos Hathaway, because he was an honorable man and because he had courage, he left the 300 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:25,000 base camp to try to hunt down the sniper. 301 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:26,760 So there he goes. 302 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:27,760 He's out. 303 00:22:27,760 --> 00:22:29,080 He's outside the wire. 304 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:31,120 He's crawling on his stomach. 305 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:37,560 He's moving around slowly trying to out, outmaneuver this enemy sniper. 306 00:22:37,560 --> 00:22:45,880 And at one point during this battle, he sees a shimmer of light off in the distance, recognizing 307 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,120 this glimmer was the enemy scope. 308 00:22:48,120 --> 00:22:54,520 He's able to aim in on that flicker of light and from 500 yards away, he shoots. 309 00:22:54,520 --> 00:23:02,060 And it just so happens that it goes into the enemy scope, which is just a few inches wide. 310 00:23:02,060 --> 00:23:06,120 And then it kills the enemy sniper. 311 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:12,120 The courage it took for Carlos Hathcock to go out into this clear ambush, but to get 312 00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:19,540 up every day and perform at such a high level is nothing short of remarkable. 313 00:23:19,540 --> 00:23:21,960 But again, we have to remember why he did this. 314 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:26,680 He did this to save the lives of his brother Marines. 315 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:31,320 There's similar feats in the Old Testament with King David and his mighty men, men that 316 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:39,440 had courage to go do the unthinkable in service to their king and service to their brothers. 317 00:23:39,440 --> 00:23:42,480 It's easy for us to get caught up with the thought that courage is for the battlefield 318 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:43,480 though. 319 00:23:43,480 --> 00:23:46,560 The reality is that courage is for every day. 320 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:50,400 Witnessing and preaching the gospel to strangers takes courage. 321 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:54,800 Serving Christ takes courage, but we can be strong and courageous as we throw our yoke 322 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:58,840 upon the Lord, throw our burdens upon the Lord. 323 00:23:58,840 --> 00:24:04,280 This brings me to my last point, which is commitment. 324 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:06,160 The Marine Corps defines commitment this way. 325 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:10,400 Commitment is the spirit of determination and dedication found in the Marines. 326 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,120 It leads to the highest order of discipline for individuals and units. 327 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:18,080 It is the ingredient that enables constant dedication to the Corps and country. 328 00:24:18,080 --> 00:24:23,880 It inspires the unrelenting determination to achieve victory in every endeavor. 329 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:30,040 The dictionary defines commitment similarly as a pledge or a promise, an obligation, dedication, 330 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:31,040 allegiance. 331 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:39,080 Of course, if you're not going to be committed, then you're going to be someone who breaks 332 00:24:39,080 --> 00:24:47,400 trust, someone who breaches confidence, someone who refuses to do what was required of them, 333 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:48,400 or denial. 334 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:56,480 When we look at Psalm 105a, it says, He remembers His covenant forever, the word that He commanded 335 00:24:56,480 --> 00:25:00,280 for a thousand generations. 336 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,080 At the root of commitment is discipline. 337 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:07,800 We can see in our text that discipline is necessary to grow in all these core values. 338 00:25:07,800 --> 00:25:12,800 It is through being discipled and growing in self-discipline that you can grow in honor. 339 00:25:12,800 --> 00:25:16,680 By honoring the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit, you can grow in courage to stand and 340 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:22,720 preach the good news that you receive, the truth of salvation in Christ Jesus. 341 00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:28,280 By giving honor, we find courage that will solidify our commitment to Christ. 342 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:34,400 It is in this committed place that we continue to grow in honor, and the cycle starts again. 343 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,920 These values become embedded into who you are. 344 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:39,400 But it starts with Jesus. 345 00:25:39,400 --> 00:25:50,160 When we look at our text at 519-24, we are shown the truth that Jesus Christ is the way, 346 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:56,000 and that the Father has given Him the right to judge, and the Father has given Him the 347 00:25:56,000 --> 00:25:59,360 right to place honor. 348 00:25:59,360 --> 00:26:04,120 In verse 23, it says that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. 349 00:26:04,120 --> 00:26:08,280 Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him. 350 00:26:08,280 --> 00:26:13,320 Truly I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. 351 00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:19,260 He does not come into judgment, but is passed from death into life. 352 00:26:19,260 --> 00:26:24,160 Just as a young Marine enters into the service lacking many of these values, they are built 353 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,240 over time, but in time they become involuntary. 354 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:32,040 The same way that we can rely on Christ, it can become second nature and reflexive. 355 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:36,260 That doesn't mean it doesn't come without challenges over time. 356 00:26:36,260 --> 00:26:43,240 But the reality is that when you build your life upon these core values, you become a 357 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:49,040 more honorable, courageous, and committed individual for Christ. 358 00:26:49,040 --> 00:26:52,940 Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Habcock was blown up in that armored personnel carrier while 359 00:26:52,940 --> 00:26:58,440 literally on fire he climbed back into the burning wreckage to save his fellow Marines. 360 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:04,480 He didn't stop until he was forced to stop by others. 361 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,920 He suffered severe burns over 40% of his body. 362 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:13,360 So such were the burns on his body, he became a marksmanship instructor, a rifle instructor 363 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:15,560 later in life. 364 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:21,900 And if he shot too many rounds on the firing line, on the rifle range, the skin grafts 365 00:27:21,900 --> 00:27:25,920 that held his body together would split open. 366 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:31,800 So he was still, even after this, giving his body and sacrifice to train other Marines 367 00:27:31,800 --> 00:27:39,420 so that they would be able to survive going over to Vietnam. 368 00:27:39,420 --> 00:27:45,560 This self-sacrifice more than anything else is what called me to serve in the Marine Corps. 369 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:49,900 But who else sacrifices for others like this? 370 00:27:49,900 --> 00:27:53,040 He didn't know these men, not well. 371 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:55,200 He was primarily alone. 372 00:27:55,200 --> 00:28:00,680 No direct ties to any of them other than their bondage of service. 373 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:07,240 So again, I ask who else is willing to die for us? 374 00:28:07,240 --> 00:28:10,880 Do you know anybody who's just willing to die for strangers? 375 00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:17,000 I know one person who died for all of humanity's sins, and that's Christ. 376 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:23,320 Christ died for all of us in an act of self-sacrifice because you're worth it. 377 00:28:23,320 --> 00:28:29,740 And through his sacrifice, you too can grow and honor courage and commitment to his cause. 378 00:28:29,740 --> 00:28:35,360 Later on, after I was in the Marine Corps, I was led to this place of decision in my 379 00:28:35,360 --> 00:28:40,480 own life because I was again an angry, drunk Marine. 380 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:46,360 Not having found what I wanted in the earthly things of men, I had turned to God because 381 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:53,320 there was one guy in my unit who was saved, who was born again, and he had joy, abounding 382 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:54,320 joy. 383 00:28:54,320 --> 00:28:56,720 And it didn't make sense. 384 00:28:56,720 --> 00:29:05,680 It didn't make sense where this joy came from until I chose to honor the son, to honor Jesus 385 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,680 Christ, to give my life to him. 386 00:29:08,680 --> 00:29:12,640 You know, with that, I'm going to bring this to an end. 387 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:20,640 But before I do, unless you're driving or whatever, I want you to close your eyes and 388 00:29:20,640 --> 00:29:27,640 just listen for a second as I give you an invitation. 389 00:29:27,640 --> 00:29:29,680 This is basically an altar call. 390 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:34,280 You can make the altar wherever, but basically all it is is it's an invitation that if this 391 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:39,680 message is resonated with you, if you feel convicted in your spirit and you know that 392 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:46,600 your heart is not right with God, it can be very easily. 393 00:29:46,600 --> 00:29:53,480 All you have to do to be saved is to recognize that you're fallen, that you're a sinner, 394 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:57,200 that you're not perfect, basically. 395 00:29:57,200 --> 00:30:02,880 And to turn from that to say, I will strive to do better as I accept you, Lord, into my 396 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,720 heart to be my savior. 397 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:11,640 So you give honor to the son, to Jesus Christ. 398 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:15,160 So if it was a prayer, it just sounds something very simple like this. 399 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:18,160 Dear Lord God, you can repeat this after me. 400 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:20,480 Dear Lord God, I know that I'm a sinner. 401 00:30:20,480 --> 00:30:23,360 I know that I'm not perfect, but I repent. 402 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:26,000 I turn from my sin. 403 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,800 I accept you, Lord Jesus, to be my savior. 404 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:33,640 I accept you into my heart, into my life. 405 00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:40,200 I thank you for washing me clean of all my sin, of all my wrongdoing as I give my life 406 00:30:40,200 --> 00:30:42,840 over to you in Jesus name. 407 00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:44,040 Amen. 408 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:50,000 That simple prayer moves you from for being unsaved to say. 409 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:56,480 And it now makes you part of the family of Jesus Christ. 410 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:00,920 And he will honor you in the play in the face of the father. 411 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:05,280 And it brings you into direct relationship into the father. 412 00:31:05,280 --> 00:31:09,280 So I tell you to find a church and lock in. 413 00:31:09,280 --> 00:31:11,560 If you're in Salmon Arm, come to come to church. 414 00:31:11,560 --> 00:31:15,280 If you're in Chilliwack, go to our church in there. 415 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:17,200 If you don't know where to go, reach out to me. 416 00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:21,720 We have fellowship churches throughout the world. 417 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:25,840 But Jesus Christ is moving and he wants to move in your life. 418 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:31,360 And he wants to help you to be an honorable, courageous and committed person in Jesus name. 419 00:31:31,360 --> 00:31:32,960 I thank you for listening to me. 420 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:38,360 And I pray that this message has resonated with you and that you'll come back next time. 421 00:31:38,360 --> 00:31:39,360 Thank you. 422 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:44,480 Thank you for listening to the P.H.S.A. 423 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:46,320 Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. 424 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:51,000 Be sure to follow us on Instagram at pottershouse underscore salmon arm to keep up to date on 425 00:31:51,000 --> 00:31:52,000 what we're doing. 426 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:56,080 Join the conversation and discover how Jesus Christ can revolutionize your life.