1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:12,560 Welcome to the Potter's House Salmon Arm podcast. We are a Bible-Believing Church located in 2 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:17,320 beautiful British Columbia, Canada. We are proudly part of the Christian Fellowship Ministries with 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:22,840 3,000 churches around the world. We are a church focused on world evangelism, discipleship, and 4 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:28,360 church planting. Here we will share recent sermons from P.H.S.A. Church and other sermons from 5 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:33,000 throughout our fellowship. I am Pastor David Bickford and I will be your host for this podcast. 6 00:00:33,000 --> 00:00:37,840 I thank you for listening today and we hope these messages are a blessing to you and bring you closer 7 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:51,560 to God. Hello and welcome back to the podcast again. My name is David Bickford. I'm the pastor 8 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:57,200 here at the Potter's House Church in Salmon Arm, British Columbia. This message I've put together 9 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:02,880 today is called Hitting the Wall, Trained Fuel and Pace. Even though I know you guys are going to 10 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:09,160 be listening to this on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, this is not specifically a Christmas message. 11 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:15,760 These again are sermons that I've put together that I've already preached in the church in times 12 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:21,360 past. This one was from back in March. Even so, we want to make sure that we pay attention and 13 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:28,480 give reverence to the time of the season, the reason why we slow down and we worship God and 14 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:35,760 the birth of Jesus Christ during this period of time. With that, we can be blessed. I'm just 15 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:40,720 going to go ahead and jump in and move on. The text that we're going to be working from today is 16 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:50,720 Acts 14, 1-7 and then verses 19-23 as well. Our lives are often spent chasing a dream or a goal. 17 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:55,680 Sometimes we are motivated and disciplined in seeing our dreams and goals come to reality. 18 00:01:55,680 --> 00:02:03,160 We work tirelessly and excitedly full of energy and zeal during these initial starting phases, 19 00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:09,720 these periods of time. Other times, the work can grind us down and we become tired and depressed. 20 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:17,000 How we behave in those times is how we will decide whether we're going to grow or will we 21 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:25,560 slowly begin to decay. There's always an idea of either you're moving forward in growth or 22 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:34,600 as you slow down and become idle or lethargy sets in, you just begin to become less and less 23 00:02:34,600 --> 00:02:42,120 as you decay. I've seen this in my own life many, many times. It seems that I can keep energy and 24 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:49,240 excitement for about three months on a project. That's my typical growth cycle. I can maintain 25 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:55,880 all the needed energy and zeal for a given task for about that three-month window. Then I always 26 00:02:55,880 --> 00:03:03,560 seem to hit a wall. Sometimes it's only a small wall and I'm able to quickly jump over it or 27 00:03:03,560 --> 00:03:09,480 get right back on track. Other times, it feels like an insurmountable obstacle and I can get 28 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:15,960 overwhelmed and find myself wanting to quit. I'm sure we've all dealt with this, but this is just 29 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:23,800 me being honest and trying to be real here is the fact that we all have these feelings 30 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:31,880 and we all deal with this battle of how do I continue on? How do I keep moving forward 31 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:40,120 when I don't feel like moving forward? Maybe my intrigue by this or my interest in 32 00:03:41,400 --> 00:03:49,240 growth and moving forward and moving past hitting a wall, maybe that's why I have such a love for 33 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,640 endurance sports like long-distance hiking and stories of explorers and settlers. 34 00:03:54,200 --> 00:04:01,400 Which brings me to a quick story or my intro is we're going to look at David Goggins. David Goggins 35 00:04:01,400 --> 00:04:08,360 is just an amazing creature as far as what he's able to accomplish with his 36 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:15,960 mental strength and his physical strength. David started running in 2005 and at the time, 37 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:22,840 he weighed 280 pounds. He first thought about running a distance longer than a marathon, 38 00:04:23,640 --> 00:04:29,800 even though he'd never run a marathon before, once when he lost some friends in the military. 39 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:37,080 He's a military Navy SEAL. He was committed to raising money for charity, to helping families 40 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:45,480 like that of his friends that had passed away. We'll look at that in a little bit more detail 41 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:54,040 as we continue on. He decided he wanted to run the bad water, ultra marathon, if you will, 42 00:04:54,040 --> 00:05:00,600 to achieve that fundraising goal. He was told he would have to do 100 mile or first 43 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:07,960 because the bad water, I can't remember exactly how long it is. I think it's over 150 or something, 44 00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:14,600 or I don't remember. It's not important. Even so, in order to qualify to run the bad water, 45 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:21,000 because that's running through the Death Valley, California, he had to prove his capability and do 46 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:26,440 this 100 mile or first. So he went and did that just four days later. And keep in mind, at this 47 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:32,760 point, he had yet to run a marathon and he had started out in a race to run a hundred miles. 48 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:39,560 Yes, he was a Navy SEAL, but it's a different skill set to run a marathon. And it's even a 49 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:47,720 different skill set beyond that to run an ultra marathon. Regardless, he finished that first 50 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:55,160 hundred miles in just under 19 hours in 2005, but he suffered kidney failure and broke several bones 51 00:05:55,160 --> 00:06:01,000 in his feet. Just a few weeks later, he ran his first marathon at a time of 308. Most runners who 52 00:06:01,000 --> 00:06:06,680 run a hundred miler would not be able to do any type of speed work for a while. But David crushed 53 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:15,080 his first marathon at a time of 308, shortly after running his first hundred miler. From that point, 54 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:21,160 he began to run many endurance events, ultra marathons, triathlons. He does this even though 55 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:28,280 he says he hates to run, hates to bike, hates to swim. He does all of this to raise money for 56 00:06:28,280 --> 00:06:34,680 charities that are near his heart. A few years ago, he described his daily journey as rising 57 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:40,200 very early in the morning to run 15 miles, bike 25 miles to work, run another five to eight miles 58 00:06:40,200 --> 00:06:47,080 during lunch, and then bike 25 miles home. Sometimes he would run a few more miles after that 59 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:55,240 before doing his weight workouts. And all the while, this is when he was an active duty Navy Seal. 60 00:06:56,040 --> 00:07:02,520 So that's the craziest part of this is he's doing all this extra stuff on top of what his normal 61 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:09,080 workload would be as a Navy Seal. That brings me back to the reason why he started running and 62 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:13,240 doing all these events is because of some of his fellow Navy Seals that had died in Afghanistan, 63 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,560 and he wanted to do something to help their families and honor their memory. So he began 64 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,480 running for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The foundation says they believe 65 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:26,680 he has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the families of those fallen soldiers. 66 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:34,200 So even though his pain and all of this punishment that he's put his body through, 67 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:40,440 he's raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for those that are what he considers part of his 68 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:46,440 larger extended Navy Seal family. And above that, his Special Operations family. 69 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:51,000 So let's look at our text, Acts 14 verses one through seven, and then we'll jump down 70 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:59,320 in verses 19 through 23. So this is about Paul and Barnabas at Iconium. Now at Iconium, they 71 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:03,960 entered together into the Jewish synagogue and spoke in such a way that a great number of both 72 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,840 Jews and Greeks believed, but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds 73 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:14,120 against the brothers. So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore 74 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:18,520 witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hand. 75 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:24,600 But the people of the city were divided, some sided with the Jews and some with the apostles. 76 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:30,360 When an attempt was made by both Gentiles and Jews with their rulers to mistreat them and stone them, 77 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:35,880 they learned of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Iconia and to the surrounding country. 78 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:42,680 And they continued to preach the gospel. So now we jump down to verse 19, but the Jews came from 79 00:08:42,680 --> 00:08:47,560 Antioch and Iconium and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out 80 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:52,200 of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he rose up and 81 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:57,640 entered the city. And on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe, where they had preached 82 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:02,520 the gospel to that city and had made many disciples. They returned to Lystra and Iconium 83 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,680 and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue the 84 00:09:06,680 --> 00:09:13,000 faith and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had 85 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:16,920 appointed the elders for them in every church with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the 86 00:09:16,920 --> 00:09:21,640 Lord and whom they had believed. This brings me to my first point, which is better training. 87 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:27,400 Prepare for the job ahead. Back when I was a hydraulics mechanic, I overhauled hydraulic 88 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:33,880 actuators. This would normally take me about 45 minutes, but when it was a sub-safe actuator, 89 00:09:33,880 --> 00:09:40,680 it would take a week. Sub-safe just simply means that it's an extra criteria to make something 90 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:48,200 safe for installation into a submarine. So you've got a big old sub going under the water. They want 91 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:53,000 to make sure everything's going to go right because this is a critical component towards 92 00:09:53,560 --> 00:10:06,120 them being able to submerge and resurface. The reason why this added time to the overhaul of 93 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:11,560 an actuator is because of all the planning. These critical components had to be done perfectly 94 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:16,840 right every time. We had to track everything. We had to have a plan written out and we had to get 95 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:21,400 everyone involved and onto the same page. So better training starts with better planning, 96 00:10:21,400 --> 00:10:25,880 but not at the sake of action. The work still has to get done. Throughout the scripture, 97 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:31,720 we see men of faith like Apostle Paul, guys like David Goggins might be known as pretty hardcore 98 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:37,720 and tough guy these days, but he doesn't have anything on our Apostle Paul and many of the 99 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:42,680 other heroes of the faith. What we can learn from Paul as well as David Goggins is that we could see 100 00:10:42,680 --> 00:10:47,880 that we have a part to play in mental toughness. When I hit a wall and when I'm exhausted or I feel 101 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:54,040 like a failure, we can look at men like this and we can see how they continue to get up. 102 00:10:55,080 --> 00:11:01,320 That we need to also pull ourselves up. We have to continue to get up. David Goggins gets up every 103 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:09,320 day and suits up for his brothers in arms, the lost and their kids. He desperately wants to give 104 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:15,320 every day something back to his community. And even though this is an earthly goal, 105 00:11:16,360 --> 00:11:21,880 it's noble, but it's still a very earthly goal. It is enough for him to go run on broken legs 106 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:27,800 and finish his races. He trains every day to be better prepared for the task at hand. 107 00:11:28,840 --> 00:11:34,120 What should we do then like the Apostle Paul? We have something even more important to get up 108 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:39,640 that should be getting us up every morning. Our work is to pick up the mantle of the Apostles, 109 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:44,280 to pick up where our leaders of the faith have left off. We have a duty to fulfill this great 110 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:49,320 commission that we received from Christ. In Colossians 3.2 it says, 111 00:11:49,320 --> 00:11:52,920 set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that of the earth. 112 00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:59,240 But pastor, we are not all called to plant churches, to be evangelists, to operate a public ministry. 113 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:03,560 I fully understand that we all have different callings within the body of Christ, but the 114 00:12:03,560 --> 00:12:08,600 reality is the same, that we are all called to prepare for the work that Christ has, or Christ 115 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:15,720 does have for us to do. In Colossians 3.23-24, whatever you do, work heartily as for the Lord 116 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:20,840 and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as a reward. 117 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:27,720 You are serving the Lord Christ. The reality is that you are serving the Lord Christ. 118 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:33,640 The reality is that we are all in an endurance race. We should all want to finish, but in order 119 00:12:33,640 --> 00:12:39,160 to keep running this race, we need to train better. David Goggins was already in fantastic 120 00:12:39,160 --> 00:12:45,480 shape, and in a Navy Seal he ran his first 100 mile race. Even with all of David Goggins' training, 121 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:51,320 he still ended up breaking himself and tearing himself up. We should look at this as proof that 122 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:55,000 even the best of us have work to do, and even the worst of us can get better. 123 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:59,080 Clearly this is going to be the most obvious statement made, but you need to follow your 124 00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:04,600 training plan. You need to have consistently, you know, you need to be consistently building 125 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:10,360 yourself for the race. When I hit a wall and I hit them all the time, I try to find ways to get up 126 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,880 off the floor, regroup and get moving again. I might be moving slowly at first, but there's 127 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:21,160 a natural medicine in moving forward. In relation to our great calling, it is important to remember 128 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:27,000 2 Timothy 3, 6, all scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, 129 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:31,320 for correction, and for the training in the righteous, and for training in righteousness. 130 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:38,680 The Word of God is the plan. It is written out and details our actions, and it tells us how we 131 00:13:38,680 --> 00:13:44,440 should fuel ourselves for this mission. This brings me to my next point, which is better fueling. 132 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:49,880 Matthew 4, 4 says, but he answered, it is written, man shall not lack the strength of the strength of 133 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:54,120 it is written, man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes out from the mouth of 134 00:13:54,120 --> 00:14:01,960 God. I was looking at a, uh, a running blog when thinking about better fueling. And I came across 135 00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,360 this article that, you know, that talks about better fueling in this, in this way. 136 00:14:07,240 --> 00:14:11,880 If you've done your base building correctly, you've helped teach your body how to use 137 00:14:12,520 --> 00:14:17,480 little more fat than carbs for fuel, which means you won't need quite as much fuel on race day. 138 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:22,280 But as you increase intensity, your body is going to start burning more carbs and looking for quick, 139 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:28,040 easy sources of energy. You don't need to be taking in hundreds of calories per hour, but you do need 140 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:33,000 to be giving your body some fuel. Eat a solid breakfast a few hours before the race to ensure 141 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:40,280 your glycogen stores are topped off. And you've got enough not to feel hungry. Starting line fueling 142 00:14:40,280 --> 00:14:46,520 with pre-workout or caffeine shot block or whole food options at five, 12, 18, and 23 mile increments. 143 00:14:46,520 --> 00:14:50,840 This extra shows us, and you might be thinking like, what does that have to do with anything? 144 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:56,600 But this, this chunk of this article shows us how athletes have to really think and prepare 145 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:02,520 for marathon race. How even during the race, they, they must take care to fuel their bodies 146 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:08,120 if they hope to complete the race. As we strive to serve God, we must also take heed to feed 147 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:14,680 ourselves through the word and the scripture and cultivating our prayer line. Sometimes we neglect 148 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:19,640 both our spiritual and physical nutrition. Let's look at this next part of David Goggins story. 149 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:26,280 A few years ago, his hard training began to actually hurt more than normal. And he went to 150 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:31,400 his doctor and found that he had a hole in his heart from birth. The hole was the size of a poker 151 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:37,480 chip. It took a couple of surgeries to fix his heart. Believe it or not, he had run dozens of 152 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:42,600 races and ultra marathons, went through hell week, Navy seal training and other events with this 153 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:47,320 hole in his heart. That takes some kind of incredible willpower to push through that pain 154 00:15:47,640 --> 00:15:52,520 that he must have endured. Not that I'm suggesting anyone pushes through that much pain, but 155 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:58,040 fortunately they were able to repair his heart and he was back running after many months of recovery. 156 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:04,920 This draws a picture that we often, you know, oftentimes we'll neglect the issues of the heart. 157 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:10,520 We will push ourselves to the brink with the wrong kind of work. And this can lead us to ignore the 158 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:16,120 core issues that are causing us to hit a wall. As we grow in any endeavor, we must understand that 159 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:21,800 it is a building process and we have to allow God the time to work on our hearts and prepare us for 160 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:29,960 the work that he has for us. First Corinthians 3, 2 again says, I fed you with milk, not solid food, 161 00:16:29,960 --> 00:16:34,840 for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not ready. The apostle Paul was dealing with 162 00:16:34,840 --> 00:16:39,560 new believers constantly as he built churches throughout his travels. He had to learn to 163 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:44,280 teach and train people at the level that they were at. And we have to understand that in order to 164 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:49,720 endure for the whole race, we need to conserve our energy and patiently wait on the Lord. 165 00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:56,280 Matthew 11, 28 through 30 says, come to me, all who labor are heavy laden and I will give you rest. 166 00:16:56,840 --> 00:17:02,200 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly at heart and you will find rest 167 00:17:02,200 --> 00:17:09,320 for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. And this brings me to my final 168 00:17:09,320 --> 00:17:14,280 point, better pacing and every kind of endurance race, the professionals will tell you that you 169 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:22,440 have to, you have to pace yourself. There's an absolute need to pace yourself. When I was in high 170 00:17:22,440 --> 00:17:28,760 school, I ran cross country. I wasn't particularly good. In fact, I was downright mediocre, 171 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:34,280 but regardless, I learned a lot from the experience that cross country is a team sport and it's scored 172 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:41,400 as a team. The cumulative score of the entire team, team's finishes would be added up 173 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:47,800 in the team with the most points would win the meat. This meant that finishing as strong as you 174 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:52,120 could as an individual could still have a huge impact on the team's success. 175 00:17:53,960 --> 00:18:02,440 I remember one race out in California desert town of Boron. It was a really hot, really dry day. 176 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:07,560 It was one of my slowest runs that entire season. The town is a Borax mining town and it had a 177 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:14,680 certain smell to it, like rotten eggs. So as I was slogging through this horrible run, I remember 178 00:18:14,680 --> 00:18:20,680 passing a few other runners as we grint, you know, our group went up this grueling hill. 179 00:18:22,120 --> 00:18:27,720 It was a sandy hill too. So you imagine running up a sandy hill in the heat of the California 180 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:33,960 desert. As we approached the finish line, I had to do everything to maintain my slim lead and the 181 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:40,360 hopes to gain a couple extra points. I was far from first place in this race, but as one of the 182 00:18:40,360 --> 00:18:45,320 anchors on my team, I was still able to come in just ahead of enough runners to help us win this 183 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:51,480 meat. My contribution was not amazing, but I finished strong. My only strength in running is 184 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:56,360 a determination to keep going. And in our texts, we see Paul do the same thing as I do. 185 00:18:56,360 --> 00:19:00,920 In our texts, we see Paul do the same thing. In verses five through seven, we see Paul and Barnabas 186 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:07,080 catching wind of a plot to stone them. Paul was determined to continue on in his race. And in verse 187 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:13,880 19, we saw that he was stoned and left for dead. But in verse 20, we saw that he got up. The very 188 00:19:13,880 --> 00:19:20,360 next day he was out there preaching again. Paul understood that the outcome today did not have to 189 00:19:20,360 --> 00:19:26,680 determine his success tomorrow. He was focused on his heavenly success and he left the outcome in 190 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:33,880 God's hands. This is how he came, or this is how we can pace ourselves. We focus on the actions 191 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:39,880 that will help us be successful, but the outcome is left to God. As a fellowship, we're called to 192 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:44,280 world evangelism. We can focus on sharing the gospel and witnessing to everyone. We give our 193 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:48,920 time to the things of God. We support the things of God with our finances, but the results are in 194 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:56,120 our hands. We are running a marathon, but unlike David Goggins, running an ultra marathon, an 195 00:19:56,120 --> 00:20:01,400 Ironman, or any other endurance challenge, we do not know how long this race will last. That is why 196 00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:06,360 we rest in the Lord. That is why we give ourselves, or we give up our burdens to Christ. 197 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:12,520 That is the only way we will be able to continue to fight the good fight and run the race till the 198 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:19,080 end. That is why we need to be in control of the good fight and run the race until the end. 199 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:26,040 So that is the reason you need to be in control of the good fight and run the race until the end. 200 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:33,160 Better pacing. You've heard it said that you need to stay in control during this. This is another 201 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:41,000 excerpt that I'm pulling from that article about marathon running training. When I talked about 202 00:20:41,000 --> 00:20:42,600 as your heart rate shoots way up 203 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:44,340 and it expends too much energy. 204 00:20:46,460 --> 00:20:50,980 We need to first make the first miles your slowest miles. 205 00:20:50,980 --> 00:20:51,940 Likely won't happen, 206 00:20:51,940 --> 00:20:55,120 but thinking that way will help you hold back. 207 00:20:55,120 --> 00:20:58,440 Try not to spend a ton of energy dodging other runners. 208 00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:01,000 Settle into your goals and pace quickly 209 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:03,540 rather than aiming to negative splits. 210 00:21:03,540 --> 00:21:06,620 Don't try to pick up the pace until you pass mile 21, 211 00:21:06,620 --> 00:21:08,280 still feeling strong. 212 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,220 These ideas of better pacing 213 00:21:10,220 --> 00:21:13,880 can be all extrapolated into the spiritual. 214 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:16,380 When you're starting out, 215 00:21:16,380 --> 00:21:20,600 don't try to get saved one day and go to seminary the next. 216 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:22,260 It'll bog you down. 217 00:21:24,280 --> 00:21:26,840 That's in fact one of the reasons why as a fellowship 218 00:21:26,840 --> 00:21:28,560 we don't send people to seminary 219 00:21:28,560 --> 00:21:31,220 is we do in-house discipleship. 220 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:35,760 Is because oftentimes you'll go and you can lose the fire. 221 00:21:35,760 --> 00:21:39,180 But first, just make those first miles, 222 00:21:39,180 --> 00:21:43,560 those first days or months or weeks, months with Christ, 223 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,140 just to get used to it. 224 00:21:47,980 --> 00:21:50,560 You can dig into the word of God, sure that's all good, 225 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:52,940 but just you do it with an understanding 226 00:21:52,940 --> 00:21:54,140 that you have to grow. 227 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,620 Don't try to like outpace others 228 00:21:57,620 --> 00:21:59,580 or do more than everybody else that you're around. 229 00:21:59,580 --> 00:22:01,740 You're gonna wear yourself out. 230 00:22:01,740 --> 00:22:03,580 Settle in. 231 00:22:03,580 --> 00:22:06,000 And focus in on Christ. 232 00:22:08,300 --> 00:22:11,460 And here's David Goggins' 10 rules for success, 233 00:22:11,460 --> 00:22:14,260 but I'm gonna put a biblical twist on these as well. 234 00:22:14,260 --> 00:22:16,920 So he says, number one, go towards the truth. 235 00:22:18,300 --> 00:22:20,500 Don't run away from the truth, don't forget who you are. 236 00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:22,260 The world needs unique people. 237 00:22:22,260 --> 00:22:25,340 And as David says, the only way I became successful 238 00:22:25,340 --> 00:22:26,800 was going towards the truth. 239 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:29,460 As painful and as brutal as it is, it changed me. 240 00:22:29,460 --> 00:22:31,380 It allowed me to become in my own world 241 00:22:31,380 --> 00:22:33,840 who I am today. 242 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:37,340 John 14, 16 says, Jesus said to him, 243 00:22:37,340 --> 00:22:39,540 I am the way, the truth, and the light. 244 00:22:39,540 --> 00:22:42,340 No one comes to the Father except through me. 245 00:22:42,340 --> 00:22:45,540 David Goggins' number two says, have a cookie jar. 246 00:22:45,540 --> 00:22:47,260 Believe in your accomplishments and your failures. 247 00:22:47,260 --> 00:22:48,500 Put them in a cookie jar. 248 00:22:48,500 --> 00:22:51,720 When you feel everything isn't going well, 249 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,220 reach into the cookie jar and remember who you are. 250 00:22:55,600 --> 00:22:58,780 This speaks to me of strengthening your prayer life, 251 00:22:58,780 --> 00:23:01,460 keeping a list of needs and answered prayers. 252 00:23:02,500 --> 00:23:04,700 Number three, get out of your routine. 253 00:23:04,700 --> 00:23:08,580 If you live in a comfort zone, 254 00:23:08,580 --> 00:23:10,540 it becomes your everyday norm. 255 00:23:10,540 --> 00:23:12,940 It stops you from gaining new experiences, 256 00:23:12,940 --> 00:23:14,500 knowledge and development. 257 00:23:14,500 --> 00:23:16,620 Witness and strive to serve in new ways 258 00:23:16,620 --> 00:23:17,900 for the purpose of Christ. 259 00:23:17,900 --> 00:23:19,620 That's how I've pulled this one in. 260 00:23:20,500 --> 00:23:21,860 Number four, thicken your skin. 261 00:23:21,860 --> 00:23:23,680 Don't tap around the truth, 262 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:25,140 trying to find the right words. 263 00:23:25,140 --> 00:23:27,040 Tighten up, it's okay. 264 00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:28,860 No matter what they call you, it's okay. 265 00:23:28,860 --> 00:23:31,220 They don't own you, only you own your life. 266 00:23:32,260 --> 00:23:34,860 So the way I look at this one is we need to 267 00:23:34,860 --> 00:23:37,340 expect persecution for Christ's sake 268 00:23:37,340 --> 00:23:41,740 and understand that he who is with us is greater. 269 00:23:41,740 --> 00:23:44,900 In 2 Kings 6, 16, he said, do not be afraid 270 00:23:44,900 --> 00:23:47,200 for those who are with us are more 271 00:23:47,200 --> 00:23:48,660 than those who are with them. 272 00:23:50,020 --> 00:23:52,320 Number five is breaking through walls. 273 00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:53,500 Every wall has a door. 274 00:23:53,500 --> 00:23:55,660 Just reach for the key in your pocket 275 00:23:55,660 --> 00:23:58,420 and don't be scared of what is on the other side. 276 00:23:59,300 --> 00:24:01,720 Number six is ask yourself what if. 277 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,580 What if I can be that person I want to be? 278 00:24:03,580 --> 00:24:05,820 What if I can pull off a miracle? 279 00:24:05,820 --> 00:24:06,980 What if I hadn't tried? 280 00:24:06,980 --> 00:24:09,360 What if I can be that guy because you can? 281 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:13,020 Number seven, be driven. 282 00:24:13,020 --> 00:24:15,460 You gotta believe you're the hardest guy in the world. 283 00:24:15,460 --> 00:24:16,340 You did it. 284 00:24:16,340 --> 00:24:19,940 Drive will take you places unfathomable to ordinary men. 285 00:24:21,220 --> 00:24:22,680 Number eight is accept your journey. 286 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:24,300 Don't be afraid to take your journey. 287 00:24:24,300 --> 00:24:26,700 Don't take the easier path. 288 00:24:26,700 --> 00:24:28,500 Accept it because after suffering, 289 00:24:28,500 --> 00:24:29,760 you'll have it your way. 290 00:24:32,180 --> 00:24:33,400 Number nine is give back. 291 00:24:33,400 --> 00:24:35,580 Pass your message to kids and people around you, 292 00:24:35,580 --> 00:24:36,740 people who are in need, 293 00:24:36,740 --> 00:24:38,940 people who lack motivation and drive. 294 00:24:38,940 --> 00:24:41,380 And number 10 is test your limits. 295 00:24:41,380 --> 00:24:45,220 Train until you feel uncomfortable. 296 00:24:45,220 --> 00:24:48,220 You wake up from a run and it's just raining cats and dogs. 297 00:24:48,220 --> 00:24:50,220 No excuses, go out. 298 00:24:50,220 --> 00:24:51,320 Don't set the bar high. 299 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:52,580 Don't strive to be excellent. 300 00:24:52,580 --> 00:24:54,980 Just to give it your all. 301 00:24:56,220 --> 00:24:57,880 And then you can sum up the rest of these, 302 00:24:57,880 --> 00:25:00,940 all of this stuff that David Goggins has talked 10 303 00:25:00,940 --> 00:25:04,580 and into a very understandable way 304 00:25:04,580 --> 00:25:07,060 is that we're doing all of this unto the Lord. 305 00:25:07,060 --> 00:25:08,900 Don't beat yourself up on the results. 306 00:25:08,900 --> 00:25:10,920 Just go out and give your best. 307 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,660 Even if you're super tired and worn out, 308 00:25:15,500 --> 00:25:17,380 just go out and give your best. 309 00:25:17,380 --> 00:25:20,380 If all you can muster is five minutes of something, 310 00:25:20,380 --> 00:25:22,780 go out and give it and give it your all. 311 00:25:24,820 --> 00:25:26,920 Because we are running a race, 312 00:25:28,120 --> 00:25:30,020 just like the apostle Paul talks about. 313 00:25:30,020 --> 00:25:31,380 He ran his race. 314 00:25:33,260 --> 00:25:36,140 And we're doing this for the Lord. 315 00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,220 So don't let, you know, when you hit the wall, 316 00:25:40,220 --> 00:25:42,220 don't let that be the end. 317 00:25:42,220 --> 00:25:46,100 You know, hit the wall, fall down, brush yourself up, 318 00:25:46,100 --> 00:25:48,860 reevaluate and continue on. 319 00:25:48,860 --> 00:25:51,900 Look for that door, as David Goggins said. 320 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:54,080 Look for way around the wall. 321 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,020 Just keep moving forward. 322 00:25:56,020 --> 00:25:59,200 Doesn't matter how fast, just keep moving forward. 323 00:26:03,580 --> 00:26:06,460 So that's, as we close, you can, 324 00:26:06,460 --> 00:26:08,700 if I could have every head bowed, every eye closed, 325 00:26:08,700 --> 00:26:10,920 if you're driving, obviously no. 326 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:12,820 Keep your eyes open and drive. 327 00:26:14,660 --> 00:26:17,940 This message is really one that's for me, 328 00:26:17,940 --> 00:26:21,580 just as much as I hope it's for somebody else out there. 329 00:26:21,580 --> 00:26:23,980 Because I believe that as a driven individual 330 00:26:23,980 --> 00:26:25,460 and driven individuals in life, 331 00:26:25,460 --> 00:26:27,500 you know, we all tend to hit the wall. 332 00:26:27,500 --> 00:26:31,260 And sometimes that can put us flat on our butt 333 00:26:31,260 --> 00:26:33,660 where we're just like, man, I don't know what to do. 334 00:26:34,620 --> 00:26:37,140 But we have to be able to pick ourselves up 335 00:26:37,140 --> 00:26:40,500 and continue moving forward, just like David Goggins did. 336 00:26:40,500 --> 00:26:42,580 And like he does, but even more so, 337 00:26:42,580 --> 00:26:45,160 like our apostle Paul does. 338 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:48,440 Like all the leaders of the faith do. 339 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:51,800 All those people we can read about, 340 00:26:51,800 --> 00:26:55,040 like King David in the Bible, they hit walls, 341 00:26:55,040 --> 00:26:58,000 they fell down, they screwed up, but they turned to God, 342 00:26:58,000 --> 00:26:59,600 they repented and they got back up 343 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:01,000 and they continued forward. 344 00:27:02,320 --> 00:27:04,320 When you're exhausted, when you're tired, 345 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:07,840 brush yourself up and start moving forward. 346 00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:10,680 If this message did touch your heart 347 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:13,200 and you've hit a wall, you're depressed, 348 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,280 you're being really hard on yourself, 349 00:27:15,280 --> 00:27:19,160 and maybe you know that you're not right with God, 350 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:23,360 but you wanna be, then I want you to, 351 00:27:24,360 --> 00:27:26,720 you know, signify that with an uplifted hand. 352 00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:29,320 You know, I can't see it, but God can. 353 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,400 This is about you, it's not about me. 354 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,240 And if you did that, if you raised your hand, 355 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:37,600 then I want you to pray a prayer, a prayer with me. 356 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,000 Just repeat, dear Lord God, I know that I'm a sinner. 357 00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:42,200 But I know that you sent your son, Jesus Christ, 358 00:27:42,200 --> 00:27:44,200 and that he died on the cross for me. 359 00:27:45,480 --> 00:27:48,160 I repent of my sins, I turn away from my sins, 360 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,840 and I accept Jesus as my savior. 361 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,960 I ask him to enter my heart and be my Lord, 362 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:57,960 and I thank you for the grace, 363 00:27:59,160 --> 00:28:01,320 for salvation through grace, 364 00:28:01,320 --> 00:28:04,240 and I give you all the praise and glory in Jesus' name, amen. 365 00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:08,200 It's a simple prayer, we just call that the sinner. 366 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,760 There's no real set standard to it 367 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:16,760 other than the admission that you're a sinner, 368 00:28:16,840 --> 00:28:19,160 because we're all falling short of the glory of God. 369 00:28:19,160 --> 00:28:21,560 The acceptance of Jesus as your savior, 370 00:28:23,000 --> 00:28:28,000 and just, that's it, receiving of salvation through grace. 371 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,160 He has his handout for you. 372 00:28:33,280 --> 00:28:35,960 And if you pray that prayer and he meant it, 373 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:38,560 and he absolutely meant it, then you've reached up, 374 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:41,400 you've reached up and he's grabbed you 375 00:28:41,400 --> 00:28:42,760 out of the murky water, 376 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:46,120 and he's lifted you up into the boat of salvation. 377 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:49,800 So I want to, again, as we close, 378 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:52,200 thank everybody listening today, 379 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,600 and I can't wait for you to come back next time, 380 00:28:54,600 --> 00:28:57,400 and I hope you have a tremendous Christmas. 381 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:01,680 And just remember the reason that we celebrate Christmas 382 00:29:01,680 --> 00:29:03,880 is that we're giving reverence to the gift 383 00:29:03,880 --> 00:29:07,880 that was given to mankind when Jesus Christ came to earth 384 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,000 in human flesh as a servant. 385 00:29:12,120 --> 00:29:17,120 And it starts the race towards Easter 386 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:21,960 when we again look at the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made 387 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:25,800 when he hung on the cross and the ultimate victory 388 00:29:25,800 --> 00:29:27,400 when he rose from the grave. 389 00:29:28,280 --> 00:29:31,000 So remember that, that we're worshiping the fact that 390 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,360 Jesus, God in flesh, came to earth, 391 00:29:35,560 --> 00:29:39,400 but it starts the revelation that he also, 392 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,440 as a servant, went to the cross and died for your sins, 393 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:44,040 my sins, our sins. 394 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:48,520 For those who will turn to him in repentance 395 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:52,280 and acceptance of his grace can be saved. 396 00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:55,320 So with that, I want to again wish you 397 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:56,200 just a Merry Christmas. 398 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:57,160 Thank you for listening. 399 00:29:57,160 --> 00:30:01,320 I can't wait for you to come back next time.