1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,440 Hello and welcome to the Arise Church Podcast. 2 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,520 We are so glad you're here and want to thank you for joining us 3 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,520 today for the audio version of our Sunday morning message. 4 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,960 We want to invite you to join us in person at our Sunday morning 5 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,360 celebration every Sunday at 10 AM. 6 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,040 We are located on Old Jenks Rd. in Apex, NC. 7 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:28,400 All right, you ready for 2026? We're calling it the the year or 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,880 more the year or more. So let's just declare that over 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:35,240 ourselves right now. Lord, we thank you for 2026. 10 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:38,640 We are one year closer to the return of the Lord. 11 00:00:40,240 --> 00:00:43,400 It might be tomorrow, right? We're one year closer. 12 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,320 I'm this is our 43rd wedding anniversary coming up. 13 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,280 Woo, that's a big one. Lord, we thank you. 14 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:55,240 We thank you for more wholeness, for more freedom, for more Lord, 15 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:57,880 for more people that we know that come into the Kingdom. 16 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,280 Lord, Lord, we thank you for the season. 17 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:10,080 The year 2026 is the year of 2026 is the year of 2026 is the 18 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,480 year of. Thank you, Lord, thank you that 19 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:17,960 you are the God of more than enough and there is nothing too 20 00:01:17,960 --> 00:01:21,640 difficult for you. That's a word for somebody 21 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,720 today, right? Nothing too difficult for you. 22 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:28,560 Glory, glory. All right, well, I'm Beth Austin 23 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,160 and Ty asked me today, Mom, will you give the New Year's message? 24 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,200 And I said yes. So thank you all for listening 25 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:39,360 today. And today we're going to talk 26 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:44,080 about keeping your eye. And I'm very Western North 27 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:48,320 Carolina, so you'll have to translate keeping your eye on 28 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:54,440 the prize, Keeping your eye on the prize in 2026. 29 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:59,200 So what is the prize and how do we keep our eye on it? 30 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:04,840 Every race, and Paul talks about how we are running a race. 31 00:02:05,240 --> 00:02:07,040 We're going to get into it a little bit more in a few 32 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:11,360 minutes. But every race has a start, has 33 00:02:11,360 --> 00:02:17,640 a pace and has a finish. And every start starts with 34 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:22,920 either a gun, right? Or an announcement. 35 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:29,320 Or when you start this race is when you confess with your mouth 36 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,520 the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart. 37 00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:34,440 He is raised from the dead, right? 38 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,640 That was your start. Paul talks about it. 39 00:02:39,080 --> 00:02:42,480 Paul Start was on the road to Damascus, right? 40 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,600 His start was phenomenal. It was amazing. 41 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:51,880 Your start, baby, is amazing. My start was when I was 14 years 42 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,960 old at Hudson First Baptist on a Sunday night service. 43 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:04,480 My middle school teacher had an altar call and I responded, but 44 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:09,600 it was not until I was 20 in College in my dorm room where I 45 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,160 said, Lord, there must be more than this. 46 00:03:12,680 --> 00:03:15,840 And he said there is. Will you follow me? 47 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:22,000 40 something years later? The Lord has been so good to me. 48 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:27,160 He brought me out with a mighty hand and that was my start. 49 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,720 And the start was that I begin to call him Lord and make all my 50 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:36,720 decisions after him. That's the race, right? 51 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:38,920 That's the race. That's the start. 52 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,200 So I want to talk for a few minutes about the start and what 53 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:46,960 the prize is. The prize is eternity with 54 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,040 Jesus. That's the prize when we're 55 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,800 running this race, which is a marathon, right? 56 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:55,560 For many, many years, we will run this race. 57 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,880 We will, we will not arrive until we open heaven, right? 58 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:05,760 And all through this race that you have to keep your eye on the 59 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:09,600 prize. And the prize is eternity in 60 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:15,160 heaven, and your burning heart should be for that, for his 61 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,079 return or heaven, whichever comes first. 62 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:23,960 Glory, right? And what's after his heart? 63 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:30,120 What he loves is people and he wants everybody to come to 64 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:32,840 heaven. So that is the prize, right? 65 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,400 We bring more people with us and we keep our eye on heaven and 66 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,760 his return. So Lord, we thank you for that, 67 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,360 that you instill in us the hope of glory. 68 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:45,920 Wow. And that's what we're looking at 69 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:51,480 for 2026. So when you think about the 70 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:56,000 start, and we talked about my start, we talked about Paul's 71 00:04:56,000 --> 00:05:01,480 start, Jesus tells us about two different starts in Matthew 20. 72 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:04,920 He tells us about workers who started work at different times 73 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:08,840 in the day. But when it came to the end for 74 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:12,960 their pay, guess what? They all got the same reward. 75 00:05:13,280 --> 00:05:16,240 So no matter where you are in this journey, maybe you just 76 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:18,960 started. Maybe today you're going to make 77 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:21,920 the decision to start. Maybe you've been doing this a 78 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,440 long time. Wherever you start, the reward 79 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,800 is the same. That's good, isn't it? 80 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:32,040 Isn't that good news? So Lord, we thank you for that. 81 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:39,400 He also tells us about 5-10 bridesmaids and they started 82 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:43,920 together. Five of them were were ready. 83 00:05:44,560 --> 00:05:46,480 They had their eye on the prize, right? 84 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,680 They were locked in. They knew they needed to keep 85 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:54,040 oil in their lamps so that when the bridegroom came and they 86 00:05:54,040 --> 00:05:56,680 didn't know when he would come, they would be ready. 87 00:05:57,200 --> 00:06:00,080 There were five other bridesmaids who were not locked 88 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,760 in. They didn't have their eye on 89 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:05,360 the prize and they didn't have oil in their lamps. 90 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,000 And guess what? They were shut out. 91 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:13,760 So it's so important for us to be locked in, focused on what 92 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:15,720 the prize is. Do that to your neighbor. 93 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:20,040 Are you locked in? OK. 94 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:31,080 Whenever I started with the Lord in that college room, I began to 95 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:37,560 go to a church that taught the word, that taught me how to be a 96 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:42,640 disciple, who taught me to follow Jesus, to taught me to 97 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,560 love what he loves, to continually be in the word, 98 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,120 right. And that's how you learn to to 99 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:51,720 run the race. And so when you move from the 100 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:56,200 start and now you're into the full race, now you're being 101 00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,920 paced, right? And many times in this race that 102 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:03,880 we're running, we're being paced at different, different ways. 103 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,360 We have people on the sideline that's pacing us. 104 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:08,880 We have other runners beside of us pacing it. 105 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,680 Sometimes you have a coach that's saying this is your best 106 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:13,240 time. This is what you are at this 107 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,840 mark so that you can pick up your pace. 108 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:18,320 Right. And how many of you ever been 109 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:19,880 running? I know it looks like I probably 110 00:07:19,880 --> 00:07:22,320 haven't run in a while, but I did run track years ago. 111 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,840 How many of you have been running and you need a second 112 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,920 wind? Well, Lord, today we say 2026 is 113 00:07:29,920 --> 00:07:32,600 the second wind, right? We need to kick it up. 114 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:36,120 Some of you might be kind of groggy from the holidays. 115 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,040 Anybody groggy from the holidays? 116 00:07:39,080 --> 00:07:41,320 Yeah. You meant like that? 117 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:42,920 Here's your meter. Like I'm. 118 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:47,440 I'm still kind of don't even know where I am compared to I 119 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,040 already got the Christmas decorations down. 120 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:50,680 I moved on. Where are you? 121 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,640 Don't know where I am. Got the Christmas deck. 122 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,120 Oh, you're already down. OK, All right. 123 00:07:57,120 --> 00:07:59,960 So anyway, today we're waking up, we're clearing out the 124 00:07:59,960 --> 00:08:05,120 holiday fog and we're moving on to say we are locked in to the 125 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,360 prize, right? Locked in. 126 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:15,080 So if you look with me in First Corinthians verse 9, Paul's 127 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:16,640 telling us about setting the pace. 128 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,760 And when you think about Paul, think about all the details 129 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,240 about his life. Think about that. 130 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:29,880 He was shipwrecked 3 times, said he left in the ocean for a day 131 00:08:29,880 --> 00:08:37,120 and a night that he was. He did 9150 miles, almost all on 132 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:42,919 foot to spread the gospel that he says he was beaten with 40 133 00:08:42,919 --> 00:08:48,840 lashes five times. This man ran a race that was not 134 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,560 easy. He wrote most of the New 135 00:08:51,560 --> 00:08:57,560 Testament and Paul wrote the New Testament not from an eyewitness 136 00:08:57,560 --> 00:09:00,760 point of view, although he probably did see some of it, but 137 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:03,920 he wrote the New Testament from the point of view of what was 138 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:08,320 purchased on the cross and given to us through the resurrection. 139 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:14,960 That's the view he gave us. And all because he started on 140 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:18,080 that road to Damascus and had an encounter with Jesus. 141 00:09:18,320 --> 00:09:21,920 And so now he's telling us how to run this race. 142 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,080 And it's not because he ran an easy race. 143 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,560 He did not run an easy race. He was martyred in the end. 144 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:33,120 He willingly went to Rome, right where he knew that was where he 145 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:36,960 would end his life for the Gospel. 146 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:45,360 And so he's telling us in First Corinthians chapter, Chapter 9, 147 00:09:45,440 --> 00:09:49,080 verse 24. Do you not know that those who 148 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:56,520 run in a race all run? We're all running, but one 149 00:09:56,520 --> 00:10:02,080 receives the prize. Run in such a way you may obtain 150 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:04,800 it. We're all running. 151 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,000 We're all running for the same prize, eternity with Jesus and 152 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:12,280 taking as many people with us as possible, right? 153 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:17,760 We're all running for the same prize, He says Run like you will 154 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:21,560 win it. So when you pace like you will 155 00:10:21,560 --> 00:10:29,360 win it. It's not La Dee da, it's not a 156 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:33,000 stroll. It's well if it's not, If 157 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:36,080 somebody comes across my path, I'll lead them to Jesus. 158 00:10:37,440 --> 00:10:46,920 It is a full out run to win prize that's locked in. 159 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:51,200 That's a choice we make every day. 160 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:54,880 Is it easy? Will you have days you're on and 161 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:56,480 days you're off? Probably. 162 00:10:56,920 --> 00:11:02,040 But Lord, may 2026 be the year of more locked in. 163 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:05,960 I'm locked in looking for what the Lord has for me to do in 164 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:07,760 this race. He has called me to run. 165 00:11:09,280 --> 00:11:14,280 Verse 25 and everyone who competes for the prize is 166 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:18,080 temperate in all things. Now they do not do it to obtain 167 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:23,600 a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown, the hope 168 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:28,960 of glory. Therefore Paul says therefore I 169 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:37,000 run thus not with uncertainty. This is how you lock in. 170 00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,200 You are certain you are lagged down. 171 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:46,840 You know eternity is before you. You know what Jesus has called 172 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:49,920 you to do and we don't have uncertainty. 173 00:11:54,240 --> 00:12:01,040 It's fixed, it's before us. Lord, we thank you that you pour 174 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:03,560 that into our heart that we do not have uncertainty. 175 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:06,880 Thus I fight not as one who beats the air. 176 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:14,520 So when a fighter, anybody watch boxing, OK, When a fighter, they 177 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:17,000 don't just, like, flail around. I mean, like when my sisters and 178 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,080 I used to fight, we'd like, slap at each other like that. 179 00:12:19,320 --> 00:12:20,840 They don't flail around, do they? 180 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:24,720 They're like, they know, like, where to land that punch because 181 00:12:24,720 --> 00:12:27,480 they're trained. And he's saying I don't flail 182 00:12:27,480 --> 00:12:31,080 around because I'm trained. How are you trained? 183 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:36,720 Through the Word, through discipleship, through being in a 184 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,640 fellowship with one another where iron sharpens iron. 185 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,560 That's how we're we're sharpen each other so that we don't 186 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:49,600 flail around. But I discipline my body and 187 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,720 bring it to subjection. Least when I have preached to 188 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,800 others, I myself should be disqualified. 189 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:07,720 Discipleship forward motion is necessary to intentionally go 190 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,800 after the prize. Forward motion. 191 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:16,040 No parking lots. No, I'm taking a break. 192 00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,400 No, this is a season, I'm just taking a break. 193 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:23,800 No, don't. I want to say this carefully 194 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:28,000 because I I believe in taking care of yourself, but don't buy 195 00:13:28,000 --> 00:13:38,000 into the lie that it is more important to feed yourself care 196 00:13:39,000 --> 00:13:42,000 than it is to run the race. I'm not saying you have to 197 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,280 sacrifice self-care. I'm just saying don't make it 198 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:51,200 the God you know, when self-care is the God, when you start 199 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:53,480 choosing self-care over the race. 200 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:58,840 I know I'm just, there's a, there's a, there's a, there's a 201 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,280 balance, right? But don't balance it the other 202 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:08,160 way. That was sharp, wouldn't it? 203 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:16,280 Philippians 3 Again, Paul's talking to us starting in verse 204 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:19,720 12. Not that I have already attained 205 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:24,000 or am already perfected. In other words, he says I'm 206 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:26,760 running this race and I'm not. I'm not there. 207 00:14:27,640 --> 00:14:30,720 None of us are there. That's why we got to run the 208 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,040 race. Otherwise we could just sit at 209 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:38,600 the finish line. So we're running the race, but I 210 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:44,360 press on, I keep going forward motion that I may lay hold. 211 00:14:44,800 --> 00:14:50,280 This is good underline it that I may hold, may lay hold of that 212 00:14:50,280 --> 00:14:54,560 for which Jesus Christ also laid hold of me. 213 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:59,400 He already purchased it and I'm running after it. 214 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:06,240 Freedom, what is it when you're running the race and we're going 215 00:15:06,240 --> 00:15:12,480 to look at a verse that says the weights, freedom, peace, 216 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:18,760 stability, whatever it is that you have a hole in your heart 217 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:26,560 about Jesus is the answer. And he says 20 and 2026 is more 218 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:30,000 so that those can be filled. He said lay hold of them 219 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,520 intentionally go after them, ask him. 220 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:46,590 He said he's good, but I press on that I may lay hold of that 221 00:15:46,590 --> 00:15:52,230 for which Jesus Christ also laid hold of me for me and everyone I 222 00:15:52,230 --> 00:15:55,550 come in contact with. That's what I say for me and 223 00:15:55,550 --> 00:15:59,630 everyone I come in contact with. Verse 13 brethren, I do not 224 00:15:59,630 --> 00:16:04,800 count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do 225 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:06,920 forgetting those things which are behind. 226 00:16:07,520 --> 00:16:14,200 Don't get stuck in the past. Don't get stuck good or bad, 227 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:21,680 good or bad. The good old days can be just as 228 00:16:21,680 --> 00:16:25,400 stuck as as things that you want to forget. 229 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:31,320 And reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press 230 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:36,600 towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in 231 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:43,840 Christ Jesus glory, glory. You know, there's winning 232 00:16:43,840 --> 00:16:45,520 strategies when you're running a race. 233 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,480 How many times you've seen somebody in a Sprint and they 234 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,560 look back. What happens when you look back 235 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:53,720 when you're sprinting to the finish? 236 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:57,680 You're you're going to lose that person going to blow right past 237 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:01,600 you because you just lost your focus on the prize, right? 238 00:17:01,880 --> 00:17:04,599 How many times have you seen a sprinter get blown by because 239 00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:07,640 they were looking back? Don't look back. 240 00:17:08,599 --> 00:17:15,280 Forward, forward, forward. And the next thing is we have to 241 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:17,160 pop the tape. Come on. 242 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:21,839 You can't win the race unless you pop the tape at the end, 243 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:24,599 right? How many? 244 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:27,880 When I when I enter, I want to pop the tape. 245 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:32,440 So popping tape means I'm not laying down the last 10 years. 246 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:39,360 I'm not going off on retirement and forgetting church and 247 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:42,400 forgetting what God has called me to put my hands to the plow. 248 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:48,880 I'm going to pop the tape. Anybody in here with me wants to 249 00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:53,800 pop the tape. Come on for return. 250 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:57,480 I want to pop the tape. Let me see. 251 00:17:57,480 --> 00:17:58,720 Look at your neighbor. Do it. 252 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:03,960 Pop the tape. Pop it, glory. 253 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,600 You know that we can do all things in Christ Jesus and that 254 00:18:08,760 --> 00:18:12,440 he is the author and the finisher and he says you can pop 255 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:18,600 the tape. That's the eye on the prize, 256 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:23,880 Lord, help me, give me strength, restore my strength. 257 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:27,240 Give me mental acuity. Lord, give me wisdom. 258 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:32,240 Give me the want to, Lord, so that when it's my time, whenever 259 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:37,360 it is, whether you come back or I'm entering heaven before that, 260 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:44,160 I will pop the tape. Come on, glory. 261 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:47,840 I'm sorry, y'all knew it was going to be a preach when I got 262 00:18:47,840 --> 00:18:53,640 up here, right? OK, so in order to do that, you 263 00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:59,880 really have to be in the word seeking the face of the Lord, 264 00:18:59,880 --> 00:19:03,160 right? Hebrews 12/1. 265 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:12,840 Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of 266 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:17,760 witnesses, listen, these witnesses are Saints, believers 267 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:26,160 that went before us. And it says they those great 268 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,720 crowd of witnesses, they're they're they're here to help you 269 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:35,560 set the pace that your faithfulness is laser focused 270 00:19:36,080 --> 00:19:38,360 and that you're not only running for yourself, but you were 271 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:45,720 spurring others on, right? Glory says let us lay aside 272 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:50,880 every weight. You cannot run the race that 273 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:53,160 we're running with weights on you. 274 00:19:53,800 --> 00:19:58,400 I know it's popular right now where those weighted vests, but 275 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:04,840 you can't run this race with weights of sin, which so easily 276 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:10,520 ensnares ensnares us. The Word and the Holy Spirit 277 00:20:10,520 --> 00:20:14,400 will set you free. Ask him, Take this weight Lord, 278 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,640 so I can run, so I can pop the tape at the end. 279 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:23,880 Thank you Lord, looking unto let us run with endurance the race 280 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:28,080 that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus, the Author 281 00:20:28,880 --> 00:20:37,160 and the finisher of our faith. He wrote your story, He will 282 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,520 finish it. He asked you to willingly 283 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:44,440 participate, to give it all to Him. 284 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:55,800 Listen, he says, who for the joy that was set before him, you 285 00:20:55,800 --> 00:21:04,560 were the joy, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat 286 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:06,160 down at the right hand of the throne of God. 287 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:16,040 Jesus was laser locked in for the race that he ran in the 288 00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:21,320 Garden of Gethsemane. He toiled and prayed. 289 00:21:21,880 --> 00:21:25,040 He was lasered like didn't why? Because of the joy that was set 290 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:27,600 before him, right? The joy was you and me. 291 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:31,520 The joy was His blood would purchase us and bring us out of 292 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,680 a state of sin into a state of righteousness. 293 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:40,120 Once we see we believe right? It was the joy that was set 294 00:21:40,120 --> 00:21:47,680 before him and I would say today that's the same for us, The joy 295 00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:53,280 that is set before us, eternity with Jesus and everyone that we 296 00:21:53,280 --> 00:21:58,400 can get there. Come on, laser lock, laser lock 297 00:21:58,400 --> 00:22:02,640 in on this. Thank you, Lord. 298 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:10,560 Thank you Lord, again in Hebrews the writer tells us to keep our 299 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:17,120 eyes on Jesus and that we if we mirror Him and what he loves, 300 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:22,000 which are is our greatest burning desire for Him is to 301 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,040 seek and save the lost, and it should be for us too. 302 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:40,360 Burning desire. Now I just want to talk about it 303 00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:42,760 matters how you finish. We talked about popping the 304 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:46,880 tape. But in Second Timothy 47, it 305 00:22:46,880 --> 00:22:50,000 says as Paul reflects on the end of his life. 306 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:57,040 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and I 307 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:01,880 have kept the faith. Fought the good fight, finished 308 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:05,880 the race, kept the faith. There's your 3 pacesetters, 309 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,840 right? Acts 2024 says. 310 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:13,320 But none of these things move me. 311 00:23:15,120 --> 00:23:17,840 This is Polygon talking. Nor do I count my life dear to 312 00:23:17,840 --> 00:23:24,280 myself so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry 313 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:28,760 which I received in the Lord to testify of the gospel of grace 314 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,080 of God. None of the things that we 315 00:23:31,080 --> 00:23:34,680 talked about just a few minutes ago about he knew he was going 316 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,320 to Rome. He knew he, he had been in 317 00:23:37,320 --> 00:23:39,760 prison, he had been shipwrecked, he had been beaten. 318 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:45,760 But none of those things moved him because of the joy and the 319 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:50,480 ministry he'd received. I want to take a minute to talk 320 00:23:50,480 --> 00:23:58,120 to you about some finishes. So I had a cousin, his name was 321 00:23:58,120 --> 00:24:02,440 Mickey Marvin. Mickey was a was a tape popper. 322 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:09,800 Mickey was number 65 on the offensive line for the Raiders 323 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:16,480 in from 1977. That was when they were good to 324 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:21,920 87 right? And he was a fourth round draft 325 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:23,560 pick. He paid for the University of 326 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:27,960 Tennessee. He was so big they would not let 327 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,280 him play football till he was in the eighth grade and then they 328 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:32,640 made him practice against the varsity and not his own 329 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,080 teammates. Mickey, Marvin. 330 00:24:37,360 --> 00:24:41,720 Mickey got out of the NFL and people ask, would often ask him, 331 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:46,160 how can you be such a strong believer and play in the NFL? 332 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,240 And he says, this is how I do it. 333 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:52,600 I get on that offensive line and I thank Jesus for letting me 334 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:55,240 play football. Then I put the person across me 335 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:58,320 on their tail and then I stand up and I thank him again. 336 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:00,440 He said that's how I play football. 337 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,760 When he got out of the NFL, he was Church of Nazarene. 338 00:25:06,960 --> 00:25:10,800 And he lived up in Hendersonville, where our camp 339 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:15,480 used to be. And he preached for many years 340 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,640 on the radio. And he also ran football camps, 341 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:20,200 Christian camps across the country. 342 00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,760 And he was just the sweetest, kindest guy. 343 00:25:23,680 --> 00:25:29,080 And when he was 61, he, he, he had a serious health condition. 344 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:35,400 And as his life was slipping away from him, he, his mother 345 00:25:35,400 --> 00:25:39,120 told me this, that he would be in bed and she was caring for 346 00:25:39,120 --> 00:25:41,120 him. And in the morning she'd go in, 347 00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:45,160 she'd say, good morning, Mickey. And he would indicate to her, 348 00:25:46,520 --> 00:25:52,160 where's the prayer list? And in those last days when he 349 00:25:52,160 --> 00:25:55,920 really could do nothing else, he would spend the day praying for 350 00:25:55,920 --> 00:26:00,040 others. Friends, that is popping the 351 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:04,920 tape, right? Anybody want to be a tape 352 00:26:04,920 --> 00:26:08,040 popper? I know I've asked you, but I got 353 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:12,040 a seal in your heart. I will be a tape popper. 354 00:26:13,120 --> 00:26:21,600 Glory one last story Ironman triathlon. 355 00:26:23,040 --> 00:26:30,040 The big one is in in Maui, but I want to tell you about this 356 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:32,040 blows my mind. It actually blows my mind to 357 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:41,280 think about what these people do 2.4 mile swim in the ocean in a 358 00:26:41,280 --> 00:26:44,760 crowd so big I don't know how they don't kick people in the 359 00:26:44,760 --> 00:26:49,000 head right? And they swim 2.4 miles. 360 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:54,120 They get out of the ocean again, blows my mind. 361 00:26:54,120 --> 00:26:59,920 They get on a bike and they ride 112 miles in a wet bathing suit. 362 00:27:02,400 --> 00:27:09,520 And then after that they do 26.2 mile marathon with the total 363 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:15,680 time limit of 17 hours. Now the winners, usually about 364 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,760 12 hour mark, that's when they're going to come in and 365 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:22,040 there's a celebration. But this is a really cool part 366 00:27:22,040 --> 00:27:25,120 about the Iron Man. The celebration is not for the 367 00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:27,920 winners. The big one, the big one is at 368 00:27:27,920 --> 00:27:31,240 the midnight hour. The big ones with the 17 mark, 369 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:37,360 the big one is for those people that come across just in time 370 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,720 and the celebration is off the chain. 371 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:47,280 They're hanging over the walls. They have thundersticks and they 372 00:27:47,280 --> 00:27:53,640 are cheering those people across the 17 hour finish line all 373 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:57,240 because they want to hear that they're Iron Man. 374 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:00,240 We're going to watch a little video. 375 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:04,120 When I when you watch this, I want you to think about how much 376 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:08,800 heaven visual heaven is. This is of the great cloud of 377 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:13,280 witnesses that's cheering you across that finish line and 378 00:28:13,280 --> 00:28:15,320 you're not going to hear you're Iron Man. 379 00:28:15,840 --> 00:28:19,800 What are you going to hear? Well done, well done. 380 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:21,400 Would you go ahead and start that? 381 00:28:21,400 --> 00:28:27,640 It's about two minutes long. Yes, yes, yes. 382 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:34,440 Listen, we're laser locked in because this is what we're 383 00:28:34,440 --> 00:28:37,240 after. Not here but in heaven. 384 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:40,240 That great cloud of witnesses cheering you on with 385 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:44,320 thundersticks as you come into heaven's gates and the Lord 386 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:49,320 saying not a Iron Man, but well done, good and faithful servant 387 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:53,800 that is popping the tape. So right now would you stand to 388 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:57,040 your feet? Glory for your goodness, Lord. 389 00:28:57,720 --> 00:29:00,440 Lord, I thank you. If there's anybody here that 390 00:29:00,440 --> 00:29:06,200 says I need to start this race, today's the day. 391 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,480 Just come down front and we'll help you with that when the 392 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:16,560 service is concluded. If you're saying I need to lock 393 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:22,760 in on this goal, the prize, the burning prize within me is that 394 00:29:22,760 --> 00:29:26,000 you do you say I need to lock in, I need to raise, I want to 395 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:29,160 pop the tape. I want to be ready for those 396 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:33,720 that entrance into heaven. Glory to God that I would take 397 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,040 as many people with me as possible. 398 00:29:36,040 --> 00:29:38,280 Lord, Lord, I thank you. I thank you. 399 00:29:38,280 --> 00:29:41,240 That's me. Lord, I don't want to lay down. 400 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:44,440 I don't want to rest. I want to run the race. 401 00:29:44,440 --> 00:29:47,600 Lord, thank you. Lord, thank you, Lord that you 402 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:50,560 and you continue to pour your spirit on us. 403 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:53,320 Lord, Lord, I thank you that 2026. 404 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:56,680 Lord, we're going to be laser locked in to your prize. 405 00:29:56,680 --> 00:30:00,280 Lord, thank you for that. Thank you, Lord, that you never 406 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:04,840 disappoint, that you always, always, always move us from 407 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:10,120 glory to glory in the mighty name of Jesus. 408 00:30:10,560 --> 00:30:15,480 Hallelujah, Hallelujah. Glory, glory. 409 00:30:16,840 --> 00:30:18,760 Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. 410 00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:24,240 Thank you, Lord. We want to thank you again for 411 00:30:24,240 --> 00:30:26,280 joining us for the Arise Church podcast. 412 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:28,680 We hope you were encouraged by what you heard today. 413 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:32,240 You can find us.online@arisechurchn-c.com and 414 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:36,440 on Instagram at Arise Church NC. If you need prayer or support or 415 00:30:36,440 --> 00:30:39,520 are interested in learning more about Arise Church, we encourage 416 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:42,920 you to connect with us online or in person at our Sunday morning 417 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:45,000 service. Thank you and God bless.