WEBVTT 00:00:04.200 --> 00:00:08.474 Today is the day that we've set aside to honor our graduates, 00:00:09.014 --> 00:00:11.142 and we've got quite a few this year. 00:00:11.142 --> 00:00:13.118 I want to share with you their names, 00:00:13.118 --> 00:00:16.126 because during the 925 hours, 00:00:16.190 --> 00:00:18.614 we're going to kind of reserve these front seats, 00:00:18.614 --> 00:00:22.262 rows to seat these graduates and their families. 00:00:22.318 --> 00:00:28.524 And they've been participating with the Voyager youth ministries now for 00:00:28.984 --> 00:00:30.064 a few years. 00:00:30.104 --> 00:00:32.496 And so just trying to. 00:00:32.600 --> 00:00:33.424 And a lot of times, 00:00:33.424 --> 00:00:34.016 to be honest, 00:00:34.016 --> 00:00:36.264 we can't keep up with them all because, 00:00:36.264 --> 00:00:37.376 obviously, on Sundays, 00:00:37.400 --> 00:00:38.728 we're scattered all over the place, 00:00:38.728 --> 00:00:39.328 so. 00:00:39.496 --> 00:00:41.376 But here's the list I have you ready? 00:00:41.376 --> 00:00:42.484 Mason Morton. 00:00:43.464 --> 00:00:45.496 Elora Loanander. 00:00:45.680 --> 00:00:47.084 Matthew Burns. 00:00:47.384 --> 00:00:48.884 Aubrey Solomon. 00:00:49.744 --> 00:00:51.524 Malia Hermione. 00:00:51.704 --> 00:00:52.788 Aubrey mcGeorge. 00:00:52.836 --> 00:00:53.844 Damian Leal. 00:00:53.924 --> 00:00:55.388 Ashlyn Citarelli. 00:00:55.516 --> 00:00:56.676 Heather Whitmarsh. 00:00:56.780 --> 00:00:57.980 Abby Mowry. 00:00:58.172 --> 00:00:59.660 Zachary Bradshaw. 00:00:59.812 --> 00:01:01.900 And Nathan Chisman. 00:01:01.972 --> 00:01:03.868 Cheeseman. So, 00:01:03.956 --> 00:01:07.732 yeah, we got a bunch of graduates that will be celebrating with us this 00:01:07.732 --> 00:01:08.092 morning. 00:01:08.188 --> 00:01:11.268 And I always ask them two questions when we get up here, 00:01:11.268 --> 00:01:13.292 and I'm gonna be honest with y'all. 00:01:13.292 --> 00:01:19.424 I cannot preach in this because I will trip and fall down, 00:01:19.754 --> 00:01:21.914 and we'll get caught up in the sleeves. 00:01:21.914 --> 00:01:24.938 And so I've worn it one time officially, 00:01:24.986 --> 00:01:27.882 and I wear it every year for graduates recognition. 00:01:27.882 --> 00:01:30.082 But every now and then, 00:01:30.138 --> 00:01:32.586 somebody wants me to wear it for a wedding, 00:01:32.586 --> 00:01:33.818 but not often. 00:01:33.986 --> 00:01:35.334 Just so you know. 00:01:35.834 --> 00:01:36.602 But anyway. 00:01:36.658 --> 00:01:37.730 But our graduates, 00:01:37.762 --> 00:01:38.530 I always ask them, 00:01:38.530 --> 00:01:38.834 you know, 00:01:38.834 --> 00:01:40.298 kind of where they graduated from, 00:01:40.298 --> 00:01:43.122 and typically it's topsail or Dixon high school. 00:01:43.178 --> 00:01:46.074 Some of them are homeschooled graduates and that sort of thing, 00:01:46.074 --> 00:01:48.774 which means they're the valedictorian of their class. 00:01:50.624 --> 00:01:52.856 And then I ask them what they're doing next. 00:01:52.856 --> 00:01:53.280 You know, 00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:54.376 I love asking the kids, 00:01:54.376 --> 00:01:55.960 what are you going to do next? 00:01:55.648 --> 00:01:56.208 Cause, you know, 00:01:56.208 --> 00:02:00.064 a lot of them will step up there with an absolute plan. 00:02:00.064 --> 00:02:01.336 This is what I'm doing. 00:02:01.336 --> 00:02:02.986 This is where I'm going. 00:02:03.144 --> 00:02:05.064 This is what I'm going to do the rest of my life. 00:02:05.064 --> 00:02:05.328 You know, 00:02:05.328 --> 00:02:11.592 they've got an idea of what happens next and what they have planned for 00:02:11.648 --> 00:02:14.200 their lives, 00:02:14.312 --> 00:02:15.372 so to speak. 00:02:15.528 --> 00:02:20.388 And so I typically will kind of inwardly, 00:02:20.436 --> 00:02:21.372 when they say, 00:02:21.372 --> 00:02:24.672 well, I'm gonna be this or I'm gonna do that. 00:02:25.004 --> 00:02:27.224 I just laugh inside, 00:02:28.644 --> 00:02:29.836 because so many times, 00:02:29.836 --> 00:02:33.984 our plans do not turn out the way we expect, 00:02:34.444 --> 00:02:37.796 right? We think that we know what's gonna happen next, 00:02:37.860 --> 00:02:41.668 and we can even work to plan what's gonna happen next. 00:02:41.836 --> 00:02:43.012 But every now and then, 00:02:43.012 --> 00:02:46.340 we'll start down a path or down a road or on our journey, 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:47.464 and suddenly, 00:02:48.924 --> 00:02:54.104 the circumstances that take place in our lives will change. 00:02:54.724 --> 00:02:55.284 You know, 00:02:55.284 --> 00:02:56.934 the direction of our lives. 00:02:56.916 --> 00:03:00.260 And so I like graduate recognition. 00:03:00.332 --> 00:03:04.340 Sunday we're going to give all our graduates a Bible and we'll give them 00:03:04.340 --> 00:03:07.780 the opportunity to step up here and share a little bit and that sort of 00:03:07.780 --> 00:03:12.534 thing. And Beth will be calling them up and acknowledging their 00:03:12.574 --> 00:03:14.446 participation and that sort of thing. 00:03:14.446 --> 00:03:15.974 And so it's exciting, 00:03:16.054 --> 00:03:18.134 but I had told Beth, 00:03:18.214 --> 00:03:19.430 and I hadn't done this before, 00:03:19.430 --> 00:03:22.502 but I told Beth I was going to prepare a message just for graduates 00:03:22.502 --> 00:03:26.158 recognition Sunday so that we're not in Hebrews this morning. 00:03:26.286 --> 00:03:27.822 We're in two Timothy, 00:03:27.878 --> 00:03:29.526 actually, which for some, 00:03:29.630 --> 00:03:30.290 you know, 00:03:30.390 --> 00:03:35.174 the book of Second Timothy is kind of Paul's sort of slang, 00:03:35.214 --> 00:03:36.398 one song book. 00:03:36.446 --> 00:03:41.566 It's sort of that epistle that he writes to young Timothy, 00:03:41.630 --> 00:03:47.554 that sort of the finishing of ministry for Paul. 00:03:48.134 --> 00:03:49.310 But before I get to it, 00:03:49.310 --> 00:03:51.022 I have to tell you a couple things. 00:03:51.022 --> 00:03:54.434 One, there's a bake sale right yonder outside that door. 00:03:54.814 --> 00:03:56.550 Somebody just stepped out there and almost, 00:03:56.550 --> 00:03:57.878 I forget who was standing there, 00:03:57.878 --> 00:04:01.486 but almost bought all the chocolate chip cookies just a minute ago. 00:04:01.486 --> 00:04:04.814 So if you want some bake sale stuff, 00:04:04.974 --> 00:04:07.030 somebody brought cute little cupcakes, 00:04:07.102 --> 00:04:08.422 little two pack cupcakes. 00:04:08.438 --> 00:04:10.310 I thought that was cute there. 00:04:10.310 --> 00:04:11.542 But it's all for camp. 00:04:11.542 --> 00:04:16.606 We're raising the funds to send kids to camp and really trying to discern 00:04:16.750 --> 00:04:21.518 which kids and really registrations at about 70 something right now, 00:04:21.566 --> 00:04:26.566 we still have room for another 40 or 50 kids to go if they want to go. 00:04:26.750 --> 00:04:28.886 And so just encourage those. 00:04:28.950 --> 00:04:32.910 We really want to raise the money so that kids will not. 00:04:33.464 --> 00:04:38.352 We don't want the cost to be an impediment to kids going to camp because 00:04:38.352 --> 00:04:42.600 it's at camp that we get a really focused opportunity to share Jesus with 00:04:42.600 --> 00:04:43.176 them. Alrighty. 00:04:43.176 --> 00:04:48.120 So jump in there and buy some snacks and if you need a moment, 00:04:48.152 --> 00:04:48.768 I'll give you. 00:04:48.768 --> 00:04:49.758 I'm just kidding. 00:04:50.664 --> 00:04:52.432 Second thing is the book sale, 00:04:52.432 --> 00:04:57.312 we're really culling down the library because there are a lot of books in 00:04:57.328 --> 00:04:59.208 the library that just don't get used. 00:04:59.048 --> 00:05:00.240 And a lot of them that are. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:02.494 There's a lot of reference works in there and a lot of other things. 00:05:02.494 --> 00:05:04.526 And so they've kind of put some books. 00:05:04.526 --> 00:05:09.414 There's a whole several tables of books in the fellowship hall this 00:05:09.454 --> 00:05:11.670 morning and you can just pick them up and make a donation. 00:05:11.670 --> 00:05:13.206 They don't have prices on them, 00:05:13.206 --> 00:05:15.550 but all the donations go to camp also. 00:05:15.350 --> 00:05:16.494 So you got a bake sale, 00:05:16.494 --> 00:05:17.262 book sale. 00:05:17.358 --> 00:05:19.998 We alliterated that for you so you could remember both of them. 00:05:19.998 --> 00:05:24.742 Alrighty. And then obviously you can go to the app and the webpage and 00:05:24.758 --> 00:05:27.654 all that sort of thing to donate for camp if you'd like to. 00:05:27.654 --> 00:05:28.506 Because we, 00:05:28.650 --> 00:05:29.722 like I said last week, 00:05:29.722 --> 00:05:32.290 we take the kids on those big old buses. 00:05:32.106 --> 00:05:35.738 They feel really special when they come here and load up at 06:00 in the 00:05:35.738 --> 00:05:39.698 morning on those big old greyhound type buses and go up the road. 00:05:39.698 --> 00:05:41.762 And it's a great week for them. 00:05:41.762 --> 00:05:43.362 And we need adults to go along. 00:05:43.362 --> 00:05:44.010 Remember I said, 00:05:44.010 --> 00:05:44.650 you know, 00:05:44.650 --> 00:05:49.226 we got to have one to five kids and one adult to each five kids. 00:05:49.226 --> 00:05:51.206 So we need adults to go. 00:05:50.650 --> 00:05:52.874 So some big things happening. 00:05:52.914 --> 00:05:54.242 We are in the summer months, 00:05:54.242 --> 00:05:55.138 I tell the staff, 00:05:55.138 --> 00:05:56.426 when we get to the summertime, 00:05:56.426 --> 00:05:59.066 you got to run the play you've called. 00:05:59.194 --> 00:06:01.362 Whatever play you've called for the summer, 00:06:01.362 --> 00:06:02.210 now you got to run it. 00:06:02.210 --> 00:06:03.890 You can't change the play anymore. 00:06:03.890 --> 00:06:07.554 The calendar is kind of in place and a lot of things going on. 00:06:07.258 --> 00:06:11.298 And every Sunday you're going to be hearing about stuff to be involved 00:06:11.298 --> 00:06:12.174 in, so. 00:06:12.994 --> 00:06:14.330 Second Timothy, 00:06:14.482 --> 00:06:15.218 chapter four, 00:06:15.266 --> 00:06:16.290 verses six to eight. 00:06:16.290 --> 00:06:19.090 And I've got this question to present this morning. 00:06:19.090 --> 00:06:21.026 As far as the message is concerned, 00:06:21.026 --> 00:06:23.006 what does it mean to finish? 00:06:24.214 --> 00:06:25.198 You ever think about. 00:06:25.054 --> 00:06:26.134 We don't think about that, 00:06:26.134 --> 00:06:29.314 y'all. What does it mean to finish? 00:06:30.774 --> 00:06:35.394 I kind of grew up in a house where some projects never got finished. 00:06:35.894 --> 00:06:37.126 Y'all know that? 00:06:37.310 --> 00:06:41.894 I lived a life where some projects never quite got finished. 00:06:42.014 --> 00:06:42.750 All righty. 00:06:42.862 --> 00:06:44.046 Let me share with you. 00:06:44.046 --> 00:06:44.750 Second Timothy, 00:06:44.782 --> 00:06:45.334 chapter four, 00:06:45.334 --> 00:06:46.190 verses six to eight. 00:06:46.190 --> 00:06:46.694 Here we go. 00:06:46.694 --> 00:06:51.348 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering. 00:06:51.526 --> 00:06:54.166 And the time for my departure is close. 00:06:54.744 --> 00:06:56.408 I have fought the good fight. 00:06:56.408 --> 00:06:57.744 I have finished the race. 00:06:57.744 --> 00:07:01.496 I have kept the faith there is reserved for me the crown of 00:07:01.496 --> 00:07:03.184 righteousness, which the Lord, 00:07:03.224 --> 00:07:04.288 the righteous judge, 00:07:04.336 --> 00:07:05.800 will give me on that day. 00:07:05.800 --> 00:07:07.440 And not only to me, 00:07:07.440 --> 00:07:11.496 but to all those who have loved his appearing. 00:07:11.680 --> 00:07:12.216 All right, 00:07:12.216 --> 00:07:12.960 let's pray together. 00:07:12.960 --> 00:07:16.590 God, we thank you and we praise you for loving us. 00:07:17.204 --> 00:07:18.004 And God, 00:07:18.124 --> 00:07:25.612 thank you for just making us aware that your desire for us is that we 00:07:25.628 --> 00:07:28.928 would love you back and that we'd act like it. 00:07:29.012 --> 00:07:29.612 So, God, 00:07:29.612 --> 00:07:32.252 as we take a moment to consider Paul, 00:07:32.804 --> 00:07:35.584 consider who he is and what he's done, 00:07:36.404 --> 00:07:37.064 and God, 00:07:37.124 --> 00:07:39.468 to take a look at our own lives. 00:07:39.468 --> 00:07:41.024 Some self examination. 00:07:41.604 --> 00:07:49.504 God help us to consider what it means to finish and to really to plan. 00:07:50.364 --> 00:07:52.064 To plan our finishing. 00:07:52.364 --> 00:07:53.948 And we pray it in Jesus name. 00:07:53.948 --> 00:07:55.572 Amen. Not a. 00:07:55.668 --> 00:07:57.124 It's sort of a morbid topic, 00:07:57.124 --> 00:08:00.212 right? We're all standing here and everybody's obviously. 00:08:00.268 --> 00:08:02.248 Paul's talking about his own death. 00:08:02.724 --> 00:08:05.692 But I'm not necessarily speaking about death this morning because our 00:08:05.692 --> 00:08:06.492 graduates, you know, 00:08:06.492 --> 00:08:07.612 Thursday night for topsail, 00:08:07.612 --> 00:08:09.092 they sat out in the heat, 00:08:09.092 --> 00:08:09.540 in the. 00:08:09.540 --> 00:08:10.804 In the stadium out there, 00:08:10.804 --> 00:08:11.136 and. 00:08:11.220 --> 00:08:11.792 And Dixon, 00:08:11.792 --> 00:08:13.784 I guess they are yet to graduate. 00:08:13.784 --> 00:08:15.640 I don't think they've quite finished yet. 00:08:15.640 --> 00:08:17.324 But anyway, 00:08:19.264 --> 00:08:21.684 yeah, they finished something. 00:08:23.944 --> 00:08:26.336 A lot of graduates believe that they've, 00:08:26.440 --> 00:08:27.056 you know, 00:08:27.056 --> 00:08:31.284 this achievement of graduation is a really big deal. 00:08:31.944 --> 00:08:35.000 Those of you that are at least my age know that. 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:35.520 Guess what? 00:08:35.520 --> 00:08:37.192 There's a whole lot of big deal left, 00:08:37.192 --> 00:08:44.760 right. Finishing high school is not near so monumental as a lot of the 00:08:44.792 --> 00:08:46.124 things that come next. 00:08:46.504 --> 00:08:47.880 So I think about Paul, 00:08:47.880 --> 00:08:51.216 and I think about this testimony of his from chapter six, 00:08:51.216 --> 00:08:52.204 chapter four. 00:08:52.664 --> 00:08:54.974 And as it begins in verse six, 00:08:55.024 --> 00:08:55.684 verse five. 00:08:55.696 --> 00:08:56.984 And I didn't give this to the booth, 00:08:56.984 --> 00:08:58.576 so you're going to have to trust me on this. 00:08:58.576 --> 00:08:59.680 He's talking to Timothy. 00:08:59.680 --> 00:08:59.992 He says, 00:08:59.992 --> 00:09:03.280 but as for you talking to Timothy, 00:09:03.472 --> 00:09:06.088 exercise self control in everything, 00:09:06.256 --> 00:09:08.160 endure hardship, 00:09:08.312 --> 00:09:10.292 do the work of an evangelist, 00:09:10.368 --> 00:09:12.284 and fulfill your ministry. 00:09:13.104 --> 00:09:13.832 So Paul, 00:09:13.888 --> 00:09:16.920 as an older father in ministry, 00:09:16.992 --> 00:09:19.312 according to his own testimony about Timothy, 00:09:19.408 --> 00:09:21.632 is giving Timothy some instructions, 00:09:21.688 --> 00:09:24.124 some direction for his future, 00:09:24.464 --> 00:09:28.992 for what Paul more or less expects out of Timothy, 00:09:29.168 --> 00:09:30.888 but on a larger scale, 00:09:30.936 --> 00:09:32.456 because this is the word of God. 00:09:32.456 --> 00:09:36.438 This is the inspired scriptural text that we get to read today. 00:09:36.566 --> 00:09:39.794 Can this be an instruction for us as well? 00:09:40.774 --> 00:09:42.014 Can we look at this and go, 00:09:42.014 --> 00:09:42.830 all right, 00:09:43.022 --> 00:09:44.678 who should I pick on this morning, 00:09:44.678 --> 00:09:46.658 right? I should call somebody's name. 00:09:46.518 --> 00:09:47.838 I'll call Cole's name. 00:09:47.926 --> 00:09:48.662 Here you go. 00:09:48.662 --> 00:09:50.702 Exercise self control in everything, 00:09:50.798 --> 00:09:51.990 endure hardship, 00:09:52.102 --> 00:09:53.582 do the work of an evangelist, 00:09:53.582 --> 00:09:55.174 and fulfill your ministry. 00:09:55.334 --> 00:09:56.406 Right? See, 00:09:56.430 --> 00:09:58.934 I could say that to everybody in the room, 00:09:58.934 --> 00:10:03.474 because this is the expectation of what it means to surrender our lives, 00:10:04.284 --> 00:10:05.436 to serve God, 00:10:05.500 --> 00:10:07.052 to follow Jesus, 00:10:07.108 --> 00:10:11.652 to be disciples of our savior, 00:10:11.708 --> 00:10:12.372 our Lord, 00:10:12.428 --> 00:10:17.532 and to fulfill the ministry that God has set before each one of us and 00:10:17.548 --> 00:10:19.884 yet so much in the body of Christ. 00:10:19.548 --> 00:10:20.356 I'll ask people, 00:10:20.356 --> 00:10:22.996 well, what has God called you to do? 00:10:23.084 --> 00:10:24.100 And they're like, 00:10:24.252 --> 00:10:26.544 well, I don't know, 00:10:27.684 --> 00:10:32.084 really? Then how do you go about your day? 00:10:33.424 --> 00:10:36.928 Because here's the real question that graduates have got to answer. 00:10:36.928 --> 00:10:39.984 When you set an agenda for yourself during the day, 00:10:39.984 --> 00:10:41.964 who are you seeking to please? 00:10:43.344 --> 00:10:45.984 Is the effort of your life to please? 00:10:47.024 --> 00:10:48.364 What? Your boss? 00:10:49.064 --> 00:10:51.044 That'll get old in a hurry, 00:10:51.944 --> 00:10:54.254 right? If your parents are still around. 00:10:54.184 --> 00:10:57.484 Am I still seeking to please my parents? 00:10:58.484 --> 00:10:58.980 Well, see, 00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:02.700 we live in a culture for about the last 60 years now that I think that 00:11:02.700 --> 00:11:07.184 the main driving emphasis of our culture is to please ourselves. 00:11:09.084 --> 00:11:11.724 We think that it's all about our happiness. 00:11:12.324 --> 00:11:14.784 It's all about my satisfaction, 00:11:15.204 --> 00:11:18.460 right? And so when I look at this, 00:11:18.492 --> 00:11:18.780 I'm like, 00:11:18.780 --> 00:11:19.124 all right, 00:11:19.124 --> 00:11:25.170 Paul is encouraging us to what is essentially the highest priority and 00:11:25.202 --> 00:11:33.494 calling that we fill our lives with a plan and an agenda to please God, 00:11:34.474 --> 00:11:37.514 to honor God in all things. 00:11:37.634 --> 00:11:42.094 Do as unto the Lord is what Paul tells us in Colossians. 00:11:42.514 --> 00:11:44.824 And so who is this Paul guy? 00:11:44.994 --> 00:11:46.094 Who is he? 00:11:46.594 --> 00:11:47.402 Know who he is. 00:11:47.402 --> 00:11:47.642 All right, 00:11:47.642 --> 00:11:50.654 so we know he was Saul of Tarsus. 00:11:51.294 --> 00:11:57.354 Tarsus. Being a greek influenced roman city, 00:11:57.894 --> 00:12:03.714 Saul grew up as a child in a jewish hebrew home, 00:12:04.374 --> 00:12:11.014 right? He probably had some sort of affinity for his early education in a 00:12:11.054 --> 00:12:12.074 jewish home. 00:12:12.374 --> 00:12:15.874 Probably had a real knack for memorization, 00:12:16.794 --> 00:12:21.906 right? Because as he was learning the Torah and the things that little 00:12:21.970 --> 00:12:23.620 jewish boys have to learn, 00:12:23.634 --> 00:12:25.614 he probably was good at it. 00:12:25.602 --> 00:12:26.706 You know how you know that? 00:12:26.706 --> 00:12:28.522 Because he became a pharisee, 00:12:28.698 --> 00:12:32.082 right? He was not only good at memorizing it, 00:12:32.178 --> 00:12:34.214 he was good at dogma. 00:12:34.954 --> 00:12:37.374 He was good at legalism. 00:12:38.074 --> 00:12:39.898 He was probably a really, 00:12:39.986 --> 00:12:42.654 really, really good rule follower, 00:12:43.174 --> 00:12:43.914 right? 00:12:44.374 --> 00:12:48.758 And he was probably that kid in his circle of friends that would go, 00:12:48.758 --> 00:12:50.078 you can't do that, 00:12:51.334 --> 00:12:59.118 right? He was probably that kid because he grew up and eventually he 00:12:59.166 --> 00:13:04.862 lived in Jerusalem and studied under what was at the time probably one of 00:13:04.878 --> 00:13:09.534 the great Sanhedrin, 00:13:11.634 --> 00:13:14.018 one of the teachers of the jewish faith, 00:13:14.018 --> 00:13:16.410 Gamaliel, because it says he trained, 00:13:16.482 --> 00:13:18.914 learned, studied under Gamaliel. 00:13:18.994 --> 00:13:22.174 And so he was a good student. 00:13:22.874 --> 00:13:23.774 You know, 00:13:25.634 --> 00:13:27.050 we don't know this about him, 00:13:27.050 --> 00:13:30.680 but he might have been valedictorian of his home school class. 00:13:31.234 --> 00:13:35.354 Now, I tell that joke just about every graduation recognition day, 00:13:35.394 --> 00:13:37.128 because years ago, 00:13:37.176 --> 00:13:38.384 when I was a youth pastor, 00:13:38.384 --> 00:13:39.272 we did a, 00:13:39.272 --> 00:13:43.884 we did graduation recognition at First Baptist Buford in Georgia. 00:13:44.584 --> 00:13:45.368 And I, 00:13:45.496 --> 00:13:47.928 it was way back before homeschooling was, 00:13:47.976 --> 00:13:48.832 was, you know, 00:13:48.832 --> 00:13:50.812 a thing like it is now. 00:13:51.184 --> 00:13:52.176 And this one kid, 00:13:52.176 --> 00:13:53.480 I remember when he stepped up, 00:13:53.480 --> 00:13:53.760 you know, 00:13:53.760 --> 00:13:57.720 everybody stepped up and they would say something about school and what 00:13:57.752 --> 00:13:58.272 they were, 00:13:58.272 --> 00:14:00.176 had done and what they were going to do, 00:14:00.176 --> 00:14:00.744 and he, 00:14:00.744 --> 00:14:02.096 he stepped up and said, 00:14:02.096 --> 00:14:07.770 and I have the honor of being valedictorian of my home school class like 00:14:07.802 --> 00:14:08.778 that. And the whole place, 00:14:08.778 --> 00:14:09.418 there's, you know, 00:14:09.418 --> 00:14:11.322 a bunch of people just cracked up about it. 00:14:11.322 --> 00:14:12.594 And so I've always thought about that. 00:14:12.594 --> 00:14:12.882 I thought, 00:14:12.882 --> 00:14:15.658 that's pretty cool to be valedictorian of your own class, 00:14:15.658 --> 00:14:16.210 right? 00:14:16.322 --> 00:14:16.682 I mean, 00:14:16.682 --> 00:14:20.002 I wasn't that because there were 500 something people in my class. 00:14:20.002 --> 00:14:24.894 But, but Paul was probably an excellent student. 00:14:26.274 --> 00:14:29.058 He probably excelled above others, 00:14:29.106 --> 00:14:31.330 because by the time we get to the book of acts, 00:14:31.330 --> 00:14:32.282 what we find is, 00:14:32.282 --> 00:14:34.262 is that he has been appointed, 00:14:34.314 --> 00:14:34.794 in truth, 00:14:34.794 --> 00:14:44.644 entrusted with the responsibility of the rules of Judaism in Jerusalem, 00:14:45.144 --> 00:14:50.324 that he has been given this authority to take christians to task, 00:14:51.264 --> 00:14:52.904 to persecute, 00:14:53.064 --> 00:14:54.244 to arrest, 00:14:55.064 --> 00:14:57.520 even to the point of death, 00:14:57.672 --> 00:15:00.642 because we know that in chapter seven of acts, 00:15:00.744 --> 00:15:02.484 the deacon Stephen, 00:15:02.984 --> 00:15:04.128 Paul, Saul, 00:15:04.216 --> 00:15:08.904 was the one holding the coats overseeing the stoning of Stephen. 00:15:09.024 --> 00:15:14.924 And then he's given the paperwork to go to Damascus to arrest christians. 00:15:16.264 --> 00:15:17.168 You see, 00:15:17.336 --> 00:15:18.564 so Paul was. 00:15:21.504 --> 00:15:25.480 So if you had asked him when he left his house that day to go to 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.996 Damascus, Paul, 00:15:27.020 --> 00:15:29.624 what are you doing going to Damascus? 00:15:30.124 --> 00:15:37.904 I'm going to ensure the legitimacy and the purity of our faith. 00:15:38.324 --> 00:15:45.100 I'm going to find those jewish individuals who have left the legalism and 00:15:45.132 --> 00:15:46.412 law, he wouldn't have called it that. 00:15:46.412 --> 00:15:46.860 He would have said, 00:15:46.860 --> 00:15:53.634 who have left the law to follow this way thing that's come up since Jesus 00:15:53.804 --> 00:16:01.358 crucifixion, I'm on my way to Damascus to ensure our faith and the purity 00:16:01.406 --> 00:16:02.194 of it. 00:16:05.734 --> 00:16:06.750 Somewhere in that, 00:16:06.782 --> 00:16:08.718 I've got to believe that God's going, 00:16:08.718 --> 00:16:09.594 yeah, right, 00:16:11.334 --> 00:16:12.474 watch this. 00:16:13.694 --> 00:16:16.034 Because it's on the road to Damascus, 00:16:16.854 --> 00:16:19.054 right? That God, 00:16:19.174 --> 00:16:21.444 Jesus appears, 00:16:22.144 --> 00:16:22.904 you know, 00:16:23.024 --> 00:16:24.272 blinds him, 00:16:24.448 --> 00:16:27.418 throws him down from his donkey on some level, 00:16:27.456 --> 00:16:33.752 this idea that there's a rumbling that Paul's companions hear, 00:16:33.928 --> 00:16:38.044 but Paul's hearing the voice of Jesus and he says, 00:16:38.584 --> 00:16:39.528 who are you, 00:16:39.528 --> 00:16:43.284 lord? I am Jesus, 00:16:45.024 --> 00:16:46.924 the one you're persecuting. 00:16:48.924 --> 00:16:50.748 See, man, 00:16:50.916 --> 00:16:53.264 Jesus changed his day. 00:16:56.444 --> 00:16:58.904 Jesus changed his life. 00:16:59.604 --> 00:17:01.724 You see that everything that, 00:17:01.804 --> 00:17:02.300 I mean, 00:17:02.300 --> 00:17:06.020 Paul certainly probably had an idea in his mind that he was going to be 00:17:06.020 --> 00:17:08.340 one of the leaders of the Sanhedrin, 00:17:08.372 --> 00:17:11.588 that he was going to be one of those maybe not high priests because he 00:17:11.588 --> 00:17:13.236 wasn't born into the family, 00:17:13.236 --> 00:17:17.084 but, but the idea that he was going to have that kind of authority, 00:17:17.084 --> 00:17:19.028 that he was going to have that kind of leader, 00:17:19.028 --> 00:17:21.668 that he was going to achieve those things, 00:17:22.874 --> 00:17:24.214 and Jesus went, 00:17:24.954 --> 00:17:28.374 I've got other plans for your life. 00:17:29.474 --> 00:17:29.858 You know, 00:17:29.858 --> 00:17:33.488 I've had these conversations here in the gathering and still do. 00:17:34.514 --> 00:17:39.802 It's interesting to me that folks who have grown up with some 00:17:39.978 --> 00:17:47.498 introduction to faith and introduction to Jesus and a knowledge of what 00:17:47.546 --> 00:17:48.274 you guys know, 00:17:48.274 --> 00:17:49.690 and it might offend you, 00:17:49.690 --> 00:17:50.414 but I'm, 00:17:51.024 --> 00:17:53.064 yeah, I'm gonna say it again anyway. 00:17:53.064 --> 00:17:57.964 But folks who have this awareness of what I refer to as churchianity, 00:17:59.104 --> 00:18:00.728 but when it comes right down to it, 00:18:00.728 --> 00:18:02.084 they don't know Jesus. 00:18:03.504 --> 00:18:04.164 You know, 00:18:04.184 --> 00:18:05.504 they've done the things, 00:18:05.824 --> 00:18:07.444 they followed the rules. 00:18:08.224 --> 00:18:12.364 They've stepped through the hoops of whatever's required. 00:18:13.224 --> 00:18:16.124 And they may genuinely know Jesus, 00:18:16.884 --> 00:18:21.384 but the relationship is lacking in some way, 00:18:21.844 --> 00:18:22.820 you see? 00:18:23.012 --> 00:18:24.540 And so I look at these things and I go, 00:18:24.540 --> 00:18:24.852 all right, 00:18:24.852 --> 00:18:27.772 well, what is it that Paul has done? 00:18:27.908 --> 00:18:28.796 You see, 00:18:28.980 --> 00:18:30.860 we know who he is leading up to, 00:18:30.860 --> 00:18:34.700 and then we see in his life that that day on the road to Damascus, 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:41.372 God confronted him on the road and changed not just his agenda, 00:18:41.428 --> 00:18:42.088 his goals, 00:18:42.132 --> 00:18:43.782 his direction of his life. 00:18:43.596 --> 00:18:45.664 They changed his identity. 00:18:46.474 --> 00:18:49.250 We even know him differently after that. 00:18:49.442 --> 00:18:51.474 He was Saul of Tarsus, 00:18:51.634 --> 00:18:53.174 and now he's Paul. 00:18:53.994 --> 00:18:54.586 You see, 00:18:54.586 --> 00:18:58.418 now, a lot of scholars will tell you he was probably called by both 00:18:58.418 --> 00:19:01.094 names, depending on who he was talking to. 00:19:01.554 --> 00:19:08.818 Saul being a more roman name and Paul being a christian hebrew name. 00:19:08.906 --> 00:19:10.282 Anyway, whatever it is, 00:19:10.418 --> 00:19:12.210 he was probably known by both names. 00:19:12.210 --> 00:19:14.434 So a lot of times when I preach about Saul Paul, 00:19:14.434 --> 00:19:16.084 I call him Saul Paul. 00:19:17.794 --> 00:19:19.444 It's just who he is. 00:19:19.634 --> 00:19:24.134 But his life was different after that day. 00:19:24.834 --> 00:19:26.814 Can I just tell y'all something? 00:19:27.274 --> 00:19:34.602 I have struggled in ministry with the fact that some people will talk 00:19:34.658 --> 00:19:36.454 about Jesus in their life, 00:19:39.814 --> 00:19:41.234 but there's no difference. 00:19:45.054 --> 00:19:51.954 There's not a presence of regeneration, 00:19:52.574 --> 00:19:55.394 that something has changed. 00:19:56.654 --> 00:20:01.474 Because if the culture really is teaching us to please ourselves, 00:20:02.214 --> 00:20:04.630 and then all we do is add Jesus to it, 00:20:04.630 --> 00:20:08.184 then we're just pleasing ourselves with Jesus. 00:20:10.004 --> 00:20:13.744 When what God has called us to is a transformed life, 00:20:14.524 --> 00:20:19.024 what God has provided for us is a transformed life. 00:20:19.324 --> 00:20:23.380 That Jesus becomes more than just an add on to our lives. 00:20:23.492 --> 00:20:26.264 He becomes the center of our identity. 00:20:27.004 --> 00:20:29.844 That. That when people want to know who we are, 00:20:29.844 --> 00:20:31.204 it's about Jesus. 00:20:31.284 --> 00:20:41.208 Not about where we graduated or our career goals or our family, 00:20:41.296 --> 00:20:42.364 for that matter. 00:20:43.264 --> 00:20:44.644 It's about Jesus. 00:20:45.544 --> 00:20:47.344 So when I look at these verses and he says, 00:20:47.344 --> 00:20:50.056 I am already being poured out as a drink offering, 00:20:50.056 --> 00:20:52.036 we understand what he's saying there. 00:20:51.960 --> 00:20:52.352 He says, 00:20:52.352 --> 00:20:53.024 you know, 00:20:53.184 --> 00:20:57.144 and that's a picture to an actually a pagan type, 00:20:57.224 --> 00:21:00.160 and there's some reference to it in Judaism. 00:21:00.232 --> 00:21:03.712 But this idea of the drink offering being poured out as an offering, 00:21:03.712 --> 00:21:08.394 that what Paul is actually saying right there is I'm done. 00:21:09.094 --> 00:21:09.894 And more than likely, 00:21:09.894 --> 00:21:12.246 he's writing from an incarceration, 00:21:12.350 --> 00:21:13.194 a prison. 00:21:14.814 --> 00:21:17.474 The time for my departure is close. 00:21:18.814 --> 00:21:21.454 And then he makes a statement of testimony. 00:21:21.222 --> 00:21:22.486 I've fought the good fight. 00:21:22.486 --> 00:21:23.926 He's looking back over his life, 00:21:23.926 --> 00:21:24.916 and he says, 00:21:25.294 --> 00:21:26.354 you know what? 00:21:27.894 --> 00:21:29.414 And I'm going to word it this way, 00:21:29.414 --> 00:21:31.342 because people ask me about the gathering. 00:21:31.342 --> 00:21:32.992 In a lot of ways, 00:21:32.994 --> 00:21:34.242 I think Paul's sitting here going, 00:21:34.242 --> 00:21:34.770 you know what? 00:21:34.770 --> 00:21:39.450 Every opportunity that I've understood God to give me. 00:21:39.482 --> 00:21:40.334 I've taken. 00:21:42.754 --> 00:21:45.362 I went here and I went there and I. 00:21:45.362 --> 00:21:46.610 I was beaten here, 00:21:46.610 --> 00:21:48.294 and I was shipwrecked there. 00:21:48.714 --> 00:21:52.014 I got bit by snake on that island over there. 00:21:53.714 --> 00:21:55.186 Everywhere God sent me, 00:21:55.210 --> 00:21:55.974 I went. 00:21:58.054 --> 00:22:01.230 I've fought the good fight. 00:22:01.302 --> 00:22:02.838 I've finished the race. 00:22:02.886 --> 00:22:04.674 I've kept the faith. 00:22:06.934 --> 00:22:13.394 Then he speaks about something that we all really should consider, 00:22:13.734 --> 00:22:14.382 because he says, 00:22:14.382 --> 00:22:17.438 there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness. 00:22:17.486 --> 00:22:18.998 Now, when you hear the word crown, 00:22:18.998 --> 00:22:20.318 what do you think? 00:22:20.694 --> 00:22:21.914 Gold, right? 00:22:22.774 --> 00:22:24.654 So I've heard preachers preach on, 00:22:24.654 --> 00:22:25.054 you know, 00:22:25.054 --> 00:22:27.974 our crown and all the stars that are going to be in it. 00:22:27.974 --> 00:22:29.034 And I'm thinking, 00:22:31.214 --> 00:22:31.954 really? 00:22:33.814 --> 00:22:34.550 You know, 00:22:34.662 --> 00:22:35.062 I mean, 00:22:35.062 --> 00:22:36.950 crowns are mentioned throughout the Bible. 00:22:36.950 --> 00:22:37.894 There are all kind of crowns, 00:22:37.894 --> 00:22:39.950 about five different crowns that are mentioned. 00:22:39.950 --> 00:22:41.886 And I list them in the daily devotional, 00:22:41.886 --> 00:22:43.790 but I didn't list them in the message today, 00:22:43.790 --> 00:22:45.234 but crown of life. 00:22:46.654 --> 00:22:49.014 You think the crown of life's made of gold? 00:22:49.014 --> 00:22:50.022 I'm not sure. 00:22:50.158 --> 00:22:51.366 Got rubies in it? 00:22:51.366 --> 00:22:52.314 Probably not, 00:22:52.934 --> 00:22:55.894 right? What's the crown of righteousness look like? 00:22:57.234 --> 00:22:58.134 You see, 00:22:58.794 --> 00:23:07.978 the crown of righteousness is the perfection made when we step into the 00:23:08.026 --> 00:23:09.334 presence of God. 00:23:10.554 --> 00:23:16.974 See, it's when we become whole again. 00:23:19.814 --> 00:23:20.414 I'm like, 00:23:20.414 --> 00:23:22.686 wow. That's when, 00:23:22.830 --> 00:23:24.238 spiritually speaking, 00:23:24.366 --> 00:23:30.874 I can be completely and wholly reunited with my creator. 00:23:32.134 --> 00:23:33.114 I will. 00:23:34.574 --> 00:23:37.214 I get to see him face to face? 00:23:37.814 --> 00:23:40.994 That's what Paul tells us in one corinthians 1213. 00:23:41.574 --> 00:23:44.234 But then we shall see face to face. 00:23:44.914 --> 00:23:46.930 Wow. You see? 00:23:46.962 --> 00:23:49.018 So. So what is Paul doing right here? 00:23:48.890 --> 00:23:51.010 This is the thing that I encourage people to do, 00:23:51.010 --> 00:23:54.310 particularly people that are at least my age and older. 00:23:54.554 --> 00:23:55.162 You know, 00:23:55.162 --> 00:23:56.152 who you are. 00:23:57.794 --> 00:23:59.202 But I talk about it sometimes. 00:23:59.202 --> 00:23:59.562 I'll say, 00:23:59.562 --> 00:24:00.226 you know what? 00:24:00.226 --> 00:24:01.854 Think about what's next. 00:24:03.074 --> 00:24:04.138 Not like I want. 00:24:04.138 --> 00:24:04.898 I'll be honest, 00:24:04.898 --> 00:24:05.338 you know, 00:24:05.338 --> 00:24:05.998 I mean, 00:24:06.130 --> 00:24:07.450 Eli just got married, 00:24:07.490 --> 00:24:08.074 you know, 00:24:08.074 --> 00:24:08.890 five months ago, 00:24:08.890 --> 00:24:09.546 six months ago, 00:24:09.546 --> 00:24:10.194 something like that. 00:24:10.194 --> 00:24:10.882 I did the wedding, 00:24:10.882 --> 00:24:11.872 I should remember. 00:24:12.794 --> 00:24:13.970 But my point is that, 00:24:13.970 --> 00:24:17.994 no, it's not that I'm looking forward to going to this crown of 00:24:17.994 --> 00:24:19.214 righteousness today, 00:24:20.634 --> 00:24:24.574 but it doesn't mean that I can't look forward to it, 00:24:25.474 --> 00:24:26.554 that it's there, 00:24:26.674 --> 00:24:32.098 and that everything that I do in the here and now is preparation for 00:24:32.146 --> 00:24:34.534 that. You see, 00:24:34.914 --> 00:24:36.894 that's what Paul's talking about here. 00:24:36.858 --> 00:24:39.168 So what does it mean to finish? 00:24:39.344 --> 00:24:41.624 What does it mean to know that there is a. 00:24:41.624 --> 00:24:45.644 And here's the whole point of today's message. 00:24:46.464 --> 00:24:49.804 Finishing is just beginning, 00:24:51.304 --> 00:24:52.016 you see? 00:24:52.120 --> 00:24:54.484 Because when we finish this life, 00:24:55.704 --> 00:24:57.200 it's just the beginning. 00:24:57.232 --> 00:24:57.928 Of eternity. 00:24:57.976 --> 00:24:58.966 And guess what? 00:24:59.088 --> 00:25:00.764 You never finish that. 00:25:02.064 --> 00:25:03.248 Everything else you finish. 00:25:03.248 --> 00:25:04.568 I finished high school, 00:25:05.474 --> 00:25:08.254 goodness, 40 something years ago now, 00:25:09.234 --> 00:25:09.974 right? 00:25:10.674 --> 00:25:15.054 I finished college after seven years. 00:25:17.354 --> 00:25:21.334 I finished seminary after a little time. 00:25:22.314 --> 00:25:25.234 I finished ministry at First Baptist, 00:25:25.274 --> 00:25:27.482 Buford. After a time. 00:25:27.538 --> 00:25:31.578 I finished ministry in Maryland at town Baptist church. 00:25:31.626 --> 00:25:37.350 I finished ministry at Pisgah Forest Baptist Church in Brevard area, 00:25:37.422 --> 00:25:39.072 up there in the mountains, 00:25:39.614 --> 00:25:41.694 which prompts me to always tell the joke, 00:25:41.694 --> 00:25:42.022 you know, 00:25:42.022 --> 00:25:45.982 I moved here from the mountains because everything in between was boring. 00:25:46.454 --> 00:25:48.086 So if you're from somewhere inland, 00:25:48.086 --> 00:25:53.834 sorry, finishing is beginning. 00:25:55.694 --> 00:25:59.982 But my favorite story to tell about finishing goes back about four and a 00:25:59.982 --> 00:26:01.114 half years now. 00:26:02.634 --> 00:26:04.634 Just before COVID started, 00:26:04.714 --> 00:26:10.814 I had a gentleman who approached me about discipleship. 00:26:12.434 --> 00:26:18.394 He wanted to meet with his pastor on a regular basis about discipling, 00:26:18.474 --> 00:26:21.534 about being who God wanted him to be. 00:26:22.474 --> 00:26:25.614 Now, he's about ten years older than I am, 00:26:26.374 --> 00:26:27.034 or so. 00:26:26.966 --> 00:26:27.950 He's 70 ish. 00:26:27.982 --> 00:26:30.594 Probably 74 or 75 now. 00:26:31.094 --> 00:26:31.942 Y'all know him. 00:26:31.942 --> 00:26:32.834 Will Tate. 00:26:34.294 --> 00:26:34.774 Will. 00:26:34.854 --> 00:26:35.662 Will. He said, 00:26:35.662 --> 00:26:36.854 bobby. Well, 00:26:36.934 --> 00:26:38.198 he always called me pastor. 00:26:38.198 --> 00:26:41.354 Pastor. I need to get this right. 00:26:42.934 --> 00:26:43.430 I said, 00:26:43.430 --> 00:26:44.846 okay. He said, 00:26:44.870 --> 00:26:46.520 I'm in the fourth quarter, 00:26:49.734 --> 00:26:52.574 man. That just. 00:26:52.694 --> 00:26:53.590 I'll be honest with you. 00:26:53.590 --> 00:26:57.664 That just kept resounding in my head like a bell. 00:26:58.164 --> 00:26:59.814 I'm in the fourth quarter. 00:27:00.204 --> 00:27:02.844 And so we've joked about it since then. 00:27:02.844 --> 00:27:05.980 We're kind of the thing when he's sitting in here and I mention it, 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:10.384 he laughs back there because he always sits in the shade back there 00:27:13.844 --> 00:27:15.172 because, you know, 00:27:15.188 --> 00:27:16.224 the fourth quarter, 00:27:16.964 --> 00:27:17.732 at some point, 00:27:17.732 --> 00:27:21.264 the horn sounds and the game's over. 00:27:22.164 --> 00:27:24.474 So here's the challenge for us today. 00:27:25.124 --> 00:27:27.104 How are you playing the game? 00:27:28.044 --> 00:27:33.464 What effort are you putting toward winning the crown of righteousness? 00:27:36.404 --> 00:27:41.344 Are you surrendered to what God wants for your life, 00:27:45.124 --> 00:27:46.524 or is there a struggle? 00:27:46.524 --> 00:27:52.312 Because Paul also describes a struggle in his own life of pleasing self 00:27:52.368 --> 00:27:54.164 versus pleasing Jesus. 00:27:54.944 --> 00:27:55.884 You see, 00:27:56.864 --> 00:27:58.056 man, I look at this, 00:27:58.056 --> 00:27:58.456 you know, 00:27:58.456 --> 00:27:59.992 42 years of ministry. 00:28:00.048 --> 00:28:03.324 Now, I'll be honest, 00:28:05.144 --> 00:28:06.488 I'm not ready to quit. 00:28:06.488 --> 00:28:08.364 So y'all are stuck. 00:28:10.144 --> 00:28:11.992 But I look at this passage and I go, 00:28:11.992 --> 00:28:12.528 but God, 00:28:12.528 --> 00:28:15.896 I want to give all. 00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:18.164 I want to give my best. 00:28:18.704 --> 00:28:21.844 I don't want to be lazy in the fight, 00:28:23.224 --> 00:28:35.624 okay? I want to be devoted to who you've called me to be doing what you 00:28:35.664 --> 00:28:37.044 desire me to do. 00:28:38.024 --> 00:28:42.096 See, there are going to be 14 graduates sitting right here in the next 00:28:42.096 --> 00:28:48.292 hour, and they're looking at college or trade or career, 00:28:48.388 --> 00:28:50.756 or someone might be looking at military. 00:28:50.820 --> 00:28:51.810 I don't know. 00:28:52.604 --> 00:28:53.612 But the question is, 00:28:53.612 --> 00:28:55.396 as those things change, 00:28:55.500 --> 00:29:01.824 the thing that doesn't change is who is lord in your life. 00:29:04.444 --> 00:29:07.084 Because you can make the world your lord. 00:29:08.164 --> 00:29:10.036 You can make your hobbies your lord. 00:29:10.036 --> 00:29:13.054 You can make your habits your lord. 00:29:14.394 --> 00:29:16.704 You can make your career your lord. 00:29:20.274 --> 00:29:21.850 I like Paul's words here. 00:29:21.850 --> 00:29:22.378 I look at it. 00:29:22.378 --> 00:29:23.054 It says, 00:29:24.914 --> 00:29:27.314 there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, 00:29:27.314 --> 00:29:27.842 which the Lord, 00:29:27.842 --> 00:29:28.930 the righteous judge, 00:29:28.962 --> 00:29:30.786 will give me on that day. 00:29:30.786 --> 00:29:32.436 And not only to me, 00:29:32.714 --> 00:29:35.734 but to all those who have loved, 00:29:36.034 --> 00:29:37.074 longed for, 00:29:37.154 --> 00:29:40.254 looked forward to his appearing. 00:29:42.234 --> 00:29:43.894 Can't wait to see Jesus. 00:29:45.154 --> 00:29:46.854 Can't wait to see Jesus. 00:29:47.274 --> 00:29:48.730 If you don't know Jesus, 00:29:48.730 --> 00:29:49.720 you need him. 00:29:50.194 --> 00:29:51.314 You need him today, 00:29:51.314 --> 00:29:52.134 right now, 00:29:52.874 --> 00:29:55.234 we're going to give you an opportunity to respond to him. 00:29:55.234 --> 00:29:57.098 We're going to sing one more song in a minute. 00:29:57.098 --> 00:29:59.414 It's your opportunity to respond to him. 00:29:59.794 --> 00:30:00.562 Pray with me. 00:30:00.562 --> 00:30:03.290 Father, thank you for today and thank you for your words and all that 00:30:03.290 --> 00:30:04.326 you've accomplished. 00:30:04.450 --> 00:30:07.558 God, my prayer would be that this morning that no one leave here without 00:30:07.558 --> 00:30:12.366 knowing Jesus having that intimate personal relationship and fellowship 00:30:12.510 --> 00:30:14.262 with our creator and Lord and God, 00:30:14.262 --> 00:30:18.574 I just pray right now that you would speak to our hearts in such a way, 00:30:18.574 --> 00:30:21.222 God, that we would be surrendered, 00:30:21.398 --> 00:30:23.118 that we would be devoted, 00:30:23.166 --> 00:30:28.994 be committed to living our lives in such a way that we please you first. 00:30:29.494 --> 00:30:30.966 We pray it in Jesus name. 00:30:30.966 --> 00:30:31.134 Amen.