Go The Extra Mile

One of the most controversial statements Jesus ever made in His preaching ministry may have been Matthew 5:41, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.” Why? Because Jesus was speaking directly to an issue the Jewish people had with the Roman Empire.

During the time of Jesus’ ministry, Israel was under the control of the Roman Empire, and as a part of Roman rule, Romans could order any Jewish person to carry their goods for up to one mile. Some Israeli tour guides teach during visits to the Holy Land that the disdain for this Roman practice led Jewish people to purposely mark off one mile in each direction of their homes so that they never had to carry the goods further than the required mile. And, yet, during his infamous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus dares to say to the Jews, if someone compels you to go one mile, don’t stop, go two!

Jesus was communicating with this statement that any follower of his ministry should be beyond helpful, friendly, and forgiving. Nothing has changed. Jesus’ statement is timeless. He still expects his followers to go above and beyond in our service to others. We are to leave a positive and lasting impression when serving others; especially, those who do not share our same beliefs. This Heavenly expectation is upon us even in situations that we feel are difficult or that we don’t necessarily want to be in, because according to Paul this is how we win the respect of non-believers, “(live) your daily life (in such a way that you) may win the respect of outsiders…” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV)

It doesn’t matter whether we are serving inside a church or going about our daily lives within our communities. As Christians, we must remember what Jesus commanded: Go the extra mile. Therefore, we are always to go above and beyond in service to others!

The second mile is more than a suggestion, it’s a command. Jesus wasn’t going to cut the Jewish people any slack on this command, and that goes for you and me as well.

The second mile is more than a good deed, it is an act of faith. Of course, it’s a good deed to go one mile, but faith is activated in the second mile. Never is this more true than when you're tired, exhausted, or already battling the enemy. It’s in the second mile we demonstrate our trust in God’s more excellent plan for our lives through our commitment to stay the course.

The second mile reveals who is really in control of your life. Are you in control of your life, or is God? What you do at the Mile Marker #1 will reveal a lot about your answer to this question!

Have you ever thought to yourself, I did this, so I deserve that? This thought process can lead to highly adverse outcomes and actions. This mindset is sinful, and it will cause you NEVER to reap the benefits of walking out the second mile. And, to speak bluntly, if we got what we deserved, we would all be thrown into Hell, the key tossed away, and we would be left to burn and die for all of eternity. Scripture teaches that the wages for sin are death, but the sacrifice of Jesus Christ saves you and me. God didn’t give us what we deserved! The Psalmist said it beautifully, “He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him. (Psalms 103:1-11 NKJV)

As recipients of God’s Grace, we now do not interact with people based on what we judge them to deserve. Since we didn’t deserve salvation, but because God loves us above and beyond, He showed us forgiveness. This truth now provokes us to go the second mile, so everyone we meet can experience this same forgiveness.

The second mile is about allowing our desire to be transformed.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” - Luke 9:23 (NKJV)

Jesus doesn’t stop at mile marker number one. He just keeps coming for you. If you want your desires to be transformed, you have to want what God has for you. Deny the parts of yourself that want to quit when it becomes hard to be helpful, friendly, and forgiving. Your service can have a transformative effect on the world today, especially in a world where people have forgotten how to serve others. You may NEVER get the glory for going the second mile, but remember you are doing the work of the Lord because as a Christian, all the credit goes to God.

The second mile is more about your destiny than your convenience. Convenience quits at mile number one. Comfort leaves at the basics of helpfulness, friendliness, and forgiveness and never goes above and beyond. When you enter mile two, you are entering into the will of God for your life because you are walking out the Word of God in your life.

And, your story is just getting started at mile marker number two. So many people never go to the next level in their spiritual lives because they come up with all the excuses and things they think they deserve, then fall prey to self-entitlement and worldly conveniences. Then, they stop serving God before even getting to one mile, much less mile marker number two.

Choose to be someone who lives your life in a way that wins outsiders to the Lord by demonstrating the power within going the second mile. Don’t just choose to blend in, be beyond helpful, friendly, and forgiving!

Go THE SECOND MILE in everything you do!

There is so much more included in this message when engaged in its entirety, and I hope you will give it a listen. You can view the message in its entirety at this link:

You can view the message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/d3eVOmc5Ypg

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | MESSAGE NOTES

How To Know Something Is Worth Fighting For

Last week, in the message, Is It Time To Flee?, we discussed how the Bible gives precise instructions on when we are to FIGHT and when we are to FLEE.

But you, O man of God, FLEE these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. FIGHT the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. - 1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NKJV)

Sometimes there is a need to get involved in a fight on behalf of our faith, but we can not enter that battle haphazardly or casually -- we must move forward with intentionality. And a significant part of choosing to fight spiritual battles with intentionality is choosing to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10 NKJV)

No one can put on the armor of God for you; it’s something you must do yourself.

Memorize the armor elements and pray through their placement in your life daily, the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, loins girded with Truth, the sword of the Spirit, and feet Shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. God has called and commissioned you to fight the GOOD FIGHT of faith, and you must be equipped for battle, “Fight the GOOD FIGHT of faith…” (1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV)

There are two kinds of spiritual fights that exist, one is the good fight, and one is the bad fight. Let’s examine examples of the differences between the two.

BAD FIGHT vs. GOOD FIGHT

PERSONAL RECOGNITION vs. GOD’S GLORY

PERSONAL OPINION vs. GOD’S TRUTH

PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE vs. GOD’S PLAN

PERSONAL PREFERENCE vs. GOD’S PRESENCE

PROVE A POINT vs. BLESS OTHERS

TEAR DOWN vs. BUILD-UP

HURT OTHERS vs. HELPS OTHERS

POLITICAL IDEOLOGY vs. SOUND DOCTRINE

We best sum this up by saying that a GOOD FIGHT happens when we fight for others, not against them.

• Hell’s PLOT: We fight each other.

• God’s PLAN: We fight for each other.

It is not God’s plan for us to be fighting each other; we are to be fighting for each other! Why? Because we do not wrestle against FLESH and BLOOD, we wrestle against powers and principalities! Yes, you may be dealing with a personality, but that personality is hosting spiritual darkness. Never lose sight of that truth. It will help you to keep the fight from becoming personal.

When the enemy uses people to come against us, hard conversations become unavoidable. But, unfortunately, those conversations can often feel like a fight. So, how do you have the necessary discussions and maintain a good fight, not a bad fight?

When HARD CONVERSATIONS must take place, follow this strategy:

1. CONVERSE PRIVATELY FIRST

Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. - Matthew 18:15 (NKJV)

2. SPEAK TRUTH IN LOVE

...no longer be children… carried about with every wind of doctrine...but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in Christ-

-Ephesians 4:14-15 (NKJV)

3. FILL YOUR SPEECH WITH GRACE

Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. -Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)

4. OFFER BLESSING, NOT CURSING

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse…” If your enemy is...thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” -Romans 12:12, 20 (NKJV)

At the best you can do, there will still be moments when you recognize a SPIRITUAL fight is becoming increasingly PERSONAL. I borrow Paul’s recommendations for suggesting your next step, “Now I urge you, brethren, NOTE those who cause divisions and offenses...and AVOID them. (Romans 16:17 NKJV)

The takeaway of that verse is that sometimes, when dealing with challenging personalities, we have to take good notes (if you’ve ever been through a legal battle, you know what I’m talking about!), and on occasions, altogether avoid them.

Another way of saying it is that sometimes we have to understand that there will be personality conflicts with people. However, we can still love and bless them while simultaneously setting healthy boundaries, so that offense and bitterness do not take root within our hearts.

It’s essential to align our battle strategies with God’s instructions because the result will be something we can celebrate, “I want you to be wise in what is GOOD… And the God of peace will CRUSH Satan under your feet shortly.” (Romans 16:17-18 NKJV)

Give God praise! This approach is how you will win! It’s amazing what happens when you stop trying to fight your way -- the bad fight -- and fight God’s way -- the good fight!

“Fight the GOOD FIGHT of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called…” (1 Timothy 6:12). In this letter, Paul is telling Timothy to fight the GOOD FIGHT. Years later, Paul writes another letter stating, “I have fought the GOOD FIGHT, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV)

• I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT. I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH!

Don’t you want that proclamation to be your testimony?

Your kids are worth fighting for... your family is worth fighting for... your calling is worth fighting for… God’s church and God’s truth -- sound doctrine is worth fighting for... Don’t stop fighting! Fight the GOOD FIGHT, it won’t come cheap, and you may have to sacrifice your pride, personal recognition, and even personal preference at times. But, I challenge you to realize that there is no more remarkable testimony than to say, “I have kept the faith, I have fought the GOOD FIGHT, God CRUSHED the enemy under my feet!

You can view the message in its entirety at this link: https://youtu.be/smWkQi0Gu9o

WATCH IT | DISCUSSION GUIDE | MESSAGE NOTES

Two Questions that will Lead to a Meaningful Life

It is possible to invest one's entire life into meaningless things. Hence, perhaps, the easiest way for this to happen: spend your time, talent, treasure, and influence trying to make a name for yourself. With a philosophical tone, the writer of Ecclesiastes teaches that such actions become equivalent to trying to grab the wind. As a result, you’re left feeling empty-handed, exhausted, and disappointed. In other words, meaningless.

And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. -Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NIV)

We’ve all heard it, “Keeping up with the Joneses…” It implies staying ahead of those around us; better cars, houses, jobs, education...But spending your life trying to get ahead of someone else results in living a meaningless life. Because ultimately, it’s always “someone else” that you must catch and surpass. Metaphorically, it’s like chasing after the wind. You’re not going to take hold of what you're chasing.

Thankfully, there is an alternative that can result in peace, fulfillment, and even significance. You can live your life doing good works. This decision will fill your life with purpose.

I once spoke to the Kansas City Chiefs during a chapel service. In prayer, preparing for my time with them, I felt many of the players had been taken advantage of in various ways. They were big, strong men, not easily intimidated. But, many of them had wanted to do good in their neighborhoods; however, greedy, manipulative people had taken advantage of their generosity. I sensed the result of these experiences was that some of them were backing away from charitable living, thus subtracting meaning from their wealth. I have no idea if my discernment was correct, but I felt so strongly about it that I borrowed the words of Mother Teresa to encourage them:

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

The good you do today will often be forgotten tomorrow.

Do good anyway.

-Mother Teresa

Even though the world is not always a nice place, we must be people who value doing good for others. God does not give us an “out” when it comes to doing good works. Unfortunately, there will always be people who take advantage of others' kindness and willingness to do good in the world. This can be discouraging but should never deter us from doing good. We should always choose to do good anyway.

If you haven’t already had the opportunity to watch last week's message, God Is...Light, I would invite you to do so. In that message, I shared how:

• We RECEIVE the light by BELIEVING God’s Word.

• We RELEASE the light by OBEYING God’s Word.

Are you releasing light into the World by doing the GOOD WORKS of God’s Word?

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16 (NKJV)

Obeying God’s Word -- doing good works -- allows us to shine spiritual light into the world around us! When you love God, you release light into the world. When you love people, you release light into the world. And the world ends up a brighter place for everyone! Without these actions, our faith is equivocally dead.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead… -James 2:26 (NKJV)

The summary, if you're not doing good works, your faith is dead. We should be clothing the naked, feeding the poor, caring for the prisoners, widows, and orphans. But, don’t get it twisted; we can not earn our salvation through good works. Instead, we are saved by the grace and love of Jesus Christ. Yet, it is essential to understand that Heaven records our good works here on Earth. And, God has chosen the mechanism of our good works to introduce people to His light. So, activate your faith! And, keep D. L. Moody’s humorous but true statement in mind:

I’m glad we are not saved by our good works because I don’t want to sit in Heaven listening to people brag about how they got there.

– D. L. Moody

The New Testament is full of references on how important it is for Christians to do good. Paul speaks on this topic multiple times across seven of his New Testament letters. Here are three of his references:

They profess to know God, but in works, they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

-Titus 1:16 (NKJV)

That you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.

- Colossians 1:10 (NKJV)

That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

-2 Timothy 3:17 (NKJV)

The culmination of these three statements, always do good works to glorify the name of God. This approach to life is what brings true meaningfulness to our human existence.

In twenty-one years of pastoring followers of Jesus, I’ve come to learn that there are TWO QUESTIONS we can ask ourselves repetitively to make sure that our good works stay properly centered; making the main thing the main thing:

1- WHY am I doing it?

2- WHO am I doing it for?

Answering these questions honestly and correctly becomes increasingly crucial because when you start to obey God’s Word and shine light into the world, you are going to be the answer to someone's prayers! So, we must never forget that our good works should never glorify ourselves, but always glorify God. Otherwise, the light doesn’t shine. If the works become about bringing glory to you rather than God, personal burnout is assured. God won’t FUEL your empire, but he will FILL His Kingdom. Jesus told us so, “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven, and all these things shall be added unto you.” So, keep your heart and perspective in check, and know: 1) who you are doing it for, and 2) why you are doing it. Because everything we do is meaningless unless we are doing it for God and His glory!

And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind. -Ecclesiastes 4:4 (NIV)

Every gift, every particular skill, directly results from how God created you and blessed you. You were placed exactly where you are right now, for such a time as this, so that God could use your gifts, skills, and influence to do good works. You are blessed to be a blessing to others! Allow God’s involvement in your works, and great things will happen as a result! Let him use your time, talent, treasure, and influence!

Consider ceasing your pursuit of an uncatchable wind and lean into finding true meaning within your life. If you want your life to have meaning and be radiant, you will need to chase the right wind. We do this by loving God, loving people, and building only one name, the name above all names, the name of Jesus Christ.

Think about this Scriptural statement, “The name above every other name….” We know “that name” is Jesus. Will you allow this Heavenly proclamation to be fulfilled in your life? Will you place His name above your name? Don’t ever let the mentality of Babel’s builders take hold of your purpose: And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” -Genesis 11:4 (NKJV)

Instead, live out the mandate of Hebrews’ commission:

To make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well-pleasing in His sight, through JESUS CHRIST, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. -Hebrews 13:21 (NKJV)

I invite you to view the message I shared on this subject, Chasing After The Wind.

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