Being a Christian the Goes the Distance

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This is true for a new generation radio and now the man who preached in 50 states and 50 days speaker, writer, and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarlane Christian that can go the distance. What we mean by that. Hi this is Alex McFarlane and were going to look at Hebrews chapter 10 today talking about being a Christian that can really really go the distance. Welcome to teenager radio and let me say there was a horse that I love to read about a man of war said to be the greatest racehorse of all time. This famous horse man of war in 1919 completed the first horse race ever to be filmed and wanted by seven lengths.

He won the Belmont stakes by 20 links and famously won a race in upstate New York by 100 links man-of-war only lost one race in his entire career and is 20 years of retirement were spent on a farm in Kentucky and over a 20 year period while he was just in retirement more than 1,000,000 1/2 spectators stop by to see the horse 75,000 people year is really amazing.

The horse died in the 1940s and his funeral was attended by more than 2000 people from several nations and it was broadcast on the radio throughout the USA, amazing, and a number of biographies have been written by man-of-war and one biographer said this quote some horses led him at the first turn some led him at the backstretch a few led him at the far turn but no horse ever led man-of-war in the home stretch.

Clearly this was an animal that knew how to go the distance and I think about the Christian life. It is a race.

It's an endurance test in many ways, and reading the second Timothy four verse seven vents have near the great evangelist once said, quote some Christians run nobly at the start of the race. Some do well halfway but blessed is the man who makes a good finish where to finish well Neponset I finished my course, and thence have another set of the apostle Paul. Paul's batting average was good at the end of the season. He said I have finished my course now I bring all this up because I want to encourage Christians and encourage myself. Frankly, you know, as we enter a new year that we recommit ourselves to be the best servant of Jesus Christ that we could possibly be in the days ahead. And as Christians and as Americans for God and country, we should give our best give our all and give our hearts and our lives to see this nation.

No, salvation and godliness and so were going to talk about being a Christian who can really really go the distance and how I want to read from Hebrews 919 through 25, when we read the Scriptures. I will talk about this. Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the most holy Place by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, remember Matthew 2751 through 54. The curtain in the temple was ripped into what Jesus's body was rent on the cross.

Okay, a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God. Therefore let us draw near to God with a sincere heart, and with full assurance that faith brings it. God would listen to this, keep our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold faster verse 23. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess, for he who promised is faithful. In verse 24 of Hebrews chapter 10 and let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Think about these words of spurring one another on were going to come back to them, but spurring one another on and holding fast to our faith. Verse 25 and not giving up the meeting together is summer in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching. So not forsaking meeting together and encouraging one another going to talk about being a Christian who can go the distance being at a champion for Christ.

That doesn't mean that life is always good to be rosy being a faithful servant of Jesus Christ you know I think about over comers and how we of all people Christians have every reason to be excited to be victorious in this thing called the Christian life.

In 1962 book was released, cradles of eminence in which the authors Victor and Mildred Gertz solely looked into the family and the backgrounds of 400 very successful people.

They try to find the circumstances and the events that contributed to who these people became and presumably how their experiences had shaped who they are there subjects included Albert Einstein many other famous people of the time, and they discovered listen to this that three fourths of the highly successful people came from quote troubled childhoods, poverty, broken homes are parental abuse one fourths 25% of the world's most influential people at the time had physical disabilities and virtually all of the people who became playwrights or writers well-known journalist and published authors had come from families in which their parents had been constantly embroiled in one crisis after another and here is what the sociologists concluded quote the need to compensate for disadvantages was a major factor in their drive for personal achievement" coming up easy can in many cases be counterproductive to a person's development. When we come back after this brief break were going to talk about going the distance for Christ and I want to challenge the purpose in your heart and pray and with God's help and for God's glory make this next year the best year ever in your personal growth. Being a Christian that goes the distance. This in more TMG radio continues from. I am a watchman ministries. Here's today's I am a watchman minute. The rapture can happen at any time you have a friend or family member who is not spiritually ready and in danger of being left behind. What if, after you were taken in the rapture. You had one more opportunity to share the gospel with someone you care about someone who was left behind. What if there was a resource designed to help disciple new believers and develop leaders after the rapture the rapture kit is that resource has been developed to help believers today reach out to the lost. Before the rapture and provide spiritual and survival information for those not taken in the rapture visit. I'm a watchman.com and click the rapture Button at the top of the homepage to learn more about this new evangelistic and discipleship resource consider getting one as a gift today people be faithful, be a watchman, I am a watchman.com you know Alex is writing for many years, and one of his classic books is still great. Today is a basic introduction to the Christian faith.

It's called stand courtrooms must know for unshakable faith. This book will help you help your teens get off the roller coaster of doubt onto solid ground will read about the six pillars of biblical Christianity. They are one inspiration of the Bible to the virgin birth.

Three.

The deity of Christ for atonement.

Five. Christ's resurrection and six. Christ's return know Alex mixes it up with humor and stories gleaned from decades of working with youth and encourages things to build a foundation of faith that will stabilize their lives and help them take a stand for Christ. Simple and straightforward stand courtrooms. You must go forward unshakable faith available wherever Christian books are so if you're a Christian. You of course want to instill a biblical view of life in the hearts of your children, your pastor, you want to offer ministry that draws young families to your church.

This is Alex McFarland encouraging you to check out my new book and video curriculum. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity. I interviewed hundreds of children ages 5 to 12 and we address actual questions from actual children. The spiritual issues that are on the minds of your kids the book and video lessons are great for groups of any size and was produced with the goal of equipping kids to stand strong for Christ in any situation. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask the book study guide and video series. You'll find it@aafastore.net that AFA store.net timeless truths in a soundbite culture for a new generation radio being a Christian that goes the distance.

Hebrews 10 and were talking about making this year our best year ever for the Lord and for all the things he's called us to have other way while we are talking about that being equipped and serving the Lord. I do want to remind everybody that we're going to be at the Cove in July.

July 27 for it for few days were going to be at the Billy Graham training center in western North Carolina folks.

Truly this is the greatest retreat center in North America. Beautiful facilities, beautiful lodging, world-class food, I assure you the best video every great fellowship. But best of all were going to be in the word of God. Now listen to this. I'll be teaching through Daniel and Revelation and the subject how God writes history in advance.

Bible prophecy will have ample time for Q&A. There's going to be sessions together. Unbelievable fellowship with people from all around the country and we want you to be there and let's look at Bible prophecy together friends. I believe we are growing nearer and nearer to the time of Christ's return and it behooves all of us to really know Bible prophecy, and it's such an inspiring motivational thing to look at God's promises regarding our near and distant future. And so you can go to the Billy Graham website for the retreat center, which is the Cove.org CO the E. The Cove.org put my name in the just Alex McFarland and you'll find the seminar there and so will study Daniel Revelation together. It begins July 27.

I would love you to be there.

This would be a great gift to give to your spouse, yourself, your your pastor. Many times I'll be at the coven people as a gifts and their their pastor and their staff when I was there last summer there was a church their entire pastoral staff had come along with many of their leaders and members so we hope to see you there and so much more. You cannot look at my calendar@alexmcfarland.com or go to the Cove.org. For the prophecy seminar now were talking about going the distance for Jesus Christ and it says in verse 19 therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the most holy place now.

It's been said very famously when in the word of God. You see the word therefore see what it is, therefore, the writer of Hebrews is making this argument, that Jesus Christ is that the summation of all the prophecies, the fulfillment of of the law the righteousness of God in the very person of God revealed that the human race and it says that Jesus our high priest was touched with the feeling of our infirmities tempted in all points like we yet without sin.

So if you've ever felt like you and nobody understands what I'm going through physical issues, financial issues, pressure all around and you wonder does anybody care. Does anybody really understand.

Yes, Jesus understands now I think about this.

There's a passage where it's as everybody went to their own house and Jesus said foxes have holes, the birds of the air have nests, the son of man doesn't have a place to lay his head. Jesus knew what it was to not have a roof over your head. Jesus knew what it was to be hungry to be thirsty, to be falsely accused to be misunderstood by those closest to you.

He knew what it was, to feel intense physical pain. Jesus knew what it was to do right by people to pour yourself out to show love and yet to be rejected and ignored and mocked, and whatever you're going through Jesus really does understand and he lay down his life to pay for our sins to rise from the dead and verse 19 of Hebrews 10 says love that the sense in the these passes SI NCE since we have a confidence to enter the most holy place. Since we have a new and living way open to us through his broken body on the cross and then risen again since we have a great high priest of the house of God. In other words, since all these things friends since your Christian faith is real and the things we believe in are rated in reality since all these things.

Remember why we stay motivated. Here's how you can go the distance for Jesus Christ. In these days ahead, to give you the points and then I'll go back and reiterate just a bit. Remember why we stay motivated. Remember who we are to stay close to remember how we are to live, remember what we believe in.

Remember these things and then finally remember where our priorities are to be focused. Now let me reiterate just a little bit. Remember why we stay motivated. Why because Jesus rose from the grave. If Jesus could pay for the sin debt of 50 billion humans endure that pain rise from the grave ascend to heaven. Send the Holy Spirit birthed the church sustain it for more than 2000 years now. If he could give his Word the Bible, preserve, and in the face of intense persecution and countless attempts over the centuries to eradicate the word of God and yet we still have the Bible if he can hold the solar system in place and oversee the operation of the universe and the involuntary heartbeat of 7 1/2 billion humans right now he keeps everybody alive, that is alive and according to Colossians sustains it all with the word of his power.

Look, if God can do all that and and frankly I would say another thing to hold back his wrath from a human race that still deserves the judgment of God but yet in his mercy he holds back wrath because his long-suffering patient, not willing that any should perish, then then we know he can meet our needs. He sees you right where you are right now in your journey. He knows where you are. He knows the blessings he has for you in the new year.

He knows what you can be doing 12 months from now. He knows the needs that are going to come your way.

Look the surprises of Tamara God's already there and he says hey I got this remember why we stay motivated and and we've got a mission to the world and we've got a message for the world. The mission reach people of all nations make disciples of every nation. The message that God is real and he has a plan and he loves everybody and he rose from the dead. Hey that that motivates me.

Maybe it motivates you remember who we are to stay close to verse 22 says let us draw near to God with a sincere heart, and with the full assurance that faith bring draw near to God. A full heart and foolish or fully walking in his presence now stated.

We got a ploy for a brief break within a come back and give you a few more thoughts about going the distance from God in your Christian walk in the days ahead.

The way TNG radio is back after this.

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Remember, while we stay motivated, remember who we are to stay close to walking with Jesus every day. And finally, remember how we are to live that the spiritual state that we are to maintain now verse 22 of Hebrews 10 said, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart sincere means without wax yeah I'm shooting for the illustration about sculptors that if there were flaws in the material in the medium or media the stone they would put wax and sincere means without wax. Not something covering up in a some superficial veneer covering up a problem, but it means complete and and thorough and pure and real authentic were supposed to have an authentic sincere heart and we walk with full assurance not doubting Ephesians talks about not doubting and wavering like a wave on the ocean and then how are we to live. We are to keep our hearts sprinkled cleansed from a guilty conscience having our bodies washed with pure water are person we are to maintain a spiritual state of walking with the Lord and having our sins confessed and I think that first John 19 which we often use in evangelism. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. But you know first John 19 is really written to Christians. So we are to keep our our hearts confessed up and walk as obedient consistent followers of Jesus not vacillating on and off hot cold up and down, but to live a stable, consistent, obedient life and remember what we believe in point number four. Remember what we believe and not now. Think of this, we are to have faith. It is consistent and fruitfulness that is contagious right verse 23.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope that we profess, for he who promised is faithful. So let me say don't doubt the word of God. People asked me do you really believe that Moses parted the Red Sea, did you really believe in all his miracles she really believe and now the feeding of the 5000 in healing the lepers and raising Lazarus in the resurrection. Do I believe that absolutely absolutely 1000%. Yes, if God is the all-powerful, eternal, omnipotent Lord, that the Bible claims him to be an logic and common sense tells us there has to be this ultimate being noncontingent on anything outside of himself. In other words, if God exists, then of course the atonement is possible.

The resurrection is possible and based on all the evidence not only possible but actual so we we are to have a faith that is consistent trust God trust his word and then we can be fruitful in a way that's contagious. Look at verse 24 of Hebrews 10 I love this. Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Nothing about these words of spurring one another on the good works see edit as you faithfully process the journey that you're on for Jesus and with Jesus.

It does have an impact on others.

Milligrams said courage is contagious fruitfulness is contagious.

Obedience is contagious you nothing about John Bunyan, the author of Pilgrim's progress. He lives 1628 to 1688 John Bunyan said this now. Think about it if you're struggling and may be wiping tears because of the pressure in the journey that you've been on. But listen to the words of John Bunyan. Quote Christians are like the several flowers in a garden that have on each of them the dew of heaven, which being shaken with the win, they followed each other's roots whereby their jointly nourished and become nurturers of each other. Are you a Christian who nourishes others. We are to spur others on the good works and where to remember what we believe in and to be contagious in our obedience and fruitfulness and then we are to remember where our priorities and resources are to be focused on verse 25.

Not giving up the the meeting together, going to church being a part of the corporate body of Christ, but encouraging one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching thence Hafner the great evangelist had such an impact on Billy Graham Vance Hafner said this to listen to this quote. There are many brands of treason in the Christian camp men who denied the historicity and authenticity of God's word were rulings who hobnob with the enemy in different church members who come not to the help of the Lord against the mighty, all of these are traders. It sounds good to talk about forgetting all of our differences and closing ranks to face the photo without but let's not forget the flows within thence and resist Paul recognized two threats to the church.

Wolves from without and false leaders from within referencing acts 20 out. We've got to be the Christians that have our priorities focused in the right directions so in conclusion, you note.

Is this new year begins May God help us purpose in our heart to be a victor for Christ. A representative for Christ and at all times living to glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, you know, we talk about doing apologetics but we ourselves are to be an apologetic and listen.

No matter what this life throws at you. God is able to help you and protect you and use you. I read a story that was reported by the British newspaper the Sun a €45 clergyman Adam Ellwood was bitten in multiple places by dog and his his pants were ripped his shirt was torn to shreds. He was attacked by this dog in the English village of Westport and the headline in the sun, said vicar savaged by a dog named Satan and the Rev. Ellwood said it was terrifying. I was lucky to get out of it. Let me say Rev. Ellwood is certainly not the first Christian to get attacked by a dog, a beast named Satan but he survived and you can survive.

You can thrive and as this one year closes in the new year begins. Let us be a Christian that goes the distance bears the fruit serves the Lord shines the light proclaims the truth and in time we can make a mark that counts for eternity for God's glory and in his strength. Let's do that. God bless you go forth boldly for Jesus and thank you for listening to TNG radio TNG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland ministry, PO Box 10231 is Burrell, NC 27404.

That's PO Box 10231, Greensboro, NC 27404 call us at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one or give online@alexmcfarland.com while you're there, listen the program archives. Read Alex's blog invite Alex to speak at your event or contact Alex with a question or comment, Alex McFarland.com. Thanks for listening today and join us again next time is we bring you more true for a new generation TNG radio