This week we are listening to an exhortation by Brother Eric McKelvie that was given at the Moorestown Ecclesia titled “1% Marginal Gains” in July 2023.<\/p>\n
We hope this strengthens your Faith and brightens your day!<\/p>\n
Thank you for listening, God bless, and talk to you next week.<\/p>\n
Send talk suggestions or comments to:\u00a0GoodChristadelphianTalks@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n For Show Notes, visit our website:\u00a0GoodChristadelphianTalks.com<\/a><\/p>\n Social Media:\u00a0Facebook<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 This week we are listening to an exhortation by Brother Eric McKelvie that was given at…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":413,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/s\/6d15708\/podcast\/play\/74935786\/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2023-7-22%2Fff70474a-2825-0740-9966-e95e10c3d9e7.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:35:10","filesize":"24.15M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"tags":[10],"series":[25],"class_list":["post-997","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-season5","series-gct"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n00:00:13,880 –> 00:00:15,600
\nWelcome to good Chris Selfian
\ntalks. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:15,600 –> 00:00:17,320
\nI’m Levi.
\nAnd I’m Chris. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:17,560 –> 00:00:19,480
\nAnd I’m Brian.
\nThank you for joining us this <\/p>\n
\n00:00:19,480 –> 00:00:23,080
\nweek on this podcast.
\nWe select one talk a week to <\/p>\n
\n00:00:23,080 –> 00:00:26,240
\nhelp us get the Bible in our
\nDaily News feed. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:26,560 –> 00:00:28,520
\nWe post a new episode at the
\nstart of each week. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:28,950 –> 00:00:31,550
\nWith a short intro beforehand to
\nkind of set the stage for the <\/p>\n
\n00:00:31,550 –> 00:00:35,470
\ntalk you’re about to listen to.
\nAnd now, let’s talk more about <\/p>\n
\n00:00:35,470 –> 00:00:51,430
\nthis week’s talk.
\nWelcome to the good Chris <\/p>\n
\n00:00:51,430 –> 00:00:53,990
\nAdelphian Talks Podcast.
\nThis is Brother Brian. <\/p>\n
\n00:00:55,110 –> 00:00:57,790
\nThis week’s talk is an
\nexhortation by brother Eric <\/p>\n
\n00:00:57,790 –> 00:01:00,340
\nMckelvey.
\nWhich was given last month at <\/p>\n
\n00:01:00,340 –> 00:01:02,140
\nthe Moorestown ecclesia here in
\nNew Jersey. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:03,300 –> 00:01:06,820
\nHis ex are was entitled 1%
\nmarginal gains. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:07,820 –> 00:01:12,020
\nAnd it borrows from the true
\nstory of the British National <\/p>\n
\n00:01:12,020 –> 00:01:16,180
\nCycling team, which I guess was
\nlike the laughingstock of the <\/p>\n
\n00:01:17,380 –> 00:01:23,500
\nbicycle world, and how they
\nhired a coach who implemented <\/p>\n
\n00:01:23,500 –> 00:01:27,650
\nthis 1% rule.
\nIn order to improve every facet <\/p>\n
\n00:01:27,650 –> 00:01:30,210
\nor every overlooked advantage
\nthat they could possibly try. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:31,890 –> 00:01:36,490
\nThey’ve evidently won numerous
\nOlympics and Tour de France <\/p>\n
\n00:01:36,570 –> 00:01:41,530
\nawards in recent years, and the
\nthe true story is incredible. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:42,490 –> 00:01:47,130
\nAnd Brother Eric suggests taking
\nthis method and applying it to <\/p>\n
\n00:01:47,130 –> 00:01:50,410
\nour spiritual lives, recognizing
\nfirst that yes. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:51,500 –> 00:01:54,780
\nNo, we cannot earn our salvation
\nby works. <\/p>\n
\n00:01:54,780 –> 00:01:57,940
\nIt’s a gift of grace.
\nBut that we would greatly <\/p>\n
\n00:01:57,940 –> 00:02:01,500
\nbenefit from thinking about God
\nas our coach and a coach who <\/p>\n
\n00:02:01,500 –> 00:02:06,900
\nwants us to succeed, and then
\nfollowing the example of Christ,<\/p>\n
\n00:02:07,060 –> 00:02:11,380
\nour true champion, looking at
\nhis accomplishments from a <\/p>\n
\n00:02:11,380 –> 00:02:17,060
\nspiritual strategy of consistent
\nimprovement and recognizing that<\/p>\n
\n00:02:17,060 –> 00:02:20,300
\nfor ourselves this is not
\npossible. <\/p>\n
\n00:02:21,390 –> 00:02:26,030
\nIn these massive, unattainable
\nleaps and bounds, like, I’m just<\/p>\n
\n00:02:26,030 –> 00:02:28,670
\nnot overnight going to be able
\nto get rid of some of the things<\/p>\n
\n00:02:28,670 –> 00:02:32,950
\nthat plague me, but I can start
\nimplementing these tiny little <\/p>\n
\n00:02:32,950 –> 00:02:36,230
\nhabits that over time will add
\nup. <\/p>\n
\n00:02:37,630 –> 00:02:41,830
\nSo the idea is mastering any
\ntiny advantage you can on a week<\/p>\n
\n00:02:41,830 –> 00:02:48,270
\nby week basis to improve just
\never so slightly the mastering <\/p>\n
\n00:02:48,270 –> 00:02:51,390
\nof these spiritual habits.
\nIs what will better prepare <\/p>\n
\n00:02:51,390 –> 00:02:55,830
\nourselves to be workers and
\nbuilders for our God and His <\/p>\n
\n00:02:55,830 –> 00:03:01,950
\nKingdom.
\nThe 1% gains methodology and the<\/p>\n
\n00:03:01,950 –> 00:03:06,150
\ntrue story behind it was very
\nmemorable and it translates so <\/p>\n
\n00:03:06,150 –> 00:03:10,110
\nwell to our daily walk that we
\nrecognized it’s not a Sprint, <\/p>\n
\n00:03:10,710 –> 00:03:16,310
\nit’s a marathon and our Heavenly
\nFather knows we will stumble and<\/p>\n
\n00:03:16,310 –> 00:03:20,940
\nwe’re going to have setbacks.
\nBut if we implement this rule, <\/p>\n
\n00:03:21,140 –> 00:03:27,500
\nit’s these points of repeatable
\nstructure that will help us to <\/p>\n
\n00:03:27,500 –> 00:03:31,660
\ngain control of a pace that will
\nkeep us at the front of the <\/p>\n
\n00:03:31,660 –> 00:03:38,260
\npack, seeking to fill our time
\nand fill our minds with the good<\/p>\n
\n00:03:38,260 –> 00:03:43,140
\nworks of our Lord.
\nSo as always, we hope this <\/p>\n
\n00:03:43,140 –> 00:03:47,140
\nstrengthens your faith and
\nbrightens your day, Brother Eric<\/p>\n
\n00:03:47,140 –> 00:03:51,140
\nMckelvey. 1% marginal gains.
\nGood morning. <\/p>\n
\n00:03:54,340 –> 00:03:57,540
\nHow are you?
\nIt’s kind of a funny question to<\/p>\n
\n00:03:57,540 –> 00:03:59,900
\nask to a group of people you
\ndon’t expect a response from. <\/p>\n
\n00:03:59,900 –> 00:04:03,700
\nBut we are commanded to examine
\nyourselves when you come before <\/p>\n
\n00:04:03,700 –> 00:04:07,460
\nthe the bread in the wine.
\nA man ought to examine himself <\/p>\n
\n00:04:07,460 –> 00:04:10,260
\nbefore he eats of the bread and
\ndrinks of the wine. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:10,260 –> 00:04:14,340
\nSo how are you thinking of
\nmyself? <\/p>\n
\n00:04:14,340 –> 00:04:18,870
\nI know that I need improvement.
\nThere are plenty of areas in my <\/p>\n
\n00:04:18,870 –> 00:04:22,750
\nlife which I am lacking in.
\nI can be covetous, <\/p>\n
\n00:04:23,070 –> 00:04:26,790
\nmaterialistic.
\nI know I need to control my <\/p>\n
\n00:04:26,790 –> 00:04:30,710
\ntongue as I can say foolish
\nthings at time times. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:30,830 –> 00:04:35,630
\nI spend too much time with
\nworldly activities that lead me <\/p>\n
\n00:04:35,630 –> 00:04:40,190
\naway from God and 100 other
\nareas of fault. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:42,670 –> 00:04:46,110
\nOften times when we when we.
\nLook at where we are and how <\/p>\n
\n00:04:46,110 –> 00:04:49,430
\nmuch we need to improve.
\nIt can be intimidating. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:51,510 –> 00:04:53,950
\nFor instance, if you want to
\nimprove yourself by learning a <\/p>\n
\n00:04:53,950 –> 00:04:58,030
\nlanguage, it can seem like a
\nmountain of work to take on. <\/p>\n
\n00:04:58,830 –> 00:05:02,390
\nThis can scare people away and
\ndeter them from even starting. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:05,110 –> 00:05:09,510
\nThere is, however, a concept
\ncalled the 1% marginal gains <\/p>\n
\n00:05:09,510 –> 00:05:13,310
\nrule, and this is the concept of
\naiming to improve yourself. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:14,180 –> 00:05:19,100
\nBy only 1% each day, and these
\ntiny changes will compound and <\/p>\n
\n00:05:19,100 –> 00:05:21,460
\ngenerate massive growth over
\ntime. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:22,100 –> 00:05:26,260
\nIt might not seem like much in
\nthe beginning, but each day <\/p>\n
\n00:05:26,260 –> 00:05:31,020
\nthese improvements start to
\ncompound on each other and <\/p>\n
\n00:05:31,020 –> 00:05:34,940
\ngradually you will see the
\neffect that these changes have <\/p>\n
\n00:05:34,940 –> 00:05:37,860
\non your life, even if you only
\nlearn a couple new words in this<\/p>\n
\n00:05:37,860 –> 00:05:43,280
\nlanguage each day.
\nOver time this would add up. <\/p>\n
\n00:05:43,480 –> 00:05:47,440
\nIf one improves just 1% each
\nday, then after a year they <\/p>\n
\n00:05:47,440 –> 00:05:52,680
\nwould be 37 times more
\nproficient at the task or goal <\/p>\n
\n00:05:52,680 –> 00:05:57,000
\nwhich they were performing.
\nSo in the spirit of the Tour de <\/p>\n
\n00:05:57,000 –> 00:06:00,280
\nFrance which just finished up,
\nI’d like to tell the story of <\/p>\n
\n00:06:00,280 –> 00:06:04,120
\nthe British Cycling team.
\nAnd this story was highlighted <\/p>\n
\n00:06:04,120 –> 00:06:06,480
\nin the in the book Atomic
\nHabits, which some of you may <\/p>\n
\n00:06:06,480 –> 00:06:11,120
\nhave heard, heard of, or read,
\nand in this book the author. <\/p>\n
\n00:06:11,880 –> 00:06:16,560
\nWrites that in 2003 the British
\nCycling team hired a coach named<\/p>\n
\n00:06:16,560 –> 00:06:22,240
\nDave Brailsford and at the time,
\nprofessional cyclists in Great <\/p>\n
\n00:06:22,240 –> 00:06:26,440
\nBritain had endured nearly 100
\nyears of mediocrity. <\/p>\n
\n00:06:27,680 –> 00:06:32,880
\nSince 1908, British riders had
\nwon just a single gold medal at <\/p>\n
\n00:06:32,880 –> 00:06:36,880
\nthe Olympic Games and they had
\nfared even worse in the <\/p>\n
\n00:06:36,880 –> 00:06:38,840
\ncycling’s biggest race, the Tour
\nde France. <\/p>\n
\n00:06:39,530 –> 00:06:43,450
\nIn 110 years, no British cyclist
\nhad ever won the event. <\/p>\n
\n00:06:44,290 –> 00:06:47,530
\nIn fact, the performance of the
\nBritish team had been so <\/p>\n
\n00:06:47,530 –> 00:06:51,410
\nunderwhelming that one of the
\ntop bike manufacturers in Europe<\/p>\n
\n00:06:51,410 –> 00:06:54,770
\nrefused to sell bikes to them
\nbecause they were afraid that it<\/p>\n
\n00:06:54,770 –> 00:06:58,050
\nwould hurt their image and hurt
\ntheir sales if other <\/p>\n
\n00:06:58,050 –> 00:07:00,210
\nprofessionals saw the Brits
\nusing their gear. <\/p>\n
\n00:07:01,410 –> 00:07:06,370
\nSo this guy Brailsford had been
\nhired to the British team to put<\/p>\n
\n00:07:06,370 –> 00:07:10,550
\nthem on a new trajectory.
\nAnd what made him different from<\/p>\n
\n00:07:10,550 –> 00:07:14,030
\nprevious coaches was his
\nrelentless commitment to a <\/p>\n
\n00:07:14,030 –> 00:07:18,030
\nstrategy called the aggregation
\nof marginal gains, or the <\/p>\n
\n00:07:18,030 –> 00:07:21,870
\nmarginal gains rule, which was
\nthe philosophy of searching for <\/p>\n
\n00:07:21,870 –> 00:07:27,230
\nmighty, mighty, tiny margins of
\nimprovement in everything that <\/p>\n
\n00:07:27,230 –> 00:07:30,110
\nyou do.
\nAnd he said that the whole <\/p>\n
\n00:07:30,110 –> 00:07:32,310
\nprinciple came from the idea
\nthat if you break everything <\/p>\n
\n00:07:32,310 –> 00:07:36,990
\ndown, everything that goes into
\nriding a bike and then improve <\/p>\n
\n00:07:36,990 –> 00:07:40,320
\nit by 1%.
\nYou will get significant <\/p>\n
\n00:07:40,320 –> 00:07:46,120
\nincrease when you put them all
\ntogether, so Brailsford and his <\/p>\n
\n00:07:46,120 –> 00:07:48,680
\ncoaches began making these small
\nadjustments that you might <\/p>\n
\n00:07:48,680 –> 00:07:50,640
\nexpect from a professional
\ncycling team. <\/p>\n
\n00:07:51,360 –> 00:07:53,840
\nThey redesigned the bike seats
\nto make them more comfortable, <\/p>\n
\n00:07:54,520 –> 00:07:57,600
\nand they rubbed alcohol in the
\ntires for better grip. <\/p>\n
\n00:07:58,560 –> 00:08:01,720
\nThey asked riders to wear
\nelectrically heated shorts to <\/p>\n
\n00:08:01,800 –> 00:08:04,240
\nmaintain ideal muscle
\ntemperature while riding. <\/p>\n
\n00:08:07,340 –> 00:08:11,460
\nThey tested various fabrics in a
\nwind tunnel and had their <\/p>\n
\n00:08:11,460 –> 00:08:14,660
\noutdoor riders switched to
\nindoor racing suits, which <\/p>\n
\n00:08:14,660 –> 00:08:16,580
\nproved to be lighter and more
\naerodynamic. <\/p>\n
\n00:08:19,380 –> 00:08:23,340
\nBut they also continue to find
\n1% improvements in overlooked <\/p>\n
\n00:08:23,500 –> 00:08:26,900
\nand unexpected areas.
\nThey tested different types of <\/p>\n
\n00:08:26,900 –> 00:08:30,220
\nmassage gels to see which one
\nled to the fastest muscle <\/p>\n
\n00:08:30,220 –> 00:08:32,940
\nrecovery.
\nThey hired a surgeon to teach <\/p>\n
\n00:08:32,940 –> 00:08:35,460
\neach rider how to properly wash
\ntheir hands. <\/p>\n
\n00:08:36,470 –> 00:08:40,630
\nTo reduce the chances of
\ncatching a cold, they determined<\/p>\n
\n00:08:40,630 –> 00:08:44,230
\nthe type of pillow and mattress
\nthat led to the best night’s <\/p>\n
\n00:08:44,230 –> 00:08:47,790
\nsleep for each rider.
\nAnd they even painted the inside<\/p>\n
\n00:08:47,830 –> 00:08:52,230
\nof the the team’s truck white,
\nwhich helped them spot little <\/p>\n
\n00:08:52,750 –> 00:08:56,310
\nlittle bits of dust that would
\nnormally slip unnoticed but <\/p>\n
\n00:08:56,310 –> 00:08:59,990
\ncould degrade the performance of
\nthe finely tuned bikes over <\/p>\n
\n00:08:59,990 –> 00:09:03,900
\ntime.
\nSo as these hundreds of small <\/p>\n
\n00:09:03,900 –> 00:09:07,900
\nchanges and improvements
\naccumulated, the results came <\/p>\n
\n00:09:07,900 –> 00:09:10,300
\nfaster than anyone could have
\nimagined. <\/p>\n
\n00:09:10,900 –> 00:09:14,780
\nJust five years after Brailsford
\ntook over, the British Cycling <\/p>\n
\n00:09:14,860 –> 00:09:19,940
\nteam dominated the road and
\ntrack cycling events at 2008 <\/p>\n
\n00:09:20,260 –> 00:09:24,340
\nOlympic Games in Beijing, where
\nthey won 60% of the gold medals.<\/p>\n
\n00:09:25,040 –> 00:09:27,280
\nAnd four years later the Olympic
\nGames came to London. <\/p>\n
\n00:09:27,280 –> 00:09:31,280
\nThe Brits raised the bar as they
\nset 9 Olympic records and seven <\/p>\n
\n00:09:31,280 –> 00:09:35,880
\nworld records.
\nThat same year this guy, Bradley<\/p>\n
\n00:09:35,880 –> 00:09:38,680
\nWiggins, became the first
\nBritish cyclist to win the Tour <\/p>\n
\n00:09:38,680 –> 00:09:42,120
\nde France.
\nAnd then next year his teammate <\/p>\n
\n00:09:42,120 –> 00:09:47,640
\nwon the race and would go on to
\nwin again in 2015, sixteen and <\/p>\n
\n00:09:47,640 –> 00:09:51,760
\n17, giving the British Team 5
\nTour de France victories in six <\/p>\n
\n00:09:51,760 –> 00:09:55,480
\nyears.
\nSo this is clearly a pretty good<\/p>\n
\n00:09:55,720 –> 00:09:59,600
\npowerful method of self
\nimprovement and it’s easy enough<\/p>\n
\n00:09:59,600 –> 00:10:05,080
\nto take on as the changes which
\nare asked of you are minor if <\/p>\n
\n00:10:05,080 –> 00:10:07,520
\nthey need to be consistent and
\ncontinual. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:09,800 –> 00:10:14,520
\nWhile you may find a serious
\nbenefit through this method in <\/p>\n
\n00:10:14,520 –> 00:10:18,960
\nyour your work or your school
\nperformance, the real value to <\/p>\n
\n00:10:18,960 –> 00:10:22,520
\nus as believers.
\nLies in its application to our <\/p>\n
\n00:10:22,520 –> 00:10:26,960
\nspiritual lives.
\nWe realize that no matter how <\/p>\n
\n00:10:26,960 –> 00:10:30,640
\nmuch we improve ourselves in
\nsomething like controlling or <\/p>\n
\n00:10:30,640 –> 00:10:34,000
\nsuppressing covetousness, we
\ncannot earn salvation. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:34,720 –> 00:10:37,720
\nThere’s no winning the Tour de
\nFrance of covetousness. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:38,920 –> 00:10:43,400
\nNo matter how little we covet or
\nhow well we control our tongues,<\/p>\n
\n00:10:43,400 –> 00:10:45,920
\nwe cannot earn a place in God’s
\nKingdom. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:47,020 –> 00:10:51,380
\nIt is a gift by God’s grace that
\nhe will bestow upon his Saints. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:52,180 –> 00:10:55,860
\nRoman 6 tells us from our
\nreading this morning. <\/p>\n
\n00:10:55,860 –> 00:11:01,100
\nThe wages of sin is death, but
\nthe gift of God is eternal life <\/p>\n
\n00:11:01,860 –> 00:11:06,740
\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord.
\nSo all we can earn in our lives <\/p>\n
\n00:11:06,740 –> 00:11:10,180
\nis death, but Ephesians 2 tells
\nus. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:10,740 –> 00:11:14,940
\nBut God, who is rich in mercy
\nfor his great love wherewith you<\/p>\n
\n00:11:14,940 –> 00:11:18,270
\nloved us.
\nEven when we were dead and sins <\/p>\n
\n00:11:18,270 –> 00:11:23,230
\nhath quickened us together with
\nChrist by grace you are saved. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:24,590 –> 00:11:27,950
\nSo we’ll keep that in mind that
\nwe cannot earn salvation. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:29,070 –> 00:11:32,110
\nBut that does not mean that we
\nshould stop improving ourselves.<\/p>\n
\n00:11:32,910 –> 00:11:37,390
\nShall we continue in sin that
\ngrace may abound, God forbid. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:40,110 –> 00:11:43,750
\nSo how do we apply this
\ntechnique to improve ourselves <\/p>\n
\n00:11:44,470 –> 00:11:47,900
\nbefore God?
\nAnd I think it only makes sense <\/p>\n
\n00:11:47,900 –> 00:11:51,540
\nthat we look to the only man to
\nto live this ideal. <\/p>\n
\n00:11:53,060 –> 00:11:56,780
\nIf we copied the ways in which
\nChrist dealt with temptation, <\/p>\n
\n00:11:57,420 –> 00:12:01,620
\nthe ways in which he dealt with
\nopposition and malice from those<\/p>\n
\n00:12:01,620 –> 00:12:04,500
\naround him, we would benefit our
\nown characters greatly. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:06,460 –> 00:12:09,740
\nSo the biggest thing which the
\nBritish Cycling team did was to <\/p>\n
\n00:12:09,740 –> 00:12:14,340
\nhire a new coach.
\nThis new coach required these <\/p>\n
\n00:12:14,340 –> 00:12:18,950
\nchanges of them.
\nChanges which pushed them to to <\/p>\n
\n00:12:18,950 –> 00:12:22,070
\nchange how they lived and change
\nhow they prepared and recovered <\/p>\n
\n00:12:22,070 –> 00:12:26,510
\nfrom races.
\nAnd likewise, in looking at <\/p>\n
\n00:12:26,510 –> 00:12:31,150
\nChrist’s life we see that he had
\na coach in his Heavenly Father. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:31,630 –> 00:12:35,910
\nChrist followed every word which
\nhis Father instructed him from a<\/p>\n
\n00:12:35,910 –> 00:12:38,310
\nyouth.
\nHe was always about his Father’s<\/p>\n
\n00:12:38,310 –> 00:12:40,950
\nbusiness.
\nGod trained him up from a boy, <\/p>\n
\n00:12:41,830 –> 00:12:44,030
\nand Jesus did not depart from
\nhis way. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:45,490 –> 00:12:49,250
\nJesus, as it says in Luke
\nchapter 2, increased in wisdom <\/p>\n
\n00:12:49,250 –> 00:12:51,810
\nand stature, and in favor with
\nGod and man. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:52,610 –> 00:12:54,690
\nAnd this was not due to his own
\nwisdom. <\/p>\n
\n00:12:55,330 –> 00:12:58,650
\nFor we know that in our nature
\nof which Jesus shared dwelleth <\/p>\n
\n00:12:58,650 –> 00:13:04,210
\nno good thing in the Messianic
\nPsalm 16 in the Rsvs is protect <\/p>\n
\n00:13:04,210 –> 00:13:06,970
\nme, oh God, for in you I take
\nrefuge. <\/p>\n
\n00:13:08,050 –> 00:13:10,090
\nI say to Yahwah, you are my
\nLord. <\/p>\n
\n00:13:10,090 –> 00:13:15,220
\nI have no good apart from you.
\nChrist drew in wisdom and <\/p>\n
\n00:13:15,220 –> 00:13:19,500
\nstature because he meditated
\ndaily upon God’s instructions <\/p>\n
\n00:13:19,900 –> 00:13:25,500
\nand his principles.
\nA Psalm which certainly has <\/p>\n
\n00:13:25,540 –> 00:13:30,100
\napplication to Christ’s life, is
\nPsalm 119, also quoted this <\/p>\n
\n00:13:30,100 –> 00:13:34,180
\nmorning, or says in verse 10.
\nWith my whole heart I have <\/p>\n
\n00:13:34,180 –> 00:13:37,500
\nsought thee.
\nLet me not wander from thy <\/p>\n
\n00:13:37,500 –> 00:13:40,660
\ncommandments, Thy Word.
\nHave I hidden my heart? <\/p>\n
\n00:13:41,330 –> 00:13:44,290
\nThat I might not sin against
\nthee, Blessed art thou or <\/p>\n
\n00:13:44,290 –> 00:13:49,010
\nYahweh, teach me thy statutes.
\nWith my lips have I declared all<\/p>\n
\n00:13:49,010 –> 00:13:53,410
\nthe judgments of thy mouth.
\nI have rejoiced in the way of <\/p>\n
\n00:13:53,410 –> 00:13:57,050
\nThy testimonies, as much as in
\nall riches. <\/p>\n
\n00:13:57,450 –> 00:14:02,050
\nI will meditate in thy precepts,
\nand have respect unto Thy way. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:02,850 –> 00:14:05,370
\nI will delight myself in Thy
\nstatutes. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:06,170 –> 00:14:11,420
\nI will not forget thy word.
\nThough this was written by <\/p>\n
\n00:14:11,420 –> 00:14:16,180
\nDavid, it was also Christ’s
\nmindset and seemingly applies <\/p>\n
\n00:14:16,180 –> 00:14:24,340
\ndirectly to him.
\nWhen we become a disciple of <\/p>\n
\n00:14:24,340 –> 00:14:29,100
\nChrist, we take, we take on God
\nas our coach as well. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:29,980 –> 00:14:32,860
\nGod said to his people in Isaiah
\nchapter 41. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:32,940 –> 00:14:37,140
\nFear not, for I’m with you.
\nBe not dismayed, for I am your <\/p>\n
\n00:14:37,140 –> 00:14:40,480
\nelohim, your mighty one.
\nI will strengthen you. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:40,560 –> 00:14:43,280
\nI will help you.
\nI will uphold you with my <\/p>\n
\n00:14:43,280 –> 00:14:48,520
\nrighteous right hand.
\nOur God is the ideal coach. <\/p>\n
\n00:14:48,520 –> 00:14:52,920
\nHe encourages us and reminds us
\nthat we are not alone on our <\/p>\n
\n00:14:52,920 –> 00:14:54,840
\nwalk.
\nHe will never leave us nor <\/p>\n
\n00:14:54,840 –> 00:14:58,840
\nforsake us.
\nThough we may be weak, our <\/p>\n
\n00:14:58,840 –> 00:15:01,160
\nstrength comes from God, who is
\nmighty. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:03,400 –> 00:15:05,600
\nWe also know from First
\nCorinthians 10 that God is <\/p>\n
\n00:15:05,600 –> 00:15:07,980
\nfaithful.
\nAnd he will not let you be <\/p>\n
\n00:15:07,980 –> 00:15:12,100
\ntempted beyond your ability, but
\nwith the temptation he will also<\/p>\n
\n00:15:12,100 –> 00:15:16,500
\nprovide a way of escape that you
\nmay be able to endure it. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:18,460 –> 00:15:23,340
\nSo God as our coach pushes us to
\nperform and endure, yet he knows<\/p>\n
\n00:15:23,340 –> 00:15:26,220
\nour limits and will not push us
\npast them. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:26,220 –> 00:15:30,660
\nAnd I find it helpful to think
\nof God in this, in this light. <\/p>\n
\n00:15:30,660 –> 00:15:34,940
\nAs a coach, he wants us to
\nsucceed and will help us to do <\/p>\n
\n00:15:34,940 –> 00:15:37,910
\nso.
\nStrengthening us and pushing us,<\/p>\n
\n00:15:38,190 –> 00:15:44,150
\nthough never beyond our limits,
\nChrist as our forerunner, an <\/p>\n
\n00:15:44,150 –> 00:15:49,150
\nexample, showed us the level to
\nwhich we need to respect and <\/p>\n
\n00:15:49,150 –> 00:15:54,390
\nmeditate upon God’s precepts.
\nWith his whole heart he sought <\/p>\n
\n00:15:54,390 –> 00:15:58,990
\nhim and delighted in his
\nstatutes, and he grew to know <\/p>\n
\n00:15:58,990 –> 00:16:03,160
\nthe Scriptures so well.
\nThat we are told in John Chapter<\/p>\n
\n00:16:03,160 –> 00:16:07,080
\n7, the Jews marveled, saying how
\nknoweth this man letters having <\/p>\n
\n00:16:07,080 –> 00:16:11,600
\nnever learned.
\nJesus never had any formal <\/p>\n
\n00:16:11,600 –> 00:16:16,200
\ntraining, he didn’t train at the
\nfeet of any famous rabbi, and he<\/p>\n
\n00:16:16,200 –> 00:16:20,040
\ntaught with authority and knew
\nthe scriptures better than any <\/p>\n
\n00:16:20,040 –> 00:16:22,720
\nof them.
\nAnd this came from time and <\/p>\n
\n00:16:22,720 –> 00:16:28,600
\neffort in the word Christ’s
\nanswer to their question. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:29,700 –> 00:16:33,660
\nHow knoweth this man letters
\ncomes in the next verse in John <\/p>\n
\n00:16:33,660 –> 00:16:36,380
\nSeven.
\nMy doctrine or teaching is not <\/p>\n
\n00:16:36,380 –> 00:16:41,620
\nmine but his that sent me.
\nChrist only learned what God had<\/p>\n
\n00:16:41,620 –> 00:16:44,020
\nleft for us through the
\nscriptures. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:45,100 –> 00:16:48,180
\nThere were some divine and
\nangelic ministrations for sure, <\/p>\n
\n00:16:49,580 –> 00:16:53,580
\nbut he learned scriptures just
\nlike any of us by putting in the<\/p>\n
\n00:16:53,580 –> 00:16:56,300
\ntime and effort to read and
\nstudy. <\/p>\n
\n00:16:56,860 –> 00:17:00,660
\nThis is how he grew in wisdom
\nand in stature with God and man.<\/p>\n
\n00:17:01,540 –> 00:17:05,740
\nAnd this is how we, too, learn
\nfrom our God how to live in a <\/p>\n
\n00:17:05,740 –> 00:17:08,700
\nway which is pleasing unto him.
\nSo let U.S. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:08,700 –> 00:17:12,780
\nOpen Scripture every day to
\nlearn from it, and learn from <\/p>\n
\n00:17:12,780 –> 00:17:17,300
\nChrist’s example, as God
\ninstructed Joshua. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:18,060 –> 00:17:21,700
\nThis book of the law shall not
\ndepart from thy mouth, but thou <\/p>\n
\n00:17:21,700 –> 00:17:24,020
\nshalt meditate therein day and
\nnight. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:25,060 –> 00:17:28,220
\nThat thou mayst observe to do
\naccording to all that is written<\/p>\n
\n00:17:28,220 –> 00:17:31,860
\ntherein.
\nFor then thou shalt make thy way<\/p>\n
\n00:17:31,860 –> 00:17:35,540
\nprosperous, and then thou shalt
\nhave good success. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:40,380 –> 00:17:44,420
\nOne of the techniques which
\npeople suggest when teaching <\/p>\n
\n00:17:44,420 –> 00:17:48,060
\nself improvement is to surround
\nyourself with likeminded <\/p>\n
\n00:17:48,060 –> 00:17:50,900
\nindividuals.
\nIf you’re learning a language, <\/p>\n
\n00:17:50,900 –> 00:17:52,660
\nthen you might join a study
\ngroup. <\/p>\n
\n00:17:53,890 –> 00:17:57,170
\nIf you are training for the Tour
\nde France, you probably join a <\/p>\n
\n00:17:57,170 –> 00:18:00,610
\ncycling team.
\nChrist used this technique as <\/p>\n
\n00:18:00,610 –> 00:18:03,090
\nwell.
\nIf you’re training, sorry. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:03,970 –> 00:18:06,890
\nThough he was their teacher,
\nJesus gained the strength from <\/p>\n
\n00:18:06,890 –> 00:18:11,410
\nhis 12 disciples.
\nWe may remember the account in <\/p>\n
\n00:18:11,410 –> 00:18:14,410
\nthe garden of Gethsemite when
\nJesus asked his disciples to <\/p>\n
\n00:18:14,410 –> 00:18:18,010
\nwatch and pray and they left him
\nalone and fell asleep. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:18,690 –> 00:18:20,930
\nAnd we may think of this and how
\nthey let him down. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:22,480 –> 00:18:24,560
\nAnd think that they did not
\nbring him strength. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:25,520 –> 00:18:28,600
\nYet I don’t think that’s true.
\nI think that Christ’s love for <\/p>\n
\n00:18:28,600 –> 00:18:32,920
\nhis disciples, these men, is
\nevident throughout the gospels. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:33,720 –> 00:18:36,360
\nAnd though they let him down on
\nthat occasion in Gassem, and he <\/p>\n
\n00:18:36,360 –> 00:18:39,880
\ngreatly benefited from having a
\ngroup of friends surrounding <\/p>\n
\n00:18:39,880 –> 00:18:46,040
\nhim, people can do hard things
\nwhen they are prompted by love. <\/p>\n
\n00:18:47,560 –> 00:18:50,320
\nA love of exercise can prompt
\npeople to wake up early before <\/p>\n
\n00:18:50,320 –> 00:18:53,750
\nwork and go for a run.
\nA love of knowledge can push <\/p>\n
\n00:18:53,750 –> 00:18:57,990
\npeople to work hard in school to
\nbecome scientists, and the love <\/p>\n
\n00:18:58,230 –> 00:19:02,270
\none feels from another person
\ncan be even stronger. <\/p>\n
\n00:19:02,750 –> 00:19:07,150
\nPeople all over the world go to
\njobs that they hate every day <\/p>\n
\n00:19:07,630 –> 00:19:10,110
\nfor years in order to support
\ntheir family. <\/p>\n
\n00:19:11,750 –> 00:19:14,790
\nThere are single parents that
\nwork multiple jobs to put their <\/p>\n
\n00:19:15,150 –> 00:19:18,830
\nkid through college.
\nPeople can do hard things when <\/p>\n
\n00:19:18,830 –> 00:19:24,980
\nthey’re prompted by love.
\nAnd I think that the the love <\/p>\n
\n00:19:24,980 –> 00:19:32,100
\nChrist felt for his disciples
\nand from his disciples was a <\/p>\n
\n00:19:32,100 –> 00:19:34,980
\ngreat strength unto him and
\nenabled him to carry on. <\/p>\n
\n00:19:35,700 –> 00:19:39,860
\nWhen he was being scorned by the
\nchief priests and rabbis, or <\/p>\n
\n00:19:39,860 –> 00:19:43,620
\nwhen he was rejected by those he
\ngrew up with in his hometown of <\/p>\n
\n00:19:43,620 –> 00:19:52,600
\nNazareth, Christ was kept sharp.
\nBy the love of his friends, as <\/p>\n
\n00:19:52,600 –> 00:19:56,080
\nProverbs tells us, as iron
\nsharpeneth iron, so a man <\/p>\n
\n00:19:56,520 –> 00:19:58,640
\nsharpens the countenance of his
\nfriend. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:01,520 –> 00:20:06,920
\nAnd in John 15 we read of
\nJesus’s love for his disciples, <\/p>\n
\n00:20:06,920 –> 00:20:09,640
\nhis friends.
\nThis is my commandment, that you<\/p>\n
\n00:20:09,640 –> 00:20:11,960
\nlove one another as I have loved
\nyou. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:12,640 –> 00:20:17,520
\nGreater love hath no one than
\nthis, that someone lay down his <\/p>\n
\n00:20:17,520 –> 00:20:21,460
\nlife for his friends.
\nYou are my friends. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:21,940 –> 00:20:25,340
\nIf you do what I command, you no
\nlonger do. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:25,340 –> 00:20:28,900
\nI call you servants, for the
\nservant does not know what his <\/p>\n
\n00:20:28,900 –> 00:20:31,540
\nmaster is doing, But I have
\ncalled you friends. <\/p>\n
\n00:20:32,540 –> 00:20:35,900
\nFor all that I have heard from
\nmy father, I’ve made known to <\/p>\n
\n00:20:35,900 –> 00:20:41,420
\nyou.
\nChrist showed how great His love<\/p>\n
\n00:20:41,420 –> 00:20:47,860
\nwas through His sacrifice, not
\njust for His 12 disciples, but <\/p>\n
\n00:20:47,860 –> 00:20:53,300
\nfor all of us.
\nAlso, the love that we feel when<\/p>\n
\n00:20:53,300 –> 00:20:56,220
\nwe interact with our brothers
\nand sisters can have a great <\/p>\n
\n00:20:56,220 –> 00:21:01,500
\npositive effect on our lives.
\nAnd this is one of the reasons <\/p>\n
\n00:21:01,500 –> 00:21:05,220
\nfor the establishment of
\necclesias, that we may sharpen <\/p>\n
\n00:21:05,220 –> 00:21:08,820
\neach other and encourage each
\nother in love. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:09,140 –> 00:21:14,260
\nWhen one person is going through
\nan ordeal, another can show love<\/p>\n
\n00:21:14,260 –> 00:21:17,580
\nand hospitality and uplift that
\nbrother or sister. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:18,540 –> 00:21:22,620
\nWhen one is dealing with grief,
\noften the company of loved ones <\/p>\n
\n00:21:23,620 –> 00:21:29,780
\nbrings warmth and comfort when
\nan issue arises that we may not <\/p>\n
\n00:21:29,780 –> 00:21:34,340
\nknow how to handle.
\nOthers in the ecclesia may have <\/p>\n
\n00:21:34,340 –> 00:21:38,740
\nexperience in that area and may
\nbe able to greatly assist. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:40,460 –> 00:21:44,580
\nSo I encourage all those
\nwatching virtually those who are<\/p>\n
\n00:21:44,580 –> 00:21:48,920
\nable to attend to do so, Some we
\nhaven’t seen for years. <\/p>\n
\n00:21:50,120 –> 00:21:53,520
\nThis world is tough, but it’s
\nmade easier by the company of <\/p>\n
\n00:21:53,520 –> 00:21:57,960
\nyour friends, especially those
\nwho share your beliefs and can <\/p>\n
\n00:21:57,960 –> 00:22:00,320
\nstrengthen you and encourage you
\nto endure. <\/p>\n
\n00:22:04,200 –> 00:22:08,040
\nEven Christ needed his friends,
\nso it’s important for all of us <\/p>\n
\n00:22:08,040 –> 00:22:12,000
\nto meet together regularly that
\nwe may be strengthened and <\/p>\n
\n00:22:12,000 –> 00:22:20,400
\nuplifted.
\nAnother tip which is often given<\/p>\n
\n00:22:20,400 –> 00:22:23,560
\nto those looking to improve
\nthemselves is to practice <\/p>\n
\n00:22:23,560 –> 00:22:28,520
\nmindfulness or to meditate.
\nMeditation can give you give you<\/p>\n
\n00:22:28,520 –> 00:22:33,800
\na sense of calm or peace that
\ncan benefit both your emotional <\/p>\n
\n00:22:33,800 –> 00:22:37,440
\nwell-being and your overall
\nhealth, including lowering <\/p>\n
\n00:22:37,440 –> 00:22:40,240
\nstress or anxiety or even blood
\npressure. <\/p>\n
\n00:22:41,680 –> 00:22:45,820
\nAnd this time of self reflection
\ncan have a powerful effect on <\/p>\n
\n00:22:45,820 –> 00:22:49,380
\nyour mental health, leaving
\nbehind harmful memories or <\/p>\n
\n00:22:49,380 –> 00:22:55,540
\nhabits, managing impulses, or
\nresolving conflicts. <\/p>\n
\n00:22:57,820 –> 00:23:01,020
\nAnd this idea involves setting
\ntime apart to reflect upon <\/p>\n
\n00:23:01,020 –> 00:23:04,980
\nyourself.
\nOne was put down their phone and<\/p>\n
\n00:23:05,180 –> 00:23:11,100
\nturn off the TV and think about
\nhow you’re doing, where you’re <\/p>\n
\n00:23:11,100 –> 00:23:13,140
\ngoing in life, how you are
\nprogressing. <\/p>\n
\n00:23:14,240 –> 00:23:17,200
\nIt’s a time to consider the hard
\nthings which are still yet to <\/p>\n
\n00:23:17,200 –> 00:23:20,160
\ncome and those which are still
\nongoing. <\/p>\n
\n00:23:22,320 –> 00:23:27,960
\nIt’s also a time to remember the
\nthings you have which you have <\/p>\n
\n00:23:27,960 –> 00:23:31,160
\nto be grateful for.
\nPracticing gratitude or <\/p>\n
\n00:23:31,160 –> 00:23:34,440
\nthankfulness is a great way to
\nimprove yourself. <\/p>\n
\n00:23:37,280 –> 00:23:41,280
\nImagine the impact self
\nreflection and meditation can <\/p>\n
\n00:23:41,280 –> 00:23:45,250
\nhave when we then take the
\nissues that we are trying to <\/p>\n
\n00:23:45,250 –> 00:23:47,970
\nleave behind.
\nWhen we recognize bad habits, we<\/p>\n
\n00:23:47,970 –> 00:23:50,730
\nmust leave behind and we bring
\nthem to God. <\/p>\n
\n00:23:52,410 –> 00:23:55,170
\nWhen we ask for God’s help to
\naccomplish the hard thing we <\/p>\n
\n00:23:55,170 –> 00:24:03,210
\nmust do or keep doing in prayer,
\nif you think about it, is a form<\/p>\n
\n00:24:03,210 –> 00:24:07,050
\nof meditation from which we gain
\nthose mental health benefits. <\/p>\n
\n00:24:08,640 –> 00:24:12,040
\nBut prayer is also communication
\nwith the creator of the <\/p>\n
\n00:24:12,040 –> 00:24:15,480
\nuniverse, who has the the power
\nto carry out those requests. <\/p>\n
\n00:24:16,600 –> 00:24:20,200
\nAnd Christ knew this obviously
\nand spent hours at a time in <\/p>\n
\n00:24:20,200 –> 00:24:26,200
\ncommunication with his father.
\nChrist told the parable of the <\/p>\n
\n00:24:26,440 –> 00:24:31,400
\npersistent widow in Luke 18 to
\nteach his disciples to pray. <\/p>\n
\n00:24:34,440 –> 00:24:41,200
\nSo Luke 18 starting at verse
\none, <\/p>\n
\n00:24:51,520 –> 00:24:55,080
\nactually verse two, there was in
\na certain city, there was a <\/p>\n
\n00:24:55,080 –> 00:24:58,560
\njudge who neither feared God nor
\nrespected man, and there was a <\/p>\n
\n00:24:58,560 –> 00:25:00,960
\nwidow in that city who kept
\ncoming to him and saying, give <\/p>\n
\n00:25:00,960 –> 00:25:05,720
\nme justice against my adversary.
\nFor a while he refused, but <\/p>\n
\n00:25:05,720 –> 00:25:09,380
\nafterward he said to himself,
\nThough I neither fear God nor <\/p>\n
\n00:25:09,380 –> 00:25:13,260
\nrespect man yet, because this
\nwidow keeps bothering me, I will<\/p>\n
\n00:25:13,260 –> 00:25:16,660
\ngive her justice so that she
\nwill not beat me down by her <\/p>\n
\n00:25:16,660 –> 00:25:20,700
\ncontinual coming.
\nAnd the Lord said, hear what the<\/p>\n
\n00:25:20,700 –> 00:25:25,220
\nunrighteous judge says.
\nAnd will not God give justice to<\/p>\n
\n00:25:25,220 –> 00:25:27,700
\nhis elect who cried to him day
\nand night? <\/p>\n
\n00:25:28,540 –> 00:25:33,620
\nWill he delay long over them?
\nI tell you he will give justice <\/p>\n
\n00:25:33,620 –> 00:25:39,120
\nto them speedily.
\nChrist told this parable to his <\/p>\n
\n00:25:39,120 –> 00:25:42,800
\ndisciples, as it says in verse
\none, to the effect that they <\/p>\n
\n00:25:42,800 –> 00:25:46,000
\nought always to pray and not
\nlose heart. <\/p>\n
\n00:25:47,320 –> 00:25:50,560
\nLet us learn from Jesus the
\nimportance of prayer. <\/p>\n
\n00:25:52,200 –> 00:25:54,760
\nChrist spent hours at a time in
\nprayer. <\/p>\n
\n00:25:54,760 –> 00:25:58,200
\nHe would often go apart from his
\ndisciples in order to pray. <\/p>\n
\n00:25:59,320 –> 00:26:03,700
\nWe read in Matthew 14, after
\nfeeding the 5000 people, that <\/p>\n
\n00:26:03,700 –> 00:26:06,620
\nwhen he had sent the multitudes
\naway, he went up into a mountain<\/p>\n
\n00:26:06,620 –> 00:26:11,780
\napart to pray.
\nIn Mark 14 in the garden of <\/p>\n
\n00:26:11,780 –> 00:26:15,100
\nGethsemane, we’re told they came
\nto a place which was named <\/p>\n
\n00:26:15,100 –> 00:26:19,620
\nGethsemane, and he saith to his
\ndisciples, Sit ye here while I <\/p>\n
\n00:26:19,620 –> 00:26:22,420
\nshall pray?
\nAnd then in verse 37 he cometh <\/p>\n
\n00:26:22,420 –> 00:26:26,220
\nand findeth them sleeping, and
\nsaith under Peter Simon, <\/p>\n
\n00:26:26,300 –> 00:26:28,220
\nSleepest thou couldest thou not
\nwatch? <\/p>\n
\n00:26:28,620 –> 00:26:32,640
\nOne hour.
\nThen he goes away again. <\/p>\n
\n00:26:32,640 –> 00:26:36,800
\nAnd a third time, probably at
\nleast another hour each time. <\/p>\n
\n00:26:38,840 –> 00:26:41,920
\nSo he’s in prayer for hours here
\nin communication with his father<\/p>\n
\n00:26:43,440 –> 00:26:46,080
\nand in Luke 6 we’re told it came
\nto pass. <\/p>\n
\n00:26:46,080 –> 00:26:49,280
\nIn those days he went out into a
\nmountain to pray and continued <\/p>\n
\n00:26:49,280 –> 00:26:57,320
\nall night in prayer to God.
\nSo Christ’s example to us shows <\/p>\n
\n00:26:57,840 –> 00:27:00,120
\nthat prayer needs to be a part
\nof our day. <\/p>\n
\n00:27:01,590 –> 00:27:05,710
\nOften times I will utter a 32nd
\nprayer before bed, called a <\/p>\n
\n00:27:05,710 –> 00:27:09,310
\nnight.
\nAnd that’s fine. <\/p>\n
\n00:27:09,310 –> 00:27:11,710
\nWe know of many quick prayers
\nthroughout Scripture. <\/p>\n
\n00:27:13,910 –> 00:27:16,630
\nEven the Lord’s Prayer only
\ntakes 30 seconds to say. <\/p>\n
\n00:27:17,990 –> 00:27:20,790
\nBut I think it’s also important
\nthat we set aside time for <\/p>\n
\n00:27:20,790 –> 00:27:22,950
\ndeeper conversations with our
\nFather. <\/p>\n
\n00:27:24,190 –> 00:27:27,760
\nNot lengthy for the sake of
\nfeeling pious or proud, but <\/p>\n
\n00:27:27,760 –> 00:27:31,160
\nmeaningful and sincere.
\nPrayers are something which <\/p>\n
\n00:27:31,160 –> 00:27:35,960
\nChrist showed us are important.
\nIt’s important not only so that <\/p>\n
\n00:27:35,960 –> 00:27:39,960
\nwe may make requests of our
\nFather, but so that we may build<\/p>\n
\n00:27:40,040 –> 00:27:42,000
\nour relationship with our
\nFather. <\/p>\n
\n00:27:46,600 –> 00:27:50,040
\nNow I would like to cover one
\nlast piece of advice which <\/p>\n
\n00:27:50,040 –> 00:27:55,240
\npeople suggest when when
\ndescribing how to improve <\/p>\n
\n00:27:55,240 –> 00:27:59,220
\nyourself, and that is to set
\ngoals for yourself. <\/p>\n
\n00:28:01,260 –> 00:28:03,660
\nWhen learning a language, maybe
\nyou set the goal of being able <\/p>\n
\n00:28:03,660 –> 00:28:07,020
\nto converse with a native
\nspeaker in a year’s time. <\/p>\n
\n00:28:08,980 –> 00:28:12,460
\nSetting goals for yourself is
\nvery helpful way of keeping <\/p>\n
\n00:28:12,460 –> 00:28:14,780
\nyourself accountable and staying
\nconsistent. <\/p>\n
\n00:28:15,980 –> 00:28:18,780
\nIf you have nothing to strive
\nfor, no reason to continue <\/p>\n
\n00:28:18,780 –> 00:28:23,380
\npushing yourself, then at any
\npoint at which you grow tired <\/p>\n
\n00:28:23,980 –> 00:28:27,160
\nyou may just give up.
\nBut if you have something <\/p>\n
\n00:28:27,160 –> 00:28:31,040
\nimportant to keep pushing for,
\nkeep working towards, then you <\/p>\n
\n00:28:31,040 –> 00:28:34,280
\ncannot give up.
\nIt gives you a reason to <\/p>\n
\n00:28:34,280 –> 00:28:36,560
\npersevere when you have tough
\ndays. <\/p>\n
\n00:28:38,200 –> 00:28:41,080
\nAnd Christ knew this as well.
\nChrist had spent so much time in<\/p>\n
\n00:28:41,080 –> 00:28:44,840
\nthe Word and in communication
\nwith his Father. <\/p>\n
\n00:28:44,920 –> 00:28:48,680
\nHe knew all the prophecies about
\nhimself, and his goal was to <\/p>\n
\n00:28:48,680 –> 00:28:52,440
\nfulfill them.
\nAnd, for instance, he knew that <\/p>\n
\n00:28:52,440 –> 00:28:54,400
\nhe was to begin his ministry in
\nGalilee. <\/p>\n
\n00:28:56,060 –> 00:28:59,980
\nMatthew 4 says that he departed
\nfrom Nazareth and went into <\/p>\n
\n00:28:59,980 –> 00:29:03,660
\nGalilee, that it might be
\nfulfilled, which was spoken by <\/p>\n
\n00:29:03,660 –> 00:29:06,660
\nIsaiah.
\nAnd so he began his ministry. <\/p>\n
\n00:29:07,260 –> 00:29:10,100
\nAnd from that time Jesus began
\nto preach and to say, repent, <\/p>\n
\n00:29:10,100 –> 00:29:12,020
\nfor the Kingdom of heaven is at
\nhand. <\/p>\n
\n00:29:14,020 –> 00:29:18,060
\nJesus knew the prophecy in
\nZechariah 9 about the Messiah, <\/p>\n
\n00:29:18,460 –> 00:29:22,180
\nwhere it says, rejoice greatly,
\nO daughter of Zion, Shout, O <\/p>\n
\n00:29:22,180 –> 00:29:24,860
\ndaughter of Jerusalem, Behold
\nthy king cometh unto thee. <\/p>\n
\n00:29:25,620 –> 00:29:30,540
\nHe is just in having salvation
\nlowly and riding upon an ass and<\/p>\n
\n00:29:30,540 –> 00:29:34,780
\nupon a cult the full of an ass.
\nIn this picture of meekness, <\/p>\n
\n00:29:35,220 –> 00:29:38,780
\nthat lowliness was fulfilled
\nliterally by Christ in Matthew <\/p>\n
\n00:29:38,780 –> 00:29:43,620
\n21 and tells us in verse 4 all
\nthis was done, that it might be <\/p>\n
\n00:29:43,620 –> 00:29:46,460
\nfulfilled which was spoken by
\nthe prophet. <\/p>\n
\n00:29:49,740 –> 00:29:53,740
\nJesus knew the prophecies about
\nhimself, and his goal was to <\/p>\n
\n00:29:53,740 –> 00:29:58,120
\nfulfill them all.
\nAnd on one hand, having so many <\/p>\n
\n00:29:58,120 –> 00:30:01,520
\nprophecies about him, Christ may
\nhave felt some enormous, <\/p>\n
\n00:30:01,600 –> 00:30:04,520
\nenormous pressure to fulfill
\nthem. <\/p>\n
\n00:30:06,040 –> 00:30:09,720
\nSome were fulfilled by
\nhappenstance, things like his <\/p>\n
\n00:30:09,720 –> 00:30:11,520
\nlineage and where he would be
\nborn. <\/p>\n
\n00:30:13,080 –> 00:30:15,240
\nYet others he had to make sure
\nto fulfill. <\/p>\n
\n00:30:16,480 –> 00:30:18,800
\nAnd there are hundreds of Old
\nTestament prophecies about him, <\/p>\n
\n00:30:20,280 –> 00:30:23,800
\nso we would have felt this
\nweighing pressure to fulfill <\/p>\n
\n00:30:23,800 –> 00:30:27,800
\nthem.
\nYet on the other hand, I think <\/p>\n
\n00:30:27,800 –> 00:30:30,400
\nmaybe all these prophecies also
\nwould be a blessing unto him, <\/p>\n
\n00:30:31,400 –> 00:30:36,120
\nacting as a guide for him,
\nacting almost like a blueprint <\/p>\n
\n00:30:36,120 –> 00:30:40,560
\nfor his life, as if God was
\nguiding him, holding his hand <\/p>\n
\n00:30:41,680 –> 00:30:43,680
\nthroughout his life, never
\nleaving him alone. <\/p>\n
\n00:30:47,760 –> 00:30:51,420
\nSo Christ had the blessing of
\nhis Father’s guidance throughout<\/p>\n
\n00:30:51,420 –> 00:30:56,220
\nhis life, and perhaps this gave
\nhim the strength to and to face <\/p>\n
\n00:30:56,220 –> 00:30:59,700
\nthe cross, which he knew he had
\nto do from Leviticus. <\/p>\n
\n00:30:59,700 –> 00:31:03,220
\nChrist knew that he was to be
\nsacrificed for the life of a <\/p>\n
\n00:31:03,220 –> 00:31:06,500
\ncreature is in the blood, and
\nI’ve given it to you to make <\/p>\n
\n00:31:06,500 –> 00:31:08,260
\natonement for yourselves on the
\naltar. <\/p>\n
\n00:31:08,660 –> 00:31:11,060
\nIt is the blood that makes
\natonement for one’s life. <\/p>\n
\n00:31:12,620 –> 00:31:16,260
\nChrist was the Passover lamb who
\nhad no defect. <\/p>\n
\n00:31:17,540 –> 00:31:22,520
\nHe knew he must be lifted up on
\nthe cross, John Three tells us. <\/p>\n
\n00:31:22,520 –> 00:31:26,680
\nAnd as Moses lifted up the
\nserpent in the wilderness, Even <\/p>\n
\n00:31:26,680 –> 00:31:30,360
\nso must the Son of Man be lifted
\nup, that whosoever believeth in <\/p>\n
\n00:31:30,360 –> 00:31:34,000
\nhim should not perish, but have
\neternal life. <\/p>\n
\n00:31:38,320 –> 00:31:43,320
\nChrist was able to live this
\nperfect life, and was able to <\/p>\n
\n00:31:43,320 –> 00:31:48,680
\nendure the cross, because he had
\nhis eyes fixed on his goal, <\/p>\n
\n00:31:50,570 –> 00:31:54,330
\nlooking to Jesus, the founder
\nand perfector of our faith, who <\/p>\n
\n00:31:54,330 –> 00:31:59,490
\nfor the joy that was set before
\nhim endured the cross, despising<\/p>\n
\n00:31:59,490 –> 00:32:03,850
\nthe shame, and is seated at the
\nright hand, the throne of God. <\/p>\n
\n00:32:04,650 –> 00:32:09,930
\nConsider him who endured from
\nsinners such hostility against <\/p>\n
\n00:32:09,930 –> 00:32:15,010
\nhimself, so that you may not
\ngrow weary or fainthearted. <\/p>\n
\n00:32:17,530 –> 00:32:22,360
\nSo let us look to Jesus for our
\nexample on how to endure, to not<\/p>\n
\n00:32:22,360 –> 00:32:26,920
\ngive up or grow weary.
\nThe goal of being here there in <\/p>\n
\n00:32:26,920 –> 00:32:31,520
\nthe Kingdom with Him should keep
\nus awake and active in the Word.<\/p>\n
\n00:32:33,240 –> 00:32:37,800
\nThere are still prophecies which
\nChrist has not fulfilled, and <\/p>\n
\n00:32:37,800 –> 00:32:42,720
\nyou can bet He’s looking forward
\nto fulfilling them, such as <\/p>\n
\n00:32:42,720 –> 00:32:45,920
\nPsalm 9.
\nThe Lord shall endure forever. <\/p>\n
\n00:32:46,960 –> 00:32:49,440
\nHe hath prepared his throne for
\njudgment. <\/p>\n
\n00:32:50,250 –> 00:32:52,490
\nHe shall judge the world in
\nrighteousness. <\/p>\n
\n00:32:53,330 –> 00:32:56,890
\nHe shall minister judgment to
\nthe people in uprightness. <\/p>\n
\n00:32:57,890 –> 00:33:02,450
\nThe Lord will be a refuge for
\nthe oppressed, a refuge in times<\/p>\n
\n00:33:02,450 –> 00:33:06,010
\nof trouble.
\nAnd they that know thy name will<\/p>\n
\n00:33:06,010 –> 00:33:09,930
\nput their trust in thee.
\nFor thou Lord, hast not forsaken<\/p>\n
\n00:33:09,930 –> 00:33:15,970
\nthem that seek thee.
\nSo let us not forsake our God or<\/p>\n
\n00:33:15,970 –> 00:33:21,720
\nHis Son, but rather focus on the
\njoys set before us so that we <\/p>\n
\n00:33:21,720 –> 00:33:25,480
\nmay not grow faint hearted until
\nthat time comes. <\/p>\n
\n00:33:25,480 –> 00:33:29,120
\nLet us remember the sacrifice
\nwhich our Messiah has made for <\/p>\n
\n00:33:29,120 –> 00:33:32,240
\nus and continue to walk humbly
\nbefore our God. <\/p>\n
\n00:33:33,720 –> 00:33:37,000
\nIf we just try to make these
\nsmall changes, they will add up <\/p>\n
\n00:33:38,120 –> 00:33:39,800
\none day.
\nThey will add up to you and I <\/p>\n
\n00:33:40,440 –> 00:33:44,360
\nreigning as kings and priests
\nwith our Savior in His Kingdom. <\/p>\n
\n00:33:59,190 –> 00:34:01,470
\nThank you for listening to the
\ngood Christadelphian Talks <\/p>\n
\n00:34:01,470 –> 00:34:04,310
\nPodcast.
\nWe hope this talk helped you in <\/p>\n
\n00:34:04,310 –> 00:34:06,470
\nyour walk.
\nIf you would like to hear more, <\/p>\n
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\nthey search for it. <\/p>\n
\n00:34:14,750 –> 00:34:16,350
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\ntalk. <\/p>\n
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\nPlease share it with someone who
\nyou think might enjoy it as <\/p>\n
\n00:34:18,980 –> 00:34:21,219
\nwell.
\nFor show notes on the talk you <\/p>\n
\n00:34:21,219 –> 00:34:25,260
\njust listened to, visit our show
\npage at anchor dot FM slash gct <\/p>\n
\n00:34:25,540 –> 00:34:28,100
\nor check the Show notes section
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\nThank you for listening.
\nGod bless and talk to you next <\/p>\n
\n00:34:57,250 –> 00:34:57,530
\nweek.\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"