{"id":997,"date":"2023-08-22T20:49:41","date_gmt":"2023-08-22T20:49:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/index.php\/podcast\/257-eric-mckelvie-exhortation-1-marginal-gains\/"},"modified":"2026-07-28T09:59:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-28T09:59:37","slug":"257-eric-mckelvie-exhortation-1-marginal-gains","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/index.php\/podcast\/257-eric-mckelvie-exhortation-1-marginal-gains\/","title":{"rendered":"257: Eric McKelvie – Exhortation: 1% Marginal Gains"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

1
\n00:00:13,880 –> 00:00:15,600
\nWelcome to good Chris Selfian
\ntalks. <\/p>\n

2
\n00:00:15,600 –> 00:00:17,320
\nI’m Levi.
\nAnd I’m Chris. <\/p>\n

3
\n00:00:17,560 –> 00:00:19,480
\nAnd I’m Brian.
\nThank you for joining us this <\/p>\n

4
\n00:00:19,480 –> 00:00:23,080
\nweek on this podcast.
\nWe select one talk a week to <\/p>\n

5
\n00:00:23,080 –> 00:00:26,240
\nhelp us get the Bible in our
\nDaily News feed. <\/p>\n

6
\n00:00:26,560 –> 00:00:28,520
\nWe post a new episode at the
\nstart of each week. <\/p>\n

7
\n00:00:28,950 –> 00:00:31,550
\nWith a short intro beforehand to
\nkind of set the stage for the <\/p>\n

8
\n00:00:31,550 –> 00:00:35,470
\ntalk you’re about to listen to.
\nAnd now, let’s talk more about <\/p>\n

9
\n00:00:35,470 –> 00:00:51,430
\nthis week’s talk.
\nWelcome to the good Chris <\/p>\n

10
\n00:00:51,430 –> 00:00:53,990
\nAdelphian Talks Podcast.
\nThis is Brother Brian. <\/p>\n

11
\n00:00:55,110 –> 00:00:57,790
\nThis week’s talk is an
\nexhortation by brother Eric <\/p>\n

12
\n00:00:57,790 –> 00:01:00,340
\nMckelvey.
\nWhich was given last month at <\/p>\n

13
\n00:01:00,340 –> 00:01:02,140
\nthe Moorestown ecclesia here in
\nNew Jersey. <\/p>\n

14
\n00:01:03,300 –> 00:01:06,820
\nHis ex are was entitled 1%
\nmarginal gains. <\/p>\n

15
\n00:01:07,820 –> 00:01:12,020
\nAnd it borrows from the true
\nstory of the British National <\/p>\n

16
\n00:01:12,020 –> 00:01:16,180
\nCycling team, which I guess was
\nlike the laughingstock of the <\/p>\n

17
\n00:01:17,380 –> 00:01:23,500
\nbicycle world, and how they
\nhired a coach who implemented <\/p>\n

18
\n00:01:23,500 –> 00:01:27,650
\nthis 1% rule.
\nIn order to improve every facet <\/p>\n

19
\n00:01:27,650 –> 00:01:30,210
\nor every overlooked advantage
\nthat they could possibly try. <\/p>\n

20
\n00:01:31,890 –> 00:01:36,490
\nThey’ve evidently won numerous
\nOlympics and Tour de France <\/p>\n

21
\n00:01:36,570 –> 00:01:41,530
\nawards in recent years, and the
\nthe true story is incredible. <\/p>\n

22
\n00:01:42,490 –> 00:01:47,130
\nAnd Brother Eric suggests taking
\nthis method and applying it to <\/p>\n

23
\n00:01:47,130 –> 00:01:50,410
\nour spiritual lives, recognizing
\nfirst that yes. <\/p>\n

24
\n00:01:51,500 –> 00:01:54,780
\nNo, we cannot earn our salvation
\nby works. <\/p>\n

25
\n00:01:54,780 –> 00:01:57,940
\nIt’s a gift of grace.
\nBut that we would greatly <\/p>\n

26
\n00:01:57,940 –> 00:02:01,500
\nbenefit from thinking about God
\nas our coach and a coach who <\/p>\n

27
\n00:02:01,500 –> 00:02:06,900
\nwants us to succeed, and then
\nfollowing the example of Christ,<\/p>\n

28
\n00:02:07,060 –> 00:02:11,380
\nour true champion, looking at
\nhis accomplishments from a <\/p>\n

29
\n00:02:11,380 –> 00:02:17,060
\nspiritual strategy of consistent
\nimprovement and recognizing that<\/p>\n

30
\n00:02:17,060 –> 00:02:20,300
\nfor ourselves this is not
\npossible. <\/p>\n

31
\n00:02:21,390 –> 00:02:26,030
\nIn these massive, unattainable
\nleaps and bounds, like, I’m just<\/p>\n

32
\n00:02:26,030 –> 00:02:28,670
\nnot overnight going to be able
\nto get rid of some of the things<\/p>\n

33
\n00:02:28,670 –> 00:02:32,950
\nthat plague me, but I can start
\nimplementing these tiny little <\/p>\n

34
\n00:02:32,950 –> 00:02:36,230
\nhabits that over time will add
\nup. <\/p>\n

35
\n00:02:37,630 –> 00:02:41,830
\nSo the idea is mastering any
\ntiny advantage you can on a week<\/p>\n

36
\n00:02:41,830 –> 00:02:48,270
\nby week basis to improve just
\never so slightly the mastering <\/p>\n

37
\n00:02:48,270 –> 00:02:51,390
\nof these spiritual habits.
\nIs what will better prepare <\/p>\n

38
\n00:02:51,390 –> 00:02:55,830
\nourselves to be workers and
\nbuilders for our God and His <\/p>\n

39
\n00:02:55,830 –> 00:03:01,950
\nKingdom.
\nThe 1% gains methodology and the<\/p>\n

40
\n00:03:01,950 –> 00:03:06,150
\ntrue story behind it was very
\nmemorable and it translates so <\/p>\n

41
\n00:03:06,150 –> 00:03:10,110
\nwell to our daily walk that we
\nrecognized it’s not a Sprint, <\/p>\n

42
\n00:03:10,710 –> 00:03:16,310
\nit’s a marathon and our Heavenly
\nFather knows we will stumble and<\/p>\n

43
\n00:03:16,310 –> 00:03:20,940
\nwe’re going to have setbacks.
\nBut if we implement this rule, <\/p>\n

44
\n00:03:21,140 –> 00:03:27,500
\nit’s these points of repeatable
\nstructure that will help us to <\/p>\n

45
\n00:03:27,500 –> 00:03:31,660
\ngain control of a pace that will
\nkeep us at the front of the <\/p>\n

46
\n00:03:31,660 –> 00:03:38,260
\npack, seeking to fill our time
\nand fill our minds with the good<\/p>\n

47
\n00:03:38,260 –> 00:03:43,140
\nworks of our Lord.
\nSo as always, we hope this <\/p>\n

48
\n00:03:43,140 –> 00:03:47,140
\nstrengthens your faith and
\nbrightens your day, Brother Eric<\/p>\n

49
\n00:03:47,140 –> 00:03:51,140
\nMckelvey. 1% marginal gains.
\nGood morning. <\/p>\n

50
\n00:03:54,340 –> 00:03:57,540
\nHow are you?
\nIt’s kind of a funny question to<\/p>\n

51
\n00:03:57,540 –> 00:03:59,900
\nask to a group of people you
\ndon’t expect a response from. <\/p>\n

52
\n00:03:59,900 –> 00:04:03,700
\nBut we are commanded to examine
\nyourselves when you come before <\/p>\n

53
\n00:04:03,700 –> 00:04:07,460
\nthe the bread in the wine.
\nA man ought to examine himself <\/p>\n

54
\n00:04:07,460 –> 00:04:10,260
\nbefore he eats of the bread and
\ndrinks of the wine. <\/p>\n

55
\n00:04:10,260 –> 00:04:14,340
\nSo how are you thinking of
\nmyself? <\/p>\n

56
\n00:04:14,340 –> 00:04:18,870
\nI know that I need improvement.
\nThere are plenty of areas in my <\/p>\n

57
\n00:04:18,870 –> 00:04:22,750
\nlife which I am lacking in.
\nI can be covetous, <\/p>\n

58
\n00:04:23,070 –> 00:04:26,790
\nmaterialistic.
\nI know I need to control my <\/p>\n

59
\n00:04:26,790 –> 00:04:30,710
\ntongue as I can say foolish
\nthings at time times. <\/p>\n

60
\n00:04:30,830 –> 00:04:35,630
\nI spend too much time with
\nworldly activities that lead me <\/p>\n

61
\n00:04:35,630 –> 00:04:40,190
\naway from God and 100 other
\nareas of fault. <\/p>\n

62
\n00:04:42,670 –> 00:04:46,110
\nOften times when we when we.
\nLook at where we are and how <\/p>\n

63
\n00:04:46,110 –> 00:04:49,430
\nmuch we need to improve.
\nIt can be intimidating. <\/p>\n

64
\n00:04:51,510 –> 00:04:53,950
\nFor instance, if you want to
\nimprove yourself by learning a <\/p>\n

65
\n00:04:53,950 –> 00:04:58,030
\nlanguage, it can seem like a
\nmountain of work to take on. <\/p>\n

66
\n00:04:58,830 –> 00:05:02,390
\nThis can scare people away and
\ndeter them from even starting. <\/p>\n

67
\n00:05:05,110 –> 00:05:09,510
\nThere is, however, a concept
\ncalled the 1% marginal gains <\/p>\n

68
\n00:05:09,510 –> 00:05:13,310
\nrule, and this is the concept of
\naiming to improve yourself. <\/p>\n

69
\n00:05:14,180 –> 00:05:19,100
\nBy only 1% each day, and these
\ntiny changes will compound and <\/p>\n

70
\n00:05:19,100 –> 00:05:21,460
\ngenerate massive growth over
\ntime. <\/p>\n

71
\n00:05:22,100 –> 00:05:26,260
\nIt might not seem like much in
\nthe beginning, but each day <\/p>\n

72
\n00:05:26,260 –> 00:05:31,020
\nthese improvements start to
\ncompound on each other and <\/p>\n

73
\n00:05:31,020 –> 00:05:34,940
\ngradually you will see the
\neffect that these changes have <\/p>\n

74
\n00:05:34,940 –> 00:05:37,860
\non your life, even if you only
\nlearn a couple new words in this<\/p>\n

75
\n00:05:37,860 –> 00:05:43,280
\nlanguage each day.
\nOver time this would add up. <\/p>\n

76
\n00:05:43,480 –> 00:05:47,440
\nIf one improves just 1% each
\nday, then after a year they <\/p>\n

77
\n00:05:47,440 –> 00:05:52,680
\nwould be 37 times more
\nproficient at the task or goal <\/p>\n

78
\n00:05:52,680 –> 00:05:57,000
\nwhich they were performing.
\nSo in the spirit of the Tour de <\/p>\n

79
\n00:05:57,000 –> 00:06:00,280
\nFrance which just finished up,
\nI’d like to tell the story of <\/p>\n

80
\n00:06:00,280 –> 00:06:04,120
\nthe British Cycling team.
\nAnd this story was highlighted <\/p>\n

81
\n00:06:04,120 –> 00:06:06,480
\nin the in the book Atomic
\nHabits, which some of you may <\/p>\n

82
\n00:06:06,480 –> 00:06:11,120
\nhave heard, heard of, or read,
\nand in this book the author. <\/p>\n

83
\n00:06:11,880 –> 00:06:16,560
\nWrites that in 2003 the British
\nCycling team hired a coach named<\/p>\n

84
\n00:06:16,560 –> 00:06:22,240
\nDave Brailsford and at the time,
\nprofessional cyclists in Great <\/p>\n

85
\n00:06:22,240 –> 00:06:26,440
\nBritain had endured nearly 100
\nyears of mediocrity. <\/p>\n

86
\n00:06:27,680 –> 00:06:32,880
\nSince 1908, British riders had
\nwon just a single gold medal at <\/p>\n

87
\n00:06:32,880 –> 00:06:36,880
\nthe Olympic Games and they had
\nfared even worse in the <\/p>\n

88
\n00:06:36,880 –> 00:06:38,840
\ncycling’s biggest race, the Tour
\nde France. <\/p>\n

89
\n00:06:39,530 –> 00:06:43,450
\nIn 110 years, no British cyclist
\nhad ever won the event. <\/p>\n

90
\n00:06:44,290 –> 00:06:47,530
\nIn fact, the performance of the
\nBritish team had been so <\/p>\n

91
\n00:06:47,530 –> 00:06:51,410
\nunderwhelming that one of the
\ntop bike manufacturers in Europe<\/p>\n

92
\n00:06:51,410 –> 00:06:54,770
\nrefused to sell bikes to them
\nbecause they were afraid that it<\/p>\n

93
\n00:06:54,770 –> 00:06:58,050
\nwould hurt their image and hurt
\ntheir sales if other <\/p>\n

94
\n00:06:58,050 –> 00:07:00,210
\nprofessionals saw the Brits
\nusing their gear. <\/p>\n

95
\n00:07:01,410 –> 00:07:06,370
\nSo this guy Brailsford had been
\nhired to the British team to put<\/p>\n

96
\n00:07:06,370 –> 00:07:10,550
\nthem on a new trajectory.
\nAnd what made him different from<\/p>\n

97
\n00:07:10,550 –> 00:07:14,030
\nprevious coaches was his
\nrelentless commitment to a <\/p>\n

98
\n00:07:14,030 –> 00:07:18,030
\nstrategy called the aggregation
\nof marginal gains, or the <\/p>\n

99
\n00:07:18,030 –> 00:07:21,870
\nmarginal gains rule, which was
\nthe philosophy of searching for <\/p>\n

100
\n00:07:21,870 –> 00:07:27,230
\nmighty, mighty, tiny margins of
\nimprovement in everything that <\/p>\n

101
\n00:07:27,230 –> 00:07:30,110
\nyou do.
\nAnd he said that the whole <\/p>\n

102
\n00:07:30,110 –> 00:07:32,310
\nprinciple came from the idea
\nthat if you break everything <\/p>\n

103
\n00:07:32,310 –> 00:07:36,990
\ndown, everything that goes into
\nriding a bike and then improve <\/p>\n

104
\n00:07:36,990 –> 00:07:40,320
\nit by 1%.
\nYou will get significant <\/p>\n

105
\n00:07:40,320 –> 00:07:46,120
\nincrease when you put them all
\ntogether, so Brailsford and his <\/p>\n

106
\n00:07:46,120 –> 00:07:48,680
\ncoaches began making these small
\nadjustments that you might <\/p>\n

107
\n00:07:48,680 –> 00:07:50,640
\nexpect from a professional
\ncycling team. <\/p>\n

108
\n00:07:51,360 –> 00:07:53,840
\nThey redesigned the bike seats
\nto make them more comfortable, <\/p>\n

109
\n00:07:54,520 –> 00:07:57,600
\nand they rubbed alcohol in the
\ntires for better grip. <\/p>\n

110
\n00:07:58,560 –> 00:08:01,720
\nThey asked riders to wear
\nelectrically heated shorts to <\/p>\n

111
\n00:08:01,800 –> 00:08:04,240
\nmaintain ideal muscle
\ntemperature while riding. <\/p>\n

112
\n00:08:07,340 –> 00:08:11,460
\nThey tested various fabrics in a
\nwind tunnel and had their <\/p>\n

113
\n00:08:11,460 –> 00:08:14,660
\noutdoor riders switched to
\nindoor racing suits, which <\/p>\n

114
\n00:08:14,660 –> 00:08:16,580
\nproved to be lighter and more
\naerodynamic. <\/p>\n

115
\n00:08:19,380 –> 00:08:23,340
\nBut they also continue to find
\n1% improvements in overlooked <\/p>\n

116
\n00:08:23,500 –> 00:08:26,900
\nand unexpected areas.
\nThey tested different types of <\/p>\n

117
\n00:08:26,900 –> 00:08:30,220
\nmassage gels to see which one
\nled to the fastest muscle <\/p>\n

118
\n00:08:30,220 –> 00:08:32,940
\nrecovery.
\nThey hired a surgeon to teach <\/p>\n

119
\n00:08:32,940 –> 00:08:35,460
\neach rider how to properly wash
\ntheir hands. <\/p>\n

120
\n00:08:36,470 –> 00:08:40,630
\nTo reduce the chances of
\ncatching a cold, they determined<\/p>\n

121
\n00:08:40,630 –> 00:08:44,230
\nthe type of pillow and mattress
\nthat led to the best night’s <\/p>\n

122
\n00:08:44,230 –> 00:08:47,790
\nsleep for each rider.
\nAnd they even painted the inside<\/p>\n

123
\n00:08:47,830 –> 00:08:52,230
\nof the the team’s truck white,
\nwhich helped them spot little <\/p>\n

124
\n00:08:52,750 –> 00:08:56,310
\nlittle bits of dust that would
\nnormally slip unnoticed but <\/p>\n

125
\n00:08:56,310 –> 00:08:59,990
\ncould degrade the performance of
\nthe finely tuned bikes over <\/p>\n

126
\n00:08:59,990 –> 00:09:03,900
\ntime.
\nSo as these hundreds of small <\/p>\n

127
\n00:09:03,900 –> 00:09:07,900
\nchanges and improvements
\naccumulated, the results came <\/p>\n

128
\n00:09:07,900 –> 00:09:10,300
\nfaster than anyone could have
\nimagined. <\/p>\n

129
\n00:09:10,900 –> 00:09:14,780
\nJust five years after Brailsford
\ntook over, the British Cycling <\/p>\n

130
\n00:09:14,860 –> 00:09:19,940
\nteam dominated the road and
\ntrack cycling events at 2008 <\/p>\n

131
\n00:09:20,260 –> 00:09:24,340
\nOlympic Games in Beijing, where
\nthey won 60% of the gold medals.<\/p>\n

132
\n00:09:25,040 –> 00:09:27,280
\nAnd four years later the Olympic
\nGames came to London. <\/p>\n

133
\n00:09:27,280 –> 00:09:31,280
\nThe Brits raised the bar as they
\nset 9 Olympic records and seven <\/p>\n

134
\n00:09:31,280 –> 00:09:35,880
\nworld records.
\nThat same year this guy, Bradley<\/p>\n

135
\n00:09:35,880 –> 00:09:38,680
\nWiggins, became the first
\nBritish cyclist to win the Tour <\/p>\n

136
\n00:09:38,680 –> 00:09:42,120
\nde France.
\nAnd then next year his teammate <\/p>\n

137
\n00:09:42,120 –> 00:09:47,640
\nwon the race and would go on to
\nwin again in 2015, sixteen and <\/p>\n

138
\n00:09:47,640 –> 00:09:51,760
\n17, giving the British Team 5
\nTour de France victories in six <\/p>\n

139
\n00:09:51,760 –> 00:09:55,480
\nyears.
\nSo this is clearly a pretty good<\/p>\n

140
\n00:09:55,720 –> 00:09:59,600
\npowerful method of self
\nimprovement and it’s easy enough<\/p>\n

141
\n00:09:59,600 –> 00:10:05,080
\nto take on as the changes which
\nare asked of you are minor if <\/p>\n

142
\n00:10:05,080 –> 00:10:07,520
\nthey need to be consistent and
\ncontinual. <\/p>\n

143
\n00:10:09,800 –> 00:10:14,520
\nWhile you may find a serious
\nbenefit through this method in <\/p>\n

144
\n00:10:14,520 –> 00:10:18,960
\nyour your work or your school
\nperformance, the real value to <\/p>\n

145
\n00:10:18,960 –> 00:10:22,520
\nus as believers.
\nLies in its application to our <\/p>\n

146
\n00:10:22,520 –> 00:10:26,960
\nspiritual lives.
\nWe realize that no matter how <\/p>\n

147
\n00:10:26,960 –> 00:10:30,640
\nmuch we improve ourselves in
\nsomething like controlling or <\/p>\n

148
\n00:10:30,640 –> 00:10:34,000
\nsuppressing covetousness, we
\ncannot earn salvation. <\/p>\n

149
\n00:10:34,720 –> 00:10:37,720
\nThere’s no winning the Tour de
\nFrance of covetousness. <\/p>\n

150
\n00:10:38,920 –> 00:10:43,400
\nNo matter how little we covet or
\nhow well we control our tongues,<\/p>\n

151
\n00:10:43,400 –> 00:10:45,920
\nwe cannot earn a place in God’s
\nKingdom. <\/p>\n

152
\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

153
\n00:10:52,180 –> 00:10:55,860
\nRoman 6 tells us from our
\nreading this morning. <\/p>\n

154
\n00:10:55,860 –> 00:11:01,100
\nThe wages of sin is death, but
\nthe gift of God is eternal life <\/p>\n

155
\n00:11:01,860 –> 00:11:06,740
\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord.
\nSo all we can earn in our lives <\/p>\n

156
\n00:11:06,740 –> 00:11:10,180
\nis death, but Ephesians 2 tells
\nus. <\/p>\n

157
\n00:11:10,740 –> 00:11:14,940
\nBut God, who is rich in mercy
\nfor his great love wherewith you<\/p>\n

158
\n00:11:14,940 –> 00:11:18,270
\nloved us.
\nEven when we were dead and sins <\/p>\n

159
\n00:11:18,270 –> 00:11:23,230
\nhath quickened us together with
\nChrist by grace you are saved. <\/p>\n

160
\n00:11:24,590 –> 00:11:27,950
\nSo we’ll keep that in mind that
\nwe cannot earn salvation. <\/p>\n

161
\n00:11:29,070 –> 00:11:32,110
\nBut that does not mean that we
\nshould stop improving ourselves.<\/p>\n

162
\n00:11:32,910 –> 00:11:37,390
\nShall we continue in sin that
\ngrace may abound, God forbid. <\/p>\n

163
\n00:11:40,110 –> 00:11:43,750
\nSo how do we apply this
\ntechnique to improve ourselves <\/p>\n

164
\n00:11:44,470 –> 00:11:47,900
\nbefore God?
\nAnd I think it only makes sense <\/p>\n

165
\n00:11:47,900 –> 00:11:51,540
\nthat we look to the only man to
\nto live this ideal. <\/p>\n

166
\n00:11:53,060 –> 00:11:56,780
\nIf we copied the ways in which
\nChrist dealt with temptation, <\/p>\n

167
\n00:11:57,420 –> 00:12:01,620
\nthe ways in which he dealt with
\nopposition and malice from those<\/p>\n

168
\n00:12:01,620 –> 00:12:04,500
\naround him, we would benefit our
\nown characters greatly. <\/p>\n

169
\n00:12:06,460 –> 00:12:09,740
\nSo the biggest thing which the
\nBritish Cycling team did was to <\/p>\n

170
\n00:12:09,740 –> 00:12:14,340
\nhire a new coach.
\nThis new coach required these <\/p>\n

171
\n00:12:14,340 –> 00:12:18,950
\nchanges of them.
\nChanges which pushed them to to <\/p>\n

172
\n00:12:18,950 –> 00:12:22,070
\nchange how they lived and change
\nhow they prepared and recovered <\/p>\n

173
\n00:12:22,070 –> 00:12:26,510
\nfrom races.
\nAnd likewise, in looking at <\/p>\n

174
\n00:12:26,510 –> 00:12:31,150
\nChrist’s life we see that he had
\na coach in his Heavenly Father. <\/p>\n

175
\n00:12:31,630 –> 00:12:35,910
\nChrist followed every word which
\nhis Father instructed him from a<\/p>\n

176
\n00:12:35,910 –> 00:12:38,310
\nyouth.
\nHe was always about his Father’s<\/p>\n

177
\n00:12:38,310 –> 00:12:40,950
\nbusiness.
\nGod trained him up from a boy, <\/p>\n

178
\n00:12:41,830 –> 00:12:44,030
\nand Jesus did not depart from
\nhis way. <\/p>\n

179
\n00:12:45,490 –> 00:12:49,250
\nJesus, as it says in Luke
\nchapter 2, increased in wisdom <\/p>\n

180
\n00:12:49,250 –> 00:12:51,810
\nand stature, and in favor with
\nGod and man. <\/p>\n

181
\n00:12:52,610 –> 00:12:54,690
\nAnd this was not due to his own
\nwisdom. <\/p>\n

182
\n00:12:55,330 –> 00:12:58,650
\nFor we know that in our nature
\nof which Jesus shared dwelleth <\/p>\n

183
\n00:12:58,650 –> 00:13:04,210
\nno good thing in the Messianic
\nPsalm 16 in the Rsvs is protect <\/p>\n

184
\n00:13:04,210 –> 00:13:06,970
\nme, oh God, for in you I take
\nrefuge. <\/p>\n

185
\n00:13:08,050 –> 00:13:10,090
\nI say to Yahwah, you are my
\nLord. <\/p>\n

186
\n00:13:10,090 –> 00:13:15,220
\nI have no good apart from you.
\nChrist drew in wisdom and <\/p>\n

187
\n00:13:15,220 –> 00:13:19,500
\nstature because he meditated
\ndaily upon God’s instructions <\/p>\n

188
\n00:13:19,900 –> 00:13:25,500
\nand his principles.
\nA Psalm which certainly has <\/p>\n

189
\n00:13:25,540 –> 00:13:30,100
\napplication to Christ’s life, is
\nPsalm 119, also quoted this <\/p>\n

190
\n00:13:30,100 –> 00:13:34,180
\nmorning, or says in verse 10.
\nWith my whole heart I have <\/p>\n

191
\n00:13:34,180 –> 00:13:37,500
\nsought thee.
\nLet me not wander from thy <\/p>\n

192
\n00:13:37,500 –> 00:13:40,660
\ncommandments, Thy Word.
\nHave I hidden my heart? <\/p>\n

193
\n00:13:41,330 –> 00:13:44,290
\nThat I might not sin against
\nthee, Blessed art thou or <\/p>\n

194
\n00:13:44,290 –> 00:13:49,010
\nYahweh, teach me thy statutes.
\nWith my lips have I declared all<\/p>\n

195
\n00:13:49,010 –> 00:13:53,410
\nthe judgments of thy mouth.
\nI have rejoiced in the way of <\/p>\n

196
\n00:13:53,410 –> 00:13:57,050
\nThy testimonies, as much as in
\nall riches. <\/p>\n

197
\n00:13:57,450 –> 00:14:02,050
\nI will meditate in thy precepts,
\nand have respect unto Thy way. <\/p>\n

198
\n00:14:02,850 –> 00:14:05,370
\nI will delight myself in Thy
\nstatutes. <\/p>\n

199
\n00:14:06,170 –> 00:14:11,420
\nI will not forget thy word.
\nThough this was written by <\/p>\n

200
\n00:14:11,420 –> 00:14:16,180
\nDavid, it was also Christ’s
\nmindset and seemingly applies <\/p>\n

201
\n00:14:16,180 –> 00:14:24,340
\ndirectly to him.
\nWhen we become a disciple of <\/p>\n

202
\n00:14:24,340 –> 00:14:29,100
\nChrist, we take, we take on God
\nas our coach as well. <\/p>\n

203
\n00:14:29,980 –> 00:14:32,860
\nGod said to his people in Isaiah
\nchapter 41. <\/p>\n

204
\n00:14:32,940 –> 00:14:37,140
\nFear not, for I’m with you.
\nBe not dismayed, for I am your <\/p>\n

205
\n00:14:37,140 –> 00:14:40,480
\nelohim, your mighty one.
\nI will strengthen you. <\/p>\n

206
\n00:14:40,560 –> 00:14:43,280
\nI will help you.
\nI will uphold you with my <\/p>\n

207
\n00:14:43,280 –> 00:14:48,520
\nrighteous right hand.
\nOur God is the ideal coach. <\/p>\n

208
\n00:14:48,520 –> 00:14:52,920
\nHe encourages us and reminds us
\nthat we are not alone on our <\/p>\n

209
\n00:14:52,920 –> 00:14:54,840
\nwalk.
\nHe will never leave us nor <\/p>\n

210
\n00:14:54,840 –> 00:14:58,840
\nforsake us.
\nThough we may be weak, our <\/p>\n

211
\n00:14:58,840 –> 00:15:01,160
\nstrength comes from God, who is
\nmighty. <\/p>\n

212
\n00:15:03,400 –> 00:15:05,600
\nWe also know from First
\nCorinthians 10 that God is <\/p>\n

213
\n00:15:05,600 –> 00:15:07,980
\nfaithful.
\nAnd he will not let you be <\/p>\n

214
\n00:15:07,980 –> 00:15:12,100
\ntempted beyond your ability, but
\nwith the temptation he will also<\/p>\n

215
\n00:15:12,100 –> 00:15:16,500
\nprovide a way of escape that you
\nmay be able to endure it. <\/p>\n

216
\n00:15:18,460 –> 00:15:23,340
\nSo God as our coach pushes us to
\nperform and endure, yet he knows<\/p>\n

217
\n00:15:23,340 –> 00:15:26,220
\nour limits and will not push us
\npast them. <\/p>\n

218
\n00:15:26,220 –> 00:15:30,660
\nAnd I find it helpful to think
\nof God in this, in this light. <\/p>\n

219
\n00:15:30,660 –> 00:15:34,940
\nAs a coach, he wants us to
\nsucceed and will help us to do <\/p>\n

220
\n00:15:34,940 –> 00:15:37,910
\nso.
\nStrengthening us and pushing us,<\/p>\n

221
\n00:15:38,190 –> 00:15:44,150
\nthough never beyond our limits,
\nChrist as our forerunner, an <\/p>\n

222
\n00:15:44,150 –> 00:15:49,150
\nexample, showed us the level to
\nwhich we need to respect and <\/p>\n

223
\n00:15:49,150 –> 00:15:54,390
\nmeditate upon God’s precepts.
\nWith his whole heart he sought <\/p>\n

224
\n00:15:54,390 –> 00:15:58,990
\nhim and delighted in his
\nstatutes, and he grew to know <\/p>\n

225
\n00:15:58,990 –> 00:16:03,160
\nthe Scriptures so well.
\nThat we are told in John Chapter<\/p>\n

226
\n00:16:03,160 –> 00:16:07,080
\n7, the Jews marveled, saying how
\nknoweth this man letters having <\/p>\n

227
\n00:16:07,080 –> 00:16:11,600
\nnever learned.
\nJesus never had any formal <\/p>\n

228
\n00:16:11,600 –> 00:16:16,200
\ntraining, he didn’t train at the
\nfeet of any famous rabbi, and he<\/p>\n

229
\n00:16:16,200 –> 00:16:20,040
\ntaught with authority and knew
\nthe scriptures better than any <\/p>\n

230
\n00:16:20,040 –> 00:16:22,720
\nof them.
\nAnd this came from time and <\/p>\n

231
\n00:16:22,720 –> 00:16:28,600
\neffort in the word Christ’s
\nanswer to their question. <\/p>\n

232
\n00:16:29,700 –> 00:16:33,660
\nHow knoweth this man letters
\ncomes in the next verse in John <\/p>\n

233
\n00:16:33,660 –> 00:16:36,380
\nSeven.
\nMy doctrine or teaching is not <\/p>\n

234
\n00:16:36,380 –> 00:16:41,620
\nmine but his that sent me.
\nChrist only learned what God had<\/p>\n

235
\n00:16:41,620 –> 00:16:44,020
\nleft for us through the
\nscriptures. <\/p>\n

236
\n00:16:45,100 –> 00:16:48,180
\nThere were some divine and
\nangelic ministrations for sure, <\/p>\n

237
\n00:16:49,580 –> 00:16:53,580
\nbut he learned scriptures just
\nlike any of us by putting in the<\/p>\n

238
\n00:16:53,580 –> 00:16:56,300
\ntime and effort to read and
\nstudy. <\/p>\n

239
\n00:16:56,860 –> 00:17:00,660
\nThis is how he grew in wisdom
\nand in stature with God and man.<\/p>\n

240
\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

241
\n00:17:05,740 –> 00:17:08,700
\nway which is pleasing unto him.
\nSo let U.S. <\/p>\n

242
\n00:17:08,700 –> 00:17:12,780
\nOpen Scripture every day to
\nlearn from it, and learn from <\/p>\n

243
\n00:17:12,780 –> 00:17:17,300
\nChrist’s example, as God
\ninstructed Joshua. <\/p>\n

244
\n00:17:18,060 –> 00:17:21,700
\nThis book of the law shall not
\ndepart from thy mouth, but thou <\/p>\n

245
\n00:17:21,700 –> 00:17:24,020
\nshalt meditate therein day and
\nnight. <\/p>\n

246
\n00:17:25,060 –> 00:17:28,220
\nThat thou mayst observe to do
\naccording to all that is written<\/p>\n

247
\n00:17:28,220 –> 00:17:31,860
\ntherein.
\nFor then thou shalt make thy way<\/p>\n

248
\n00:17:31,860 –> 00:17:35,540
\nprosperous, and then thou shalt
\nhave good success. <\/p>\n

249
\n00:17:40,380 –> 00:17:44,420
\nOne of the techniques which
\npeople suggest when teaching <\/p>\n

250
\n00:17:44,420 –> 00:17:48,060
\nself improvement is to surround
\nyourself with likeminded <\/p>\n

251
\n00:17:48,060 –> 00:17:50,900
\nindividuals.
\nIf you’re learning a language, <\/p>\n

252
\n00:17:50,900 –> 00:17:52,660
\nthen you might join a study
\ngroup. <\/p>\n

253
\n00:17:53,890 –> 00:17:57,170
\nIf you are training for the Tour
\nde France, you probably join a <\/p>\n

254
\n00:17:57,170 –> 00:18:00,610
\ncycling team.
\nChrist used this technique as <\/p>\n

255
\n00:18:00,610 –> 00:18:03,090
\nwell.
\nIf you’re training, sorry. <\/p>\n

256
\n00:18:03,970 –> 00:18:06,890
\nThough he was their teacher,
\nJesus gained the strength from <\/p>\n

257
\n00:18:06,890 –> 00:18:11,410
\nhis 12 disciples.
\nWe may remember the account in <\/p>\n

258
\n00:18:11,410 –> 00:18:14,410
\nthe garden of Gethsemite when
\nJesus asked his disciples to <\/p>\n

259
\n00:18:14,410 –> 00:18:18,010
\nwatch and pray and they left him
\nalone and fell asleep. <\/p>\n

260
\n00:18:18,690 –> 00:18:20,930
\nAnd we may think of this and how
\nthey let him down. <\/p>\n

261
\n00:18:22,480 –> 00:18:24,560
\nAnd think that they did not
\nbring him strength. <\/p>\n

262
\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

263
\n00:18:28,600 –> 00:18:32,920
\nhis disciples, these men, is
\nevident throughout the gospels. <\/p>\n

264
\n00:18:33,720 –> 00:18:36,360
\nAnd though they let him down on
\nthat occasion in Gassem, and he <\/p>\n

265
\n00:18:36,360 –> 00:18:39,880
\ngreatly benefited from having a
\ngroup of friends surrounding <\/p>\n

266
\n00:18:39,880 –> 00:18:46,040
\nhim, people can do hard things
\nwhen they are prompted by love. <\/p>\n

267
\n00:18:47,560 –> 00:18:50,320
\nA love of exercise can prompt
\npeople to wake up early before <\/p>\n

268
\n00:18:50,320 –> 00:18:53,750
\nwork and go for a run.
\nA love of knowledge can push <\/p>\n

269
\n00:18:53,750 –> 00:18:57,990
\npeople to work hard in school to
\nbecome scientists, and the love <\/p>\n

270
\n00:18:58,230 –> 00:19:02,270
\none feels from another person
\ncan be even stronger. <\/p>\n

271
\n00:19:02,750 –> 00:19:07,150
\nPeople all over the world go to
\njobs that they hate every day <\/p>\n

272
\n00:19:07,630 –> 00:19:10,110
\nfor years in order to support
\ntheir family. <\/p>\n

273
\n00:19:11,750 –> 00:19:14,790
\nThere are single parents that
\nwork multiple jobs to put their <\/p>\n

274
\n00:19:15,150 –> 00:19:18,830
\nkid through college.
\nPeople can do hard things when <\/p>\n

275
\n00:19:18,830 –> 00:19:24,980
\nthey’re prompted by love.
\nAnd I think that the the love <\/p>\n

276
\n00:19:24,980 –> 00:19:32,100
\nChrist felt for his disciples
\nand from his disciples was a <\/p>\n

277
\n00:19:32,100 –> 00:19:34,980
\ngreat strength unto him and
\nenabled him to carry on. <\/p>\n

278
\n00:19:35,700 –> 00:19:39,860
\nWhen he was being scorned by the
\nchief priests and rabbis, or <\/p>\n

279
\n00:19:39,860 –> 00:19:43,620
\nwhen he was rejected by those he
\ngrew up with in his hometown of <\/p>\n

280
\n00:19:43,620 –> 00:19:52,600
\nNazareth, Christ was kept sharp.
\nBy the love of his friends, as <\/p>\n

281
\n00:19:52,600 –> 00:19:56,080
\nProverbs tells us, as iron
\nsharpeneth iron, so a man <\/p>\n

282
\n00:19:56,520 –> 00:19:58,640
\nsharpens the countenance of his
\nfriend. <\/p>\n

283
\n00:20:01,520 –> 00:20:06,920
\nAnd in John 15 we read of
\nJesus’s love for his disciples, <\/p>\n

284
\n00:20:06,920 –> 00:20:09,640
\nhis friends.
\nThis is my commandment, that you<\/p>\n

285
\n00:20:09,640 –> 00:20:11,960
\nlove one another as I have loved
\nyou. <\/p>\n

286
\n00:20:12,640 –> 00:20:17,520
\nGreater love hath no one than
\nthis, that someone lay down his <\/p>\n

287
\n00:20:17,520 –> 00:20:21,460
\nlife for his friends.
\nYou are my friends. <\/p>\n

288
\n00:20:21,940 –> 00:20:25,340
\nIf you do what I command, you no
\nlonger do. <\/p>\n

289
\n00:20:25,340 –> 00:20:28,900
\nI call you servants, for the
\nservant does not know what his <\/p>\n

290
\n00:20:28,900 –> 00:20:31,540
\nmaster is doing, But I have
\ncalled you friends. <\/p>\n

291
\n00:20:32,540 –> 00:20:35,900
\nFor all that I have heard from
\nmy father, I’ve made known to <\/p>\n

292
\n00:20:35,900 –> 00:20:41,420
\nyou.
\nChrist showed how great His love<\/p>\n

293
\n00:20:41,420 –> 00:20:47,860
\nwas through His sacrifice, not
\njust for His 12 disciples, but <\/p>\n

294
\n00:20:47,860 –> 00:20:53,300
\nfor all of us.
\nAlso, the love that we feel when<\/p>\n

295
\n00:20:53,300 –> 00:20:56,220
\nwe interact with our brothers
\nand sisters can have a great <\/p>\n

296
\n00:20:56,220 –> 00:21:01,500
\npositive effect on our lives.
\nAnd this is one of the reasons <\/p>\n

297
\n00:21:01,500 –> 00:21:05,220
\nfor the establishment of
\necclesias, that we may sharpen <\/p>\n

298
\n00:21:05,220 –> 00:21:08,820
\neach other and encourage each
\nother in love. <\/p>\n

299
\n00:21:09,140 –> 00:21:14,260
\nWhen one person is going through
\nan ordeal, another can show love<\/p>\n

300
\n00:21:14,260 –> 00:21:17,580
\nand hospitality and uplift that
\nbrother or sister. <\/p>\n

301
\n00:21:18,540 –> 00:21:22,620
\nWhen one is dealing with grief,
\noften the company of loved ones <\/p>\n

302
\n00:21:23,620 –> 00:21:29,780
\nbrings warmth and comfort when
\nan issue arises that we may not <\/p>\n

303
\n00:21:29,780 –> 00:21:34,340
\nknow how to handle.
\nOthers in the ecclesia may have <\/p>\n

304
\n00:21:34,340 –> 00:21:38,740
\nexperience in that area and may
\nbe able to greatly assist. <\/p>\n

305
\n00:21:40,460 –> 00:21:44,580
\nSo I encourage all those
\nwatching virtually those who are<\/p>\n

306
\n00:21:44,580 –> 00:21:48,920
\nable to attend to do so, Some we
\nhaven’t seen for years. <\/p>\n

307
\n00:21:50,120 –> 00:21:53,520
\nThis world is tough, but it’s
\nmade easier by the company of <\/p>\n

308
\n00:21:53,520 –> 00:21:57,960
\nyour friends, especially those
\nwho share your beliefs and can <\/p>\n

309
\n00:21:57,960 –> 00:22:00,320
\nstrengthen you and encourage you
\nto endure. <\/p>\n

310
\n00:22:04,200 –> 00:22:08,040
\nEven Christ needed his friends,
\nso it’s important for all of us <\/p>\n

311
\n00:22:08,040 –> 00:22:12,000
\nto meet together regularly that
\nwe may be strengthened and <\/p>\n

312
\n00:22:12,000 –> 00:22:20,400
\nuplifted.
\nAnother tip which is often given<\/p>\n

313
\n00:22:20,400 –> 00:22:23,560
\nto those looking to improve
\nthemselves is to practice <\/p>\n

314
\n00:22:23,560 –> 00:22:28,520
\nmindfulness or to meditate.
\nMeditation can give you give you<\/p>\n

315
\n00:22:28,520 –> 00:22:33,800
\na sense of calm or peace that
\ncan benefit both your emotional <\/p>\n

316
\n00:22:33,800 –> 00:22:37,440
\nwell-being and your overall
\nhealth, including lowering <\/p>\n

317
\n00:22:37,440 –> 00:22:40,240
\nstress or anxiety or even blood
\npressure. <\/p>\n

318
\n00:22:41,680 –> 00:22:45,820
\nAnd this time of self reflection
\ncan have a powerful effect on <\/p>\n

319
\n00:22:45,820 –> 00:22:49,380
\nyour mental health, leaving
\nbehind harmful memories or <\/p>\n

320
\n00:22:49,380 –> 00:22:55,540
\nhabits, managing impulses, or
\nresolving conflicts. <\/p>\n

321
\n00:22:57,820 –> 00:23:01,020
\nAnd this idea involves setting
\ntime apart to reflect upon <\/p>\n

322
\n00:23:01,020 –> 00:23:04,980
\nyourself.
\nOne was put down their phone and<\/p>\n

323
\n00:23:05,180 –> 00:23:11,100
\nturn off the TV and think about
\nhow you’re doing, where you’re <\/p>\n

324
\n00:23:11,100 –> 00:23:13,140
\ngoing in life, how you are
\nprogressing. <\/p>\n

325
\n00:23:14,240 –> 00:23:17,200
\nIt’s a time to consider the hard
\nthings which are still yet to <\/p>\n

326
\n00:23:17,200 –> 00:23:20,160
\ncome and those which are still
\nongoing. <\/p>\n

327
\n00:23:22,320 –> 00:23:27,960
\nIt’s also a time to remember the
\nthings you have which you have <\/p>\n

328
\n00:23:27,960 –> 00:23:31,160
\nto be grateful for.
\nPracticing gratitude or <\/p>\n

329
\n00:23:31,160 –> 00:23:34,440
\nthankfulness is a great way to
\nimprove yourself. <\/p>\n

330
\n00:23:37,280 –> 00:23:41,280
\nImagine the impact self
\nreflection and meditation can <\/p>\n

331
\n00:23:41,280 –> 00:23:45,250
\nhave when we then take the
\nissues that we are trying to <\/p>\n

332
\n00:23:45,250 –> 00:23:47,970
\nleave behind.
\nWhen we recognize bad habits, we<\/p>\n

333
\n00:23:47,970 –> 00:23:50,730
\nmust leave behind and we bring
\nthem to God. <\/p>\n

334
\n00:23:52,410 –> 00:23:55,170
\nWhen we ask for God’s help to
\naccomplish the hard thing we <\/p>\n

335
\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

336
\n00:24:03,210 –> 00:24:07,050
\nof meditation from which we gain
\nthose mental health benefits. <\/p>\n

337
\n00:24:08,640 –> 00:24:12,040
\nBut prayer is also communication
\nwith the creator of the <\/p>\n

338
\n00:24:12,040 –> 00:24:15,480
\nuniverse, who has the the power
\nto carry out those requests. <\/p>\n

339
\n00:24:16,600 –> 00:24:20,200
\nAnd Christ knew this obviously
\nand spent hours at a time in <\/p>\n

340
\n00:24:20,200 –> 00:24:26,200
\ncommunication with his father.
\nChrist told the parable of the <\/p>\n

341
\n00:24:26,440 –> 00:24:31,400
\npersistent widow in Luke 18 to
\nteach his disciples to pray. <\/p>\n

342
\n00:24:34,440 –> 00:24:41,200
\nSo Luke 18 starting at verse
\none, <\/p>\n

343
\n00:24:51,520 –> 00:24:55,080
\nactually verse two, there was in
\na certain city, there was a <\/p>\n

344
\n00:24:55,080 –> 00:24:58,560
\njudge who neither feared God nor
\nrespected man, and there was a <\/p>\n

345
\n00:24:58,560 –> 00:25:00,960
\nwidow in that city who kept
\ncoming to him and saying, give <\/p>\n

346
\n00:25:00,960 –> 00:25:05,720
\nme justice against my adversary.
\nFor a while he refused, but <\/p>\n

347
\n00:25:05,720 –> 00:25:09,380
\nafterward he said to himself,
\nThough I neither fear God nor <\/p>\n

348
\n00:25:09,380 –> 00:25:13,260
\nrespect man yet, because this
\nwidow keeps bothering me, I will<\/p>\n

349
\n00:25:13,260 –> 00:25:16,660
\ngive her justice so that she
\nwill not beat me down by her <\/p>\n

350
\n00:25:16,660 –> 00:25:20,700
\ncontinual coming.
\nAnd the Lord said, hear what the<\/p>\n

351
\n00:25:20,700 –> 00:25:25,220
\nunrighteous judge says.
\nAnd will not God give justice to<\/p>\n

352
\n00:25:25,220 –> 00:25:27,700
\nhis elect who cried to him day
\nand night? <\/p>\n

353
\n00:25:28,540 –> 00:25:33,620
\nWill he delay long over them?
\nI tell you he will give justice <\/p>\n

354
\n00:25:33,620 –> 00:25:39,120
\nto them speedily.
\nChrist told this parable to his <\/p>\n

355
\n00:25:39,120 –> 00:25:42,800
\ndisciples, as it says in verse
\none, to the effect that they <\/p>\n

356
\n00:25:42,800 –> 00:25:46,000
\nought always to pray and not
\nlose heart. <\/p>\n

357
\n00:25:47,320 –> 00:25:50,560
\nLet us learn from Jesus the
\nimportance of prayer. <\/p>\n

358
\n00:25:52,200 –> 00:25:54,760
\nChrist spent hours at a time in
\nprayer. <\/p>\n

359
\n00:25:54,760 –> 00:25:58,200
\nHe would often go apart from his
\ndisciples in order to pray. <\/p>\n

360
\n00:25:59,320 –> 00:26:03,700
\nWe read in Matthew 14, after
\nfeeding the 5000 people, that <\/p>\n

361
\n00:26:03,700 –> 00:26:06,620
\nwhen he had sent the multitudes
\naway, he went up into a mountain<\/p>\n

362
\n00:26:06,620 –> 00:26:11,780
\napart to pray.
\nIn Mark 14 in the garden of <\/p>\n

363
\n00:26:11,780 –> 00:26:15,100
\nGethsemane, we’re told they came
\nto a place which was named <\/p>\n

364
\n00:26:15,100 –> 00:26:19,620
\nGethsemane, and he saith to his
\ndisciples, Sit ye here while I <\/p>\n

365
\n00:26:19,620 –> 00:26:22,420
\nshall pray?
\nAnd then in verse 37 he cometh <\/p>\n

366
\n00:26:22,420 –> 00:26:26,220
\nand findeth them sleeping, and
\nsaith under Peter Simon, <\/p>\n

367
\n00:26:26,300 –> 00:26:28,220
\nSleepest thou couldest thou not
\nwatch? <\/p>\n

368
\n00:26:28,620 –> 00:26:32,640
\nOne hour.
\nThen he goes away again. <\/p>\n

369
\n00:26:32,640 –> 00:26:36,800
\nAnd a third time, probably at
\nleast another hour each time. <\/p>\n

370
\n00:26:38,840 –> 00:26:41,920
\nSo he’s in prayer for hours here
\nin communication with his father<\/p>\n

371
\n00:26:43,440 –> 00:26:46,080
\nand in Luke 6 we’re told it came
\nto pass. <\/p>\n

372
\n00:26:46,080 –> 00:26:49,280
\nIn those days he went out into a
\nmountain to pray and continued <\/p>\n

373
\n00:26:49,280 –> 00:26:57,320
\nall night in prayer to God.
\nSo Christ’s example to us shows <\/p>\n

374
\n00:26:57,840 –> 00:27:00,120
\nthat prayer needs to be a part
\nof our day. <\/p>\n

375
\n00:27:01,590 –> 00:27:05,710
\nOften times I will utter a 32nd
\nprayer before bed, called a <\/p>\n

376
\n00:27:05,710 –> 00:27:09,310
\nnight.
\nAnd that’s fine. <\/p>\n

377
\n00:27:09,310 –> 00:27:11,710
\nWe know of many quick prayers
\nthroughout Scripture. <\/p>\n

378
\n00:27:13,910 –> 00:27:16,630
\nEven the Lord’s Prayer only
\ntakes 30 seconds to say. <\/p>\n

379
\n00:27:17,990 –> 00:27:20,790
\nBut I think it’s also important
\nthat we set aside time for <\/p>\n

380
\n00:27:20,790 –> 00:27:22,950
\ndeeper conversations with our
\nFather. <\/p>\n

381
\n00:27:24,190 –> 00:27:27,760
\nNot lengthy for the sake of
\nfeeling pious or proud, but <\/p>\n

382
\n00:27:27,760 –> 00:27:31,160
\nmeaningful and sincere.
\nPrayers are something which <\/p>\n

383
\n00:27:31,160 –> 00:27:35,960
\nChrist showed us are important.
\nIt’s important not only so that <\/p>\n

384
\n00:27:35,960 –> 00:27:39,960
\nwe may make requests of our
\nFather, but so that we may build<\/p>\n

385
\n00:27:40,040 –> 00:27:42,000
\nour relationship with our
\nFather. <\/p>\n

386
\n00:27:46,600 –> 00:27:50,040
\nNow I would like to cover one
\nlast piece of advice which <\/p>\n

387
\n00:27:50,040 –> 00:27:55,240
\npeople suggest when when
\ndescribing how to improve <\/p>\n

388
\n00:27:55,240 –> 00:27:59,220
\nyourself, and that is to set
\ngoals for yourself. <\/p>\n

389
\n00:28:01,260 –> 00:28:03,660
\nWhen learning a language, maybe
\nyou set the goal of being able <\/p>\n

390
\n00:28:03,660 –> 00:28:07,020
\nto converse with a native
\nspeaker in a year’s time. <\/p>\n

391
\n00:28:08,980 –> 00:28:12,460
\nSetting goals for yourself is
\nvery helpful way of keeping <\/p>\n

392
\n00:28:12,460 –> 00:28:14,780
\nyourself accountable and staying
\nconsistent. <\/p>\n

393
\n00:28:15,980 –> 00:28:18,780
\nIf you have nothing to strive
\nfor, no reason to continue <\/p>\n

394
\n00:28:18,780 –> 00:28:23,380
\npushing yourself, then at any
\npoint at which you grow tired <\/p>\n

395
\n00:28:23,980 –> 00:28:27,160
\nyou may just give up.
\nBut if you have something <\/p>\n

396
\n00:28:27,160 –> 00:28:31,040
\nimportant to keep pushing for,
\nkeep working towards, then you <\/p>\n

397
\n00:28:31,040 –> 00:28:34,280
\ncannot give up.
\nIt gives you a reason to <\/p>\n

398
\n00:28:34,280 –> 00:28:36,560
\npersevere when you have tough
\ndays. <\/p>\n

399
\n00:28:38,200 –> 00:28:41,080
\nAnd Christ knew this as well.
\nChrist had spent so much time in<\/p>\n

400
\n00:28:41,080 –> 00:28:44,840
\nthe Word and in communication
\nwith his Father. <\/p>\n

401
\n00:28:44,920 –> 00:28:48,680
\nHe knew all the prophecies about
\nhimself, and his goal was to <\/p>\n

402
\n00:28:48,680 –> 00:28:52,440
\nfulfill them.
\nAnd, for instance, he knew that <\/p>\n

403
\n00:28:52,440 –> 00:28:54,400
\nhe was to begin his ministry in
\nGalilee. <\/p>\n

404
\n00:28:56,060 –> 00:28:59,980
\nMatthew 4 says that he departed
\nfrom Nazareth and went into <\/p>\n

405
\n00:28:59,980 –> 00:29:03,660
\nGalilee, that it might be
\nfulfilled, which was spoken by <\/p>\n

406
\n00:29:03,660 –> 00:29:06,660
\nIsaiah.
\nAnd so he began his ministry. <\/p>\n

407
\n00:29:07,260 –> 00:29:10,100
\nAnd from that time Jesus began
\nto preach and to say, repent, <\/p>\n

408
\n00:29:10,100 –> 00:29:12,020
\nfor the Kingdom of heaven is at
\nhand. <\/p>\n

409
\n00:29:14,020 –> 00:29:18,060
\nJesus knew the prophecy in
\nZechariah 9 about the Messiah, <\/p>\n

410
\n00:29:18,460 –> 00:29:22,180
\nwhere it says, rejoice greatly,
\nO daughter of Zion, Shout, O <\/p>\n

411
\n00:29:22,180 –> 00:29:24,860
\ndaughter of Jerusalem, Behold
\nthy king cometh unto thee. <\/p>\n

412
\n00:29:25,620 –> 00:29:30,540
\nHe is just in having salvation
\nlowly and riding upon an ass and<\/p>\n

413
\n00:29:30,540 –> 00:29:34,780
\nupon a cult the full of an ass.
\nIn this picture of meekness, <\/p>\n

414
\n00:29:35,220 –> 00:29:38,780
\nthat lowliness was fulfilled
\nliterally by Christ in Matthew <\/p>\n

415
\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

416
\n00:29:43,620 –> 00:29:46,460
\nfulfilled which was spoken by
\nthe prophet. <\/p>\n

417
\n00:29:49,740 –> 00:29:53,740
\nJesus knew the prophecies about
\nhimself, and his goal was to <\/p>\n

418
\n00:29:53,740 –> 00:29:58,120
\nfulfill them all.
\nAnd on one hand, having so many <\/p>\n

419
\n00:29:58,120 –> 00:30:01,520
\nprophecies about him, Christ may
\nhave felt some enormous, <\/p>\n

420
\n00:30:01,600 –> 00:30:04,520
\nenormous pressure to fulfill
\nthem. <\/p>\n

421
\n00:30:06,040 –> 00:30:09,720
\nSome were fulfilled by
\nhappenstance, things like his <\/p>\n

422
\n00:30:09,720 –> 00:30:11,520
\nlineage and where he would be
\nborn. <\/p>\n

423
\n00:30:13,080 –> 00:30:15,240
\nYet others he had to make sure
\nto fulfill. <\/p>\n

424
\n00:30:16,480 –> 00:30:18,800
\nAnd there are hundreds of Old
\nTestament prophecies about him, <\/p>\n

425
\n00:30:20,280 –> 00:30:23,800
\nso we would have felt this
\nweighing pressure to fulfill <\/p>\n

426
\n00:30:23,800 –> 00:30:27,800
\nthem.
\nYet on the other hand, I think <\/p>\n

427
\n00:30:27,800 –> 00:30:30,400
\nmaybe all these prophecies also
\nwould be a blessing unto him, <\/p>\n

428
\n00:30:31,400 –> 00:30:36,120
\nacting as a guide for him,
\nacting almost like a blueprint <\/p>\n

429
\n00:30:36,120 –> 00:30:40,560
\nfor his life, as if God was
\nguiding him, holding his hand <\/p>\n

430
\n00:30:41,680 –> 00:30:43,680
\nthroughout his life, never
\nleaving him alone. <\/p>\n

431
\n00:30:47,760 –> 00:30:51,420
\nSo Christ had the blessing of
\nhis Father’s guidance throughout<\/p>\n

432
\n00:30:51,420 –> 00:30:56,220
\nhis life, and perhaps this gave
\nhim the strength to and to face <\/p>\n

433
\n00:30:56,220 –> 00:30:59,700
\nthe cross, which he knew he had
\nto do from Leviticus. <\/p>\n

434
\n00:30:59,700 –> 00:31:03,220
\nChrist knew that he was to be
\nsacrificed for the life of a <\/p>\n

435
\n00:31:03,220 –> 00:31:06,500
\ncreature is in the blood, and
\nI’ve given it to you to make <\/p>\n

436
\n00:31:06,500 –> 00:31:08,260
\natonement for yourselves on the
\naltar. <\/p>\n

437
\n00:31:08,660 –> 00:31:11,060
\nIt is the blood that makes
\natonement for one’s life. <\/p>\n

438
\n00:31:12,620 –> 00:31:16,260
\nChrist was the Passover lamb who
\nhad no defect. <\/p>\n

439
\n00:31:17,540 –> 00:31:22,520
\nHe knew he must be lifted up on
\nthe cross, John Three tells us. <\/p>\n

440
\n00:31:22,520 –> 00:31:26,680
\nAnd as Moses lifted up the
\nserpent in the wilderness, Even <\/p>\n

441
\n00:31:26,680 –> 00:31:30,360
\nso must the Son of Man be lifted
\nup, that whosoever believeth in <\/p>\n

442
\n00:31:30,360 –> 00:31:34,000
\nhim should not perish, but have
\neternal life. <\/p>\n

443
\n00:31:38,320 –> 00:31:43,320
\nChrist was able to live this
\nperfect life, and was able to <\/p>\n

444
\n00:31:43,320 –> 00:31:48,680
\nendure the cross, because he had
\nhis eyes fixed on his goal, <\/p>\n

445
\n00:31:50,570 –> 00:31:54,330
\nlooking to Jesus, the founder
\nand perfector of our faith, who <\/p>\n

446
\n00:31:54,330 –> 00:31:59,490
\nfor the joy that was set before
\nhim endured the cross, despising<\/p>\n

447
\n00:31:59,490 –> 00:32:03,850
\nthe shame, and is seated at the
\nright hand, the throne of God. <\/p>\n

448
\n00:32:04,650 –> 00:32:09,930
\nConsider him who endured from
\nsinners such hostility against <\/p>\n

449
\n00:32:09,930 –> 00:32:15,010
\nhimself, so that you may not
\ngrow weary or fainthearted. <\/p>\n

450
\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

451
\n00:32:22,360 –> 00:32:26,920
\ngive up or grow weary.
\nThe goal of being here there in <\/p>\n

452
\n00:32:26,920 –> 00:32:31,520
\nthe Kingdom with Him should keep
\nus awake and active in the Word.<\/p>\n

453
\n00:32:33,240 –> 00:32:37,800
\nThere are still prophecies which
\nChrist has not fulfilled, and <\/p>\n

454
\n00:32:37,800 –> 00:32:42,720
\nyou can bet He’s looking forward
\nto fulfilling them, such as <\/p>\n

455
\n00:32:42,720 –> 00:32:45,920
\nPsalm 9.
\nThe Lord shall endure forever. <\/p>\n

456
\n00:32:46,960 –> 00:32:49,440
\nHe hath prepared his throne for
\njudgment. <\/p>\n

457
\n00:32:50,250 –> 00:32:52,490
\nHe shall judge the world in
\nrighteousness. <\/p>\n

458
\n00:32:53,330 –> 00:32:56,890
\nHe shall minister judgment to
\nthe people in uprightness. <\/p>\n

459
\n00:32:57,890 –> 00:33:02,450
\nThe Lord will be a refuge for
\nthe oppressed, a refuge in times<\/p>\n

460
\n00:33:02,450 –> 00:33:06,010
\nof trouble.
\nAnd they that know thy name will<\/p>\n

461
\n00:33:06,010 –> 00:33:09,930
\nput their trust in thee.
\nFor thou Lord, hast not forsaken<\/p>\n

462
\n00:33:09,930 –> 00:33:15,970
\nthem that seek thee.
\nSo let us not forsake our God or<\/p>\n

463
\n00:33:15,970 –> 00:33:21,720
\nHis Son, but rather focus on the
\njoys set before us so that we <\/p>\n

464
\n00:33:21,720 –> 00:33:25,480
\nmay not grow faint hearted until
\nthat time comes. <\/p>\n

465
\n00:33:25,480 –> 00:33:29,120
\nLet us remember the sacrifice
\nwhich our Messiah has made for <\/p>\n

466
\n00:33:29,120 –> 00:33:32,240
\nus and continue to walk humbly
\nbefore our God. <\/p>\n

467
\n00:33:33,720 –> 00:33:37,000
\nIf we just try to make these
\nsmall changes, they will add up <\/p>\n

468
\n00:33:38,120 –> 00:33:39,800
\none day.
\nThey will add up to you and I <\/p>\n

469
\n00:33:40,440 –> 00:33:44,360
\nreigning as kings and priests
\nwith our Savior in His Kingdom. <\/p>\n

470
\n00:33:59,190 –> 00:34:01,470
\nThank you for listening to the
\ngood Christadelphian Talks <\/p>\n

471
\n00:34:01,470 –> 00:34:04,310
\nPodcast.
\nWe hope this talk helped you in <\/p>\n

472
\n00:34:04,310 –> 00:34:06,470
\nyour walk.
\nIf you would like to hear more, <\/p>\n

473
\n00:34:06,710 –> 00:34:09,230
\nplease subscribe for new
\nepisodes and leave a review, an <\/p>\n

474
\n00:34:09,230 –> 00:34:12,110
\nApple podcast, or whichever
\nservice you are using to help <\/p>\n

475
\n00:34:12,110 –> 00:34:13,909
\nmore people find the show when
\nthey search for it. <\/p>\n

476
\n00:34:14,750 –> 00:34:16,350
\nIf you enjoyed this particular
\ntalk. <\/p>\n

477
\n00:34:16,980 –> 00:34:18,980
\nPlease share it with someone who
\nyou think might enjoy it as <\/p>\n

478
\n00:34:18,980 –> 00:34:21,219
\nwell.
\nFor show notes on the talk you <\/p>\n

479
\n00:34:21,219 –> 00:34:25,260
\njust listened to, visit our show
\npage at anchor dot FM slash gct <\/p>\n

480
\n00:34:25,540 –> 00:34:28,100
\nor check the Show notes section
\nof your podcast player. <\/p>\n

481
\n00:34:29,260 –> 00:34:31,620
\nPlease share your thoughts on
\nthe talk from this week on our <\/p>\n

482
\n00:34:31,620 –> 00:34:34,460
\nFacebook or Instagram pages
\nwhere we are at good <\/p>\n

483
\n00:34:34,460 –> 00:34:39,340
\nKristadelphian talks, on Twitter
\nwhere we are at GCT under score <\/p>\n

484
\n00:34:39,340 –> 00:34:42,580
\nPodcast, or leave a comment on
\nour YouTube channel where these <\/p>\n

485
\n00:34:42,580 –> 00:34:45,620
\ntalks are posted as well.
\nIf you know of a great talk, we <\/p>\n

486
\n00:34:45,620 –> 00:34:48,730
\nwant to know about it too.
\nSend a suggestion to our e-mail <\/p>\n

487
\n00:34:48,730 –> 00:34:51,050
\nat
\ngoodcostadelphiantalks@gmail.com<\/p>\n

488
\n00:34:51,290 –> 00:34:53,530
\nor message us on any of our
\nsocial media accounts. <\/p>\n

489
\n00:34:54,449 –> 00:34:57,250
\nThank you for listening.
\nGod bless and talk to you next <\/p>\n

490
\n00:34:57,250 –> 00:34:57,530
\nweek.\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"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":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/1043826-1538368279370-f9a01192c26a6-scaled.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/1043826-1538368277276-821bad30bed.jpg?fit=400%2C400&ssl=1","download_link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-download\/997\/257-eric-mckelvie-exhortation-1-marginal-gains","player_link":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-player\/997\/257-eric-mckelvie-exhortation-1-marginal-gains","audio_player":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/podcast-player\/997\/257-eric-mckelvie-exhortation-1-marginal-gains<\/a>","episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"anchor":{"key":"anchor","url":"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/gct","label":"Anchor","class":"anchor","icon":"anchor.png"},"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast\/id1437292980?mt=2&uo=4","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"breaker":{"key":"breaker","url":"https:\/\/www.breaker.audio\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast","label":"Breaker","class":"breaker","icon":"breaker.png"},"castbox":{"key":"castbox","url":"https:\/\/castbox.fm\/channel\/id1440738","label":"CastBox","class":"castbox","icon":"castbox.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/www.google.com\/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy82ZDE1NzA4L3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"overcast":{"key":"overcast","url":"https:\/\/overcast.fm\/itunes1437292980\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast","label":"Overcast","class":"overcast","icon":"overcast.png"},"pocketcasts":{"key":"pocketcasts","url":"https:\/\/pca.st\/Z7Ad","label":"PocketCasts","class":"pocketcasts","icon":"pocketcasts.png"},"podbean":{"key":"podbean","url":"https:\/\/www.podbean.com\/podcast-detail\/xz83n-77022\/Good-Christadelphian-Talks-Podcast","label":"Podbean","class":"podbean","icon":"podbean.png"},"radio_public":{"key":"radio_public","url":"https:\/\/radiopublic.com\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcas-WoAbj4","label":"Radio Public","class":"radio_public","icon":"radio-public.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/5cQpWNoeONkDYEIhC12wp7","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/podcast\/anchor-podcasts\/good-christadelphian-talks-podcast","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/GoodChristadelphianTalksPodcast","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/goodchristadelphiantalks.com\/feed\/podcast\/gct","embedCode":"

257: Eric McKelvie – Exhortation: 1% Marginal Gains<\/a><\/blockquote>