Towards the Finishing Line | Stephen Kong

You're listening to a message to go from a church. We hope this message

will light up your tea. Turned with me to Matthew chapter fourteen. Gay,

Matthew chapter fourteen worse twenty two to thirty six. Okay, worse twenty

two. So Matthew fourteen worse twenty two. And this is a very uh,

you know, it's a very famous story that I think most of us

may be familiar with. If not, you may have heard it before.

It's an interesting story of Peter walking on water. Okay, And if you're

familiar with the story, you will know that there were storms raging in the

Disciples with the middle in the middle of the sea, and they were treading

a storm. And as I was worshiping well this morning, we also were

in the stom because the storm was raging outside. And I think I can't

remember the last time we had a heavy downpall doing worships of I can't remember

the last time because I've can't remember having this noise from the outside, you

know. Uh. And then it shows how blessed we are every week,

you know, because as you know, metal decks can really be loud when

it rains. A birth us it's a metal deck, and so we are

really very blessed, you know. Um. And today he was raining,

I was saying, I was praying, Lord, would you calm the storm

outside? You know, a storm be still? You know, that's that's

part of my message today, you know. And uh. And as I

was saying that, you know, I was reminded in my spirit, you

know, to also learn how to focus even in the midst of the storm.

Amen. And so even if the rain continues to go loud and Harry,

it's okay, We're gonna focus on God this morning. Amen. Okay,

all right, so this story, let me just give you a background

of this story. Of course, he start off in Mattage chapter fourteen,

whereby you see the story of John the Baptist. He was beheaded because King

Harod had his birthday and had his birthday. The daughter, you know,

I mean, the king Havn was so happy that he said, you know,

ask for anything, and I'll give it to you. And of course

the daughter asked for John the Baptist's head on a platter, and so he

was beheaded. And then when Jesus heard the news, he immediately left by

boat to a deserted place to pray. Okay, if you read the whole

story, you know, I'm just giving a summary right now. Okay.

So he went to a deserted place by boat, okay, to pray.

But the marticues heard about Jesus and they followed him by land. Okay.

That its lf to me is it's it's amazing. I don't know how Jesus

left by boat, but the people follow him by land, okay. And

so Jesus alone time was so called disrupted by the people. And so there

was a mortcute of people that came to Jesus. Jesus had compassion for them.

He healed the sick, you know, and he I'm sure he preached

to them as well. And then as evening came, it was time to

send them back. So his child disciples came to Jesus and say, send

these people back because we're in the middle of nowhere, We're in a deserted

place. And Jesus says, you feed them. And then even though the

story, he was a feeding of the five thousand men, okay, five

thousand men excluding the children and women, right, And so they brought to

Jesus five blows and two fish, five blows of bread and two fish.

And then that's when Jesus gave thanks to the Father, worked the bread distributed

to all of the people who were sitting, and they took back child baskets

of remaining. That's amazing. Five loaves and two fish. Jesus basically did

a miracle of feeding more than five thousand people, five thousand men and additional

platform children and women. Okay, and so there's there's where we come to

this story right now in Mancha of fourteen Worse twenty two. Okay, everybody,

let's read the Word of God. Worse twenty two says, immediately Jesus

made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side,

while he sent the multitudes away. Right. So when you start reading

a worst like that immediately, that's why it makes no sense to read it

by itself. Right, That's why I gave you the context about the feeling

out of five thousand. So I'm gonna do like a Bible study with you

today on this portion of scripture. So why did Jesus immediately send his disciples

to the other side of the sea? Okay? Why so if you do,

if your study, you will know that There are actually three different references

to this story in a Bible, in the Gospels. I think it's a

Matthew, Mark, and John okay, and they all write the story a

little bit different. Okay. So if you read some other references of this

story, you would know that the people wanted to take Jesus to be their

king by force, okay, because they saw him do the miracle. They

thought he must be the messire, he's the chosen one. They will have

taken him to be the physical king, right. And so because of that,

Jesus's time was not ready yet, and so he needed to send the

people away. So he quickly got his disciples on the boat and send them

over to the other side of the sea, which is called Bosida. If

you read, if you study for the you know it's called Posider okay,

And you find it's very strange, right, um, that that usually the

boss is never the first to leave. Go I not sorry that the boss.

Sorry, The boss is always the it's never the last to leave,

sorry, never the last leave. Okay. The boss is never the first

to arrive and never the last to leave. Makes sense or not? Okay?

For example, if you have a training in your in your in your

office. Like for me, we're sitting in my work. I had a

training, right, and my boss is supposed to connect the training. So

he's the last one to arrive. As usual, right in the morning,

all of his staff will get everything ready, they were arranged the entire training.

They will put the projector up, everything is ready, and my boss

walks in the last minute. There's this thing. After he's done, he

leaves, right. And so in this story, you see that Jesus was

the last one to leave. He sent his shelve disciples on the boat to

the other side, and then he sent the multitudes away. And you and

I may ask ourselves why did Jesus do that? Okay, and you see

the answer in the next worse worst training three says and when he had sent

the multitudes away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.

Now, when evening came, he was alone there, all right. So

now you see why did Jesus send his disciples first to the other side and

then send the multitude away. It's because he wanted to spend time alone with

the Father. And we see that Jesus always took time to spend alone time

with the Father, because, as I said, I believe that his alone

time earlier was disrupted by the people, because when he went to a deserted

place, the multitudes followed him, and so he imagined, like Jesus is

busy, you know when we say multitudes are there in the thousands, you

know, maybe even tens of thousands, okay, multitude, And so he

needed alone time with a father. And so Jesus was never too busy,

you know, but he took time off to spend time alone with the Father.

Something that we can learn very quickly in these just two words of me.

We can learn already of what Jesus did. Okay, verse twenty four.

But the boat was now in the middle of the sea. Somebody say

middle, in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for

the wind was contrary now in the fourth watch of the night. So the

fourth watch is vaughtly about three m okay, three m three am to six

m, somewhere between the window. Okay. In the fourth watch of the

night, Jesus went to them walking on the sea. And when the disciples

saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying it is a

ghost. And they cried out for fear. So now we're at the disciples,

Disciples on the board, they are right in the middle of the sea.

All right, So let me just bring you back to the topic that

bought a share today. As you know, the team that we have for

this year is Heaven Rules, right. And if you look at the you

know, the image in our main service in the VICC, you will see

a small word below it. It says towards the finishing line. It's more

like a sub team, right, supporting these a team which is Heaven Rules.

And so when we say when we think about running towards the finishing line,

all of us here today are on a ways of life right, either

way of life or walk of life, getting call it. And and we

all are called to finish, right. We have to finish this race.

We are all on this race of life, regardless of how young or all

you are, right, and we will all grow up in eventually we'll face

challenges. And so that's that's why I'm going to center my team around the

message today, which is towards the finishing line. Okay, And we're gonna

focus at this story. So as you can see, the Disciples were in

the middle of the sea. Right, imagine yourself running a race and you're

in the middle of the race. For example, today we are now in

the middle of the year already. In fact, we are past slightly past

the middle of the year. All right, but how many of you know

that the middle doesn't have a very good connotation or reputation to it. The

middle somehow, let's have some fun. Okay, let me give us some

examples. How many of you love to sit in the middle of the seat

of the car seat? Miss your hands, you love to sit in the

middle? Anybody? No, no hands, go out right, right.

Nobody loves to sit in the middle of the car and the car seat,

especially for a long journey. Not when you go on a long journey,

you make sure you're corney and four people so that everyone gets aside. Are

they on the left? On the right? Nobody sits in the middle.

Maybe you're a rabbit of sitting in the middle. You know when Samon and

Zoe Chever's the rabbit sat in the middle when you have foo passengers, right,

uh, And normally the youngest, the youngest one in the family will

sit in the middle because you're smaller, smaller, right, and those who

are who are more senior. I wouldn't say all more senior, you know,

not so young. We're sitting in the side, right, and so

no one leves to sit in the middle of the of a car seat.

Right. Let me give you another example. How about when you're flying on

an airplane? Oh, Ben says, oh right, How many of you

love to sit in the middle seat if there's if there's a three seats,

you know, right, nobodyier will sit in the middle. You either prefer

the are so that you can go toilet easily, or the window so they

can take photos. Right. If you're sitting in the middle, you're neither

here nor there. You want to go toilet or excuse me, sir,

I want to go toilet, right, or you'll excuse me, auntie,

I want to take photo of the plane. Right. So the middle is

the most hated seat. Right. We don't like to sit in the middle

because when you when you fall asleep, your hate will either go one side

and both sides somebody's shoulder and shy. Okay, so right, we don't

like the middle seats. Right. Um, let me give you more examples.

We all have this innocent finger on our hand. Called the middle finger.

Now, I started by saying innocent, because who in the world said

that the middle from girls bad? Who in the world, Who in the

world invented this middle finger? You know why when I check my Bible,

when God created man, what do you say? It was good? It

was good? In fact, was very good. So who in the world

say that our middle finger was bad? Right? Is the only finger that

you won't use it alone? Going on, you won't use it alone?

Right, But when God created it was good, it was all good.

So innocent, No, our finger right, and the middle finger gets all

the bad name. In fact, when we remember the five four minutry.

If you remember the five four minutry and the apostle, the prophet, the

evangel is actually represented with the a finger white because it's the longest finger,

the one that has the longest reach, the one that reaches out to the

unsafe or to share the gospel. Right, So, so innocent, the

finger right in the middle has a bad connotation that today if you use it

alone, you may get a punch right in the face. It's so bad,

right, but God didn't make it away initially it was good. Right,

Um, Let make you more. Example is how about the middle child

syndrome? Right, have you heard that before? You know how many of

you are mild child? Oh okay, I'm a child, right, I'm

the child syndrome. You heard that before? Right? You know when the

youngest one is born, the parents are excited. Oh you know, I

take parto. Everything is excited, but I take parto of the baby.

Were excited happy? You know? In the second one came in sex,

second and third child and oh okay, I've seen it all, you know,

used to be already. And then when the last one comes out,

is the youngest one come up? You always say, oh so cute.

You don't take care of it. You will ask the youngest one to take

care of you ask the oldest one to take care of the youngest one.

And if the youngest one cry, you will score the oldest one cry on.

Right, that's what happens. And so the middle child is always stuck

neither here nor there, right, um. And another another last example will

be when you're driving to a tunnel. Right in a tunnel, when you're

always in, when you're right in the middle of the tunnel, it's the

time when you're the most ancients anxious come or not, because if something bad

happens in a tunnel, either way to escape, it's the furthest way,

because you're right in the middle. Whether you take a uton or you go

straight, it's equally as far. So that's the time when we are most

anxious. So, in other words, in the middle is where the challenge

always is in the middle. Right in this story, where were the disciples,

They were caught in the middle of the sea. In fact, in

the middle of the sea, it's where it's the deepest. It's the deepest,

right, it is the least exciting times. Imagine me or doing a

project. Imagine me or doing a cost work. Imagine when you're on a

program or a study program. When you're in the middle of it, it's

where it is the most challenging. You know, I remember running a long

distance rays when I was younger. When I was younger, you need to

say that, you know. So, when I was younger, I used

to run long distance. When I see a long distance means it could be

a four hundred meter raise, eight hundred meters, one and a half kilometers,

five kilometers, and seven kilometers. That's the furthers I've been. I

know, any of you run marathon before I know Zoe's mom runs marathon,

run marathon. Okay, it's amazing. Wow. Okay, so even know

what I mean. Right, when you run a marathon race, right,

Whenever you run a long distance, always the middle of it is the most

challenging. Okay. So speaking home experience, right, when I run an

eight hundred meter or one thousand and five meter run, at the starting,

we always start off very fast, very excited, right, because you want

to be the pacer. You want to be in fun right, But you

see, the fun guy is not the best startgers you do. You do,

it's called a pacer that you have to break the wind right everyone else

behind you. It's less drag behind you, you know. Um. But

basically in the middle of the race is the time where you feel like giving

up. Correct, you feel like giving up. You're most tired, you

feel like giving up. The starting and the ending is the most exciting.

Ask any long distance on the right, the last one hundred somehow we've got

extra energy in that one there you can suddenly if I'm tired, or you

can run faster one? Why not if you run long distance? But you

know what I mean, right, So when you run an eight hundred meters

race, starting, you run a little bit faster one, then the middle

you run slower, and then the ending you screen the last one hundred meters.

Right, That's what we do. And so I like to say this.

We always celebrate the beginning and the end, but very seldom we celebrate

the middle. Very seldom. Why because the middle is the most challenging one.

That's why we don't celebrate the middle, right, because it's the most

challenging time. Okay, And so so where was Jesus when the disciples were

in the middle. Jesus was on the top of the mountain. In fact,

if you read another reference of this portion of scripture, it actually says

that Jesus saw them. Okay, he saw them? Okay, How cool

is that? Hey? You imagine that the sea of Galley is huge,

you know, it's huge. If you were at the top of the mountain

and a boat is in the middle of the sea and there's a storm waging,

do you even think it's possible to see him on the mountain? Highly

unlikely, not not very possible. So that tells us that dead itself was

a miracle, because Jesus was both God and men he could see right.

Uh. And so God saw them from the mountain. Uh. And and

and he was about to come to their help because he saw that they were

struggling in the storm, trying to go to the waves. Right. And

so he started to to go to them. Right. And obviously, if

you read the story, Jesus walked to them on the water. Right.

Okay, let me see worst to a five. So now in the fourth

worth of the ninth Jesus went to them walking on the sea, and verse

twenty six. And when the disciples saw him walking in the sea, they

were troubled, saying, it is a ghost, and they cried out for

fear. Let me stop there. How many of you know, when we

are busy in the middle of our challenge, rowing the board, trying to

get out of a storm, we can be so busy that two things can

happen to us. Listen to this carefully. Two things. Number One,

when Jesus comes, we may see him as a ghost because we are so

busy trying to help ourselves in the middle of the tomb. That's one thing

that can happen, you see him as a ghost. And the second thing

that can happen is that Jesus may have passed us by because we didn't even

see him. Okay, let me let me show it to you in Mark

chapter six. Okay, in Mark chapter six, verse forty seven, this

is another reference of this story. Okay, Mark six forty seven for the

eight I got to read it to you. He says, Now, when

the evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and

he was alone on the land. Is he refers to Jesus. Okay,

h he, Jesus was on the land. Then he saw, right,

Jesus saw. He saw them training and rowing, for the wind was against

them. Now about the fourth watch of the night, he came to them

walking on the sea and would have passed them by. Somebody to say,

out, come on, friends, I prayed that Jesus will not pass you

by today. I prayed that Jesus will not pass you by today, because

we are too busy fighting the waves and the storms, and you know the

storms in our life. The disciples were so busy, in fact, so

distracted that they didn't number one, they did not recognize him or number two.

Jesus would have passed them by. How sad that is. And I

prayed that today Jesus would never would not pass any of us by because we

are focusing on him. Amen. So God comes to us when we are

in the middle, when we are struggling the most and feel like giving up.

Three am in the morning, three am in the morning, Jesus came

to their aid when they were right in the middle of the sea. In

fact, it's in the middle where the mundane happens. Where the mundane happens.

Right. Because we keep doing it again and again and again, we

get so used to it it becomes boring. It is where the mundane happens.

But how many ever, know that in the middle is also where the

deep is, and it is at the deep the miracle often happens. Okay,

let's continue read Okay, Worse twenty six says okay, So they said

it was a ghost, They cried out in fear Worse twenty seven. But

immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, be of good cheer it is I,

do not be afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord,

if it is, you, command me to come to you on the water.

So he said, just one money come, just one word is enough.

And when Peter had come down out of the boat. He walked on

the water to go to Jesus. This is where the miracle of Peter who

walked on water happened. The only guy except Jesus, okay, the only

guy who walked on water recorded in the Bible. If you think about it,

when Peter stepped out of the boat, do you think the waves were

still there? They were, right, The waves had not been come yet.

So can you imagine how much faith it took Peter to step out of

the boat. In fact, it took him more faith to tell Jesus if

it is you asked me to come to you now, right, No one

in the right state of mind will do that, right. So that's my

first point. Faith, faith to believe what God says, and just one

word from him is enough. One word from him can change your destiny if

only you had faith. And what is faith? Faith is simple as substance

of things hoped for the evidence of things not yet seen. And so I

can't imagine what was in Peter's mind when he asked Jesus to call him to

come to him. Right did Peter imagine that he was going to walk on

the water. Maybe he did, maybe because he saw that Jesus was walking

on the water already he could do the same, you know. But certainly

Peter had faith. He started with faith, right, He trusted God,

and obedience will always follow faith. I never know that when we have faith

in God, obedience will follow, and after that sacrifice will also follow,

because obedience will requires sacrifice. In fact, the Bible reminds us that obedience

is better than sacrifice. So can you imagine if Peter actually told Jesus Us

to call him to come to him after he didn't want to do it started

with faith, right, Jesus, it is you call me to come to

you. Now. When Jesus said come and imagine it, Peter said,

no, I'm scared the waves that allow me? Or how in the world

am I going to come to you? Right? It took faith. So

faith is the evidence of things, hope for the substance of things, hope

for the evidence of things not yet seen. Philippe Chapter two words child,

the team says, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed.

This is Paul speaking to the Philippine Church. As you have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence work

out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in

you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. So here's my

point about faith. Never stopped growing in a lot. Somebody say, a

good amen. Ever, stop going in the Lord, spend alone time with

the Father. You and I we need to learn how to apply this principle

of making time. Okay, not finding time right. Let me tell you

the truth. We will never find time in our life. There's never enough

time to find right. We need to learn this principle of making time and

living by priorities. That's why you and I made made time to come to

church today. Right when you go on a holiday, when you are out

elsewhere, you know, out of the country, make time to be in

church on a Sunday morning, right when you're at home. Make time to

spend time with the Father alone. You know, and and and I understand.

Sometimes we wake up laate. It happens to me a lot of times

or so wake up late. Make time. Just squeeze time in right soday

you can spend time with the Father. And one of the things I do

when I wake up late in the morning is to listen to an audio Bible

in the car on the way to work. Right today, my work travel

is very near. Used to be very far, but now it's very near.

I have just enough time to listen to one devotion, you know,

and when I get to office, I'll try to start my day as soon

as I get the office, you know, when I can read the Bible

in the morning in the office and then start my day. Right. But

you and I need to learn how to make time for the Lord, Amen,

so that we can grow our faith, because faith comes by hearing and

hearing of the word of God. Amen. And I want to encourage you

and I today allow yourself to be pushed into the deep because in the deep

waters is where the miracle happens. The miracle happens. Always in the deep

is because there's the time that we are most dependent on Him, sure or

not. It's the scariest time, right, It's the scariest time, and

it's the time that it is deep. It's scary. You know. You

have come to a place whereby you will say to God God, I need

you, and withoubt you i'm or without you, I can't do this right.

And there is the time of surrender when the miracle actually happens because that

is the deep. So learn how to push yourself, allow yourself to go

into the deep soda. You can experience the miracles of God. But here's

the reminder of ours. Even when you're in the deep, and even when

the storms are raging, God is still in control of the storms. Amen,

He is the God of the universe. Remember our team this year Heaven

rules. When Peter first got out the boat, the storms were still raging.

They were not still yet, so he walked through the entire storm and

towards Jesus in the middle of the raging storm in bging. How scary that

is. Amen, When God calls you into the deep, he will supply

all your needs, whatever you need to accomplish what He has called you to

do. Remember, you're never alone. Right. Did you know who was

one who put the disciples in the middle of the sea, Actually, even

think about it was Jesus. Jesus was the one who sent them by boat

to the other side, and they were caught in the middle. Do you

think Jesus would have known that there's a strong coming. In fact, the

picher man would have known because that is their their zone. They're very familiar

with the sea, they would have known, right. And so if Jesus

was the one who sent you there, wouldn't he not take care of you?

Think about it. So even though Jesus was away from them, it

was alone on the land, right, he still was looking up for his

disciples. And when they were struggling in the middle of the sea, that's

where Jesus came to them. So that's my first point. Faith, have

faith in God, and continue to grow your faith. Never stopped growing in

your faith. Amen, let's continue reading the worst worse thirty says. But

when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he is Peter. When Peter

saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink.

He cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched

out his hand and caught him and said to him, all you of little

faith, why did she doubt? And when they got into the boat the

wind ceased. Then they Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped

him, saying, truly you are the son of God. So here we

see Peter was on the way to Jesus. He was walking to Jesus.

He had faith. He was full of faith, and suddenly what happened?

He took his eyes off Jesus and he looked at the waves and realized that

they were raging. Right, he saw, the Bible says, he saw

that the wind was boisterous, boisterous, and he was afraid. So here's

the thing. Our eyes is actually the most precious of the five senses that

we have, our eyes. Did you know that? Okay, because we

learned a lot actually with our eyes, the most specious sense that we have

among the five is actually our eyes. The world will tell you to see

us, then believe, but how many of you know as believers we are

called to believe us, then see, because we walk by faith, not

by side. So my second point for us today here is focused. When

Peter first got off the board, his focus was clearly on Jesus, and

that's why his faith was activated, and he could walk to the storm and

and and the and the wind. Right. But the moment he took his

focus of Jesus and looked at the wind, that's where he was afraid,

and that's where he doubted. That's where he doubted. Right, do we

say that Peter had no faith? Actually no he had faith. Right.

There's a difference between doubt and unbelief. It's very simple. Doubt means when

you believe, but you question your belief. That's doubt, Okay. Unbelieves

when you refuse to believe. That's a difference. Okay. So Peter started

with faith. He actually believed right, He believed the word that Jesus gave

to him, one word which Jesus said, come, and he went.

He walked on water. But doubt came in because he questioned his belief when

he saw the wind, and he would have asked himself God or asked Jesus,

are you real? No? Um, are you sure you know?

Or he may have questioned himself, am I sure I can walk on this

water? I'm not sure this water below me can can hold my weight.

You know. That's where he doubted. So when he took his eyes off

Jesus and focused on the wind, that's where he doubted. And he began

to say, you see, our lives are the same when we go through

this journey of life and this rays of life. How we live would depend

on what we focus on. I remember reading a story I saw you on

Instagram when it was a father who took a child, and the child looked

up to the sky and saw a plane, and he asked, daddy,

what is dead? And and and and the father said, it's a plane,

and it looks really really small. We say, oh, but it's

very small, you know. And the next day the father brought the child

to an airport and he showed the child the plane. He said that it's

the plane. So while it's huge, and the father said that was that's

the same plane that you saw in the sky the other day. That looks

so small, right. And so what is the lesson from this simple story

that we can learn? You know, how big your God is will depend

how close you are to Ea. Did you get that? Whether it's your

God or your problema? Same? But let me use the analogy for how

close we are to God. When the plane is in the sky, it

looks so small, it's like this, right. But when you're standing in

front of the plane, because you are so close to the plane the airport,

the plane is this big. Right. And so that's why I started

by saying we need to grow out of faith, because when we grow out

of faith and we are closer to God and our eyes and our focus is

on him, your God becomes bigger to you. The size has not changed,

right, The same plane on the ground in the airport is the same

plane as sky. But how close you are to eat or depends how big

the size of the plane looks in your eyes. So you and I we

need to continue to grow out of faith. Amen. In all they we

do, listen to this, never take your eyes off Jesus. In all

they to do, you and I we will go through this ways of life.

We will chase many things, relationships, family, business, career,

riches, you name it, studies, fame, glory, you name it.

In all of the things that we chase in life, just remember this

one thing. Never take your eyes, oh Jesus, because when we take

our eyes off Him and we look at the things of the world, the

things of the world will look very attractive to us. It will. They

will look good in the eyes of the world. But if you're not careful,

they will trap you. And what look what that seems to look good

will eventually become a distraction to you and I, and we will get shrapped

and strangled by the things of the world. So don't get don't get distracted

with earthly things, but fix your eyes on Jesus. Amen. Hebrews Chapter

chilvers one to two says let us altern to Hebrew Chapter Child verse one.

Hebrews Chapter cheald was one to two. If you're there, say yeah,

oh, all right, it's good, okay, verse one. Therefore we

also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let

us lay aside every week and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and

let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto

Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that

was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has

sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Amen, looking

unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith. Amen, You and

I can only finish the race if we look uto Jesus until the end.

That's how a runner actually finishes the race, right. They're actually looking towards

the finishing line, even though if you run a marathon, you may not

see the finishing line just yet because maybe they go in circles or they're running

from one state to another state. Right, But they image the finishing line

at the end of of the road, right in their head. Right,

it's really a psychological battle, right, And so we run with the intention

to finish. That's my third time finish. How many, ever, know

that we are all called to be finishes. When I say finishes, means

not we are finisher, but it means we will finish the race. That's

a difference, okay. Because Jesus at the cross also finished the work at

the cross. When Jesus was hung at the course, he didn't say I

am finished. He said it is finished. Work on the cross was complete,

and he bowed his head and he gave up his period. That's what

happened to Jesus. Right. So you and I we are called to be

finish us. We all have to run this race, but we are called

to finish the race, and finish it well. Amen. Second Timothy fourwards

seven Paul says this very famous writing which we which we well know. It

says, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,

I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid out for me the

crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give to me

on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who

have loved his appearing. So Paul says, I have fought the good fight.

I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Amen.

And in order for us to finish, we must always start with the end

in mind. I'll say it again, start with the end in mind.

So what is the end? I want to remind us today? This land

they were standing on today, it's not our final home or resting place.

How many of you know this earth is temper, the earth, world fade

away. Our final resting place is actually in Heaven, an eternal resting place.

So when we start in the end in mind, when we know that

this earth they were standing on is not our final destination, we will plan

and think for the for the future, right, for the end. Right.

And so the Bible actually calls us pilgrims, you know, or he

calls us they were journeying on this earth, you know, because this is

not our final home. Heaven is our final home. And that's why when

we start in with the end in mind, we know that we must constantly

fix our eyes on Jesus, and we are called to be finish this Amen.

We have to finish this race because even Jesus finished the work on the

course in which the Lord gave him and the task that he has, he

took the sin of the world upon him. All the weight of the sin

of the world was upon him. Did you know when Jesus was done across

he was he was fed with sour wine. If you read the scripture carefully,

you know he was actually fed with sour wine twice, I think.

Okay. The first time he was fed with the sour wine, he didn't

take it, you know. Do you know the significures of that. Actually

the sour wine or they call it mixed with gel, was actually used to

ease the pain of the suffering for a dying man. Jesus actually refused the

first time because he took the entire weight the punishment and the sin of the

world upon him. The other two criminals that were next to him, scholars

believed they would have taken the first sour wine to reduce the pain and suffering,

but Jesus refused the first one. Only the second time, just before

he breathed his last he said, I was thirsty, and they affecting the

sour wine. And as he took one sip, that's where he gave his

last He said it is finished, and he bowed his head and gave his

firite up. So Jesus actually took the full punishment he did. He didn't

have no shortcuts. All the journey to the cross had no shortcuts. He

actually took the entire suffering upon him. And so if life was a competition,

the only person I will be competing competing with is myself. Why because

my eyes is on Jesus as we focus on him, the only one we

are competing with is ourselves. Because when we start to look at other people,

we start to compare what we have or what we don't have. He

would distract us by you and I. We should fix our eyes on God

and to trust him all the way. How many you know it takes faith

to start and faithfulness to finish. That's why we need faithfulness. Matthew twenty

five worse twenty one, His Lord said to him, well done, good

and faithful servant. You will faithful over a few things. I will make

you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord the Bible.

When when God sees us at the end in heaven, he will say,

well done. You know, my servant, who has made meach just

on earth, you know, or you know how many bungalows you build or

how many cars you bought? Right, didn't even say full or faith server,

No good and faithful servant, because he will take us faith to start

and faithfulness to finish. Acts Chapter twenty, verse twenty four. This is

Paul saying, but none of these things move me, nor do I count

my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy

and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel

of the grace of God. None of these things matter, cause it in

fay you read the Bible, you will know that I think it was I

can't remember King Solomon or who said. You know, all of this is

vanity. You know it's meaningless at the end of the day because they've all

paid away. You and I. There's nothing we can bring to Heaven from

earthier nothing except our faith in Him. So even as I close, I'm

when you write, actually may come up as a close. You know,

when I read this story here, as I read it a few times,

every single time, it gives me a different perspective of life's journey. Um.

You know, oftentimes people will say people would judge Peter saying that right,

Peter had no faith. Ostimber will say that Peter doubted. But how

many of you know there in the boat? Right, there were at least

shop people on the board, okay, or at least it's disciples. I

don't know how many how many people to be exact, okay, but let's

assume that there were chop discipers on the board. But did you know that

only one person experienced America? Only one? Peter was the only one got

out the boat. Think about it. When Peter asked, Jesus, if

it is you call me to come to you now, wouldn't have the other

eleven disciples did the same thing. So when I thought about it, I

started by thinking, Peter or Peter, you know you had to fail,

but you doubted? Why did you doubt? But if you think about it,

the disciples in the board, Peter was the only one who got out

the boat, the only one. So I want to encourage you, don't

be spectators. Come on, church, don't be spectators. I pray that

you and I were not missed the miracle because in the deep waters, yes,

it is scary. Yes, in the deep waters is where it is

most challenging. You know, we can be afraid to step out of our

comfort zone. For Peter to step out of the boat, it is actually

his comfort zone. Think about it, because on the boat he has a

solid ground to stand on. In the waters there's no solid ground. He

only stood by faith. He only stood by faith, and so it's like

stepping out of our comfort zone. I want to encourage you and I even

as you run this way, there will be times that we need to take

a step of faith, to step out, step out of the boat in

order to experience the miracle that only Peter and they want, and only guy

except Jesus, who walked on water recorded in the Bible. Today, we're

still talking about him even until today. You know. And when Jesus calls

you this one word is enough. One word is all it takes. And

when Jesus calls you, he will supply all your needs to accomplish what he

has called you to do. Just keep your eyes on him, never take

your eyes off Jesus. He will catch you when you fall. Amen.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more information on our church,

please visit X Church the RG. We are also active on Facebook and

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a hit for you. God bless