The Last Mile

Illustration:

The story of Florence Chadwick (The 25 mile swimmer).

In 1952, a woman named Florence Chadwick decided to attempt the 26-mile swim between the California coastline and Catalina Island.

During her swim Chadwick traveled with a team whose job it was to keep an eye out for sharks and be prepared to assist in the event of unexpected cramps, injury, or fatigue.

Roughly 15 hours into her swim a thick fog began to set in clouding Chadwick’s vision and confidence. Her mother happened to be in one of the boats at the time as Chadwick relayed to her team she didn’t think she could complete the swim.

She swam for another hour before deciding to call it quits. As she sat in the teetering boat she discovered if she’d just continued on for another mile she would have reached Catalina Island.

Philippians 3:1–11 NRSV

Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, and for you it is a safeguard. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and boast in Christ Jesus and have no confidence in the flesh— even though I, too, have reason for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 1:12–14 NRSV

I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is for Christ; and most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear.

The entirety of Christianity can be wrapped in one word.

PERSEVERANCE

Other Pertinent Information:

This is considered to be a “prison epistle” of Paul.

Bridge/Introduction:

Today, we are living in what a lot of people are predicting as the “last days,” which, in other words, indicates that we are rapidly approaching the time of rapture and judgment. Here are just a few things that are taking place and dominating the news feeds of today’s people.

Political divisions and the depths of depravity of these generations are rarely seen.

Countless acts of personal violence were committed between fellow humans for no apparent reason.

Wars are taking place, and instead of the atrocities compelling peace, new prospects of wars are increasing.

In other words many, most, and perhaps all of us are swimming through some level and or variation of fogginess in our pursuit for Holiness.

** Setting aside the years of prep time, personal training, and planning much like Florence we all come to a realization that in our Christian walk that we are subject to our environment, and realize just how OUT OF CONTROL we really are, and how insignifigant we are ON OUR OWN.** But a tiny spec in the grand scheme of things…….

Much like Florence- As Christians we begin with a goal, and a fire that compels us to take some incredible “risks”

Much like Florence- A personal passion is paramount in the pursuit of Christian adventure. (The book “The Pilgrim’s Progress”

Much like Florence- Unfortunately we often come to times of Fog, doubt, and otherwise seemingly impossible circumstances.

A child once said to his mother, “You never speak ill of any one. I think you would have something good to say of the Devil.”

“Well,” she said, “imitate his perseverance.”

—D. L. Moody

Dwight Lyman Moody (Evangelist)

Introduction:

As we dive into God’s word this morning, there is some significance in the fact that we are reading from a book of their Bible that we now know as Philippians. If you read the letter closely, it is the church of Philippi that had a special place in the heart of Paul and this is one of the very few letters that he wrote where he was not doing so in response to some form of church conflict and or drama.

The Journey of Christ is one that one either accepts or denies. It is the BIGGEST “IF” a person will ever encounter.

Philippians 1:3–5 NRSV

I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now.

It is an unfortunate reality that we rely upon God the least when we need him the most.

EVERYTHING changes in and with prayer as your ATTITUDE CHANGES

It is NOT enough to simply wait and wonder when the last day will be, or Jesus will return

Philippians 1:9–10 NRSV

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless,

Conclusion:

Who is praying FOR you?

Who is praying AGAINST you?

Who is in your support/Guide boat?

HOW MUCH POWER DO YOU GIVE TO FEAR AND FAILURE?

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Communion Ceremony:

The Lord himself ordained this holy sacrament. He commanded His disciples to partake of the bread and wine, emblems of His broken body and shed blood. This is His table. The feast is for His disciples. Let all those who have with true repentance forsaken their sins, and have believed in Christ unto salvation, draw near and take these emblems, and, by faith, partake of the life of Jesus Christ, to your soul’s comfort and joy. Let us remember that it is the memorial of the death and passion of our Lord; also a token of His coming again. Let us not forget that we are one, at one table with the Lord.

Prayer/Dedication:

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, who of Thy tender mercy didst give Thine only Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer death upon the Cross for our redemption: hear us, we most humbly beseech Thee. Grant that, as we receive these Thy creatures of bread and wine according to the holy institution of Thy Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, in remembrance of His passion and death, we may be made partakers of the benefits of His atoning sacrifice.

The Distribution of Elements:

We are reminded that in the same night that our Lord was betrayed, He took bread and, when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24, NIV). Likewise, after supper, He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you (Luke 22:20, NIV); do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25, NIV). May we come before Thee in true humility and faith as we partake of this holy sacrament. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Surrender:

May we come before Thee in true humility and faith as we partake of this holy sacrament. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then may the minister, partaking first, with the assistance of any other ministers present, and when necessary, of the stewards, administer the Communion to the people.

While the bread is being distributed, let the minister say: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was broken for you, preserve you blameless, unto everlasting life. Take and eat this, in remembrance that Christ died for you.

As the cup is being passed, let the minister say: The blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for you, preserve you blameless unto everlasting life. Drink this, in remembrance that Christ’s blood was shed for you, and be thankful.

After all have partaken, the minister may then offer a concluding prayer of thanksgiving and commitment (34.5, 413.4, 413.11, 427.7, 428.2, 429.1, Manual, Church of the Nazarene, 2005-9).