going the second mile!
TRANSCRIPT
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Going the Second Mile!
Mt 5:41 "And whoever compels
you to go one mile, go with him
two.”
**0 How many of you here have ever ran a mile
before?●A mile is 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet!
●If you run around the track of a football field 4
times, that is one mile!
●In the 1st century there was a Roman law that a
soldier could compel you to “go with them one
mile!”
−This meaning that you would carry their pack for
them one mile so they coud rest.
−Many historians believe this originated in times
of war when they would be tired from battle.
**0 Jesus uses this principle to
teach us a valuable lesson!●We need to learn to do the “most” and not
the “minimum!”
●We need to learn to do “a lot” and not “a
little!
●The child of God is to go over and beyond
what is expected of us!
●The principle of the second mile is to be
willing to do more than what is required &
requested of us!
**0 God desires each of us to become
“Second Mile Christians!”●In our lesson tonight we will be studying about
the second mile principle and how this should
affect our lives!
●It is our hope and prayer that we can learn this
valuable lesson that Jesus taught so long ago
about our service to Him and to one another!
●Imagine what we could do for the world if we
would learn to truly service them for Christ!
**0 I. The Second Mile Involves a
Choice!●Each & everyone of us here is daily given a choice!
How we will live our day, what we will do, where we
will go, how we will spend our time, even how we will
re-act!
●Jesus is asking us to “choose” to go over & beyond
what is required of us!
−Rather than doing the minimum, we do the
maximum!
−Being a Christian is all about “choice!”
–Lk. 9:23-26
**0 Joshua pointed this out to the children of
Israel!
Jos 24:14-15 "Now therefore, fear the LORD,
serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away
the gods which your fathers served on the other
side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD!
"And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD,
choose for yourselves this day whom you will
serve, whether the gods which your fathers served
that were on the other side of the River, or the
gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But
as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
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One can become upset & angry becuse
they are forced to go one mile, or they
can be glad and thankful and go two!●Not because they have to, but because
they choose to!
−There are many things in life we have no
control over, but we always have control over
our attitude!
●Even in every problem we face there is
also potential!
**0 We must keep in mind who our true
Master is!
This will help us want to serve others!
● Eph 6:5-8 Bondservants, be obedient to those
who are your masters according to the flesh, with
fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to
Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but
as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God
from the heart, with goodwill doing service, as to
the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever
good anyone does, he will receive the same from
the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
**0 II. The Second Mile Brings a
Change!●In this point we want to focus on the “result” of
choosing to the 2nd mile!
●If one only does what is required of them, then
they are doing the same as almost everyone else!
−It is the one that goes over and beyound that
makes a difference and stands out!
●The child of God understands that we are not so
much concerned for the temporary as we are for
the eternal! (Mt. 6:19-21)
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We must learn to “show” sacrificial
love to others!
●Jn 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give
to you, that you love one another; as I have
loved you, that you also love one another.
"By this all will know that you are My
disciples, if you have love for one another."
●1Jn 3:16 “By this we know love, because
He laid down His life for us. And we also
ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
**0 It is our “good works” that bring glory
to God!Mt 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works and glorify your
Father in heaven.”●This opens doors for us to really help the ones
we are helping!
●We help them physically opening a door to help
them spiritually!
●I would imagine that the soldier who found one
that had learn this, had his life changed! Rather
than having to force him to go one, he gets to
follow him going two!
**0 III. The Second Mile Requires a
Commitment!●This last point is “key” to the principle of the second
mile!
−Going the 2nd mile will not always be easy! Many
times it will be very challenging & demanding but to
endure twice as long & to do so by choice! This
takes commitment!
−The Christian life requires sacrifice!
–Rom. 12:1-2 “a living sacrifice!”
●If one isn’t committed they will not even want to
endure the 1st mile, let alone be willing to choose to go
two!
**0 I often wondered how many Christians
today would have the commitment to remain
faithful in the 1st century?●Re 2:10 "Do not fear any of those things which
you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about
to throw some of you into prison, that you may be
tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be
faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of
life.”
●Are we committed to always doing what is right
regardless of the cost?
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Truly there is so much for us to learn
even from this seemingly simply verse!
Mt 5:41 "And whoever compels you to go
one mile, go with him two.”
●Compels from the Greek word ang-ar-
yew’-o meaning = to be a carrier; to call to
service (Mt. 27:32; Mk. 15:21)
−When we are called upon, how will we
respond? Will we do the best we can or will
we do the least we can?
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Conclusion:●May we learn to find joy in our service to
others, knowing that we are working for God!
●Have you come to begin your journey with
Jesus? Have you come to believe in Him &
obey Him? Are you daily living for Him?
●If you are a Christian have you come to find
joy in going the second mile?
●Let us learn to do the most and not the
minimum!
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