You are listening to the preaching ministry of Faith Baptist Church. Our passage is Acts 20. We should never lift up any person. We should never magnify a person. But if anybody is a hero of mine in the New Testament, it's the Apostle Paul. What a great Christian he was. What a great example he is. And I want to mention the Apostle Paul here in just a moment. He is a model of commitment. Our title of the message is committed to the course, committed to the course, and I'm going to be giving my testimony about how God called me to the city in just a moment. But as we think of the commitment to the course, the Apostle Paul said, none of these things move me. Neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course in the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." He was committed to the course. And he had a great love for Jesus Christ. And nothing stopped him from serving Jesus Christ. In the fall of 72, October of 72, God called me to New York City. I wanted to share that brief story with you. I was here in 70, in the summer of 70, on a summer team. There were six of us. There was a married couple, Tom and Vicki Maharis, and four single guys. I was single at the time. And we served in Manhattan. We were in 79th and Broadway at First Baptist Church, Manhattan. We stayed in the basement of the church. And Tom and Vicki had an apartment just a few blocks away. But how I got to the city was quite a story. After that summer, I loved New York City. I had a burden for New York City, but I didn't want to come to New York City. I'll be very honest with you. I did not want to come here because I was from Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. I was from towns of 15,000 people. I was from small little towns. New York City is a big place. That's a big place, folks. If you didn't know, that's a really big place. And it's just mammoth. And so it really kind of scared me to come here to this place. But this William Van Ryan spoke in Chapel, October 2nd, 1972. The date's on the screen. And he spoke from this passage in Acts chapter 20. the verses that were read earlier to you. And as we think of this passage, it says that none of these things moved me, neither kind of my life, dear, nor myself. William Ben Ryan, when he spoke that day, he said, as I was coming from Holland, he's from the country of Holland, as I was flying here from Holland, I flew over New York City. I looked down and said, now that's a city that I bet could really use a missionary. That's one of the first things he said in his message. There's a city that I'm sure could use a missionary. And then his message was Acts 20, 23, 24. None of these things moved me, neither kind of my life or myself. And he preached about all the reasons that people give, all the excuses that people give for not going to the mission field. High prices, danger, crime, crowded conditions, bad living conditions, etc., etc. And I thought he was describing New York City. I thought he was describing New York City. And then he just it was like I was the only person in the audience. There's three thousand students in the in the Rotary Auditorium, at least three or four thousand people. And I was up in the balcony about the fourth row. And I thought I was the only person in the audience when he's when he preached. because God just really gripped my heart and said, Doug, you need to stop making excuses for not going to New York City. God can use you there. And that day, it was October 2nd, 1972, I surrendered to come here to the city. And I'm thankful for that call. I'm thankful for that call. Just this morning, I had a very emotional experience. I stopped I stopped by the church on 111th Street. Excuse me. But 5112 on 111th Street is where the church started. In the basement of a house, half the size of this auditorium, a little low ceiling. In fact, we had a speaker come. We had a little small platform, maybe half the size of this. And the speakers, his head almost touched the ceiling, it was so short, it was a little drop ceiling. And we met there for two years and nine months, from September of 74 until we came into this building in June of 77. This building has been such a blessing to this church. Amen? It's been such a blessing. We got this building for... Do you remember the price? Anybody remember the price? $65,000. This building only costs $65,000. That's amazing. Our house in South Carolina costs $154,000. And now it's worth about $250,000 in the years that we've lived there. And our house is a nice home. It'd be worth $900,000 a year probably. But it's a nice home. We're thankful for it. But this is a miracle, folks. This building is a miracle. And this church is a miracle. And I thank God for Pastor Sawyer. Thank God for Pastor Obermiller. Thank God for Pastor Swanson. Amen. We're so happy that Brother Jim is here. We love him and his wife. And we're thankful that the torch has been passed. And we're going to see great things happen in the days ahead. Amen. The church is on the march. Okay, that was my introduction. So let's get going here with the message. More precious than life is the Savior. More dear than a life just for self. So gladly will I give Him my all that poor souls might know as wealth." That was a service that I preached here when a large youth group was here. There's a large youth group from Michigan that came to paint and to do other things for the week. And just a blessing to always be here at Faith Baptist Church. Number one in your notes. The person who is committed has a selfless devotion. He loves the Lord Jesus Christ and the souls of men more than his own life. He has a selfless devotion. The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5.15, And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him that died for them and rose again. Paul's amazing testimony of transformation. He loved the souls of men so much and he was dedicated to the cause of Christ. The church of Ephesus is where this is taking place. He's on the Isle of Miletus talking to the elders, the pastors of the church of Ephesus in Acts chapter 20. Look at verse 26-32 with me, please. Would you look at verse 26-32, Acts 20, 26-32. Wherefore, I take you to record this day that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed, therefore, unto yourselves and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God which he has purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them. Wherefore, watch and remember that by the space of three years I cease not to warn everyone, night and day, with tears. Apostle Paul loved the church of Ephesus. And I love this church. We've been away since 1986. That's a long time since we've been away from here. But we've not really been away. Our hearts are here with you all the time. We love the pastors who've been here. We love all of you. We love the Swansons. And we thank God that the church is still going on for the glory of God. I want to share with you the parable of the chicken and the pig. The parable of the chicken and the pig, okay? There was a chicken and a pig on their way to Old MacDonald Baptist Church. Old MacDonald Baptist Church. And there was a church sign out front that said, Churchwide Breakfast next Sunday morning. So the chicken said to the pig, why don't we get our families together and cooperate and provide the breakfast next Sunday? The pig replied, wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute. For you and your family, that's a simple donation of just eggs. For me and my family, that would be a total commitment of ham and eggs. Get it? Ham and eggs. Commitment sees a higher goal than self-fulfillment and self-promotion. Christ said in Luke 9, verse 23, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. And John the Baptist said, he must increase, but I must decrease. Number two in your notes. Number two, Paul was committed because he had a steadfast determination. He let no opposition or hardship move him from staying on the course. He had a steadfast determination. He let no opposition or hardship move him from staying on the course. Please hold your place in Acts. Don't lose your place in Acts. And turn with me to 2 Corinthians 11. 2 Corinthians chapter 11. I want to show you a passage of Scripture that is an outstanding passage of Scripture that just shows you Paul's commitment to staying on the course. He let nothing get him off course. What an amazing steadfastness he had. 2 Corinthians 11, verse 22. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am more. Now here's his list of accomplishments, his list of commitment to the course. In labors more abundant. in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often, near-death experiences. Of the Jews, five times received I, forty stripes save one." I did the math on that. That's a total of 195 lashes all together during his ministry. Thrice was I beaten with rods. Once was I stoned. Thrice I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I have been in the deep. in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." The apostle Paul went through a lot, wouldn't you say? He went through a lot. Now, that's over the course of a lifetime. That's not just in a month or so. That's the course of a lifetime of hard times and trials. But Paul had a steadfast determination. He was not going to leave the ministry. He was not going to leave the course that God had called him to run. And he was steadfast in his call. Any time that I have a pity party for myself, any time that I want to quit or just give up, I think of the Apostle Paul and his steadfastness, his duty to the ministry. It says in 2 Timothy 2.3, Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. We need to understand that the Christian life is hard. It's not easy. It's not a piece of cake. There's going to be a lot of hard times, but we need to be steadfast and movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. The 21st century Christian has taken it way too, is given too easy of a life. We're a pampered generation. I believe what's taking place in America over the last few years with the pandemic and with our new administration, our new president, and things that are happening in our country, I think we're seeing a revival among Christians because we need to wake up, don't we, folks? We need to wake up and realize that there's a cause out there. marriage and family responsibilities, church membership and faithfulness to the services, loyalty to the pastor, evangelism, Christian service. All of these things are just... People are not committed to the course. We need to be committed to the cause of Jesus Christ and realize that we need to finish the course well. The first century church suffered and died for preaching the gospel. They continued. They counted it a privilege. In this Laodicean, lazy, lukewarm, pampered, self-centered, affluent age, the average Christian is content to sit, to soak in and sour. rather than sacrifice, surrender to God's will and serve the needs of others. May we wake up to our condition and may we live for Christ, the eternal more than the temporal, and may we live for others. Before I go to point three, a quote from Dr. Bob Jones Sr. said, the test of your character is what it takes to stop you. The test of your character is what it takes to stop you. And we need to realize that Paul let nothing stop him from finishing the course well. Number three. The person who's committed, number three, has a single delight. And that single delight is living for Christ and for the joy of finishing the course. Paul said in Acts 20, if you're back in Acts 20 now, please turn back there if you would, Acts 20. He said in our text in verse 24, so that I might finish my course with joy. The person who has this single delight has the right goals in life. We need to raise a generation of finishers. We need to finish what we start. Amen? We need to finish what we start. There are too many quitters among us. I shared with you the story of how God called us here to New York City. in October of 72 with William Van Ryan speaking in chapel. I could share with you many stories of those early days in the basement church on 111th Street. Those were difficult, hard days for me. I came this close to quitting. I came that close to quitting. And I mentioned that I went to this pastor's conference and the theme was Don't Quit. And I'm going to take a break from speaking and sing Don't Quit, okay? And to encourage you with a song, Don't Quit. I was upstairs. Pastor Martinez and I had a fellowship yesterday for about an hour and a half or so. I went over to his home and we went and got some some refreshment together at a Colombian restaurant and enjoyed for the Tito yesterday and. And I shared upstairs. I was upstairs at 930 for about 20-25 minutes up there. And I sang this song upstairs, and I trust it will be a blessing to you. Don't quit. Do not be weary in well-doing, says the Lord, for your labor I surely will reward thee steadfast. Unmoving, never faint, for God honors the enduring saint. Don't quit. There's a job to be done. Don't quit. There's a race to be run. Don't quit. There's a crown to be won. Don't quit. Weary Christian, don't quit. Elijah, moan. as he sat beneath a tree. God, I'm all alone, and there's no one left but me. Then God said to him in a still, small voice, Seven thousand still make me their choice. Jesus did not quit all throughout his ministry, for he would not stop till he reached Calvary. He endured the cross and became the finisher, so then follow, be a conqueror. Don't quit, there's a job to be done. Don't quit, there's a race to be run. Don't quit, there's a crown to be won. Don't quit, weary Christian, don't quit. Amen? Don't quit. Well, you say, Pastor Laura, you quit. You quit here in New York City. No, I didn't. No, I didn't. You know, pastors have come. You've had three pastors so far. You're on your fourth pastor. And that happens in churches. And I think we've had a good run of pastors here. They've stayed a good amount of time. We stayed twelve years. Pastor Sawyer stayed twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-six years. Pastor Robert Miller was seven years. Do you know the average pastor in America stayed one and a half, two years? One and a half, two years. That's an average. And so, you've had a good stability here. Amen? You've had a good stability here. And we're just thrilled that Pastor Swanson is taking the helm of the church. Okay, let's keep moving here. Number three. Number four. Number four. A person who is committed, number four, has spiritual discernment. He looks at the gospel and the eternal as more valuable than gold and the temporal. Paul said in our verse in Acts 20, "...and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus is to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Paul had the right values of life. He valued the spiritual over the material. Mark chapter 8 says, For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? In the context of our text of this message, we see that Paul had the right values He was not covetous or materialistic. He says in Acts 20, verse 33, I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel. Yea, you yourselves know that these hands have ministered unto my necessities. He was able to work, willing to work if he had to. Build, make tents. And to them that were with me, I have showed you all things, how that so laboring you ought to support the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, it's more blessed to give than to receive." So he had the right values. He saw the eternal over the temporal. 2 Corinthians 4, verse 16, For which cause we faint not, but though our outward man perish, Yet the inward man is renewed day by day for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." Praise God for the Apostle Paul who had a vision and a discernment. He looked at the gospel and the eternal as more important than just the temporal. These last slides that you're seeing. OK, they don't go back. How do I go back? OK, I'm going to go back. There we are. Let me just talk through these last slides. This is a house in California, which we traveled from for 14 years all over America for 2002 to 16. And I was with a member of a church that owned a restaurant in California. And just down the street from where we were eating outside, eating out under an umbrella, and down the street we saw this little house. This little house right here. That is a mammoth place. The prophet of man shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul. To the left, that's the large house. To the right is the guest house. That's just a guest house. Behind that was a 20-car garage. This man had 20 vehicles in a 20-car garage. The house, the trees on the left are blocking it. The house kept going this direction a long, long ways. This was a mammoth mansion. This guy had a business on the Internet. He sold auto parts on the Internet. And it was just a huge, huge estate. And I thought about the fact that if this man doesn't know Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, that's the only mansion he'll ever see. He won't see the mansions of heaven. Folks, do you realize how beautiful heaven is going to be? And it's going to be worth it all when we see Jesus. This is a gate that went into this estate that you just saw. But heaven has a gate of pearl. It has this gate of pearl, streets of gold. And what a wonderful city it's going to be that we're going to see. It will be worth it all when we see Jesus someday, folks. Fight the good fight. Finish the course. Keep the faith. Let me review what we've looked at this morning. From Acts 20, the verses that we've looked at this morning, we've seen that do you have... Let me ask you these questions. Do you have a selfless devotion with the right priorities? Do you have a steadfast determination with the right outlook in life? Do you have a single delight with the right goals? And do you have spiritual discernment with the right values? Let's bow for prayer, please. Thank you for tuning in to the preaching ministry of Faith Baptist Church. We are conveniently located in Corona, New York City, and are devoted to loving God and making disciples. For more resources and helpful information about our church, visit StudyGodsWord.com. We'd also like to extend a personal invitation for you and your family to join us on Sundays at 9.30 in the morning. for a time of interactive Bible study for young people and adults, followed by an 11 o'clock worship and preaching service. If you have young children, they will really enjoy our exciting Bible-based children's ministries in both the morning Bible study hour and worship service. If you have any questions about the Church or would like to learn how to have a personal relationship with God, please give us a call or leave some feedback at StudyGodsWord.com. We would be thrilled to meet you in person and show you firsthand what God is doing at Faith Baptist Church. Until next time, may God richly bless you. you