Programs And Podcasts

Gym class can be a pretty unfair place in school. You’ve got your natural athletes, your average athletes, and your basic klutzes, like me, who are all lumped together in the same class. It’s tough to get a decent grade if the teacher compares your performances. The natural athletes, of course, are going to play better, score higher, run farther than many others who are trying just as hard. And many a good student has had his grade point dragged down. Not because of a C effort in gym, but because of a C result.

I guess we could debate about what’s fair, but I for one appreciate the breed of physical education teacher that my son had, and he said this about him, “Dad, you know, he grades you not on how well you finish, but on how hard you try.” Well, you know, I know someone else who grades that way.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about “How Hard You Try.”

The Apostle Paul is, as we get to the end of 2 Timothy, a man about to receive his report card, and he’s about to graduate. This is the last letter he will write in his many letters of the New Testament, writing to his dear son in the faith, Timothy. Looking at his present situation, he doesn’t look very successful. He’s a prisoner in Caesar’s prison, he’s facing execution, there are no awards being given, there’s no applause, he’s very alone and he really has nothing on earth to look forward to. He is apparently a victim, not a victor. Maybe you know someone like that right now. Maybe it’s someone like you. He is looking forward, though, to God’s grades and God’s rewards.

Listen to what he says in 2 Timothy 4, beginning at verse 5, “Discharge all the duties of your ministry, for I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith, and now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge will award to me on that day.” I love this! He’s looking for the Lord’s awards.

We know Paul’s result. We look back on the tremendous results of his life. But where he was in that prison, he didn’t have much to show for his efforts there. It could be you right now. This word, “having fought a good fight” is the word for wrestling in the Olympics, and from that word we get our word agonize. He has agonized; he has agonizingly fought a good fight. It means he’s fought with good technique. He doesn’t say, “I won!” He says, “I have fought well.” Winning wasn’t the issue. Paul knew the issue was what kind of a fight he gave. Paul knows that his Lord rewards the effort, not the result, and so does your Lord. That’s why His welcoming words are, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Not successful, faithful servant.

Maybe you’ve have been in a dark, discouraging time. You’ve worked hard, you’ve served faithfully, you’ve witnessed sincerely, you’ve lived Christ in front of the people you love, and there just seems to be very little to show for it. The results aren’t there. And maybe you feel like you’ve failed. Maybe others even think you’ve failed.

But the question is, “Did you fight the good fight? Did you discharge your duties?” Maybe not perfectly, but faithfully, wholeheartedly. Well, then, I think you can expect A’s from the only person who really matters; the One who made you; the One who paid for you with His life.

You see, the awards of God are based on how hard you try.

The Holy Spirit is our Helper, transforming us from the inside out. As we stay close to Jesus, His love grows in us and produces fruit in our lives. We don’t work for God’s approval; we live from what Jesus has already done.

Watch Pastor Jonathan’s message to learn more.

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Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

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Join us this hour as Dr. Sam Storms tackles the question of ‘What happens when a Christian dies?’ Are we immediately with Jesus or do we go into some kind of soul sleep? What does it mean to be in an ‘intermediate state’? Join us for the answers to these questions and more as we discuss what happens when real life begins.

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Why does God seem less loving in the Old Testament? 

Famous producer and cultural influencer, Rick Rubin, asks Pastor Greg Laurie whether God changed between the Testaments. Hear his answer in this interview snippet, and go here for the full episode.

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Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Seven Dooms Revealed – Part 1, Dr. Michael Youssef declares that the coming judgments of Revelation are not given to frighten God’s people, but to awaken them to holy urgency. The slain Lamb alone is worthy to open the scroll, for Jesus Christ alone has authority over history, judgment, and redemption. As the seals are broken, Scripture reveals the certainty of false peace, war, famine, death, and divine wrath. Yet even in judgment, God preserves His own and hears the prayers of His saints. This message calls believers to repent of worldly compromise, intercede with confidence, and stand firm in the hope of Christ as the day of His return draws near.

On In The Market with Janet Parshall this week, we were treated to a visit by Ellen Vaughn who shared the story of God’s church throughout history from Acts to its spread in countries and cultures around the world. Our favorite Scottish apologist was back to address the Fly Dubai plane miracle, the increased push for acceptance of Islam in all quarters of life in the U.K. and in America and why an alleged rapist is not being deported because he is bisexual. Board Certified Professional Christian Counselor Laurel Slade-Waggoner joined us for a deeper exploration of narcissism including how a person becomes a narcissist and how to handle spiritual abuse from the narcissist in your life. Retired U.S. Major Ray Dillman used his experience as a military leader to explore how men can become spiritual warriors in their own lives. It is time once again to put the news of the week under the magnifying glass of God’s truth as our favorite husband and wife team continue to teach us how test all things according to His truth.

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  As the push for AI acceptance increases, scrutiny regarding its real impact does as well. On In The Market with Janet Parshall this week software expert Doug Smith addressed a recent article about the Anthropic program “Claude” and why believers need to avoid being tricked by this deceptive technology. Our favorite missionary to the American Ninevah, Hollywood, updated us employment concerns as the merger between Paramount and Warner goes forward. She also encouraged us to pray for the impact of the upcoming release about the wartime experiences of golden age actor Jimmy Stewart.  Highly revered pastor and teacher, Dr. Chuck Swindoll, shared  some of the behind-the-scenes stories of how God directed his life from a young age to the globally impactful ministry of Insight for Living. We updated you on some important pro-life legislation on ballots across the country. Dr. Alveda King joined us to discuss the fight for the unborn in the African-American community. Highly respected theologian and professor Alister McGrath encouraged us to rediscover the depth of authentic faith that enhances and transforms our lives. From unrest in the Middle East to uncertainty here at home, believers are being called to discern truth from confusion like never before. That is why Janet and Craig once again invite you to their radio classroom as they continue to teach us to measure all things against God’s unchanging truth.  

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