Steven Furtick - Don't Stop On Six (03/15/2017)
This sermon from Joshua 6 uses the Battle of Jericho to teach about perseverance when God's promises seem delayed. The preacher emphasizes that God's process often involves repetitive, seemingly unproductive steps (like walking around the walls for six days) to build our faith. The key message is "Don't Stop on Six"—don't quit just before your breakthrough, because the seventh lap, representing God's perfect timing, is when the walls fall down.
When Progress Isn't Obvious: The Jericho Principle
Well, I want to welcome you to church today. I'm excited about this word that God has put in my heart. Thank you so much, worship team. Don't you love the worship team at all the locations? Today, I have a message for somebody in this church who is right on the verge of seeing something that God has promised you come to pass. And you don't even know it. And you're on the verge of quitting and settling. And today, God sent me to Montana. Not just to preach you a message, but to give you a push. Because you're closer than you think you are. I'm excited about it. At all of our locations, would you do me a favor? Find about five, six or seven people around you and push them real quick and say, you're about to get a push into your promise. Just push them and tell them, God's about to push you into your promise. And after you have violently assaulted all of the people in your general seating area, you may be seated.
It's such an honor to be with you another week. I have a crush on your church. I like your enthusiasm. I like your sincerity. I like your aggression. Your vision. You guys are amazing. I love your pastor, Pastor Levi. I love his incredible wife, Jenny. Love their girls. Love their faith. Pastor Levi came to preach at my church a few months ago. Burned the place to the ground. I'm not kidding you. He preached that thing. What is it like when you get to hear that kind of preaching every week? You are so blessed. Aaron, if I may say this, he has called me before a brother to him, and he even called me a big brother a couple times. You better treat him good. Or big brother come back and throw the microphone. I want you to take care of them and pray for them as I know you do and lift them up. And if you're a part of this church, but you're not currently really a part of the life of this church in serving and in giving and in inviting people, I would encourage you that you're really missing out on not only the blessing that you can bring to others, but the blessing that God wants to bring to you.
And this is a very special church in a special place. And I believe that the half has not been told of what God wants to do. And that's kind of where I want to minister from today on a corporate level to your church, but also to you as an individual on this subject of stopping short. I'm going to preach from a passage of scripture that is well known from Bible school for people who went to vacation Bible schools. If you have those in Montana. Yeah, we have them in the South. I'm from North Carolina. And you learned this story very early. Thank you for your sympathy. You learned this story very early in your church career. My mom took me to church. I thank God for her doing that because I knew all these Bible stories even before I believed them. I knew them. So then when I came to believe them, I knew them and I had something to work with.
So if you're a parent, don't ever feel like your kids have to get it or appreciate it at the time. You're just giving them the raw material. And then at some point later in their life, God will send somebody to harvest what you planted. So we're going to be today in the sixth book of the Bible. It goes Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua. It's the sixth book of the Bible. I love Joshua. I wrote a book about an experience in his life. But today we're going to preach about the most well-known experience in his military career in Joshua chapter six. So the sixth book of the Bible, Joshua chapter six. And that's significant because when I give you my subject, you'll understand. But for now, just let me read this passage. It is a little lengthy, but I invite you to turn your attention to the screens. You can follow along with the scripture. And this is about Joshua fighting the battle of Jericho.
Joshua fought the battle of Jericho. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho. Joshua fought the battle of Jericho. And the walls came tumbling down. If you know that by heart, Pastor Levi probably didn't start the church for you. But he says in chapter six, verse one, now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the word of the Lord came to Joshua. Or it says in this translation, the Lord said to Joshua, see, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of ram's horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times. With the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout. I'm an interactive preacher. Then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.
So Joshua, son of Nun, called the priest and said to them, Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it. And he ordered the army advance. March around the city with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord. When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward. Blowing their trumpets. And the ark of the Lord's covenant followed them. The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets. And the rear guard followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. But Joshua had commanded the army saying, Do not give a war cry. Do not raise your voices. Do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then, shout.
So we had the ark of the Lord carry around the city circling at once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there. Joshua got up early the next morning. And the priests took up the ark of the Lord. The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them. And the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord while the trumpets kept sounding. So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days. On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day, they circled the city seven times. Except that on that day, they circled the city seven times. The seventh time around, when the priest sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, shout. You couldn't get the hang of it by the time we're done. For the Lord, I'm going to teach you how to shout in church.
Some of y'all are like, it's not my personality. It don't matter what your personality is. Sometimes when you come to church, you just got to actually get out of the mode of just trying to receive and actually enter into an active participation where you're engaging. So we shout in church and we clap in church. And the city and all that is in it are to be devoted to the Lord. I'm going to skip to verse 20 for time's sake because it says, when the trumpet sounded and the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet... Okay, now you're... You're taking it a little too far. When the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed. So everyone charged straight in. And they took the city. The title of my message today, and I'm going to try to do it justice in the time we have remaining, because this is one of the most powerful and profound words that God ever spoke to me. At a time in my ministry where I didn't know if I would make it, where some things were coming against me that were coming so hard, I didn't even know if it was worth it. And the week after I was going through these things, God gave me a message to preach to our people, and now I want to share it with you. And the title of this message is, Don't Stop on Six. Don't Stop on Six. Don't stop. Touch six people around you and tell them, Don't Stop on Six. Okay? I'll explain in a moment.
The Fortitude to Finish
I can't speak for Pastor Levi, but I can say for myself that what used to impress me when I began as a pastor doesn't impress me as much anymore. And things that I didn't used to notice actually impact me more. What I mean is, I used to really be impressed with people when they had the faith to start something. I thought it was so amazing when somebody had great faith to step out and start something that God had called them to initiate. I still think that's wonderful and necessary. But what impresses me a little bit more now, as I'm trying to raise kids, build a church that will last, and live a life that will endure it, and hopefully finish well, it's not just people who have the faith to start something, but people who have the fortitude to finish. That's what's most impressive to me. And I know you can relate to this, because it really doesn't take a lot of faith to get fired up about an idea. It really doesn't take a lot of faith to have a baby, at least from the man's perspective. It doesn't take a lot of faith. This is a lot of fun. That part. But then there's some other parts that take fortitude, endurance.
I see so many people stop short of so much that I believe God wants to do in their lives. And I always read this passage in Joshua chapter 6 as simply a story about God giving someone a command, and they followed it, even though it seemed a little bit illogical. God's commands often do. Sometimes he speaks in ways that don't make sense. And I saw in this story, the story of a God who gave his people a counterintuitive command. And when they followed that command, they were blessed and they received what they had been promised. I love the scripture in Hebrews chapter 10 in the New Testament. I'd like to read you two verses from there. Verse 35 and 36. They're the writer of Hebrews. And I'm stalling because I'm trying to flip to Hebrews. The writer of Hebrews who wrote the book of Hebrews. Speaking on behalf of God. Some very important things to say. He said, do not throw away your confidence, 35. It will be richly rewarded. And then he said, you need to persevere. so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
When you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. Means that it's possible to do the will of God and not receive what he has promised because you failed to persevere. And I think that's a very devastating thought to realize all that we do not receive Because we haven't learned to persevere. You have need of perseverance. So I was looking at the story with fresh eyes, or at least trying to, and it became very powerful to me to think about this story of Joshua entering into the promised land, the first city that he would have to conquer, Jericho, which would be the gateway to the rest of the promised land. After 40 years of wilderness wandering under the leadership of Moses, and now this generation which is entering into the land of God's rest and provision, the land that God had promised to his people.
We all have a promised land as well, not physically speaking. The scripture says that he has promised us, check this out, everything pertaining to life and godliness, a spiritual inheritance that is being kept for you. God's made us some promises, some promises, and we're fighting battles to see those promises come to pass. Maybe he made you a promise about your family. Maybe he made you a promise concerning something in your heart that you maybe think, maybe you think you heard him wrong because it's taking a little while. Maybe there's a promise that God made you about something that you're currently trying to overcome that you're struggling with. And in the midst of believing God's promises and receiving God's promises, perseverance is key. And what does that have to do with Joshua? Well, here comes Joshua to the land of Jericho. And the scripture says in verse 1, when he looks at the city, he sees that it is securely barred, verse 1, because of the Israelites. And I'm going to wear this out in a minute. No one went out and no one came in.
When What You See Doesn't Match What God Said
When he looked at that, the Lord said to him, the Lord said to him, verse 2, the Lord said, everybody say said. See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands. The Lord said to him, see, I have delivered Jericho into your hands. Now I'm confused. Because we read in verse 1 that Jericho is tightly shut up. No one's going out. No one's coming in. Next thing you know, God says, see. If you're having this conversation with God and God says, see, I have given Jericho into your hands. And you look up and all you see is high walls. And all you see is lockdown city. And all you see is nobody going out and nobody coming in. This is a question. What do you do when what you see doesn't look anything like what God has said? In the mirror. In your family. In your bank account. In your body. In your community. This is the challenge here. And I think so many of us stop short of what God has promised in our lives. Because, check this out, I have three points if you like points. Our perspective is blocked. Our perspective is blocked. Perspective is so powerful. Here's the thing. Jericho historians tell us was not a very big city. Only took about an hour to walk around. But it had very high walls for defense.
Now, I love the scriptures. Because the scripture writer tells us why the gates of Jericho were tightly shut up. Look at it again in verse 1. It says, The gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. You see it? Here's Joshua looking at Jericho, seeing how high the walls are, thinking, there's no way we can take that city. Look how locked down it is. But the scripture says that the people inside of Jericho had locked up the city because they saw God's people and said, there's no way we can keep them out. Now, here's what I'm trying to tell you. Your enemy is afraid of you. Sometimes you look at the situation in your life. I've got to calm down because it's kind of the first point. But sometimes you look at stuff in your life and you see how hard it is and how challenging it is and how difficult it is and how high the walls are. And you're looking at those walls saying, if the walls are that high, there's no way I can go in. But maybe it's a sign that the devil has seen the potential that God put inside of you and knows there's no way I can keep them out. It's about perspective, see? And the enemy can't take your promise. He doesn't have permission. But if he can erect walls high enough to block your perspective, you'll walk away from your promise.
Yes, I'm speaking to somebody today who what you see is not matching up with what God said. And that's why it's smart to come to church. So you can remember what God said. So you can get above the walls for a little while. So you can see into the city and realize it's not that big. Not when God is on my side. I got an aerial view of Jericho when I'm in church. That's why you ought to be here every time the doors are open. You can miss five a year. That's it. Five a year. Because praise will lift your perspective. Yeah, absolutely. Praise will... That's why when we were singing, I hope you weren't just standing there. Because when you praise God like we were praising God and say, Your name is higher. Your name is greater. Guess what's happening? Your altitude is lifting. You're getting altitude on your situation. You're getting altitude on your adversity. Now, I got to give credit where credit is due. Because I had never seen this before in the passage. But Pastor Levi showed me. And I thought this was so cool. And I ripped it off and preached it in my church. So now I'm preaching it in this church. And you've already heard it. But pretend like it's brand new.
The Silent, Repetitive March
If I were God... Ridiculous statement and proposition. Knowing what I know about motivating people as a leader. I would have set up this miracle differently than it is described here in Joshua chapter 6. Here's what I mean. God meets with Joshua. He says, here's the plan. Jericho is already yours. And that's interesting in itself. And we ought to take a note here. In verse 2, he says, see, I have delivered Jericho into your hands. Note this. God speaks in past tense about battles you're currently fighting. He's not waiting to see who wins. He knows. Spoiler alert. He said, I have delivered into your hands. You just got to see it like I see it. And so, he tells them what to do. He gives an instruction. An instruction that would be hard to follow if you're a trained general like Joshua. Because you would expect a tutorial on the weaponry and a strategy that makes military sense. Instead, he tells them to make some music. Marching band, single file line around the city. And he tells them to do it once with all the armed men for six days.
I was reading it, and me and Pastor Levi were talking about this passage. And he said, did you notice how, while they were walking around the city for the first six days, nothing happened? And what he said, I thought this was so profound. I don't know how you see this stuff in the Bible. But this is pretty cool. He said, you would think that every time they would make a lap, a part of the wall would fall to show them you're doing a good job. You'd think, like, if God wanted to keep them motivated, he would give them a reward with each lap. You know, like, okay. Lap one, great job. And one-seventh of the wall comes down. This would make sense. Lap two, there goes the second-seventh of the wall coming down. And so that each day, when you finish your march, you see your progress. But here's the second reason that people stop short, at least from my perspective. Because our progress isn't always obvious. And this is what makes it hard. I'm the kind of person, I don't mind pain as long as I can see the purpose of the pain. And this is what makes physical exercise very difficult for me. Amen.
If exercise, physical exercise, produced obvious and immediate results, I would think that would be a much more motivating process for exercise. If, if you, if, if, as I was plank, plank, doing the plank, if my abs would start to, just while I'm doing the plank, it would be easier for me to motivate myself to go through this pain. And, but, but, but, progress isn't always obvious physically. So it is in the spirit. It's not like, it's not like you take, take a lap, say a prayer, and immediately, sometimes this happens. Not much. Not much. It's very rare that you say the prayer, and immediately you see the answer. I was talking to Elijah the other day. He's our oldest, and he had had some bad behavior in class. And I said, we need to pray about this. And so we went to pray about it. And I said, I want you to ask God to give you a solution to do better with your behavior. And so he prayed like I told him to, because I made him. And, and we prayed. And when we got done, I said, well, what did God say to you? Because we put about a minute of silence. And he said, Daddy, I don't think he's going to show me like that. I said, what do you mean? He said, well, do you know how God usually works? He usually doesn't answer the prayer, because sometimes if I just think that I heard God after I prayed, I'm probably going to make it up in my own mind. But probably what God's going to do is show me something through something that happens tomorrow or next week.
He's eight. And he already knows you don't get abs in the middle of the plank on the first day. You don't get results. It would be amazing. I would be praying all the time. I'd be bumping into telephone Poles and stuff, praying. If while I was praying, God was delivering on the promise. But it doesn't work that way. Your progress isn't always obvious. And so here's what happens. The men are marching. And I want you to think about this. Not as if you're Joshua, because Joshua had a conference with God, and God told him what to do and what would happen if he did. So God tells Joshua, if you'll walk around the walls six days, once a day, on the seventh day, do it seven times, and the walls will fall down. But I read the passage over and over again, and I noticed that Joshua never told the men about the plan. Man, this is important. When Joshua called the men together, see, so God meets with Joshua, and he says, march around the city, and on the seventh day, the walls are going to fall down. Look at verse six. So Joshua called the priest and said, here's what you need to do. Take up the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. Have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it. And all he told them to do was start marching. And that's funny to me, because if you're one of these men in this army, you have no idea how many times you have to do this.
So you set out the first day, and you're going to battle, and you've been waiting years for this opportunity. This is the land God promised Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. This is the land that he swore on oath to our spiritual forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey. And now the battle begins. And so my sword is in the sheep, and I'm ready for action. I've been waiting all my life and training for this. And so the first day, I report for duty, and I take a walk. And after my walk, remember, it only takes about an hour. Joshua says, thanks, boys. See you tomorrow. Same time. Same place. I can't find anywhere in the scripture where he says, and we're going to do it for seven days. He just tells them, meet me back here tomorrow, and we'll do it again. Just meet me here tomorrow. Now imagine you're one of these men coming home to your wife after the first day of this. And every man in here that's married knows that when your wife says, how was your day, that is code for, I want you to open your soul and share with me all the deepest, darkest details of your life.
But not for long, because what I really want you to do is ask me, how was your day, and then sit down for an hour and a half, because I want to tell you about how on the way to the grocery store, I ran into Karen. And Karen is not getting along so well with Gary. Now, Gary was Tony's cousin. And then, so we know, I don't know, I'm off prompt here, but something came over me. But how was your day? Who did you kill? Well, actually, honey, it was kind of different today than what I expected. We didn't actually do any fighting, per se. So, so what did you do? Well, we walked around the city and, and, and here we are. Yeah, I thought you were here kind of early. I didn't expect you back this year. Okay. Oh, oh, and then, so, so that's the first day. Now, look, look, look, look, look, look, look, look, look, look. It says that, um, he told them to march around the city and, and, and so they did it. And then, it just wants us to know that this was a pattern. Look at verse 14. It says, so on the second day, they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this six days.
You come home the second day. So, honey, how was it today? I don't want to talk about it. Because they weren't allowed to talk about it. Because sometimes the best strategy that God will give you when you're doing something that you don't understand that he told you to do is shut up and march. I wondered why Joshua told the people not to say anything. It's because he had been with Moses when the people were allowed to start talking about what they thought about what God was doing. He said, I've not seen this before. If they start talking to each other about day three, they're going to, they're going to, they're going to start a revolt on me. So everybody shut up and march. And so day two, they march. And day three, they march. And day four, they march. And you're going, no big deal, because on the seventh day, the walls are coming down. They don't know that. They don't know anything about seven days. They don't know anything about seven laps. They don't know anything about a shout that's going to bring the walls down. All they know is, I'm sick of these freaking trumpets. Can we kill somebody, please?
Why Six Laps? The Battle God Wants to Win *In* You
You ever feel like you're just walking in circles sometimes? Don't play churchy with me. I don't need to see your church response. Have you ever felt like God had you going around in circles? Around an issue? Around a relationship? Around a dream? Around a goal? And you're showing up, and you're doing your best to shut up, but it's getting kind of hard? Because I'm doing this, but that wall isn't moving. Because I'm showing up and doing my part, but I don't understand the plan here, God. It'd be easier for me to do my part if I knew the plan. But my progress isn't always Obvious. And the process, this is the third point, is open-ended. I don't know how much longer I have to do this. Speaking of physical exercise, my workout partner, his name is Buck, he used to, when we were doing timed exercises, not tell me how much time I had left until we were almost done. And one day I realized, this is not conducive to endurance for me. I said, Buck, from now on, I need you to tell me how much time I have left. And if you have to, lie to me. Because I can't just keep doing this and not know how much longer I have to do it. And so I need you to tell me 20 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds. Because if you'll tell me that, I can do anything for 10 seconds. But what do you do when life doesn't tell you how much longer you've got to do this before it works?
And so the question of faith becomes this. Will you keep walking even when it doesn't seem to be working? That's the lesson of Jericho. It is, will you show up and shut up and take another lap and do what God called you to do and be what he called you to be, even when you don't see any bricks disappearing from the wall? Even when you don't see any action, even when you don't see any response. Parents, will you keep investing in your children, even when they seem like they're trampling on the very investment that you're making? Will you continue to forgive someone who hurt you, even when they don't seem to feel sorry about what they did? Will you keep walking, even when it's not working? And so I asked God, I said, God, this makes no sense. If our God is a strategic God, it would seem that he would let them take one lap around Jericho, and the walls would fall down on the first lap. Why make them walk laps that don't count? Why does God ask you to do stuff that doesn't work? Why does God ask you to persevere in something? If he's God and he's almighty and he could just do it, why does he let you carry sickness in your body? Why doesn't he just heal you the first time that you pray? Why doesn't he restore the marriage the first time that you make the effort? Why doesn't he make it easier? If he's God, if he's sovereign, if he's holy, if he's omnipotent, if he's omniscient, if he can do anything, if he knows everything.
And so I asked God, why seven times? And here's what the Lord gave me. He said, sometimes it's more about the battle that I want to win in you than the battle that I want to win for you. Let me work on this. Is this helping anybody that's going around in circles? And so I'm walking, but it's not working. And I'm showing up, but nobody's appreciating me. And I'm steady, but I don't get a promotion. And I'm trying, but I'm not trying. So I'm walking, and it's not working. And I'm taking a lap, and I'm sick of this. And I want to show up, but I need a sign that it's working. And God says, I need you to get to the place, if you're really going to follow me, where you trust that I'm working, even when it's not. Even when it's not working. It's easier to preach than it is to live. I lost my dad a year ago to Lou Gehrig's disease. And so we prayed, but it didn't work. It didn't work. We had everybody praying, but it didn't work. Prayed for him for years, because he had been very sick, but it didn't work. I laid right next to him as he died and breathed his final breath. I couldn't even show you the pictures of how he looked in his end state. It would be obscene. It was... It was kind of pointless. I kind of felt like a failure, because I was preaching to so many people about a God who can do anything. And yet I couldn't get God to do the thing that I most wanted him to do in the life of my own dad.
I was like, how do I show up and keep preaching when the very faith that I preach about isn't working in my own family? How do I keep walking? I'm walking. I'm walking. And on the first lap, maybe you do it with enthusiasm, because I'm scouting out the city, getting some fresh air. And even on the second day, maybe even on the second day, it's still kind of spring training. It's kind of a dry run. So on the second day, I'm showing up. But it's that third day, and that fourth day, and that fifth day. And it says they did it six days. Now I need to tell you something about the number of six in Scripture. The number six, anytime you see it in the Bible in a symbolic fashion, it represents the number of man. That is human effort without God. The number seven in the Bible represents completion. It is God's number. So when you see like six, six, six, the number of the beast, that's the number of man without God. Seven is the number of perfection. God is a God of seven. So on the sixth time, the sixth time, the sixth lap, after they had done all that they could do, God says, now I've got you where I want you. Because you've walked around these walls.
Don't miss this. You've walked around these walls long enough to know that there's nothing you can do in your own strength to bring them down. God says, now I've got you where I want you. Now that you've circled these walls six times. Now that you've walked around this thing and nothing's moved. Now that you've showed up and wandered and wandered and wandered and wandered and I'm walking and I'm walking and I'm tired and I'm weary and I'm struggling and I'm doubting and I don't get this and I don't like this. And it's been six days, but I'm walking. God says, now that you've done all that you can do, six, it's time for me to show you what only I can do. If I let the walls fall down the first time, you would think it was your walking that brought them down. I had to get you to the point. I had to. Because you wouldn't have appreciated it. You wouldn't have praised me if you got in the first time. You're in need of perseverance. So that after you have done the will of God, you may receive what He has promised to you.
Don't Stop on Six: Your Breakthrough is Near
How much longer, God? How much longer am I going to have to be single? How many more times will I have to go to a friend's wedding and watch them walk off happily? How many more nights do I have to spend alone? I'm trying to be pure. I'm trying to wait on you, God. I'm trying to believe the best about your intentions for me. But how much longer? Because I don't mind walking, God. I just need to know 15 more seconds. One more year. Three months. Just tell me and I'll walk. But I need to be able to pace myself. I need to know how much longer. I'm not a big Nascar fan. I know you think I am from the Carolinas. And I know that you're probably not because you're not from the Carolinas. But I did look... I looked up about Nascar because I wanted to see something about Nascar. Did you know that if you watch a Nascar race, how many Nascar fans in the house? Exactly. Worst illustration ever for this context and culture. But if you ever watch the race, and I rarely do. And I don't think it's bad. And I don't think it's stupid. And I don't think you have to be a redneck to watch Nascar. I just don't watch it. But in the bottom of the screen, they have a little box. And it says, laps left. And it will tell you how many laps they have left.
And I thought to myself, watching Nascar, wouldn't it be nice if life was like Nascar? Nascar, if you could just see on the bottom of the screen, just forgive them three more times, and the relationship will be restored. Just keep on chipping away at your debt, and eventually you'll be debt free. Just three more months of this. In fact, I'm so fired up about Nascar. In Nascar, at the last lap, they come out, and they wave the white flag. It's letting you know you got one lap left. Just one more time around this. Just one more time around the track, and you're done. And I thought, wouldn't it be nice if life would wave a white flag just to let you know you're close? Don't stop. Don't give up. It's about to break through. It's just around the corner. But, but, but, but... I don't know why you're clapping. Because life does not wave a white flag. So, we wave ours, and we surrender to the circumstance and forfeit the promise. Never knowing how close we really were to receiving our inheritance, our breakthrough, our miracle, our victory.
God, send me here today for somebody who's on lap number six, and you don't even know it. I got a word for you. I don't know if you, I don't know if you believe that somebody who doesn't even know you, God can put something in them for you and not even know in your situation. I don't know if you think this is just a bunch of hype. But, but I wanted to tell somebody here today, take another lap. Take another lap. Take, take, just take a... If you can't, if you can't run another lap, just walk. You might not break any time records for sprinting. Just, just walk around one more time. If you can't walk, crawl. Even if you have to do it on your knees. Even with pain shooting up and down your back. Even with regrets and fears and failures and feelings. Just, just take another lap. I told my church, I don't always feel like preaching to them. I don't always feel like being encouraging. Sometimes I wish somebody would preach to me. Sometimes I just want to join Fresh Life Church and just show up and sit on the front row. Maybe he'll let me lead a song every now and then. But I show up and preach again. Why? Because this might be the time that somebody really gets it. This might...
It says in the scripture, it says, oh God, I feel, I feel this. It says in the scripture that they did it six days. And on the seventh day, they did the same thing they did those other six days. Except on that day. They did the same thing they had been doing. But on that day, they did the same thing that hadn't been working all week. But on that day, God said to tell you, keep doing what you're doing. It's not in vain. You have need of perseverance. Keep serving. Keep believing. Keep moving. Keep marching. Keep crawling. Keep inching. Keep walking. Somebody's getting their bounce back in their step as I speak this scripture today. Keep walking. Keep walking. This might be your seventh lap. And you don't even know. So just keep walking. Just keep walking. Oh, I feel the spirit of Nemo coming on me in this church. Just keep swimming. Just keep... Come on, somebody. Just keep walking. You might not be as fast as them. It doesn't matter. You're not running their race. Just keep... One more lap. This might be the day. This might be the one. This might be the one. This might be the one that makes that first brick fall.
This... Wouldn't it be a shame. For you to stop When you've come this far? Wouldn't it be a shame For you to give up on the marriage That you fought so hard for At this point? Wouldn't it be a shame For you to give up on God. After he Brought you To this place? This Might Be. Your last lap. And it might not. But I'll tell you something. That I've learned about God. Worship team, you can come If you're not standing At all of our campuses I'd like you to stand. I learned that it's not just When the walls fall down On the seventh lap That he's glorified. But it's what he builds Inside of you On the first six. That brings him glory. It's what he does. In you. Before he does it For you. So my word for you Fresh life. Walk Every lap like it's your last. And one day, you'll be right. Come on, we're walking. We're walking. We're not stopping short now. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Check this out. Who, for the joy set before him, endured the cross. Despising is shame.
Come on, we're walking. We walk by faith and not by sight. We're walking. Touch six people. Tell them, don't stop on six. This might be the one. Don't stop on six. Don't stop now. Don't quit now. Cry if you gotta cry. Hurt if you gotta hurt. But don't you stop. Don't stop now. Don't stop now. This might be the one. Come on, he's working. Keep walking. I need somebody to walk with me in this church. I dare you to pick them up and put them down right now. As a sign and a symbol to the devil. I'm not stopping on six. I'm not stopping short. I'm gonna enter this land of promise. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Come on, walk with me. Walk with me. Into the promise. Through the pain. Through the pain. Through the doubt. Through the struggle. One lap left. Let's go, church. Don't stop now.