​Pursue… Dioko - “to follow in haste to find something, run after, pursue…figuratively, pursue, strive for, seek after, aspire to something.”  

Make it your goal to improve on these three virtues in your life.
 
Pursue Goodness
 
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NKJV) See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. 

• Good…agathos: (BAGD pp. 3-4) “Pertaining to meeting a high standard of worth and merit, good…that which is beneficial or helpful.”
• Have you ever had a plastic wrapper that you can’t shake off your finger? You go to throw the plastic wrapper away and it keeps finding its way back to your hand. That should be our attitude toward goodness…As much as I purpose to attempt to shake it, God just keeps the idea of choosing goodness close by. The Holy Spirit’s conviction is evidence of His presence in your life. 
  • Cling to goodness.
    • Romans 12:9 (NKJV) Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
  • Be discerning in your clinging.
    • Romans 16:19 (NKJV) …I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
    • Is this a Good Samaritan moment?
  • Discover safety in following goodness.
    • 1 Peter 3:13 (NKJV) And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?
    • Kill ‘em with kindness/goodness.

Beautiful Collision: When magnetic or divinely orchestrated situations and goodness collide. Just when you feel like going your own way…Allow God to draw you and others to that which is good. Cling to being convicted by the Holy Spirit.
 
Pursue Unity in the Spirit
Ephesians 4:3 Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit. 

• Unity…enotatah: (BAGD p. 338) a state of oneness or of being in harmony and accord, unity…maintain the unity of the spirit.
  • Uniformity. Not a house divided.
  • Remain in one accord. United in complete agreement concerning our faith.
    • Ephesians 4:13 (NKJV) till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
      • “The purpose is maturity in Christ, being conformed to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. The ultimate goal is Christ-likeness, or spiritual maturity according to the standard of Christ. This is the primary goal of the equipping and the unity desired. The more we possess His character and mind, the more we will experience the unity of the Spirit.” 
        https://bible.org/article/unity-spirit-ephesians-41-6 
      • Leave no doubt in the minds of your observers that you are a child of God. You think and act like Him as much as possible.
  • Bound together by similar characteristics.
    • Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV) 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy [separate/set apart] and dearly loved, clothe [uniformity] yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  
    • “Unity is a thing undivided itself, but separate from ever other thing…Agreement; uniformity.” https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/unity.html 
    • Example: Those participating in a three-legged race.

Beautiful Collision: when each member of the body comes together as one.
 
Pursue Wisdom
Christmas is right around the corner. As parents, we often ask our children what the one thing is that they’d like as a present. One year when a friend of our asked Shiloh what she’d like for a gift…she said she wanted a pillow pet. He got her a more affordable knock-off brand pillow pet and she pointed out to him that it was in fact not a pillow pet as soon as she opened it.
 
Let me ask you this, if you could ask for one thing from the Lord, what would you request?
What was it that Solomon asked for? 
1 Kings 3:5-12 (NIV) 5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

The Offer:

• Vs. 5…ask for whatever you want Me to give you.

 
The Request:

• Vs. 9…A wise and discerning heart.
  • James 1:5 (NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
• Consider your motive.
  •  James 4:2-3 (NIV) 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. 
  • If you find that God isn’t answering the way you thought, then try reassessing your request and motives. And or learn to trust His way and timing.

The Cost:

• So, Solomon writes in Proverbs 4:7 (NIV) that “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”
  • If I had one million dollars sitting here, or a brand new Jeep truck out in the parking lot and said the first one to each can keep it. What would you do?

The Result:

• Vs. 10…Solomon’s request PLEASED the Lord.
• Vs. 12…Solomon’s request was granted. He had pure motives.
• A growing increase in knowledge, wisdom, discernment, understanding.
  • 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. 
  • If you’re hungry enough, then He will grow you in Him.

 
Beautiful Collision: This is when prayer with pure/godly motives and wisdom collide.  
 
How do I know what is considered good by God’s standards?
How do I become unified in the Spirit with others?
Ask for and pursue Wisdom! Ask for and pursue godly discernment!

Pursue Love 
Every Spring Break my family and I are ready to be somewhere that’s warmer…whether it’s AZ or Gulf Shores. There’s just something about soaking in the sun.
When we’re in Iowa during those cold months, I look forward to some warm/comfort food and or beverages. Nothing like a warm bowl of Cream of Wheat, or Tapioca. Or a nice hot coffee.
That which makes us feel warm is so refreshing.

Today we’re going to discuss the idea of Pursuing Love.
Love Defined…
-“the quality of warm regard for and interest in another, esteem, affection, regard, love…of human love…without indication of the person who is the object of interest.” (BAGD, p. 6).
- Warm / fuzzy feelings.

- BAGD Lexicon Pursue Definition on p. 254. 
Dioko - “to follow in haste to find something, run after, pursue…figuratively, pursue, strive for, seek after, aspire to something.”

Love’s close companion.
- Faith.   Pistis...as a Christian virtue, is often coupled with agape [love]…(BAGD 818-820).
1 Timothy 6:11 (NKJV) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NKJV).
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NIV) And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

ADD to your FAITH
- 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…love.

Go after it…Pursue it.

Godly love is to be pursued.

• The issue…
  • In 1980, Johnny Lee released a song entitled, Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.
    • Looking for the warm fuzzies in the all the wrong places and or people that God never intended for us to do.
    • Are we not witnessing that in our communities today?
• The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in
  • 1 Corinthians 14:1a, 1 Timothy 6:11, and 2 Timothy 2:22…Pursue love.
• Are you chasing after Godly love? If so, then it will be evident to yourself and to others.

 
Genuine love is revealing.

• Do I have the Holy Spirit residing within me?
  • Gal. 5:22 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.
  • John 15:16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
• Do I truly love and obey the Lord and His ways?
  • Matthew 22:36-38 (NIV) 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 
  • John 14:15…If you love Me you’ll keep my commandments.
  • John 21:17 (NLT) A third time he asked him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, "Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you." Jesus said, "Then feed my sheep.
• Do I truly love others?
  • Matthew 22:39-40 (NIV) 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
  • John 15:12-13 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
  • A lady once said, “that in order to be successful in Network Marketing you have to have a love of people. She believes that the people who are at the top of their game really think about others and how they can help them.”
    • Is that a mindset you can relate with?
• Does loving God and others matter?
  • Such acts are a testimony to an observant world.
    • John 13:35 (NIV) By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
  • This is what we’ve been taught to do…the example laid out before us. Nothing worse than teaching and setting an example and come to find out that your followers haven’t caught it.
    • Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9-10 (BSB) And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as our love for you overflows, Now about brotherly love, you do not need anyone to write to you, because you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. And indeed, you are showing this love to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to excel more and more…
    • Hebrews 5:12 (NLT) You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
  • A loveless life is just noise. It’s just words that aren’t backed up by actions
    • “If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate [nothing but a clanging cymbal]. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love. (1 Corinthians 13:1-7, The Message)” For King & Country song lyrics from The Proof of Your Love
• What reward is there for pursuing genuine love?
  • Grand discoveries.
    • Proverbs 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor.
  • Living in abundant Joy.
    
    • John 15:10-11 (NLT) When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 
  • An eternal friendship.​
    • John 15:14, 17 You are my friends if you do what I command.17 This is my command: Love each other.

Beautiful collision... obedience and genuine love collide.

​Christ showed you the greatest example of what love looks like. Now who is it that you’re pouring your love, confidence and ambition into? Are you willing to lay your life down for others? Sacrificing and putting their needs before your own. What’s the x-ray of your hearts going to reveal today?


Pursue Peace
The next virtue/characteristic that we ought to seek to pursue it PEACE.

• 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NKJV).  

How can there be peace between people?

• Have you ever listened to a 7th grade band in comparison to an adult symphony? One of the major differences that comes with experience is harmonization. When a group is in harmony with each other it’s a beautiful result.
• Eirane… “a state of concord (agreement), peace, harmony…harmony in personal relationships peace, harmony…strive toward peace. (BAGD p. 287).
• Amos 3:3 (NKJV) Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? 
  • That walking or working together is evidence of agreeing to harmonize, or strive toward peace together. Otherwise, it’s a mess.

Where does peace come from?

• 1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV) For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
• Gal. 5:22 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.

What should I do with this peace? 

• Pursue it so others can see Jesus in you.
  • BAGD Lexicon Pursue Definition on p. 254.
    • Dioko - “to follow in haste to find something, run after, pursue…figuratively, pursue, strive for, seek after, aspire to something.”
      • Ephesians 4:3-6 (NIV) 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
      • 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NKJV).
  • Heb. 12:14 (NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
  • 1 Pet. 3:11 (NKJV) Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace, and pursue it.
  • Psalm 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (KJV).
  • Romans 14:19 (NKJV) Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.

How is our peace often forfeited?

• When our minds don’t stay on or trust in Him.
  • Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV) 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
• When we don’t pray.
  • Song: What A Friend We Have in Jesus by Alan Jackson
    • What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
      What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
      O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
      All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

 
Beautiful Collision: When all that happens within our daily lives and peace collide.

​2 Timothy 2:22 (NKJV) Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NKJV). 
 
Pursue-  BAGD Lexicon Definition on p. 254.  

• Dioko - “to follow in haste to find something, run after, pursue…figuratively, pursue, strive for, seek after, aspire to something.”  

Pursue Righteousness…Righteousness defined:

• Dikaiosuna (BAGD p. 248).
  • The quality or characteristic of upright behavior, uprightness, righteousness…seek to attain/achieve uprightness.  
• One author states that “Righteousness is thinking, speaking, and acting in agreement with God’s standards of right and wrong. It is doing what is just, right, and virtuous, as defined by God. The boundaries and definitions of righteousness are clearly revealed in the Bible (Pr 8:8; Ps 119:40,128,172; II Tim 3:16-17). All you have to do is totally humble yourself before God’s word and do it (Jas 1:19-27; 3:17-18).” From Let God Be True 
• Illustration:
  • Uprights in football.
    • Those cheering for the kicker to make.
    • Those cheering for the kicker to miss.
    • Make...is hitting the mark.
    • Miss…is missing the mark (sin).

 
So here is the Human Responsibility…

•  Leave and Long 
• Leave.
  • Flee…BAGD P. 1052
    • to keep from doing something by avoiding it because of its potential damage, flee from, avoid, shun…In contrast to [dioko/pursue].
      • 1 Timothy 6:11 (NKJV) But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
      • 1 Corinthians 10:14 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
    • Youthful…(young in age; young spiritually).
    • Lusts…BAGD P. 372
      • A desire for something forbidden or simply inordinate, craving, lust.
        • 2 Timothy 4:3 (NKJV) For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;
        • 1 Peter 1:14 (NKJV) as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
  • Self-righteousness. “Self-righteousness makes a list of rules and checks them off, congratulating itself on how well it is doing compared to others. The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were masters of self-righteousness, but Jesus had harsh words for them: ‘Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness’ (Matthew 23:27–28).” 
    • Doing that which is right in their own eyes…hoping to get one by on God.  
      • Deuteronomy 12:8 (ESV) “You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, 
      • Judges 17:6 (NLT) In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes. 
  • There are passages that communicate to us that NONE can be Righteous apart from God.  
    • Psalm 14:1-3 and Psalm 53:1-3
      The fool has said in his heart,
      “There is no God.”
      They are corrupt,
      They have done abominable works,
      There is none who does good.
      2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men,
      To see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
      3 They have all turned aside,
      They have together become corrupt;
      There is none who does good,
      No, not one.
    • Romans 3:10-12 
      10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one;
      11 There is none who understands;
      There is none who seeks after God.
      12 They have all turned aside;
      They have together become unprofitable;
      There is none who does good, no, not one.”
• Long.
  • 2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (NKJV).  
  • Matthew 5:6a (NIV) those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,  

Listen and Look 

• Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock… 

 
Life and Lusciousness 

• Proverbs 21:21 Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. (NLT).  
• Matthew 5:6 (NIV) Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  
• One author states that, “To be righteous is to be right with God. A heart that is right with God results in a life that bears ‘fruit’ (John 15:1–2; Mark 4:20).
  What does it mean to pursue righteousness? 
• Biblical Example…
  • Job 1:1 (NKJV) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and [a]shunned [(turned away from)] evil.

 
God Loathes and Loves 

• Proverbs 15:9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.”
• Therefore, what He hates/loathes, I should hate too. I should want to see it how He sees it. 
  • Renew my mind, Lord.
    • Romans 12:2 (NLT) Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Beautiful collision...responsibility (upright living within His boundaries) and rewards (renewed mind that comes from Him) collide. **God's boundaries and evidence of our loving, willing obedience put into action.
 
 
Now, let’s consider the close relation between righteousness and faith.
 
 
Pursue Faith
 
BAGD Lexicon Definition on p. 254.  

• Dioko - “to follow in haste to find something, run after, pursue…figuratively, pursue, strive for, seek after, aspire to something.”  

Faith…(BAGD pp. 818-820).

• State of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted, trust, confidence, faith in the active sense = ‘believing’, in reference to deity.
  • As true piety [religion], genuine devotion…
    
    

• What is Faith?  
  • Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance [(evidences)] about things we cannot see. 

 
Pursuing Faith

• Is a reliance upon the Holy Spirit.
  • A fruit of the Spirit.
    • Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
    • Ephesians 6:23 (NKJV) Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Is pursuing a faith that works and doesn’t stand alone.
  • Illustration:
    • Hide and Seek…intently looking for that which you’re seeking…sometimes the person is right there in plain sight.
    • Playing hide and seek with my girls…they’d stand in a corner and cover their eyes…they figured that if they couldn’t see me, then I couldn’t see them.
    • The righteous living manual is right there in plain sight for us…we looked at that last week…pursuing His Word.
  • Example not to follow.
    • Romans 9:30-33 (NKJV) What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; 31 but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. 32 Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
  • Examples to follow.
    • 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
    • James 2:14-26 (NKJV) Faith Without Works Is Dead 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. 
• Is an ongoing / continual process.
  • 1 Timothy 2:15 (NKJV) Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
  • 2 Corinthians 8:7 (NKJV) But as you abound in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us--see that you abound in this grace also.
  • 2 Peter 1:5-8 (NIV) 5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith…
  • Trust / confidence in Him... He's never failed us before and never will. 
    • Therefore, put your Faith into Action.  
• Is an Example to leave for generations to come.
  • 1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV) Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
  • 2 Timothy 3:10 (NKJV) But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,
  • Titus 2:2 (NKJV) that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience;
  • Revelation 2:19 (NKJV) “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

 
 
Collision: Genuine Faith and Righteous Works (Upright Living).

Pursue (in the weeks ahead we’ll be looking at specific characteristics that God wants us to pursue).   
 
What does the word pursue mean?   

• BAGD Lexicon Definition on p. 254.   
  • Dioko - “to follow in haste to find something, run after, pursue…strive for, seek after, aspire to something.”   

 
“When the world trade center was bombed in 2001 President Bush used a   
phrase that is commonly used by politicians, ‘stay the course.’ He said we would ‘stay the course’ in our fight against terror. To stay the course is ‘to stand firm in pursuing a goal or course of action, to persevere in the face of whatever challenges or obstacles one may encounter.’” From Sermon Central  
 
For Example.  

• Pursuit drills in Football. Pursuing the Ball and or Ball Career.  
• Police in hot pursuit.   
• Black Friday shopping.   
• Grocery Shopping…specials/sales/while supplies last.  
• The newest phone coming out.   
• The best parking spot or spot in line.   
• In hot pursuit of the restroom.   
• Each example has a sense of intensity, initiation, purpose and intentionality.  

 
Another definition for pursue that comes from the KJV Dictionary states… “To follow as an example; to imitate.” https://av1611.com/kjbp/kjv-dictionary/pursue.html  
 
Who can we turn to for an understanding of what it means to pursue?  

• Who should we follow as an example and imitate in this lifestyle of pursuing? The answer is, God.  
  • He is the perfect example of a someone who is a PURSUER. 
    • He is not a deserter…He is a PURSUER.  
    • Matthew 18:12 (NIV) "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?  
    • Song:  So Will I (100 Billion X) by Hillsong United  
      • God of salvation
        You chased down my heart
        Through all of my failure and pride
        On a hill You created
        The light of the world
        Abandoned in darkness to die Lyrics to So Will I  
    • He took the initiation to chase me down…to pursue me first, before I ever thought of pursuing / chasing after Him, before I ever understood the concept of pursuing. He initiates the act of pursuing!  

 
Can mankind be PURSUERS as well?  

• The answer is, Yes! 
  • Genesis 1:27 (NIV) So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them… 
    • Meaning…we share some of His characteristics. In this case, the characteristic of Pursuing. This is why we’ll see in the weeks ahead that He’s telling us to be PURSUERS of some specific characteristics.  
  • The Problem.  
    • It is possible for His creation to pursue or imitate incorrect examples, goals or courses of action.  
      • Often times in football the quarterback will fake the handoff to the running back and leave the defense, audience and cameraman all confused. The defender will end up tackling the runner who doesn’t have the ball and get up looking and feeling pretty silly.  
      • One time I had a catcher make an awesome throw down to 2nd base in a game…to my disappointment there was no one on 1st who was even stealing.  
      • One author from gotquestions.org raises the question, “What is the meaning of ‘chasing the wind’ in Ecclesiastes?” His answer is that, “The book of Ecclesiastes uses the phrase chasing after the wind at least seven times…Chasing the wind is a metaphor for pursuing futility. The author of Ecclesiastes learned that pursuing meaningless things—things that do not have eternal significance—is only chasing after the wind.”  
      • Psalm 16:4a (NLT) Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods.  
      • Jeremiah 2:25 (NIV) …you said, ‘It’s no use! I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.’ 
      • Each are aimless pursuits…missing the mark…sinful.  
  • The solution.  
    • Stop leaning on your own understanding…Acknowledge Him and He’ll direct your path of pursuing (Prov. 3:5-6).  
    • Develop the skill of pursuing that which God would have you to chase after.  
    • Ask yourself, “Am I a currently more of a Pursuer or am I more of a by-standard (watching / observing from the sidelines)? Make hot pursuit contagious. Like a cop after a criminal, or a defender after the ball, or a potty-dancer after a restroom, or an intense Black Friday shopper who won’t let nothing get in his or her way.   

 
When pursuing takes place there is often a meeting or a collision. The collision for this section is…

Collision: The Sinner and Salvation in God.   
He’ll continue in hot pursuit after you, and what’s beautiful is when the two collide on their way to each other. Remember, He’s always in pursuit after you. 

"City On Our Knees (Live)" Lyrics  
by TobyMac    
If you gotta start somewhere why not here
If you gotta start sometime why not now
If we gotta start somewhere I say here
If we gotta start sometime I say now
Through the fog there is hope in the distance
From cathedrals to third world missions
Love will fall to the earth like a crashing wave
Tonight's the night
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide in a beautiful display
It's all love tonight
When we step across the line
We can sail across the sea
To a city with one king
A city on our knees…  
For the sinners and the saints
Two worlds collide
In a glorious display
Cuz its all love tonight
When we step across the line
https://www.newreleasetoday.com/lyricsdetail.php?lyrics_id=98689  
 
Now reciprocate that pursuing lifestyle…He’s pursuing you…how can you pursue Him? By… 
Pursuing His Word  

• For some of you, you just checked out, if you haven’t already. 
• The “Thanks, but I’m not interested,” mindset is already consuming you.  
• Why is it that when others are challenged to seek out God’s Word that they turn and run the opposite direction? His Word is confrontational. I get it. But He’s a Pursuer and He’s Pursuing you…give Him a chance and take baby steps into exploring His word if you’ve never done so before. 
• Or maybe you don’t feel it important enough? All else is chasing the wind.  
• Maybe take it from someone else who is passionate and pursuing God and His Word…someone from God’s word. These aren’t actors and this isn’t false advertisement.  
  • The Psalmist states this in the following passages… 
    • Psalm 119 (ESV)
      16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
      35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
      47 for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love.  
    • Psalm 119:97-105 (ESV) Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  
    • Psalm 1:2 (ESV) but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  
    • Psalm 112:1 (ESV) Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments!  
• From God Himself… 
  • Joshua 1:8 (ESV) This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.  

 
The collision for this section is… 
Collision: When your eyes and God’s Word meet. 

• Stay close to His Word.  
• Hunger for it.  
• Consume it.  
• Meditate on it…put no time limits on it…day and night.   
• Understand it.  
• Remember it.  
• Keep it.  
• Greatly delight in it.  
• Love it.  
• Pursue it.    

Challenge: Pursue God and His Word. Rest in the fact that He’s pursuing you each and every day. 

In our previous times together -- in this Acknowledging the Extent series -- we have looked at…   

• How the Centurion acknowledged the extent of his servant’s condition.   
• The extent of the Centurion and the Lord’s positions.   
• The extent of the Centurion and the Lord’s power.  
• And the extent of the Centurion and the Lord’s presence 

Today’s Title: Acknowledging the extent of the Centurion and the Crowd’s faith, Part 5.  

Matthew 8:10-13 (NKJV) 10 When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! 11 And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.
 
The extent of the Centurion’s faith.

• “great faith”…”pertaining to a high degree of quality…so great/strong, to such extent…in a positive sense.”
  • Great faith was evidenced in the Centurion’s belief in Christ’s ability.
    • In vs. 5, the Centurion “…came to Him…”
    • In vs. 5 as well, He was “…pleading with Him…”
    • In vs. 6 he called Him “…Lord…”
    • In vs. 8 he said “…But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.”
    • In vs. 10 we read that “…He marveled…”
      • The Centurion’s faith caused Christ to marvel.
        • “marveled” … “to be extraordinarily impressed…wonder, marvel.”
    • In vs. 13 Christ says, “…Go your way; and as you have believed…”
    • Result…
      • In vs. 7 Christ says, “I will come to heal him.”
      • Now Christ is giving orders to the Centurion in verse 13 “GO!”
      • In vs. 13 Christ says “let it be done for you…And his servant was healed that same hour.”
      • Other Gentiles come to faith in Christ.
        • In his book, The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, J. Dwight Pentecost, …
          • P. 191 points out that “As a man of authority the centurion knew that one did not have to be personally present to execute a command. The one in authority only needed to issue the commands to have something done. The centurion recognized authority in the person of Christ and confessed that it was not necessary for Christ to come to his home. It was only necessary for Him to issue the command. This demonstrated a remarkable faith in the person and authority of Christ. Christ responded, ‘I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith’ (Matt. 8:10). Faith such as this Gentile had demonstrated would be duplicated many times by other Gentiles, for Christ added, ‘Many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast’ (v. 11). By this He was referring to Gentiles who would join with ‘Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.’…This paragraph…shows the extension of the message of salvation to multitudes of Gentiles who would believe and have their part with the faithful in Israel in the kingdom.”
      • Come – faith – forgiveness is what the Lord is looking for.
        • Christ wants us to come to Him, have faith in Him alone, and seek forgiveness/healing.
          • Matthew 4:24 Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.
          • Matthew 9:2 Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
          • Mark 2:3-5 3 Then they came to Him, bringing a paralytic who was carried by four men. 4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
          • Luke 5:24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” —He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
          • Matthew 9:20-22, 27-31 (NKJV)

20 And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. 21 For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” 22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
Two Blind Men Healed
27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” 28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.” 30 And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, “See that no one knows it.” 31 But when they had departed, they spread the news about Him in all that country.

Arcangues (pronounced ar-KONG) (foaled March 12, 1988–October 2006) was a French Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He won the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan, Prix du Prince d'Orange, Prix Eugène Adam and John Henry Handicap, but is most famous for winning the 1993 Breeders' Cup Classic as a tremendous longshot, a victory that has been called one of the biggest upsets in horse racing history… Despite big wins…Bettors sent the horse off at odds of 133–1 in the richest of the Breeders' Cup races. Under last-minute jockey Jerry Bailey, the horse caught Bertrando in the home stretch to score the biggest upset in Breeders' Cup history. His $269.20 payoff for a $2 wager remains a Breeders' Cup record. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcangues_(horse)
 
Just imagine the arrogance of the other horse racers prior to this race. Strolling up and down the rows of stalls believing that their horse was the best…why even allow this Arcangues in the race…don’t they understand the odds are against him. Believing that their odds were better because of their name or history.
 
Keep Arcangues in mind as we talk about a longshot in the eyes of this crowd in Matthew 8.
 
Notice how Christ redirects His focus from the Centurion and now to the Crowd.
 
The extent of the Crowd’s faith.

• Christ says in Great faith was evidenced in the Centurion’s belief in Christ’s ability.
  • In our parallel passage of Luke 7:9…“When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him…”
    • We know from John 3:2 that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night. More than likely no crowd was present. But in this instance there were many who were following.
    • We also know that it was common for Jesus to answer questions that His audience had in their minds without them asking the question out loud. So, they might have been thinking “I have faith and I think my faith is big”...so Jesus answers the question many of them were most likely pondering.
  • Matthew 8:10 “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.”
    • They probably assumed their faith was just fine prior to and during Him saying that. “Why would He say that to us?”
    • Nonetheless…He knows the heart of all mankind, and right now their “faith” or lack thereof is being called out by Jesus. He had done this several times throughout the Book of Matthew…mostly to His chosen Disciples.    
      • Little faith/trust…
        • Matthew 6:30 (NKJV) Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
        • Matthew 8:26 (NKJV) But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.
        • Matthew 14:31 (NKJV) And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
        • Matthew 16:8 (NKJV) But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?
      • Depart from Me.
        • The disciples, and the also the crowd in our paragraph of study, probably assumed there was nothing wrong with their faith until Jesus called them out on it. How about not just hear from Him concerning their little faith, but how about those who heard from Him “depart from me” I’m sure they thought they were a faithful people too…a people who thought they were doing things for the Lord.  
          • Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
          • Matthew 25:41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:
          • Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
        • Depart from Me is basically what Jesus was telling those who would ultimately reject Him.
        • In reference to Matthew 8, once again in his book The Words and Works of Jesus Christ, J. Dwight Pentecost,
          • P. 191 points out that “apart from faith in Christ none of Abraham’s physical descendants could have a part in the kingdom. Those who heard the kingdom offer and then rejected the person of the King thereby excluded themselves from the kingdom. They will be consigned to darkness forever (v. 12)…This paragraph is a remarkable foreshadowing of the setting aside of the nation Israel because of unbelief.”
          • James 2:14-20,24 (NKJV) Faith Without Works Is Dead
            • 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

 
 
Those in the crowd following Jesus might have only wanted to see a miracle and or want to find one wrong thing with Jesus’ ministry that they could accuse Him of. They might have been involved in ministry themselves but in it for the wrong reasons…attention, money, fame, etc.
-       For the Centurion, Christ was MARVELLED by his Faith.
-       For the crowd following, Christ was unable to find anyone, not even in all of Israel (keep in mind that the Centurion was a Gentile/Roman), who had the kind of faith this Centurion had. They would have put all kinds of bets on their own faith…only to come to find that the longshot, the underdog, stole the show.
 
Let me ask you this, what would Jesus say concerning your faith if He too turned around to address the crowds who have been following you?
-       Would He consider your faith small? Or Big?
-       Would He say “Go…let it be done for you”? or “Depart from Me I never knew you”?
-       Have you come to Jesus, placed all your faith in Him, and sought forgiveness and or healing from Him? Would you be willing to do that today?
 
 
Parallel Passage:
Luke 7:1-10
7 Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.” 
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 
9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.