GOING THE SECOND MILE - MATT. 5:41
INTRO:
1. Every Normal Person wants to Succeed - If you Don’t, you Better go
see a Psychiatrist.
2. I’m a Musician - I want to be a successful Pianist, Singer, Songwriter.
3. If a man is a Logger - He wants to be a Good Logger
4. If a man is a Preacher – He wants to preach to change lives
5. Sunday School Teachers - You should want to be the best Sunday
School Teacher
6. If you are a Businessman - You want to succeed in Business
7. If you are a Husband - You want to be the best Husband in the
World
8. If you are Wife - You want to do a good Job - Be successful
9. If you are a Young Person - You want to succeed at school
And above everything you want to succeed as a Christian!!!
I Believe the Secret of Success lies in the short verse of Matt. 5:41
“And Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, Go with him twain.”
Mt 5:41
Verse 41. Whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile. The word translated shall compel, is of Persian origin. denotes a compulsion by the public authorities and for public service. When thus called upon by rightful authority to travel or do public service, be ready to go farther or do even more than is required, rather than resist the government.
Post-offices were then unknown. In order that the royal commands might be delivered with safety and despatch in different parts of the empire, Cyrus stationed horsemen at proper intervals on all the great public highways. One of those delivered the message to another, and intelligence was thus rapidly and safely communicated. These heralds were permitted to compel any person, or to press any horse, boat,
ship, or other vehicle that they might need, for the quick transmission of the king’s commandments. It was to this custom that our Saviour refers.
Rather, says he, than resist a public authority, requiring your attendance
and aid for a certain distance, go peaceably twice the distance.
A mile. A Roman mile was a thousand paces.
Twain. Two.
1. At the time Jesus spoke these words, The Jews were under the
bondage of the Roman Government.
a. The Romans made slaves of the Jews.
b. One of the things they made them do was to carry their burdens.
1. For Example: If a Roman had a pack on his back and he came
across a Jew, He would compel him to carry the burden for
him.
2. He could compel him to carry it for one mile.
3. They say that each Jewish boy had a Mile marked off in all
directions from his home.
4. When they came to the Mark - He would refuse to carry the
burden any longer.
2. Jesus Declared that this Attitude was not the Christian one
I want to look at two Applications that you can get out of this verse
There is a primary Application and a secondary Application
I. THE PRIMARY APPLICATION
We are to go the “second mile” of Forbearance and Forgiveness
When Men mistreat us or seem overbearing - We are to turn the other cheek or go the second mile.
You Don’t hear this preached much any more - Dog eat Dog World
People say - Well you didn’t hear what they said about me -
He started It
Don’t Talk about the Person even if they are in the wrong.
You Might say well - I’ve already forgiven them 25 times
You’ve Still 465 Times to go - The Bible Says 7 x 70
1. There are many reason why People are fussing and fighting in
the church
a. Never since God made man have we needed the “Second Mile”
in our dealings with each other as we do today.
2. We are living in the most high strung, Nervous, High tension age
ever
3. People have to have sleeping pills to go to bed
Tranquillity pills when they wake up in the morning
and Aspirin all day at work to keep them going
4. Even with all these “Aids of Calmness” we stand ready to slap
anyone down who even looks as if he would strike us on the cheek
5. We Certainly will not turn the other cheek or go the Second Mile.
This Impatient, Nervous attitude sometimes causes Husbands and Wives to be Caustic with each other.
It Causes friction in our churches
JOHN HAS HAD A BAD WEEK AND HE COMES IN A BITES HENRY’S HEAD OFF!!!
It Cause many Christians to Act like Lost People
The Worst thing it does it hurts the cause of Christ
ILLUSTRATE: WHY THE BOY PULLED THE CAT’S TAIL
The Boss Jumped on his Worker
The Worked Went home and Jumped on his Wife
The Wife Jumped on her Little Boy and he Pulled the Cat’s Tail
Had that Cat known where the Vicious circle started he would have lifted his tail and said to the Boy.
“Sonny pull all you want to - Cause I Understand where the pulling started.”
It started with that Daddy back in the office
If we knew what “Gets People Started” in their over-bearing Attitude toward us - We would often be a little more patient with them.
I’ve seen People jump all over someone before - and they didn’t know
what kind of burden the person they jumped on was carrying
ILLUSTRATE
It’s like the story I read about a Preacher that had finished a Revival
meeting and was just wore out
2. He was taking a Train ride to his next meeting and needed to get
some rest.
3. But there was a father who was riding in the same coach as he was
that had a baby that was crying and keeping everyone awake.
4. Several times he said he almost said something to the man about
removing the child so he could get some sleep.
5. Finally one of the men in the Coach with him stood up and Shouted
to the father “For God’s Sake - Why don’t you take that baby to his
mother and let the rest of us get some sleep
6. That preacher said you could hear the father sob as he said, “Sir, I
wish I could, but I can’t because the baby’s mother is in a casket in
the baggage coach ahead.
7. The Man that had shouted at the Father said “I did not realize that the baby’s mother was dead and that with a broken heart you were doing the best you could with the baby. Please Forgive me and let me take care of the baby so you can get some sleep.”
WHEN YOU FEEL MISTREATED, OR WHEN SOMEONE IS BOTHERING YOU.
YOU NEED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK YOURSELF
DOES THIS PERSON NEED MY PRAYERS
DOES THIS PERSON NEED MY SYMPATHY
DOES THIS PERSON NEED MY UNDERSTANDING
DOES THIS PERSON NEED MY PATIENCE
Or should I jump on him like he did me!!
We need to go the second mile of forbearance and forgiveness in our homes our churches and our personal lives.
That is the Primary Application of this verse But the main thing I want to look at is the secondary meaning of this verse.
What is the secondary Application?
In this Text we see the secret of success in every Realm
How many of you want to be failures?
How many of you want to be successful?
Is Anybody Surprised?
This Verse will work in any area of your life!!!
I. THIS VERSE WILL WORK ON YOUR JOB!
Hey if you want to go to the top of the ladder in business, in the profession you’re in , in any phase of life.
Learn the meaning of this verse!!!
You will succeed when you put the second mile into your effort.
Give the Job double what most people give it and you will get to the top
ILLUSTRATE:
1. When Thomas Edison was a little boy - His teacher sent him home
with a Note pinned to the back of his shirt.
2. The Note said, “Please Keep this boy at home, He is to dumb to
learn.”
3. Yet when Thomas Edison Died he left over 1,000 Inventions to his
memory, including many of those that made possible modern
technology.
4. Someone Asked Mr. Edison one say to explain what a genius was,
because he was considered a Genius.
5. He Replied by saying, “GENIUS IS 98% PERSPIRATION!!!
What he meant was that it’s not the man with more brains and more talents, but it is the man who is willing to give the job everything he has who proves to be a success - And be considered a Genius!!!
Show me a Person who is looking for sundown and payday!! Whose Attitude is “I will not work any harder than I have to to keep from getting Fired and I’ll show you someone who will never get to the top.
If you want to stay where you are for the rest of your life - Just do enough to get by!!!
But If you want to be successful go the Second Mile
Not Only does This verse contain the Secret of success for your Job
II. YOUR MARRIAGE
Some wives say by their Actions “I’m not going to do anymore than I have to do to stay married.
If I can go around the house with my hair looking like the rats spent the night in it, I’ll Certainly not go to all the Trouble of rolling my hair to make it look better.
If I can serve Toast for Breakfast, I’ll Certainly not Cook Biscuits.
If I can get by with plastic cups and Plates, I’ll certainly not dirty up the dishes to be washed.
Hey Lady if that’s your attitude, You’ll never make your Husband Happy.
If you want to make him proud he married you, GO THE SECOND MILE.
MAKE YOURSELF AS PRETTY AS YOU CAN AND THEN PRETTY UP THE CAN.
KISS HIM WHEN HE WANTS YOU TO AND THEN COOK FOR HIM, CLEAN FOR HIM, AND DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE HIM HAPPY
DO MORE THAN WHAT THAN WHAT’S EXPECTED
As for you Husbands - You need to go the second mile also
Don’t just buy your wife an Easter Hat - Buy her the whole Outfit
Treat Her with the Second Mile Consideration and she’ll be a Happy Wife --- Do More than What’s Expected
Husbands and Wives think that if they just do the things Necessary
Men think that all they have to do is Work Forty hours a week to get Praised --- Do a little Extra every once in a while
Women think that it’s enough if they do the Laundry, wash the dishes
Take care of children -- Do a little Extra Sometime
I’m Serious!!
Go Home and do everything you can to make each other happy.
NOW THAT YOU’RE MARRIED, KEEP ON DOING THE THINGS YOU DID FOR EACH OTHER BEFORE YOU GOT MARRIED, THAT MADE YOU WANT TO GET MARRIED, AND I GUARANTEE THAT YOU WILL NOT WANT TO GET UNMARRIED!!!
I. GO THE SECOND MILE ON YOU JOB
II. GO THE SECOND MILE IN YOUR MARRIAGE
The main thing I want to Emphasize today is
III. GO THE SECOND MILE IN YOUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
OUTSIDE OF THE SALVATION MOST OF GOD’S BLESSINGS COME IN FULLEST MEASURE WHEN WE PUT THE SECOND MILE PRINCIPLE TO WORK.
Take the Matter of Prayer - Matt. 7:7 “Ask, and shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; Knock and it shall be opened unto you”
Jesus is saying here is that if you want it you can have it.
I hear people say they want to see their loved ones saved.
Have you gone the second mile?
Have you ever prayed all night long for them?
I wouldn’t ask my preacher to pray for them if I weren’t spending some time alone with God.
If your husband had some rare disease and was going to die in a week you would praying constantly for him.
But if you have a lost husband or wife or Child they’re in far worst shape than dying with a disease
It’s time we get serious about our lost loved ones
DON’T EVER EXPECT GOD TO DO SOMETHING GREAT IF YOUR PRAYERS AND AGONY HAVEN’T BEEN GREAT!!!
Lots of times we think God is just do it, but we’re gonna have to go the second Mile in Prayer if anything is going to get done.
WE SAY WE WANT THIS CHURCH TO GROW AND DO GREAT THINGS FOR GOD - HOW MANY HOURS HAVE YOU SPENT ON YOUR KNEES THIS IN PRAYER FOR OUR CHURCH.
I am positive that the secret of a Great Church is the Second Mile
The Problem with the modern Day church is that we have a bunch of one mile Church Members
They come one or two times a year on Christmas and Easter
Church members come to Sunday School and leave before preaching - If you do that there is something wrong somewhere
They come to preaching but never come to Sunday School
Then they wonder why their Kids don’t know anything about the Bible
They come Sunday Morning and you won’t see them again until the next Sunday Morning - Because they been out living for the world all week.
The fill their life with every Ungodly thing
They watch more television than they read their Bible
They would Rather Stay home and watch some TV show than they would come on Visitation.
We Have one milers when it comes to the matter of prayer
Matter of Living Right
Matter if Giving
This Church should never hurt for financial reasons
If a church can’t meet it’s bills - Someone is robbing God
In Most Baptist churches when the Preacher Says Offering
Some People want to Sing I feel like Traveling ON
If you don’t give to this church what God tells us to give
You’re not going the first Mile
Tithing is the First Mile - The second mile is Missions, Youth Fund
Special Offerings
Only God knows what could and would happen if all of members would put in that extra effort, that second mile -
If everyone of us would get this second mile spirit we could have double what we had last Sunday.
But the thing is we’re more content to sit on the Church pew and let somebody else do the work.
We need to Got the second mile in the matter of Soul winning
People are not going to come up to you and ask you to help them get saved.
WE had a Great Crowd on Visitation Yesterday – But it was still only ¼ of our Church
Do you know what the problem is? We have a bunch One - Milers
We’re not willing to give up something in order to get someone saved
We need to get serious about serving God
WHY SHOULD WE GO THE SECOND MILE?
1. The Bible Teaches It
Romans 12:1 I beseech.........
Some people think a man’s a fool if he gets on fire for God
But these Lukewarm Bottled Babies are the one bringing the
reproach on God’s Name
If any Cause Deserves our Zeal. our total Dedication, OUR ALL
it the Service of GOD, The Work of the Church, The Winning of Souls
1. BECAUSE THE BIBLE TEACHES IT!!!
2. JESUS GAVE HIS ALL FOR US!!!
3. IT’S THE ONLY WAY TO REACH THE WORLD!!!
CONCLUSION & INVITATION
This world is on the brink of ruin because so few of us are going the second mile
We are to blame for empty churches, for lost loved ones, for the filth that is everywhere in out community
Our Indifference is the Cause of our Crisis
Now, I want you to ask yourself
Am I a one - Mile Christian
Am I to blame for the spiritual condition of my home
Am I going the Second Mile
What Kind of church would this church be if every church member were just like me?
Would anybody ever get saved
Would their Be any evidence of prayer
Everyone is either part of the Problem - Or working to Solve it
If you are a One mile Christian then you are part of the Problem
If you are willing to become a Second Mile Christian you can help with the Solution
