2 Timothy 3:1 — “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”

Keeping with our theme, Go The Distance, today’s thought is Going the Distance in Perilous Times. We have been admonished to go the distance and complete that which God has begun in us. We are not to shift from the gospel we have heard. We must be steadfast and unmovable in Christ.

Paul exhorted Timothy to continue in the faith even in the face of increasing evil. Perilous means full of grave risk, hazardous, dangerous. And if ever there were perilous times, we are living in them today.

2 Timothy 3:2–5 — “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

One theologian stated, “The moment a man makes his own will the center of life, obedience to God and charity to man become impossible. The essence of Christianity is not enthronement, but obliteration of self.”

Love of self is the foundation of the depravity that follows. These attitudes explain chaos in leadership, social disorder, and why people are driven without restraint. Whatever is done, it is often out of control.

1 Corinthians 15:33 — “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.”

We are warned not just to avoid becoming like this, but to avoid the influence of those who are. Paul instructs, from such, turn away.

2 Timothy 3:12–13 — “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”

Matthew 24:24 — “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

We are the elect. We must beware. Be on guard. Be watchful. But know this — God’s will shall prevail.

Paul told Timothy, continue in the things you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.

We have learned from those God placed over us. So how do we continue?

• Study, meditate on, and memorize the Word of God
• Allow scripture to correct and instruct us in righteousness

2 Timothy 3:16–17 — “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

• Be consistent in prayer

1 Thessalonians 5:17 — “Pray without ceasing.”

• Watch in all things

2 Timothy 4:5 — “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

Endure hardship. Do the work of expanding the Kingdom. Spread the gospel. Fulfill your ministry even through opposition.

1 Corinthians 15:58 — “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

These are perilous times. There will be hardship. There may be persecution. But be encouraged. Hold on. Don’t give up. Be strong. Have good courage. Keep your eyes on Jesus and continue in what you have learned.

Go the distance, even in these perilous times. In the end, we win. We are the victors. We will be the victors.

We will hear Christ say:

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”

It will be worth it all—every trial, every tribulation—when we see Jesus face to face in peace.

Father, we thank You. We thank You for Your Word that encourages us to go the distance, even in these perilous times.

You have reminded us to continue in the things we have heard and learned. We have learned much, O God, and we thank You.

Strengthen us. Keep us steadfast. Keep our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Colossians 1:19–23 — “For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

Go the distance. We just had a marathon and we had someone right in our church who knows what it is, not only to speak it, but she had to work it out. Go the distance. You know, just the thought of that makes me want to sit down. But nevertheless, we are charged to go the distance. Spiritually, go the distance.

Many people start out, but somewhere along the way, they become discouraged and they drop the baton. So we’re going to say, not so, not on my watch, in the precious name of Jesus. If you dropped it, thank God we can always be restored, even today.

Is that your testimony? Thank You, Lord. We were once alienated from God, and we now, by the power of the blood, have been made new, new! We know the Word of God that says:

2 Corinthians 5:17 — “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

It’s because of the blood of Jesus Christ that we have been forgiven, and we have been reconciled to a holy God, so that when God looks upon us, He doesn’t see our sin, but the righteousness of Jesus, because of the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made.

So we are now presented holy and blameless. Jesus, thank You Lord you are able to present us holy and blameless before God.

We are called to live above reproach. Can we? Yes. We can live above reproach because of the power of the Holy Spirit. Not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the living God.

It doesn’t mean we’re perfect. That’s why the altar is there. That’s why we can run to Psalm 51 when we know we’ve missed the mark. But thanks be to God, we can live blameless lives.

Verse 23 says, if. Big, capital, bold—IF we continue in the faith. It’s one thing to begin, it’s another to continue. I’m speaking to those who began. You began with passion, fervor, joy. So what is hindering you now? No excuses. No excuses! But if you dropped the baton, thank God there’s a mercy seat.

1 John 1:9 — “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

We refuse to move to hopelessness. We choose to continue hopeful. It’s impossible to please God without faith. We must remain steadfast, not shifting from the gospel.

We have to go the distance. Run this race. Our heads are not in the clouds. We will face opposition. But we press through. Press through.

Paul faced opposition:

2 Corinthians 11:23–28 — “Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”

Jesus told Ananias about Paul:

Acts 9:16 — “For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

We won’t suffer exactly like Paul, that was his assignment. But will we quit at adversity? No. We grow through adversity. We endure. We do not drop the baton.

We have an adversary. The enemy waits especially when God blesses us. Be vigilant.

1 Peter 5:8–9 — “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.”

We will suffer. But hear the promise:

1 Peter 5:10 — “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Even if you drop the baton, God restores. Don’t disqualify yourself. Pick it up. Let’s get moving. Amen?

1. Commit to the cause of Christ. Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.

2. Commit yourself to Jesus Christ.

Romans 10:9 — “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

3. Commit to community. Do not run alone. The enemy looks for the isolated one.

Hebrews 10:25 — “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

We need fellowship. We need unity. That’s where God commands the blessing.

Psalm 133:1–2 — “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.”

Let’s make up our minds that we will go the distance. We will go together. We will endure. We will run. We will not drop the baton. Go the distance.

Father, strengthen us to go the distance. Keep our feet steadfast. Keep our hearts anchored. Keep our faith rooted. We refuse to drop the baton. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offer himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God.”

Now, most of you know the show that’s called The Price is Right, and you know what happens on The Price is Right. People have to guess the cost of an item. And once they guess it, if they come close to it, or if they’re a little bit off, they’re still rewarded. But I’m talking about a price that has no monetary value to it at all. It’s priceless, because this price I’m talking about is the shed bloody Lord Jesus Christ.

We are looking at the letters, P R I C E. That shed blood was perfect. It was revolutionary. It was intentional. It was compassionate. And it was efficacious.

P for perfect, R revolutionary, I intentional, C compassionate, and E efficacious. Perfect. Jesus was the perfect. Spotless, sinless, and holy Lamb of God. Now, only perfection could pay the debt of imperfection, and we are not a perfect people, filled with imperfection, but perfect in God. His perfect Son. Jesus, died on this cross, so that imperfection cannot have hope.

And that’s what we read in:

Hebrews 9:14 — “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offer himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to serve the living God.”

You’re supposed to be serving the living God. We are not walking in dead works anymore, but our works are alive, because the price was paid by the shed blood of Jesus Christ at Calvary.

Ladies and gentlemen, perfection met penalty, and perfection won. Hallelujah! We should be praising the Lord right now, because we are walking in victory. The sacrifice was perfect. There was no blemish, no fault, no sin. Jesus’ spotlessness met every requirement. He fulfilled the law. He didn’t do away with it. He fulfilled the law, and satisfied every demand that justice was requiring, and through His perfection, guess what? Our imperfection was covered and our debt was completely paid. Hallelujah!

Hebrews 10:14 — “For by one offering, he has perfected forever.”

Tell yourself: I’m perfected forever. Yes, we have thoughts. Yes, we make mistakes, but through the shed blood of Jesus, because the price was paid, lift your hand and say: “I am perfected! Through the shed blood of Jesus Christ!”

And then it was revolutionary. Revolutionary. Now when you look at Calvary and the cross and what happened, and we read in the word of God, this was no ordinary feat. Come on. This was extraordinary. It was revolutionary. It wasn’t just ordinary. Jesus didn’t just change history. What did He do? He redefined eternity.

He didn’t just change history, because what He did was revolutionary. Revolutions change history. Revolutions change the course of nations. And not only did He change history, but He redefined eternity. So come on—we are assigned through the Lord eternal life because the perfect price was paid.

The cross turned shame into salvation. So come on, if you’re walking around in shame, walking around in guilt, walking around in despair and despondence—come on, you are delivered, because deliverance and pain were changed into power.

And then when we look at His resurrection, He started a revolution of grace. Come on. Look at what we gain today. Whatever your sins are, they’re in the sea of forgetfulness. This act of love changed everything. An act of love. Don’t take that love for granted. Don’t walk all over His love, because He paid a sacrificial price uncalculated for us.

He didn’t just turn the world upside down. He turned it right side up. And that’s what we need to tell our neighbors, our coworkers, the people we work with, the people we rub shoulders with— that even though the world is upside down right now—with the economy, with the government, with the hurricanes, and so and so—He came and turned everything right side up. So there’s hope, ladies and gentlemen. Hope beyond what our eyes see. Hope beyond what we are experiencing.

Heaven invaded Earth. Darkness was disarmed. Death lost its dominion. Come on, we’re living life! Abundant life! The cross was not defeat—it was a divine disruption. The greatest revolution in human history took place on the cross of Calvary as the price was paid.

2 Corinthians 5:17 — “If anyone is in Christ, you are a new creature. All things have passed, and everything has become new.”

That’s intentional. Nothing, ladies and gentlemen, nothing about Calvary was accidental. This was planned. Before the foundations of the world, this was planned. Before you were in your mother’s womb, this was planned. It was intentional for you. Every step, every word, every drop of blood was intentional. The journey that He took onto Calvary was intentional because He was coming after you and He was coming after me. From the cradle to the cross, Jesus moved with purpose. Those 33 years that He lived, it was with purpose—fulfilling prophecy and redeeming hearts, redeeming you and me.

He chose the cross out of His love for me.

John 10:18 — “No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”

He said, “Nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done.”

Don’t take His love and don’t take the price for granted. He lay it down. Nothing was accidental. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross. He didn’t stumble into the cross—He embraced it. For you. For me. Knowing it was the only way to redeem us.

It was compassion. Compassion kept Him on that cross. It wasn’t the nails. Yes, physically it did, but His compassion for you and for me is what held Him on that cross. He looked beyond my faults, your faults, our faults, and saw our need—that we needed to be forgiven. Hallelujah. Never take the blood for granted. Never take the price for granted.

His love was unmeasured, and because His love was unmeasured, He bore the pain. My God, the pain. The pain He suffered for you and for me. Don’t forget the pain He suffered for you and for me. The embarrassment He carried. His love paid for it.

Romans 5:8 — “But God demonstrated His own love for us in that while we were yet in our sins, Christ died for us.”

The price was paid on that cross. They mocked Him. They pierced Him. They spat in His face. They put a crown of thorns on His head. But mercy came from His lips—”Father, forgive them.” Mercy came from His lips.

And then it was efficacious. That’s the letter E. His blood wasn’t symbolic. It was efficacious— fully effective, totally effective, powerful and sufficient.

Why are you looking to the east and to the west when your deliverance is waiting? Your breakthrough is coming through the efficacious, all-powerful blood of Jesus.

Yes, the blood is still working. Yes, the blood works in your finances. The blood works in your sick body. The blood works in your rebellious children. The blood works when your husband is giving heartache or your wife is troublesome—the blood still works, because the price was paid.

We know how to pray because the blood never loses its power.

1 John 1:7 — “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

It cleanses. It restores. It heals. It covers. It never loses its strength. The sacrifice wasn’t symbolic—it was sufficient. The work is finished. Salvation is secured. The price is right, because Jesus paid it all. No coupons. No discounts. No debt remains.

Through this perfect, revolutionary, intentional, compassionate, efficacious sacrifice, we stand free, forgiven, and forever loved.

The price is right. Jesus paid it all. Thank You God that Your blood still speaks—mercy over judgment, life over death. We walk in victory.

This price is right. Never take the blood for granted. There is hope beyond what our eyes see. Hope beyond what we are experiencing. He turned it right side up.

Father, thank You for this time together. Thank You for Your word that is powerful and meaningful. Bless Your people today as we move into prayer. We bless You in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” — Hebrews 9:11–14 (KJV)

Let’s look at the Book of Hebrews for a minute, chapter 9, verses 11 through 14, and then we’ll continue from there.

And I’m going to read verse 15 also: “For this reason he is the mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressors under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

We want to think about the power of the blood. There is so much we need to learn. The better understanding we have of the power of Jesus’ blood, the more confidence we will have to operate in what his blood has afforded us. His blood has done for us what nothing else in the universe could ever do.

His blood has provided eternal redemption. Just think about that — we are redeemed forever. We are forever God’s possession. Those of us who are in Christ, born again, belong to God. We are his prized possession. Amen.

We thank God for this awesome work through his Son, Jesus Christ — eternal redemption. The blood of Jesus Christ has brought us eternal redemption. His blood has also purchased for us justification. Someone once said it this way: “Just as if we had never sinned.”

We are declared and made righteous — the righteousness of God in Christ. We have been declared and made to be his righteousness in Christ Jesus.

This is something we need to meditate on, because so often we think about the negatives — who we were before Christ or the last wrong thing we did. Once we’re saved, it doesn’t mean we’ll never do wrong again, but we should be doing wrong a whole lot less. Amen.

“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” — Romans 5:9 (KJV)

His blood not only justifies us, but it saves us from the wrath to come, because wrath is coming. We thank God that, in Christ, we are saved from the wrath to come.

There are different thoughts concerning the great tribulation and the wrath of God. Some believe the church will go through it, but the Bible tells us that God has not appointed us to wrath and that the blood of Jesus Christ saves us from the wrath to come. Even those who think they will go through it will have a pleasant surprise when God snatches them out. Amen.

So we thank God — the blood has purchased eternal redemption, justification, and deliverance from the wrath to come.

Redemption means we are bought back. We have been bought with a price — Jesus’ blood — and brought back into fellowship with God. God brings us out to bring us in. He brings us out of darkness and transfers us into the kingdom of his Son and his glorious light.

Scripture says, “You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” That is what we should focus on — our position in Christ, not who we were before Christ.

Some say, “Oh, I’m just a sinner.” No — you’ve been saved by grace, and that is what you hold on to. You are saved by grace. Let’s hold on to salvation and let go of the sin. We remember where we came from, but that is not where we are going.

Hebrews tells us that if we are focused on where we were, is it because we want to return? No — we focus on where we are going. God has provided something better. We focus on who we are and whose we are in him.

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” — Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)

We have redemption — bought with a price, brought back into fellowship with God — and we have forgiveness. Jesus entered heaven with his blood and placed it upon the mercy seat before God the Father — not the altar on earth, but in heaven.

The Bible speaks of three that bear witness in the earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood. They testify of what God has done in Christ Jesus.

He has obtained eternal redemption for us. We have peace — and peace is priceless. Do not let anything disrupt your peace. In the world we live in today, we need peace.

When things do not go the way we want, we don’t fall apart, because we have the peace of God, and we have peace with God. It was given to us through the blood of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus was crucified, he made peace — peace with God, peace within ourselves, and peace with others. We have been reconciled, restored to a friendly relationship with God.

Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him as righteousness, and God called him friend. We were once enemies, but now, through the blood, we are brought near into loving relationship with God. We are not outcasts — we are his children. His blood continually cleanses, washes, purifies, and sanctifies our conscience so we may serve the true and living God.

“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” — Colossians 1:20 (KJV)

This is not all the blood has done for us, but when we meditate on its power, it strengthens our faith — even in prayer, even in seeking God — to know we are protected and covered by his blood.

We know the story of Israel, when death came into Egypt and God told Moses to put the blood over the doorpost. And the Lord said, “When I see the blood, I will pass over you.”

His blood protects us. His blood covers us. His blood keeps us. We are covered, redeemed, washed, justified, and given eternal inheritance through the blood of Jesus. We have access — we can enter the throne room of God. We may not see it physically, but when we pray, God allows us to experience the reality that we are truly in his presence. What an awesome privilege. What a mighty work God has done for us.

Father, we thank you for your Word. Your Word is Spirit and life. By your grace, help us to understand. Your Word tells us, “In all your getting, get understanding.”

Expand our understanding of what Jesus has done for us through his blood — that we may embrace it, grasp it, live it, and love you all the more for what you have done through your precious Son.

We give you praise, we give you glory, and we give you honor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” — Revelation 2:4–5 (KJV)

Briefly, I want us to look at Revelation chapter 2 verses 4 and 5. It says, “Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come quickly unto thee, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

Recently we’ve been hearing consistent words: obedience, intimacy, relationship, repentance, surrender, forgiveness, alignment, light, salt. These words resonate with us, but we don’t want them to only resonate—we want the fire of God to rekindle in our lives through these words.

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.” — Genesis 12:1 (KJV)

God wants to take us to places, but are we ready and willing to go? Abraham came from the line of Shem, the oldest son of Noah. In the days of Noah, he preached for 120 years that people would repent and turn to God, yet only eight souls were saved. And the Word of God says, as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in these days. We are seeing those days with our own eyes.

We know the coming of the Lord is at our door. Matthew 24 tells us to be ready, for in such an hour as we think not, the Son of Man cometh. It does not only mean Him coming in the clouds—it means in a moment our lives could be required of us. We must be ready.

Just as the church of Ephesus lost its first love and risked losing its lampstand, the world in Abraham’s time had lost spiritual light. That revelation was not for people living in sin—it was for the redeemed. It was for the church. It is for us. If we hear His voice, harden not our hearts.

God is calling us to worship. God is calling us to spend time with Him. In Abraham’s day, people built the Tower of Babel. Nations were full of idolatry, violence, pride, rebellion, and independence from God. The light of truth had nearly gone out. And if we look around today, we can see the light has grown dim again—even within the church.

When the world’s light grows dim, God always raises a man or woman whose heart still burns for Him. Could that be you? Could it be us? Could it be the church He uses to stir revival in the place He has planted us?

If we have forgotten our first love, we must return. It is time to take our salvation seriously. We have grown complacent. We have grown materialistic. But it is time for change. This is an awakening.

God woke me up. He shook me. I had to repent. I had to ask forgiveness. I don’t want to miss heaven. Whenever God calls me, however God calls me, I want to be ready.

The lampstand represents the church’s place of influence and light. Removal of the lampstand means the withdrawal of God’s presence. And what causes this? Forsaking our first love.

We grow cold. The fire of God flickers. We lack substance. We replace God with comfort, routine, distraction, possessions. We grow distant from prayer, fasting, worship, fellowship, intimacy with God. We don’t recognize that it’s time to get on our knees again. It’s time to pray. It’s time to seek Him.

The cure is repentance and restored intimacy. God desires love before labor. Intimacy before activity. When relationship becomes routine, the flame fades. But when intimacy returns, the light returns.

God called Abraham to restore worship, to form a covenant family, to reveal salvation through the seed leading to Christ, and to bless nations. In the same way, He calls us out of compromise, out of comfort, out of spiritual coldness, into consecration and relationship.

God cannot ignite what we refuse to consecrate.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” — Matthew 5:14 (KJV)

A lampstand is not for decoration—it is for demonstration. God lights us so we can shine for His glory. Let us remember our first love. Let us return. Let us rebuild the altar of worship. Let us reignite obedience, faith, prayer, and devotion.

Let us carry His light in every dark place. Let intimacy, obedience, faith, and love be our flame. Let the fire of our first love make us a lampstand in this generation.

I encourage us and I implore us—seek God with all of your heart. God bless you, and thank you.

Father, thank You for Your Word. Thank You for ministering to each of us the way You know best. As Your people, we need You. We want to return to our first love.