Amen. It's a privilege to be here tonight. And we had hoped to have actually Pastor Ismael come and be here with us tonight and preach for Autumn and Ezra's graduation, but he wasn't able to be here. I'm happy to be here in his stead. He does want me to tell the church hello and thank you for the invitation. And in due time, by the grace of God, he'll be able to come. Let's take our Bibles and turn to Philippians tonight. Philippians in chapter number three. Philippians in chapter number three, I'm going to do my best to be time conscious for you tonight and realizing we are at a graduation service. I thought, you know, it ought to take into consideration how long people have driven to come. tonight and maybe base the message on that. So I kind of figured we have about thirty hundred people here and they've all given about half an hour to get here, give or take on average. So I mean, a half an hour of a message. And then I realized that my mom and dad came down to be here tonight and they've given about four hours. That's times two. And so I put that into the equation and it came out to about thirty five minutes. And then my brother Joel showed up. And Joel came about 10 hours to be here tonight. And so I put that in the equation. It came out to about two, about three quarters of an hour. And then Paige is with us. She's back there with the Estep family. And, well, we picked her up on the way through about 15 hours ago, you know. And so I put that in the equation. It lengthened it a little longer. And then I realized, you know, we had five of us that came over 40 hours to be here tonight. And so in about two and a half hours, I'll be done. I hope not. Because in about 30 minutes, you'll be done. All right. The Philippians, chapter number three. And I appreciate all the charges that our pastoral staff have given to the young people from Brother Carr to seek godly counsel. And it has been my joy. Ezra has been back here since about February, and we have an advantage In our family, that my mom and dad did not have when I was here and they were in Africa, we were a couple of months out of touch. And God's given us the privilege that we are a couple of seconds out of touch sometimes. You know, the phone has a delay a little bit. But Ezra can pick up the phone, make a local call and call our house in Mexico. And Ezra has called me a number of times. And ask me, Dad, what do I do here? What do I do in this situation? Dad, what do you think about this situation? And I am glad that I can give him that counsel. And my counsel is always, have you talked to Pastor Carr about that if it's a school-related issue? Have you talked to Pastor Burke about that if it's a life-related issue? And I've even had Autumn call me. in Mexico and asked me some questions in Mexico. And so I want I want to thank Pastor Carr for that advice. And I want to thank God that it's already in place. And don't don't let it drop now. And Brother Salih's advice of choose to be faithful. rather than make riches and fame your goal. And great counsel. In Philippians chapter 4, verse number 9, the one that Pastor Burke just gave to our graduates, but do, rather do. I want to go back in chapter 3, if you will, with me. We're going to look at a couple of things here in chapter number 3. We're going to begin reading in verse number 12. Continuing, of course, the book of Philippians where Paul has just summed it up in chapter 4 and said, do. Let's begin reading in verse number 12. The Bible says, Paul is speaking, he says, not as though I had already attained. And so, Autumn and Ezra, this isn't it. Graduating from high school, is not the end of the road. In reality, it's the beginning. And Paul says, not as though I had already attained. And so that's where it comes into play this evening. Either we're already perfect. Now if you know your English language and you know the Bible, then you know the word perfect there is not talking about without problems. It's talking about being complete. all the way through. He says, but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Verse 13, Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded, and if anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereunto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us, for an example. Let's pray. God, I pray You'd bless us tonight as we look at the Word of God. And God, may You help us to understand. And Lord, specifically tonight, I want to bring these thoughts to my son Ezra and Autumn. And Lord, I would pray that You would help them to remember in the days to come and in their life, Lord, the charge and the commitment that is made this evening. Lord, as we as family and friends and as their church sit in on their graduation ceremony, we realize, Lord, that this the word of God is for us as well. And Lord, help us to take it to heart and to put it in life. In Jesus name. Amen. Message I've entitled this evening, very simply making the mark. In life, you have sought for 1213 years of your life. to make the mark so that you can go on to the next grade, go on to the next year without shame. And now the culmination of those year of kindergarten and years of elementary school and years of high school, junior high school, high school are now here only to realize that it is not the end. It's just the beginning. And I want us to look at some things that the Apostle Paul has for us in that mindset this evening. In verse number 12, Paul says, not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, and then catches straight. He says, but I follow after. But I follow after. Number one, if I could, you need to begin with a proper foundation. You need to begin with the proper foundation. All of us need a proper foundation in life. Builder by trade, if you will. Done a lot of building. I was just in Kansas and my little brother's in China right now and they sold their house and his wife is busy trying to get some contacts for new houses while he's still in China so that when he comes back, they can have some things in line. And so she asked me, can you go with me and look at some houses? I have no idea what my brother really wants in a house, but that wasn't what they were asking. They were saying, this house that we're looking at, what do you think about it structurally? Is this house built right? Is this house built on a proper foundation? And Autumn and Ezra, as you go into life, you need to begin with a proper foundation because it doesn't matter what is built after the foundation. If the foundation isn't solid, the building doesn't matter. There's two foundations that I want to mention tonight that are the basis of beginning with a proper foundation. And number one, in First Corinthians, chapter three, verses nine through 11, the Apostle Paul gives us the only. proper foundation to begin with. And he says this, he says in verse number nine of First Corinthians, chapter three, for we are laborers together with God. You are God's husbandry. You are God's building according to the grace of God, which is given unto me as a wise master builder. I have laid the foundation. Another buildeth thereon, but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon. For other foundation can no man lay than that which is that is laid, which is Jesus Christ, number one, the basic foundation of salvation. I don't know your hearts, I know your lives. I don't know your hearts, I know your testimonies. But a life and a testimony outwardly can for a while hide the truth. And if I could say anything to either one of you who mean a great deal to me. There is nothing more significant than I could say than to make sure you have a foundation of salvation in your life. Of all the godly counsel Brother Carr can give you, there is none greater than that which he has given you repeatedly through this year of make sure that you are born again, child of God. You cannot be faithful as the counsel of Brother Salih has given you until, first of all, you're faithful with God. And you cannot do, as Pastor has charged you, unless you have first done that which all men need to do in repenting of your sin and trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior. Begin with the proper foundation, number one, of the basic foundation of salvation. Then in Proverbs chapter four and verse number seven, the Proverbs, the writer of Proverbs says, and all you're getting. Get wisdom, get understanding. Begin with the proper foundation, number one, the basic foundation of salvation, number two, the bettering foundation of schooling. And you have started your life with These 12, 13 years of schooling and this is great and this is good, but never stop learning the basic foundation begin to make the mark in life. You need to begin with a proper foundation, begin with your salvation. The basic foundation and the bettering foundation of schooling, there's a lot of times when you build a building that you can do, you can make a foundation sufficient. But a lot of times you need to make it more than just sufficient if you're really going to make it stand. And you have reached sufficiency in our society. In fact, you have done more than reach that because of the schooling you've been involved in. But never stop. So begin with the proper foundation. Number two, let's go to verse 13 and 14 of our text in Philippians chapter three. Where Paul says, Brethren, I count on myself to have apprehended or to have gotten that which I'm looking for, but this one thing I do. Forgetting. Forgetting those things which are behind, then he says in reaching. And reaching forth under those things which are before, verse 14, he says, I press. I press toward the mark for the prize of a high calling of God in Christ Jesus, making the mark begin with a proper foundation. Number two, be building. With a proper focus, be building with the proper focus from here on out. You've started that foundation, you've begun with that proper foundation, salvation, and a bettering foundation of schooling, but build with a proper focus. A lot of times a building doesn't come out like it should because the focus has been completely off. Let me give you three things. Forgetting, he says, the past, reaching forth to the future, he says, I press toward the mark. Let me say this. Number one, success in your future. Is not based on past failures. You need not look behind you and say, but I didn't succeed then. And I won't succeed now. Success in your future is not based on past failures. Paul says forgetting those things which are behind. And Paul is not talking necessarily about failures. He's also talking about successes of yesterday are not good enough to live in today. But I want you to understand this, that success in your future is not based on past failures. Whatever your failure in the past may be, forget it. It's past. And don't bring it into your future. Don't portray it into your future and say, I can't because I couldn't. You can. Success in your future is not based on your past failures. But success in your future, number two, is not based on past fame either. You do not succeed tomorrow because you succeeded yesterday. Yesterday is history. And if Paul is saying forgetting those things are which are behind, he's not only talking about the past failures in life, but he's talking about those past fames in life, those times when you did succeed, those times when you were on the top of the mountain, those times when everybody thought that was something special. That was yesterday. We're looking towards the future. And so build with a proper focus, don't focus on the past because the past failures do not enter into your success. And the past fame does not enter into your success. Success in the future is not based on past failures. Success in the future is not based on past fame. Success in the future, Paul says, I press toward the mark is based on my present focus. I will only succeed as I am focused right now. I will not succeed because I did succeed. I will not succeed because I did not succeed, but I will succeed because I have a focus on the present. Success in the future is based on a present focus. Now, let's go on from there. Verse 12, Paul says, in making the mark in life, begin with a proper foundation, your salvation and your schooling. Paul says, be building with a proper focus. Don't look back at failures or fame, but be focused on where you're going. But then we come to verses 15 through 17. And he says, be blessed. How to make the goal, how to make the mark, be blessed with a proper faith. Now, let's look at verse 15 through 17. Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect. Be thus minded, and if anything, you'd be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this under you. Nevertheless, where to we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. Brethren, be followers together of me and mark them which walk as you have us for an example. Now, we begin with the proper foundation. We're building with a proper focus. Remembering that success is not based on my past failures, not based on my past fame, but it's based on a present focus. But that focus is not inward. That focus is not me. We are blessed with a proper faith and the faith that we see in society today, the faith of humanism today is not success. Well, let's see what Paul says is the faith. In verse number and these are three things that I know Ezra's mommy has told him. Ever since he could understand English. Or Spanish or whatever language. And Autumn, if I was to ask your dad and mom, I know that these things and as I say them, they'll say we've told her that all her life. And here it is right here in the Bible. Number one. In verse 15, he says, let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. I talk about being minded on something and if anything, be otherwise minded. God shall reveal even this unto you. If I could say this in a in a everyday today wording to say what God is trying to tell us through The Apostle Paul, spiritually, he's saying, keep your wits about you. Don't go off not thinking. Can I do this, Mom? Son, just keep your wits about you. Mom, can I buy a four wheeler? Yeah, just don't be like your dad. Keep your wits about you. Mom, can I have this? Can I get a gun? Can I go hunting? Sure, just keep your wits about you. Paul says in verse 15, Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. And if anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Keep your wits about you. Now we're talking about the Word of God as it applies to these two graduates. And if you're going to make the mark in this life, really, you need to keep your wits about you. And when we're talking about keeping your wits about you, we're talking about using the sense that God gave you through the Bible. What did you do with the sense God gave you? And how many people living today are living outside of using the sense that God gave you? Now, we're not talking about, you know, everybody has a measure of common sense. I think in Kentucky they call it horse sense. You know why it's horse sense? Because it's just stable thinking. You'll get that in a bit. Common sense, but we're not talking about the common sense in that idea, we're talking about God gave us the word of God. God's given us the instruction. God's given us godly teachers. Just keep your wits about you. Don't let this world turn you. Don't let this world's philosophy turn you. Don't let this world's ideas turn you. And when you get out there and you're not under the influence of almost seven days a week around godly people, just keep your wits about you. Be best minded. What does God say? And then the second thing in verse number 16, Paul says, nevertheless, where unto you have already attained, he says this, let us walk by the same. Let us walk by the same rule. Let us mind the same thing. Number two, not only keep your wits about you, but watch your step. Watch your step. If my wife's told Ezra once, she's told him how many times, just watch your step. Watch where you're going. Watch what you're doing. Keep your wits about you. And let us walk by the same rule. What rule is it talking about? This rule right here. Watch your step. The steps of a good man, Psalm 37, are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Be blessed with a proper faith. Now, you can live your life. You've started with the proper foundation and you can have a focus and you can make it through life. But my hope for Ezra and my hope for Autumn is not just to make it through life, but to be blessed in life. And you can. Keep your wits about you. Watch your step. And then verse 17, Paul says, Brethren, be followers together of me. And mark them which have which walk, so as you have us. For an example, and that's why he says in verse nine, those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me do. And so he says in verse 17, rather than be followers together of me, and then he says, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example. And my hope that I can say to Ezra, my son, in autumn is to say, be followers together of me. Look at my life and say, I'm going to walk like my dad walked. I'm going to walk like Pastor Harris walked. But then he says, and mark them which walk so as you have us for an example. And the us is over here. Those that have already given you a charge, he says, which walks so as you have us for an example. And then the us is the church family. And so walk as you have us for an example. And so, Ezra, you know, one of the hardest things we've found on being a missionary is is to have children growing up and getting out of the house. And we're still on the mission field. And it is a hard thing. But the blessing of it is to be able to send them to a church, send them back to our church and say, just watch them. You don't know how to do things and just watch them. And a lot of times when Ezra calls me, I'll say, well, what's so and so doing? Because I don't know what's happening back here. And so I'll say, well, what's so and so doing about that? Watch them, follow them. And that's what Paul says. But then he says in verse 18, for many walk of whom I've told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. So be blessed with a proper faith. Keep your wits about you. Watch your steps. And Autumn, Ezra, if I can give you one more piece of advice tonight, stay with your friends. Stay with your friends. After you graduate, I'm talking about your pastors. I'm talking about your church family. Stay with your friends. Now is not the time to go out there and make new friends. Stay with your friends. Every time we go out, every time something happens, when our girls say, Mom, Dad, can we go with them? When our boys said, Mom, Dad, can we go with them? Who's going? Keep your wits about you. Watch your step. and stay with your friends. That's about every time we've ever told them they could go do something. Keep your wits about you. Watch your step and stay with your friends. Why? Because there's a danger when you leave your friends. And there's others out there, like Paul says here in verse 18, for many walk of whom I've told you often and I'll tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly and whose glory is in their shame and who mind earthly things. And listen, don't leave your friends. You're graduating, but don't leave your friends. Stay with your friends. Don't go out there and think all of a sudden you've got to make new friends because those new friends are the enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their God is themselves, their glory is their shame, their all minding earthly things. It's not about what you've been taught here. It's not about the foundation that has been laid. It's not about the focus you've been given here. And so, okay, it's time. You need to go out. But keep your wits about you. Watch your step. And stay with your friends. Because it's when you leave your friends, those that are true friends, that you'll end up in trouble every time. Making the mark in life, not as though I had already attained. We're not there yet. You're not there yet. You're graduating from high school. The years of knowing everything. Are now over. You're going to get in the real world and realize what happened, I used to know everything. And all of a sudden. I haven't gotten there yet. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect or complete, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend for that for which also I'm apprehended of Christ. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things of which behind and reaching forth under those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Ezra, I want you to make the mark. You've made enough to graduate from high school, an accomplishment. But now what about life? Now what about life? Begun with the proper foundation, be building with a proper focus, but be blessed in life. with the proper faith. Don't leave that which you've learned. Let's pray. Dear God, thank you for the opportunity. Lord, I pray that you would help us to be not just another day in the life of Autumn and Ezra, but they might remember. Thank you that I have this opportunity for these two very special young people in my life. And Lord, I pray that this wouldn't be just another church service for those of my dear church. And Lord, those who are visiting today, Lord, I pray You'd impress upon them their need in this message of God's Word as well, that we might make the mark. Lord, it all comes down to that proper foundation of salvation. And they cannot, Adam cannot, Ezra cannot, make the mark in life that God has for them without starting with the foundation. One day we will all give an account to God, whether we like it or not. there must be a proper foundation.