What Happens When You Go the Extra Mile? | Adrian Rogers | Matthew 5

0:00 Life is lived really on three levels. First of all, there is the hellish level. The hellish level, and a lot of people in the world live on the hellish level, that is to return evil for good. And there are people like that, who return evil for good. That's the hellish level. Now the human level, the very best you could hope for without the new birth is to return good for good and evil for evil. That's the human level. But the heavenly level is to return good for good. GOOD FOR EVIL. NOW, WHEN YOU RETURN, AH, GOOD FOR GOOD, EVIL FOR EVIL, THAT'S THE FIRST MILE. BUT WHEN YOU RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL, THAT IS THE SECOND MILE. TURN TO MATTHEW CHAPTER 5, BEGINNING IN VERSE 38, CHAPTER 5 AND VERSE 38, YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID, AND I FOR AN EYE, AND A TOOTH FOR A A TOOTH. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THAT YE RESIST NOT EVIL, BUT WHOSOEVER SHALL SMITE THEE ON THY RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO. AND IF ANY MAN WILL SUE THEE AT THE LAW AND TAKE AWAY THY COAT, LET HIM HAVE THY CLOKE ALSO. AND WHOSOEVER SHALL COMPEL THEE TO GO A MILE, GO WITH HIM TWANE, THAT IS, GO WITH HIM TWO MILES, GIVE TO HIM THAT ASKETH THEE, AND FROM HIM THAT WOULD BORROW OF THEE, TURN NOT THOU AWAY. YOU'VE HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AND HATE THINE ENEMY. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU, THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, FOR HE MAKETH HIS SON TO RISE ON THE EVIL AND ON THE GOOD, AND SENDETH RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST. FOR IF WE, FOR IF YE LOVE THEM

2:06 WHICH LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD HAVE YE? DO NOT EVEN THE PUBLICANS THE SAME? AND IF YE SALUTE YOUR BRETHREN ONLY, WHAT DO YE MORE THAN OTHERS, DO NOT EVEN THE PUBLICAN SO. BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT," AND THE WORD THERE PERFECT MEANS MATURE, BE YE THEREFORE MATURE, PERFECT, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT. NOW THE KEY TO LIVING WITH A SMILE IS A CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE. THE KEY TO LIVING A CHRIST-CENTERED LIFE IS FIRST OF ALL EMPTYING YOURSELF OUT OF YOUR OWN SELF LIFE. EVEN GOD CANNOT FILL THAT WHICH IS ALREADY FULL, SO THE, UH, CHRIST-FILLED LIFE IS THE SELF-EMPTIED LIFE. SO MANY OF US ARE SO FULL OF SELF. AND AS A WISE MAN SAID, A MAN WRAPPED UP IN HIMSELF MAKES A VERY SMALL PACKAGE. I WANT YOU TO THINK WITH ME NOW ON THIS PRINCIPLE, A PRINCIPLE OF LIVING, SELFLESS LIVING, JOYFUL LIVING, CHRIST-FILLED LIVING, THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SECOND MILE. AND REMEMBER THIS, IT'S THE SECOND MILE THAT BRINGS THE SMILE. I HAVE THREE THINGS I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE SECOND MILE THIS MORNING, AND I PRAY GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL NOT ONLY WRITE THEM IN YOUR NOTES, BUT WRITE THEM ON YOUR HEART. NUMBER ONE, THE SECOND MILE IS THE MASTERY MILE.

3:34 HAVE YOU GOT THAT? IT IS THE, THE MASTERY MILE. NOW WHAT DO WE MEAN IN VERSE 41 WHEN JESUS SAID, IF ANYONE WILL COMPEL YOU TO GO WITH HIM A MILE. GO WITH HIM TWO MILES. WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT? WELL, IN JESUS' DAY, THE ROMANS HAD A PRACTICE. THEY LEARNED THIS PRACTICE FROM THE PERSIANS ABOUT SIX CENTURIES BEFORE THAT. WHEN THEY WOULD, UH, CONQUER A LAND, THEY WOULD ALSO SUBJUGATE THAT LAND AND, UH, RULE OVER IT. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY DID TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THEIR PLACE AND TO HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND, UH, JUST WHO THEY WERE AND WHO WAS IN CHARGE WAS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE ROMAN MILE. AND IN THIS DAY, A ROMAN SOLDIER WHO HAD A BACKPACK, A BURDEN, OR WHATEVER, IF HE'S WALKING ALONG AND HE'S TIRED AND WEARY AND HE SEES A YOUNG, ABLE-BODYED JEWISH MAN THERE, OR A BOY, HE COULD SAY TO HIM, YOU, CARRY THIS PACK. AND BY LAW, THAT JEWISH BOY HAD THAT JEWISH BOY HAD TO PICK UP THAT ROMAN SOLDIER'S PACK, HIS BURDEN, AND CARRY IT FOR HIM ONE MILE. THEY KNEW THIS. SOME HAVE SAID THAT EVERY JEWISH BOY HAD A MILE STAKED OFF FROM HIS PROPERTY, FROM HIS FARM, FROM HIS FIELD, FROM HIS HOUSE, ONE MILE, BECAUSE IF HE WERE COMPELLED TO CARRY A BURDEN A MILE, HE WOULD DO IT, BUT HE WOULD NOT GO ONE INCH ONE STEP FURTHER WITH SPITE AND HATE AND RESENTMENT. HE WOULD CARRY, HE WOULD CARRY THAT LOAD AND THEN DUMP IT DOWN. HE HAD DONE WHAT THE LAW HAD COMMANDED. HE HAD DONE WHAT WAS REQUIRED. IT BROUGHT INCREDIBLE RESENTMENT FROM THE JEWS. NOT ONLY HAD THEY, WERE THEY LIVING AS CONQUERED PEOPLE. NOT ONLY WERE THE ROMANS WERE IN, IN CHARGE, BUT NOW THEY'RE HUMILIATED, THEY'RE HUMILIATED. CAN YOU IMAGINE WHEN

5:40 JESUS IS PREACHING, HA, CAN YOU IMAGINE, HE SAYS, NOW IF SOMEBODY COMPELS YOU TO GO WITH HIM A MILE, GO WITH HIM TWO MILES. I MEAN, YOU NEVER WENT TO SLEEP WHEN JESUS WAS PREACHING. AND, AND I SAID, YOU, I CAN HEAR THEM. HE MUST BE JESTING. IS HE SERIOUS? I MEAN, DOES HE EXPECT US TO CARRY FOR THOSE GENTILE DOGS TO DO DOUBLE DUTY? TO GO THE SECOND MILE? THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT JESUS WAS SAYING. WHAT HE'S SAYING IS, WE NEED TO DO MORE THAN THE LEGALISTS, THOSE WHO DO WHAT IS REQUIRED AND NOT ONE BIT MORE. GO BACK TO VERSE 20, JESUS SAID, FOR I SAY UNTO YOU, EXCEPT YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES, YE SHALL IN NO CASE ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES DID EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO, NOT ONE JOT, NOT ONE TITTLE MORE. JESUS SAID, EVEN WHEN THEY TIDE, THEY PAY TIDE THE MINT ANICEN COMING. THAT IS, THEY'RE COUNTING THE LITTLE MINT LEAVES, ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX, SEVEN, EIGHT, NINE, THESE ARE MINE, TEN, THAT'S YOURS, LORD. I'VE DONE MY DUTY. THAT IS IT. WHAT IS THE PRINCIPLE OF THE SECOND MILE?

7:02 WHAT IS THE SMILE MILE? WHAT WILL PUT A SMILE ON YOUR FACE? IT IS TO DO MORE THAN IS REQUIRED. NOW WHAT JESUS IS SAYING IS THAT ANY PAGAN CAN GO ONE MILE. HE HAS TO ANYWAY. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSES 46 AND 47 OF THIS SAME CHAPTER, FOR IF YOU LOVE THEM WHICH LOVE YOU, HUH, WHAT REWARD HAVE YOU? DO NOT EVEN THE PUBLICANS THE SAME? YOU SEE, THAT'S THE FIRST MILE JUST TO LOVE THOSE THAT LOVE US. AND IF YOU SOLUTE YOUR BRETHREN ONLY, THAT IS, IF YOU'RE FRIENDLY TO PEOPLE THAT YOU KNOW AND LOVE, HUH, HUH, WHAT DO YOU MORE THAN OTHERS? YOU'VE ONLY GONE A MILE. DO NOT EVEN THE Republicans the same. Now what Jesus is saying is that we who are children of God are different. We're not legalists. We're not, uh, lost, but we are filled with another principle, which is the principle of the smile mile, the second mile. You see, life is lived really on three levels. First of all, there is the hellish level. The hellish level, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE WORLD LIVE ON THE HELLISH LEVEL, THAT IS TO RETURN EVIL FOR GOOD. AND THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE THAT, WHO RETURN EVIL FOR GOOD. THAT'S THE HELLISH LEVEL. NOW THE HUMAN LEVEL, THE VERY BEST YOU COULD HOPE FOR WITHOUT THE NEW BIRTH IS TO RETURN GOOD FOR GOOD AND EVIL FOR EVIL. THAT'S THE HUMAN LEVEL. BUT THE HEAVENLY LEVEL IS TO RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL. NOW, WHEN YOU RETURN, AH, GOOD FOR GOOD, EVIL FOR EVIL, THAT'S THE FIRST MILE. BUT WHEN YOU RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL, THAT IS THE SECOND MILE. NOW, A BOY, A JEWISH BOY WHO IS CARRYING THAT ROMAN PACK, THE FIRST MILE, HE IS A SLAVE WHILE HE'S DOING THAT BECAUSE HE'S REQUIRED TO DO IT. BUT WHEN HE CARRIES THAT PACK THE SECOND MILE, HE IS NO LONGER A SLAVE. HE'S THE ONE IN CONTROL. THINK ABOUT IT. HE'S THE ONE WHO SAYS, I AM NOW IN CHARGE. I'M NOT DOING

9:09 WHAT YOU TELL ME I MUST DO. I AM NOW DOING WHAT I WANT TO DO. I AM NO LONGER THE SLAVE. I AM IN MASTERY RIGHT NOW. I AM NOW UNDER CONTROL. NOW THE DEVIL WANTS TO KEEP YOU, I MEAN UNDER SELF CONTROL. THE DEVIL WANTS TO KEEP YOU UNDER HIS CONTROL, BUT WHEN YOU FINALLY SAY, I AM NOT THE DEVIL'S SLAVE, I AM IN CHARGE OF my own life now, I'm not doing what is required, I'm doing more than is required, then move your ears back and get ready for a smile. If you're enjoying this message from Adrian Rogers and would like to dig a little deeper into today's topic, download this free companion Bible study. Use the link above to get yours. Now, folks, let me tell you something. The second mile is the mastery mile. Now, here's the second thing I want you to learn. NOT ONLY IS THE SECOND MILE THE MASTERY MILE, BUT THE SECOND MILE IS THE CHARITY MILE. YOU SEE, YOU DO THE FIRST MILE OUT OF LEGALISM, YOU DO THE SECOND MILE OUT OF LOVE, AND IT IS LOVE THAT BRINGS JOY.

10:16 NOW, THE PHARISEES AND THE SADDUCEES AND THE SCRIBES, THEY WERE VERY CAREFUL TO DO THE FIRST MILE. I'M TALKING ABOUT IN BIBLICAL LEGALISM, NOT ONLY CARRIING A ROMANS BACKPACK, BUT IN BIBLICAL LEGALISM. THEY DID THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE SELF-RIGHTEOUS PRIGS. IN THOSE PHARISEES THE MILK OF HUMAN KINDNESS HAD KURDLED. THEY HAD RELIGION, BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE REALITY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE LIFE. NOW JESUS NOT ONLY PREACHED IN GLITTERING GENERALITIES,

10:50 BUT JESUS PREACHED IN AWFEN, AWESOME SPECIFICITY. FOR EXAMPLE, NOT ONLY DID JESUS SAY, GO THE SECOND MILE, BUT HE GAVE ILLUSTRATIONS OF HOW THEY COULD GO THE SECOND MILE THAT WENT FAR BEYOND JUST CARRYING A SOLDIER'S BACKPACK. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU GO THE SECOND MILE WHEN YOUR DIGNITY IS DEGRADED. LOOK, IF YOU WILL, IN VERSE 38. LOOK AT IT. YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID, AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU THAT YE RESIST NOT EVIL, BUT WHOSEVER SHALL SMITE THEE ON THE RIGHT CHEEK, TURN TO HIM THE OTHER ALSO." THAT IS, GO THE SECOND MILE. THE FIRST MILE IS REVENGE. THE SECOND MILE IS TO GIVE PLACE TO EVIL. NOW, NOW LET ME SAY THIS RIGHT AWAY. JESUS IS NOT TALKING PACIFISM. JESUS WAS NOT A PACIFIST. JESUS DID NOT, UH, SAY THAT WE OUGHT NEVER TO DEFEND OURSELVES. THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT HERE. IF, IF, IF YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING THINK THAT'S WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT HERE. UH, YOU, YOU'RE GOING TO BE IN, IN, AN AWFUL TROUBLE IN THIS WICKED WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE. WHAT JESUS HERE IS TALKING ABOUT IS WHEN YOU'RE INSULTED, UH, WHEN, WHEN, UH, SOMEBODY HAS COME AND HAS DEGRADED YOUR DIGNITY. NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS, STAND UP HERE A MINUTE, SCOTTY.

12:15 UH, I WON'T HIT YOUR HEART. COME HERE. NOTICE WHAT HE SAYS, IF SOMEBODY, UH, STRIKE YOU ON YOUR RIGHT CHEEK. NOW NOTICE WHAT HE SAID YOUR RIGHT CHEEK, POINT TO YOUR RIGHT CHEEK. YOU KNOW WHICH ONE THAT IS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT, NOW, IF, AND, AND THE NORMAL PERSON IS RIGHT-HANDED. WELL, IF I'M GOING TO STRIKE HIM, WHERE WOULD I NORMALLY STRIKE HIM? I'D STRIKE HIM ON HIS LEFT CHEEK. THAT'S JUST NORMAL. TO STRIKE HIM ON HIS, ON HIS RIGHT CHEEK IS TO GIVE HIM WHAT? YOU ME SEE THAT, I'M NOT GOING TO HIT YOU. TO STRIKE HIM ON HIS, EH, ON HIS RIGHT CHEEK IS TO GIVE HIM THE BACK OF MY HAND. IT'S AN INSULT. IT'S, IT'S LIKE, UH, IN, IN OLDEN DAYS WHEN SOMEBODY WOULD WANT TO DUEL, THEY WOULD TAKE THEIR GLOVES AND SLAP A PERSON. IT'S SAYING, YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING, YOU LOW-DOWN PERSON. AND WHAT OUR LORD IS TEACHING HERE IS THAT WHEN SOMEBODY INSULTS US, SOMEBODY DEGRADES US, WE'D GO THE SECOND MILE. WELL, THAT, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PAUL TAUGHT IN ROMANS CHAPTER 12, VERSES 17 AND FOLLOWING. HE SAYS, RECOMPENSE TO NO MAN EVIL FOR EVIL, PROVIDE THINGS HONEST IN SIDE OF ALL MEN, IF IT BE POSSIBLE, AS MUCH AS LIETH IN YOU, LIVE PEACEABLY WITH ALL MEN. DEARLY BELOVED, AVENGE NOT YOURSELVES, BUT RATHER GIVE PLACE TO WRATH. FOR WHAT IS WRITTEN, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY, SAITH THE LORD.

13:34 THEREFORE, IF THINE ENEMY HUNGER, FEED HIM. IF HE THIRST, GIVE HIM DRINK. FOR IN SO DOING, THOU SHALL HEAP COALS OF FIRE ON HIS HEAD. BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL, OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD. AND SO ALL OF US ARE GOING TO GET INSULTED. ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE DEGRADED. ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE LOOKED DOWN UPON SOMETIME. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW REALLY WHAT YOU'RE FULL OF, JUST SEE WHAT SPILLS OUT WHEN YOU GET JOSTLED. I, I'D NOT BEEN A, A, A PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH VERY LONG, UH, WHEN A MAN WROTE ME A LETTER. EVIDENTALLY HE DECIDED HE DIDN'T LIKE THE NEW PASTOR. AND HE WROTE ME A LETTER. IT WAS A DEGRADING LETTER. VERY FRANKLY, IT WAS AN UNFAIR LETTER. NOW, IF HE WANTED SOME GOOD THINGS TO CRITICIZE ME ABOUT, I COULD HAVE GIVEN HIM A LIST, BUT HE, HE DIDN'T GET ANY OF THE RIGHT THINGS. HE JUST GOT SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY UNFAIR. AND, HE WROTE ME A LETTER, AND IT WAS AN ACCUSATORY LETTER, A VERY UNFAIR LETTER, AND A VERY HURTFUL LETTER. I DECIDED I'D TAKE THAT MAN AS A PROJECT. I WROTE HIM BACK, NOT, NOT A HYPOCRITICAL LETTER, BUT I WROTE HIM BACK A VERY KIND LETTER. AND WHEN I SAW HIM THE NEXT TIME, I WENT STRAIGHT FOR HIM AND SAID, HOW ARE YOU DOING? GOOD TO SEE YOU. AND I REALLY MEANT IT FROM MY HEART.

15:00 THE NEXT TIME I SAW HIM, I WENT TOWARD HIM. AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, AND AGAIN, FINALLY THE MAN BEGAN TO RECOGNIZE WARM UP TO ME AND TALK WITH ME. AND FINALLY I WAS ABLE TO DO SOME THINGS FOR HIM. FINALLY HE GOT DOWN WHERE HE COULD NOT GET AROUND EXCEPT IN A WHEELCHAIR, AND WHEN HE WOULD COME IN THE AUDITORIUM, I'D SEE HIM, I'D LEAVE THE PLATFORM AND GO AND PUT MY ARMS AROUND HIM AND HUG HIM AND TELL HIM I LOVED HIM. BEFORE HE WENT TO HEAVEN, HE TOLD SOMEBODY, AND THAT SOMEBODY TOLD ME, HE SAID, YOU KNOW THAT MAN ROGERS IS THE GREATEST MAN IN THE WORLD. WELL, I'M NOT, I'M NOT, BUT I DON'T MIND HIM THINKING THAT. I DON'T MIND HIM THINKING THAT. BUT YOU KNOW, I, I THOUGHT TO THAT MAN, HOW I COULD HAVE, WHEN I COULD HAVE JUST RETURNED EVIL FOR EVIL AND SAID, HE HAD IT COMING TO HIM. NOW I WISH I COULD TELL YOU MANY SUCCESS STORIES, MAYBE THAT'S THE ONLY ONE I HAVE, HA, HA, HA, BUT I, I, I WANT TO TELL YOU, FRIEND, THAT, THAT GOD HONORS THE SECOND MILE. YOU WANT ME TO TELL YOU HOW TO GET RID OF AN ENEMY? MAKE A FRIEND OUT OF HIM. MAKE A FRIEND OUT OF HIM. JESUS IS SAYING, GO THE SECOND MILE, GO THE SECOND MILE WHEN YOUR DIGNITY IS DEGRADED. AH, NOT TO. GO THE SECOND MILE WHEN YOUR ADVERSARY IS VICTORIOUS. LOOK IF YOU WILL IN VERSE 40 OF THIS SAME CHAPTER NOW, AND IF ANY MAN WILL SUE THEE AT THE LAW AND TAKE AWAY THY COAT, GIVE HIM YOUR CLOAK ALSO. NOW, THE CLOAK HERE IS, IS LIKE THE OVERCOAT. HE SAYS, IF HE GETS, IF HE GETS, UH, IN A LAWSUIT, HE'S VICTORIOUS OVER YOU, UH, THEN JUST NOT, DON'T GIVE HIM JUST SIMPLY WHAT THE SETTLEMENT IS. GIVE HIM MORE THAN THE SETTLEMENT. NOW, OUR LORD HERE IS NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY ROBBING YOU. HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT IF A ROBBER COMES IN YOUR HOUSE AND SAY, LET ME GUIDE YOU OVER HERE TO THE SAFE. HE'S NOT TALKING ABOUT THAT.

16:59 HE'S TALKING HERE ABOUT A LEGAL SETTLEMENT. IN THIS LEGAL MATTER, THERE HAS BEEN A BROTHER WHO IS ADJUDICATED GUILTY. AND SO HE HAS TO GIVE HIS COAT. JESUS SAID, WELL, IF YOU'VE BEEN WRONG AND YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE WRONG, DON'T JUST SIMPLY TRY TO RECTIFY THAT WRONG BY WHATEVER THE LAW SAYS YOU MUST DO. DO MORE THAN THE LAW SAYS YOU MUST DO. GO THE SECOND MILE. THAT'S WHAT ZACCIAUS DID, WASN'T IT? WHEN ZACCIAUS, HE SAID, IF I'VE WRONGED ANY MAN BY FALSE ACCUSATION, I, I'VE RESTORED TO HIM FOURFOLD. GO THE SECOND MILE. IF YOU'RE WRONG, WHEN YOU APOLOGIZE, GET RIGHT WITH GOD, GET RIGHT WITH YOUR BROTHER, AND THEN GO THE SECOND MILE, UH, WHEN, UH, WHEN YOUR BROTHER'S VICTORIOUS OVER YOU. NUMBER THREE, GO THE SECOND MILE WHEN YOU, YOU HAVE A BROTHER, A SISTER IN NEED. LOOK IN VERSE 42, GIVE TO HIM THAT ASKETH OF THEE, AND TO HIM THAT WOULD BORROW THEE, TURN THOU NOT AWAY. WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, UH, WE, WHEN, WHEN WE ARE LIKE THE PAGANS OR WHEN WE'RE LIKE THE SCRIBES AND THE PHARISEES. WE DO ALL THAT IS REQUIRED, AND WE DO NOT ONE CENTILLA, ONE IOTA MORE. BUT OUR LORD SAYS, DO MORE. DO MORE. GIVE. HAVE A GIVING SPIRIT, BECAUSE NOTHING THAT YOU OWN IS REALLY YOURS ANYWAY. IT'S ALL PLACED ON THE ALTAR. IT BELONGS TO GOD. NOW, THE IMPLICATION HERE IS THAT SOMEBODY HAS A GENUINE NEED. YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO GIVE WISELY. PSALM 112 VERSE 5 SAYS, A GOOD MAN SHOWETH FAVOR AND LENDETH, HE WILL GUIDE HIS AFFAIRS WITH DISCRETION.

18:50 YOU DON'T, YOU DON'T, IF A DRUNKARD ASKS YOU FOR MONEY FOR, UH, MORE ALCOHOL, YOU DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM. IF A ATTIC ASKS YOU FOR MONEY FOR MORE DOPE, YOU DON'T GIVE IT TO HIM. IF A PROFESSIONAL BEGGAR IS ASKING, YOU, YOU DON'T HELP THAT PROFESSIONAL BEGGAR BY GIVING HIM, AH, AH, SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE HIM IN BEGGING. JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY ASK. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU NECESSARILY ARE TO GIVE. YOU'RE TO GIVE WITH DISCRETION. BUT WHAT OUR LORD IS SAYING IS THAT YOU GIVE, YOU GIVE TO THOSE THAT HAVE NEED. DON'T JUST SIMPLY PAY YOUR BILLS. GO THE SECOND MILE. GO THE SECOND MILE, HE'S SAYING, WHEN YOU'RE MISUSED AND ABUSED. LOOK IN VERSE 43. I, I CAN IMAGINE THEY'RE LISTENING TO EVERY WORD THAT JESUS IS SAYING HERE, YOU'VE HEARD THAT IT HATH BEEN SAID, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AND HATE THINE ENEMY. BUT I SAY UNTO YOU, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THEM THAT HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU." YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU GET EVEN?

19:58 THE SAD THING IS THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU DO. YOU'RE UP HERE, SOMEBODY ELSE IS DOWN HERE, THEY WRONG YOU, YOU GET EVEN. I I mean, you just come right down to where they are. Why do you let them lure you to their standard? No, our Lord says this, that you, you go the second mile. Has somebody done you wrong? If they haven't just wait, they will. And when you get revenge, you don't feel better. You might feel smug. The old flesh might be lavishing a little bit, but in your spirit, you hurt. BUT WHEN YOU GO THE SECOND MILE, THE SECOND MILE IS THE SMILE MILE. THERE WAS A MAN READING THE NEWSPAPER. HE LOVED EXPENSIVE AUTOMOBILES, COULDN'T AFFORD ONE, BUT HE LOVED JUST TO READ THE WANT ADS, AND HE SAW THAT A, A WOMAN HAD, UH, ADVERTISED IN THE NEWSPAPER A JAGUAR AUTOMOBILE. IT, LOW MILEAGE, MENT CONDITION CONDITION FOR TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS. OH, HE SAID, THIS CAN'T BE TRUE. BUT HE JUST, HE CALLED THE NUMBER AND, AND, AND HE SAID, THE LADY ANSWERED, SAID, ARE YOU THE ONE WHO PUT THE AD IN THE PAPER FOR A JAGUAR, LATE MODEL JAGUAR FOR, UH, TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS? WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT? SHE SAID, NOTHING'S WRONG WITH IT. SHE SAID, I'M GOING TO SELL IT TO THE FIRST PERSON WHO GETS HERE. HE SAID, I'LL BE RIGHT OVER. HE SAID, I WANT TO SEE IT. HE THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH A CHANCE. HE DROVE OVER, THERE IT SAT IN THE DRIVEWAY, ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL. HE LOOKED IT OVER. HE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HE SAID, LADY, ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO SELL THIS AUTOMOBILE FOR TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS? SHE SAID, I WAS, BUT I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.

21:42 NOW IT'S 99.50. I'M GOING TO CUT THE PRICE IN HALF. HE SAID, WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT? SHE SAID, NOT A THING THE WORLD'S WRONG WITH IT. SAID, IT'S MY HUSBAND'S AUTOMOBILE. HE RAN OFF WITH HIS SECRETARY TO HAWAII. HE TOLD ME TO SELL IT AND SEND HIM THE MONEY, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO. I, I suppose she felt good for just a little while. But friend, it is, it is forgiveness,

22:23 it is restitution, it is love that is, uh, that is the second mile. I read years and YEARS AGO, MAYBE 30, 40 YEARS AGO, I CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT A STORY THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN IN MY HEART ABOUT A SOLDIER BOY DRAFTED IN THE ARMY WHO AT HOME, BROTHER BOB, WOULD GET ON HIS KNEES AND PRAY BY HIS BED BEFORE HE WENT TO SLEEP. AND HE THOUGHT, WOULD I, DO I HAVE THE COURAGE TO DO THIS IN THE BARRICS? NOW YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT'D BE LIKE FOR A SOLDIER IN THE MODERN BARRICS TO GET DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND PRAY BESIDE HIS BED. HE WRESTLED WITH HIS CONSCIENCE. HE SAID, I'M GOING TO DO IT. I MEAN, HELL, ALL THESE OTHER GUYS IN, IN THE OBSCENE LANGUAGE AND THE DIRTY PICTURES AND ALL THAT. THIS BOY GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES BY HIS BED, BY HIS BUNK, AND PRAYED AND THANK GOD, SOME GOT QUIET AND SOME ADMIRED HIM. THERE WAS A BIG OLD ROUGH SOLDIER THAT SAW HIM AND PICKED UP HIS ARMY BOOTS AND THREW THEM AT THIS BOY WHILE HE WAS PRAYING, STRUCK HIM. THE BOY FINISHED HIS PRAYERS, WENT TO SLEEP. THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN THAT MAN WHO THREW THE BOOTS WOKE UP, HE FOUND THOSE BOOTS BEAUTIFULLY POLISHED, SETTING BY HIS OWN BED. THAT BOY HAD POLISHED HIS BOOTS. I DON'T KNOW A BETTER EXAMPLE OF THAT THAN GOING THE SECOND MILE. THE SECOND MILE. YOU SEE, I'M SURE THAT WHEN HE POLISHED THOSE BOOTS AND GAVE THEM BACK AND HE RETURNED GOOD FOR EVIL, THERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAME OVER HIM, THE JOY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT YOU CAN GET NO OTHER WAY.

24:02 IT'S LOVE. YOU SEE, THE FIRST MILE IS THE MASTER, UH, THE, THE, THE FIRST MILE IS THE SLAVE MILE, THE SECOND MILE IS THE MASTERY MILE. THE, THE FIRST MILE IS THE LEGAL MILE, THE SECOND MILE IS THE LOVE MILE. AND SO THE SECOND MILE, THE SMILE MILE, IT'S THE MASTERY MILE, IT'S THE CHARITY MILE. I WANT TO SAY ONE THIRD THING ABOUT IT. IT IS THE VICTORY MILE. IT IS THE VICTORY MILE. WELL, LET ME TELL YOU HOW TO LIVE OUT THAT VICTORY. YOU SEE, THE FIRST MILE, WHEN THIS BOY IS CARRIING THIS PACK, HE'S A SLAVE. BUT WHEN HE CARRIES THE, THE SECOND MILE, HE IS A VICTOR. I'VE BEEN AROUND PEOPLE LONG ENOUGH AND BEEN LEADING PEOPLE LONG ENOUGH AND WORKING WITH VOLUNTEERS LONG ENOUGH AND STAFF LONG ENOUGH AND BUSINESS PEOPLE LONG ENOUGH. I HAVE OBSERVED PEOPLE WHO ARE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE. LET ME TELL YOU ONE THING ALL SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE HAVE IN MIND. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, I, THAT, THEY HAVE IN COMMON. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT ALL SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO, ALL OF THEM. THEY'RE SECOND MILERS. SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE ARE SECOND MILERS. ON THE JOB, YOU WANT TO BE A SUCCESS? BE A SECOND MILER. IF YOU DO ONLY WHAT YOU'RE PAID TO DO ON YOUR JOB, IF YOU ARE A CLOCK WATCHER, RATHER THAN A SECOND MILER, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GO VERY FAR ON YOUR JOB. UH, MANY OF US WHO LIVE IN THE CITY OF MEMPHIS HAVE A FRIEND NAMED KEMINS WILSON. HE, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS, THE CHIEF FOUNDER OF THE HOLIDAY INNS. AND KIMMENS, UH, HAS A WAY OF TALKING TO PEOPLE ABOUT SUCCESS. AND I LOVE WHAT HE, HE SAYS. HE SAYS, IF YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESS IN LIFE, HE SAID, YOU JUST WORK HALF A DAY. WELL, EVERYBODY LIKES THAT. HE SAID, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S THE FIRST 12 HOURS OR THE SECOND 12 HOURS. YOU, YOU JUST WORK HALF A DAY. THESE PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO DO AS LITTLE AS THEY CAN DO, UH, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL ON THEIR JOB. LET

26:09 ME TALK TO YOU ABOUT ANOTHER ENTREPRENEUR THAT I READ ABOUT, HENRY FORD. I'M TALKING ABOUT THE ORIGINAL HENRY FORD. UH, HENRY FORD, UH, TOOK OVER THE, THE LINCOLN FACTORY, UH, IN, IN, IN, UH, ILLINOIS, AND HE, UH, IT, IT WASN'T WORKING. IT WAS, IT WAS, UH, IT WAS, UH, IN DETROIT, RATHER, NOT IN ILLINOIS, BUT IN DETROIT. IT WAS, IT WAS LOSING MONEY. NOBODY SEEMED TO REALLY CARE. HENRY, HENRY FORD, UH, GOT HIS MAINTENANCE CREW, HE HAD THEM GO OUT IN THE, UH, THE WOODS AND CUT DOWN A TREE. AND THEY TRIM THE LIMB OFF, LIMBS OFF OF IT AND JUST LEFT THE STUMP, THE LOG. AND HE HAD THEM PUT THAT LOG ON THE ELEVATOR AND BRING IT UP TO THE OFFICE FLOOR. AND THEN HE HAD THEM LAY THAT LOG RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE ELEVATORS. HE DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY ABOUT, UH, WHY HE HAD DONE IT. NOBODY KNEW WHEN IT WAS DONE. IT WAS DONE IN THE NIGHTTIME. THE NEXT MORNING WHEN PEOPLE GOT THERE AND THEY OPENED THE ELEVATOR, THERE WAS A LOG LYING RIGHT ACROSS IN ORDER, THEY HAD TO STEP OVER IT, THEY HAD TO WALK AROUND IT. WHY WAS IT THERE? WHO PUT A LOG IN THIS PLACE?

27:19 WHY DOESN'T SOMEBODY MOVE IT? WH-WHERE IS MAINTENANCE? BUT FOR THREE WEEKS THAT LOG STAYED THERE. NOBODY DID ANYTHING. UH, MANAGEMENT DIDN'T SAY, WHY IS THE LOG HERE? SOMEBODY DIDN'T ASK WHO PUT THE LOG THERE? NOBODY MOVED THE LOG, NOBODY INQUIRED ABOUT THE LOG. AFTER A WHILE, HENRY FORD CAME UP AND HE FIRED EVERYBODY ON THAT FLOOR. EVERYBODY, FIRED THEM ALL! TOLD THEM, SAID, I PUT THE LOG HERE. I WANTED TO SEE IF SOMEBODY, JUST SOMEBODY, WONDERED WHAT IS A LOG DOING IN FRONT OF THE ELEVATOR. AT LEAST INQUIRE ABOUT IT, FIND OUT ABOUT IT. BUT EVERY ONE OF YOU ARE JUST SO INTERESTED IN DOING YOUR JOB, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS, I DON'T WANT YOU. MAYBE THE GOVERNMENT WOULDN'T LET HIM FIRE THEM ALL TODAY FOR A LOG, BUT HE DID THEN. HE PUT HIS SON EDZEL IN CHARGE OF THAT PLANT AND HE BEGAN TO MAKE MONEY. I'M TELLING YOU, FOLKS, EVERYBODY IN LIFE- WHO IS VICTORIOUS IS A SECOND MILER. BE A SECOND MILER IN

28:31 SCHOOL. YOU KIDS, IF YOU'RE STUDYING JUST TO PASS THE TEST, IF YOU'RE STUDYING JUST TO GET A C, JUST TO GET THE DIPLOMA, JUST TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL, YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO AMOUNT TO MUCH. YOU'RE GOING TO SCHOOL TO LEARN, HAVE A, HAVE A, A, HUNGER FOR KNOWLEDGE. READ THE LESSON, MORE THAN THE LESSON. FIND OUT ALL THAT YOU CAN FIND OUT. DON'T JUST STUDY ENOUGH TO GET BY. WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF KNOWING THE MATERIAL AND MASTERING THE MATERIAL, YOU'LL GO TO CLASS WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE. I'LL GUARANTEE IT. IN MARRIAGE, MY BRIDE IS SITTING DOWN THERE. HER FATHER TOLD US WHEN WE GOT MARRIED, HE SAID, ADRIAN, I HEAR PEOPLE SAY THAT MARRIAGE IS A 50-50 PROPOSITION. HE SAID, ADRIAN, IT IS NOT A 50-50 PROPOSITION. 50-50 IS THE FIRST MILE. HE SAID, ADRIAN, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S A 90-10. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GO 90 PERCENT, AND THE OTHER PERSON'S ONLY GOING TO GO 10 PERCENT. AND, UH, JOYCE AND I FOUND THAT'S TRUE, THAT IN MARRIAGE, IF YOU SIMPLY DO WHAT IS REQUIRED, WHAT IS RIGHT, WHAT IS FAIR, YOUR MARRIAGE IS NOT GOING TO AMOUNT TO MUCH. THERE, THERE HAS TO BE A LOT OF GOING THE SECOND MILE TO MAKE A MARRIAGE, RIGHT MARRIAGE. AND THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE HAPPY MARRIAGES, YOU KNOW THIS, IN YOUR DEVOTIONAL LIFE YOU HAVE TO GO THE SECOND MILE. THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE SAY, I HAVE A QUIET TIME. I'M GOING TO READ A CHAPTER A DAY. I'M GOING TO HAVE, I, I, I HAVE SO MANY MINUTES IN PRAYER. AND IT'S A LEGAL THING, RATHER THAN A LOVE THING. A DOSE A DAY KEEPS THE DEVIL AWAY. AND, AND RATHER THAN LOVING AND PRAYING AND SEEKING GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE HEART. YOU JUST ARE ONE MINER IN YOUR WITNESSING LIFE. DO YOU

30:18 KNOW WHAT WILL HELP YOU TO BE A GOOD WITNESS FOR THE LORD JESUS MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE? GO THE SECOND MILE. I WANT YOU TO IMAGINE THIS. HERE'S A BOY. HE'S WORKING OUT THERE. HE'S CHOPPING IN THE FIELDS. A ROMAN SOLDIER COMES BY, SAY, HEY YOU, CARRIER THIS LOAD. BOY, HE'S SO ANGRY. HE SLAMS THAT HOLE DOWN. HE'S, ALL RIGHT, GIVE IT HERE. LET'S GO. HE WALKS A MILE, GRITTING HIS TEETH, MUMBLING, THINKING ABOUT THAT ROMAN SOLDIER. HE GETS TO THAT MILE POST. HE SLAMS IT ON THE GROUND. HE SAYS, ALL RIGHT, I'VE DONE IT. YOU'RE ON TOP RIGHT NOW. YOU'RE ON TOP. YOU'RE IN CONTROL. ONE OF THESE DAYS I HOPE WE'RE IN CONTROL. AND MR. SOLDIER, WHEN WE'RE IN CONTROL, WHEN WE'RE ON TOP, YOU'RE GONNA LEARN WHAT IT'S LIKE. WE'RE GONNA GET YOU. I JUST HOPE THAT DAY COMES. HE'S ANGRY. THE SOLDIER'S ANGRY. HE GOES HOME, BANGS HIS FIST AGAINST THE BARN DOOR, GOES IN THE HOUSE, SLAMS THE DOOR, SITS DOWN, CAN'T EAT HIS DINNER. HE'S ANGRY, SEETHING. I WANT YOU TO NOTICE A SECOND MILER. HMM. THAT SOCIAL SAYS, HEY, COME HERE, CARY THIS LOAD. YES, SIR, BE RIGHT THERE, PICKS UP THE LOAD, SAYS, LET'S GO. SAY, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

31:50 WHAT PART OF ROME? I'VE NEVER BEEN TO ROME. WHAT'S ROME LIKE? AND HE BEGINS TO TALK TO THEM. DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY? ARE YOU MARRIED? DO YOU HAVE CHILDREN? THEY'RE CARRYING, WALKING ALONG. AFTER A WHILE HE GETS TO THE END AND THE SOLDIER SAYS, WELL, I'VE ENJOYED THE CONVERSATION. HE SAYS, NO, WAIT A MINUTE. ABOUT ANOTHER MILE DOWN THERE, THERE'S A, THERE'S A WELL. I KNOW WHERE WE CAN GET A COLD DRINK OF WATER. LET ME CARRY THIS FOR YOU THE SECOND MILE. AND THEY GO WALKING DOWN THERE THE SECOND MILE. AND FINALLY HE SETS THE BACKPACK DOWN AND THAT SOLDIER LOOKS AT HIM AND SAID, HUH, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. YOU'RE DIFFERENT FROM ANY JEWISH BOY I EVER KNEW. I HATED THE JEWS AND THEY HATED US. I, THERE, THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT YOU. WELL, THE JEWISH BOY SAYS, I HOPE THERE'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT ME. SEE, I HEARD JESUS PREACH ONE DAY AND HE TOLD ME SOMETHING ABOUT GOING A SECOND MILE. THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING. JESUS, WHO IS HE? OH, HE'S THE MESSIAH OF ISRAEL. HE'S THE ONE WHO CAME TO REDEEM US, TO GIVE US NEW LIFE. I WANT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION. DO YOU THINK THAT THAT SECOND JEWISH BOY WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF WITNESSING THAN THE FIRST JEWISH BOY? HA, DO YOU THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF SHARING JESUS? OF COURSE HE WOULD! BECAUSE, PRECIOUS FRIEND, NOT ONLY ARE WE WITNESSES, WE'RE ALSO PART OF THE EVIDENCE. IT'S THE SECOND MILE, IT IS THE SECOND MILE THAT IS THE MASTERY MILE, IT IS THE SECOND MILE THAT IS THE CHARITY MILE, IT IS THE SECOND MILE THAT IS THE VICTORY MILE AND BRINGS VICTORY AND WE WILL NEVER REALLY AS CHRISTIANS HAVE THE VICTORY THAT WE OUGHT TO HAVE UNTIL WE LEARN THE SMILE MILE THAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT, GOING THE SECOND.

33:39 Let me just wrap it up and tell you this. THAT JESUS WENT THE SECOND MILE FOR EVERY ONE OF US. JESUS DID NOT PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHED, HE PREACHED WHAT HE PRACTICED. YOU SEE, THE FIRST MILE WAS GOD CREATED US AND GAVE US A CHANCE AND WE FAILED IT. GOD WOULD HAVE BEEN PERFECTLY JUST TO CAST US INTO HELL. BUT ROMANS FIVE, EIGHT SAYS, BUT GOD COMMITTETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US AND THAT WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS CHRIST DIED FOR US. THAT'S THE SECOND MILE. JESUS went the second mile. IN A CHURCH SERVICE, A PASTOR WAS GIVING AN INVITATION LIKE I'M

34:29 GOING TO DO IN JUST A MOMENT. A LITTLE CHILD WAS IN THE SERVICE, HAD NOT BEEN IN THE SERVICE BEFORE, AND THE LITTLE CHILD SAW PEOPLE COMING DOWN ALL OF THE ISLES. AND THE LITTLE GUY ASKED HIS MOTHER SAID, WHERE ARE THEY GOING? AND THE MOTHER SAID, THEY'RE GOING FORWARD TO GIVE THEIR HEARTS TO JESUS? AND THE LITTLE BOY SAID, WHY DON'T WE ALL GO? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. BECAUSE HE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR US. IF I HAD A THOUSAND LIVES, I'D WANT TO GIVE EVERY ONE OF THEM TO JESUS. AND FRIEND, WHY DON'T WE ALL GIVE OUR LIVES

35:12 TO THE ONE WHO LOVED US AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR US? WOULD YOU BOW YOUR HEADS IN PRAYER. HEADS ARE VOWED AND EYES ARE CLOSED. NO ONE'S STIRRING. IF YOU WANT TO BE SAVED, LET ME LEAD YOU IN A LITTLE PRAYER. AND IN THIS PRAYER YOU CAN RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST AS YOUR PERSONAL LORD AND SAVIOR RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. JUST FORGET, ANYBODY ELSE IS HERE NOW. JUST YOU, JESUS, AND ME. WOULD YOU PRAY A PRAYER LIKE THIS? LORD, I KNOW THAT YOU You love me. AND I KNOW THAT YOU WANT TO SAVE ME. I'M A SINNER AND I NEED TO BE SAVED. AND I WANT TO BE SAVED. JESUS, YOU DIED TO SAVE ME. YOU PROMISED TO SAVE ME IF I WOULD ONLY TRUST YOU. I DO TRUST YOU, JESUS. RIGHT NOW, THIS MOMENT, RIGHT NOW, I I TRUST YOU AS MY LORD AND SAVIOR. FORGIVE MY SIN, CLEANSE ME, AND MAKE ME WHAT YOU WANT ME TO BE. AND THEN PRAY THIS, LORD JESUS, BECAUSE YOU'VE SAVED ME, I WILL LIVE FOR YOU AND I'LL NOT BE ASHAMED OF YOU. GIVE ME THE COURAGE ALWAYS TO STAND UP FOR YOU. IN YOUR NAME I PRAY, AMEN.