Matthew 5:41 (NKJV)
41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
JEWISH UNIQUIE LAW
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This scripture is from the very well-known passage of the “Sermon On The Mount”. Israel, during the time of Christ, was under Roman rule. They were their oppressors, and were hated by the Jews. One of the most hated of Roman laws: - The one that would allow a soldier to force a person to carry his possessions one mile!
The word “compel” carries with it the idea of “a readiness and willingness to submit to inconvenience or unreasonable demands.” if a Roman soldier demanded that a Jewish man carry his burden a mile, which was what the law specified, then Jesus said that he should carry it twain, or two miles.
Simon Cyrene
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Scripture tells us of another who was “compelled” as Jesus made His way to Golgotha:
Mt. 27:32
"And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross."
Simon Cyrene had no choice but to carry the cross, but Jesus says the Second Mile will be up to our own volunteering.
But notice the wording that Jesus uses. He doesn’t say anything about a Roman Soldier. He says, “And whosoever shall compel thee”. To you and I today this would mean, “If a neighbor” or a “co-worker” or a “church member” would compel us to do a certain thing then we should do twice as much as they expect us to do.
Jesus tells them, to carry their bags an EXTRA mile. The first mile was done grudgingly and reluctantly. But Jesus says, go TWO miles! He is trying to convey the attitude of a Christian. Anybody can grudge and complain about their situation...But, a Christian can use it towards God’s glory! Consider what a Roman soldier might think if...
A man tells him, he wants to carry his stuff another mile? It will floor him! Such is the Christian walk today.
We are not merely to live the Christian life; We are to go the extra mile! Second Mile Christianity
WHAT IS DUTY?
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Let me show you from bible first what is Duty and how we supposed to do our duty first. The irony is if we do our duty only we are unprofitable Servant to our Master.
Luke 17:7-10 (NKJV)
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7 And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8 But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.[a] 10 So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”
2 Corinthians 5:14-15(NKJV)
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14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
If He died for us, we ought to live for Him.
Romans 12:1(NKJV)
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1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Your reasonable service! In Urdu translation it says it’s our “IBADAT” which is “Worship” but here in English its says it’s not worship but it is our service or Duty.
In light of the facts of the gospel, that Jesus died for us to save us from hell and give us eternal life. IT IS ONLY REASONABLE THAT WE SERVE GOD!
CARRY YOUR CROSS
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If God compels you to carry His cross one mile, it is your DUTY to do so. It is your reasonable service. In fact, we are to say to ourselves: We are unprofitable servants; we have done that which is our DUTY!
The meaning of duty!
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Webster’s 1828 dictionary
Meaning
• That which a person owes to another;
• That by which a person is bound, by any natural, moral legal, or spiritual obligation, to pay, do or perform.
Notice the words "Owe," and "Bound."
Example: A soldier on guard
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He holds the lives of those who sleep peacefully under his watch, in his hands. The enemy cannot attack without warning as long as he stands guard. He must remain alert, and never forget that it is his duty to keep watch. At first, he is excited. He is a soldier for the greatest army in the world. He carries a powerful weapon in his hands. He considers the importance of his job; the lives that depend on him...and, he holds his position proudly.
But, after many days his job becomes routine. He no longer considers it such a great honor. He loses sight of the great responsibility given to him. He no longer cares that lives depend on him. His job becomes boring! But, even though he is no longer excited. Though it brings him no great glory. Though his position is now just weary work. IT IS STILL HIS DUTY!!! And, the lives of those under his care remain his responsibility.
Serving God will lose its excitement...
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We too soon become weary in well doing. The flashing lights of the world become far more exciting than the everyday efforts of walking with God but, whether its FUN or not, Whether we like it or not, IT IS STILL OUR DUTY! "What difference does it make whether I like it or not?" We OWE a debt to our Savior AND ITS OUR DUTY! But, That’s Just the First Mile.
This is what I would like to focus on today, and that is verse 41, the NKJV version reads If some one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. I want to talk about the second mile or Extra Mile. I believe that we as Christians are required to live in the second mile.
I. CHRISTIANITY IS A SECOND MILE RELIGION
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First Christianity is a second mile religion. Since the beginning of Gods creation there has been many religions established. And before we die we will see many more established. It seems that there is a religion for everything. One to worship the animals, one to worship the trees even one to worship the fish. But there is one thing that Christianity has that none other has. Christianity is a second mile religion. If you are a Christian you are required to live in the second mile. So what is the second mile?
Here are a few examples.
• To love ones neighbor is the first mile, to love ones enemy is the second mile.
• To bless those who bless you is the first mile, to bless those who curse you is the second mile.
• To do good to those who do good to you is the first mile to do good to those who hate you is the second mile.
• Praying for those who pray for you is the first mile and praying for those who despitefully use you is the second mile.
• To bless those who bless you is the first mile, to bless those who Persecuted you is the second mile.
The Pharisees lived in the first mile and Christians live in the second mile. Christianity is the most rigorous, and demanding, religion in the world. This is all because it is a second mile religion.
Christ lived in the second mile
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Second Christ required us to live in the second mile. He did this in two ways. His life and his teaching, Christ
• Lived in the second mile in his prayer life.
• Praying until blood ran down his face.
• We only pray until our knees hurt or people were leaving.
• Fighting forty-days and nights with Satan.
• Fasting and being tempted he gave us examples on how to resist Devil.
• No complaints when he was spit upon or the solders gambled for his clothes.
• He did this in his giving by giving His whole self to a life devoted to His Father’s business and then to die on the cross for undeserving people such as I.
We can also see the second mile of other great men such as :-
• Noah obeyed God’s command.
• Moses who gave up a life of wealth to follow God.
• Peter who came back from denying Christ to preaching on the day of Pentecost.
• Paul a man living a sacrificial life for the service of God and calling himself the Chief of all sinners.
We even see the people of the 15 and 1600s such as John Calvin who went against the Church and Luther who placed the wrongs of the church on the door.
Regular Church Attendance is the FIRST MILE.
• Some don’t even go the FIRST mile! Some miss church for any reason: and some make up reasons!
• Some don’t even go the first mile! But, even if you did, you haven’t done anything extra. You have simply done that which is your duty!
Attending Church and Sitting here warming a seat is your reasonable service, it is the FIRST MILE but getting involved in the Music, bible Studies, and Shouting Praise to God is the Second Mile! "You have done that which is your duty..." It is not until you are an integral part of the service that you begin the second mile.
Not until you use your voice to encourage someone to Christ... You can at least encourage the preacher by shouting Amen! Amen, simply means, I agree! When you shout Amen, you tell everyone that hears, "I agree!"
Tithing is the FIRST MILE.
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God commands us to "bring the full tithe into the storehouse..." The tithe makes us all equal, no matter what our economic status. 10 Percent is 10 percent, no matter how much money you make. Some have NEVER gone the First Mile when it comes to tithing.
• Will a man rob God?
• God says you’re a thief!
• God loves a cheerful giver is not talking about the tithe.
• Tithing is the First Mile!
• Giving above your Tithe is the Second Mile!
But, 10% is the starting point (not an ending point)! My wife and I give our tithe and, we give STRONGLY to missions!
The Tithe is just the First Mile. You haven’t even begun to really give to God’s work until you start the SECOND MILE! MANY are not even tithing! The problem is you don’t TRUST God! You don’t really believe God can take care of you. You are still living on the ragged edge financially, because you WILL NOT FOLLOW GOD in matters of money!
Reading the Bible is the FIRST MILE.
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Reading and studying the Bible is the DUTY of every Christian. It is not just a good idea, it’s a command of God. Every time I read it, I see something new. It is an amazing book. It never ceases to encourage me and help me. But, even if wasn’t exciting and amazing, it is still OUR DUTY to read the Bible.
• Some are not even doing the FIRST MILE.
Reading your Bible is the FIRST MILE Until you get into some DEEP Bible Study, You are still a First Mile Only Christian. MOST don’t even read their Bible as it is. Some aren’t even serving God the First Mile. Some need to get a Bible Correspondence course and Really Learn the Bible. Why should God send you into Christian service if you will not prepare yourself?
Study to show thyself approved unto God. A workman that needeth not to be ashamed! Second Mile Men Needed (Ezek. 22:24-31).
Telling others about Jesus and inviting them to church is just the FIRST MILE!
Every born-again believer should want his friends and family to be saved. If we really believe that those who do not receive Christ will burn forever in the lake of fire. If we really believe in eternal salvation for the saved ones and eternal damnation for the lost ones. If we really believe in a hell with fire and torments! HOW COULD WE NOT TELL OUR LOVED ONES ABOUT CHRIST’S DELIVERANCE? I want all my family to know what I know.
Cancer Cure
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If I had the cure for Cancer, and I had a loved one with Cancer, what kind of person would I be to withhold that information?
Example : Fire in House
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Recently, a local TV station interviewed a man that rescued a sleeping family from a burning house. He was riding by the house, saw the raging fire and at the danger of his own life, ran inside the flaming house, screaming and yelling for the family to wake up and get out! The newscaster asked him, "How does it feel to be a hero?" His reply was simply, "I’m no hero; I just did what any decent human being would have done."." WOULD A DECENT CHRISTIAN LET A FAMILY BURN IN THE ETERNAL FIRES OF HELL, AND NOT WARN THEM? Warning friends and family about hell is JUST THE FIRST MILE.
IT IS OUR DUTY!
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• ITS YOUR DUTY TO ATTEND CHURCH REGULARLY!
• ITS YOUR DUTY TO GIVE 10% TO GODS WORK!
• ITS YOUR DUTY TO READ YOUR BIBLE THROUGH!
• ITS YOUR DUTY TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS!
These things are the FIRST MILE! These things are, Simply OUR DUTY!
ARE YOU LIVING IN SECOND MILE.
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Now comes the question, are you living in the second mile. Are you willing to commit your life to God and to leap all boundaries to follow God. Are you willing to take the extra step to call yourself a second mile Christian. With heads bowed and eyes closed if you are willing to live in the second mile I want you to raise your hands as a commitment unto God. If there are those who would like to come down and recommit their lives to God and make this known these altars are open. I always want to give an altar call before God. The second mile commitment is the next level of the relationship.
WHAT IS IN SECOND MILE?
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The Second Mile will not be an enjoyable trip unless we do it for the Lord. There are some things about the “Second Mile” that keep some Christians from traveling it:
1. THE SECOND MILE IS A LONELY ROAD
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It’s not crowded. It gets lonely on the Second Mile. Not many there that you can fellowship with.
like Marathon Race many start, it’s packed at first, but not as many continue, and few finish, and most of those who finish…finish alone! But Jesus is there on the second mile.
2. THE SECOND MILE NEVER ENDS
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It has no ending marker. If you are following this radical philosophy of Jesus and someone asks you where you are at in your Christian life, you should answer them, “I am on the Second Mile.” You can’t say, “I am at the halfway point or three-fourths. There is no end to the Second Mile. The Bible never introduces a “Third Mile.”
The good news is that if you are a Second Mile Christian you’re never “over the hill!” And the finish line may not be in sight, but we know it’s out there by faith, and will suddenly appear with a shout of an angel and the blast of a trump! Let me ask you, “How long have you been on the Second Mile?” “Are you on the Second Mile?”
3. THE SECOND MILE WILL ALWAYS BE UNDER ATTACK
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There will be a lot of land mines on this mile. There will be a few shots fired. There is always someone demanding you go the second mile for them. I find it is usually the same people over and over again.
From Satan.
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1. He will be trying to lure you off to the side somehow.
2. He may use friends.
3. He may use family.
From the “Seated” Christian
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We Can Expect Attacks From Those Who Refuse To Go The Second Mile. “Why are you always down there at the church?” Or, the discouraging attack of the seated as they won’t help, won’t attend, won’t help make things a success. And yet will expect it to get done and complain and point fingers if not! It’s discouraging and lonely enough already, can’t you help? A carnal Christian has no boundary of what he expects a “Second Mile” Christian to do. They won’t do it themselves, but they think everyone else should.
We give Satan a lot of credit, but we are our 2nd worst enemy as we continue the abuse and neglect of our own!
4. THE SECOND MILE IS A BURDENSOME ROAD
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Gal. 6:2
"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
The Jewish lad was to carry the Roman soldier’s burden for one mile. Jesus changed that and said to carry it two miles.
When I hear all of these energetic people always wanting to do something – go somewhere – put yet another iron on the fire – etc. I think “why aren’t they tired?” The Second Mile is a burdensome road. How can they have so much energy? Then I think, maybe they aren’t on the Second Mile.
5. THE SECOND MILE LEADS TO JOY.
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That First Mile was required by law, but the Second Mile is continued voluntarily. I hope every person in this room is tuned in right now. I am going to give you the reason why perhaps your life is not as joyful as it should be. We lack:
A. Happiness In The Heart
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Happiness of the heart never seeks recognition. The happiness of the heart is all the reward a Second Miler needs. Many church members have that “consumer mentality”. They want to be served…they like it that way. A Christian is never to even think of being served by anyone. Jesus said he came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. We need a contributor mentality, not a consumer mentality.
Here’s the scene: you and the spouse are sitting in the living room enjoying a tv program, when a need arises…maybe one of the kids, or maybe one of you needs a refill, or to go fetch something. You look at each other, and the wheels are turning in your mind as you think of how often it is YOU that has to get up. Sometimes it turns into a well, a moment of “intense fellowship.” One or the other is guilted into being the one, and goes reluctantly. Now, contrast that w/ a servant’s attitude that volunteers and says, I’ll do it…that in turn makes the other want to volunteer sometimes, too.
Christian joy and happiness never comes from being served, but from serving. You won’t find one Scripture that even hints that you should be on the receiving end of serving.
B. Happiness In The Home
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The reason your home may not be as happy as it should be is because someone is not going the Second Mile.
When each family member is willing to be a Second Miler, there will be happiness in the home. If every married couple in this church would ignore self when it comes to wants and wishes and then go the Second Mile – every home would be much happier.
6. THE SECOND MILE LEADS TO REWARDS
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Rewards will only be given to those who travel the Second Mile…and that with the right motive. If you sacrifice in order that you will receive rewards; the rewards will never come, but if you sacrifice because you love the Lord, then your rewards will be immeasurable. Why should each Christian go the Second Mile? Because the Lord Jesus Christ went all the way to Calvary for us.
Hebrews 11 is filled with Second Milers. (Read)
7. THE SECOND MILE IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH ONE.
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This is why we need to bear one another’s burdens, and count our blessings…we never know when we’ll hit that fork in the road and need help ourselves!...not all have the same stretch of road ahead of them, and yet:
Now listen to me very closely…
8. None Will Be Excused From The Second Mile Because Of Infirmity.
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There is much that can be done and still be in pain. I believe that God expects each Christian to serve through the pain and discomfort. I have not found any scripture that would relieve from duty those who are in pain. I believe God expects each of us to continue on when we may not want to. And nodding heads now testify to the fact that it actually helps to stay focused on something else and stay busy. And God gets great glory when He’s counted worthy of that!
(I am very aware that we have some people here who are in great pain most of the time – yet they keep on serving God and going the Second Mile.) They are doing the right thing in the right manner.
Think about the challenge left by Paul in
2 Corinthians 11:23-27 (NKJV)
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23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, inperils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
After having many hard experiences, notice what he said:
Phil 4:4
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"Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice."
What did Paul have to rejoice about? How many of you could put the following in your resume, or your diary?
Phil 3:13-14
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"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."
We can be sure that Paul had much physical damage to his body from all that happened to him, but he kept on going. I think what Paul is saying in Vs. 13, is that he doesn’t consider to have gained anything of any value, - no possessions, no attainment. Nothing in his past or present is going to have any control or any determination on his pressing toward the mark for Christ.
Well a headache Sunday morning, And a backache Sunday night But by work time Monday morning, you're feeling quite all right Well one of the children has a cold, pneumonia do you suppose? Why, the whole family has to stay home! I know that I will be labeled as insensitive, but we need to toughen up as Christians. Sometimes we must just grin and bear it. Keep on going down the Second Mile.
I am convinced that many of our hardships and pains might leave us if we would forget them and go on down the Second Mile Road…teach Satan he can’t keep you down that way. Many teach him alright…they’ve taught him to consistently make sure something minor comes up!
9. None Will Be Excused From The Second Mile Because Of Ignorance.
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A great place to learn about anything is in the middle of the battle. When I was a kid growing up, and it came time for swimming lessons, we only had one lesson, and that first one was: Someone would throw you in! If you didn’t swim out real soon they would throw the next one in to rescue the first one, and so on. Finally someone would learn to swim and then rescue the others. It was swim or drown.
That’s how it is in the church. We give effort to training, but we’d never actually do anything if we all didn’t just jump in and start paddling! You can’t use the excuse, “I don’t know how to do that job.” Learn how!
10. THE SECOND MILE WILL BE TRAVELED ONLY BY THOSE WHO ARE HOLY
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No Carnal are On The Second Mile. The carnal dare not enter.
No Complainers are On The Second Mile. The complainers will never begin the Second Mile.
No Jealous are On The Second Mile. Jealousy will keep you from being successful in anything.
No Greedy are On The Second Mile.
No “Hit And Miss Christians” are On The Second Mile.
Isaiah 35:8-9
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And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. [9] No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up there on, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there.
Punch Line
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This miracle mile, the second mile, is motivated by the love of Christ.
Incidentally, the second mile is the mile our Lord Himself walked. He knows the road very well. It was love that took Him on the miracle mile to the cross. Oh, He journeyed the first mile. He stepped out of heaven and into human flesh. He walked the mandated mile that was motivated by the law. He kept every detail of the law. But He also went the second mile, motivated by His own love for us. He who made the stars with a spoken word and formed the universe, the One who formed and fashioned us with His own hands, said, “I love you, and I will walk with you.” But we went our own way.
Then He said, “I will go the second mile.” It took Him to the cross where He bore the weight, not of a Roman soldier’s backpack, but of our own sin. And somebody told somebody, and somebody told somebody else, and somebody else told Johnny Keeton, and Johnny Keeton told me when I was seventeen years of age. I am not all I ought to be today, but I have never been the same since that day.
As you memorize this verse, meditate on what ways you can go the second mile today. It will brighten your road and lighten someone else’s load.
