Finishing Strong

For Men’s Breakfast Personal Care

2 Timothy 4:7 ESV

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

In our life time, we have seen too many Christians falter as they approached the finish line.

We may know some personally that have “fallen” from the faith.

We may know of public examples of some pastors succumbing to sin. Regardless of the type of sin, such public revelations result in others taking spiritual and perhaps very immediate reactions that are hurtful for themselves and the body.

The reduction of attendance due to a pastoral failure results in dropped giving and may result in the need to lay off some hired help.

The damage to the faith of those who were overly dependent on the image of the pastor.

The stress and strain on the leadership of the church as they try to minister to the pastor and those immediately involved with the situation, while continue to feed and shepherd the church.

The stress and strain on the family members of the leadership.

As followers of Jesus, our goal is to have a LASTING faith.

How do we finish strong? we need a LASTING faith

Using 2 Timothy 4:7 as our guide this morning, we will talk about how to have a LASTING

We are called

English Standard Version Chapter 4

2 Timothy 4:7

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

The fight here is the fight of running the race. What does that mean for us. Well, in running a race, there are rules.

The first rule is staying the course - and as Christians, the world would love to get us off course.

Four things for us to do:

I have fought the good fight

Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind.

As Jesus has loved us, we are to love others.

(we know the second commandment is Love our neighbor as our self, but the higher calling is this new commandment, in my mind)

Serve others

Luke 22:26-27 

Jesus says: But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.

For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Train others

We are called in Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16–20 ESV

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

I have finished the race

two words belongs here:

Intentional and NO

Hebrews 12:1 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

1 Corinthians 9:24–26 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air.

Intentional

done by intention

having an external reference (of or relating to epistemological intention)

As we noted when we started - we know we need to stay on the course to “win” the race.

But we also need to cross the finish line. We finish what we start.

The reality is that our faith is a gift of God, yet we easily feel the weight of it.

It is hard to bear it at times - we need to always go to Jesus and ask for His help.

When we sin, we must confess our sin, repent and seek the Father’s ready forgiveness. Sometimes this also means seeking resolution and reconciliation with another person we may have hurt with our sin.

We are intentional in living the way the Lord has called us to live as Christians.

We are intentional in fulfilling the general call God has given each of us.

We are intentional in fulfilling the specific call God has given us.

ANYTHING THAT DISTRACTS US OR DRAWS US FROM THESE INTENTIONAL TARGETS WE MUST RESPOND WITH ONE WORD:

NO!

The last phrase is

I have kept the faith

The last letter is G - GOD

English Standard Version Chapter 9

Ecclesiastes 9:11

Wisdom Better Than Folly

11 Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.

Psalm 33:13–22 ESV

The Lord looks down from heaven; he sees all the children of man; from where he sits enthroned he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, he who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a false hope for salvation, and by its great might it cannot rescue. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.

Ps 33:13-17

Observation: Notice that though the Lord is in heaven and is sitting he sees every person, every inhabitant. This is emphasized by this being said twice. The phrase, "He who fashions the hearts of them all observes all their deeds" is interesting. Is this phrase suggesting that though God forms a man's heart, that man is still accountable for his actions and behavior and is still man's responsibility? What is a king’s greatest power? Is it not his army? What is a Warriors greatest strength? Is it not his physical power? The war horse was the high-end of military equipment at that time, and demonstrated great power and no fear in battle. Yet all these things, the strongest, the best of us, cannot save us. Only One can truly save us, and tomorrow we will note the uniqueness of how we can only be saved.

Application: What is in my life that I am relying on for my salvation?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I know that it is only through the work of your Son, Jesus Christ on the cross, can I be saved. Holy Spirit, show me what I may be relying on in addition to the work of Jesus Christ. Forgive me for my foolishness. Help me to rely solely through faith in Christ alone, by Your grace alone. Thank You, Father, for Your faithfulness, even when I am not. Let me not take advantage of Your kindness toward me. Rather, help me to follow You wholeheartedly through Your Word and by Your Spirit, amen. 20181228

Ps 33:18-21.

Observation: Yesterday, we saw there is nothing in ourselves that can save us from God's wrath due to our sins. In our passage today, we see that the Lord is looking on those who fear Him and whose hope is in Him and His steadfast love. That the LORD may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive from famine. The Psalmist says that his soul waits for the Lord, for God is our help and shield, leading us to have hearts glad in Him because we trust in God's holy name. The Psalmist asks God that His steadfast love would be upon the people even as they continue to hope in Him. Who are those whom God looks upon? Those who humble themselves before God by fearing God and trusting in the Lord and His steadfast love. Their faith in God is such that they see God as caring and good. They turn to God as their helper and as their shield. They trust God enough to wait on Him, even as they continue to hope in God's life-saving response.

Application: Are you trusting in God through your difficult times? are your eyes on the Lord, waiting for him to act on your behalf rather than trying to take things into your own hand? Are you trusting in God ultimately for your eternal life through Jesus Christ? Only through Jesus and his shed blood on your behalf can you have a right relationship with our heavenly father.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You know my needs and the struggles I face. I will wait on You, and Your steadfast love to be my shield and my help. My eyes are on You, increase my faith to trust in your response. I thank you for the work of Jesus Christ on the cross on my behalf. Jesus come into my life that I may follow You and I have a right relationship with my Heavenly Father. For the glory of the Father, amen. 20181229