Finishing Strong 10 Truths

Finishing Strong

As you’re entering the second half of your life, you want to be able to say:

1. I discovered and lived God’s purpose for my life.

2. I left no unfinished business.

3. I loved people and used things.

4. I left a Godly heritage for the next generation.

5. I provided the best I could for my family.

6. I honored my commitments (or I’ve made an effort to make things right).

7. I was confident of my relationship with Christ.

8. I didn’t leave a mess behind for others to clean up.

9. I served others as I wanted to be served.

10. I honored God in each of the five essential areas of life (as external evidence of an internal life).

1.

Finishing Strong in this season - 2

Finishing Strong involves a challenge to the believer to be at their best as long as they can physically do so. Being at the finish line, means there was a goal, or line to cross. In life the first thing that comes to mind is purpose. What is my purpose? So first of all let's think purpose and how it relates to Scripture:

1. I discovered and lived God’s purpose for my life.

Here are 7 passages pointing to purpose. This is not an exhaustive list, and this list may bring many more to your mind. As you read these, think about how they relate to your life and what God has planned for you.

Jer.29:11 - For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope.

- This speaks of God's plan for Israel as a nation. But in that there are purposes for a nation, cannot a person claim a national purpose for his own? When God says he thinks about us and the plans he has for me, how does that make you feel?

Phil. 3:13 - Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it on my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind, and reaching forward to what lies ahead.

- The Apostle Paul focused on his purpose even while in prison, and we know this truth because this is a prison Epistle. What does this teach us about our focus in approaching the subject of what has God called me to do at this point in my life?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.

- King Solomon is showing us that times and seasons are working together. How do we see this at work in the world or in our own life as a believer?

Proverbs 15:22 - Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

- You have to ask the question, "who are the counsellors?"

Who are my counsellors?

The important thing is that God uses counsellors in the establishment of purpose. How have you seen this at work?

II Timothy 3:10 - But you have fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience.

-The Apostle Paul knew where he was going on many fronts, and he had committed to telling others about the character of his own life. What have you withheld from others about what God has done or is doing for you?

When is it a good time not to tell someone?

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things word together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

-This is probably the most well-known verse about Gods love and care towards us in the matter of purpose in our lives. And also, how that involves us meeting and touching the Lord Jesus. We might add that this happens at all stages of life.

Ephesians 1:9 &11- Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to his good pleasure which He has purposed in Himself, in whom we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.

-This is not a hidden thing. This mystery of His will is obtainable by one and all, because God says it has already been made known. In fact, this is a pleasurable feeling that God has towards us as He reveals Himself to us. Just as you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you are on your way to heaven, you can also know what plans He has in store for you. When was the last time you asked?

-Secondly, he has not only revealed His pleasurable will to us, he has set us up as beneficiaries of His inheritance that he is passing down. We are heirs of promise, biblically speaking.

We are heirs that are patterned after, His only Begotten Son, Jesus. And, it all fits together perfectly...all.

We have been not left out in the cold on matters of the heart and life. God wants us to live well and full throughout our entire lives. Purpose is just one of the ways God has set us up to succeed. Here are a few more from our original list of ten:

4.

Finishing Strong – 4 - Loving people and using things

3. Loving people and using things

There is a close relationship between people and things, regarding love. Let's check out some verses that bring this to light for our intents and purposes today. A person must love God before they can truly love anyone else.

Deuteronomy 6:5 -You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength

Matthew 22:37- Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Mark 12:30- “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is the first commandment.

Luke 10:27 - So he answered and said, "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:24-34.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remains, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passes away. 32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.1 Co 7:29–33).

- The difference between people and things are in the passing of time, the use of that time and things, and our relationship to our wives.

We see in I Cor. 7 that "things" are fading, passing, and making an exit. There will always be another "new" thing. But relating to a spouse, they are not to be like a play/ production and the scenes change quickly. A spouse and the relationship we have with them does not fade or wear out, it endures. This and other relationships with people are expected to be enduring. Things pass away. People are eternal. How do this stack up with our churche’s slogan: Passion for God, Love for people?

2 Co 6:10 | As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Ps 39:6 | Surely every man walketh in a vain show: Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heaps up riches, and knows not who shall gather them.

So, what attaches us to things?

Can we put more time into things than people?

How do we value people and how we value things?

Let's think about God's love and things in context of the cross:

Philippians 2:8 (KJV 1900)

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

We see that Jesus took on a form(fashion) that had limitations and then took himself even lower for obedience sake and went to the death of a cross. Technically we as humans are fading, but concerning heaven, we are eternal. The fashion here is different from the fashion of I Cor. 7. But both have limitations. There are no limitations at the cross concerning you and me. But things will not get into heaven.

But things will be in the believer’s judgment:

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ: that everyone may receive the things done in this body, according to that he hath done. whether it be good or bad?

-does this describe the things of the world?

-How do we reconcile the need for certain things and our need for people?

17 Therefore if any man bein Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. II Cor. 5:17-18

Let's end with this passage. This brings it all into focus

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses.

6.

I left a Godly heritage for the next generation.

Joshua 24:15-

15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jos 24:15). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

At some point a man must determine in his heart how he is going to run his life and his household. Will he live for God or will he follow the world. Men lead from the fullness of their heart, and that heart is to be full with all that the Lord Jesus Christ has to offer:

Proverbs 4:23 - Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

The Lord has purposed that your decisions can have an effect upon the generations. Your decisions are not your own. Moses commanded the children of Israel to listen to what God wants as they were to follow the godly instruction of Joshua in Deuteronomy 4: 9,10-

Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— 10 how on the day that you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, the Lord said to me, ‘Gather the people to me, that I may let them hear my words, so that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children so.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Dt 4:9–10). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Our journeys, with children in tow, are to be done with the future in mind. We should be always on the watchtower, catching a vision of what God has for us and our little ones. The Psalmist says it plainly that paying attention to how we see our children is how we will see victory over the enemy before us.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior

are the children of one’s youth.

5 Blessed is the man

who fills his quiver with them!

He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 127:3–5). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

This strength over enemies through the children who follow behind is also found in Psalm 8:2 - " Out of the mouth of babes and suckling’s, hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou might still the enemy and the avenger."

The rest of this Psalm is really helpful in seeing the majesty of how the family fits into God plan :

1 O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes,

to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honor.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 8:1–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

That majestic plan far exceeds our influence of those in our households, but includes all of creation.

Caleb, who served beside Joshua, fully understood the need to secure a proper place for him and his family:

6 Then the people of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God in Kadesh-barnea concerning you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. 8 But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; yet I wholly followed the Lord my God. 9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land on which your foot has trodden shall be an inheritance for you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the Lord my God.’ 10 And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.

12 So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lordsaid.”

13 Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the Lord, the God of Israel. 15 Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jos 14:6–15). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

He had a legacy in mind not only for His generations, but he also had a vision for his family. They were going to look down and be able to see the enemy coming in the distance. They would be on top of things. theirs was an inheritance that was literally higher up than the others.

In closings, let's read from Deuteronomy 6 and how God's people were to make a godly heritage for their family:

When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. 23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Dt 6:20–25). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

When we choose a path other than what the Lord has commanded, then we do our families and friends, a great injustice.

9.

Finishing Strong 9

I was confident of my relationship with Christ.

1 Paul and Timothy, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Php 1). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Confidence arises out of your relationship with Jesus Christ- "He will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" Confidence can be baffling to others but not the believer. We stand before God and man without condemnation. Face to face with God, we can stand confidently in the latter day in his presence, knowing our sins have been forgiven. Just look at this:

5Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Ro 5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

The preposition "with," is a relational word. It is literally, "we have peace facing God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Confidence in Christ is assurance that he is going to follow through on what he has promised. Like this:

24 Truly, truly I say to you that the one who hears my word and who believes the one who sent me has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer, J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English Bible (Jn 5:24). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Or this:

11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 The one who has the Son has the life; the one who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer, J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English Bible (1 Jn 5:11–12). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

Your assurance of salvation will be key to your effectiveness as a believer to reach others. Your doubts will not inspire faith in others. You need to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are Christ's.

That kind of assurance drove the Apostle Paul to write this.

For our exhortation is not from error or from impurity or with deceit, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, thus we speak, not as pleasing people but God, who examines our hearts. 5 ⌊For never⌋ did we come with a word of flattery, just as you know, nor with a pretext of greediness (God iswitness), 6 nor seeking glory from people, neither from you nor from others. 7 ⌊Although we could have insisted on our own importance⌋* as apostles of Christ, yet we became infants in your midst, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 Longing for you in this way, we determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own souls, because you had become dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and hardship: working by night and day in order not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and righteously and blamelessly we became to you who believe, 11 just as you know how we treated each one of you, like a father his own children, 12 exhorting and consoling you and insisting that you live in a manner worthy of God, who calls you to his own kingdom and glory.

Harris, W. H., III, Ritzema, E., Brannan, R., Mangum, D., Dunham, J., Reimer, J. A., & Wierenga, M. (Eds.). (2012). The Lexham English Bible (1 Th 2:3–12). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

God has your relationship with Him secure. Be confident of the fact that he will take care of you today and every day and until the day you die and beyond:

God is not a man, that he should lie;

Neither the son of man, that he should repent:

Hath he said, and shall he not do it?

Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., Nu 23:19). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

10.

I honored God in my:

5 Very Special areas of life:

- A. Faith- Usually we look at "my faith" as how we go about our practice of believing in Christ here on earth. That is, going to church, personal Bible study, our codes of belief, and teaching. Then it is a given that we are going to live that way before others and work it out before them.

The apostles were serious about this in their daily lives as they said, "Increase our faith." So, if we can increase our faith, can we diminish it by the way we live?

Hebrews 10:23 - "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)

It goes on to tell us that there should be some sort of plan to work out that faith and live it before others, especially those of the household of faith. 10:24, 25 - "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more as you see the day approaching."

So, our faith becomes a very viable force in this life according to John, the apostle: For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

How have I honored GOD with my faith?

- B. Family/ relationships- Our families and our relationships with them and others are the "up close" was that people get to see firsthand if we are God- Honoring in this area. Ephesians 6:2- " Honor your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with promise." This is first uttered in Exodus 20:12- "Honor your father and your mother: that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you." Deuteronomy 5:16 says it even clearer " honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you; that your day may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the Lord Your God gives you."

This is just talking about parents. How much more when our whole family and church practice a culture of honor within their life span? It seems that the lifespan should improve, along with the family, the church, and the culture!

If our loved ones and friends were pressed to answer this, how would they respond? Have I honored God in my family and personal relationships?

- C. Health- It is possible to honor God with everything else but let our own health suffer?

The Psalmist prayer was "that your way may be known upon the Earth, your saving health among all nations." Psalm 67:2

Proverbs 3:5-8 " Trust in the Lord with your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding, in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths, Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel and marrow to your bones."

What are the ways we honor God with our Health?

- D. Finances:

- Work

as an external evidence of an internal life).