12.1.24 Sermon @ Tulip CC - Stay Close to Jesus

Intro

Come Let Us Adore Him - Daily Family Devotional

Do you remember Christmas Eve as a kid? Did you have a hard time going to sleep? What about Christmas morning? Up earlier than usual? Do you still have that excitement?

Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation. In the blink of an eye the month of December will be history. The season can I invite us to let the story of Jesus coming to earth in human form captivate us.

Pray and ask God what he wants to show you & who he wants you to share with.

God will place on our hearts friends, family, and others who we can bless by sharing the greatest gift of all. Write the name(s) down that come to mind.

Read it on your own or together, mix it up from day to do. Keep it fresh.

Set aside a few minutes to read and reflect on the daily devotional. Don’t worry if you miss one, just pick it back up the next day.

Share what you read and how God spoke to you with your family. With a friend.

Don’t overthink it, just let the Spirit lead and share the Good News. Stop by, send a message, make a call…just to let someone know they are important to you.

Tripp says, “What captivates the wonder of our hearts will control the way we live.”

May we all be captivated by God’s great love and the gift of His Son Jesus who came as a baby boy on Christmas day.

*PRAYER*

For the story of Jesus arriving as our savior to come to life for each of us.

For the friends, family and strangers You will prompt us to share your love with.

For the time we will share with others as we read and reflect.

For our hearts to be captivated by the Good News just like a child is captivated on Christmas morning.

For the wonder of His arrival then and promise of His arrival to come to control the way we live.

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Transition to Message

Closing in on the Finish Line of this series…and a moment closer to the Finish Line of our Faith when Jesus returns to make all things new for eternity.

Let us remember Paul’s words to Timothy just a few paragraphs earlier in his letter…

2 Timothy 4:7–8 (NIV)

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

This is my prayer for us, and what I hope we can say with increasingly more confidence daily. And as we close our time with Timothy, today I want us to look at 2 Timothy 4:16-18

Remember…how we finish the race is more important than how we start.

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2 Timothy 4:16–18 (NIV)

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

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Paul’s Race: “deserted by everyone”

16 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me.

We might find ourselves running the race alone. Everybody in your life will let you down.

When life gets hard and people hurt you…

You might be tempted to walk away from Jesus.

You might be tempted to think Jesus has walked away from you.

Sometimes we will find ourselves running the race by ourselves. There may not be others around to set the pace, help us break the head winds, or encourage us along. We won’t likely be alone…just without our supporters and comforters…yet, in those moments we must remember we are not alone.

Stay Close to Jesus…

James 4:8 (NIV)

8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Jesus knew the feeling of going it alone…remember His time in the desert, in the garden of Gethsemane, and throughout His trial and persecution. Though alone in the physical form, Jesus knew the Father was with Him. And His gift to us is the Holy Spirit

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Paul’s Grace: “May it not be held against them”

May it not be held against them.

Paul follows in Jesus’ Way…releasing those who have deserted him. Offering them grace.

Paul stays close to Jesus by walking in and sharing His Grace.

Luke 23:34 (NIV)

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

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Paul’s Comfort: “the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength”

Everybody in your life will let you down…but Jesus never will.

17 But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength,

Romans 3:23–24 (NIV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

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Paul’s Mission: “that…the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it”

so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.

Matthew 28:18–20 (NIV)

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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Paul’s Hope: “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom.”

And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

The Truth that Jesus has delivered you…is also the Promise that Jesus will deliver you.

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Closing - The Crowd at the Finish Line

Hebrews 11:39–40 (NIV)

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 12:1–3 (NIV)

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.