Finish What You Start

FINISH WHAT YOU START

INTRODUCTION

A.  Illust. of finishing all your porrage.

B.  One of the things we admire in Wayne Gretzky, is      his staying power (Illust. of Stephen Woodward).

C.  That is what we as Christians need -- staying             power to finish the course just as we have begun           it.

D.      Joshua and Caleb offer us the means of finishing   well.

I.    THE IMPORTANCE OF STARTING WELL.

A.      The example of Joshua and Caleb.

          1. An undeniable commitment to God (Num. 14:8-    9).

          2. An undeniable and different spirit (14:24).

B.      Principle: Our ability to finish well is largely determined on how well we started.

II.   THE IMPORTANCE OF FINISHING STRONG.

A.      The example of Caleb (Joshua 14:7-12).

          1. Spoke his own mind (7).

    2. Was not swayed by the crowd (8).

          3. Devoted completely to God (9).

          4. As Strong as ever (10-11).

    5. Maintained his vision (12).

B.      The example of Joshua.

          1. Zeal to finish the job (23:5-6).

          2. Strong conviction (24:14).

          3. His persuasion was by example not by command             (24:15a).

    4. Allowed people to choose (24:15b).

III.  KEYS TO FINISHING WELL.

A.      Age has little to do with achievement and    nothing to do with commitment.

B.      A godly walk is the basis to a positive life.

C.      Convictions are a matter of choice, not force.

CONCLUSION

A.      The overwhelming teaching of Scripture exhorts     us to finish well. ---

          1. First on a personal level, starting something           is one thing but finishing it is another.                     After all there are "giants" in the land.                        Check your life and see if you are carrying            forward the principles which were so precious           when you first believed (prayer in a restaur-       ant, for example).

          2. Secondly as Christians in general, finishing           well is important too. Have we as Christians         given up precise doctrine because of the size         of the giants who come up against us? (J.I.           Packer's call to return to the "old" gospel)

B.      I encourage us all to do all that we must do in          order to finish well so that one day the Lord           may say of you, "This is my son or daughter in whom I am well pleased."