Finishing Strong Pt. 1

What does it mean to finish strong?

Quite often we start things, but we don’t finish.

Why don’t we finish?

Too hard

Too much required

Things got complicated

We got discouraged

Seemed like it would never end

We got tired

People didn’t support us

People that were supposed to help, quit instead

We get distracted

We lose our focus

We lose our motivation

Luke 14:25-33 “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?”

Jesus set the example to finish strong.

John 2:10 “And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!””

2 Corinthians 8:11 “but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.”

Ecclesiastes 7:8 “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”

1 Corinthians 9:24 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

2 John 1:8 “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.”

F-ind what the core issue is. Why have you lost your focus/motivation/energy?

I-nitiate a turnaround. Make a determination in your heart to make a change

N-ever let pride keep you from obedience! (asking for help, prayer, repentance/altar)

I-gnite your passion again! Use your gifts and fulfill your purpose!

S-urrender to God and surround yourself with people who will help you!

H-old on and don’t let go