Untitled Sermon (28)

STAYING ON THE RIGHT COURSE

INTRODUCTION:

THE BOOK OF 2ND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 4 STARTS WITH PAUL CHARGING TIMOTHY TO PREACH THE WORD.

PAUL WANTED TIMOTHY TO BE FIRM IN HIS DELIVERY AND BE AVAILABLE TO SERVE, WHETHER THE OCCASION SEEMS OPPORTUNE OR NOT.

PAUL WAS WARNING TIMOTHY THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE: BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, HAVING ITCHING EARS:

MEANING THAT THESE TEACHER’S WILL SEEK AFTER THEIR OWN DESIRES TO PLEASE THEIR OWN LIKINGS.

TODAY I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT 3 THINGS.

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

FINISHING THE COURSE.

KEEPING THE FAITH.

A. FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT.

MEANS THAT WE MUST ABIDE IN THE WORD BY FAITH, REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE FEEL OR WHAT WE THINK WE UNDERSTAND, BECAUSE THE NATURAL MIND CANNOT RECEIVE THE THINGS OF GOD BECAUSE IT’S FOOLISHNESS TO HIM.

WE MUST DO THE RIGHT THING IN ORDER FOR OTHER’S TO FOLLOW.

WE MUST BE CAREFUL THAT WE DON’T LOOK FOR TEACHER’S THAT WILL MAKE US FEEL GOOD, BECAUSE IT WILL NOT LEAD US TO THE TRUTH OF OURSELVES OR CHALLENGE US TO BE BETTER.

A GOOD SOLDIER KNOW HOW TO ENDURE CONFLICT AND PERSEVERE THROUGH IT.

THE WORD FOUGHT MEANS TO ENGAGE IN CONFLICT.

TODAY WE FACE CONFLICT DAILY, WE ARE UP AGAINST A SYSTEM THAT PROMOTES EVIL. THIS SYSTEM IS OUT TO MAKE WHAT IS WICKED AS A NORMAL WAY OF LIFE.

2 TIMOTHY 2:3 “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

B. FINISHING THE COURSE.

PAUL SAID THAT HE FINISHED HIS COURSE. MEANING THAT PAUL KNEW THE PATH THAT GOD HAD LAID OUT FOR HIS LIFE.

THE WAY HE KNEW THIS WAS THROUGH GOD’S WORD.

SO MANY OF US START THINGS, BUT NEVER FINISH IT.

BECAUSE WE EVEN LACKING COURAGE OR PATIENCE TO FINISH THE RACE. WE DON’T STAY FOCUS, SO WHEN A TRIAL ENTER INTO OUR LIVES WE GET OFF COURSE.

PAUL LOOKED AT HIS CHRISTIAN JOURNEY AS A RACE COURSE, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT THE RACE IS NOT GIVING TO THE SWIFT.

PAUL SAID THAT HE PRESS TOWARD THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.

PAUL AIM WAS TO PURSUE GOD WITH EVERYTHING HE HAVE IN HIS BEING.

ACTS 20:24 “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

THE GRACE OF GOD IS GOD’S UNMERIT DIVINE ASSISTANCE GIVEN TO HUMANS FOR THEIR REGENERATION OR SANCTIFICATION.

C. KEEPING THE FAITH

IS A TOTAL RELIANCE OR TRUST IN GOD AND WILLING TO OBEY WHAT HE SAY.

FAITH IS A ACTION WORD, FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DUNG,

AND WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD, BECAUSE ANYONE WHO COMES TO HIM MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.

FAITH IS CONFIDENCE IN WHAT WE HOPE FOR AND THE ASSURANCE THAT THE LORD IS WORKING, EVEN THOUGH WE CANNOT SEE IT.

FAITH KNOWS THAT NO MATTER WHAT THE SITUATION, IN OUR LIVES OR SOMEONE ELSE’S THAT THE LORD IS WORKING IN IT.

FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPE FOR, EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN.