1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:07,880 In 1957, all-time great jockey Bill Shoemaker was riding the favorite to win the 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,920 Kentucky Derby, a horse named Gallant Man. And the race unfolded just as many 3 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:17,400 predicted it would. As the horses came down the home stretch, Shoemaker and 4 00:00:17,400 --> 00:00:21,760 Gallant Man were in the lead. And it looked like a second Derby win for 5 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:28,440 Shoemaker. And then the unbelievable happened. As he neared the final post, 6 00:00:28,440 --> 00:00:33,200 Shoemaker stood up in the stirrups thinking he had crossed the finish line, 7 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:38,680 but he was wrong. By the time he realized his mistake, another horse had 8 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:44,160 passed him and Shoemaker lost the Derby. Now Shoemaker won four Kentucky Derbies 9 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:49,000 in his great career, but was always haunted by the one that got away. And when 10 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:53,280 it was all said and done, Shoemaker lost because his eyes have been focused on 11 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,840 the wrong post and he missed the finish line. And despite riding in almost 12 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:04,040 perfect race for 98% of the day, he lost because he failed to finish strong. And 13 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:09,040 without a clear vision of the true finish line, it's easy to fall short and 14 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:15,800 fail to finish the race. And this is true in a spiritual realm as well. In 1945, 15 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:20,520 three men took the evangelical world by storm, speaking all over the country, 16 00:01:20,520 --> 00:01:25,320 leading great crusades, leading thousands to Christ, and bringing revival at times. 17 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:33,320 Who were they? Charles Templeton, Braun Clifford, and Billy Graham. And of the 18 00:01:33,320 --> 00:01:39,440 three, Billy Graham was the least heralded of the time. But by 1955, Charles 19 00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,480 Templeton had left the ministry and given up his Orthodox faith. Braun 20 00:01:43,480 --> 00:01:47,680 Clifford fell prey to alcoholism, financial struggles, and died alone in a 21 00:01:47,680 --> 00:01:52,880 motel in Amarillo, Texas. And only Billy Graham remained faithful and continued 22 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:58,280 on in his ministry. Only Billy Graham finished strong. And that brings me to 23 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:03,480 what I want to talk about this morning. A vision to finish strong. Spiritually, it's 24 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:08,020 just as important to finish strong as it is to start strong. It does no good to stay 25 00:02:08,020 --> 00:02:13,360 faithful to Christ for decades, only to fall short at the end. Failure at the end 26 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:18,520 can undo a lifetime of faithfulness if we're not careful. Think of Solomon, who 27 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:22,880 after decades of ruling wisely, allowed his foreign wives to turn his heart away 28 00:02:22,880 --> 00:02:27,360 from the Lord, leading to the eventual division of the kingdom under his son, 29 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:33,160 Jeroboam. And all the evil and conflict that arose out of the Northern 30 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:39,000 Kingdom of Israel was a direct result of Solomon failing to finish strong. And it 31 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,880 didn't have to be. Today I want to challenge you about having a clear 32 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:47,520 vision to finish strong and what that involves. It won't be easy, because we 33 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:53,040 have a relentless enemy who wants to take us down. Satan knows the damage can 34 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:57,840 that can be done if he can get a pastor or an elder or a Bible study leader or a 35 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:04,040 husband or a wife or a mother or a father to compromise and fail to finish. 36 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:09,240 Satan is willing to wait years, even decades, to take us down. It's a long way 37 00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:14,200 from here to the finish line, and Satan is in no hurry to get us. Just ask David. 38 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:19,880 So we must be alert and on our toes to make sure that we don't falter before we 39 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:25,480 get to the finish line. There's no prize for running a 95-yard dash. So let's talk 40 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:29,920 about what a vision to finish strong includes and how we can make it to the 41 00:03:29,920 --> 00:03:34,720 end. I want to start with a definition about what it means to finish strong. 42 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:39,960 Doesn't mean we have to be perfect or we fail. If it did, none of us would finish 43 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:45,160 strong. But it does mean having the endurance to stay faithful from now 44 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:50,280 until Christ comes or calls us home through good times and bad, through great 45 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:56,220 joys and deep sorrows, without major failure or compromise. It's a recognition 46 00:03:56,220 --> 00:04:00,800 that every day I need to get up and put Christ first, serve him faithfully, and 47 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:05,480 not let the enemy sidetrack or ambush me, and then get up and do it all again 48 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,040 tomorrow. You've probably heard it said the Christian life is more a marathon 49 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:14,400 than a sprint, and there's a lot of truth in that. But even more, the Christian 50 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:19,960 life is a steeplechase. That's a distance race with obstacles. To finish strong 51 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:24,160 means not only having the endurance to finish, but the strength to overcome the 52 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:29,680 obstacles along the way as well. So how do we finish strong? Well, it starts with 53 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:35,200 a clear vision of the right finish line. And we live today in a society where 54 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,680 people don't seem to know why they are here. People live for a lot of things, 55 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:44,080 but very few of them have any lasting significance. And sadly, too many 56 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,320 Christians today are caught up in the dog-eat-dog world of money and pleasure 57 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:53,520 and success and climbing the corporate ladder, none of which will matter a wit 58 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:59,000 when we stand before God one day. To finish strong in the race of faith, we 59 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:03,240 need a clear vision of the right finish line. Remember, Bill Shoemaker lost the 60 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:08,840 Kentucky Derby because he focused on the wrong finish line. And can I be honest? 61 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:14,920 For most of us, life in this world will not mean lasting fame and fortune. For 62 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:19,720 most of us, if our great-grandchildren remember us at all, it will be a small 63 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:26,040 victory. And when we're gone, when they're gone, our name will be forgotten. 64 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:33,800 Encouraging, right? But if we live well, if we finish strong spiritually, the 65 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:39,080 impact of our lives can outlive even the memory of our names. And that's why we 66 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:43,320 need a clear vision of the right finish line. And the New Testament 67 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:47,680 gives us some great goalposts to shoot at if we want to finish strong. Turn to 68 00:05:47,680 --> 00:05:58,440 Matthew 22 verses 37 and 38. Or 36 and, yeah. We'll start in verse 36. Teacher, 69 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:03,360 which commandment is the great commandment in the law? And he said to him, 70 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:07,360 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and 71 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:12,520 all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. When confronted 72 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:18,520 with a question of which commandment was the greatest, Jesus immediately gave the 73 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:23,040 answer that to love the Lord our God with all our heart and all our soul and 74 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:28,160 all our mind, that's the greatest. We're to love God with our whole being, with 75 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:33,400 all our muchness, as it actually says in the Hebrew. This passion for God has to 76 00:06:33,400 --> 00:06:37,360 fuel all that we do for Christ. Our service can't be out of habit or 77 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:43,200 legalism or duty or guilt. It needs to flow from a heart that is passionate 78 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:47,520 for God and for serving his kingdom. That has to be the vision of our finish line 79 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:52,560 if we want to finish strong. That's why Moses speaks a number of times in the 80 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:58,760 book of Deuteronomy about how we must cling to God no matter what. We need to 81 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:02,320 take an honest look at our passion for the Lord and make sure we're not simply 82 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:06,540 going through the motions spiritually and coasting on our past. If you are 83 00:07:06,540 --> 00:07:10,800 coasting spiritually, I can promise you one thing, you're going 84 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:16,160 downhill. It's the only way you can coast and that's dangerous. Paul exhorted us on 85 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:24,360 the same theme in Philippians 3. Look at Philippians 3 verses 12 to 14. 86 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:39,520 Paul wrote this, not that I have attained it or have already become perfect, but I 87 00:07:39,520 --> 00:07:44,680 press on so that I may lay hold of that for which I was also laid hold of by 88 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:50,080 Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet, but 89 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:54,960 one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies 90 00:07:54,960 --> 00:08:00,040 ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in 91 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:05,000 Christ Jesus. Paul was quick to confess that he was not perfect and he hadn't 92 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:10,240 become all that he had hoped to become in Christ. Finishing strong is not about 93 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:16,200 being perfect, but Paul had a goal. He had a passion. He had a vision to pursue 94 00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:20,400 Christ with everything in him and to lay hold of that for which Christ had 95 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:25,200 saved him for. Paul was relentless in his pursuit of knowing Christ better 96 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:30,200 every day and he didn't let anything stop him from pursuing that. He even said 97 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,300 earlier in this chapter that he considered everything he ever gained as 98 00:08:33,300 --> 00:08:37,600 an unbeliever worthless compared to knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord and 99 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:43,000 Savior. This passion, this single-minded drive for loving and knowing and 100 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:47,480 serving Christ has to be what fuels our devotion and our service to Christ 101 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:52,440 every day if we want to finish strong. Christ has to be so large in our hearts 102 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:57,120 and in our lives that he completely fills our vision and if Christ fills our 103 00:08:57,120 --> 00:09:01,280 vision it will be nearly impossible for other things to turn us away from God. 104 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:07,000 The vision to finish strong starts with making sure our eye is on the prize, that 105 00:09:07,000 --> 00:09:11,200 our hearts are sold out and passionate in their love for God and desire to 106 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:15,880 serve him. Anything less and we risk spending our lives chasing the wrong 107 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:24,160 finish line. Second, we need a clear vision to leave the past in the past and 108 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:28,240 it may well be you're here today thinking I can't finish strong. You 109 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:33,280 don't know my past and you're right I don't but God does and what matters for 110 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,240 finishing strong is what we do today and going forward not whatever 111 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:42,960 horrible things we may have done in the past. Our God is a God who redeems us and 112 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:48,320 our past and gives us a fresh start. Finishing strong means we have a clear 113 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:55,720 vision to leave our past in the past. Look at 2nd Corinthians 5 17. 114 00:09:55,720 --> 00:10:08,840 2nd Corinthians 5 17 says this, Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new 115 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:14,560 creature. The old things have passed away behold new things have come. Can I just 116 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:18,960 tell you as someone who works with inmates inside jails and prisons this is 117 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:23,680 one of my favorite verses. Paul reminds the Corinthians that we all are 118 00:10:23,680 --> 00:10:28,360 completely new creatures in Christ. The old stuff has passed away new stuff has 119 00:10:28,360 --> 00:10:34,040 come. It's as if God draws this huge black curtain on our past and gives us 120 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:39,160 a whole new start when we come to Christ because that is exactly what he does. We 121 00:10:39,160 --> 00:10:44,600 are not our past and Christ died on the cross to deal with our past so leave it 122 00:10:44,600 --> 00:10:51,920 in the past. Go back to Philippians 3 I want to look at verse 13 again. Paul says 123 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:57,640 this, Brethren I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet but one thing 124 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:04,000 I do forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. Paul 125 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:08,720 lets us know that one thing he did every day is that he not only pressed on to 126 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:14,120 know Christ more and more he also forgot what lies behind. Whatever was in his 127 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,760 past good and especially the bad he forgot it and he pressed on for Christ. 128 00:11:18,760 --> 00:11:24,680 Paul refused to let his past interfere with his service to God today because 129 00:11:24,680 --> 00:11:29,800 Christ had dealt with his past and forgiven it. It has passed away and if 130 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:34,480 your first thought is yeah but Paul was a missionary and an apostle I mean what 131 00:11:34,480 --> 00:11:39,720 could he have to regret or hold him back? Well how about blasphemy, persecution and 132 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:44,680 murder because Paul did all those things to Christians until Christ met him on 133 00:11:44,680 --> 00:11:50,560 the Damascus Road and changed his life forever. Paul was so awed by what Christ 134 00:11:50,560 --> 00:11:54,840 did for him that he would later say that it's true that Christ came to save 135 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:58,600 sinners and that he was the worst one of all because of what he had done in the 136 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:03,880 past. Yet he also said that if Christ could save and use a man like him he 137 00:12:03,880 --> 00:12:10,160 could save and use anyone including you and me. Listen nothing delights the heart 138 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:15,520 of God more than to take a person who is mired and trapped in sin and to free 139 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:21,160 them and to forgive them and to transform them and to use them. That's 140 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:27,000 what his grace is all about transforming sinners into saints. Nothing matters less 141 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:31,480 to God than our past. What he cares about is our present and our future 142 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:36,000 because those are the only times we can serve him. The only one who throws 143 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:41,720 forgiven sin in our face is Satan. God never brings up anything covered by 144 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:47,520 Christ's blood. Don't let Satan harass you into going out to the trash can and 145 00:12:47,520 --> 00:12:53,240 trying to dig up the past. Let it be. We need a clear vision to leave the past in 146 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:58,560 the past and press on focusing on the new creation God has made us in Christ 147 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:04,840 and how he wants to use this going forward. Then we can finish strong. All 148 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:12,000 right third we need a clear vision to see the ambushes ahead. As you know our 149 00:13:12,000 --> 00:13:16,240 military has been involved in the war on terror for most of the last 20 years and 150 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:21,120 it's been a hard fight and I've read a number of books including Outlaw Platoon 151 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:25,800 and Echo in Ramadi and amongst a bunch of others that have highlighted the 152 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:29,040 courage and the commitment of our soldiers as they carried out their 153 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:33,320 orders. Much of what they went through is something none of us can even imagine 154 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:38,280 and can I be honest most of us are spoiled. We walk around our 155 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:42,920 neighborhoods or at the park all the time and we have very little situational 156 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:47,600 awareness and by that I mean because Santa Clarita is a pretty safe city we 157 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,960 don't walk around with our heads on a swivel looking for danger every moment. 158 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:56,600 We don't worry that every small mound at the side of the road might be an IED 159 00:13:56,600 --> 00:14:01,280 ready to blow us up but I promise you this the Marines who had to clear 160 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:06,320 Fallujah during the surge I guarantee you that they were alert every moment they 161 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,760 walked the streets of that city knowing that even one moment of not being alert 162 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:15,960 for ambushes could spell the difference between life and death and spiritually we 163 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:21,880 face an enemy just as cunning and ruthless as any terrorist. Satan hates God 164 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:25,800 and he hates mankind because we're created in the image of God and he 165 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:31,360 especially hates Christians because we are serving God and that means we have a 166 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:35,800 huge target on our chest and that means we have to be alert to the ambushes he 167 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:40,560 sets for us. So let's start with a huge one that Satan often uses and that is 168 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:45,040 pride. Satan loves to use this one because it's the one he's most guilty of 169 00:14:45,040 --> 00:14:52,000 himself. Isaiah 14 13 and 14 tells us how Satan fell through pride declaring that 170 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:55,680 he would ascend to heaven and raise his throne above the stars of God and in the 171 00:14:55,680 --> 00:15:01,800 end make himself God. His pride led to his downfall. So Satan is an expert at 172 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:06,120 using pride to ambush believers who aren't aware of his schemes. That's why 173 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:11,560 Proverbs warns us that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before 174 00:15:11,560 --> 00:15:17,000 stumbling and one way Satan loves to use the ambush is the thought I can handle 175 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:28,480 this. No you can't. Look at 1st Corinthians 10 verse 12. 1st Corinthians 10 176 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:36,400 verse 12 says this, Therefore let him who thinks he stand take heed that he does 177 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:41,240 not fall. After reviewing all the failures of Israel in the wilderness to 178 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:45,720 follow God faithfully, Paul warns the proud Corinthians that the one who 179 00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:50,440 thinks he stands need to be very careful that he doesn't fall. Pride that says I 180 00:15:50,440 --> 00:15:56,040 can handle this is the pride that leads us down the path to destruction. The I 181 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:00,520 can handle this attitude is rooted in thinking that we know it all that we can 182 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:05,040 do it without any input or counsel or help from anyone and again Paul warns the 183 00:16:05,040 --> 00:16:09,320 Corinthians in chapter 8 that knowledge makes one arrogant and when we think we 184 00:16:09,320 --> 00:16:14,640 know everything it's a sure sign that we do not yet know anything. We need 185 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:18,720 accountability, we need each other, we need help to stay faithful and finish 186 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:24,440 strong so be careful of the pride that thinks you can handle it. The second way 187 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:28,480 Satan uses pride to attack us is thinking that we don't have to be 188 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:34,240 ruthless with sin, that we can play with it a little, that we can control it or 189 00:16:34,240 --> 00:16:38,640 that we can walk on the edge of the cliff and will never fall off. Bad idea. 190 00:16:38,640 --> 00:16:43,960 Jesus told us what we have to do to address the issue of sin in our lives. 191 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:48,280 Look at Matthew 18 verses 8 and 9. 192 00:16:55,960 --> 00:17:01,280 Says this, if your hand or foot causes you to stumble cut it off and throw it 193 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:06,000 from you. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than to have two 194 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:11,240 hands or two feet and be cast into the eternal fire and if your eye causes you 195 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:14,840 to stumble pluck it out and throw it from you. It's better that you enter into 196 00:17:14,840 --> 00:17:20,360 life with one eye than you have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell. Jesus 197 00:17:20,360 --> 00:17:25,240 advises us that if our hand or foot causes us to stumble cut it off and if 198 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:29,840 our eye causes us to stumble pluck it out. In all these cases it's better 199 00:17:29,840 --> 00:17:35,560 to lose part of your body than to burn in hell. Now Jesus isn't advocating that 200 00:17:35,560 --> 00:17:40,640 we actually mutilate our bodies to deal with sin. It doesn't work really because 201 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:45,680 sin lurks in our hearts and minds. But what he does mean is that we have to be 202 00:17:45,680 --> 00:17:50,840 absolutely ruthless whenever sin pops up in our lives. No entertaining it, no 203 00:17:50,840 --> 00:17:55,800 playing with it, no tolerating it. We ruthlessly cut it off and get away from 204 00:17:55,800 --> 00:18:01,880 it. And most of us would never willingly grab a rattlesnake yet more we are yet 205 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:05,640 we are more than willing at times to dabble in sin as if it's not as dangerous 206 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:11,920 as a rattlesnake and it is. But what does it look like in real life to deal 207 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:15,880 ruthlessly with sin? Well one thing you might have to do is get rid of any 208 00:18:15,880 --> 00:18:20,960 access to the internet because you can't stay off porn. I had a friend who went 209 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,440 off grid for 12 years because he could not handle the temptation so he cut off 210 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:29,720 the internet completely. He dealt ruthlessly with the sin in his life and 211 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,480 believe it or not people actually survived with dumb phones and no 212 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:39,520 internet. Better that than to find yourself constantly dragged back into 213 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:45,360 lust and sin and guilt. Get help, get on Covenant Eyes with someone who can keep 214 00:18:45,360 --> 00:18:50,480 you accountable if you need help but be ruthless with sin in your life. 215 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:55,560 Don't think you can dabble in sin and it won't affect you, it will. Don't try to 216 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:59,440 see how close to the edge of the cliff you can get without falling off because 217 00:18:59,440 --> 00:19:02,520 the next thing you know you will be at the bottom of the cliff wondering how 218 00:19:02,520 --> 00:19:07,980 you got there. Satan will use pride to ambush us anytime he can. We need to 219 00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:13,560 follow Paul's exhortation in Ephesians 4 to walk in humility and in Colossians 3 220 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:18,760 to put on a heart of humility. You can't handle things alone and you can't play 221 00:19:18,760 --> 00:19:23,040 with sin. Both of those are lies from the pit of hell that will cause us to fail 222 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:29,960 to finish strong. Second ambush, immorality. And this one hits close to me because 223 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:35,160 being in ministry all these years I've had good friends who were solid 224 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:40,680 Christians and good pastors who ended up trashing their careers, their families 225 00:19:40,680 --> 00:19:45,440 and their ministry because they couldn't keep their pants on. And the damage that 226 00:19:45,440 --> 00:19:50,680 flows from that in a church and in a community has lasting effects. But the 227 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:54,880 damage that will strike your family if you fail to stay faithful to the Lord 228 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:59,600 and to your spouse is just as devastating. Being in ministry also means 229 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:04,320 I've seen families torn apart by adultery and immorality. Sexual sin is 230 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:10,040 never cost free and guilt free. There is always a price to pay and that's why 231 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:14,000 Satan loves this one. Nothing else destroys our testimony and credibility 232 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:19,960 quicker than sexual sin. Let me give you some things to think about here. First, I 233 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:24,800 made a personal decision early on in ministry not to meet or counsel with a 234 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:28,720 woman alone. So if you call me and want help and I say no, don't take it personal. 235 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:34,840 Why did I do that? Well as I like to tell my guys in jail, if I'm not really 236 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:40,680 really careful I could be really really stupid. So how do I know that? I've seen 237 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,500 too many guys who were smarter than me and more gifted than me and more 238 00:20:44,500 --> 00:20:48,360 charismatic than me go down the toilet spiritually because they thought they 239 00:20:48,360 --> 00:20:53,600 could handle a one-on-one meeting alone with a woman and they couldn't. They 240 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,800 weren't really really careful and they became really really stupid. We're back 241 00:20:58,800 --> 00:21:03,440 to that pride issue that thinks I can handle this. I know I can't. And here's a 242 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:08,920 couple other things to keep in mind. One, there is somebody out there who could 243 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:13,680 tempt any of us to betray our vows in the right circumstance. So don't think 244 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:19,360 you're ever beyond the temptation to sexual sin. We all have a type and if you 245 00:21:19,360 --> 00:21:24,480 run into that type you better be really really careful not to get too close 246 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:29,220 because you'll be playing with fire. Second, the best way to handle sexual 247 00:21:29,220 --> 00:21:35,800 temptation? Run. 1st Corinthians 6 Paul says it tells us to flee immorality 248 00:21:35,800 --> 00:21:40,240 because it's uniquely a sin against our bodies and Paul urges Timothy to flee 249 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:45,760 youthful lust. Listen, if the best advice Paul can give Timothy about sexual sin 250 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:51,800 is to run, I'd better pay attention because I'm no Timothy. Look at 1st 251 00:21:51,800 --> 00:22:09,120 Thessalonians 4. 1st Thessalonians 4 verses 3 to 8 says this, for this is the 252 00:22:09,120 --> 00:22:14,280 will of God your sanctification. That is that you abstain from sexual immorality 253 00:22:14,280 --> 00:22:18,920 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor 254 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:24,440 not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God and that no man 255 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,800 transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the 256 00:22:27,800 --> 00:22:32,720 avenger and all these things just as we also told you before and solemnly warn 257 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:38,040 you for God has not called us for the purpose of impurity but in sanctification 258 00:22:38,040 --> 00:22:44,240 so he who rejects this is not rejecting man but God who gives the Holy Spirit to 259 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:49,240 you. Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to seek the will of God and be sanctified 260 00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:56,280 to live holy lives that meant avoiding any sexual sin. God has given us each a 261 00:22:56,280 --> 00:23:00,520 body to use as a vessel for his service and we're to use it in purity and 262 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:06,680 holiness uncontrolled passion and lust are how unbelievers live not as followers 263 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:11,440 of Jesus Christ live and anyone involved in sexual sin is stealing and 264 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:15,040 defrauding from others cheating and robbing them of the love and devotion 265 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:19,720 that rightly belongs only to their spouse and God will judge sexual 266 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:24,920 immorality. In our studies in Malachi Dad we always have the guys look at two men 267 00:23:24,920 --> 00:23:29,320 who face sexual temptation and how they handled it and one is David in Bathsheba 268 00:23:29,320 --> 00:23:34,560 and the other is Joseph and Potiphar's wife and David gave into sexual sin and 269 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:39,640 brought severe consequences to himself and his family well and while Joseph 270 00:23:39,640 --> 00:23:44,440 landed in jail for his refusal to sin against God with his boss's wife God 271 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:48,640 vindicated him and blessed him in the end for his willingness to flee sexual 272 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:55,280 temptation. Listen to make sure you stay faithful I would challenge you today sit 273 00:23:55,280 --> 00:24:00,400 down write out a list of everything you will lose if you were unfaithful to your 274 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:06,640 spouse and then review it periodically it can help sober us up if we ever start 275 00:24:06,640 --> 00:24:11,440 to waver in our commitments. Sexual sin is one of Satan's most successful 276 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:16,960 ambushes he uses it because it works and we have to be alert to that ambush all 277 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:22,600 the time if we want to finish strong. Third money the temptation in our 278 00:24:22,600 --> 00:24:27,080 society let money rule our lives is great the more you have the better and 279 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:31,320 it can be a huge ambush if we're not careful. Look at first look at first 280 00:24:31,320 --> 00:24:45,720 Timothy 6. First Timothy 6 9 & 10 Paul wrote this to Timothy but those who want 281 00:24:45,720 --> 00:24:49,840 to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful 282 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:55,720 desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction for the love of money is the 283 00:24:55,720 --> 00:24:59,800 root of all sorts of evil and some by longing for it have wandered away from 284 00:24:59,800 --> 00:25:04,880 the face and pierced themselves with many griefs. Paul warned Timothy to remind 285 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:08,640 his people that those who want to get rich fall into all kinds of traps that 286 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:14,080 lead to ruin and destruction the love of money the unbridled greed for more and 287 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:18,760 more can undermine our faith and lead to grief can cause us to compromise 288 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:24,560 everything because we have to have it and Paul mentioned secure for greed and 289 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:28,240 for the love of money earlier in this chapter when he reminds believers that 290 00:25:28,240 --> 00:25:31,920 we brought nothing into this world and we'll take nothing out of it so if we 291 00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:37,560 have food and shelter we should be content. Contentment and gratitude are 292 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:42,640 the cures for greed. Carol's mom was always fond of saying there's nothing 293 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:46,440 wrong with a hand-to-mouth existence as long as it's the Lord's hand in your 294 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:53,040 mouth okay and all this simply echoes what Jesus warned us that you cannot 295 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:57,040 love God and money only one will rule your heart and if it's money you're 296 00:25:57,040 --> 00:26:03,800 heading for trouble and you will not finish strong. Next ambush power and 297 00:26:03,800 --> 00:26:09,960 prestige desire to get ahead be successful gain status and importance 298 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:14,600 that could be heady stuff how many politicians have crashed and burns and a 299 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:28,120 relentless desire to gain more power and become more well-known look at mark 836 300 00:26:28,120 --> 00:26:36,920 I know it's here all right mark 836 Jesus said for what does it profit a man 301 00:26:36,920 --> 00:26:41,960 to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul Jesus asked his followers what 302 00:26:41,960 --> 00:26:45,680 profit is there if you gain everything in the world and you lose your soul 303 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:52,240 there is none yet millions of people today try to do that every day even 304 00:26:52,240 --> 00:26:56,560 believers if they're not careful and don't have their eyes open for ambush 305 00:26:56,560 --> 00:27:00,920 can crash and burn on this desire to gain power and prestige in the world 306 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:06,320 nothing in this world is worth the price of your soul you know some years ago I 307 00:27:06,320 --> 00:27:10,640 heard Lon Solomon preach at Hume Lake and he said something interesting he was 308 00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,600 senior pastor at McLean Bible Church in McLean Virginia a church of literally 309 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:19,280 thousands and he said that when anyone came on staff at his church they were 310 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:23,440 immediately given a list of cars that they were never allowed to own or drive 311 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:30,480 on staff Lexus Mercedes BMW Audi Cadillac Porsche Lincoln and a number of others 312 00:27:30,480 --> 00:27:36,640 why did he do that because their church is on the outskirts of Washington DC 313 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:42,920 where everything is about power and prestige and status and guess what what 314 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:47,880 you drive often was meant to impress people and tell them all about your 315 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:53,960 power and prestige and status and the men on his staff were not gonna go there 316 00:27:53,960 --> 00:27:58,160 all right they weren't gonna get caught up into that we're called to serve we're 317 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:03,900 not called to rule final ambush unforgiveness you know Paul warns us in 318 00:28:03,900 --> 00:28:08,120 2nd Corinthians 2 10 and 11 that Christians need to forgive so Satan 319 00:28:08,120 --> 00:28:13,160 can't take advantage of our bitterness since we aren't ignorant of his schemes 320 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:17,040 but it seems like a lot of Christians I've met are completely ignorant of 321 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:22,000 Satan schemes to use bitterness in our lives by the way they hold grudges it's 322 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:27,560 uncanny look at Hebrews 12 verse 15 323 00:28:27,560 --> 00:28:34,760 Hebrews 12 verse 15 says this see to it that no one comes sure to the grace of 324 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:40,440 God that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble and by it many be 325 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,840 defiled one of the deadliest things that happens to Christians is when a root of 326 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:49,160 bitterness springs up in them bitterness is simply unforgiveness over time that 327 00:28:49,160 --> 00:28:54,360 grows and fetters festers it quenches God's grace in our lives and it's a 328 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:59,480 poison that spreads and starts defiling people around us bitter people aren't 329 00:28:59,480 --> 00:29:04,160 any fun to be around and there are always seeking to recruit other people 330 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:08,720 to their grudges and countless churches are damaged and destroyed every year 331 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,840 because bitterness finds a root in people and Satan uses it to create 332 00:29:12,840 --> 00:29:18,400 havoc we are commanded everywhere in the New Testament to forgive because we have 333 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:22,120 been forgiven not because the other person is so 334 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:26,680 not because the other person is sorry not because they deserve it but because 335 00:29:26,680 --> 00:29:33,120 Christ has forgiven us and we are to be like Christ period unforgiveness is a 336 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:40,920 dead-end road I know I've walked it forgive and move on well hopefully we 337 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:44,560 can all go out of here today a little better prepared for the ambushes Satan 338 00:29:44,560 --> 00:29:49,680 will try to throw at us forewarned is forearmed if we want to finish strong in 339 00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:54,080 our race of faith it will mean having a clear vision for the ambushes Satan will 340 00:29:54,080 --> 00:30:01,080 use against us pride immorality money power and prestige and unforgiveness 341 00:30:01,080 --> 00:30:06,520 fourth we need a clear vision of the spiritual disciplines God has given us I 342 00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:11,960 watched the US open last weekend and what you may not realize is the 343 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:16,760 discipline it takes to play golf at that higher level it's not unusual for golf 344 00:30:16,760 --> 00:30:22,080 pros to hit over 500 shots a day or more trying to hone their swing until it 345 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:27,040 becomes ingrained and they will hit dozens and dozens of shots out of the 346 00:30:27,040 --> 00:30:32,240 sand trap trap and spend hours on the putting green and on and on it goes it 347 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:39,080 is a full-time job all to perfect their game if you want to know why most of us 348 00:30:39,080 --> 00:30:44,960 aren't golf pros now you know we aren't that disciplined but to finish strong in 349 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:50,480 our spiritual lives we have to develop spiritual discipline we have to exercise 350 00:30:50,480 --> 00:30:55,520 the disciplines that followers of Christ have exercised for millennia it's not 351 00:30:55,520 --> 00:31:00,440 that the disciplines are hard it's that disciplining ourselves to do them is 352 00:31:00,440 --> 00:31:05,440 hard but they're crucial to finishing strong it starts with Bible study to 353 00:31:05,440 --> 00:31:10,080 finish strong we have to nourish our souls on the Word of God the Bible we 354 00:31:10,080 --> 00:31:14,720 need a consistent plan to expose our hearts to God's Word every day there are 355 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:21,040 no shortcuts look at 2nd Timothy 3 16 and 17 356 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:34,280 Paul wrote this all scriptures inspired by God and profitable for teaching for 357 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:38,680 reproof for correction for training and righteousness that the man of God may be 358 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:45,200 adequate equipped for every good work I've preached on this before it's not 359 00:31:45,200 --> 00:31:50,320 new to any of us God has given us his word to teach us and reprove us and 360 00:31:50,320 --> 00:31:55,520 correct us and train us and how to live righteous lives he uses his word to make 361 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:59,680 sure that we are fully equipped to serve him like a sailing ship that is fully 362 00:31:59,680 --> 00:32:04,200 supplied and equipped for a long voyage if we aren't in the word we cannot be 363 00:32:04,200 --> 00:32:09,040 equipped to serve the Lord look at Psalm 1 364 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:18,680 and I would encourage you go back and listen to Jeff's sermon on Psalm 1 it 365 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:24,680 can give you more depth and insight on this verses 1 to 3 tell us this how 366 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:28,800 blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked nor stand in 367 00:32:28,800 --> 00:32:33,520 the path of sinners nor sit in the seat of scoffers but his delight is in the 368 00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:38,600 law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night who will be like 369 00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:43,360 a tree firmly planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season 370 00:32:43,360 --> 00:32:47,560 and its leaf does not wither and whatever he does he prospers in 371 00:32:47,560 --> 00:32:51,880 describing the blessed man the blessed man does two things first he doesn't 372 00:32:51,880 --> 00:32:56,740 hang around with wicked men and second he meditates constantly on the word of 373 00:32:56,740 --> 00:33:01,800 God he thinks about it through today he chews on it and the result is that he is 374 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:06,560 like a fruitful tree planted by abundant waters that flourishes and doesn't 375 00:33:06,560 --> 00:33:11,840 wither our fruitfulness depends on our willingness to anchor ourselves in his 376 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:16,480 word we all need a plan to make sure we nourish our souls in the daily in the 377 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:21,680 word of God and guess what there are hundreds of plans out there all right 378 00:33:21,680 --> 00:33:27,040 find one get started you know it's not an accident that when Satan tempted 379 00:33:27,040 --> 00:33:35,280 Jesus Jesus hit him with scripture every time and so can you if you've been 380 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:39,000 diligent enough to make studying scripture a regular part of your 381 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:45,800 spiritual walk second prayer if it's true we have a relationship with God then we 382 00:33:45,800 --> 00:33:49,640 need to make sure we cultivate that relationship by coming to God and 383 00:33:49,640 --> 00:33:55,440 talking to him regularly you'd never think of not talking to your spouse for 384 00:33:55,440 --> 00:34:00,040 a day why would we not think of not talking to God for a day communication 385 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:07,480 with our Heavenly Father is crucial to finishing strong look at Ephesians 618 386 00:34:12,160 --> 00:34:18,520 says this with all prayer and petition at all times in the spirit and with 387 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:23,400 this in view beyond the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the 388 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:29,720 Saints here's Paul's overall directions for prayer the four alls if you will we 389 00:34:29,720 --> 00:34:34,880 are to pray with all petition bringing our requests before God we're to pray at 390 00:34:34,880 --> 00:34:39,080 all times in the spirit allowing him to direct and lead our prayers and keeping 391 00:34:39,080 --> 00:34:43,160 in a constant attitude of prayer throughout the day we're to pray with 392 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:48,160 all alertness ready to come to our father and on a moment's notice as any 393 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:53,040 need arises and we are to be diligent to pray for all the Saints our brothers and 394 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:57,920 sisters that they might be strong and wise and faithful beyond all this let's 395 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:02,760 remember when we pray we are not coming to a distant God who is angry and bored 396 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:07,920 with us we are coming to a Heavenly Father our Abba who loves us and 397 00:35:07,920 --> 00:35:13,760 sacrifice his son to save us and wants to answer our prayers finishing strong 398 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:19,400 takes regular conversations with our Heavenly Father in prayer and third 399 00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:24,480 fellowship the Christian life is a team sport meant to be lived in community 400 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:29,840 with one another it's not a solo sport we need brothers and sisters to keep us 401 00:35:29,840 --> 00:35:34,880 focused and on track we are called to live as brothers and sisters in a family 402 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:47,000 not orphans on our own look at Hebrews 10 24 and 25 says this and let us 403 00:35:47,000 --> 00:35:52,280 consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds not forsaking our 404 00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:57,640 own assembling together as is a habit of some but encouraging one another and all 405 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:02,760 the more as you see the day drawing near in reading these verses I'm not telling 406 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:05,880 anything telling you anything you haven't heard dozens of times in your 407 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:11,120 Christian life but it's still true we need each other so we can urge each other 408 00:36:11,120 --> 00:36:15,840 to effective service for God and encourage one another so that we stay 409 00:36:15,840 --> 00:36:21,120 on track and we don't wander off regular gatherings of the Saints are crucial for 410 00:36:21,120 --> 00:36:28,380 all of us to grow spiritually and finish strong look at Hebrews 3 verses 12 and 411 00:36:28,380 --> 00:36:39,520 13 says this take care brethren that there be not any of you be not in any 412 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:44,280 of you an evil unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God but 413 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:49,120 encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called today so that 414 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:53,000 none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin the author of 415 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:56,720 Hebrews warns us about having an evil and unbelieving heart that falls away 416 00:36:56,720 --> 00:37:01,360 from God and how do we make sure that doesn't happen by encouraging one 417 00:37:01,360 --> 00:37:05,240 another every time we have an opportunity to make sure our brothers 418 00:37:05,240 --> 00:37:10,200 and sisters aren't beginning to waver and aren't deceived by sin I need to 419 00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:15,120 watch your back and you need to watch my back and did you see the big reason why 420 00:37:15,120 --> 00:37:20,560 we need fellowship together is to encourage one another both passages in 421 00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:26,040 Hebrews challenge us to be encouragers of our fellow believers with all that is 422 00:37:26,040 --> 00:37:29,920 in the world that is attempting to beat us down and discourage us the church 423 00:37:29,920 --> 00:37:36,360 needs to be an oasis of encouragement in a bleak world so let's covenant together 424 00:37:36,360 --> 00:37:41,600 to come together each week for the great purpose of encouraging one another in 425 00:37:41,600 --> 00:37:46,740 our walk with Christ let's come looking for someone who needs to be uplifted and 426 00:37:46,740 --> 00:37:51,360 encouraged that's the best way we can help each other finish strong look I 427 00:37:51,360 --> 00:37:54,720 know none of you will disagree with anything I said about spiritual 428 00:37:54,720 --> 00:37:59,480 disciplines being in the word check prayer check fellowship being with 429 00:37:59,480 --> 00:38:05,040 Christians check here's my great concern merely doing those things out of habit 430 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:09,200 or routine and not out of passion for God will reduce them to a checklist we 431 00:38:09,200 --> 00:38:15,720 mark off but they will not have any power to change our lives remember in 432 00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:21,440 Jesus day the Pharisees had great spiritual routines they just didn't 433 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:27,440 result in them knowing and serving God so be careful to keep close tabs on your 434 00:38:27,440 --> 00:38:33,720 heart and if you find yourself slipping into routine and habit change things up 435 00:38:33,720 --> 00:38:38,480 do something different or talk to Adam I know he can give you some great 436 00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:44,840 suggestions on that a clear vision to finish strong means we are committed to 437 00:38:44,840 --> 00:38:49,360 the spiritual disciplines God has given us and we are careful not to allow them 438 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:55,920 to become mere habit and routine without any passion so let me summarize where 439 00:38:55,920 --> 00:39:02,400 we're at finishing strong means having the endurance to stay faithful from now 440 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:07,480 until Christ comes or he calls us home through good times and bad through great 441 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:12,720 joys and deep sorrows without major failure or compromise it means having a 442 00:39:12,720 --> 00:39:16,760 clear vision of the right finishing line that passionate love for Christ that 443 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:21,400 fills all our vision means having a clear vision to leave the past in the 444 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:26,320 past and not allow Satan to use past sin against us we are truly new creatures in 445 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:31,080 Christ means having a clear vision to avoid the ambushes Satan will throw at 446 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:38,400 us pride immorality money power prestige unforgiveness and it's a clear vision to 447 00:39:38,400 --> 00:39:42,920 practice the spiritual disciplines God calls us to Bible study prayer 448 00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:47,720 fellowship without allowing them to become mere habit or something we just 449 00:39:47,720 --> 00:39:52,240 check off a list and if we have a clear vision of these things we will be able 450 00:39:52,240 --> 00:39:57,160 to finish strong but I want to close with this I want a clear vision of the 451 00:39:57,160 --> 00:40:03,800 reward why does finishing strong matter what difference will it make well let's 452 00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:08,280 start with the fact that at the end of your life you will know that you have 453 00:40:08,280 --> 00:40:12,920 lived well and that you were faithful to your Lord and Savior who died for you 454 00:40:12,920 --> 00:40:18,560 and saved you and blessed you it will be knowing that you endured and stayed 455 00:40:18,560 --> 00:40:30,280 faithful and have no regrets look at 2nd Timothy 4 verses 6 & 7 Paul wrote this 456 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:34,800 for I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my 457 00:40:34,800 --> 00:40:40,880 departure has come I have fought the good fight I have finished the course 458 00:40:40,880 --> 00:40:48,720 I've kept the faith there was great satisfaction for Paul this is the summary 459 00:40:48,720 --> 00:40:53,280 of his life well-lived notice he realized death was near and his execution 460 00:40:53,280 --> 00:40:57,480 was coming he had given all of himself in his service to the Lord and now he 461 00:40:57,480 --> 00:41:01,760 looks back on his life and he can see that he fought the good fight with all 462 00:41:01,760 --> 00:41:06,160 that was within him he had finished the course God had set before him and through 463 00:41:06,160 --> 00:41:11,400 it all he never wavered in his love and devotion to Christ he kept the faith for 464 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:15,880 Paul there was great satisfaction that he had laid hold of all that Christ had 465 00:41:15,880 --> 00:41:21,960 laid hold of him for no looking back no regrets that can be us if we finish 466 00:41:21,960 --> 00:41:29,040 strong second there can be a great legacy look at Proverbs 17 6 keep your 467 00:41:29,040 --> 00:41:40,080 fingers in 2nd Timothy 4 but look at Proverbs and I love this verse it says 468 00:41:40,080 --> 00:41:45,160 grandchildren are the crown of old men and the glory of sons is their fathers 469 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:49,200 this is one of the verses we use in Malachi dads to help our guys realize 470 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:53,240 they can have a legacy with their children and their grandchildren most of 471 00:41:53,240 --> 00:41:57,160 us are just trying to serve most of you I should say are just trying to survive 472 00:41:57,160 --> 00:42:01,600 parenting and having thought about grandparenting yet but if you will 473 00:42:01,600 --> 00:42:07,120 finish strong if you will stay faithful to Christ through the steeplechase of 474 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:12,240 life you will not only be a blessing to your children but to your grandchildren 475 00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:17,280 and possibly even your great grandchildren finish strong give your 476 00:42:17,280 --> 00:42:22,080 children and your grandchildren someone they can look up to and admire and 477 00:42:22,080 --> 00:42:27,120 follow after blaze a trail for them spiritually so bright they can't miss it 478 00:42:27,120 --> 00:42:33,120 stay faithful for the long haul nothing gets me more excited now than seeing 479 00:42:33,120 --> 00:42:38,000 God work in the lives of my grandchildren to hear my Lucy pray with 480 00:42:38,000 --> 00:42:42,080 all her heart to hear Silas challenges teacher at school when he taught him 481 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:46,120 something that was wrong and to see Nathan refused to give any honor to an 482 00:42:46,120 --> 00:42:50,680 idol overseas when he was traveling to see God working in that generation 483 00:42:50,680 --> 00:42:55,920 excites my heart and that happens when you finish strong it's the best way to 484 00:42:55,920 --> 00:43:03,240 leave a legacy and finally there's great reward go back to 2nd Timothy 4 verse 485 00:43:03,240 --> 00:43:10,400 8 Paul wrote this in the future there's laid up for me a crown of righteousness 486 00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:16,880 which the Lord the righteous judge will award to me on that day and not only to 487 00:43:16,880 --> 00:43:23,800 me but also to all those who have loved his appearing go back to Paul's life 488 00:43:23,800 --> 00:43:29,080 summary for him it wasn't only the satisfaction of having fulfilled his 489 00:43:29,080 --> 00:43:33,400 life's calling it was the knowledge that one day he would stand before his Lord 490 00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:38,120 Jesus Christ and receive a crown of righteousness from his Lord for all his 491 00:43:38,120 --> 00:43:43,360 faithful service it was knowing that one day he would hear those words well done 492 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:49,360 good and faithful servant enter into the joy of your master we too like Paul 493 00:43:49,360 --> 00:43:54,720 will one day stand before Christ and we too will be rewarded for a life well 494 00:43:54,720 --> 00:44:00,600 lived we too can hear those magnificent words well done good and faithful 495 00:44:00,600 --> 00:44:05,840 servant enter into the joy of your master could anything in this life top 496 00:44:05,840 --> 00:44:12,840 that finish strong stay faithful love the Lord our God with all that is within 497 00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:35,760 you let's pray Oh father we come to you now Lord and at times I confess we look 498 00:44:35,760 --> 00:44:42,000 at this challenge to finish strong and we think who can do this who can finish 499 00:44:42,000 --> 00:44:47,640 strong in this life and yet Lord we realize that through your grace and 500 00:44:47,640 --> 00:44:53,880 through your mercy and through your strength and through your spirit we can 501 00:44:53,880 --> 00:45:03,640 do what pleases you we can live a life that finishes strong we can live a life 502 00:45:03,640 --> 00:45:08,640 that it ends in great satisfaction because we have done what you have called 503 00:45:08,640 --> 00:45:16,040 us to do and we have been faithful we can leave a great legacy in the lives of 504 00:45:16,040 --> 00:45:21,200 our children and our grandchildren and our great-grandchildren because we have 505 00:45:21,200 --> 00:45:26,680 been willing to stay faithful and stay strong and to finish the race you have 506 00:45:26,680 --> 00:45:34,920 set before us and we know Lord that one day there will be a great reward for 507 00:45:34,920 --> 00:45:39,440 those who have served you and we look forward to standing before you Lord one 508 00:45:39,440 --> 00:45:46,320 day and saying to you and hearing you say well done my good and faithful 509 00:45:46,320 --> 00:45:53,520 servant enter into the joy of your master Lord grant each of us the desire 510 00:45:53,520 --> 00:45:58,000 and the strength to finish strong so that when we come to the end of our life 511 00:45:58,000 --> 00:46:05,520 we will have no regrets and we thank you in Jesus name amen