Finish Well Pt. 1 Series

FINISH WELL

2TIM 4 VS 1-8

2 Timothy 4:1-8 (NKJV)

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers;

4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.

5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

THIS IS WHAT MANY SCHOLARS CALL PAUL’S “SWAN SONG” OR HIS TESTIMONY BEFORE HE LEFT THIS EARTH, IT IS A TESTIMONY OF SOMEONE WHO FINISHED WELL!! IT IS ALSO AN EXAMPLE TO US THAT WE CAN FINISH WELL ALSO!!

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT-

“WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO!”

FIGHT

1. WHO TO FIGHT- ONE OF MY LARGEST OBSTACLES IS TO ENGAGE IN THE FIGHT WITH THE RIGHT ENEMY, AS I LOOK BACK OVER MY LIFE I SEE MANY BATTLES THAT I HAVE WAGED AGAINST THE WRONG PERSON, AND PERHAPS YOU CAN ALSO.

*THE ENEMY IS NOT MY WIFE*

*THE ENEMY IS NOT A FELLOW CHURCH MEMBER*

*THE ENEMY IS NOT A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND THAT WE DISAGREE WITH*

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NKJV)

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

** YOU SEE THE ENEMY IS THE WICKED ONE, AND HIS GREATEST ASSETS ARE FOUND IN THESE 3:

A. SATAN- HE IS THE CHIEF SLANDERER, ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN.

B. SIN- THIS IS HIS WEAPON, HE THROWS TEMPTATION OUT THERE, AND WHEN WE BITE IT BECOMES SIN TO US… HOW MANY OF US ARE CONSTANTLY BEATING OURSELVES UP SAYING- “WHY DID I THINK THAT, WHY DID I SAY THAT, OR WHY DID I DO THAT?”

James 1:12-16 (NKJV)

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.

14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.

C. SELF- I AM MY OWN WORST ENEMY, WHEN SATAN AND SIN HAS THEIR WAY WITH ME I FIND MYSELF AT WAR WITH--- ME!! I DON’T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TO STOP AND REFOCUS TO GET MY EYES OFF OF “POOR OLE PITIFUL ME.” I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IF WE KEEP OUR FOCUS INWARD AND DOWNWARD, WE WILL NOT BE A GOOD FIGHTER FOR THE CAUSE OF CHRIST!

Luke 12:15-21 (NKJV)

15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

17 And he thought within himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?'

18 So he said, 'I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry." '

20 But God said to him, 'Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?'

21 So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."