Finish Well, My Friend

FINISH WELL?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)

FINISH: TO BRING TO AN END, TERMINATE, something that completes, close, conclude, to bring to a stopping point, wrap it up, wind up.

TO FINISH STRONG MEANS WE WILL KEEP PRESSING ON TO FIND US FAITHFUL IN SEEKING GOD UNTIL THE LAST BREATH. Accountable?

WE ARE A PRODUCT OF OUR DAILY CHOICES. WE CAN FIND ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THE BIBLE. LET US LOOK AT 4 TYPES WE FIND IN PAUL’S WRITINGS.

In 4 verses in 2 Timothy, Paul identifies 4 kinds of Christians. You will fall into one of these classifications of being a Christian.

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

15 Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

1. *DEMAS: Demas is mention 3x’s in the New Testament. Paul calls Demas a fellow worker. Demas Worked with Paul and Luke the doctor. DEMAS WAS A QUITTER. DEMAS’ LOVE SEEMED TO FOCUS ON MATERIALISM. Demas loved the things of the world and Demas forsakes the call upon his life. DEMAS HAD THE WRONG PRIORITIES.

2. *LUKE: Luke writes the 3rd book of the New Testament and Luke wrote the book of ACTS EXPLAINING THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. Luke is considered the Historian of the church. LUKE WAS A FAITHFUL WORKER WITH PAUL. LUKE SERVED JESUS FAITHFUL AND THOSE IS NO RECORD OF LUKE EVER LOOKING BACK. History tell us Luke would not denounce Jesus and he was hanged from an olive tree.

3. *JOHN MARK: John Mark was a vacillator. He was the cousin to BARNABAS THE ENCOURAGER. PAUL A ND BARNABAS WERE N A MISSIONARY TRIP. JOHN MARK WHEN WITH THEM. WHEN THE GOING GOT TOUGH JOHN MARK QUIT AND RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY IN JERUSALEM.

Acts 13:13 Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem.

Several years later Paul admits Barnabas was right. John Mark deserved another chance.

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

JOHN MARK LEARNED HIS LESSON AND BECAME A GOOD HELPER TO PAUL.

4. *ALEXANDER THE COPPERSMITH: He served Paul/Jesus in a surface, shallow relationship. Alexander was mean and served against the work of the church. Paul warned Timothy that Alexander May believe Alexander was a Jewish man spying of God’s work.

2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

OF THESE 4 BASIC KINDS OF CHRISTIANS YOU WILL FALL INTO ONE OF THESE TYPES OR CLASSIFICATIONS.

THERE CAN BE NO ROOM FOR QUITTERS IN THE ARMY OF GOD…

Matthew 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Matthew 24:13 (MSG) "Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved.

We must be faithful to the call of God and endure until our mission is complete.

ARCHIPPUS, FELLOW SOLDIER… IT MEANS MASTER OF THE HORSE.

Archippus is briefly mention in the New Testament. Archippus is mentioned twice, once in Philemon and once in Colossians. We associate Archippus as a partner of Paul and Paul’s work. It appears Archippus’ work was not an easy task. Many believe Archippus to have been the pastor of the church at Colossae. Archippus was faithful to his church and to PAUL!

STEP UP, DIG THE WELL… SEE TO IT, ARCHIPPUS! GOD’S CALL REQUIRED ARCHIPPUS TO BE FAITHFUL AND OBEDIENT.

It is believed that Archippus doubted his call and Paul had to remind him: PRESS FORWARD… YOUNG MAN.

Colossians 4:17 And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.

Colossians 4:17 (MSG) And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, "Do your best in the job you received from the Master. Do your very best."

Colossians 4:17 (NLT2) And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”

Colossians 4:17 (ESV) And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”

Archippus, Paul’s fellow soldier must have had some very hard, difficult times. As Paul writes it appears Archippus was patient and endured these problems.

WE DON’T KNOW WHAT TASK ARCHIPPUS WAS ASSIGNED. BY BIBLICAL STANDARDS ARCHIPPUS TASKS WERE MINOR… BUT PAUL SENDS A MESSAGE TO ARRCHIPPUS.