INTRODUCTION, Have you ever noticed in life that a good start isn’t always enough. Now there is nothing wrong with a good start mind you, but it is often not enough to get us to the finish line, or to the winners circle.
And if you don’t believe me, ask the Atlanta Braves who won the first 2 games of the 1996 years world series against the Yankees in New York. I think the scores were 12-1 and 6-0. They were pretty excited about their start. But winning those 2 games gave little comfort as they watched their opponents hold that trophy 4 games later.
Or you can ask the 1969 Baltimore Orioles. Who dominated the majors that year. Won 109 games -- more than any other team. And their opponents in the World Series were the New York Mets. Everyone expected the Orioles to win easily, and then when they won the first game -- it seemed as though they had it in the bag... But in just 4 more games it would be all over, and the New York Mets would be the ones wearing that World Series ring. In 1969 the Orioles and all of Baltimore were convinced of the truth that a good start isn’t enough.
Or take the Buffalo Bills who in their 4th Super bowl led the Dallas Cowboys going into to halftime. But as good as that first half was , the Bills will be the first to tell you that at the end of the contest - when the Dallas Cowboys were the one holding the trophy - that a good start is not enough. The week following the game the city of Buffalo did not throw a parade to celebrate the half time lead.
Starting strong is no guarantee of finishing strong. Tonight we are bring our series on the life of David to a close. David had a great start – anointed by Samuel, “You will be the next king”
His life has been one of great victories over giants and enemies of God and he has known great heartache because of sin and lack of discipline. Tonight by looking at David’s example, I hope we will discover several truths on how to finish strong in our relationship with God
BACKGROUND – King David was a weary warrior, about to sleep with his fathers. He did not have long to live, and he knew it. But David was about to find out that even at that stage of life, he still had work to do.
One of David’s sons, Adonijah, was ambitious, and wanted to become king. Never mind that his father David had not yet died. Never mind that it was by no means clear in this kingdom that the crown is passed from father to son – after all, David himself did not get it that way. And never mind, most of all, that David had not promised the throne to Adonijah, but to another son, Solomon. None of that mattered to this crafty and ambitious young man. He wanted to be king and he went about gathering support. The Kingdom of Israel was about to go into full-fledged crisis. David’s wife Bathsheba and her son, Solomon, along with Nathan the prophet, intervened, so that David could finish strong. Note David’s Last Days.
1. He was now a man of moral integrity.
Read 1 Kings 1:1-4
In his old age David is losing strength. It is suggested he is to have a young girl serve him.
She is described as – Pure – Young – Beautiful – one other thing The King did not know her (He did not have intimate relations with this girl.)
He had learned his lesson with his sin with Bathsheba
While it would have been permissible to make this girl his wife, David now would have the moral integrity not to fall into the same temptation.
Integrity ability to live one’s life in the open.
Ps 15:1-5, LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.
Integrity issues first appear as small items but they have a way of disqualifying one for service.
The example of the great wall of China was built – the enemies never scaled the wall, yet three times China was invaded – simply bribed the gate keepers. What are you doing to protect your integrity so that you might finish strong?
2. David was not exempt from Problems
READ Vss. 5 – 10
Someone has described problems as magnifiers
You can tell a lot about a person by how they react to a problem.
As Adonijah sought to take the kingdom David took action.
READ Vss. 28-39
Well, David responded. David made it happen. He saw to it that Solomon and not Adonijah was made king in Israel.
What a marvelous picture we have of David - The weary warrior, worn out and ground down by meeting demands, distracted from the commitments he had made early in his life – this weary warrior, who might have ended with nothing but shattered dreams and deep disappointments, David now comes to the end of the road with something to show for it. David can pray a prayer of thanksgiving, for his life is fulfilled. He didn’t get everything he wanted, no. He would like to have had all of his sons and daughters find success. He would have preferred that all his children thrive. But David is able to thank God that at least one of his offspring sits on the throne, one of his children has taken on his legacy, someone has heard the message. That is nothing less than the grace of God, who cares about us, and who wants us to feel fulfillment and joy!
ACTION HE TOOK
He kept his word to his wife vs. 30
He followed the practice of anointing Solomon Vss. 32-33
He communicated to all the people Solomon was the new King vs. 34 (the blowing of the trumpet)
He confronted Adonijah in his sin Vss. 41-48
3. David counted on trusted friends
Notice that David did not live in a vacuum. Notice that David had some folk around who called him to accountability.
Bathsheba, his wife; She knew the promise he had made years before
Solomon, his son; Unlike Adonijah his heart was pure
Nathan, his prophet – was willing to confront him again.
There are over 120 one another’s in the NT, these one another’s remind us we do live for our self but for other people.
Someone has said everyone of us need three people in our life to give us balance
Paul someone flowing into our life
Timothy someone we flow into
Barnabas someone who will encourage us, but also someone willing to hold us accountable.
David finished strong because he was a man of integrity
He was a man who had learned to handle problems correctly
He was a man who listened to others at the right time.
How different it was for his Son Solomon - GREAT START THAT MAKES IT SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND HIS LOUSY FINISH...FOR YOU SEE, SOLOMON DID NOT FINSIH STRONG.
SOLOMON’S LOUSY FINISH
In I Kings chapter 11 we read about Solomon’s lousy finish; The Lord was very angry with Solomon, for his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. He had warned Solomon specifically about worshiping other gods, but Solomon did not listen to the Lord’s command. So now the Lord said to him, "Since you have not kept my covenant and have disobeyed my laws, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your servants..." (9-11)
NOW I WANT TO APPLY THIS LESSON TO OURSELVES
YOU KNOW, IT IS SO EASY TO SIT BACK AND JUDGE OTHERS, TO POINT OUR FINGERS AND SHAKE OUR HEADS AND SAY TO OURSELVES, "MAN, I JUST DON’T SEE WHY THEY DON’T GET IT, HOW COME THEY CAN’T SEE WHAT IS SO OBVIOUS?
There are many Christian who at one time accepted Christ, were immersed into His name, had there sins washed away, who laid A GOOD foundation.... they had a good start -- rescue, salvation, forgiveness, justification and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. But for one reason or another they have not finished strong. I want us to look at one last way David finished strong – BY GIVING ADVICE TO HIS SON
READ 1 Kings 2:1-4
When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son. "I am about to go the way of all the earth," he said. "So be strong, show yourself a man, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, and that the LORD may keep his promise to me: ’If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’
Good advice from a father to a son today I would like to close out this series on David with some advice for us as well. To make sure that we finish strong. How can you & I ensure that we cross the finish line with power?
We need to do 4 things.
Stay In –
We need to stay in the word... Question, Are you in the word....? Are you on a regular basis in the word of God? If you are not the chances of you finishing strong are not good... I wouldn’t put any $$$$ on you.
"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." 2 Tim 3:16,17
The bible tells us: what’s right & what’s not right How to get right & how to stay right.
Stay Close
Stay close to a friend you can’t con. Stay close to a friend who loves you enough to tell you when you’re messing up. Stay close to a friend who will hold you accountable.
Listen one of the primary ways that the enemy keeps us from finishing strong is isolation. Instead of being close to anyone, you become distant. Instead of being gut-level honest, you begin to shade the truth. Instead of following Christ you begin to act like you are following Christ.
Laurel had Hardy - Batman had Robin - The Lone Ranger had Tonto - we need that kind of friend.
"As Iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend...." Pr 27:17 (NLT)
"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up... Though one may be over powered two can defend themselves. A cord of 3 strands is not easlt broken..." Eccl 4:9-12
Stay Away
Stay away from your weak areas....
Hebrews 12:1" Therefore since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress..."
Stay Focused
Runners will tell you that they want to know where the finish line is. Whether it’s the 100 yard dash or a marathon a runner still wants to know where the finish line is...
Question; what is our finish line? It’s when we go to be with the Lord (at death or 2nd coming)
Question; where is our finish line? Well, that’s the interesting thing about the race you & I are in. No one knows where that line is... It is different for each of us... Could be 6 months or 40 years and that’s what makes the race tough....
How do we finish strong?
We don’t finish strong by focusing on the finish line BECAUSE we don’t know where it is - we do it by focusing on Jesus...
LISTEN TO THESE NT EXAMPLES
Heb 12:1,2 "And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on who our faith depends from start to finish.."
1 Cor 9:24-27 In a race, everyone runs but only one gets first prize. So run your race to win. To win the contest you must deny yourselves many things that would keep you from doing your best. An athlete goes to all this trouble just to win a blue ribbon or a silver cup, BUT we do it for a hevanely reward that never disappears. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I fight to win. I’m not just shadow boxing or playing around. Like an athlete I punish my body, treating it roughly, training it to do what it should, NOT what it wants to. OTHERWISE I fear that after enlisting others for the race, I myself might be declared unfit & ordered to stand aside...
Phil 3:12-14
I do not mean that I am already as God wants me to be. I have not yet reached that goal, but I continue trying to reach it and to make it mine. Christ wants me to do that, which is the reason He made me His. Brothers and sisters, I know I have not yet reached that goal, but there is one thing I always do. Forgetting the past and straining toward what is ahead, I keep trying to reach the goal, and get the prize for which God called me through Christ to the life above."
It is never too late to begin doing what is right. As long as you’re breathing, it’s never too late to confess your sin to the Lord in genuine repentance and receive His forgiveness. You may have messed up and messed big time - but the race isn’t over yet.... Just because you have fallen down does not men you still can’t finish strong.
PRAYER
