Seeing The Vision
Good Intentions vs Genuine Commitment
Today, we are continuing in our series, Preparing To Build…Seeing The Vision…Living The Dream! Today we are getting very close the completion of our building project. We are getting closer and closer to that final product, to that dream, of what we want to build. We are so excited about what we are doing. We are so excited about being able to finish what we’ve been working on.
Today, you’ll notice that we are in the finishing stages. The roof is on, the walls are up, this thing is almost done. However, one of the most important elements of where we are right now is in the finishing touches. You see, it’s not that tough to nail the boards together, it’s not that tough to slap on some plywood. What is incredibly tough and incredibly important to the value of what we build, is how well we do the finish work.
Last week, we talked about not losing our focus of where we are headed. Of not losing focus of the finish line. We must stay committed to the project, committed to the job at hand. We talked about how the END IS WORTH THE BEGINNING!
Today, we talk about how to hit the finish line. How do we complete the work we’ve set out to do? How do we make sure that what we dreamed about, what we planned on doing, what we’ve been talking about, actually happens?
Our theme verse for this series has been:
1Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Steadfast, immovable in the word of God. Being anchored on Christ, the solid rock, our foundation. Notice that being anchored in Christ is a choice that we make. The verse doesn’t tell us that we will be steadfast and immovable, the verse tells us that we SHOULD be steadfast and immovable. In other words, how we finish, how we complete the job, is completely dependent on us!
That commitment to follow through is critical if we are to have victory in Christ. That commitment to finish the race, to finish well, is vital to the results we will see. We will not see victory, we will not see our vision or our dreams come true, unless and until we do the finish work…according to God’s plan.
A couple of weeks ago, I shared with you about the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. How in John 6:66 it says: From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Why? Because they lacked the commitment to follow through. They lacked the commitment to finish the work. They lacked the commitment finish well.
Last week, I told you about Demas. How in Colossians, he was a faithful worker with Paul. How in Philemon, he was still a faithful worker. But then, in 2 Timothy 4:10, it states that: for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed…
What happened? Demas lacked the commitment to follow through. He lacked the commitment to finish the work. He lacked the commitment to finish well.
Another example, Judas. We all know that Judas was a disciple. He was following Christ. But then, it says in Luke 22, that Satan entered Judas. And the rest is history. How did Satan enter Judas? Because Judas wasn’t focused on the finish line. He lacked the genuine commitment to finish the work. He lacked the commitment to finish well.
In fact, if you read through 1 and 2 Timothy, you will notice an interesting fact regarding the believers of that day. You’ll notice that many lacked the genuine commitment to finish well.
I Timothy 1:6 “…some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk.”
I Timothy 1:19 “… some having rejected the faith and have suffered shipwreck.”
I Timothy 4:1 “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.”
I Timothy 6:10 “….some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.”
I Timothy 6:21
“Some people have wandered from the faith by following such foolishness.”
Now, listen to his description about believers’ commitment level to Christ in II Timothy at the end of his life:
II Timothy 1:15 “As you know, all from the province of Asia has deserted me.”
II Timothy 4:16 “At my defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me.”
It started the “some”…then it waned to “all.”
Why? Because they lacked Genuine Commitment.
So, we know that in order to complete the dream, in order to finish the project, in order to get the job done right, we must be genuinely committed to the finish line.
In construction, one item that is always used when you near the completion of a building project is the punchlist. These are the items that are left to be done to ensure that the job is finished according to the blueprints, according to the plan.
That punchlist is critically important in making sure that everything that needs to be done is, in fact, done! Likewise, we as followers of Christ need to have a punchlist to ensure that we are doing everything that needs to be done in our lives.
Punch List Item #1 – The Integrity of the Foundation
In other words, making sure that the foundation upon which we build is secure. Making sure that the foundation will support the structure. Making sure that the foundation will secure the structure for all time.
We’ve talked about the foundation a number of times over the past 7 weeks. We’ve mentioned over and over again. And, this is important to do. We can never talk about the foundation too much. We can never examine the foundation too much.
You see the foundation is what will forever secure and support what is built upon it. In other words, if we have any plans on growing our lives, of growing our church, we must forever be examining the foundation to ensure that we build securely.
We’ve seen recently, tragically, in Minnesota what can happen when a structure is not secure, when a foundation is not secure. That bridge fell and people lost their lives because of it.
The foundation is vital to our security. So many churches have lost sight of their foundations over the years and, while continuing to build, they are not building upon solid ground. They have gotten off into various beliefs, various doctrines, that are not based on the Word of God, not based on the foundation of Christ, and those churches suffer because of it. But sadly, the ones who really suffer are those who are part of those churches, because they are never grounded in Christ.
We at TRBC will forever be grounded in the truth, grounded on the foundation of Christ. We will forever be grounded on the Word of God. We will forever be grounded on those load-bearing truths that I shared with you two weeks ago:
1. Jesus is God
2. Jesus Paid It All
3. Jesus Rose Again
4. Jesus Guarantees Our Future
5. Jesus Is Coming Again
We will forever be grounded on Christ! We will always preach the Gospel. We always preach that Christ died for our sins and that He wants to save you and give you eternal life. We will never allow our foundation to be compromised!
Prov. 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
That is the foundation upon which we build. That is the foundation upon which we must build our church, but also to build our lives. We must RUN TO CHRIST!
Punch List Item #2 – The Power Supply
Building a house or a building and then forgetting to connect it to the power company is not exactly the smartest thing to do. Especially on days like we’ve experienced recently where it is nearing 100 degrees outside. We need power. We need to be able to turn on the lights. We certainly need to be able to turn on the A/C. We need power in our house to live!
My friends, we need power in our lives as well. We must have the power to live!
That power is found through the Word of God and through prayer. You see that is how we get our power. That is how we get the power to build our lives, to continue on the journey, to complete the journey, to finish well!
Josh. 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
The power to succeed comes through the Word of God. The power that we need in our lives must come from the Word.
Psa. 1:1 Blessed is the man, Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
What happens if we meditated day and night on the Word of God? If we live our lives based on the Word of God? Notice in verse 3: He shall be like a tree, Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
There in Psalms 1:3, earlier in Joshua 1:8, we prosper when meditate on God’s word. Am I preaching a prosperity Gospel here? Absolutely not. I’m not telling you that if you meditate on the Word of God that he will give you all of the money in the world. I’m telling you that if you meditate on the Word of God, He will make you secure. He will protect you. He will make sure that you will not be destroyed. That’s a great promise.
Another important aspect in getting the power we need to live is through PRAYER.
Eph. 6:18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.
Do you want power? PRAY! Pray for those in our church, pray for those who are not yet in our church. Pray for those who have walked these aisles. Pray for those who are hurting. Pray for those you know that need to be saved.
James 5:16 says… The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. God gives us power through prayer!
Punch List Item #3 – Exterior Trim Work
This is the part of the house that everyone sees. This is the part of the house that the world looks at every time they drive by. When they walk inside the house, they notice the cosmetic work. The paint, the landscaping, etc.
Matt. 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
This has everything to do with our testimony. It has everything to do with what the world sees when they look at us. When we walk into a store or a restaurant. When we drive down the road. It is important that what people see in this building on Sunday is also what they see on a Friday night.
Punch List Item #4 - The Custom Installations
These are the personal things that you want in the house. Some people like to have the house wired for surround sound. Some like to have internet cables run to specific places. Some like to have their TV cables run to an exact place in the house, a place that most wouldn’t have their TV. These are the things that are unique to you.
In our lives, there are unique things that can “make or break” us on our Christian walk.
Heb. 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Why doesn’t the author list out those sins? Why doesn’t he enumerate what it is that can ensnare us? Because he can’t. Because it is different for every one of us. We must customize our faith. Making sure that the issues that we have that can keep us from following Christ, that can keep us from accomplishing for Christ, that we lay them aside, laying them at the foot of the cross.
Josh. 3:5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
Punch List Item #5 – Choosing the Door
The front door of the house is the first thing people see when they come to visit. It is the entry point to the house. Where people will enter into the dwelling that you’ve built. It is important that we choose the right door, the one that we believe is the most attractive. The one that we like, or more importantly, the one that our wife likes. That’s the door we choose. And, it must be hung correctly.
You see, if it hung just off center. If it is hung and not perfectly level, the door won’t close properly. It will let the cold air seep through. It will let the hot air seep through. It will let the dust and dirt from outside seep inside the house. It will let the small insects crawl through. Why? Because it does not properly seal our house from the outside world.
Deut. 11:18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. 20 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, 21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.
Old Testament followers would post portions of God’s word at their doorposts to remind them of God’s promises and God’s love. In fact, today in many Jewish households, you will find that they still have the words of God posted at the door.
In our lives, we must properly seal ourselves from the outside world.
We must write upon the door posts of our heart the words that will guide us, that will protect us, that will keep us from harm. So that when Satan comes to defeat us, we are protected. When discouragement tries to beat us down, we are protected. When loneliness tries to dishearten us, we are protected.
When financial struggles challenge us, we are protected.
When marital problems face us, we are protected.
When an illness begins to conquer our spirit, we are protected.
We must write the words of promise upon our hearts, so that we can be victorious over anything that can destroy us. Write those words on our doorposts, write those words on our heart, write them in the midst of our problems, write them in the midst of our discouragement, write them in the midst of our pain.
Josh 24:15…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
