OUR COMMITMENT OF FAITH – PART I
Please open your Bible to I John 5 and 2 Timothy 4 as we continue our series, The Race of Life, with today’s message, “Our Race of Faith Part I.”
The necessity of faith in your journey through life is so important, and so dynamic, that I would like to spend the next two sermons on this topic. Your faith is very important to God. You cannot finish your God given race without faith. The secret to finishing your race, is determined by how well you keep the faith. For the next two weeks, I want to show you how and why you must keep the faith and fight the good fight.
1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? NKJV
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. NKJV
THE NEED FOR FAITH
We are living on the doorstep of great prophetic events. There is a spiritual darkness descending over our world and if there was ever a time the world needs faith, it’s now.
Luke 18:8 …when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” NKJV
When Jesus spoke these words, I believe he was speaking directly to our generation when the lack of faith would be so great that very few would be prepared for His return. This is a prophetic picture of what the world conditions would be like just before His return. The message is, the world desperately needs faith.
Not just any faith, but a faith that endures; we need a faith that overcomes; we need a faith that carries us to victory. We need a faith that stays the course until the race is finished. We need a faith that has the power to change lives. We need a faith that is not afraid to count the cost. We need a faith that knows how to put on the armor of God and stands against the forces of hell. We need a faith that guide us through the perils of the future. We need a faith that overcomes fear and does not waver in the storm. If you are fearful of the future, then you need the great faith that comes from the throne of heaven.
We need a faith that knows what real truth is. We need a faith built on truth and righteousness. We need a faith that stands against evil and fights the good fight. We need a faith that will bring revival and hope. The question is, does this kind of faith exist? And if so; where can it possibly be found? I John 5:5 tells us the faith that overcomes the world, that endures the race, and brings great victory is given only to those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
RUNNING OUR RACE BY FAITH
You are running in the greatest race ever known, and it is impossible to finish this race through life without faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.
Hebrews 11:6 without faith it is impossible to please God... NKJV
Hebrews 12:2 says we are to…look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… NKJV
Jesus said that out of all the things you could ever seek to accomplish in life, your greatest reward will come from how well you finish your journey for the kingdom of God. How you
walk by faith, and how faithful you are to finish the race for the glory of God should be the single most important pursuit of your life. Not the American dream; not the treasures of this life; but to finish your race for the glory of God.
THE COMMITMENT OF FAITH TO RUN THE RACE
At the end of your journey, you will stand before the King of heaven and earth, and when you do, you absolutely want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
To hear those words will be determined by your commitment to keep the faith, and to finish the course God has set before you.
Hebrews 12:1 says… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
God has marked out a race for you run. He has designed a course for you to follow. But the path that God has designed for you can only be seen by faith. You have heard the saying, “Seeing is believing.” That’s how people without faith walk through life. But for those who walk with God; for those who pursue the kingdom of God, faith comes first, because the eternal things of God can only be seen by faith.
Faith is being sure of what you hope for and believe through Jesus Christ.
Faith says, I believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the author of eternal life
Faith says I believe God’s word is truth regardless of what the world says.
Philippians 1:6 being confident (To be confident is to have faith) of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; NKJV
The moment you believed in Jesus Christ, God began a great work of faith in you that will take all of your life to complete. But… God’s great desire is that you keep the faith and finish the race He given you to run. To keep the faith and to finish strong in how you live for the glory of God will be one of the greatest gifts you will ever lay at the feet of Jesus.
I want you capture this thought and never forget it; in the Christian life, it’s not how you start, that matters; it’s how well you finish. There are a lot of Christians who started out with a big bang only to fizzle out and not finish the race. Then there are Christians who had a slow start and struggled but they finally got going and finished strong for the Lord.
God is looking for finishers. He is looking for those who keep the faith and finish the race.
You cannot walk through life on cruise control and expect to finish strong for the glory of God. You will be tested. You will be tried. That’s why Paul said we are to FIGHT the good fight, and KEEP the faith.
When you stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and He examines your life, one of the most important points He will measure is your faith. How you live by faith will determine the greatness of your life in eternity.
This is why Paul said twice… The just shall live by faith… Romans 1:17 / Galatians 3:11
God is looking for those who keep the faith and finish the race.
KEEPING THE FAITH AND FINISHING THE RACE
Steve Farrar in his book, “Finishing Strong,” describes how only one out of ten Christians who start out on their journey in their walk with God actually finish what they started. Only one out of ten… finished their God given journey! That is absolutely tragic.
For example, 1945 has been called the year of the evangelist. In that year three young evangelists in their twenties exploded out of nowhere to preach the gospel in packed auditoriums across America and Europe. All three were extraordinary preachers and highly gifted. All three preached to vast audiences of over 30,000 at a time. These three young men were Billy Graham, Chuck Templeton and Bron Clifford. We know about Billy Graham. But why haven’t we heard about the other 2? (Picture of Billy Graham and Chuck Templeton)
Many called Chuck Templeton the Babe Ruth of evangelism and one of the greatest evangelists the world had ever seen. Many said that Templeton was a better preacher than Graham. However, within 5 years after taking the world by storm, Chuck Templeton was no longer preaching. He stated he no longer believed the Bible or the claims of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. He dropped out and failed to finish the race God had set before him.
Bron Clifford was also a very gifted and anointed speaker. At the age of 25, Clifford was setting attendance records all over America and influencing thousands for Christ. Many believed he was the most gifted preacher the church had seen since D. L. Moody and perhaps even since John Wesley. He was so popular that national leaders vied for his attention. Hollywood wanted him to star in the movie, “The Robe.” However, within 9 years, Clifford was also out of the ministry. He lost heart and faith and turned to alcohol rather than to God. He left his wife and two children and stepped away from his God given ministry and became a used car salesman. Alcoholism and financial problems ruined his life. At the young age of 35, Clifford died from cirrhosis of the liver in a run-down motel in Amarillo, Texas. He was so broke, there wasn’t enough money to pay for a cheap burial. Pastors in the Amarillo took up a collection so that he could be buried in a cemetery for the poor.
There are two reasons why I am sharing this with you.
First, it’s not how you start, that matters, it’s how well you finish the race. I want to be one of those who finishes strong for Jesus Christ. God is looking for those who have the heart and the faith to run the race and to finish strong.
Second, it doesn’t matter how much talent you have, or how anointed you are by God, what matters is that you finish the course that God has set before you. Talent, gifts, fame, and riches do not guarantee that you will successfully run the race God has set before you.
The only way to finish the race, and to finish strong is to keep the faith and set your focus on Jesus Christ, because without faith and keeping the faith it is impossible to finish the race. Does the Bible give us any examples what it means to finish strong? Yes… it gives us several examples about the importance of finishing your race.
SAUL
For example, Saul was handpicked by God to be Israel’s first king. Saul had God’s anointing and blessing. Saul started out with a bang, but he quickly fizzled out because he didn’t have the faith to obey God. God gave Saul several opportunities, and each time he failed to obey God. Because of his continuing disobedience, God took away the kingdom that could have been Saul’s and his descendants forever, and gave it to David. Think of the enormity of that. Saul’s inability to keep the faith and finish the race had a disastrous effect. Had Saul kept the faith and been obedient to finish what God had set before him, we would have been talking about the greatness of Saul, rather than the greatness of David.
SOLOMON
Solomon is known as one of the wisest men who ever lived. His riches and fame and treasures were so great, they were almost impossible to measure. He was one of the most powerful kings in Israel’s history and his influence was worldwide. Yet none of these things were enough to keep Solomon on track to finish the race. Solomon completely fell out of the race because he did not keep the faith to honor God with all of his heart.
But glory to God, the Bible is also filled with beautiful stories of those who kept the faith and finished God’s purpose. God is looking for finishers.
Joseph kept the faith in the pit and prison and God used him to save a whole nation.
Joshua and Caleb stood against a nation of unbelievers and remained faithful to the end.
Daniel did not wavier in His faith when he faced the lion’s den.
Paul was persecuted and faced all kinds of severe trials and hardships but he kept the faith and sang songs of praise at midnight.
Peter who denied that He knew Jesus had every reason to give up. But because of the Lord's forgiveness, Peter got back into the race, and finished his journey with great success.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO HAVE A STRONG FINISH?
Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; (In other words, I’m not there yet) but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. NKJV
Paul said, I press on toward the goal…
When you face trials and hardships, do not lose heart and give up. Do not lose faith but press on. When the storms of life hit you, focus on Jesus Christ and press on. It is God’s great calling, that you not lose faith, but that you press on and finish the race.
One of the great inspiring stories of someone who chose to press on is found in the true story of Glenn Cunningham. (picture) On a cold day in February, 1917, 7-year-old Glenn and his older brother got to school early and decided to get the fire going to help their teacher. However, Glenn’s brother used gasoline instead of kerosene over the hot coals, causing the stove to explode. Glenn’s brother died, and Glenn’s legs were so badly burned the doctors gave no hope that he would ever walk again. But young Glenn had a strong faith in God. He believed God wanted him to press on and not give up. Glenn loved to run and he dreamed of the day when he could run again.
So, he continued to press on. He and his mother spent hours each days working his legs without any improvement. Until suddenly, a year and a half after the accident, one of his legs slightly moved. Finally, the day came when he could move both his legs. Then came the day when he stood up. Months later Glenn took his first step, and then another, and then another. The days became months but Glenn continued to press on. Then the day finally came when he walked out of his room, but Glenn didn’t stop there.
Glenn began to run, and he continued to run. He achieved worldwide fame and became known as the “Kansas Flyer.” He ran in the 1932 and 1936 Olympics winning the silver medal. In 1938 he broke the world record for the mile. Ninety years later, he still owns 12 of the top 31 fastest mile times on record. Glenn Cunningham was just as tall in his personal life for God as he was on the race track and used his life for the glory of God helping homeless and abused children.
Glenn Cunningham did not quit. He did not give up. He kept the faith and pressed on to finish His God given race. To finish the race, you have to press on and stay the course.
In Jesus Name, we are to press on in faith and never give up.
We are to press on toward the goal and never look back.
We are to press on and finish the race for the glory of God.
Finishing strong will not be easy, but by faith it can be done. You will face obstacles and temptations; and the chances are you will be knock down a time or two. And when you do, get up and press on in Jesus name. Do not quit. Do not give up. Do not stop following Jesus, but press on and finish the race God has designed for you to run.
WHAT WILL HELP YOU TO SUCCESSFULLY FINISH YOUR RACE?
Next week, we will look closer at the power of faith, but for now, what can you do through faith that will help you finish your race? I want to quickly give you four things…
First, above all things seek God first and always give Him the glory and honor. That is rule number one. If you will seek God first, and always give Him the glory in all that you do, you will have a great finish to your life.
Second, and I cannot stress this enough… obey God. Obey His word. Obey His calling. Obey His guidance. Your obedience to God is a powerful act of faith cannot be underestimated and it will have a tremendous impact on how well you finish your race.
Third, love God with all of your heart, soul, mind and body. And while you’re at it, love the other believers also. It takes faith to love and it is by your love that you demonstrate to the world that you are a real disciple of Jesus Christ.
Fourth, discover God’s purpose for your life, whatever that may be, and then do it with all of your heart.
IN CLOSING…
In closing, in the eyes of God, it is never, never too late to get back into the race and finish well. As long as there is a breath in your body you can still finish your race. It's never too late to begin doing what’s right. It’s never too late to press on in the high calling of God and give Him your very best. It’s never too late to obey God and bring Him glory.
If you are discouraged and disappointed by events in your life, don’t give up, don’t stop running your race, but keep the faith and finish the race.
Keeping the faith and finishing the race is the most important thing you will do in your life. You will mess up. You will fall down. But when you do, repent, get back up and by faith, keep running the race, and run until you reach the finish line.
The finish line is drawing closer every day. No matter what lays in your past, there is still time to make up for lost ground and finish strong for the glory of God.
Let today, be the day you keep faith, and run your race.
Let today be the day that you focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith… and that you run the race with all of your strength until the race is finished.
