Finishing Strong. Embracing God’s Purpose for your Year and Beyond. Philippians 3:13-14
Stand with your Bible and repeat after me.
This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.
Today I will learn more of the word of God.
The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name
Amen?
Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.
Today’s message is "Finishing Strong: Embracing God's Purpose for Your Year and Beyond"
Turn with me to Philippians 3:13-14 and say, “Amen” when you are there.
"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."_
As we come to the close of another year, it’s easy to take stock of where we've been.
Some of us look back with gratitude and joy, remembering victories, breakthroughs, and blessings.
Others may look back with sorrow or regret, overwhelmed by missed opportunities, failures, or struggles.
But regardless of how the year has unfolded, there is one undeniable truth: God has been with you every step of the way, and His plans for you are still unfolding.
Today, I want to remind you that the end of this year is not the end of your journey with God. It’s just the turning of a page.
We are not meant to dwell in the past; we are called to press forward with faith, hope, and a renewed sense of purpose.
Whatever you've experienced this year, God is calling you to finish strong and step boldly into the next season He has for you.
1. Embrace the Process of Growth
Paul’s words in Philippians 3 are so powerful. He says, "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal."
Paul was not living in the past. He didn’t linger in his past achievements, nor did he let his failures define him. Instead, he focused on the future—on the prize that God had set before him.
There is a purpose in the process. God is at work in your life, not just in your moments of triumph, but also in the times of trial.
Every high, every low, every tear, and every victory are part of the journey God is using to shape you into the person He’s called you to be.
Your story is not over—He is still writing it.
2. The Two Water Buckets:
I want to share a powerful story about two water buckets that will speak to those of us who feel weary, imperfect, or unqualified.
There was an old man who had two water buckets. Both were used to carry water from the well to his home, but one of the buckets was perfect—smooth, solid, and without a single crack. The other, however, had a crack. As the man carried it, water leaked out, and by the time he reached his home, it was always half-empty.
The perfect bucket boasted of its efficiency, while the cracked bucket, feeling defective, often apologized for its failure to deliver the full amount of water. It felt ashamed of its imperfections. One day, the man took a walk with the cracked bucket and said, "Do you notice the flowers growing along the path?"
The cracked bucket was puzzled and replied, "Yes, but I don’t understand. I’m leaking water, I’m defective."
The old man smiled and said, "You’ve been leaking water along this path. Do you know what happened to those flowers?
You’ve been watering them, nourishing them with the very water you thought you were losing. Without you, the flowers would not have grown. You’ve been fulfilling your purpose all along—just as you are."
3. God Uses Our Imperfections for His Glory:
You might feel like that cracked bucket today. You look at yourself and think, "I’m not enough. I’ve made too many mistakes. I’ve failed too many times."
But let me remind you: God uses the broken, the imperfect, and the weak to accomplish His will.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul says, "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'"
God’s power is not diminished by your flaws—it is magnified through them.
The very places where you feel inadequate are the places where God's grace shines brightest.
Maybe this year you’ve felt like you were leaking—losing strength, joy, or hope. But in reality, you are being used by God to nourish the lives of those around you.
Your story, your struggles, and your victories are all part of God’s larger plan. He uses your brokenness to water others and bring beauty out of ashes.
4. Pressing Toward the Goal:
As we approach the end of this year, it’s time to ask ourselves: What does God have for me in the year ahead?
There is a new chapter unfolding, a new season of growth and opportunity. But we must move forward with intention. As Paul said, we must "press on toward the goal"—forgetting what is behind and straining toward what lies ahead.
God has a purpose for you, one that extends beyond your mistakes and limitations. The path forward may not always be clear, but God has already gone ahead of you. He’s already prepared the way. The next season is full of promise and potential.
Remember, you are never disqualified by your past—you are qualified by God’s grace, and He is faithful to finish the work He has started in you.
As we come to the end of our gathering today, I want to give you an opportunity to lay down the burdens of the past year—whether they are regrets, mistakes, disappointments, or even fears about the future. God wants to release you from those burdens and help you move forward with freedom and purpose.
Perhaps you’ve been walking through life like a cracked bucket, feeling like you’re not enough, or like you’ve been losing what little you have to give. But I want you to know today that God is using you—just as you are—to make an impact in the lives of those around you. Come forward and let God fill you with His strength for the journey ahead.
This is a time to renew your commitment to press forward. Whether you need healing, restoration, or simply a fresh outpouring of God’s grace, He is here, ready to meet you. The best is yet to come.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the journey we’ve walked this year. We thank You for Your faithfulness in every moment—through the highs and the lows. Lord, we bring our failures, our disappointments, and our struggles before You today. We lay down the burdens we’ve carried, and we trust You to fill us with a fresh vision for the new year ahead. We know that You are still at work in our lives, shaping us for Your glory. We receive Your grace today, and we press on toward the goal You’ve called us to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Conclusion:
As we finish this year, remember this: You are God’s vessel—perfectly crafted for His purpose, even in your brokenness. Your past doesn’t define you; His grace does. Let’s press forward into the future with boldness, trusting that God will continue to use us for His glory.
Step into the new year with hope, knowing that you are not disqualified by your past—God is using every part of your story. Finish strong, knowing that the best is yet to come.
Go in peace and embrace the purpose God has for you in the year ahead.
