Stand & Read - 2 Tim. 4:6-8
?For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. [7] I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; [8] in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.?
"The GRAND Finale’!"
PRAYER?
INTRODUCTION:
It is that time of year when we begin to look back on THIS year to contemplate all that has taken place?
-We hear about the top 100 songs of the year?
-2002?s most influential people?
-This past year?s most amazing events?
-And the like?
It is interesting and sometimes beneficial for us to remember what has transpired so that we?maybe won?t?make the same mistakes in the year to come?
Perhaps even some of us have been considering the ways of our past in 2002?
It is a good thing to do?(Like Janus, the two-faced god in mythology?one looking forwards and the other looking backwards?where we get the name for the first month?January.)
-Doctors emphasize that we should do self-examinations so that we can treat illnesses earlier, and with better chance of cure?
*And the same will be with us spiritually?
-Even businesses advise the same things?
*Being pro-active is better than re-active.
And our self-evaluation goes on?
-Looking at the good?the bad?and the ugly?of our own lives?
-Taking evaluation of what has taken place so that we will not repeat the history of our lives from this past year?
Asking ourselves?
-Have I grown in the Lord as much as I had hoped???
-Did I do devotions every day like I committed to???
-Did I read the Bible through?cover-to-cover???
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We make STRONG commitments as the beginning of each year, don?t we???
Making commitments are always made with zeal and with passion?
-We are STRONGLY committed to doing what we resolve to do?at first?
-But, it is always easier SAID than DONE?isn?t it???
ILLUSTRATION:
It is like that resolution that we each make year-after-year to eat better and loose weight?
-You have done it, haven?t you???
-You have made that commitment too???
BUT?I have failed?haven?t you???
We have made that commitment, but we have failed to follow-through, and then complete our goal?
PROOF???
-I probably weigh 10 pounds more at the end of this year, than I did last year?
-And maybe you know what I mean??? J
There is something to be said for those who DO follow through, and complete their goals?
Following through pays off in many things?
-Kicking a ball?
-Throwing a ball?
-Hitting a ball?
ILLUSTRATION:
Like hitting a golf ball?the follow-through is what makes a real difference?
*It is the follow-through that makes all the difference in the world?
And it is the follow-through that will make the difference for each of us as well!!!
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Making the commitment is the easy part?
We all make commitments to do things and do it well?
-With a lot of vision?goals?and dreams?
But do we STAY committed???
Do we ?follow-through? on our commitments???
Do we even COMPLETE what we committed to do???
Because, we do need to be faithful to COMPLETE what we should complete!!!
ILLUSTRATION:
It has been said, ?The road to hell is paved with good intentions.?
-But, good intentions do not get you very far.
So?as we commence upon a new time of our lives?2003?we must make a new commitment to follow-through, and to complete the goals; which we have in serving, worshipping, and loving the Lord!!!
Philip. 3:12-16
?Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. [13] Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
[15] Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; [16] however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.?
There are some good things here that Paul is trying to impress into the reader?
#1 - He has not yet obtained it?but He IS pressing on to do just that. And so should we!!!
#2 - He abandons ALL that is behind, so that He is not distracted from doing the present, and reaching the future goals.
#3 - His goal is the prize of the call in Christ Jesus! So should ours be the same?
#4 - We should have this attitude too?like Paul does.
#5 - If you have the opposing attitude, then ask for the Lord to reveal it to you so that it can be corrected, and He will!
God desires the best for you!!!
And more than just making a shallow commitment for Him?He wants you to be able to make your goals for Him?and have a GRAND Finale??rather than a dwindling and fizzling-out conclusion?
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An illustration of one who did not follow through and complete his goal, is?
-Judas Iscariot.
Judas was one who was a DISCIPLE of Jesus Christ!
He had personal time with Jesus and was even the one who was trusted with the finances of the group.
-What a trusted, focused, intelligent, and sharp guy!
But we saw things fall apart with Judas?
-What is the word that is synonymous with the name Judas?
-Betrayer?He is the one who betrayed Jesus?and you read of it over and over again in the Gospels?
However, there was a time that He was one of the twelve!
He was counted among the closest of those near Jesus!
Surely, He answered the call to come and follow after Jesus, much like those who also answered the call to be fishers of men?
But?after a season?there was no longer any more following-through?
-And because there was no follow-through, there was not GRAND Finale?!
-Just a sorrow-filled conclusion to a sorry and confused life?
Matthew 27:3-5
?Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, [4] saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself!" [5] And he threw the pieces of silver into the sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.?
Sad indeed, and one who had no GRAND Finale? in life.
Others in our day and age have also had NO GRAND Finale?
-Many TV preachers and pastors?
-Brother and Sisters in Christ that we could even name?started strong; and ended weakly and frail.
What a shame?it saddens all of our hearts, and we hope to not end up like them?
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How can we do that?
We must follow-through, and see this passage come to pass in our lives?
Philip. 1:6
?For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.?
There is no doubt in my mind, that if we WANT to make it in this life and have a GRAND Finale??then we can have just that!
The Bible tells us that we have been given everything that we need to have, in order that we can live our lives in holiness and truth!
Titus 2:11-14
?For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, [12] instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, [13] looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus; [14] who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.?
Not only this?but even in our weaknesses, and frailty?God?s strength is made perfect in us?(II Cor. 12:9)
-And my friends?there is no doubt in my mind, that if we want to make it in God?we can!
-If we want to come to the end of our race, and be able to hear those blessed words??Well done, my good and faithful servant?enter thou in!!!? We CAN do it, and make it with God?s help!!!
*He has never intended for us to make it on our own anyhow!!!
*Just learn to lean upon Him for EVERYTHING!!!
I believe one of the reasons that Hebrews 12:1-3 was written was to encourage people like you and I to continue on in our faith with a great fervency so that we might be benefactors of a GRAND Finale? ourselves?
It reads??Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, [2] fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.?
If these have made it to Heaven, and have made a GRAND Finale?, then why not you?!
If countless number have crossed the ?finish line?, then why can I?!
-With, God?s help, and by His grace we CAN and we WILL!!!
We just need a ?stick-to-itive-ness?!!!
Hebrews 10:36
?For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.?
-Endurance is what wins the race!
ILLUSTRATION:
Like the story of the Tortoise and the Hare?
-?Slow and Steady, wins the race!?
James 1:3-4
??knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [4] And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.?
Romans 5:3-5
?And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; [4] and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; [5] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.?
My friends?rejoice at the hope that you and I have in Christ!
For ONE DAY?if we endure?we will have a GRAND FINALE; like never known to us before!
-Because I don?t just want to come to an end, but I want to come to an end with Christ giving great rewards for labors done in His name!
-And I pray you want the same as well!
-Because those rewards will be all given back to Jesus?and are done for His name?s sake anyhow!!!
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But, maybe you are saying?I have already messed things up! How can I ever have a GRAND Finale? in my life now? I have really ruined it for myself!!!
Have you heard of Samson???
Turn to Judges 16 where we can read of the story of Samson and Delilah?
We know of Samson?how he had this Nazarite vow with God, that if he did not shave his head, then the Lord would be with him and that is where he found his great strength in the Lord?
-But Delilah wanted to know how he was so strong?
-We know how the story goes?he toys with the temptation to give his secret away?and then he does, and he is seized by the Philistines?
-Then, one day while the Philistines were living it up and wanted some amusement?they decided to bring Samson out so that He might make them laugh.
He asks to be placed next to the pillars of the building so that he might steady himself?
A ton of Philistines were there?3000 men and women?rulers of the Philistines?
Then Samson prays a prayer of repentance, dedication, and victory?
Judges 16:28-30
?Then Samson called to the Lord and said, "O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God, that I may at once be avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." [29] And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and braced himself against them, the one with his right hand and the other with his left. [30] And Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he bent with all his might so that the house fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he killed in his life.?
That is a GRAND Finale? if I ever read one!!!
-It really brought the house down!!! J
But, you think that you could never do that?With GOD?S help, you CAN DO anything!!!!
And you to can STILL have a GRAND Finale? in life!
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Yeah, Sure?you have made a few mistakes, but God is a God of second chances!!!
Maybe you feel as though He would never want you back?but you know what? He DOES!!!
Remember the Prodigal Son?
-The dad never chased his son down, but he was waiting right there for his son when he came home?
-And your Heavenly Father has arms opened wide awaiting your return as well?all so that you can have a GRAND Finale? as well!!!
IN CONCLUSION:
Friends, our opening text is Paul?s dialogue to the reader, as he knows that his time is coming to a close?
He knows that he is walking towards his GRAND Finale?, and that he has done ALL that he should do?and he had completed his course as he should have?
-Could you say that today?
-If you knew that today was your last day on this earth, would you be able to say that you have served the Lord with your ALL?
-Would there be a GRAND Finale??
ILLUSTRATION:
A grand finale? is at the end of a play, musical, or any even?
It is something that is so wonderful that you never want it to end?you want it to just keep going and going and going?
-Well, that is just how I want to live my life?
-To the effect that it is sooo wonderfully lived out for the Lord, that it is desired more and more to be seen?
As we draw 2002 to a close?is it a GRAND Finale? for you???
Maybe, you are hoping that 2003 will be your GRAND Finale??
-More importantly?when you draw your last breath?will there be a GRAND Finale?
-Will your life be a model of Godliness and Holiness that was lived out for the Lord?s Glory???
Are you on course for a GRAND Finale??.or do you need to get on course???
How do we do it???
Make your decision to do so?follow-through?and complete the task!!!!
ALTAR CALL:
Salvation?
Fresh Commitment?and able to see it through to completion?.
Just need God?s strength to carry on?learn how to tap into HIM!
