Will You Finish Well?

13 Jul Will You Finish Well?

Posted at 15:18h in English Service, Featured by

Pastor Vincent - 19 December 2013

Run In Such A Way To Get The Prize

An important message to wrap up 2013, giving us important prayer topics for the coming 2014. May we aim for the crown that last forever - not out of conscience, courage nor responsibilities, rather, it's God's children being made courageous by deeply comprehending the Holy Spirit and how it works beyond ourselves. Not because we are able, it's because God has made it able for those whom He loves. What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel. Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (1 Corinthians 9:18-27 NIV)

Related Topics: Prayer | More Messages from Pastor Vincent

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Are we doing well?

1) Am I closer to God than half a year ago?

2) Have I allowed any weakness or sin to fester without dealing with it?

3) How have I stretched my faith this year?

4) How about my relationships with others?

 

Obstacles to finishing well:

  • <Heb 12:1> “…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us”

1) Sin.

  • “Fruitfulness” ≠ Holiness
  • Holiness > Outcomes
  • Battle sin
  • Don’t hide

2) “Everything that hinders”.

  • May not be outright sin
  • Complacency
  • Indifference
  • Laziness

 

How can we finish well then?

1) The grace of God above all else.

  • <1 Co 15:10> But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

2) Daily “uncompromised” time with God.

  • Usually fall not suddenly but bit by bit.
  • Daily doses of God’s word and intimate prayers.

3) Offer ourselves as daily living sacrifices to God.

  • The power to do so comes from remembering God’s mercy on us.

4) The support of the body of Christ. 

  • <2 Ti 2:22> “Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.”

5) Always carry an eternal perspective.

  • Learn to number our days <Ps 90:12>, so that we can live wisely.

Two Sauls: 
King Saul- Started well, ended bad
Saul/Paul-Bad start, finished well

“It is more important to finish well than to start well.”

“No one finishes well by accident, it comes with prayerful, deliberate efforts.”

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Preacher Hui Jun
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Huijun serves as Secretary of The Blessed RUN Ministries. She is also the Preacher at The Life Church and Missions (Singapore). She graduated from Singapore Bible College and currently lives in Singapore with her husband, Chengji.

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