FINISHING STRONG.

 

STUDY I

The end of a matter is better than its beginning; 

Ecc 7:8

The preacher tells us that the way we finish any matter is of far more importance that the way we begun it. In the same way, even for the Christian journey; the way we finish our Christian race is far more important than the way we start. 

We must be very much more interested in finishing well in our walk with God.

Paul said that his desire was to finish with joy the course of his life. Acts 20:24. This also must be our desire, to finish with joy the race and course that God has for us. As we all know, in the racing competition, especially the long distance races such as the cross country, there are multitudes who join the race in the beginning but majority of them drop out of the race and only a few of them finish, and it's only those who finish well that are recognised. There is no award for those who never finished.

Even in college and universities, numerous students join to study different courses but some drop out. During graduation ceremony, only those who finish the course are awarded the certificates. There is no certificate for those who joined then dropped out.

Paul asks, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.

So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.

but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

1Cor 9:24-27

Paul explained that unless he disciplined his body to do what it should not and not what it wants to do, he would be disqualified. He explains what he means by being disqualifed in chapter 10:1-13,

He gives the example of the children of Israel who God brought out of Egypt to take them to the promised land. They were many who came out of Egypt but only two of them reached the promised land.

In the same way, there are many people who get born again but backslide along the way.

Peter warns and says, For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. It would be better if they had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the command they were given to live a holy life.

They prove the truth of this proverb: “A dog returns to its vomit.” And another says, “A washed pig returns to the mud.”

2Pet 2:20-22

Paul warns that many will fall from the faith. You cannot fall from where you had not ascended first.

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 1Tim 4:1

Jesus warned that the love of many would grow cold

Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. Mat 24:12

Both in Peter and Mathew, the context is talking about false prophets. 

Not every preacher on TV or radio is of God. Not everyone who performs miracles is of God. Jesus said that we should not believe every spirit but test them to see whether they are of God. 1John 4:1

The context of the quoted verses above show us that the reason many will not finish well is because that will be listening to false preachers.

Man's problem with God is not money but sin. Jesus died for sin. He came to call sinners to repentance.

All the workers of iniquity in the last day they will be thrown in hell, even if they were preachers and performed miracles and did many wonderful things. Mat 7:21-23, Luke 13:27.

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our learning, ...Rom 15:4

The scriptures are to teach us, warn us, correct us, rebuke us. 2Tim 3:16

In these studies we will look at examples of men in scriptures who finished well, and those who fell and a lesson for our lives to help us finish well in our Christian journey.

God who helped others finish well is willing also to uphold to and help you and I to finish well. He is more interested and eager for us to finishing well that we are interested and eager to.

He is willing to give us all the resources we need to be able to finish well if we will seek Him. He will give us all the encouragement, all the warnings, all the wisdom, all the knowledge, all the discernment, all the fellowship of brethren, and everything else we'll ever need to finish well, if we seek Him wholeheartedly about it all the days of our pilgrimage.

You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo