Unfinished: How To Finish Well

2016-10-23 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Memory Verse:
2 Timothy 4:18 NKJV
And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!
2 Tim. 4:6 NKJV
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 9 Be diligent to come to me quickly; 10 for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry. 12 And Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. 15 You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. 16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! 19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed in Corinth, but Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick. 21 Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren. 22 The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.

How To Finish Well
1. Walk worthy

v7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

– each of us have the opportunity to be just as successful as Paul
– Finishing well has less to do with what is in the past and everything to do with what’s in your future
2. Look up

v8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

– There is no doubt that God rewards those who have served faithfully
– To “love His appearing” means to to live our lives according to His principles
– To “make Him proud”
3. Stand strong even if you must stand alone

v10-11a for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me…

v16a At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me…

– At times, it may feel as if you are all alone, serve Him anyway
4. Forgive often

v16b …May it not be charged against them.

Luke 23:34 Father forgive them…

– Sometimes, our potential to finish well is impeded because of our lack of a forgiving spirit
– Even when we are wronged, Jesus encourages us to “turn the other cheek”
– Why? To reflect the 1 Cor. 13 type of love of Christ
5. Never quit

v17-18a But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom.

– Paul finished well because he knew God was with him
– “so that the message might be preached fully through me”
– Interesting that Paul makes this statement in light of what he knew was coming
– Paul didn’t see his “deliverance” from the world but rather he saw it from the Heavenly perspective