Sermon Central
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Be A Finisher
Contributed by Lowell Hochhalter on May 14, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Students are challenged to FINISH their faith. Plan to finish, Finish Strong, and To Finish with excellence
Be A Finisher
FINISHERS:
Plan to Finish
2Timothy 4
[7] I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. [8] And now the prize awaits me the crown of righteousness
Paul knew his purpose he knew what it was going to take to complete what
had been started in his life.
Even to the final minutes of his life, on the eve of his execution he was still changing of both the people that were close to him and the lives of those he would never meet.
We must determine that we will finish out our destiny. A racer is never done until he has crossed the finish line. Win or lose, we must finish.
A man from a small African country, had a dream to represent his country in the Olympics. He trained hard to prove his worthiness to his fellow countrymen as a representative of their country. Finally, they gave him their approval, and he went to the Olympic Games in Atlanta GA as a marathon runner.
All of the wonderful activities were enjoyed, and finally his race day game. Along with hundreds of racers from other countries this gentleman lined up. At that point he had gotten farther than anyone else from his country. The race began and on the hot pavement the runners ran, step after step. One hour into the race, there were some racers who were already 1/2 way through the 26.2 mile race. This African man was behind the pack. Not just a little ways back either. In 2 hours plus a few minutes, the winner crossed the finish line. As the time got later, still this man continued to run. The crowds had long ago gone home. He continued to run, almost as if he thought he had a chance to win.
Finally, minutes before the time limit, he crossed the finish line, hands raised in victory!
Some reporters later asked him why he didn’t quit. He replied, "I am the first athlete from my country, and when I ran, I ran for them, not just myself. When they sent me here, they sent me NOT to only start the race, but to finish.
We are all great starters. We all can think of a project that we started and it still sits unfinished. We must finish what we were sent here to do.
Finish Strong
14¡†As Samson arrived at Lehi, the Philistines came shouting in triumph. But the Spirit of the LORD powerfully took control of Samson, and he snapped the ropes on his arms as if they were burnt strands of flax, and they fell from his wrists. Ë
15¡†Then he picked up a donkey’s jawbone that was lying on the ground and killed a thousand Philistines with it.
16¡†And Samson said,
With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve made heaps on heaps!
With the jawbone of a donkey,
I’ve killed a thousand men!
17¡†When he finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone; and the place was named Jawbone Hill
Jawbone Hill,... That sounds like it belongs in Montana.
1000 men, that is pretty unbelievable. With the jawbone of a donkey!
I want to challenge us today, that we cannot afford to be status quo. We must allow God to complete, the good work that He began in us. That good work?
Perfection.
We must finish with as much strength, fervor, excitement, energy, and passion as we started.
Finish With Excellence
Hebrews
let us strip off every weight that slows us down,
especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. 2¡†
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus
, on whom our faith depends from start to finish
Sampson was a powerful man. He accomplished some incredible feats! Except, he held on to issues in his life and in his heart that held him back from finishing strong.
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.
My purpose
is to give life in all its fullness.
The NIV says it this way, "that they might have life, and have life to the fullest."
Jesus spoke these words before he face the cross. The reason I came!
Now let’s look at the Lord as he hung on the cross.
When Jesus had tasted it, he said, it is finished! Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
What was finished? His purpose!
Today we have two choices,
1. To finish
2. To finish with excellence!
ILLUSTRATION:
Derek Redman- Barcelona Olympic Games 4OOm
