FINISHING WELL (Part 2) by Charles C. Elliott
I ran out of time in our last session, so we will finish up in this session today…..
2Timothy 4:5 Be vigilant in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of your ministry. v6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. v7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”.
In the final analysis, what is it that will be said about our God given assignment, which is the life God has given us to make a difference while we are on this earth. Completing that assignment we have been given, and completing it well, is determined by our gifts, our circle of influence, and our life choices….
It is unique and different for each one of us, but for all of us, the challenge is to be able to say with Paul….
“I have fought a good fight I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”….
A good fight is when we recognize who the real enemy is, and when we use the weapons of spiritual warfare we have been given to defeat Him. The enemy is not our spouse, our children, our parents, our boss, our neighbor, or the one who offended us, treated us unjustly, or gossiped about us….it is the accuser and the destroyer, Satan.
Paul goes on to say…. Galatians 5:7 “You began to run well; who did hinder you that you should not continue to obey the truth? v8 This persuasion has not come from the One that called you”.
We said last week that Jesus finished the work that He had come to do, and now His “finishing” anointing is available to every one of us….
Jesus is the Christ and in the Greek, it is (Christos.. which means the anointed One and His anointed) Jesus is anointed as the author and the finisher, a good beginning and a good ending and that anointing is ours as well….so that we can finish well in our lives!
We can all tap into that anointing of the anointed one, not only to begin well, but be anointed finishers!
Matthew 24:13 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved (Sode-zo….to be loaded with healing, preservation, wholeness and wellness, lacking in nothing)”. I like that, not only to be healed, but to be “loaded” with healing wholeness, wellness and sufficiency!
We will begin part 2, by looking at FIVE KEYS TO FINISHING WELL…..(five is the number of redemption) I closed last week with the first key…..
1st key to finishing well: Fulfill your ministry… You are your ministry…Wherever you are, you ae there….Do what God has told you faithfully, with determination, dedication and integrity. Do it until he gives you something else to do. Be 100% where you are while you’re there and be as passionate as you can be about it! You’ll never sell anyone else on a product if they aren’t convinced that you are completely sold on it yourself!
Luke 14:23 “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel (ang'-kis-tron….be the hook, be the influence, be the motivation, be the force for them) to come in, that my house may be filled”.
Is our Christianity contagious, attractive, desirable and marketable? When is the last time someone watched your life and said “whatever you have, I want it”? Jesus said that our lives should compel folks around us….look at His words ….
Matthew 5:14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill which cannot be hid. v15 For men do not light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but it is placed on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house. v16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”.
Your supply is attached to the God ordained vision which He has placed in your heart as the guiding force in your life…..It is your gyroscope, your compass and your north star….of guidance and provision….
John 4:34 Jesus said "My food, (my supply, my nourishment and my sustenance) is to do the will of Him who has sent Me and to finish His work”.
We are not just finishing our thing, but we are finishing what He has begun, by being His presence in the earth!
2nd key to finishing well: Keep Fighting the Good fight…. You don’t have to fight all the battles…..Pick your fights, and make sure you’re fighting the right ones for the right reasons! My mamma told me, “don’t try to win them all, but win the ones you pick” When you fight with courage, grace and dignity, you’ll always be the winner in the eyes of God!
2 Chronicles 20:17 God told Jehoshaphat…”You shall not need to fight in this battle: prepare yourselves, stand still, and see that the salvation of the LORD with you. Fear not, nor be dismayed. At the right time, you shall go out against them: for the LORD will be with you”.
I want to share with you, Nine Strategies to Help You Avoid Fighting Unnecessary Battles…because if you succeed, you will have to fight….
1. Don't fight over something that's none of your business, or that you can't do anything about. The outcome of some things is already decided and all you’ll do sometimes is get in the way and muddy the waters….
2. Think about the consequences of the argument. Is the aggravation, the stress and the repercussions really worth it? How many times do we win a battle and lose the war!
3. Determine what the conflict is really all about (are you really angry that your spouse takes a long time getting ready, or is it that you feel she's disrespectful for making you wait?). Once you determine what the conflict is actually about, then decide if it's worth bringing up. If it is, be sure to address the real issues, not the superficial, emotional one. How often do conflicts start because of something that has nothing to do with what is happening at the moment, but it’s a carry-over from a previous conflict or disagreement! So you’re really just finishing a previous argument!
4. Make sure the argument is going to solve something. Make it a win, win situation… hopefully, with no losers… Kenny Rogers’ advice is … “you’ve got to know when to hold up, know when to fold up, know when to walk away, know when to run”!!!
A lady was bitten by a dog and she had the dog taken in and checked to see if it had rabbis. The report revealed that the dog actually did have rabbis, and the lady took a sheet of paper and began to write down names. *…The Doctor said, Mam, you don’t have to write your will, this is not fatal, it’s very treatable. The woman said, oh, I know that, I’m making a list of all the folks I’m going to bite, before I get treated!
5. Don't fight just because you "feel you've been challenged." This is all about control. Someone has dared to enter your space without your permission and your response may be that you have to defend your space…. Most of the time just saying you’re sorry, is enough, and you both go on your way… an apology is the best strategy unless you’re just looking for a fight…..and then, you better know what you’re doing!
6. Ask yourself, "Is it really a big deal?" Chances are that it's not. And chances are that you or the other person is tired, had a bad day, or got some bad news, and this has caused some venting on someone else….
7. Realize that you don't always have to have the last word, and often it takes the "bigger person" to simply let the conflict go. Don’t be a right fighter, but instead, it’s OK to let someone else win one, sometimes….Has anyone heard the term “Silence is golden”????
8. Ask yourself, "Am I really right? And does it matter if I'm right? Is there really a 'right or wrong' for this issue?" How often does conflict occur simply because of someone misunderstanding someone, or judging the situation improperly… to err is human, to forgive is divine!
9. Is this an issue you'll remember in five years…. Or in one year or six months, even? If not, don't fight it. It’s a lot easier to live with a good memory than a bad one, so choose to make good ones that you’ll enjoy looking back on…There’s already too much negativity in our lives without creating more!!! Make sure you put an expiration date on all your fights!!
The 3rd key to finishing well: Run YOUR race with JOY …. Happiness is shallow and it is about what’s happening around you…. If you go by that, there’s always plenty of reasons to say it’s a bad day…. But check this out…(I’ve shared this before, but it goes well with this subject…)
You Know It's Going To Be A Rotten Day When... You call suicide prevention and they put you on hold. Your twin forgot your birthday.
Your car horn gets stuck and goes off accidentally as you follow a group of Hell's Angles down the street. Your birthday candles set off a 3 alarm signal at the fire department. The bird singing outside your window is a hungry buzzard. You wake up and your dental braces are locked tight together. You call your answering service and they tell you it's none of your business. You go to the bank, and Your income tax check bounces.
HEY!!! With all that, you are still told by Jesus to rejoice in all things!!!
Paul tells us… Acts 20:24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life (reputation, rights, perspective) dear to myself, or (as more important than I should) so that I may finish my race with joy…… In other words, “stop taking yourself so seriously”!... “Loosen Up”!... “Stop Stress’n’
4th key to finishing well: Keep On Keeping the faith – There is no room for compromise. Our dreams cannot be put up for bid on the auction block…If you understand your value, you will never surrender your dreams.
The world was amazed at the golden announcer’s voice of Ted Williams a homeless man, who let drugs and alcohol bring him down, and shatter
his dreams. With his sudden fame, contracts and appearances began to come from everywhere, and with his dream within his grasp… He was unwilling to walk away from the destructive relationships and negative patterns that were committed to drag him down again! (a dream without character, is like a car with no gas. It has all the equipment, but no power)
Someone has said that our gifts can take us places that our un- developed and untrained character cannot sustain us….. How true it is!
The fruit of the Spirit is just another name for character…..
5th key to finishing well: Focus on your future…. Matthew 5:10-12 “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.”
A king proposed a series of contests and the winner would be able to choose some incredible prizes… When the winner was announced, he was given the choice of being made a duke, with lands and estates, receiving fabulous riches, or being married to the King’s daughter… the winner chose the king’s daughter, because he knew, if he married the daughter, that all the rest would be his as well!
When we understand that being the child of the great king, gives us everything else, we won’t lose sight of the finish line that is ahead for us! We won’t be willing to compromise, or become distracted. Our parade will not be stopped because all the dogs around us are barking!
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. v19 Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: v20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, Amen. (so be it).
Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” (Oh the blessing of consistency!)
From this Scripture we can conclude that:
1. Anything Jesus has done before He can do again. 2. Anything Jesus has done anywhere in the world, He can do here. 3. Anything He is doing for anyone else, He can do for you and me (because He is no respecter of persons) (Acts 10:43).
When Jesus was on the earth He was operating in the power of the Spirit and in the book of Acts His followers operated in the same power.
Jesus stated what He was going to do in Luke 4:18-19 when He said the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and He was anointed to....
1. preach the gospel to the poor 2.To heal the brokenhearted 3.To preach deliverance to the captives 4.The recovering of sight to the blind 5. To set at liberty them that are bruised 6.To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (That’s a description of our mission while on this earth)
When He had finished stating what He was going to do He said…
Luke 10:19-20 “Behold, I give unto you (My)…… MY POWER!”
The bible says that If we were to try to explain all that Jesus did, it would fill up more books than all the books on earth could contain, nor could all the heavens, contain it all, if it were a scroll.
Jesus performed many types of healings… (fever, leprosy, paralysis, withered hand, blindness, the deaf, the maimed, internal bleeding, epilepsy, and casting out demons.) As a grand finale, each stripe that He took on his back was for a category of diseases plaguing mankind and He is still healing today!!! (tell someone that)
He supplied needs by supernaturally feeding the hungry on five different occasions; He provided tax money; He stood in the boat and calmed the storm, He walked on water, and He prophesied into their lives. What an awesome promise He made when He said to all believers….
John 14:12 “Greater works than these shall you do also”
He did His miracles anywhere and everywhere; weddings, funerals, graveyards, synagogues, houses, mountains, downtown, in the country side, at pools, and deserts. There are places we can allow Him to use us!
How did He perform miracles?....In every way possible… He prayed, He touched, He was touched by others, He wept, He groaned, He died, but always, He was moved with compassion. If we can touch, if we can weep, or groan or be moved with compassion over the needs in this world? Then we can finish and complete what He started in our time here.
He gave what was needed….He gave Moses a rod. He gave Elijah a mantle. To Samson, He gave long hair, which was his covenant of strength… to Shamgar, He supplied a jawbone, to David He provided a sling and a harp, Esther had her beauty, and Joseph had his dreams. What are we doing with what God has given us, to show His glory?
Moses had a stammering tongue, Jacob had a limp, Abraham was old, Sarah was barren, Peter had a temper… they all had things to overcome, but they believed the message that is given to us all….
Philipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”…..We all have the ability to say what He says. • We can do what He tells us to do. • The only hands He has to use are our hands. • The only mouth He has to use is our mouth. • The only faith He has to use on earth is our faith. • He has not changed, and He is the same. • We have the same message. • We have the same Jesus. • We have the same power that was available to all of them.
A seven-year-old boy was given a school assignment, to write about the secret of life… He approached an old man sitting in front of a garden pool, he looked up into his eyes, and said: "My mommy said that you're a very wise man, could you tell me, what is the secret of life?" The old man looked down at the youngster and replied: "I've thought a lot about that, in my lifetime, and the secret can be summed up in four words: He said….
1) The first is "Think." Think about values you wish to live your life by.
2) The second is "Believe." Believe in yourself based on what you've done about the values you're going to live your life by.
3) The third is "Dream." Dream about the things that are possible, based on your belief in yourself and the values you're going to live by.
4) The last is "Dare." Dare to make your dreams become reality, based upon your belief in yourself and your values.
And with that, Walt Disney repeated the words to the little boy, that he had used all his life…."Think, Believe, Dream, and Dare."
How will we see our life’s journey at the end? Will we wish we had time to do it over again, to witness to folks around us more, to take greater advantage of the opportunities we had, to be a better friend, perhaps, a more energetic encourager and a more dedicated example for God before the world, or perhaps we got distracted from the dream and somewhere along the way, the vision got lost or we forgot what it was really all about….or will we be able to say, “I have no regrets; I have fought a good fight, I’ve run a good race….I have finished well?”
I want to have us agree together that God can and will resurrect, recapture, restore dreams, and usher us into new beginnings in this place starting right now, today!
God is bigger than your past, He is more powerful than your pain, He is stronger than your anger, He is greater than your fear, He is deeper than your scars, and He has overcome this world, so that you can overcome it, as He lives Big in You today!!
Jeremiah 30:17 “But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, says the Lord”….
Our Prayer Today….is a dangerous prayer, and it will mean that some new things are coming, and it may not always be easy but it will always be worth it!!!
“Lord Jesus, may I come to understand, that blessings are everywhere, if I will choose to look for them. May I know that my attitude will affect the outcomes which I expect and that challenges are often gifts that You have sent to me in disguise. May I trust that most things will get better and improve with time, because I will not be the person then, that I am right now. Because of the Holy Spirit, who dwells in me, I can trust that my instincts & gut feelings have value, and are an extension of Your stirrings within me.
Lord, Your word gives me assurance that a positive attitude based on Your character of mercy, grace and love, will always cause everything to go smoother because You are working things out for my good and Your glory, every moment in my life. May I come to See that you have placed me in Your body with skills & talents that You can use, to be a positive influence on many people. May I come to value each moment of every day because each is a blessing to be enjoyed and may I value each person as unique & important to You.
Jesus, thank you that each moment of my life has meaning and purpose, far beyond what I can see and understand at any given time. May my spirit be open and accepting, of those things which I might not otherwise understand or accept. Renew my spirit with each opportunity and challenge that expands my skills and awareness, opening up areas and abilities in me as I move through each new experience. I seek to walk in Your blessing and favor as I move into the future You have chosen for me. Allow me see and grasp the possibilities which arise each day. I greet whatever awaits with vibrant faith and unending joy.
I realize that at times I must forsake the comfortable and familiar, in my quest for the best, for you have made my life, an adventure of discovery and you have gone before me to prepare all my tomorrows with the blessing of new places, new things, new friends, new opportunities, and new challenges.. Let me fully appreciate and receive them all, in Your time and choosing, and I thank You Father, in Jesus name, Amen”.
