Welcome And Paul’s Finish Line

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Hello and welcome to the West Side Church's special podcast.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to speak to you this morning. This is such a great weekend, and I never want to take for granted the opportunity to be a part of it. And I'd be remiss if I failed to thank those of you who emailed or texted and said that you were praying for my efforts this weekend. I have been blessed by your prayers. I don't take that for granted, and I hope to be a blessing to you this morning. In 2 Timothy chapter 4, beginning in verse 6, for I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. In a lot of ways, I have the easiest of the speaking opportunities this weekend. I look over here and there are no young people. And so that makes it easy because young people, they have a lot of things to worry about. They worry about being able to obey God. They worry about whether they're going to find the right job, whether they're going to find the right person to marry. And once they do that, they worry about raising kids and building lives. You know what people my age and older worry about? Okay, they worry about some regular things too, like having enough money for retirement. But for the most part, when I talk to older Christians, they worry about finishing. Can I make it? Can I serve God to the end? Can I do what Paul's talking about right here? That's what we want, isn't it? To get to the end, to be able to say, I finished the race, I kept the faith. But then we look at the life of Paul and we think, wow, I'm not Paul. I don't know if I can do that. And I sure don't know if I have that kind of confidence. And the problem with that kind of thinking is that it makes Paul out to be some kind of Superman. Paul's not Superman. What Paul is, is a Christian who finished. And what I want to tell you this morning is that you can finish too. So I want to talk to you about four areas that I think prove that you can finish. And I also want to issue four challenges so that you can be more certain about finishing. And what I hope you'll see is that you don't have to be Superman to do it. And that begins with the knowledge that you can finish because it's expected.

God Expects You To Finish

SPEAKER_01 3:34

And I don't say that flippantly, but when God says you need to finish, he expects that's something you can do. That's the point of the ending of Hebrews chapter 10. If you'll turn there, Hebrews chapter 10, beginning in verse 35. Hebrews 10, verse 35, therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward, for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised. For yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay. But my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. The writer says there's an expectation that you're going to endure to the end. And then he follows that up with that chapter on faith and talks about all of those people to encourage us. And then in chapter 12, he finishes up that discussion in verse 1. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Over and over, the scriptures teach us that God expects us to finish. Look at Galatians. Galatians chapter 6. In Galatians chapter 6, in the midst of a discussion about helping one another, in Galatians chapter 6 and verse 9, Paul says this, and let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up. When Paul says things like, if we don't give up, or if you are standing fast in the Lord, what he means is, don't give up. Because he expects that you'll continue, that you'll keep on, that you will finish. And Jesus expects it too. In Revelation chapter 2. Revelation 2, beginning in verse 10. Revelation 2 and verse 10. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. Be faithful unto death. Yes, it may be difficult sometimes. Yes, there may be persecution, but Jesus expects that you will finish.

Challenge One: Examine Your Walk

SPEAKER_01 6:36

So are you ready for that first challenge? It too comes from the pen of Paul. 2 Corinthians chapter 13. 2 Corinthians 13 and verse 5. There Paul says, examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves, or do you not realize this about yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you fail to meet the test. This week, sit down with your Bible and evaluate where you are in your walk with Christ. Look at your attitude in worship. Look at the time that you spend in God's word. And we've said it a thousand times. That's the only way that you're going to get to know the mind of God. Look at your prayer life. Look at what you're doing to encourage others. Evaluate everything about your walk with Him. Here's what I think you're going to find there's going to be some areas where you are just crushing it. And then there's going to be some areas where you need some improvement. And what you need to do is look at those areas where you're crushing it and see how you can apply that mindset to the areas that need improvement. And then work on those areas so that you can finish. Because God expects you to finish.

Others Have Finished Before You

SPEAKER_01 8:11

But the second reason that I know you can finish is that others have done it. That's what our text in 2 Timothy 4 is about, isn't it? Paul says, I've done it. I've finished. That's not a brag. That's not a boast. He's encouraging Timothy. Earlier in the chapter, he's urging Timothy to keep at it, to endure, to do the work. And then he says, I've done it. Don't you know when Timothy got that letter? He could picture in his mind Paul preaching, encouraging, suffering persecution. Maybe he thought about how Paul was writing this from prison, facing execution. And Timothy would have known that, yes, Paul finished, and he would have been encouraged. In Acts chapter 6, we find the story of Stephen. Some men were disputing with Stephen, and they were unable to overcome his wisdom and his spirit. And so they get false accusers to come up against him. And in Acts chapter 7 and verse 1, the high priest asked him, Are these things so? And Stephen responds by preaching a stunning sermon about the disobedience of Israel. And the result of that sermon in verse 54 of chapter 7. Now when they heard these things, they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this sin against them. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. No, it was not pretty. But Stephen finished, didn't he? And later on, the church would be encouraged by the finishing of Stephen. We spent a lot of time this weekend in Hebrews 11. So let's go there one more time. Hebrews chapter 11. And I want to look at verse 20. Hebrews 11 and verse 20. By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith, Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the Exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. You know, it occurred to me, the Hebrew writer could have said any number of great things about Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. By faith, Isaac built an altar at Beersheba and worshiped God. Or by faith Jacob wrestled with God. Or by faith Joseph endured prison. He didn't say any of those things. What did he say? Those great patriarchs are praised in this chapter on faith because they finished. By faith, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph finished. And the truth is, you know people, you have people in your lives who finished too.

Challenge Two: Remember Faithful Examples

SPEAKER_01 12:10

So our second challenge is a simple one. Take some time this week to recall and to reflect on those you know who have finished. For me, that's pretty easy. When I began serving as a shepherd here, there were already three men in place who were serving. And they had served this church faithfully. Two of those men, and it should be pointed out, their good wives, have gone on to their reward. They finished. So I'm encouraged when I think about dad and mom, or I think about Hoot and Pat, because they finished. But it's not just them. Let me share a story with you. Way back in the early 1960s, a preacher by the name of Roy Fouts held a gospel meeting here at Westside. Now, I was just a baby, so I don't remember anything about this. But on Friday night of that gospel meeting, Roy Fouts said something that resonated with Buddy McGowan, who went on to serve this church as a shepherd for many years. And Brother McGowan, whenever he had the announcements, he would repeat to us what Brother Fouts had said. And he would say, and many of you remember this, if you're not ready to meet the Lord, you better get ready and stay ready. Now the point of that is this. Roy Fouts and Buddy McGowan have long since gone on to their reward. They finished. But their lives still speak and still encourage me to this day. That's why we need to recall others who have finished. Because their lives encourage us to finish.

Friends Who Bring You To Jesus

SPEAKER_01 14:15

And the third reason I know that you can finish is that others will help you. Look at Mark the second chapter. Mark chapter 2, beginning in verse 1. And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home, and many were gathered together so that there was no more room, not even at the door, and he was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven. Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts, Why does this man speak like this? He's blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God alone? And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, Why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, take up your bed and walk. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he said to the paralytic, I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, We never saw anything like this. When we read this passage, we often focus, understandably, on the paralyzed man. Or we focus on the poor attitude of the scribes, or more importantly, most importantly, on the power of Jesus to forgive sins. But there's one more thing that ought to get our attention. In verse 5, when Jesus saw their faith, these four guys had enough faith in Jesus to bring their friend. And their friend is blessed by the forgiveness of his sins and by the healing of his paralysis. That's the kind of friends that he had. We find some other friends like that in John chapter 1. John chapter 1, beginning in verse 40. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found the Messiah, which means Christ. He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, So you are Simon, son of John. You shall be called Cephas, which means Peter. The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, Follow me. Now Philip was from Beth Seda, the city of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. Nathanael said to him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see. What I love about this passage is that both Andrew and Philip plan to follow Jesus, but not before they go and tell others about him. Think especially about Andrew. Where would the spread of the gospel have been without Andrew bringing Peter to Christ? But it's not just people who bring others to Christ. Look at Acts chapter 4. In Acts chapter 4, beginning in verse 36. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas, which means son of encouragement, a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet. Chapter 9. Chapter 9 and verse 26. Speaking of Paul, and when he had come to Jerusalem, he attempted to join the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. Now chapter 11. Chapter eleven and verse 22. The report of this, the spread of the gospel to Antioch, the report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose. For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people, and in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. Barnabas does go out and preach and convert others to Christ. But most of what is said about Barnabas is about him encouraging those who are already Christians. And if Andrew is important for bringing Peter to Christ, think how important Barnabas is for encouraging the early Christian life of Paul. Barnabas is that guy who's always building up his brothers and sisters. He would have been here standing today saying, of course you can finish. Of course you can finish. So think about it. The paralyzed man is obviously very happy. Luke tells us in his account that the man went on his way, glorifying God. But don't you know that every morning when he stood on those legs that had been useless to him, he remembered and was thankful for those four friends who brought him to Jesus? Four guys who gave him the greatest gift he'd ever received. Or Peter, when he thought about all that Jesus had done in his life. Don't you know he was thankful for his brother Andrew? Or Paul, as he looked back on his life. Don't you think he was grateful for Barnabas, who stood beside him when it was hard, and who encouraged him to preach to others?

Challenge Three: Thank Your Barnabas

SPEAKER_01 21:04

For our third challenge, then, I'm going to insist that you do this one today. This afternoon, I want you to thank the person who brought you to Jesus. Call them up, send them a note, talk to them face to face, whatever you're able to do, just thank them. Now I'm aware that for a lot of us, that may be impossible. My parents brought me to Jesus, and they're both gone. And that may be the same for some of you. However, you're not off the hook. You have a barnabus in your life. More than likely, you have several. Maybe it's somebody who encouraged you when you were obeyed in Christ. Maybe they encouraged you at a particularly Difficult time. Maybe they just encourage you to use your talents for God to thank them. And after that, you spend some time in prayer and you thank God for whoever brought you to Jesus and for those who encouraged you. Because of them, you can finish. And finally, I want you to consider one more thing as you strive to finish.

God’s Power To Get You Home

SPEAKER_01 22:30

And I want to read three passages without much comment, and then we'll talk about what they mean. In Genesis chapter 1, Genesis 1, beginning in verse 1. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light, and there was light. And God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And there was evening and there was morning the first day. Skip down to verse nine. And God said, Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let dry land appear, and it was so. Verse eleven, and God said, Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit, which is in which is their seed, each according to its kind on the earth, and it was so. Verse fourteen, and God said, Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth, and it was so. Verse 24. And God said, Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds, livestock and creeping things, and beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and it was so. Now turn to Exodus chapter 14. Exodus 14, beginning in verse 13. Here as the Israelites have reached the Red Sea and are pursued by the army of Egypt. Exodus 14, verse 13. And Moses said to the people, Fear not, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent. Verse 21. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided, and the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the Lord, in the pillar of fire and of cloud, looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, Let us flee before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians. Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians upon their chariots and upon their horsemen. So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, the Lord threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea. The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained. And finally, turn to Luke chapter 24. Luke 24 and verse 1. But on the first day of the week at early dawn they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared, and they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. But when they went in and did not find the body of Jesus, while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said, Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise. And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary, the mother of James, and the old the other women who were with them who told these things to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves, and he went home marveling at what had happened. Now, what do these passages mean in regard to finishing the race? Only this. We serve a God who created the universe and all that is in it. He created light, he created land, he created plants, he created stars, he created animals, he created you. Do you really think the God who created everything can't deliver you to the finish? Do you really think that the God who parted the Red Sea, who destroyed the greatest army in the known world, and then did it again with the Assyrians, and then did it again with the Babylonians, do you really think he can't save you and carry you to the very end? Do you think the God who raised Jesus from the dead, defeating Satan, crushing his only real power, do you think he can't see to it that you can finish? Of course he can. Whatever it is that you think could possibly hold you back from the finish, God can overcome it. God can deliver you. Look at the passage Josh used yesterday in Hebrews chapter 4. Hebrews 4, beginning in verse 14. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. If you seek to finish, is there anything greater than grace to help in time of need? You can finish because God can and will do everything in his power to help you finish.

Challenge Four: Daily Prayer Of Thanks

SPEAKER_01 29:23

Challenge number four is our longest of the four. I want you to spend some time every day this week in prayer. In prayer of thanksgiving to God, who is able to deliver you to the finish. In fact, after you've done that for a week, I hope you'll make it a part of your prayer life from now on. Thanks be to God for helping us finish. Our text this morning is one of the most

Crown Of Righteousness And Closing

SPEAKER_01 30:00

uplifting in all of Scripture. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. The great apostle finished, but don't lose sight of why he finished. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Paul finished because he could see the reward, and he saw that reward for you and me too. And because of what he says here, because it's expected, because others have done it, because others will help you, and because your God can deliver you, I can confidently tell you this morning, you can finish.

SPEAKER_00 31:01

Thanks for listening to the Westside Church of Christ podcast. For more information about Westside, you can connect with us through our website, just Christian.com, and our Facebook page. Our music is from Upbeat.io. That's Upbeat with two feeds, U B E A D, where creators can get previsions. Please share our podcast with other people, and we look forward to seeing you again.