JFC “Finsh Strong”
JFC Sunday Morning • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsTopical message for the new year…It doesn’t matter how you start, but its how you finish a) Many poor examples of starting off wrong, including me. b) Even if you have been making poor choices and not walking as strongly with the Lord, its not too late to change.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction: As I was praying about what to teach, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart that there would be someone who is carrying a heavy weight that needs to lifted today
Introduction: As I was praying about what to teach, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart that there would be someone who is carrying a heavy weight that needs to lifted today
Maybe you didn’t walk as strong with the Lord you may have wanted
Maybe you didn’t walk as strong with the Lord you may have wanted
Maybe you picked up that bad habit that you once swore off
Maybe you picked up that bad habit that you once swore off
a) How many would say they are glad the year is coming to an end?
a) How many would say they are glad the year is coming to an end?
b) The message the Lord has placed on my heart, is it’s not how you start, but its how you finish
b) The message the Lord has placed on my heart, is it’s not how you start, but its how you finish
Many examples throughout the Bible of people who did not start strong
Paul formally known as Saul was a Christian killer
King David was having a bad year when he slept with Bathsheba and then had Uriah killed
Why did God include all the failures of His children to be included in the Bible?
How about the disciples (They all denied Jesus and Peter denied Jesus three times
1. (Matthew 26) The Disciples Desert Jesus
1. (Matthew 26) The Disciples Desert Jesus
As Jesus and His disciples sat down to eat their final Passover Meal together
Matthew 26:21 “While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”
The Disciples begin to ask questions, is it me?
Matthew 26:31 “On the way, Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’”
Matthew 26:33 “Peter declared, “Even if everyone else deserts you, I will never desert you.”
Matthew 26:34 “Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.”
Imagine Jesus in His final hour, and then imagine denying Him over and over, but on the final denial, Jesus locks eyes with Peter as he denies Jesus for the third time
Thank God the story doesn’t end there…
1.1 (John 20-21) Jesus Restores the Disciples
1.1 (John 20-21) Jesus Restores the Disciples
After the resurrection, Jesus goes to the disciples to restore them, not beat them up
John 20:17 ““Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”
This shows Jesus compassion for His beloved disciples. Almost like, “Hey guys, I am okay and so are you”.
How many times did Peter deny Jesus?
John 21:15 “After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.”
For every time that Peter denied Jesus, Jesus gave Peter the same number of opportunities to reaffirm His love
Thank God we serve a merciful Father who doesn’t get rid of us for the mistakes we make.
**The God we serve is merciful and full of grace. He’s willing to forgive, if you are willing to turn from your sin.
As I was praying about what to teach, I felt the Lord impress upon my heart that there would be someone who is carrying a heavy weight that needs to lifted today
My son played his first year of football with the Junior Cats, since he’s not here I can talk about him
When he would miss a tackle or drop the ball, he would do this “Oh Eeyore” type of thing (Drop his shoulders
I tell him to move on to the next play and forget the mistake (The bad play does not define the rest of the game)
**A bad year does not define you**
Introduction to 2 Timothy: Paul writing to his spiritual son in the faith
Introduction to 2 Timothy: Paul writing to his spiritual son in the faith
Paul knew that Timothy would need strength and endurance to fulfill the calling God gave him.
PURPOSE
Ever since Rome had burned in July of A.D. 64, and Nero had blamed the Christians for the fire, it had become dangerous to be a Christian. It was also dangerous to have contact with leaders of the church such as Paul. Consequently many believers, including some of Paul's coworkers, had chosen to seek a much lower profile and become less aggressive in their ministries. Timothy faced the temptation to do the same.
Paul wrote this epistle in order to urge him to remain faithful to his calling and loyal to his father in the faith: Paul. Timothy needed to stand shoulder to shoulder with Paul and the other believers and to continue to preach the Word as he had done.
2. (V1) Be strong through the grace God gives you in Christ
2. (V1) Be strong through the grace God gives you in Christ
a) BE STRONG
Timothy had the need to be strong because remember, It had become dangerous to be a Christian
Paul wrote this epistle in order to urge him to remain faithful to his calling and loyal to his father in the faith: Paul.
Paul is telling Timothy to be strong, it does not mean to brush up on his boxing skills or lift more weights
Paul urges Timothy to be strong and trust God because He is willing to give him strength
Ephesians 6:10 “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
God is willing to give us strength (For those who trust in Him
1.1 Through Grace
1.1 Through Grace
(Yourself and Others)
What is Grace? It can be coined as, God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly, in spite of the fact that we don’t deserve to be treated so well or dealt with so generously.
Who is Grace for? Grace is for those who belong to Christ
a) Strong through grace for yourself
Strong in Grace is not a license to sin
Romans 6:1–2 “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?”
Strong in grace means you don’t linger in confessed and forgiven sin, you must move forward and proceed in grace
It means you are willing to forgive yourself when you blow it
Grace is His power at work to accomplish what is supernatural
b) Strong through grace for others