Finish the Course

 The Affirmation  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” 2 Tim 4:6-8  The Danger  “But the Spirit saith expressly, that in latter times some shall fall away from the faith” I Tim 4:1  “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things that were heard, lest haply we drift away from them” Heb 2:1

Finish the Course  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” 2 Tim 4:6-8  As a soldier 2 Tim 2:3-4

Finish the Course  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” 2 Tim 4:6-8  “Even so run, that ye may attain” I Cor 9:24

Finish the Course  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” 2 Tim 4:6-8  Ran the race lawfully 2 Tim 2:5  “I buffet my body and bring it into subjection” I Cor 9:26-27

Finish the Course  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith” 2 Tim 4:6-8  Course not easy  “…five times received I forty stripes save one, thrice I was beaten with rods” II Cor 11:23-28  “I buffet my body, and bring it into subjection…lest I myself should be rejected” I Cor 9:27  “I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” Phil 3:12-15

Finish the Course  Antipas  “Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you” Rev 2:13  His brethren  “I saw underneath the altar the souls of them that had been slain for the word of God” Rev 6:9-11  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego  “Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and He will deliver us out of thy hand” Dan 3:17

Finish the Course  What these all understood  “Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;  while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” II Cor 4:16-18

Finish the Course  What these all understood  “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, ye have been put to grief in manifold trials,  that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold that perisheth though it is proved by fire, may be found unto praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ:” I Pet 1:6-7

Finish the Course  Start the course and don’t look back  “Remember Lot’s wife” Luke 17:32…Gen 19:26  “For Demas forsook me, having loved this present world” 2 Tim 4:10  …a fellow worker Philemon 24  …Paul’s companion Col 4:14  “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” Luke 9:62

Finish the Course  Why do some not finish the course?  Answer found in parable of sower Luke 8:11-14 “And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.”

Finish the Course  Why do some not finish the course?  Answer found in parable of sower Luke 8:11-14 And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.”

Finish the Course  Why do some not finish the course?  Answer found in parable of sower Luke 8:11-14 ”And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection”

Finish the Course  “Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down on the right hand of God” Heb 12:1-2 His course was not easy

Finish the Course  “Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down on the right hand of God” Heb 12:2  Caution…there is an easy way out of life  “and in Hades, he (the rich man) lifted up his eyes being in torments”

Finish the Course  “Looking unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down on the right hand of God” Heb 12:2 “I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which Thou hast given me to do. And now, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” John 17:4-5

Finish the Course  “For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing.”