3. Finishing Well

4. 2 Timothy 4:10 ” for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica…”

5. Luke 14:28-30 “ For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

6. Luke 8:13-14 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

7. Mt 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

8. Finishing You get stronger by keeping on You get stronger by keeping on There is nothing to be gained by quitting There is nothing to be gained by quitting Quitting affects others Quitting affects others Failure is not always bad, quitting is Failure is not always bad, quitting is

9. 2 Tim 4:6-8 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 course, I have kept the faith; in the future 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.

14. Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

15. Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 2 Timothy 2:12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us; If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

16. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires

17. 1 Corinthians 13:7 (love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

18. There are two ways of Enduring One can endure and hold his ground One can endure and continue on

19. How do we finish? worship regularly pray often study your Bible

20. 1. Keeping the faith to see what you cannot see 2 Cor 5:7 “We walk by faith and not by sight” Heb 11:10, 15, 16, 25, 26 They chose They desired They were not thinking of what is here

21. 1. Keeping the faith to see what you cannot see Without this faith, the problems will conquer us Without this faith, God seems small to us Without this faith, we no longer see the promises of God

22. 2. Dealing with your burdens one day at a time Galatians 6:5 For each one will bear his own load. Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

23. 2. Dealing with your burdens one day at a time Matthew 6:34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

24. 3. Holding a holy stubbornness that chooses to go forward Acts 20:20-24 I did not shrink back from declaring the whole council I did not shrink back from declaring the whole council I am on my way to Jerusalem I am on my way to Jerusalem None of these things move me None of these things move me

25. 3. Holding a holy stubbornness that chooses to go forward Luke 9:51 “When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem.” KJV: “He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem”

26. 4. Developing the self respect to keep our promise to the Lord

27. Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, “Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times.”

28. “This day I have done what I should…” Mt 25:21 “well done, good and faithful…”

29. Finishing Well