FINISHING STRONG NOTES

 

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning,  Ecclesiastes 7:8 ESV

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

8For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”  Psalm 18:49

 10And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” Deut 32:43

 11And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples extol him.” Isaiah 11:10 

 12And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” Psalm 15:21

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:1-13 ESV

 

I. QUITTING

 Always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58 ESV

 

II. Finishing Poorly

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23 NIV

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you, his blessing. 

10For the Scriptures say, “If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. 11Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. 12The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil.”  I Peter 3:9-12 NLT

 III. How do we finish strong.

 4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragementof the Scriptures we might have hope.  Vs 4

ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE SCRIPTURES

 These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.” Deuteronomy 32:47 NLT

 Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” 5The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Jonah 3:4-5 NIV

The widow was bankrupt. “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” II Kings 4:3-7 NIV

If He did it for the widow, he will do it for you!

God if you did a miracle for them, you can do a miracle for me.

If you gave a breakthrough to them, you can do a breakthrough for me.

We might find encouragement through the scriptures.

Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

·       ENDURANCE 

This vision is for a future time It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed. Habakkuk 2: 3 NLT

 All of His promises are Yes and Amen! II Corinthians 1:20

 John 5:2-6 ESV Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” John 5:2-6 ESV

 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” I Kings 18:43 NIV

WHY BECAUSE All of His promises are Yes and Amen!

God Promised, It’s coming through! Go look!

The walls of Jericho are coming down. Not on the 4^th or 5^th time, but the 7^th time.   

How did they come down? Shouts of Worship and Praise. I’m going to Praise God in this situation and in my circumstances. 

Endurance and Encouragement

       HOPE 

That through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Vs 4

He starts the chapter with hope and he finishes the chapter with hope.

13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.Romans 15:1-13 ESV

 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 ESV

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NLT

 Timothy, my child, I entrust you with this command in keeping with the previous prophecies about you, so that by them you may fight the good fight, I Timothy 1:18