2 Timothy 4:7 TPT ” I have fought an excellent fight. I have finished my full course and I’ve kept my heart full of faith.”
Matthew 14 v 25 – 31 TPT “At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the waves! When the disciples saw him walking on top of the water, they were terrified and screamed, “A ghost!” Then Jesus said, “Be brave and don’t be afraid. I am here!” Peter shouted out, “Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you on the water!” “Come and join me,” Jesus replied. So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried out. Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?”
Philippians 1v 6 TPT “I pray with great faith for you, because I’m fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put his finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus Christ”
This encouraging truth should be a Believers main focus, as we considers God’s DIVINE POWER to PRESERVE and PROTECT the FAITH of His followers, both in this life and the next.
As believers, we can rest in His promises, knowing that we are safe in the hands of a mighty and loving Father who will forever sustain His saints.
He will definitely supply your every day needs.
But if you are living your life to be sustained only? You will be selling yourself short.
Let the Uncomfortable become the new comfortable!!!
Stay the Course” this is a phrase used in the context of war or battle meaning to:
“Pursue a Goal regardless of any obstacles or criticism.”
And when the end of His earthly life was in sight, Jesus said to His Father, “I have finished the work which You gave me to do” (John 17:4).
And on the cross Jesus declared “It is Finish”. He did not quit. He finished His task.
This is the confidence we can have in our Lord and Savior
Jesus will not quit on you… He will help you finish.
“Jesus the author and finisher of our Faith”!
Proverbs 16:8-9 TPT “It is better to have little with a heart that loves justice than to be rich and not have God on your side. Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.”
Your Purpose :
Galatians 6:4 TPT “ Let everyone be devoted to fulfill the work God has given them to do with excellence, and their joy will be in doing what’s right and being themselves, and not in being affirmed by others.”
Galatians 6 :9-10 TPT “And don’t allow yourselves to be weary or disheartened in planting good seeds, for the season of reaping the wonderful harvest you’ve planted is coming! Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others, especially to our brothers and sisters in the family of faith!”
1). Growth Matters
Leaders lose influence if they do not continue to grow. But growth doesn’t just happen. It requires INTENTIONALITY and INVESTMENT .
Paul declared important truths about how to keep growing to the end:
The 3 C of Paul:
Communicate
Consentrate
Consecrate
• Communicate honestly where you are:
Philippians 3 v 12 TPT “I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into his abundance so that I may reach the purpose that Jesus Christ has called me to fulfill and wants me to discover.”
• Concentrate totally on your goal:
Philippians 3 v 13 TPT “I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.”
• Consecrate everything you have to get there:
Philippians 3 v 14 – 15 TPT “I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus. So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires,”
2)People Matter
Paul valued relationships and expressed appreciation for others. He expressed that value and appreciation all throughout his letters.
• “I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you” (Romans 1:8).
• “I always thank my God for you” (1 Corinthians 1:4).
• “Ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you” (Ephesians 1:15 – 16).
• “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Philippians 1:3).
• “I thank God . . . as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers, . . . I long to see you” (2 Timothy 1:3 – 4).
3) Obedience:
Absolutely nothing, because nothing mattered more to him than faithful obedience to God. The true nature of leadership isn’t self-centered exaltation – it’s an ongoing process of sacrifice that faithfully serves others and obeys God no matter the cost.
Philippians 3 v 14 TPT “I run straight for the divine invitation of reaching the heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
We will all stand before the judgement seat of Christ and receive a reward according to our works
The Greek word there is bēma, b-e-m-a, bēma. Well, bēma is the judgment seat of Gallio, when Paul appeared before the proconsul of Achaia which is at Corinth, he appeared before the bēma [Acts 18:12].
#But that word bēma also was used to refer to another judgment seat.
In the great Greek games, which sort of held together the whole Greek civilized and cultural world, there was an umpire who sat upon an elevated seat. And after the contest all of the contestants that were running in the race—or the discus, or the javelin, all of those Greek games—the contestants were gathered there before that elevated seat. And then rewards were given to the victors; now that was called a bēma, a judgment seat. But you see, the judgment seat upon which the umpire sat, the judgment seat was not whether a man was guilty or innocent, it was not a trial according to whether he was good or bad, but it was a seat of reward!
There are five heavenly crowns mentioned in the New Testament that will be awarded to believers.
1)Incorruptible /Imperishable Crown,
2)the Crown of Rejoicing,
3)the Crown of Righteousness,
4) the Crown of Glory,
5)Crown of Life.
1) The Incorruptible /Imperishable Crown –
(Pursuing Godly things)
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 NKJV “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate [disciplined] in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown”
2) The Crown of Rejoicing –
(been a soul winner or influencing others for Christ)
1 Thessalonians 2:19 NKJV “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?”
3) The Crown of Righteousness –
(Loving and anticipating Christ’s coming)
2 Timothy 4:8 NKJV “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
4)Crown of Glory (Caring for people & been a disciple)
1 Peter 5:4 NKJV “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
5) The Crown of Life –
(Enduring temptation and persecution)
Revelation 2:10 NKJV “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
This crown is for all believers, but is especially dear to those who endure sufferings, who bravely confront persecution for Jesus, even to the point of death.
In Scripture the word “life” is often used to show a relationship that is right with God. It was Jesus who said, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
But we have the amazing promise that comes only to those who come to God through Jesus: “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life”
