THE RIGHTEOUS WILL TAKE IT TO THE END

2 Timothy 4:6-8

Q. What are some things in your life that you have done and brought to completion? How does it feel to succeed in such situations?

Everything that you desire to bring to completion has a cost of its own. There is a battle to fight, a race to run, and a faith that tells you, "You can do it." In all this you would not want anyone to discourage or distract you, block or hinder you, or even make you give up. You are determined.

Q. When it comes to your salvation, are you equally determined?

We all can, with confidence, say, like Paul, "I have fought the good fight" if we strongly desire to make it to the end. Let's see how Paul was able to bring things to completion.

1. HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT

Acts 9:1-19

Paul started the fight in the opposite corner of the ring. He fought against God's will until he was called on the way to Damascus. From then on, he fought Satan, who had used him to persecute the church. It was not going to be easy for him, but he fought the good fight. First he had to understand where the fight was coming from.

Revelation 12:10-12
The devil is filled with fury. He is charging after you, using anything and anyone in his ceaseless attempts to destroy you. because Paul saw this, he was able to later caution the Ephesians about the battle and call them to stand firm.

Q. Are you standing firm? Are you fighting the good fight?

This is how Paul fought the good fight:
a. Acts 9:19b He spent several days with the disciples in Damascus, undoubtedly learning from others as well as teaching.
Q. Do you spend time with other disciples to learn from them?
b. 1 Corinthians 9:16 Paul kept himself busy preaching. He didn't want to stop. He wasn't idle. When we allow ourselves to get idle, we allow ourselves to be used by Satan for his ends.
c. Philippians 3:7-11 Paul dedicated his life to knowing God. He made God his priority and allowed nothing to stop him. Imagine what his Bible study was like. Q. How is yours?
Storing God's word in your heart will help you overcome a lot and will give you the strength to fight the good fight.


2. HE RAN THE RACE

Acts 9:6;15,16

Paul was told to get instructions to the race. He had developed a fear of God that made it easier for him to take up the challenge. Taking up the challenge to run the race begins with our fear of God. If we do not run the race that God has marked out for us, then we will end up falling constantly into sin.

Q. Do you fear God?

The race that is marked out for us is the Christian life. It is a righteous life. Q. Are you running this race?

Q. Does your life reflect a Christian faith/ Christian convictions? Would people at your place of work, school, in your neighbourhood be surprised to hear it mentioned by another that you go to church together?

Philippians 2:16a As you hold on to the word of life, your life should reflect the Word.
Hebrews 12:1-2 You must get rid of all that is hindering your Christian life from growing so that you can run the Christian race. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the perfect example in running the race.


3. HE KEPT THE FAITH

Faith is used to denote either trust and reliance on God or fidelity, since genuine faith in God is seen to result in faithfulness to his will.

Acts 27:23-25

Q. What was God's will for Paul?

In the midst of disaster, Paul could have given up, like the men around him, but he was confident in god's will and had faith that God would allow him to accomplish his mission. He knew he would do it.

Paul always considered what God's will was. If it was for him to preach, then he would do it (Galatians 1:23). If it was encouraging, he did that too.

Q. Are you faithful when given instructions or do you ignore or undermine them?

Will you keep the faith?
Will you fight the good fight?
The choice is yours to bring it to the end.