HARVEST || Finishing Well

Nov 3

Hebrews 12:1-17 New Living Translation

12 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. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. 9 Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. 11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

Endurance is Required to Finish Well

DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RACE?

Hebrews 12:1 New Living Translation

GOD HAS SET A RACE BEFORE YOU

This means that there is a God-given direction, path and pace that your life is supposed follow

Examine yourself, is your life

Headed in the right direction?
On the right path?
Moving at Holy Spirit’s pace?

Every day, week, month, year, decade, and generation, God sets a race before us

IN ORDER TO FINISH WELL, WE MUST RUN WITH ENDURANCE

ENDURANCE - HYPOMONE - (G528)

steadfastness, constancy, endurance

the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings
patiently, and steadfastly

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FINISHING WELL?

1 Corinthians 9:24 New Living Translation

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!

If I signed up for 100 marathons (26 miles each), I PROMISE you that I could start each and every one of those marathons EXCELLENTLY!

Now finishing them at ALL, let alone well, is a completely different story

It is FAR EASIER to start something well, than it is to finish it well

Jobs, books, bible reading plans, diets, gym memberships, resolutions, etc.

East Gate, it is FAR easier for me to PREACH a FIRST SUNDAY MESSAGE, than it is for me to REAP a LAST SUNDAY HARVEST

Four Keys to Developing the Endurance Required to Finish Well

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS

Hebrews 12:2-4 New Living Translation

2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.

VISION OF THE RELAY RACE OF FAITH

JESUS IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF ENDURANCE

Holy Spirit SET my eyes on Jesus through that vision

I became so thankful for Jesus, my CHAMPION, who started and will finished the race

We are NEVER in danger of losing the race, because Jesus already WON
We are only ever in danger of not FINISHING WELL and missing out on the FULLNESS God intends for us

I was DEEPLY convicted of my sin when I compared how Jesus ran His race, to how I am running mine

I stand upon the shoulders of spiritual GIANTS, what will the next generation stand upon?

I became ZEALOUS in my desire to run after, and meet the standard of, Jesus

It is now my job to continually KEEP my eyes on Jesus

I must keep my eyes on Jesus to maintain gratitude

1 Thessalonians 5:18 New Living Translation

18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

I must keep my eyes on Jesus so that I am convicted by Him and can self-evaluate

Romans 12:3 New Living Translation

3 Because of the privilege and authority[grace] God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.[by faith God has given you/the standard of our God-given faith]

I must keep my eyes on Jesus so that I remain zealous and continue to put in work

1 Corinthians 15:58 New Living Translation

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

AFTER ALL… You haven’t yet given your LIVES in your struggle against sin

Jesus ENDURED even death for the sake of the race of faith and his battle against sin
God expects no less from YOU, the ONLY way to do this is to KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS

SUBMIT TO GOD’S DIVINE DISCIPLINE

Hebrews 12:5-10 New Living Translation

5 And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,

“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”

10 For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness.

BE ENCOURAGED, GOD WILL DISCIPLINE YOU

The Lord disciplines those He LOVES and ACCEPTS as His children

If you REJECT God’s discipline you REJECT His love and acceptance

THREE PRIMARY WAYS GOD DISCIPLINES US

Cause and Effect
Teach and Correct

His word

2 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

His Spirit

John 16:8 New Living Translation

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

His people

Jeremiah 35:15 New Living Translation

15 Time after time I sent you prophets, who told you, “Turn from your wicked ways, and start doing things right. Stop worshiping other gods so that you might live in peace here in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.” But you would not listen to me or obey me.

He gives you what you want (so you see where it leads you)

1 Corinthians 5:5 New King James Version

5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

GOD’S DIVINE DISCIPLINE WILL IS PAINFUL

Hebrews 12:11 New Living Translation

11 No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

There is a HUGE difference between something hurting you and harming you

The things that harm you MOST in life, usually feel GOOD in the moment
- Addiction, gluttony, laziness, perversion, etc.
God’s DIVINE Discipline always results in HEALTH and HOLINESS not HARM

Here is the issue: MANY OF US DESIRE THE PEACEFUL HARVEST OF RIGHT LIVING WITHOUT FIRST BEING TRAINED BY THE PAINFUL DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD

The HARVEST of 2024 will be realized by our ability to be TRAINED BY the discipline of God

THREE WAYS YOU CAN RESPOND TO GOD’S DIVINE DISCIPLINE

MAKE LIGHT of it

“My child, DON’T MAKE LIGHT of the Lord’s discipline…”

If Holy Spirit exposes, reveals, or brings up an issue, it's a BIG DEAL!
We have adopted a sort of “well boys will be boys” attitude toward sin in the church

Sin may be the norm on earth, but it isn’t in heaven

The church is to reflect heaven, NOT earth
God HATES sin

GIVE UP the moment God corrects us

“DON’T GIVE UP when He corrects you

His correction doesn’t make you a failure, it makes you a son

His DIVINE DISCIPLINE makes us HOLY

He is working the culture of His house into us

WELCOME and be TRAINED by it

You will be trained by SOMEONE

The devil
The world (the devil)
The flesh (the devil)
Holy Spirit

Lean into, and be trained by the discipline of the Lord

PREPARE & PLAN

Hebrews 12:12-13 New Living Translation

12 So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.

TAKE A NEW GRIP WITH YOUR TIRED HANDS

Where have YOU loosened your grip during this YEAR OF BLESSING?

Where have you become lax in your battle against sin and have become entangle?
Where have you been slowed down by extra weight?
Where have you become lax in tending or guarding your heart?

Where has perversion or the profane slipped in?

Where have you become lax in positioning yourself for blessing?

Where has disobedience to the word become acceptable?

Where have you become lax in your stewardship?
Where have you become lax in your excellence, obedience or holiness unto the Lord?

Determine to refocus and take a NEW grip
Don’t wait for your hands to become refreshed, just TAKE a new grip

MANY of us are tired, not because we have been running too hard, but because we have been trying to run MULTIPLE races and live MANY lives

My personal race, the race the world says to run, and the race God set before me

You don’t need another vacation, day off, or more “me time,” you need A NEW GRIP

STRENGTHEN YOUR WEAK KNEES

You strengthen weak things by exercising them repeatedly

Consistently and incrementally push yourself out of your comfort zones

YOU HAVEN’T SHED BLOOD YET
YOU HAVEN’T GIVEN YOUR LIFE YET

Where are you weak and slow to obey Holy Spirit this year?

That is the exact area you TAKE A NEW GRIP and PUSH yourself

MARK OUT A STRAIGHT PATH FOR YOUR FEET

MARK OUT

I have found GREAT success in stewardship when I mark/write out a plan
Without a plan you will either:

Run in circles and become disappointed when you get nowhere
Quit when you face resistance because you have no “joy set before you”

A STRAIGHT PATH for your FEET
- Keep it practical, simple and straightforward

HOW CAN WE KNOW IF WE HAVE MARKED OUT A STRAIGHT PATH FOR OUR FEET?

If I continue to live my life the way I have been living it, will I eventually become more CHRISTLIKE?
If I continue to live my life the way I have been living it, will I receive the FULLNESS of what God has promised me?
If I continue to live my life the way I have been living it, will I ENDURE and FINISH WELL?

If the answer to any of these questions is NO, then you have not marked out a straight path for your feet

A straight path, over time, will strengthen the weak and lame areas in your life

GET TO WORK

THE HARVEST GOES TO THE WORKERS

Matthew 9:37-38 New Living Translation

37 He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

The Harvest season requires the MOST work, time, and effort
DON’T BE DECEIVED!!!!

God’s prophetic promises are invitations not guarantees

Matthew 6:33 New Living Translation

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

We have a responsibility to steward God’s promises and that includes WORK

Will You ENDURE with Us?

OUR ENDURANCE, DETERMINES OUR HARVEST

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 New Living Translation

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

THE WAY WE END ONE SEASON, IS THE WAY WE START THE NEXT

THE WAY WE END WE END OUR RACE, IS THE WAY THE NEXT GENERATION STARTS THEIRS

What will you hand to the next generation?
In what condition will you hand it to them?

East Gate