Finishing Well: Embracing Faith and God's Promises
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound theme of finishing well in our faith journey, drawing inspiration from the book of Hebrews. We began by acknowledging the importance of giving as an act of worship and the impact it has on the church's ability to bless others. We then delved into the concept of not falling short, emphasizing the challenge many of us face in not only completing tasks but doing so with excellence.
We examined the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt, led by Moses, and paralleled it with our own spiritual journey. Just as Moses led the Israelites towards the Promised Land, a place of rest and prosperity, Jesus leads us towards eternal life, offering us peace and glory both now and in the afterlife.
The ancient Israelites, despite witnessing God's miracles, struggled with unbelief when faced with the prospect of entering the Promised Land. They allowed fear and doubt to prevent them from inheriting God's promises. Similarly, we were encouraged to heed this as a warning, to not let unbelief hinder us from experiencing God's rest.
We discussed four steps to ensure we finish well in our faith: maintaining a healthy fear of losing what we have in Christ, guarding our faith, listening to God's word, and striving to enter His rest. We were reminded that all of God's promises are unlocked by faith and that our actions must reflect our belief in His word.
The message concluded with a call to approach God's throne with confidence, knowing that through Jesus, we have a high priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses and offers us mercy, grace, and help in our time of need. We were encouraged to keep coming to God, trusting in His righteousness to cover us and help us finish well.
Key Takeaways:
1. A healthy fear is not about being scared but about having a proper respect for the things of God, which can save our lives. Just as we would exercise caution around dangerous animals, we should have a healthy fear of falling short of God's promises, which can shape our behavior and priorities. [48:50]
2. Faith is the key that unlocks all of God's promises. It is not merely an intellectual assent but a trust that transforms how we live. To guard our faith, we must stay close to what builds it up and distance ourselves from what weakens it. This includes being mindful of our media consumption and the influences we allow into our lives. [56:00]
3. Listening to God's word is crucial for finishing well. His word is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, discerning our thoughts and intentions. By listening and responding to the Holy Spirit's guidance, we align ourselves with God's will and purpose for our lives. [57:00]
4. Striving to enter God's rest requires effort on our part. It is not a passive state but an active pursuit of the peace and fulfillment that God offers. This striving is not about earning salvation but about living in obedience and trust, which leads to experiencing God's rest now and in the future. [58:02]
5. Confidence in approaching God's throne comes from understanding that Jesus, our great high priest, has made a way for us. He empathizes with our weaknesses and invites us to receive mercy and grace. In our moments of need, we can boldly seek God's help, assured of His loving response. [01:06:40]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 4:1-2 (ESV) - "Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened."
2. Hebrews 4:11-12 (ESV) - "Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
3. Hebrews 4:14-16 (ESV) - "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does the writer of Hebrews mean by "entering his rest" in Hebrews 4:1? How is this concept explained in the sermon? [43:23]
2. According to Hebrews 4:12, what are the characteristics of the word of God? How does the sermon describe the importance of listening to God's word? [59:22]
3. In Hebrews 4:14-16, what role does Jesus play as our high priest? How does this give us confidence to approach God's throne? [01:06:14]
4. What were the four steps mentioned in the sermon to ensure we finish well in our faith journey? [47:04]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt serve as a warning for us today, according to the sermon? [43:06]
2. What does it mean to have a "healthy fear" of falling short of God's promises, and how can this shape our behavior and priorities? [48:07]
3. The sermon emphasizes the importance of guarding our faith. What practical steps can we take to protect our faith from being weakened? [55:04]
4. How does striving to enter God's rest differ from earning salvation, and what does this striving look like in our daily lives? [58:02]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when fear or doubt prevented you from stepping into something God had promised. How can you overcome such fears in the future? [41:18]
2. What are some specific ways you can guard your faith in your daily life? Consider your media consumption, relationships, and activities. [55:27]
3. How can you make listening to God's word a more active part of your life? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this? [57:00]
4. Think about a situation where you need to strive to enter God's rest. What practical steps can you take to actively pursue peace and fulfillment in that area? [58:02]
5. How can you approach God's throne with confidence in your current circumstances? What specific needs or weaknesses can you bring to Him, trusting in His mercy and grace? [01:06:16]
6. Identify one area in your life where you feel you are not finishing well. What steps can you take to improve and ensure you complete it with excellence? [32:09]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to finish well in their faith journey? Share one practical way you can support someone this week. [01:08:16]
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is not about trembling in terror but about understanding the gravity of His holiness and the consequences of not aligning with His will. It's a reverence that acknowledges God's authority and our accountability to Him. This fear is a safeguard, a compass that directs our steps and decisions, ensuring that we live in a way that honors Him and preserves our relationship with Christ. It's about recognizing the high stakes of our spiritual journey and the importance of not taking God's grace for granted. This healthy fear is a catalyst for spiritual growth, prompting us to persevere in our faith and to finish the race set before us with diligence and integrity [48:50].
Proverbs 14:27 (ESV)
"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death."
Reflection: How does the fear of the Lord influence your daily decisions and the way you prioritize your life?
Day 2: Faith as the Foundation
Faith is more than just belief; it is the assurance that leads to action. It is the trust in God's promises that propels one to live differently, to make choices that reflect a heart fully convinced of God's faithfulness. This faith is not passive; it actively seeks to grow, to be nurtured, and to be protected from influences that might erode it. It is the key that unlocks the fullness of God's promises, transforming every aspect of life. By intentionally cultivating faith through prayer, scripture, and fellowship, one can guard against the encroachment of doubt and maintain a vibrant, living connection with the Creator [56:00].
Hebrews 11:6 (ESV)
"And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."
Reflection: What are some influences in your life that may be weakening your faith, and how can you actively guard against them?
Day 3: Attentive to God's Voice
Listening to God's word is essential for spiritual endurance and finishing well. The word of God is not static; it is dynamic and penetrating, capable of discerning the deepest thoughts and intentions of the heart. Engaging with scripture is not a passive activity but an interactive dialogue where one listens for the Holy Spirit's guidance and responds in obedience. This practice shapes one's character, aligns one's will with God's, and equips one to face life's challenges with divine wisdom and insight. It is through this attentive listening and application that one can navigate the complexities of life while staying true to the course God has set [57:00].
James 1:22-24 (ESV)
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like."
Reflection: In what ways can you improve your practice of listening to God's word, and how can it transform your daily life?
Day 4: Pursuing God's Rest
Striving to enter God's rest is an active pursuit that requires effort and intentionality. It is not about earning salvation but about living in the peace and fulfillment that comes from obedience and trust in God. This rest is available now, in the present, as a foretaste of the eternal rest to come. It is found in the midst of life's turmoil, offering a sanctuary of peace for those who are willing to lay down their burdens and embrace God's promises. By striving for this rest, one experiences the profound peace that comes from aligning with God's purposes and trusting in His provision [58:02].
Hebrews 4:11 (ESV)
"Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience."
Reflection: What does actively pursuing God's rest look like in your life, and what steps can you take to enter into it more fully?
Day 5: Boldness Before the Throne
Approaching God's throne with confidence is a privilege granted through Jesus Christ, our great high priest. He has made a way for us to come boldly before God, not in our own righteousness, but in His. Jesus understands our weaknesses and offers mercy and grace in our times of need. This confidence is not presumptuous; it is rooted in the reality of Christ's sacrifice and His ongoing intercession for us. It is the assurance that when we come to God with a sincere heart, we will find help and hope to sustain us as we aim to finish our faith journey well [01:06:40].
Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Reflection: How can you practice approaching God's throne with confidence in your daily prayer life, and what specific needs will you bring before Him today?
Quotes
1) "Why is it so difficult not just to finish things but to finish them well? [...] It's easy to begin. You can start off and it's exciting [...] But now it's been a year or two or longer. Are we going to finish well? [...] The writer of the Hebrews is writing the first century Christians and saying now make sure we finish well." [34:00] ()
2) "Healthy fear what are you talking about pastor Charlie let's go back to Hebrews chapter four verse one. Look at the first words let us come on let's say it again let us fear why lest any of us. Should fall short [...] when you have a proper respect or fear for something it changes the way we behave it changes my schedule it changes the way I raise my family it changes the way I approach work when we have a proper fear." [48:50] ()
3) "The true people of God whether Old Testament or New Testament have always walked by faith and not simply by what I see. [...] And so the people were just they were discouraged. We know God's promise please we know what God has said. We're having a hard time believing it." [42:53] ()
4) "His word isn't a dead word. Living active. [...] God's voice is so sharp. He can go in. And he truly deserves. Our thoughts. He knows what our real prayers are. [...] He knows the prayer that's really in our mind and heart." [01:00:24] ()
5) "Let's keep listening. How do we finish well we keep listening. To the words of God we keep listening. What is that pastoral we keep listening to the voice. Of the Holy Spirit. In our lives what's the big deal about the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives." [57:00] ()
6) "Let us therefore strive to what. The Lord's not against you putting forth a little effort. [...] Strive. That's the land I'm going to. The Lord's taken me somewhere. Not just aimlessly wandering around like the ancient Israelites who didn't believe. Come on Sam going somewhere." [58:02] ()
7) "All the promises of God are unlocked by this one thing by what every promise. What is that trusting. Trusting in the Lord here's a suggestion in your notes is stay close to the things that build your faith. [...] Be careful to guard the very thing that will cause you to inherit. You hear you hear all the promises all the promises of God." [56:00] ()
8) "We can approach God's throne of. Of what. Not judgment. [...] Anybody could use some mercy. Mercy. You keep me from the things I deserve. That's mercy. Grace. Grace is Lord you give me things I don't deserve. [...] How do we finish well. Well. Lastly we keep coming. Because of what he's done for us. We keep coming." [01:06:40] ()
9) "A lot of people serving the Lord today because of you. Thank you for your offerings. Thank you for belief. Thank you for finishing well." [01:10:37] ()
10) "Let us hold firmly. That's the faith we profess. [...] For let us hold fast that confession for let's keep reading for. We have a what a great high priest. Who has gone into the very presence of God. Jesus." [01:04:27] ()
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