BE A FINISHER - 830AM SERMON

Pericope: Phil 1: 1 - 6

Sermon Text:  Phil 1: 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus

Sermon Title:  Be a Finisher!

Point 1:  You must have Faith – Romans 10:17 - 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

        When Paul told the church at Rome what grows faith he gave all of us a revelation I think most of us miss. He said faith comes or grows as a result of you hearing the message or the gospel repeatedly. The more often you hear it the more your faith will grow. What I believe we miss is in order for you to hear the message the message must be said. Therefore, my faith is increased OR decreased by the words that come out of my mouth.

Point 2: You must have Fire – Rev. 3:15-16 - 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

        John requires his church to be fired up. When Jesus church is lukewarm then God gets an upset stomach. He vomits them out. He cannot stomach lukewarm only fired up. Why? Because lukewarm is dangerous.

Point 3:  You must have Fellowship – Eccl 4:9-12 - 9 Two are better than one,

    because they have a good return for their labor:

10 If either of them falls down,

    one can help the other up.

But pity anyone who falls

    and has no one to help them up.

11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.

    But how can one keep warm alone?

12 Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

        I love the poetic way Solomon helps us digest this truth about fellowship. The bottom line is two is better than one any day of the week. You cannot be a finisher by yourself. It's going to take each of helping one another across the finish line. This cannot and will not be the year of selfishness. It's not all about you this year. It's all about somebody you can help make it.

Point 4:  You must be Fruitful – Gen. 1:28 - 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

        The first thing out of God's mouth to humanity after he created us is be fruitful and have dominion. So there should never be any question about how we should be fruitful. If any area of your life isn't bearing fruit you should be terribly disturbed. Here are the basic keys to being fruitful. PLANT! Pour water! PLUCK what you see. This formula works no matter what isn't growing in your life:

1.  Spiritual Plant! Pour water! Pluck what you see

2.  Finances Plant! Pour water! Pluck what you see

3.  Family Plant! Pour water! Pluck what you see

Life Application: