Finish the Race Well! Part 2 of 2

Hey this is Mike Zwick from if not for God podcast our show stories of hopelessness turned and I hope your chosen Truth Network podcast is starting in just seconds. Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and for choosing The Truth Podcast Network. This is the Truth Network do you feel like you're on a religious treadmill to file Christianity is just a system of rules and regulations, I can do this but I can't do that. Do you feel like your efforts to reach God.

Find God, and please God.

If you do you feel like your faith is dead or alone. Today Pastor Russ Andrews will walk us through Scripture to answer these questions join us on finding purpose of local Triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men find their purpose for living.

For more information and to connect with Russ Andrews and finding purpose could visit us online@findingpurpose.net connect with us on Facebook. Now let's listen to Russ Andrews as he teaches us how to be a Christian without being religious.

Part two of a special two-part Samuel Higgins is was later as the prophet, priest, see Sam had grown old and his sons not walk in the ways of God for Sandra chapter 8 verses six through nine, we read when the Israelites said it was a king to lead us this display Samuel say pray to the Lord and the Lord told him listen to all the people are saying to you is not you.

They rejected but they rejected me as their king as they have done for the day I brought them up out of Egypt to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods southern 20 now listen to them, but warned them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them with doing so, God gave to Israel what they asked for a king and his name was Saul in first single chapter 9 we learn a little bit about Saul's beginning for Sabre chapter 9 verse one states. There was a Benjamite, a man of standing. His name was Kish kiss was Saul's father had a son named Saul an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites 1/2 taller than any of the others universe. 21 when Saul learns that Samuel is going to anoint him as the king of he said this and what Celsius the sandal but I'm not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel is not my clan, the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin, why do you say such a thing to me she Saul couldn't believe that God actually chosen him to be the king. In chapter 10 Samuel anoint Saul and sass has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance. This is in the spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophesied she Saul had a very good beginning. He was gifted physically. He was tall, he was impressive. In fact the Scripture say that he was without equal, and yet in spite of all of these physical gifts he remain humble.

He was chosen by God to be Israel's king, and he received his Samuel's blessing in early own kept his focus on the Lord, and he trusted God how quickly things change. Let me ask you if you had a good beginning. Were you born into a Christian family, and even brought up in a strong Bible believing church. If you have opted to sit under biblical teaching that sound if you had a wonderful flannel mentor who's been able to guide you and encourage you in your walk with the Lord limited to this warning a good beginning does not guarantee finishing well don't rest on your loss Saul fail sucking away. My first day at Southeastern Baptist electoral seminar back in September 1999 of 45 is eloquently about back in school. Forced a fumble, but I found myself sitting in Binkley Chapel with about 2000 other students and we were listening to Dr. Paige Patterson, who is to present the seminary, especially given as a warning unions warning us the best.

He wants to listen.

Just because you come in the seminary. Just because your studying books about the Bible. Don't let that replace your quantum succumbing to seminary does not take the place of your quiet time and then he proceeded to share with us during the course of his career. He had personally counseled about 300 ministers who'd fallen into some egregious sexual sin and lost a position in ministry to share with us. He said they all had one common denominator. You know what it was they all confess to him that they had given up having their personal quiet time. She does those ministers became distracted by the things the world and they lost their focus when a believer loses his focus on God in your outline. He's vulnerable, in an attack if you lost a focus on the Lord to be honest about this when you become too attached to the things of the world don't lose your focus.

Run the race to finish well.

How do you do this you might ask yourself you keep your eyes on Jesus, every step of the way Paul writes about this in Philippians chapter 3, but he also we read about this in Hebrews chapter 12 verses two and three with a writer says let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorn and shame and sit down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, while so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The writer tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, how do you do that when I think it begins in the morning Jesus got up early morning parade. Guess we needed to weed to get up a little early and pray in the morning and we need to open up God's word.

That's how you keep your eyes on Jesus, you do it by studying God's word and through prayer you doing that.

It takes discipline.

Saul had a good beginning in the second stage of his life, he lost his focus and he turned away from God and disobedience in Sam is addressed to the Israelites, you can find this in first single chapter 12.

I want you to listen to what Samuel says to the entire nation of Israel civil Jesus addressing the nation visually says that when you sell that name � king of the ammonites was moving against you. You said to me know. We want to king to rule over us. Even though the Lord your God with your king. Now here's the king of chosen one.

You asked for.

See, the Lord has set a king over you if you fear the Lord and serve and obey him, and do not rebel against his commands. If both you and the king who reigns over you follow the Lord your God good but listen, if you do not obey the Lord if you rebel against his commands, his hand will be against you as it was against your father's you see the Israelites really didn't trust God to protect them.

That's what they wanted.

King is a nation they lost their focus turn away from God. Disobedience see when a believer falls into a pattern disobedience what you're doing is you in your outline you are inviting God's judgment was discipline. Do you know what later happened to the nation of Israel. She Saul became Israel's king around 1050 BC.

And because Israel had turned away from God.

God raised up enemies to come and discipline his chosen ones in 722 BC the Assyrians came against the northern kingdom of Israel and defeated her think that's what they did. They took all the Israelites away as slaves.

They were never heard from again. The northern kingdom of Israel, consists of the of 10 of the tribes of Israel. Those 10 tribes just disappeared. Later the Babylonians came against the southern kingdom of Israel. The southern kingdom was known as Judy consists of the tribe of Judah and the travel. Benjamin this happened in 586 BC and just like the Assyrians. The Babylonians took the Israelites away as slaves to blab Babylon where they were held captive for 70 years didn't want this happened. This all happened because Israel is a nation lost his focus and turned away from God and disobedience can all think of another nation is done the same thing we have nothing that we are asking God to judge us. In fact, I wonder why God has raised up enemies to come and defeat our nation.

Maybe this would not when one was about maybe that is a shot across the bow that God is warning us as a nation that we need to not progress weed to regress. We go back to our spiritual roots. That's what he did was a nation, and what we need in this country when the man of God who will stand up in the pulpits of America and proclaim this truth. But listen, in spite of Israel's rejection of God is a king. Samuel promised him that if there king.

What if there king would trust God and lead the people in the biggest got to God was still blessed them, but this is where Saul lit his country down she saw was the king. He was not a prophet.

The prophet was Samuel. In essence, the prophet said it was the mouthpiece of God, and he spoke the word of God is to the king was to listen to the word of God spoken by the prophet of God than he was to lead the people in obedience to God Jesse Paul Saul took his eyes of God, and he led his nation away from God and disobedience just recently I received a shocking letter. It was heart wrenching is a letter from voice of the martyrs about heavenly voice notices a wonderful ministry is a measure that have supported for years. They do incredible work around the world supporting the underground persecuted church and Tom White is served as its president for the last element five or 10 years. The letter that I received informally. Tom White's death apparently committed suicide. Do you want allegations were made to authority several weeks ago that Tom had inappropriate contact with a very very young girl running faces allegations all the resulting fallout force family and the ministry himself.

Tom appears to have chosen to take his own life. Now here's a man who spent 18 months in a Cuban prison because of his faith. Here's a man who would dedicate his life to serving the persecuted church around the world; she is what happened had� Focus was sadly this is not just a nicely case of a Christian leader who has fallen into greater sin. History is filled with people who began the race with great success.

They failed to indwell what happened.

Somehow they took the rows of the finish line. Remember David, the man God chose to replace all David had a phenomenal beginning. In fact, if there was ever a sure fire Canada finish. Well, it was David in the first 10 chapters of second Samuel, David could do no wrong.

He was never to feel a better feel. His judgments were always right. He began his reign in prayer and he always trusted God and the boundaries of his kingdom will increase from 6000 mi.� to 60,000 mi.� but that was the first 10 chapters stay for art and is in his book finishing strong rights in Chapter 11. David is shipwrecked.

His life would never be quite the same again. He writes before the ship wreck with Bathsheba. All David knew was trying after all he knew was heartbreak in trouble. Listen in the Christian life is not how you start the matters is how you finish.

Do you want to finish well slim asking, how you doing you taken your house of the Lord you love to focus you become too attracted to the things of this world.

Do you really want to finish well.

If you do, then you must a focused, you must listen, you must keep your eyes focused on Jesus, every step of the way and the only way that you can do that is by living day by day by the spirit. Paul writes in Philippians 313 through 14, but one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining towards what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. This works trying it comes from a Greek word that gives the picture of our of a runner straining every muscle to finish, to reach the finish line. I think of Secretariat.

Did your mother was Secretariat in first of all, he was voted as one of the 50 greatest athletes that he was not human in 1973 in the Belmont stakes judge Argosy Labor Secretary better when you tear sums wrong with I am of crops.

Think about it he's come around the track and he begins to separate himself from the from the other horses he finishes ugly was like 41 links this a record it is never the evening approached and they said it every quarter mile.

He was increasing his pace every quarter mile 70 fish when he busted through the finish line. That was the fastest court. He ran in the whole race to that's why we want to run the Christian life we want to be increasing our pace as we approach the end, we want a bus to the finish line and fall in the arms of Jesus and he sees well done.

You will have your life say Saul had a good beginning, but he turned away from God and disabilities.

What happened in chapter 13 we learn that Saul decided to take matters into his own hands us when it always begins and he decided serve not just this king but also as prophet see the Philistines had assembled their army against Israel, and they way outnumber the Israelites to the Israelite army was quaking in fear in number.

The soldiers were deserting. They were actually leaving the battlefield.

Samuel was on his way to the battlefield because they always before the battle, they would worship God answers. Samuel was coming to offer the burnt offering before they tricked one of the battlefield and so knew this she the prophet was the only one who could offer the burnt offering based on God's command. The king was not to do that. That was a job for the prophet Saul grew impatient. Sam was just a little bit late so Saul decided to offer the burnt offering himself. He sees took his house of God Nephi off the burnt offering, clearly going against God's command.

Samuel arrives here's what Samuel said to him in verse 13 of chapter 13 you acted foolishly. Saul, you have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you if you had, he would've established your kingdom of Israel for all time to guess the legacy would've had but you but now your kingdom will not endure. The Lord is sought out a man after his own heart and appoint him leader of his people because you have not kept the Lord's commands.

You see when you try to live this life in your own strength and focus mostly on yourself constantly putting your your needs first. I can promise you will lose sight of God and you find yourself in disobedience. We see this all through Scripture.

Adam lost his focus and because of his disobedience sand and death to the world. Moses lost his focus and because of his disobedience. He never was allowed in the promised land. Sampson lost his focus because of his disobedience. He lost his eyesight in the parish for the Philistines. David lost his focus and because of his disobedience. The sword never departed from his family in your outline.

Understand that when you lose your focus on God. You will fall into disobedience and disobedience invites God's discipline. That's what Hebrews 12 is all about is about God's desk and got distance those whom he loves.

He wants to be not conformed to the likeness of his son as if you step out of the boundary line cigars establishing Scripture you can expect his discipline in first Sandra chapter 15 verses 1011 we read in the war, the Lord came to Samuel and God said to sandal and gray that I've made Saul king because he has turned away from me is not carried out my instructions in chapter 15 we learn this Saul. Ashley went out and set up a monument in his own honor as he continue to disobey God and he grew exceedingly proud.

In verse 26 single said to Saul you have rejected the word of the Lord.

Therefore the Lord has rejected you as king of Israel in chapter 16. Following, we learn about David, the man after God's own heart who would become the king of Israel. You know the story, God chose David to succeed succeed Saul, and Saul became very jealous of David and try to kill the rest of his life for same or chapter 18 verses 20 and 29 says when Saul realized that the Lord was with David that his daughter Michael love David. Saul became still more afraid of him and he remained his enemy. The rest of his days. Saul's life is really a picture of Romans one which is give you the downward spiral of sin were yes just drift further and further away from God is a Christian you can evolution relation with God. What you been born into God's family.

You can never lose that particulars your fellowship with God. This is what happens when you lose your focus and you begin to live a life of disobedience.

See, when you lose your focus on God and his purpose for your life when you stop worshiping him as your Savior.

You will turn away from God in your life would be marked disobedience. Sadly, I know from experience when I look back at my college years, and not just my college years but that was the most stark example I can think of.

I look back at those years except up again. I had a good beginning. Spiritually, I read my Bible almost every night for about age 12 to 15 exaggerated a little bit remembering it often prayed. I think every night before we do better on Mondays and then I went to Chapel Hill and I just Got on the back shelf cells are begin to get lost. My folks took my eyes off of Jesus, who'd been my friend and my Lord and my Savior not begin to pursue the things of the world and I just lost my focus in my life became more and more one of disobedience and I look back on the many things I did must've really grieve the Lord so thankful he didn't take his hands off of me. So now when I look back at this year's I refer to those years as my locust years don't look as years all those years in the wilderness see when locust come into the field. They strip the field of everything in sight, including all of its nourishment. This would happen to me, my life became Mark. One act of disobedience followed by another and spiritually. I waste away to nothing. But this is what I love about the Bible. It tells about how God is a God of grace and mercy and he's the God of second, third, fourth infinite chances. I just want us to repent and come back to him when my favorite pass in the Bible is Joe chapter 2 verse 1113 and 25 which says this even now declares the Lord returned to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning Ranger heart returned to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and he relents from sending calamity and says this the Lord will repay you for the years the locust at the your that means these when you come back to him and you confess your sins and you acknowledge how egregious your sins are God will wipe the slate clean and he'll restore those years to you is if you never lift them as if you never sent a note that when I think about what what I did.

I'm amazed I can lay my head down on my pillow at night with a clear conscience with absolutely zero guilt. I should have tremendous guilt sieges lift to get away from me and washed my sin.

He washed my guilt all away.

Did you gotta get washed away from your life come to him.

He restore the years. The looks of the sea also had to do is repent at any time, to his life. The Lord would have restored him.

So let me ask you, you, the mystical look. As years turned away from God. Are you living in disobedience your life shipwrecked you return to the Lord and he restore the years.

The looks of the seesaw to good beginning.

Then he lost his focus and he turned away from God and disobedience. Unfortunately, he never returned to the Lord in repentance. And so the third stage of Saul's life ends in tragedy. As we have seen, and for same or chapter 31 Saul's Lent life. Devon came to a tragic end. As God lifted his hand of protection and blessing, and the spirit left Saul don't you understand something, there. This is one thing is different about a new test in the Old Testament is the spirit of God would come upon believers in the Old Testament. It wasn't until Jesus came out of the cross and ascended into heaven, that he sent his Spirit to indwell us. Ephesians 113 or 14. He becomes a deposit that guarantees your salvation. So when you sin this Holy Spirit doesn't leave you but you grieve him and it goes like he's left, but he hasn't. You can evolution relationship you have that assurance of salvation, but look at how Saul's life ended Saul's army was slaughtered by the Philistines's sons were killed on the battlefield right in front of him he saw � and Saul committed suicide, and then he was humiliated in death is the enemy literally mutilated his body and the Israelites abandoned their tails and fled in the Philistines came in and occupied them. See since Saul sin not only resulted in his own destruction, but it brought destruction to his family and his nation. This was happening to our national life. See when you turn away from God. It would not just affect your life but also the last of people around you see the Bible tells that sin leads to death and results in separation of God. Listen.

Sin will take you further than you want to go. Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay and see will cost you more than you want to play. So the question remains that were going to answer here. How could a life that began so good and so tragically we just look at our world I world began good.

In fact, when God for the world. He said it is good, but Adam and Steve lost their focus and turned away from God and disobedience and we would do the same thing ever since Seema Charles Templeton lost his focus. He began to question God, he couldn't understand how an all-powerful and good God allow evil to go and check in the world. So he came to the conclusion that God must not exist.

Lee Strobel who wrote the book the case for faith, which I recommend everyone read. Yes he went to visit Templeton shortly before God to see you know what caused him to turn away from his faith. And so when he met with Templeton.

Tipton was 83 years old and suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's. So they sit down for this interview.

The first thing template. It was apologizes and he said mama is not what used to be and then he said to Mr. Strobel. I guess you won't me to explain. I went from believing to agnosticism your your happen Templeton so you don't television a magnet picture of a African woman holding her dead child in her arms there with that country was going through a famine in his what he said. He said he said it when he looked at that woman who had his this look just forlorn. She just devastated temper said at that moment. Is it possible to believe that there is a loving or caring, creator, when all this woman needed rain see what his problem was he look at the problem took his ass off. The one who has the solution. During the interview, Strobel got around to asking him about his view of Jesus and essentially Templeton believed it just a great man.

In fact he said Jesus was the greatest human being who ever lived, but at one point during the interview Perley Templeton welled up with tears, and in thinking about Jesus.

You can almost see him remembering the days when he was preaching about Jesus. He said the temp. He said to Strobel.

He said you know I miss him to print out in 2001, shortly after Strobel met with him. See, just like so Templeton stop looking to God, he lost his focus. He turned away from God and his life came to a tragic end to his my question versus morning.

How can we avoid making the same mistake with his hail in your outline.

Keep arousal. Jesus follow in his footsteps. Don't get caught up in the things of the world and run to win the prize in Hebrews chapter 11 and I'm going SGOT listing become a backup here in Hebrews chapter 11 is filled with the names of people who finished well.

Enoch, Noel Abraham, Joseph, and even Moses. Moses finished well see all of these men had one thing in common daughter was they had taking their eyes off of this world and they were focusing on the world to come. Let me ask you this morning which world are you focus on this world which the last maybe 75, 80 year for most of all the world's last forever.

You focus on the.are you focused on the line. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews says about these people of faith who were focused on the world to come. All these people still living by faith when they died they do not receive the things promised daily solving and welcome them from a distance and they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth people to say such things. Sure, they're looking for a country of their own if they been thinking of the country. They have left they would had opportunity return said they were longing for a better country heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of the called their God. You are because he's prepared a city for them as they remain faithful.

William Secker said the body has two aunts, so must have one you want to finish.

Well, you missed that one being a Christian is not about being religious but about having a dynamic alive relationship with Jesus Christ. You've been listening to finding purpose with pastor Russ Sanders local triangle ministry glorifying God by helping men and their purpose for living discover more about finding your purpose in life by checking out the resources finding purpose.net connect to finding purpose on Facebook pastor Russ would also like to extend a special invitation for you to join him in over 300 other local tribal men study God's word together every Tuesday night at 7 PM in downtown Raleigh. Find out more finding purpose.net