WE CAN BE SO SUCCESSFUL IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIFE BUT NOTHING CAN COMPARE WHEN WE MAKE IT TO THE END IN FOLLOWING CHRIST.
Acts 20:24 “But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.”
FOLLOWING JESUS CHRIST IS A JOURNEY AND IT WILL ALWAYS BE TESTED
– Family situations & problems (Matthew 10:37)
– Personal issues struggles and failures (Phil. 2:12)
– Personal career & Education (Jeremiah 29:11)
– Financial breakthroughs and problems (Matthew 6:24; Proverbs 10:22)
– Ministry (Genesis 50:20)
THE ULTIMATE GOAL IN FOLLOWING CHRIST IS WE MAKE TO THE END
– We lose the fire and passion that we have for God (Leviticus 6:13; Revelation 2:4)
– We allow failures to stop us from continuing in the Lord (Proverbs 24:16: Psalm 73:26)
– We allow worldly desires to consume us (1 John 2:15)
– We lose the joy in serving God (Romans 15:13)
FOLLOWING CHRIST INVOLVES BEING FAITHFUL IN ALL AREAS OF OUR LIFE
– Personal time with God (Luke 5:16)
– Commitment to obey the Lord in all seasons of our life (John 17: 4)
– Reaching the lost
IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES THAT WE CAN APPLY SO THAT WE CAN FOLLOW CHRIST TO THE END:
- OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST IS OUR SURE SECURITY IN LIFE (1 Corinthians 15:58)
- DO NOT ALLOW TEMPORARY THINGS TO REPLACE THE RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE IN CHRIST
- CHOOSE TO SERVE AND CONTINUE IN FOLLOWING CHRIST DESPITE THE PERSECUTIONS, NEGATIVE SITUATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN LIFE (Joshua 24:15)
- LOVE JESUS CHRIST MORE THAN ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. 8 And now the prize awaits me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”