Text:
2Timothy 4:6-8:
6: For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7: I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Theme:
On The Right Road
Introduction:
- Our text is found in the Second Epistle of Paul to Timothy, the second letter written to Timothy by Paul from his captivity in Rome. This is believed to be the last letter that Paul wrote.
- Timothy and Paul had a special relationship. Timothy was an evangelist who was first converted by Paul’s ministry which is why Paul calls Timothy his “own son in the faith”.
- Paul makes three affirmations…
- I have fought a good fight
- I have finished my course
- I have kept the faith
- We will focus on the second affirmation – I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE
- What is the course?
- Commitment
- Direction
- Journey
- Every person has a “course” that they follow
- The way of the world
- The way of Salvation
In Acts 16:17, Luke wrote, “The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.”
- As Paul said in Romans 10:1, “Brethren my hearts desire for Israel is that they might be SAVED”
- Repent
- Believe
- Be Baptized
- Receive the Holy Ghost
- Then we can say as the old hymn says, “I am ON THE RIGHT ROAD now”
Body:
- The Right Road is not straight, but narrow.
Matthew 7:13-14, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
- God’s Word is unyielding. You can’t do what you want to do.
- God’s Will is unique. You can’t do what you want to do.
- God’s Way is uncompromising. You can’t do what you want to do.
- To make it On The Right Road, we must follow His Word, His Will, and His Way.
- IT’S NOT EASY ALONG THE WAY! You must go through some things along The Right Way.
- There is a curve called failure
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
- There is a loop called confusion
Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
- There are speed bumps called friends
Job 32:3, “Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.”
- There are red lights called enemies
Psalms 143:3, “For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.”
- There are caution lights called family
Genesis 18:12-14, “Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also? And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
- BUT, YOU CAN MAKE IT!
- If you have a spare called determination
Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
- If you have an engine called the mind of Christ
Philippians 2:5, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:”
- If your tank is filled with things that are of God
Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
- If you have cargo and weight called Wisdom and Understanding
Proverbs 4:5, “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.”
Proverbs 4:7, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
- If you have insurance called FAITH
Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- If you have a driver named Jesus
Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Conclusion:
- We can finish our course as Paul stated!
- It’s a blessing to be able to say “HENCEFORTH”…
- “There is laid up” – waiting on me…God knows
- “Crown of Righteousness” – Reward for my staying on the right road (in spite of)
- “the Lord” – I will see Jesus
- “the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” –Your hatred, your envy, your malice….can’t take my crown
- “and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing”
I got a robe
You got a robe
All of God’s children got a robe
WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN gonna put on my robe
I’M GONNA SHOUT all over God’s heaven
I am On The Right Road!
#64
