I Want to Finish Right

 Temple Baptist Church - 12-28-2025

2 Timothy 4:6-8

 

Introduction:  A Charge Left!  “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

“I (Paul-our predecessors), charge (passing the torch to the next generation), thee (those who remain faithful to God), therefore (because Paul’s race has been run and ours has begun), before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ (A debt owed to God, the Gospel, and the world).”

 

A.  Christmas is over, and a New Year is at hand. 

 

1.  2025 has been a year of uncertainty, along with blessings and challenges that have almost become history. 

 

2.  God was good to us last year; God protected us; God fed us.  God has been SO good to us!

 

B.  The new year is on the horizon now.  We see it quickly approaching, and next week, 2026 will be here, the birth of a new year, a time of future history.  A tale to be written; a tale to be told.

 

1.  Some of us are getting old; all of us are getting older; the time of His appearing or our departure is nearing.  One way or the other, we will be leaving for home soon. 

 

2.  I want to finish right!  Paul finished right through all of life’s toils and snares.  What an example he left for all of us to follow.

 

a)  Every life moves steadily toward an appointed end.

b)  Every journey has a final step.

c)  Every race has a finish line.

 

C.  The question is not whether we will finish, but how will we finish.

 

1.  Second Timothy 4:6–8 brings us to one of the most sacred moments in all of Scripture—the closing testimony of the Apostle Paul. One day, I will stand where Paul stood.  One day, you will stand where Paul stood.

 

2.  These are not hurried words, nor are they spoken in fear. They are measured, deliberate, and Spirit-guided. Paul stands at the edge of eternity, looking back over a life marked by suffering, sacrifice, and service to Christ.

 

3.  He has been beaten, imprisoned, rejected, and misunderstood. Yet now, with death approaching, Paul does not speak of what he has lost—he speaks of what he has kept. He does not mourn what he endured, he rejoices in what he has finished. He does not dread what lies ahead—he anticipates the crown awaiting him.

 

D.  This passage shows us that a faithful Christian life is not defined by comfort, applause, or longevity, but is marked by faithfulness to Christ from his salvation until the end.  Paul was martyred in app. 65 AD.

 

E.  As we near the close of another year—and as each of us draws closer to the close of our own earthly course—these verses call us to sober self-examination. They remind us that the Christian life is not a sprint, but a lifelong race that must be run to completion.

 

F.  Paul finished right.  And by the grace of God, so must we.  In these verses, the Holy Spirit teaches us how a believer can face the end of life:

 

1.  Not with fear, but with confidence,

 

2.  Not with regret, but with assurance.

 

3.  Not with uncertainty, but with hope.

 

G.  Let us now hear the testimony of a man who could say, by God’s grace, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

 

H.  As I read 2 Timothy, chapter 4, I see the end of a great life, a life spent for Christ.  The Apostle Paul was one of the greatest Christians who ever lived.  He fought a good fight; he finished his course; he kept the faith.

 

1.  The apostle Paul writes these words from a Roman prison, knowing that his execution is near. This is not the language of despair, but of settled confidence.

 

2.  Paul looks back without regret, looks within without fear, and looks ahead with assurance. These verses teach us how a believer is to finish well.

 

3.  In an age that emphasizes starting strong, Scripture emphasizes ending faithfully. The Christian life is not measured merely by enthusiasm at conversion, but by endurance unto the end.

 

J.  That is what I desire.  That is what you should desire.  The world’s problems and America’s problems stem from one thing—a rejection of God, His Son, Christ Jesus, and salvation.

 

K.  How to finish right?  I believe that Paul gave us several things in these verses to help us answer that question in the affirmative.

 

1. A Life Willingly Offered – Verse 6.  “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.”

 

a.  Paul views his death as an offering. The word carries the idea of a drink offering poured out upon the sacrifice.  Paul illustrates this well in the Philippian Epistle.

 

Philippians 2:16-17  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  (17)  Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

b.  The Lord compared His life’s end to “drinking the cup.”

 

Matthew 20:22  But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.

 

c.  Libation – Drink Offering poured out for the Lord.  His life has been steadily poured out for Christ, and now the cup is nearly empty. Best illustrated in the Old Testament.

2 Samuel 23:15-16  And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!  (16)  And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD. 

 

d.  In verse six, we see:

 

1)  Paul’s readiness – “I am now ready.” Paul is not surprised by death, nor afraid of it. A life lived for Christ prepares a man to die in peace.

 

2)  Paul’s resignation — “the time of my departure is at hand.” The word “departure” was used of loosening the moorings of a ship or striking a tent. Death for the believer is not destruction, but transition to the next world which is eternal.

 

3)  Paul’s resolve — Paul does not speak of escape, but of offering. His concern is not self-preservation, but faithfulness. 

 

2. A Battle Faithfully Fought – (Verse 7a) – “I have fought a good fight…”  The Christian life is a conflict. Paul never portrays it as easy, but he does call it good. Paul does not say he fought a famous fight or a successful fight, but a good one — fought according to God’s rules, for God’s cause.

 

a.  It is a necessary fight — against sin, false doctrine, the world, and the flesh.

 

b.  It is a noble fight — fought for truth, righteousness, and the glory of God.

 

c.  It is a personal fight — “I have fought.” Paul did not borrow another man’s convictions.

 

3. A Race Faithfully Finished – (Verse 7b) – “…I have finished my course…”  The Christian life is not only a battle; it is a race. Each believer has a course, a God-appointed path. Many start the race, but Scripture commends those who finish it.

 

a.  The course assigned by God — Paul did not choose his own ministry; he fulfilled the one given to him.

 

b.  The course requires endurance — finishing matters more than starting.

 

c.  The course had an end — and Paul reached it without turning aside.

 

 

4. A Trust Faithfully Kept – (Verse 7c) – “…I have kept the faith.”  This speaks both of personal faithfulness and doctrinal preservation. Keeping the faith requires vigilance, courage, and love for the truth.

 

a.  He guarded the gospel — Paul did not alter the message to suit the times.

 

b.  He persevered in belief — trials did not shake his confidence in Christ.

 

c.  He remained loyal — when others departed, Paul stood firm.

 

5. A Crown Graciously Given – Verse 8) – “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness…”  Paul looks ahead, not to Caesar’s sword, but to Christ’s judgment seat.

 

a.  The certainty of the reward — “there is laid up.” It is already reserved.

 

b.  The character of the reward — “a crown of righteousness,” not self-earned merit, but reward consistent with God’s righteous judgment.

 

c.  The giver of the reward — “the Lord, the righteous judge.” Earthly courts failed Paul, but heaven’s court will not.

 

d.  The scope of the reward — “not to me only.” This promise is for all who “love his appearing.”

 

Conclusion:  Paul’s testimony is not the boast of a proud man, but the confidence of a faithful servant. He was offered, he fought, he finished, he kept, and he will be crowned. May God grant us grace to say at the end of our days what Paul said at the end of his:  “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Temple, How Will We Finish?

Temple Baptist Church - 3-17-2024

2 Timothy 4:7

 

Introduction:

 

A.  March 22^nd will mark 37 years that Barbara and I have been at Temple Baptist Church. 

 

1.  That is almost half of my lifetime!  Our children grew up here!  Laurens is our home!  Every day is a special day for this pastor when I walk through those doors and see our church family.  I often stop by the church while out visiting and many times just sit on the back pew where I can see the whole church or sit on the platform and look over the church.  I love to come here and sit and pray.

 

2.  There has never been the slightest doubt that this is where the Lord has placed me and never a time when I considered leaving or looking for another pastorate.  I am satisfied with God’s amazing grace and providence that brought my family here so long ago.  I can still say that I love you better than Butter Pecan Ice Cream!

 

B.  We laughed and we cried!  Two special men went home to be with the Lord last year, Bro. Harold and Bro. Carroll!  What a loss for our church but what a gain for our heavenly home.  We will see them again soon.

 

C.  This last year, Barbara and I stood with you, and you have stayed with us.  I could ask for no more!  There have been good times and bad times.  There has been sickness and there has been health.  There have been fat times and there have been lean times.  There has been spring, summer, fall, and winter with times of growth and times of pruning.  Temple Baptist Church, you have proven yourself true and have positively affected this county and the world for Christ.

 

D.  Temple started right physically! 

 

1.  We started small but right!  Our faith was in the Lord and our foundation was in God’s Word.  We were happy!  My family moved into the little house by the church, and it was home. 

 

2.  Today, we will eat in a beautiful Fellowship Hall.  Then, we fellowshipped in the “hall!”  We were happy because we were in the perfect will of God, and we could lay our heads on our pillows at night knowing that what we were doing and had done was scriptural.  God blessed.  We began to take on missionary families and made this church a safe haven for them.  We have always taken good care of these special people and God has blessed us for it.  I have not tallied the numbers, but my estimate would be that we have put 3 million dollars or more on the mission field. 

 

3.  We chose to stay in our building and remodel it as needed instead of building a larger one and allowing our debt to dictate our missions giving.  I am not knocking churches that build when they need to build but the bible says to be content with such things as you have.  In God’s time, we paved our parking lot.  Remember the days when we had to push cars out of the red mud when we outgrew our graveled lot?  Those were special days. 

 

4.  When it was time, God gave us a Fellowship Hall with SS classrooms.  When it was time, God gave us one of the most beautiful Prophet’s Chambers that missionaries and evangelists have ever stayed in.  Now we also have a beautiful, cozy, feel right at home Mission House for God’s special people.

 

E.  We started doctrinally right!

 

1.  We taught our Sunday School from the King James Bible; we filled our pulpit with the King James Bible; our people treated this property with respect; our people treated the pulpit with respect; our people have treated this pastor with respect.  We got rid of the Church Constitution and voted in the King James Bible as our authority for faith and practice.

 

2.  We maintained the Old Paths of doctrinal purity and separation.  We believed the Word of God and honored its doctrines.  We culled out the preachers and missionaries who compromised the bible and held the ones that we supported to the same standard that the church had.  We have never been “in your face” with who we are but we also have never apologized or capitulated. 

 

"The New Testament Church did not depend on a moral majority, but rather on the holy minority. The Church right now has more fashion than passion, is more pathetic than prophetic, is more superficial than supernatural. The Church the Apostles ministered in was a suffering Church; today we have a sufficient Church. Events in the Spirit-controlled Church were amazing; in this day the Church is often just amusing. The New Testament Church was identified with persecutions; today many of us are identified with prosperity, popularity, and personalities."

"Why Revival Tarries", Leonard Ravenhill

 

F.  I have preached from this verse over the years but want to make a spiritual application on Homecoming Day, 2024.  Paul is ending his race and is summing it up in three aspects: he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith.  That is all God expected from this great man of God and that is all that God expects from Temple Baptist Church!

 

1. We must Fight!  The Fight is not over!  We have had to fight from the very beginning and have continued to fight through these years.  Their faces have changed but the fight is the same.  As a church, we have weapons: 

 

a.  The weapon of unity.  We must fight together.  When the enemies of God’s Word begin their work of division, we must band together.  We are a “Band of Brothers and Sisters” here.  Too many churches have failed because people will not “answer the bell” for each round.  Most people do not like to fight and, unfortunately, most heretics or religious devils love to fight.

 

b.  The weapon of prayer.  The Lord is on our side because He loves the church more than we love it.  The church is His and we need to saturate our problems in prayer.  Pray and fight. 

 

c.  The weapon of righteousness.  Our cause is just!  We war to keep our church right with the Lord.  We war to keep our church a nest in which to raise our young.  We war to keep our church’s mission’s outreach vibrant. 

 

2.  We must Finish!  We started right but it is possible to finish wrong or not to finish at all.  The bible does not say to finish “big” or to finish “popular.”  We are to finish our race with our spiritual integrity intact!  Today’s mentality is “bigger” means that God is blessing, but many churches are “bigger” because they have allowed their churches to be worldly places for worldly people.  Starting right is great but finishing right is even greater.

 

3.  We must keep the Faith!  We do so by maintaining or contending for: 

 

a.  The Word of God.   The unending battle for Truth will continue as liberal theologians constantly undermine the foundation of our faith.  If the foundations can be destroyed, then what can the righteous do?

 

b.  The Old Paths.  The old ways are now being forsaken and mocked as liberal churches contend for our young people with the straw man of bridging the generation gap.  I find no place in the bible for a generation gap as the youth are to walk in the paths of their fathers! 

 

c.  Separation from the world.  Church needs to be treated like church.  I, as a pastor, never come to this pulpit without a coat and tie on.  Do I wear a coat and tie all week?  I am a denim shirt and blue jeans man!  I believe it is right for the pastor to follow the old ways instead of the open shirt, casual dress of many.  When the church becomes casual, the worship will become casual!  The respect for God’s house will be gone and it just becomes another building.

 

Conclusion:  Temple, we started right—we have remained right—let us finish the task that God has given us right!

Finishing Your Course

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-7-2024

2 Timothy 3:10-4:8

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Last year is done and the record has been recorded.  2024 is a year yet to be recorded.  It is Future History as we do not know what this year holds for any of us, we do know that day by day, week by week, month by month, we will continue to establish a record to be read by future generations until the Lord comes or we go home.

 

B.  I believe that we must leave a legacy for our children to reflect on and follow.  Here, we find at the end of Paul’s life a record of his life.

 

1.  Nothing is going to get easier; the world is not going to get godlier; and Satan will not back off!

 

2.  This year has already gotten off to a rough start to the point that I told someone the other day that we need to go back to 2023 and start over.

 

C.  Paul suffered much in his ministry and is now his life coming to an end.  In these verses, we find Paul “PASSING THE TORCH” to young Timothy.  Paul is year 2023.  He is finished and his fight is over, his race finished, and he kept the faith committed to him.  Timothy is year 2024.  He is now charged with the fight, finish, and faith that Paul relinquished. 

 

1.  The same here at Temple.  The Older Generation is getting older and feebler.  We need young families, younger men and women, to step up because the church is your church, and it is you that will carry the workload in the near future.

 

2.  Paul summed his life up into three aspects: Fight: he fought a good fight, Finished: he finished his course, and Faith: he kept the faith. 

 

D.  That is all God expected from this great man of God and that is all that God expects from Temple Baptist Church!

 

1.  2 Timothy 3:10-13.  The Fight!  “Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”   The Fight Is Not Over!  We need some “Good Soldiers”.  Old saying, “It’s not over until it is over.”  We are to fight but fight for right things, not all things.  Learn to pick your fights and have the grace to walk away when the fight is not worth it.

 

2.  2 Timothy 3:14-15.  The Course!  “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ”  The Course Is Not Finished!  We need some “Good Finishers”.  I desire to finish right.  I am close to the end of my race and do not want to end up as just another casualty of war.

 

3.  2 Timothy 3:15-17.  The Faith!  “The Holy Scriptures (the saving aspect) … All Scripture (the furnishing aspect)”  The Faith Is Still In The Balance!  We need some “Good Contenders”.  We are to continue to earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints because, if we lose this battle, God will not re-inspire or re-deliver the tenets of the faith.

 

E.  We live in the days of “falling away.” 

 

1.  People, who were once faithful to the church are leaving in a mass exodus.  Most churches, in areas where the gospel has been preached for many decades, are in numerical decline. 

 

2.  I am speaking of churches that are still holding to the “Old Paths” of doctrinal, personal, and ecclesiastical separation.  Compromised churches will draw some of these disgruntled church members but these who leave good churches do not, as a rule, join churches of equal or greater separation.

 

F.  Why are there so many spiritual fallouts?  

 

1.  Many who “Fall Away” are lost church members - 2 Peter 2:20-22  For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21  For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22  But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

 

2.  Many are apostates - 2 Thessalonians 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

 

1 John 2:18-19   Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

 

3.  Some are saved and become spiritual fallouts for one of three reasons:

a)  They Do Not Finish Because Of Defilement - James 1:13-16   Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16  Do not err, my beloved brethren.

 

b)  They Do Not Finish Because Of Discouragement - Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 

c)  They Do Not Finish Because Of Distraction – Luke 9:57-62   And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58  And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 59  And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60  Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61  And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. 62  And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

 

Matthew 6:19-24   Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. (Ye cannot serve God and mammon.)

 

Romans 8:5-8  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

 

G.  Every believer has a personal race to run!

 

1.  Our Course’s Initiation - Ephesians 2:1-4   And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3  Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

 

2.  Our Course’s Importance - Acts 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

3.  Our Course’s Individuality - 2 Timothy 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

 

Acts 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

H.  Many, unfortunately, do not finish their course in this world but there is a simple formula for doing so.

 

Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.

 

HOW TO FINISH YOUR COURSE

 

1.  Keep Your Feet Running YOUR Race – Hebrews 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (Keep Your Hands Busy In The Work Of The Lord.  Busy people have little time to get into trouble!  Do not keep your eyes on everyone else’s race!  Narrow sightedness makes for straighter plowing.)

 

1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.  (Idle hands are the devil’s workshop while busy hands do not have time to get into trouble.)

 

2.  Keep Your Confidence In Jesus Christ – Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (If your eyes are upon the world, you will be discouraged!  If your eyes are upon men, they will discourage you!  If your eyes are upon Christ, you will stay the course!)

 

Psalms 118:8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.  (Man is not your Saviour!)

 

Psalms 118:9  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.  (Government is not your Saviour!)

 

Proverbs 3:26  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.  (The Lord is our Saviour!)

 

3.  Keep Your Ears Open To The Word Of God – 2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:  (Heeding the Word of God will keep our path straight and secure!  Without heeding God’s Word, we will wander and stray.  Make God’s Word a vital part of each day!)

 

4.  Keep Your Mind Stayed Upon The Lord – Isaiah 26:3  Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

 

Psalms 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

 

Psalms 104:34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.  (Our Lord should be the center of our though life!)

 

5.  Keep Your Body A Holy, Living Sacrifice – Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  (Distance yourself from the things of the world while keeping your daily walk harnessed by the Word of God.)

 

6.  Keep Your Eyes On The Skies And Your Hope In Heaven - Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

1 John 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.  (Just the thought that the Lord may return any moment causes the child of God to find encouragement in this present evil world.)

 

Conclusion:

 

a.  Finishing your course brings Joy - Acts 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 

b.  Finishing your course brings Reward - 2 Timothy 4:8  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.

 

c.  Evangelist Dean Shook wrote the song, “It’s Been Worth Every Mile!”  “It will be worth it all when we see Christ!”