Wednesday Service | Putting On Your New Self | Part 6 – Eyes on the Prize | Jordan Brawner

2 Timothy 4:6-8 (NIRV)

6 I am already being poured out like a drink offering. The time when I will leave is near. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.

[1] Paul finished his race well because… he lived to

2 Timothy 4:6 (NIRV)

I am already being poured out like a drink offering.

[2] Paul finished his race well because… he knew what of life he was in

2 Timothy 4:6 (NIRV)

The time when I will leave is near.

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 (NIV)

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

Luke 23:42-43 (NIRV)

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “What I’m about to tell you is true. Today you will be with me in paradise.”

2 Corinthians 5:1 (NIRV)

5 We know that the earthly tent we live in will be destroyed. But we have a building made by God. It is a house in heaven that lasts forever. Human hands did not build it. 

[3] Paul finished his race well because… he didn’t expect following Jesus would be

2 Timothy 4:7 (NIRV)

I have fought the good fight.

Ephesians 6:11 (NIRV)

¹¹ Put on all of God’s armor. Then you can remain strong against the devil’s evil plans.

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 (NIRV)

… I have been in prison more often. I have suffered terrible beatings. Again and again I almost died. 24 Five times the Jews gave me 39 strokes with a whip. 25 Three times I was beaten with sticks. Once they tried to kill me by throwing stones at me. Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent a night and a day in the open sea. 26 I have had to keep on the move. I have been in danger from rivers. I have been in danger from robbers. I have been in danger from my fellow Jews and in danger from Gentiles. I have been in danger in the city, in the country, and at sea. I have been in danger from people who pretended they were believers. 27 I have worked very hard. Often I have gone without sleep. I have been hungry and thirsty. Often I have gone without food. I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, every day I am concerned about all the churches. It is a very heavy load.

[4] Paul finished his race well because… he didn’t get off

2 Timothy 4:7 (NIRV)

I have finished the race.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIRV)

²⁴ In a race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don’t you? So run in a way that will get you the prize. ²⁵ All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever. ²⁶ So I do not run like someone who doesn’t run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air. ²⁷ No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules. If I did break them, I would fail to win the prize.

[5] Paul finished his race well because… he stayed to Jesus

2 Timothy 4:7 (NIRV)

I have kept the faith.

1 Timothy 6:20-21 (NIRV)

²⁰ Timothy, guard what God has trusted you with. Turn away from godless chatter. Stay away from opposing ideas that are falsely called knowledge. ²¹ Some people believe them. By doing that they have turned away from the faith.

[6] Paul finished his race well because… he was living for God’s

2 Timothy 4:8 (NIRV)

8 Now there is a crown waiting for me. It is given to those who are right with God. The Lord, who judges fairly, will give it to me on the day he returns. He will not give it only to me. He will also give it to all those who are longing for him to return.

• We will be rewarded for getting with God

• We will be rewarded for his second coming

James 1:12 (NIRV)

¹² Blessed is the person who keeps on going when times are hard. After they have come through hard times, this person will receive a crown. The crown is life itself. The Lord has promised it to those who love him.

• We will be rewarded for through trials in life

• We will be rewarded for Jesus

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NIV)

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

• Whatever I gain here is temporary… whatever I gain there is