Recap
To finish strong is to actualize the potential that God has placed within us to be, do, and go.
We must completely surrender our mission for Christ’s mission
Our obstacles are weight, sin, and ourselves
A weight is anything that will distract, deceive, and/or discourage you.
Sin is to transgress or break God’s law.
Question 4
How can we finish strong?
[Hebrews 12:1-3]
This is warfare! Weight and sin have NO power unless we give them power
[1 Peter 5:8-10]
Where are you rooted? Are you even rooted?
[Matthew 13:18-23]
Types of ground
- Wayside: dry, hard ground; unreceptive to the word
- Stone: tribulation/persecution; no weight/depth in themselves
- Thorns: cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches
- Good Ground: receive the word and bear fruit
All ground is good ground! However, if good ground just lies dormant, it will become one of the other types of ground.
[Hosea 10:12]
So how do we break up our fallow ground? The spiritual disciplines breaks up the fallow ground of our hearts, as well as, roots us in Christ. Specifically the inward disciplines which are:
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Study
The more we engage in these disciplines, the richer the ground of our hearts will be.
We need one another. We can’t do it on our own.
[Hebrews 10:24-25]
Question 5
What happens when we fall?
Acknowledge it
[Psalm 32:5]
Confess it
[1 John 1:9]
Forsake it
[Philippians 3:13-14]
Summary
To finish strong is to actualize the potential that God has placed within us to be, do, and go.
Our obstacles are weight, sin, and ourselves.
In order to overcome these obstacles we must be rooted in Christ.
Meditation, prayer, fasting, study, and each other helps us to stay rooted in Christ.
When we fall it’s important that we acknowledge, confess, and forsake it
Call to Action
Choose one day this week to dedicate to fasting and prayer
Complete the finishSTRONG Inventory. (download above)
Closing Thoughts
I want to close the way I began,
[Ecclesiastes 7:8] Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
“Begin with the end in mind and die empty“ – Aeneas Williams
Resolve today that the weight and sin will no longer have power over me.
Resolve today that I am committed to Christ mission.
Resolve today that I will finishSTRONG!
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