Pastor Dale Walker's Bible Study Page
The New Study for this page will be: 'Finish Well', by Pastor Dale
Pastor Dale Walker's bible study
From Heart For The World.
Please do not, do not, do this fast. Take your time and listen and go above and below in context of the scriptures to see what the HOLY SPIRIT IS REVEALING TO YOU.
FINISHING WELL
IT’S NOT HOW YOU START THE RACE
IT IS HOW YOU FINISH ITHebrews 12
The Race of Faith
“1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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 has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
Introduction:
A. It is finishing the race that ____________________most.
B. Being a finisher means being someone who has the grace and character to move from good intentions to completed_________________________.
1. The difference between being a dreamer and a person of destiny is to require of ______________ the commitment that makes the dream come true. Victory is determined by what we do after the thrill and inspiration has passed.
2. Finishing is a ______________ that God would have us bring to every area and situation of our life. It is not about wishing you were somewhere else, but finishing well where you are.
Things finishers do:
a. They count the cost.
“For which of you intending to build a tower, does not sit down first
and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…..” Lk 14:28
Finishers don’t just think about opportunities they think through the commitment involved.
b. They crash through quitting points, (relational, financial, parental,
surrender, emotional)
c. Refuse excuses.
d. Exceed ______________.
C. Finishers understand that the secret to finishing life well is finishing _______________ well. “Make everyday your masterpiece.” --John Wooden
· 34"Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes..” (Mat. 6:34 MSG)
· “……do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” (Eph. 4:26)
D. Because they finish well they avoid the regrets of what might have been.
II. Steps to finishing well.
A. We must stay__________________.
“By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the
goal, where
God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If
any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment,’
(Phil. 3:14-15 MSG)
1. Staying focused means being sure you have the right _____________ line.
2. It means starting everyday with the ____________ in mind.
Someone is going to write or share an epitaph of your life (tombstone testimony), why don’t you write it now and live everyday to be what you want people to remember.
3. Being focused means willfully ignoring ________________.
B. We must close the _____________ on yesterday. Being finished with our past is a key to
being faithful with our future. Be finished with the good, the bad, and the ugly.
"………forgetting those things which are behind…….lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us…."
Through the power of the cross I can be at peace with my past. The secret to having our best new year is to have the best finish possible to this old year!We must find fresh ___________. Good finishers live with a vital optimism that the best is yet to come.
Our hope comes from understanding God’s commitment to helping us finish well.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb 12:2)
"Being confident of this very thing, He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion." (Phil. 1:6)
"This hope we have as an anchor for our soul which enters the presence behind the veil where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus having become our high priest." (Heb. 6:19-20)
"We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us." (Heb. 6:19-20 MSG)
We can finish not because we’ve tough but because we’re ___________ in the arms of the One who will never give up or let go.
Our hope comes from knowing that no matter what has happened or how we’ve failed we can come back to the middle of God’s _____________ through forgiveness and grace.
"I know My plans for you says the Lord, not harm you but to prosper you, to give you a hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11)
(Answers: I. Finishing, matters, actions, yourself, mindset, expectations, today. II. Focused, finish, end, distractions, books, hope, tucked, destiny)
OUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
In light of your calling, write what you believe God would want your epitaph (tombstone testimony) to be.
Where in your life do you most need finishing grace? (work, relationship, a commitment, a project, a job…..)