Part 4 | The Keys to Finishing Strong
From Acts 28
In order to finish strong:
1. I must have a .
📖 Romans 1:9–10 ESV For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God’s will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
📖 1 Corinthians 9:27 ESV But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
📖 Philippians 3:14 ESV I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
📖 Proverbs 6:6–11 ESV Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
Biblical setting:
A. Seeks .
📖 Proverbs 15:22 ESV Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
📖 Proverbs 20:18 ESV Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.
B. Embraces .
📖 Proverbs 21:5 ESV The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
C. Stays to the .
📖 Proverbs 16:3 ESV Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
📖 James 4:15 ESV Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
2. I must wherever I .
📖 Acts 28:1–3 ESV After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand.
📖 Acts 28:7–8 ESV Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him.
Opportunity where we & .
📖 Acts 28:9–10 ESV And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.
3. I must be to God’s .
📖 Acts 28:12–15 ESV Putting in at Syracuse, we stayed there for three days. 13 And from there we made a circuit and arrived at Rhegium. And after one day a south wind sprang up, and on the second day we came to Puteoli. 14 There we found brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. And so we came to Rome. 15 And the brothers there, when they heard about us, came as far as the Forum of Appius and Three Taverns to meet us. On seeing them, Paul thanked God and took courage.
4. I must in the face of .
📖 Acts 28:23b–24 ESV From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.
📖 Matthew 10:14 ESV And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
5. I must God’s first.
📖 Acts 28:30–31 ESV He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
📖 Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Finish Strong:
Godly .
where you .
to God’s .
past .
His Kingdom .
Notes Section:
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