Stay The Course
2 Timothy 4:7
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: KJV
There is one rule that applies to finishing every course and it is the same for everyone. "You must stay the course”. Sometimes that
is not easy. Your course may take you through sickness, financial straights, and the valley of the shadow of death. If you are to finish
that course. You must stay, like Paul you may be troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down. But also like Paul you will not get
distressed, you will not despair, you will not be forsaken, and you will not be destroyed.
Paul could stay and finish his course and so can you. What worked for Paul out of the word of God will work for you. And what worked
for Paul was this, he kept the faith. Meaning two things, number one he was in the will of God. Faith comes from knowing the word of
God and God's will comes from knowing the word of God. Your faith will not work beyond the will of God. So if Paul kept the faith he
was in the will of God.
You can see this in
Acts 23:11
11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so
must thou bear witness also at Rome. KJV
When Jesus told Paul he must also testify of him in Rome. Jesus would not have confirmed Paul’s trip to Rome if he had been out of
his will. Angels also confirmed Paul being in the will of God in;
Acts 27:23-24
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. KJV
The will of God does not guarantee every thing will be easy.
Acts 20:23-24
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
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. KJV
But being in the will of God is a must for staying your course.
Second thing in keeping the faith is a guarantee of the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will only lead in the perfect will of
God. And you know you are in the will of God because you have kept the faith.
Acts 20:23
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. KJV
To be bound in the spirit should mean you are being lead of the spirit. And then there is
Acts 16:6-7
6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in
Asia,
7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. KJV
Also, if you will stay the course of life God has given you. You must stay with the Spirit of God.
Paul said he had fought a good fight. Only a fighter stays to finish their course. We simplify this fight sometime by saying the only
fight we are called to fight is the good fight of faith. And that is true for everyone. Do you however realize the good fight of faith has to
deal with the flesh? And the flesh has to deal with temptation. And temptation comes through the eyes, the ears, the smell, the touch,
and the taste. Pass that other piece of pie please I am starting a diet tomorrow so I will have a second piece tonight. You can eat the
pie and give into the temptation or you can fight. Simple isn't it.
The fight starts here.
1 Co 9:24-27 Amp
24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but [only] one receives the prize? So run [your race] that you may lay
hold [of the prize] and make it yours.
25 Now every athlete who goes into training conducts himself temperately and restricts himself in all things. They do it to win a wreath
that will soon wither, but we [do it to receive a crown of eternal blessedness] that cannot wither.
26 Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary.
27 But [like a boxer] I buffet my body [handle it roughly, discipline it by hardships] and subdue it, for fear that after proclaiming to
others the Gospel and things pertaining to it, I myself should become unfit [not stand the test, be unapproved and rejected as a
counterfeit]. AMP
Training, perseverance, endurance, focus, will power and submission. It is all there. And the fighter who keeps their course must
have it all. There is no substitute. As a fighter you will get hit. Just don't quit. You may get knocked down. Get up. You must fight till
the course is finished. To stop before the course is finished means you did not stay the course and you have not finished your
course. Then the fight goes here.
Hebrews 12:1
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, KJV
You have to decide what to lay aside .But if it hinders your fight, it must be layed aside. When we talk about finishing we are talking
about winning. My wife used to tell me "no winner ever quits and no quitter ever wins" Remember the course you finish here on earth
no matter what it takes you through or what it takes you to will not only be victorious and find reward here. It will have a final reward in
heaven
2 Timothy 4:8
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. KJV
Stay your course and you will finish your course.