It's About Time to Go Home: Part Three by Dr. Rod Mattoon

About this sermon

2 Timothy 4:7- I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: In PART THREE of this series, we find that God was about to bring Paul’s life to an end. He completed his task. Paul spoke about three areas that impacted his service for Christ. They are Paul’s fight, his finish, and his faith. They are areas where all Christians should excel. The word "fought" is an intense word in the Greek. It is the word agonizomai {ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee}. It is in the perfect tense which means an action completed in the past with continuing results. The impact of Paul's work continues to this very day. As Christians, we are to contend for Christ. We are to struggle to be victorious over our vices, triumphant over our tribulations, conquer our cowardness, and successful in having a servant's attitude toward the Lord and other people. Jude challenged us to contend for the faith. * Jude 1:3-Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. What are some of the fights or battles that a Christian faces? We list ten battlefields of the believer’s life. There is something comforting and satisfying in finishing a task. You can see that in Paul's words, "I have finished my course." The word "finished" is from the word teleo {tel-eh'-o}. It means "to carry out the contents of a command; to accomplish, to bring to a close; to finish." Paul finished what God called him to do. He finished in victory. If we are to be victorious Christians, then we need to learn how to keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ when the distractions of distress, discouragement, depletion, defeat, disillusionment, division, and death grasp for our attention. We are to be looking unto Jesus. * Looking Unto Jesus * If Problems stalk your life like a shadow on a sunny day, leaving you drained and discouraged, by God's grace look unto Jesus for the strength you need. * If Pain racks your body like the sting from a viper or scorch from a flame, leaving you in despair and distress, then look unto Jesus for His soothing care. * If Panic grips you like a leech in a swamp or tick on a deer, leaving you with dread and desperation, then look unto Jesus for serenity and stillness. * If Pessimism robs you of your joy like a thief that cleans out a bank, leaving you depressed and doubtful, then look unto Jesus for satisfaction and the stimulation of your spirit. * If Pandemonium rocks your life with confusion like a storm-tossed ship on a raging sea, leaving you disconcerted and distracted, then look unto Jesus for stability and sharpness of mind. We are to be looking unto Jesus. This message was preached on Sunday morning June 8, 2025, at Lincoln Land Baptist Church