1Corinthians 9: 24 ¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run that ye

may obtain 25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a

corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run not as uncertainly; so fight I not as

one that beateth the air: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I

myself should be a castaway

Becoming a Christian is very Becoming a Christian is very easyeasyBut the difficult part is remaining as

one in a hostile worldChristianity is not a 100 meters dash!It is a marathon raceThe battle between Greece and

Persia in 490 B.C. and the origin of marathon races

Paul the Apostle was one man who finished well in the midst of great adversities

Many started well in scriptures but...Fetching water in a calabashAdam and EveMosesJoshuaDavidSolomonUzziahJosiahAnanias and SapphiraDemas

Great men in history started Great men in history started well but...well but...John Alexander McDowieJack CoeA. A. AllenCharles SempletonOthers

Many things can bring down a man of God but researchers note 3 notorious things:

1. Pride2. Women/Men3. Money

How then can we finish How then can we finish well?well?

LIKE THE APOSTLE PAUL DID IN 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8

6 For I am now ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

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.

1. Begin well

By laying aside every weight

2. Persevere

Those who give up never get to the finish line!

3. Keep looking unto Jesus

If you look at others you will be discouraged or loose faith!

The believer who finishes well is the one who fulfils God’s purpose on

earth and makes it to heaven at the end!

Remember there is a cloud of witnesses cheering us at the

grandstands of heaven!!

Caleb finished wellJoshua 14: 6 ¶ Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh

the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive as he said these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out as the LORD said

13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

Our Saviour finished well

• Joh 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said It is finished and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost