Strong Finish, Strong Faith, Do You Have The Endurance To Win?

Jonathan Nelson wrote a song, “Finish Strong”. Here are the lyrics of the chorus ” I’m going to have a strong finish, strong faith, strong finish, strong faith,I’m going to have a strong finish, strong faith, strong finish, strong faith” , and here is the chant at the end “Strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong faith” . He starts by saying that this race of life that we are in is a marathon and you must have endurance to win.



  Endurance

To develop the endurance that we need we must have faith and our faith must become strong. If not

The Faith Marathon - Photograph by Martineric from Lillie France 

we will cross the finish line but barely, and in that group of stragglers at the tail end of the race. Yes they finish and will get a ribbon that says they finished but don’t you want to be one of the top finishers? I want you to be one of the top finishers because we know that while all believers will enjoy eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ some will receive greater rewards than others. Those receiving the greater rewards will be those with the strongest faith and having the strongest finish in the race. On my website I give promises of God that help us increase and strengthen our faith. (See Them Here!),  This post is about what it means to have that strong faith.

 In Romans 4:20 Paul says about Abraham;

Romans 4:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹  and being fully convinced that what He had promised

Faith is the only way we can obtain blessings from God. 

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)⁶  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

 So prayer won’t get the answers or result in blessings unless the prayer is made in faith.  Charles Spurgeon said in one of his Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotions, that ” Faith is the telegraphic wire which links earth and heaven-on which God’s messages of love fly so fast, that before we call He answers, and while we are yet speaking He hears us. But if that telegraphic wire of faith be snapped, how can we receive the promise?” We must make sure that our telegraphic wire of faith remains strong so that we can have the endurance to finish strong.

Six Benefits of Strong Faith

1. Hope - Romans 5:2 “We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” 
2. Joy – Acts 16:34 “He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.” 1 Peter 1:8 “You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,” 
3. Peace – Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you

   

   The Winner by Faith - Image from Church Sports Outreach

   believe ⌊in Him⌋ so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 
4. Confidence – Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore the Lord GOD said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.” 1Peter 2:6 “For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!” 
5. Boldness - Psalms 116:10 “I believed, even when I said, “I am severely afflicted.” . 2 Corinthians 4:13 “And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak.” 
6. Christ is Precious - Ephesians 3:17 “and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. ⌊I pray⌋ that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,”, 

1 Peter 2:7 “So honor ⌊will come⌋to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the

builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone,” 

*Scripture references from “The MacArthur Topical Bible”

Six Principles

Here are six principles in obtaining strong faith that Dr. Fred K.C. Price identifies in his book “How To Obtain Strong Faith: (Six Principles)”

1. You must know the Reality of the Word of GOD. God’s word is Spirit; God’s Word is life. You must get into the Word; continue in the Word; devour it; get it down into your spirit, so that you may know the living reality of God’s Word. 
2. You must know the Reality of your Redemption in Christ. You must know that you have been redeemed. You are not going to be redeemed. You are not in the process of being redeemed, but the Bible tells you that (if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior) you have been redeemed. 
3. You must know the Reality of the New Creation. As a Christian, being born by the Spirit of God, you are a new creature in Christ Jesus. God views you as a brand new individual. 
4. You must know the Reality of your Righteousness in Christ. You don’t have to do any thing to get righteous. You are righteous in Christ. 
5. You must know the Reality of your Righteousness in Christ. You don’t have to do any thing to get righteous. You are righteous in Christ.
6. You must know the Reality of the Authority of the Name of Jesus. You must know that there is authority in that name of Jesus. You must know it as a reality. You must know it, not as an idea, not as a philosophy, not as a hope , not as a dream, but you must know that name as an actual, living, vital reality. 

Faith links us with God

With faith we have access to the power of God. Faith puts God on your side in all the battles that you face. With faith you are able to wear the armor of God, and it fits 

Ephesians 6:11-17 (NKJV) ¹¹  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹²  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. ¹⁴  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;. 

 Strong faith gives you the endurance to win and causes you to finish strong. Hold fast to and guard your faith because without it you will become exhausted and lose the endurance you have to have to win and receive the rewards that God has for you. When a marathon course of life takes us up the steep hills, along the cliffs, or down the steep grades, do you have the strength to continue to press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:14 . 

Do you have the endurance to win?