Whitehall Baptist Church
December 28th | 2 Timothy 4:6-8 | Finish Your Course

      • Isaiah 9:6KJV1900

      • John 1:14KJV1900

      • Philippians 2:6–8KJV1900

  • Magnificent Marvelous Matchless Love

      • Colossians 1:19–22KJV1900

  • The First Noel
  • Praise His Name (Psalm 148)

      • Revelation 7:9–12KJV1900

  • Holy Forever

  • Text: 2 TIMOTHY 4:6-8 | FINISH YOUR COURSE

    ILLUSTRATION: Dinner at Roy’s
    The pea pods
    The appetizer: Shrimp Skewers
    The Main Course: Lobster tail and Ribeye
    I ate the whole thing, there was nothing left.
    I finished my course!
    EXPLANATION: Paul was now being held in the Mamertine Prison
    It wasn’t like prisons of today.
    This prison was for the worst of the worst.
    There were two parts to the cell.
    Some prisoners would be lowered into the first holding cell, where they could be easily removed for trial or execution.
    But in the bottom of this first cell was a hold, which prisoners could be thrown into a lower chamber.
    The worst of prisoners would be thrown in the lower cell where many would die of starvation.
    It was in this lowest cell that Paul found himself.
    He knew barring some miracle, he had preached his last message, he had traveled his last journey, and very soon he would see his Savior face to face.
    It was in this damp dark place that Paul took one final scroll and dipped the quill into the ink one final time, and without knowing if anyone would ever receive them, he penned these words, “I have finished my course.”
    What sweet words of victory
    To look back on all he had done for the Lord, all he had been through, all he had experienced.
    And to be able to say, “I finished my course.”
    Nothing left… nothing remaining, it was all used up for Christ!
    James 4:14
    James 4:14 KJV 1900
    14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
    APPLICATION: What will you be able to say when you reach the end of your vapour?
    When that day arrives and you breath your final breath, will there be any leftovers?
    When we started 2025, we preached a message from 2 Timothy 2:2
    2 Timothy 2:2 KJV 1900
    And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
    We were all challenged from God’s Word that so often we become complacent in our salvation and never grow beyond that.
    Friend, in what ways did you grow in 2025?
    Are you closer to God here at the end than you were at the beginning.
    Can you say with a clear conscience that you lived 2025 to the fullest for God?
    Or as we have come to the conclusion of the year, are there still leftovers on your plate?
    Friend, don’t be guilty of leaving more on the plate year after year, because one day you will reach the end of your dash, and you’ll realize there was still so much left to give!
    The year started with a challenge from the first half of Paul’s final book… and as we finish 2025, I want to bring a challenge from the end of Paul’s final book.
    And my prayer is that at the end of the service you will be challenged like Paul to leave nothing on your plate!
    To be able to say like Paul, “I finished my course.”
    Let’s look at How Paul left nothing on the plate… How he finished his course.

    V.7, He Continued Fighting the Fight

    2 Timothy 4:7 KJV 1900
    I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
    ILLUSTRATION: Faith vs Taylor, Bench players vs game Players
    I coached a girls homeschool basketball team for a few years.
    One of those years I had two girls that couldn’t have been more opposite: Faith and Taylor
    Faith was fierce… she gave it all she had when she was on the court.
    There was just one problem… Faith was about 5 feet tall with shoes on standing on her tip toes.
    I remember one practice when we first started the team and we were practicing free throws.
    She couldn’t get it from the free throw line to the basket.
    I finally sent a video to my brother and asked him, “what should I tell her?”
    His response was, “Tell her to try soccer”
    But even through she was small she was fierce.
    When I had her on the bench she was on the edge of her seat begging to get back in.
    Taylor on the other hand, was much taller than faith.
    When you first saw her you would have thought she would have been able to play basketball.
    But she had no drive at all.
    In fact, I remember one game, we were getting ready to start the game and Taylor came up to me and said, “Coach… you don’t have to play me tonight if you don’t want to… I’m fine on the bench.”
    She was content just to sit on the bench!
    She had good seats, didn’t have to pay to get in the game… and even got free water!
    You see, while Faith was fighting to get into the game… Tayler was perfectly content to sit on the sidelines.
    EXPLANATION: Paul never stopped fighting for his faith
    1 Timothy 6:12
    1 Timothy 6:12 KJV 1900
    12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
    He was always encouraging, “Keep on running”, “Keep on Fighting”, “Keep pressing on.”
    And now, Paul is at the end of his life and he’s writing his last book to Timothy
    Look at some of the verses he wrote:
    2 Timothy 1:8 KJV 1900
    Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
    2 Timothy 1:12 KJV 1900
    For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
    2 Timothy 2:1–4 KJV 1900
    Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
    2 Timothy 3:12–14 KJV 1900
    Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
    2 Timothy 4:1–5 KJV 1900
    I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
    Paul wasn’t throwing in the towel, he was still fighting the fight just like he had his entire life!
    APPLICATION: Far too often, Christians are content to stand on the sidelines and watch the battle.
    It’s time to get in the game
    It’s time to jump into the fight
    It’s time to turn off the news and stop listening to how bad everything is getting and being doom and gloom and get into the battle.
    How do we do it?
    Ephesians 6:10-20
    Ephesians 6:10–20 KJV 1900
    10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
    We need to be going into this world with the Sword of the Spirit v.17
    Isaiah 55:11
    Isaiah 55:11 KJV 1900
    11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: It shall not return unto me void, But it shall accomplish that which I please, And it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
    Hebrews 4:12
    Hebrews 4:12 KJV 1900
    12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
    John 5:24
    John 5:24 KJV 1900
    24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
    If you want to be in the battle, we need to boldly speak the Word of God!
    You don’t have to stand on a platform or behind a pulpit
    Let you life be the platform!
    We live in a world that is lost and on it’s way to a lake of fire.
    And God is looking for Christians that He can use to reach others for Christ.
    ILLUSTRATION: I shared this with our teenagers in the last teen meeting we had.
    Did you know there was a person in the Bible that God couldn’t find.
    God found Adam and Eve.
    God found Jonah
    God found Peter when he went fishing.
    But there is one man God couldn’t find… in fact God is still looking today.
    Ezekiel 22:30 KJV 1900
    And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
    APPLICATION: Friend God is still looking for men and women who will stand in the gap for the Lord and boldly share His Word with others!
    Boldly proclaim the word of God in this lost and dying world!
    We need to get on our knees before God!
    Ephesians 6:17–18 KJV 1900
    And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
    I have heard preachers say that the Word of God is our only offensive weapon, but that isn’t true!
    There is a colon between v.17 and 18 which means the thought continues!
    We have a powerful weapon in prayer!
    “Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers!” J. Sidlow Baxter (1903-1999, Australian pastor and theologian)
    There is no greater battlefield than the battlefield we enter on our knees
    James 5:16
    James 5:16 KJV 1900
    16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
    We think all we can do is pray, but in reality prayer touches the nerve, that touches the heart, that moves the hand of God!
    The greatest thing we can do in this battle is spend time on our knees.
    We aren’t seeing God moving, because He isn’t seeing us kneeling!
    Pray for your family
    Pray for your church
    Pray for your pastor!
    Ephesians 6:19-20
    Ephesians 6:19–20 KJV 1900
    19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
    Friend, I’m looking forward to spending more time in prayer as a church as we go into the New Year!
    As I have considered this, I have been forced to get real honest and ask the question, “Why haven’t we had more emphasis on prayer as a church.”
    And can I just be honest with you this morning… There’s a fear in my heart that as we emphasize prayer, there is the possibility we will lose some people.
    Because if we are honest… in most churches people come to church to see what they can get… they aren’t interested in prayer.
    But if we are going to see God continue to work at WBC, it won’t happen because we are just doing more activities, it will happen when we corporately spend time praying together.
    ILLUSTRATION: It was a couple of year ago, and we had finished a special meeting at our church, and honestly it just wasn’t very well attended.
    I was discouraged because we had advertised and promoted and encouraged, and still we had low numbers and small crowds.
    And we were standing in the kitchen talking with Todd and Maria, and I just in frustration just started to share my heart and mentioned, “I don’t know what else to do.”
    And Maria just quietly mentioned, “Maybe we could spend more time in prayer before the meeting.”
    You know just because I’m the pastor doesn’t mean I have all the answers.
    APPLICATION: Church, if your prayer life and our church’s prayer life isn’t where it should be, then may we purpose to get things where they should be!
    If we are going to finish our course, we have to get in the battle and keep fighting the fight!
    We do that by boldly proclaiming Christ and His Word, and by getting on our knees!
    Paul finished his course because He Kept Fighting the Fight

    V.7, He Stayed Focused on His Course

    2 Timothy 4:7 KJV 1900
    I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
    EXPLANATION: Paul could have done many things with his life.
    He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees
    He could have had a good paying position
    He could have stopped somewhere along the way, after his first or second missionary journey, and went into retirement
    He could have found a secluded beach and lived out the rest of his days in peace
    But that would have been a different course from the one God had for him.
    ILLUSTRATION: It was before ON X had come out.
    At the time, I didn’t even have a GPS
    But some of the family had decided to head into a hunting camp, and I planned to come in a couple days later.
    So we sat down together and opened up google earth and walked through the trail to get into camp.
    What could go wrong.
    I wanted to get into camp first thing in the morning, so I started in well before light.
    And it didn’t take long before I had gotten off the trail.
    I knew I was headed the right general direction, but as I climbed over deadfall and then found myself on the sidehill of a shale covered mountainside, I know I was in the wrong place.
    When the sun did finally come up, I did I final look at my paper map from the top of a mountain and then began making a b-line for where the camp was.
    When I finally made it, I was exhausted and worst of all, I had just purchased new hunting boots just prior and I had giant blisters on the bottom of my heels.
    For the next few days, I slowly made my way about 100 yards above camp at daylight and then limped back at dark.
    When the day finally came for the long trek back out, I did my best to keep up with the others.
    There was literally spots along the way that I considered just sitting down and dying because my feet hurt so bad!
    SPOILER: I did survive.
    But I learned a valuable lesson… getting off the path can have painful consequences.
    APPLICATION: Friend, God has a path for your life!
    A course that He desires for you to follow.
    There are many roads in life that we can take.
    There will be paths that may promise more money
    There will be paths that give some notoriety
    There will be paths that look appealing.
    There will be temptations to just take the path that someone else has taken
    But may we not go down the path that is most convenient or comfortable
    May we always seek to stay on the path of God’s plan for our life!
    How can you know if something is a path away from God’s will?
    Stay in His Word
    Psalm 119:105
    Psalm 119:105 KJV 1900
    105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And a light unto my path.
    God’s Word will never lead you astray
    Remember the purpose of your life
    Colossians 1:16
    Colossians 1:16 KJV 1900
    16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
    You were created for his glory
    Before you make your next life changing decision, ask if it is going to bring your closer to God or further away.
    Because if the purpose of your life is to glorify Him, your decisions should seek to do that!
    In the end you will be thankful because Psalm 16:11
    Psalm 16:11 KJV 1900
    11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: In thy presence is fulness of joy; At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
    Paul Finished his course, by staying in the fight, by staying focused on his course

    V.7, He Kept the Faith

    2 Timothy 4:7 KJV 1900
    I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
    EXPLANATION: Paul didn’t waiver in his faith
    His surroundings may have changed
    In Acts 13, Paul began preaching in a synagogue
    In Acts 16, he was sharing the Gospel in Prison
    In Acts 17, he preached in Athens in the midst of Mars Hill
    In Acts 26, Paul stands before king Aggripa and proclaims the gospel
    in Acts 28, He finds himself in Rome as a prisoner attached to a guard, and I think he preached to him too
    His surroundings may have change, but He never changed his faith!
    In the last book he wrote listen to what he said,
    2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900
    Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
    2 Timothy 3:16 KJV 1900
    All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
    2 Timothy 4:2 KJV 1900
    Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
    2 Timothy 4:13 KJV 1900
    The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.
    Paul was faithful to the Word of God!
    APPLICATION: There have been some changes in the church house… and there will continue to be.
    There may be some new paint on the walls
    There may be new carpet on the floors
    There may be new technology
    A new song or two may be sung
    There could be new tools implemented to be more effective
    There may be some changes, but by God’s grace don’t ever change your faith!
    Hold firm to the Word of God as the final authority in your life!
    Hold firm that Jesus Christ is “The Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh to the Father by by him.”
    In a World that is compromising on the truths of God’s Word, hold fast to the faith!
    Don’t be carried about by every wind of doctrine!
    By God’s grace, as long as He allows me to be the pastor, I pray that He helps me to lead WBC to be a church that is faithful to God and His Word!
    There will be other churches that will be more high-tech
    There will be churches that will have more to offer
    There may even be church that have a more hansom, dynamic pastor
    But by God’s grace, we will strive to stay faithful to God and His Word!
    Paul was able to say he finished his course because he kept the faith!
    ILLUSTRATION: When we finished our main course that night, the best part was still to come
    It was chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream
    It was so delicious… so sweet.
    APPLICATION: After v.7, Paul tells us the best part… V.8
    There was a crown with his name on it!
    But then he says something that is so sweet for us… It’s not just a crown for him, it’s for us too.
    We will love his appearing, if we can say like Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”
    Friend, we’ve reached the final Sunday of 2025, are their leftovers still on your plate from this year?
    Are you closer to God today than you were when you started the year?
    Why don’t you purpose on the final Sunday of 2025, to be closer to God than you ever have in 2026.
    Don’t leave anything on the plate… no leftovers....
    Finish your course!

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Whitehall Baptist Church
whitehallbcmt@gmail.com
406.285.1003
http://wbcmt.org
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