Finishing Well

Always preach a New Year's message. Like I said, it's been extended somewhat God willing in a couple weeks. We're going to return back to the gospel John but as a New Year's message 2026. I Cannot help but think it's always important not only to start well, but to finish well you know, we began a race and And and we also we began a new year and we all all of us desire to begin well and I really believe there's something here.

There's many Farewell speeches in Scripture. Paul has one. The Scriptures are loaded up with them, but in 1st Samuel chapter 12, please turn with me to 1st Samuel chapter 12. We're going to look at all 25 verses.

This will be our message to focus on the new year and onward. I Prayed that this is just not another sermon for us. But this is a word from God that will transform our lives. I always Remind myself. This is just not about receiving information and facts from the Word of God even though it is that.

But it is truth that Transforms our lives. We desire just not information but transformation by the Holy Spirit. This will be a two-part message. Let me read the text very quickly then we'll go through it like a jet tour this morning reading from the New King James translation.

Samuel’s Farewell Address and the Transition to Kingship

1st Samuel chapter 12. Samuel is addressing Actually Saul's coronation, but it's also a farewell address. Hear the Word of God now Samuel said to all Israel indeed I have heeded your voice and all that you said to me and have made a king over you.

And now here is the king walking before you and I am old and gray headed and look my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. Here I am witness against me before the Lord and before his anointed.

Whose ox Have I taken and whose donkey have I taken or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed or From who whose hand have I received any bribe with which blind my eyes. I will restore it to you. And they said you have not cheated us or oppressed us nor have you taken anything from any man's hand.

Then he said to them the Lord is witness against us and his anointed is Witnessed this day and you have not found anything in my hand and they answered He is witness. Then Samuel said to the people it is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron and Who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt?

Now therefore stand still that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts the Lord. Which he did to you and your fathers when Jacob had gone into Egypt and your fathers cried out to the Lord and Then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron and brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place.

And when they forgot the Lord your their God he sold them into the hand of Caesarea Commander of the army of Hazar and To the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab and they fought against him then they cried out to the Lord and said we have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Bales and the Asherahs and Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies and we will serve you but the Lord sent Drabble ball and bending and chaffet and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side and you dwelt in safety and When you saw that Nash king of the Ammonites Came against you and you said to me no, but a king shall reign over us When the Lord your God was your king now therefore here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired and Take note the Lord has set a king over you if you fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice Do not rebel against his commandment of the Lord The commandment of the Lord then both you and your king who reigns over you will continue Following the Lord your God.

However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord Then the hand of the Lord will be against you as it was against your fathers now therefore Stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes.

Is today not the wheat harvest I will call to the Lord and he will send thunder and rain and You may perceive and see that your wickedness is great Which you have done in the sight of the Lord and asking a king for yourselves.

So Samuel called to the Lord and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day and all the people greatly feared the Lord in Samuel and All the people said to Samuel pray For your servants to the Lord your God that we may not die.

For we have added to all of our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves. And then Samuel said to the people Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness yet. Do not turn aside from following the Lord But serve the Lord with all your heart and Do not turn aside for then you would go after empty things that cannot profit or deliver for they are nothing.

For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake. Because it is pleased the Lord to make you his people Moreover as for me Far be it for me that I should sin against the Lord and ceasing to pray for you.

But I will teach you the good in the right way.

Only.

Fear the Lord And serve him in truth With all your heart for consider what great things he has done for you. But if you still do wickedly You shall be swept away both you and Your king. May God bless the reading of his word from our ears to our hearts this morning.

Please bow with me in prayer Father this is your eternal word.

You have blessed it. Oh.

God we are so blessed to hear it this morning. Give us ears to hear.

Your word.

Speak Lord for your servant hears and we ask this for your glory and honor in.

Jesus name.

Amen.

Finishing Well in the Christian Life

It's been said that the Christian life is a marathon not a sprint and. How well we finish the race before us is more important than how we start the race and that is so true. It's always great to get off to a good start.

But how we finish the race is what really matters the runner. Who gets off to a good start? But then stumbles. Becomes disqualified shipwrecked along the way loses the race. But when we finish well when we finish well and.

One day here our master the Lord Jesus Christ say well done good and faithful servant enter into the joy of the Lord. Will indeed as? Paul says receive a crown of righteousness laid up for them which the Lord the righteous judge will give them on that day.

Beloved this is the joy that is set before us today to finish well to be faithful to the end and Oh, what a glorious joy it will be. To hear our master say well done good and faithful servant. It will not be easy.

The Lord never promised it would be easy, but he did promise he would be with us through hardships and trials and.

Values and.

Darkness. He would never leave us nor forsake us and that's the promise that we have as God's people. Samuel's speech here marks the final transition from the period of the judges in Israel to the time of the Kings.

There's a transition taking place here. It's a coronation of.

Saul.

King Saul now King Saul. Which the people desired to have? Really was not the anointed King even though he was anointed as a king, but he was not the one That God has chosen that God chose that would be David later to come.

Interesting to know that Samuel was both a priest and a prophet a priest and a prophet of Israel. As a priest as you well know He spoke to God for the people and as a as a prophet he spoke to the people for God.

Very similar to Moses very much like Moses. So Samuel is the last Judge of Israel and Saul is the first king of Israel. This is what's taking place here. It is a changing of the guard so to speak. And that's what's happening it's changing of the guard and Samuel gives his farewell speech a farewell address to the people of Israel here.

And as I've mentioned Samuel was Israel's last judge according to 1st Samuel 7 6. You can read that verse 15 to verse 17 as the first prophet according to 1st Samuel 3 20 acts 3 24 and 13 20 you can read that as well that backs up that statement.

According to 1st Samuel 2 18. He functioned as a priest and according to Hebrews 11 32. He was a great man of faith yet. What stands out most? Personally to me here. Is that not only was he a prophet in a function did a prophet and a priest but he was a man of prayer.

He was a man of intercessory prayer. God willing we're going to look at that in a whole sermon next Lord's Day as he interceded for God's people. Regardless of their wickedness and forgetfulness of toward God the wickedness of their sin.

It's four major points. I'd like to bring to your attention this morning in this wonderful chapter and for credit now. I borrowed these From a Presbyterian preacher. Yeah, even Reformed Baptists barring for Presbyterians, but that's okay.

I don't suppose there's a sin in that but our Presbyterian brothers and sisters are very similar To us and in doctrines and most points except that we are credo and they're pedo Baptist we don't believe in baptizing infants.

I won't go there this morning, but we are Baptist and we do believe in immersion But I got a man there for he's got.

But.

There are four wonderful points and we'll do my best to get through this as fast as I can but without giving Dishonor to God's Word. We're going to look at this and in the jet tour overall look at the context but the commentary.

From first Samuel I was reading from Dale Ralph Davis is a Presbyterian minister and he's really good. But here's the points I really like these and I got exhortations to build on that. On each of these points as we go so that'll help us in the application at the end.

But the first point is the case against us case against us. We see that in verse 1 through 15. Second we see the fear upon us. We see this in verse 16 to 19 The fear upon us and third we see the grace over us in verse 20 to 25 and Then fourth we see the man for us in verse 23.

I think that's a great place to conclude. So we have the case against us the fear upon us the grace over us the man for us great outline. I could not resist not using this as To help me keep track as I preached the word to you this morning.

So could not resist this outline, but in part one of this message. We're going like I said, we're gonna take a quick jet tour through this and hit these points. There are multiple exhortations even though there is a rebuke here, but Samuel gives multiple exhortations Through this chapter then God willing like I said next Lord's Day We will pick up and I like to give one Strong final exhortation from the Word of God from this chapter of how we can improve our prayer life and intercessory prayer.

I don't know about you. I need this. I need Lord. I'm more I walk this Christian life and follow the Lord Jesus Christ. I want to pray for others. This is one of the greatest I'm telling you folks one of the greatest ministries you could be called to even Preachers and preaching will eventually come to an end.

Evangelism will come to an end but intercessory prayer goes on throughout.

Eternity.

You never ends. So that is one of the greatest ministries I really believe that any of God's children can have and by the way all of us as God's children called to pray amen. And That I like to give it as rotation on that next Lord's Day now.

How we can be more effective and more useful in the kingdom of God in our daily prayer life.

Now.

To our exposition. Let's observe the case against us the case against us. We read this in verse 1 to 15. And I like to point out here the fact the first exhortation I observed and found in the opening verses 1 to 5 is Is This that it's all that we always maintain a good reputation with God and man.

A good reputation God and man. We see it in the text now Samuel said to all Israel. Indeed, I have heeded your voice and all that you said to me and I have made a king over you. Even though God was not in favor of This according to Scripture in the Psalms God sent lameness to their hearts.

Therefore they asked for a king and in verse 2 it says now. Here is the king walking before you and Samuel says I am old. We know he's up in age. I'm gray-headed and look my sons are with you and I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

Even though this is Samuel's farewell speech I like to add here is we see as Israel's leader. He will not retire from the ministry as many ministers do. This man does not retire from ministry. He goes all the way to the end faithfully.

He's a faithful minister of the priest a faithful minister of God's Word a prophet as. Well, his ministry will continue for some time and he will even anoint David as the true king of Israel when Saul proves unqualified for the office and this happens.

We see this will happen. Now in an interesting here we see Samuel that is faithful. He not only started well, but he finishes. Well, we see King Saul. Oh, he starts well, but he does not finish. Well, we see what happens to him.

He actually falls on his sword at the end at the end before he commits suicide. It was definitely suicide and the servant committed suicide right along with him at the end of his life. But he was he got away and forsook the Lord and he was even seeking Medians and and it goes to a witch and indoor and he got he did not he could not even Hear the Word of God anymore.

He the Spirit of God departed from him so the important thing that we need to observe here, first of all, is that Samuel in his speech is Both vindicates his own godliness. Particularly in a lot in light of his son's offenses his sons Had problems and here he is very transparent.

He's very open and again, it highlights the Israel sin in requesting a king. Like those of other nations, that's why they wanted a king. They wanted to be like other nations. I got a quote here by Martin Lloyd-Jones.

I never heard the sermon, but I was reading Part of his sermon that he preached Called an earthly king and he says this about this particular Text as we begin so many of the problems that came later. To these people came as a direct result of this fatal error.

He's speaking about how they desired a king. They said a king shall reign over us. What they began to do at that point is to insert their own ideas. Lloyd-Jones says. They began to insert their own ideas and and their heart desires against the plan plain teaching of God.

They wanted something new. They wanted something different. We see this all over the church what is called the church today. They wanted to be like others. They wanted to be relevant, right. Lloyd-Jones goes on to say the other nations had their king.

So they wanted a king they say. Why should we be different? This is something that has been Faithful. Lloyd-Jones says in the history of the church to do things in the way that the world has been doing them the Lord was their king and they were a Unique people they had the highest privilege a people could ever have.

But they did not realize it and so they coveted. What the godless nations around about them had in quote and how true that is we see this in this chapter. So in these opening verses of Samuel Samuel actually demonstrates that he never defrauded anyone.

He never perverted justice during them in his administration and a claim the Israelites actually affirmed to witness. In other words Samuel was a man of integrity. We see this here. Samuel was above reproach and Here's a few words and attributes that define integrity.

He was honest. He was truthful. He was responsible. He was accountable. He was fair. He was respectful. He was consistent and he was dependable. Sounds very much similar to the qualifications of elders and pastors.

These are the key attributes of integrity, what a key word and Samuel was a man of integrity and As believers in Jesus Christ, we are to maintain a good reputation With God and man this applies to all of us.

The way we walk the way we talk.

We are to be different. We supposed to be different as As light shining in darkness salt of the earth as our Lord says.

And.

Of course in his life The Lord Jesus Christ sets the perfect example, doesn't he? About this actually Luke the gospel of Luke chapter 2 verse 52 Luke tells us as Jesus grew. The scripture says he grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men in favor with God and men.

Beloved. If you want to finish well in this race of life to the very end you need and I Myself need to maintain a good reputation. Before God and man before God and man. There are many ways to do that.

But let me start with three ways we could do this. From our passage this morning. First of all. First of all, I believe it's important that we make ourselves Accountable to the people of God in our life.

Make ourselves accountable.

Accountability.

Sisters make yourself accountable to another sister. Brothers make yourself accountable to another brother. Samuel made himself accountable to the people you notice this. He's an open book. He had fulfilled their request for a king even though God was not in favor, but he refilled the request.

He had completed his role as a leader and now he stood before them and made himself accountable to them. He was accountable. Commentator Robert Bergen puts it this way. Quote. Samuel's final act as judge was to put himself on trial in quote.

That is so true. In other words Samuel makes his life an open book before the people of Israel and it gives them and anyone who wishes to The opportunity to testify against notice this he does this right at the begin beginning of his address.

He's transparent. He's open. Actually in the New Testament and the book of Acts turn with me there quickly to chapter 20. Chapter 20 we see something very similar that the Apostle Paul does in chapter 20.

He gives his a farewell speech here. It's interesting how this connects with Samuel's farewell speech, but notice what Paul says. Let me begin with verse 17 and read it all the way to verse 38 from Miletus.

He sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. He don't purposely did this to exhort them. When they had come to him he said to them, you know From the first day I came to Asia and what manner I always lived among you Serving the Lord with all humility with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews how I kept Back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you and taught you Publicly from house to house Testifying to the Jews and also to Greeks repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is Paul's a farewell address to the elders here and see now I go bound in the spirit To Jerusalem not knowing the things which will happen to me there. Except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city saying that chains and tribulations await me but none of these things move me or do I count myself dear to my my life dear to myself so that I may finish my race with joy and The ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

And indeed now I know that you all among whom I've gone preaching the kingdom of God will see my face no more. Therefore I testify to you this day. I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God therefore take heed to yourselves.

Now he gives a warning to all the flock Among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseer speaking to the elders to shepherd the Church of God Which he has purchased with his own blood. For I know this he knew it that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you not sparing the flock.

Within the church notice this verse 30. Also from among yourselves men will rise up speaking perverse things To draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch and remember That for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears is a man of prayer.

So now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace. Which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. And notice what he says listen what he says here.

He is a man of integrity. He's transparent. I have covered no, I've coveted no one silver or gold or apparel. Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities and for those who were with me.

I Have shown you in every way by laboring like this that you must support the weak and remember the words of our Lord Jesus. That he said it is more blessed to give than to receive. And when he had said these things he knelt down and prayed with them all.

And they all wept freely and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him. How warm and compassionate is that? Sorrowing most of all. For the words which he spoke. That they would see his face no more and they accompanied him to the ship.

There you see Paul's farewell address that he was a man of integrity a man of prayer. But he did not covet. Silver or gold he labored he wept. Knowing that tribulations awaited him. None of those things would even move him.

What a man of God very similar to Samuel very similar Sam. Let me ask you a few questions in the context here. Are you accountable to people in your life? Are you transparent? Are you willing to let them speak into your life and correct you when necessary?

Are you willing to put yourself on trial? Like Paul like Samuel don't be a long ranger. Immuning from all criticism and critique those things are good for you beloved. They're good for me. Welcome it invite it and this dinner demonstrates true Accountability and humility.

We need this more in the church beloved. And we would see less departures and less disqualifications as we now know and of Many ministers that's gone shipwrecked. There was a lack of accountability folks.

There was secret sins that was going on and they were not accountable. Proverbs 15 31 and 32 says it like this the ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul.

But he who heeds rebuke.

Gets.

Understanding.

That's the word of the Lord. Welcome it be accountable. The second exhortation we see here in this chapter is That if you've wronged anyone make it right ASAP. Keep short accounts with God in men. Keep short accounts with it where we see this in verse 3 B verse 4 back to Samuel first Samuel 12.

Here I am witness against me before the Lord and he asked the questions before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken. Whose donkey have I taken. Or whom have I cheated whom I have oppressed. For whom is whose hand I've received in any bribe with which to blind my eyes.

I will restore it to you. Notice what he says there. I will make it right. I will restore it to you and They said you have not cheated us or oppressed us nor have you taken anything from any man's hand.

But you see the the truth of making it right before God and man is here. Samuel not only made himself accountable to the people, but he also had done. He has he had done. No one wrong. He was willing to make it, right?

He was willing to make it right. We all fall short of the glory of God, right? We do. I Don't believe there's a perfect person among us here. Only the Lord Jesus Christ. We've all fallen short including this pastor and We do slip up many times and that's why We need to be forgiving.

We that's why we need salvation, right? We need to be redeemed and To those of all of us that are redeemed. Let me go further. That's why there's a there's has to be personal sanctification. Our personal holiness our walk with the Lord.

We just need to be willing to make things right when we do mess up. Make it right and make it short and and just not saying I'm sorry, but say please forgive me. Be open be honest. Jesus our Lord and Savior gave us the following instructions on the Sermon on the Mount about this.

How important it is? Even before we come in worship notice in Matthew chapter 5 verse 23 and 24 Jesus says therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there. Remember that your brother has something against you.

Leave your gift there before the altar and go your way. And what does he say?

First.

Be reconciled to you brother. First be reconciled to you brother and then come and offer your gift. See how important it is that we have a Clear record before God a clear conscience before God and men make it right before your brothers and sisters.

So the disciples of Jesus as Disciples of Jesus I should say must have a daily Urgency, we must have a daily urgency every single day with one another loving one another. Forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven us.

If you've wronged someone make it right. Go quickly make it right. Go ask forget for forgiveness. Go to them be reconciled. So, how do you maintain a good reputation before God and man. Make yourself accountable to the people and if you wronged anyone make it right.

Third.

Third exhortation we see here and it leads to this if you do those things Obviously You have a clear conscience before God and man. Keep a clear conscience before God we see this we see this in Samuel.

We see this in Paul. It's one thing to call people a witness against you, but beloved. Let me say this. It's another thing all together to call God as a witness. Really? It's God. He is the one that matters first and foremost to make it right.

That's what David does in Psalm 51 in his penitent prayer. It's Lord God. I have sinned against you and you alone. He cries out for mercy Have mercy upon me so make it right with God and they go make it right with your brothers.

Because people see you see people we see the outside don't we but God sees the heart. He sees the heart actually first Samuel chapter 16 verse 7 of a very well-known verse. It says but the Lord said to Samuel do not Look at his appearance or at his physical stature speaking about when David was being picked Because I have Rejected him.

No for the Lord does not See as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. How about Hebrews 4 12 and 13 for the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the division of soul spirit of the joints and marrow and is a discerner of thoughts of the thoughts and the intents of the.

Heart and.

There is no creature hidden from his sight. But all things are naked and open to the eyes of him to whom we must give an accounts. God sees the heart. He's the discerner of hearts. He's the searcher of our hearts.

Apostle Paul said in Acts 2416 this being so I myself always strive to have a conscience clear without offense toward God and men. You notice that? He's sure he had to strive to this he had to strive.

That's personal holiness. That's personal sanctification and it is hard work, but it must be done by the Holy Spirit. It's the Spirit of God that comes that is abiding within us and gives us the power because without him we can do nothing actually.

In the long haul.

First Thessalonians 2 5. For neither at any time did we use Flattering words as you know nor a cloak for covetousness.

God is witness. He calls God the witness.

He had a clear conscience. Samuel had a clear conscience. Paul had a clear conscience and you can have a clear conscience as well. It's been said that your true character is who you are and what you do when no one is watching.

That's the truth in it, but I'll take that a step further. I like what Robert Murray McShane says a man is what he is on his knees before God and nothing more. That's searching, isn't it? When no one else is watching but God's the audience.

He sees through and sees all things. So anytime you and I are tempted to said remember God sees God's all-searching eye. Sees through and in and everything you might as well make it right before now beloved that's integrity.

That's Keeping short accounts with God and man. I Kind of like to think of it this way if your vertical relationship with God is right. Then in loving God then our horizontal relationship with one another be right that will come Automatically when we make it right with God and that's what the scripture teaches in first John.

Our relationship with God is first and foremost. And then our relationship with one another and that's actually the first and great commandment and it loved the Lord that God with all your heart soul mind and strength and Love your neighbor as yourself.

I Like to think it like this, but it's so true. Jesus loved his neighbor more than himself. It's powerful. So beloved, this is all the first step and finishing. Well the race of life maintaining a good reputation with God and man.

Have an integrity. There's another exhortation is to give testimony to God's goodness give testimony to God's goodness in the past there are a couple ways we could do this look at verse 6 and 7 and Samuel said to the people it is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron and who brought your fathers up From the land of Egypt and now therefore stand still that I may reason with you reason.

Even the Lord says in Isaiah Come now. Let us reason together says the Lord. Though your sands be as scarlet. They shall be white as snow though. They be red like crimson. They shall be white as wool.

Reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts the Lord. That the Lord which he did to you and your fathers God is good. God is good and his goodness. So the exhortation give testimony to God's goodness in the past Samuel was faithful as a judge over Israel.

But now he impresses upon them that God has been faithful to his people all along and that also includes them as well as their fathers. Keep in mind that Israel Here are the ones that broke God's covenant and asking for a king they actually that's the the sin of it.

They broke God's covenants. They were unfaithful to God, but God remained faithful. God is a covenant-keeping God. He's always faithful and he he would never break his side of the bargain his word God is a covenant-keeping God and he is faithful and true and Israel broke God's covenant and asking for a king.

That this covenant Must be renewed actually for that reason repentance and renewal. Constitute Samuel's agenda here in his farewell address to Gilgal. That's actually what constitutes it not only did Samuel highlight Israel's sin, but.

But God's goodness is in view here before the Israelites his righteous acts his righteous acts. We see this in Psalm 105 1 through 5 there's so many Psalms that point this out. I don't have time to touch on all of them.

You can read Psalm 78. It's lengthy in your devotional time. It speaks about the goodness of God and even though Israel sinned against the Lord time and time and time again God's goodness was always he was always gracious always patient always long-suffering always forgiving.

And.

Here's Psalm 105 speaks of the eternal faithfulness of the Lord. Let me read you just six verses. Oh give thanks to the Lord. Call upon his name. Make known his deeds among the peoples. Sing to him. Sing Psalms to him.

Talk of his wondrous works. That's what we should be talking about. Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those who rejoice who seek the Lord. Notice how many times he says seek seek the Lord in and his strength seek his face evermore.

How we do that through prayer through prayer? Verse 5 remember his marvelous works, which he has done his wonders and the judgments of his mouth. Oh seed of Abraham his servant you children of Jacob his chosen ones God's people so we are to remember God's goodness.