Starting Points that Finish Well

5 Fundamentals for Living

North Cities’ first worship services of 2012 were dynamic! Both the Garland and McKinney campuses were full. The worship was powerful, and the altars were full.  The first service of the year included a baptism, and the Holy Spirit was also poured out in the Children’s Ministry.  On Sunday evening in Garland, the church shared communion and remembered the Lord’s sacrifice that purchased our freedom and forgiveness.

Pastor Hargrove set the tone for the New Year with a message entitled “Starting Points that Finish Well.” The message outlined five fundamentals for living that will ensure a successful finish:

(1) Principles: Build your life upon a right foundation: the principles of the Word of God. Think and live inside the boundaries of God’s Word.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. [3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalm 1:1-3)

(2) Priorities: Make God’s Kingdom the first priority in your life. Living this fundamental creates a “God gravity” that causes everything else to fall into place.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

(3) Prayer: Develop a relationship with God through prayer. Fall in love with Him, and stay in continual conversation as you walk with Him.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

(4) Perseverance: Determine that you will finish the race. Discipline and manage yourself, removing any questions from your mind.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

(5) Purpose: God sees the end from the beginning, and He’s calling you to the purpose for which you were created.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Start with the end in mind. Build your life around these fundamentals, and you will not only finish the year well, you will finish the race of life well!