Introduction: The Christian life is pictured in the Bible as a race to run; a course to finish. The Apostle Paul was determined to finish his course with joy and the ministry which he had received of the Lord (Acts 20:24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
See All...). Shortly before his death, he could give this testimony: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
See All...). Notice, he had finished his course.

Each of you needs to consider two very important truths. 1) God has a course for you. 2) God wants you to finish your course. How wonderful to realize that God has a specific plan for our life and that He will help us find and complete that plan. Yet, most Christians do not finish their course. They hardly even try.

Our passage in Luke 14:28-30 [28] For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? [29] Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, [30] Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
See All... speaks of one who intends to build a tower. Building this tower is like running your race and finishing your course. Yet, there are many pitfalls. The tower may never get built. By looking at the necessary ingredients for building this tower, we can see why so many people fail. Here are five reasons Christians fail to finish their course.

1. NO PURPOSE (Luke 14:28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
   See All...); Nothing can begin until someone is at least “intending to build” a tower. Intent points to a purpose; a desire to accomplish. First, you must have this purpose.
1. This Purpose Must Be For God – Not For Self (Proverbs 23:4-5 [4] Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. [5] Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
   See All...; Jeremiah 45:5And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.
   See All...; Luke 22:24-26 [24] And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. [25] And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. [26] But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
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2. This Purpose Must Be From God (Acts 9:6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
   See All...; Colossians 1:1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,
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1. Purpose follows salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10 [8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast. [10] For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
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2. Caleb wanted his mountain (Joshua 14:12Now 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.
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2. NO PLAN (Luke 14:28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
   See All...); The man who intends to build must now be the one who “counteth the cost.” He surveys the situation; calculates the requirements; makes his plans.
1. The Need For a Plan
1.  To Find God’s Way (Proverbs 3:5-6 [5] Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
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2. To Find God’s Timing (Ecclesiastes 3:11He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
   See All...; Isaiah 40:30-31 [30] Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: [31] But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
   See All...; Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
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2. The Source of our Plans (Colossians 1:9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
   See All...; Ephesians 5:17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
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1. Prayer
2. Meditation
3. Counsel
3. NO PREPARATION (Luke 14:29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
   See All...); Next, the man who would build a tower must lay “the foundation.” This is the stage of preparation where the stage is set for the completion of the goal. No foundation; no tower. This stage may include training, experience, maturity or other forms of laying the groundwork for the job to be done.
1. We Must Prepare for the Work (Proverbs 24:27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
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2. We Must Prepare for the Winter (Proverbs 30:24-25 [24] There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise: [25] The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
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4. NO PUSH (Luke 14:28For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
   See All...); Now, the builder must put forth the effort “to build the tower.” This stage is full of labor and requires faithful and diligent work. Many fail because they just do not want to work. He that desires the office of a bishop desires a “good work” (1 Timothy 3:1This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
   See All...).
1. Work with Focus of Mind (Nehemiah 4:6So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
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2. Work with All your Might (Ecclesiastes 9:10Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
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3. Press Toward the Mark (Philippians 3:13-14 [13] Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed; thou woundedst the head out of the house of the wicked, by discovering the foundation unto the neck. Selah. [14] Thou didst strike through with his staves the head of his villages: they came out as a whirlwind to scatter me: their rejoicing was as to devour the poor secretly.
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5. NO PERSISTENCE (Luke 14:29Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
   See All..., 30); Yet, to finish the tower, one thing yet is needed. The builder must be “able to finish.” Some men start many things but finish none. Paul finished his course. Will you finish yours?
1. We Must Refuse to Faint (Proverbs 24:10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
   See All...; Galatians 6:9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
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2. We Must Finish by Faith (Hebrews 12:1-3 [1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, [2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
   See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:58Therefore, 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.
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Conclusion: We have been looking at the Christian life as one in which we build a tower or finish a course. Another picture used in the Bible is that of sowing and reaping (Psalm 126:5-6 [5] They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. [6] He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
See All...). In order to reap, we must work the land, sow the seed, care for the plants and refuse to quit. God promises that those who refuse to faint will eventually, in due season, reap the harvest (Galatians 6:9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
See All...). What would it take for you to fail? Why not just keep on going on for the sake of the Lord?