God Finishes What He Starts

Scripture Text 
Philippians 1:6

Intro: Have you ever started a project you didn’t finish? You may have an unfinished task hanging over your head right now. Sometimes we start a project with the best of intentions, but we don’t finish the job. This is a common problem for many, but it is not at all a problem for God. The bible tells us that God always finishes what He starts! God’s good work in us has three steps!

I. Salvation is the first step of God’s good work in us. Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)  being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

 a. God began His good work of grace when He saved us through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. This first step is called justification! Romans 5:1 (NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We had to be justified because we were alienated from God because of our rebellion and sin against Him and His righteous character. Our Sin aroused God's anger and wrath against us. But in the fullness of time the bible says in Gal. 4:4-5, when the time was right God sent forth His Son to redeem us who were under the law. Jesus became the propitiation for our sin and the sins of the world.

     1 John 2:2 (NKJV) And He [Jesus] Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Propitiation means to turn away anger or to make reconciliation between God and man. Jesus turned away God’s anger toward us by becoming the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Through His perfect sacrifice, Jesus reconciled and united us to God.

II. Second step of God’s good work in us is Sanctification. Romans 6:12-13

 a. Sanctification means that we grow in holy living in our relationship with God. Romans 6:12-13 ¹² Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. ¹³ And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. The believer is to yield the parts of his body to serve righteousness, and he is to let righteousness sanctify him more and more. He is to live righteously and become more and more holy like God. Philippians 2:12-13 (NKJV) ¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. God’s Spirit is working to transform us into the likeness of Christ. Living holy lives each day for God becomes our priority.

III. Third step of God’s good work in us is Glorification. Romans 8:30 (NKJV) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. 

 a. Glorification used in this verse is of man being made glorious in this life by means of the glorious gifts and graces of God, which are a foretaste of the glory that shall be revealed. When applied to man it always means the progressive act of being made perfect, as God is perfect as in 2 Cor. 3:18 (NKJV) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Our final Glorification will take place at the resurrection of the dead. 1 Corinthians 15:51-54 (NKJV) ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- ⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 (NKJV) ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. ¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

     Hallelujah, one day Jesus will transform our lowly bodies to become glorious just like His body! Philippians 3:20-21 (NKJV) ²⁰ For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.  

Conclusion: In the final glorification, resurrected saints will attain to the glory that Adam and Eve had before the time of the fall. We will be all that God created us to be when He first thought of us and planned our lives. We will be like our Savior and Lord for we shall see Him as He is. We will rule and reign with Christ forever. We have a marvelous future ahead of us and God will continue to work in our lives until He has accomplished His plan for each of us. We can be as confident as the apostle Paul was when he penned Philippians 1:6. “God always finishes what He starts!” Remember you are a continuing work of the Lord until the day of Jesus Christ.

 Invitation:  Right now is your opportunity to respond to the Spirit of God as He calls you to confess and repent of your sins and to ask His Son Jesus Christ to forgive you and save you for His Kingdom. Jesus died on the cross for you so you could be forgiven of all your sins. If there is anything the Spirit of God is pointing out in your life, now is the time to get it right with Him while He is tenderly calling you today.

Top Priority for This Year

                                         

Scripture Text Matthew 6:33

      Intro: In this one verse of scripture Jesus tells us what the key to a successful year and life is. Let us examine Jesus’ words in this verse and understand what He is talking about when He tells His disciples to seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness?   When we do what Jesus commands in this verse He promises we will be successful and prosperous this coming year.

                                                          

I. Seek first God’s kingdom. (Matt. 6:33) Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

 a. Seek first means it must have the priority over all else in our lives.

     Seek means to go in search or quest of. Seeking God’s kingdom starts with a new birth. Jesus said” you must be born again.” (John 3:3) Jesus tells us how to be “born again” in John 3:16 (NKJV)  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. After we enter the kingdom through the salvation that Jesus provided for us we are to seek to live our lives in the righteous standing that Jesus purchased for us when He died on the cross for our sins. Salvation is the beginning of a new abundant life in Jesus Christ. He empowers us by His Spirit within and we have the word of God to be our guide each day of our lives. We are to: “Keep seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness by reading, studying and meditating on His word” and speaking it over our lives so that it changes and shapes our lives into His perfect will for us.

    

II. What is God’s kingdom?

  a. It is where God as King rules, reigns over all that belongs to Him. It’s where He has supreme authority over those in His kingdom. We are His servants, He is our King and we obey Him.

  b. The kingdom of God is not external but internal. Romans 14:17 (NKJV) It is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. It’s more important what we feed our souls than it is our bodies. The kingdom of God is about a change in our heart and soul.

 The kingdom of God is in righteous living . 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NKJV) For God made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  In Christ we have become the righteousness of God. Because Jesus has made us the righteousness of God, we are to work out the righteousness that is characteristic of God’s kingdom. This is to be the priority of our lives here on this earth. We must seek to be holy in righteous living as a part of our daily lives.

  The kingdom of God is in Peaceful living. The kind of peace that Jesus gives.  John 14:27 (NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

   In God’s kingdom there is perfect peace and we are to allow His peace to rule in our hearts. Colossians 3:15 (NKJV) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let God’s peace govern and control your mind and actions. Peace will settle any friction and strife so we believers can remain strong and unified as one body in Christ. Real peace is a fruit of the Spirit who is at work in us. In God’s kingdom there is Joyful living. Christian joy is not just happiness that knows no gloom, but is the result of the triumph of faith over our adverse and trying circumstances, which, instead of hindering, actually enhances our joy in the Lord. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit! It comes from His working in our lives. God’s very presence within us by His Holy Spirit brings assurance, confidence, and security in the love and care of God. Real joy comes from knowing that God will take care of us no matter the problem or circumstance. God’s joy comes from knowing we can be absolutely assured of victory through Christ and that God will allow nothing to overcome or defeat us. This brings us joy unspeakable and full of glory.

III. Where is God’s kingdom at this time? Luke 17:20-21 (NKJV)
²⁰ Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; ²¹ nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  

 a. Until Jesus returns and sets up God’s kingdom here on earth, His kingdom is now in the hearts and lives of His people that have been born again by His Spirit, having been purchased by the blood of Christ. We Christians are to allow God’s will to be done in all that we think, say, and do here on this earth. We do not question His authority over us nor do we argue with Him. We are to pray for His kingdom to come and his will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matt. 6:10)

   Conclusion: When our priority is God’s kingdom, His righteousness and His rule over our lives, God will take care of the material things we need, for where God guides, He provides. [Matt. 6:33b]      This is God’s “social security” program. The believer’s responsibility is to live for the Lord as He commands in His word, trusting God for the future with unshakable confidence that He will provide. We are called to live one day at a time: tomorrow can worry about its own things. [Matt.6:34] We simply trust God our Father to do exactly what He said He would do each day of our lives that remain on this earth. This year may you seek first God’s kingdom and His righteousness and you will be successful and prosperous in God’s eyes!

 Invitation: You can never be completely successful in this life or the one to come unless you have entered God’s kingdom. You enter by being be born again. When you put your faith in Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross as payment for your sins, you are born again by the Spirit of God. Make sure of your salvation! Allow the Spirit of God to examine your heart. His Spirit will confirm with your spirit whether you are saved or not. If you are not sure about your salvation, now is the time to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save you from the penalty of your sins. Then be baptized and live for Him.

Why Jesus Came!

Scripture Text

Luke 19:10

Intro: Jesus in this scripture tells us His number one reason for His coming to this earth. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes lives forever by empowering the lost to be saved. With over 269 million lost people, North America and its major cities are some of the most spiritually dark places in the world. Please tell someone about this website or tell them your testimony how you came to be saved and how they can too.   

I. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Luke 19:10 (NKJV)  For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

The word seek means; to go after; to strive; to pursue; to desire; to aim at; to search for; to endeavor to get; to make that which is most important your primary concern. Save means to deliver, to cure; to make well; to preserve. Jesus saves mankind, He cures all sin problems. Makes people spiritually well and preserves their souls from Hell. At salvation God seals His people as His own through the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives according to [Eph. 1:13]. The Spirit is a once-and-for-all identification that gives continued assurance that a person is God’s child, entitled to his riches and goodness. God in His word says in [2 Tim. 4-5] “He desires that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That truth is there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us which is the testimony to be given at the proper time.” God loves all mankind and wants them to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ so they can be saved and made a part of His forever family!

Since we are the disciples of Jesus Christ, having been saved by His blood, and sealed with God’s Spirit, our primary concern should be to help seek and save the lost also. To tell them God desires for them to be saved. Many Christians seem to be concerned only about themselves and their families. We must look beyond ourselves to a lost and dying world.

II. Jesus seeks the lost by taking the initiative. John 1:14 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. He came from Heaven to mankind. Philippians 2:7-8 (NKJV) He made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

 a. Jesus didn’t wait for people to come to Him. Jesus had to take the initiative because the bible says in Romans 3:10-11 (NKJV) "There is none righteous, no, not one; ¹¹ There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.   All other religions teach you must do good works in order to somehow work your way up to God and hope He lets you into Heaven. But the bible says that we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory, which excludes work. Jesus said a person must be born again. Without God drawing a person to Jesus for salvation, they cannot be saved. Jesus Himself plainly taught in John 6:44 (NKJV) No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

III. We overcome evil by carrying on Jesus’ good work. Romans 12:21 (NKJV) Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 a. We all want to overcome the evil in our nation and beyond. We can only conquer evil by doing good. Spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and His salvation is a good way to overcome the evil in our nation and the world. When we remain faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ and share it with others, we will be overcoming evil by bringing people into the kingdom of God and His righteousness. All of this will be accomplished to the degree that we allow God to create in us a sincere desire to join Jesus as He seeks to save the lost today.

Conclusion:  We have the opportunity in the coming days and weeks to help carry on the purpose for which our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ came to earth. He commanded in Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV) ¹⁸ And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. We start here locally, then the state, North America and the world! May we join in prayer “Together For the Kingdom!”

Invitation: Jesus came to seek and save you personally! Have you responded to His invitation to be saved? If not now is the time, today is the day to confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and save your soul from Hell and for Heaven. Don’t put it off!