Finishing
The word finish means – completeness, accomplishment, conclude, fulfill
Ecclesiastes 7:8 “better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the
patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit”. Following through helps us develop
patience and humility in our character. A lot of people start things, but only those who
complete their tasks reap the reward. When we finish what God has given us to do,
we will experience blessing, and God will receive glory. Paul says in I Corinthians 9:24
“know you not that they which run in a race run all, but one receives the prize. So run,
that you may obtain”. Galatians 6:9 says “and let us not be weary in well doing, for in
due season, we shall reap if we faint not”.
Finisher is a person who completes a project. The word is applied to Christ (Hebrew
12:2) “looking to 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”. The Greek root refers to completing or bringing to an end.
You should not die before you finish the purpose which you were created to do
(Romans 8:29-30) “for whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom He did predestinate, them, He also called, and whom He
called, them He also justified and whom He justified, them He also glorified”. When we
come to except Jesus as our Lord and Savior, that is just the beginning of our spiritual
life. We are to go on to completion. He tells us how in Ephesians 4:11-15 “and He
gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors
and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ. That we hereafter be no more children, tossed to and fro, and
carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness
whereby they lie in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into
Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ”.
Moses was 120 years old and walked up the mountain to see the promise land, and
even though he didn’t go in the earthly promise land, he went into paradise. We know
that because he appeared with Elijah and Christ on the mount of transfiguration. Age
is not a factor, it’s a willing heart. Pray the prayer in Ephesians 1:17-19 over your life
to finish what God has for you to do, you must first know what it is; pray “that the God
of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and
revelation in the knowledge of Him. The eyes of your understanding being
enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of
the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of His
power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power”.
Jesus says in John 15:1-7 “I am the true vine, and My Father is he husbandman.
Every branch in Me that bears not fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears
fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the
word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in
Me. I am the vine, you are the branches, he that abides in Me, and I in him, the same
brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing”. Paul says in Philippians 1:
6 “being confident of this very thing, that He which has begun a good work in you will
perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”. As we abide in His words and His words
abides in us, our lives changes. Jesus said “if you continue in My word, then are you
My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”.
We are told to be followers of God as dear children (Ephesians 5:1). “Jesus said to
them, My meat is to do the will of Him, that sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34),
He said that His nourishment comes from doing the will of God; again He says “but I
have greater witness than that of John, for the works which the Father has given Me to
finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me”
(John 5:36). In John 17:4 Jesus declares “I have glorified You on the earth, I have
finished the works which You gave Me to do”. Jesus also spoke this from the cross,
he said “it is finished, and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost (John 19:30).
Paul who said “follow me as I follow Christ” even though he had a vision of what was
awaiting him in Jerusalem said “and now, behold I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem,
not knowing the things that shall befall me there. Save that the Holy Spirit witnessed
in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things
move me, neither count I my life dear to 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 (Acts 20:22-24), and (II Timothy 4:7) “I have fought a good fight, I
have finished my course, I have kept the faith”.
Sermon by: Harriet Bond
Date: April 27, 2007