It Is Finished
Monday
Day – Hebrews 12
Night – James 1
Tuesday
Day – John 19
Night – John 20
Wednesday
Day – Luke 14
Night – John 4
Thursday
Day – John 17
Night – Matthew 26
Friday
Day – James 1
Night – Hebrews 3
RESURRECTION SUNDAY 2014
Hebrews 12:1-3
James 1:12-15
John 19:17-42
John 20:1-10
John 19:30
>It is finished. These were the last words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we celebrate His resurrection we can’t help but to be reminded of His life and most certainly His death. The last words that a person says before they die are very significant, as we will see today. Of all the things that He could have said at this moment, He chose these words. Once in ministering He told the people that He only says what He hears the Father say. So this would also mean that these are the last words of the Father before Jesus died on that old rugged cross.
Today on this Resurrection Celebration Sunday I am led by the Lord to talk to you about Finishing What You Start. I’m on an assignment to teach you that it is important for you to learn to finish those things that you have purposed in your heart that you would do. We are to use Jesus as our example today of finishing. Today is about the fact that He finished it!
It is finished. All throughout Jesus’ ministry though, the Holy Spirit reminded me that Jesus TALKED ABOUT FINISHING.
Luke 14:28-30
>Jesus talked about finishing
John 4:34
>Jesus talked a lot about finishing
John 5:36
>There are and will be certain things (assignments) that the Father will give you to finish. It’s important not just to start those things, but to finish them as well.
John 17:4
>So as you can see not just in one or two places, but throughout Jesus’ life He talked about finishing.
>Well for the past three years or so I’ve been talking about finishing organizing my garage. Don’t laugh at me because you’ve been talking about finishing some things too.
>My point is to show you that not only did Jesus talk about finishing, He was a Finisher!
John 19:30
>What is finished? What was He referring to?
>Well given that we are in this season that we celebrate the life death and resurrection of Jesus we can be reminded of this and other passages where Jesus makes reference to Him finishing on the cross what He came for.
>He came to save us from our sins, to die on that cross, and to redeem us with His own blood.
Matthew 26:53-54
>He could have quit if He wanted to? But thank God that He didn’t.
Matthew 26:39
>And there was a time when He wanted to quit. And there may be times when may want to quit. But why didn’t He quit? Because He is a finisher.
>But what is supernaturally interesting to me is that these same last words of Jesus there in John 19, are the same words that James uses in the book of James chapter one.
James 1:12-15
>When it is what? When It Is Finished.
>I wonder if there is some correlation or significance to what James is saying here and with what Jesus said at the last on that day.
>Now this is amazing to me. We all have been there when we started something and it was something that we should not have even started; but we finished it. Or, we started something that we should have and for whatever reason, we did not finish it.
Hebrews 3:6,14
>Hebrews 12 talked about us running a race. It’s important in a race that you finish strong. ILL: Baton, Swim Team
>Now this is amazing to me. We all have been there when we started something and it was something that we should not have even started; but we finished it. Or, we started something that we should have and for whatever reason, we did not finish it.
Started eating something…
Started to say something…
Started to do something…
Started to watch something… Pornography, etc.
Started to steal something…
Started feeling on a person of the opposite sex…
Married but you started flirting with a co-worker…
Started drinking something…
Started smoking one cigarette…
Started with a hit on a joint…
How many times have we been there when we started something that we should not have and we finished it?
But on the other hand…
Started to clean the kitchen…
Started to work on that project…
Started school or classes at the church…
Started a new job…
Started a business…
Started with a marriage…
Started being a parent to your child(ren)…
Started coming to church…
Started volunteering…
Hebrews 12:2
>The message to all of us today is simple. When you start something good, finish it.
>This is teaching us to use Jesus as our example. He’s not one Who starts but doesn’t finish. No, He’s the starter and the finisher
Faith in The Passover
Romans 3:21-26
In this series on the subject of the Blood of Jesus we are reminding ourselves of just how important His blood was and is in the life of the believer today. And it is most fitting as we celebrate His death burial and resurrection that we do so.
John 6:30-71
Luke 22:1-26
Matthew 26
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
Exodus 12:1-36
A Real Relationship
John 8:31-36
Of all the things that you could pretend, you shouldn’t pretend to have a relationship with Jesus. Show you through the word of God that the way to true freedom, being free
indeed, is cultivating a real relationship with Jesus.
John 8:31-32,36
>Look at the the sequence and the connection. Continue in the word, know the truth, and the truth will make you free.
>But then also notice in vs. 36 that He says that the Son will make you free. So is it the truth or is it the Son that makes you free.
John 14:6
>Jesus is the truth. So when you continue in the word
John 1:1-3,14
>Jesus is the word.
John 17:17
>And the word is truth.
>So knowing Him will cause you to be made free indeed. So the question is do you know Him? Do you have a real relationship with Jesus?
>Do you know what I mean when I say a real relationship? Adultery is not a real relationship. A sugar daddy is not a real relationship.
Hosea 4:6,11
>ILL: My revelation of a sugar daddy
>Prostitution and Alcohol rob My people of their brains
>This issue in the body of Christ is bigger than you may realize.
1 Corinthians 6:15-18
>If you have ever been involved in an adulterous relationship or with a sugar daddy, then you know exactly what I am talking about
>Pornography is a compound word that means “writings of a prostitute.”
Ephesians 5:5
>ILL: “I bought her a bracelet”
1 Timothy 1:10
>Robbed of their brains
Hebrews 13:4
>A whoremonger is a prostitute. Incidentally that is where the word “ho” came from.
>Adultery is not a real relationship. It can feel real at the time but it is not. And what it really is is a form of prostitution.
Revelation 21:8
>Not a good list to be included in
John 11:41-42
>This is an example of a real relationship. Jesus is talking to the Father as if the Father hears Him. As if they talk all the time. As if they know one another intimately.
Faith in His Blood
Romans 3:21-26
We began a new series a week ago on a subject that I don’t believe I have taught since we became a congregation. The Title of this new series is called The Blood of Jesus. And
specifically today we will look at having Faith In His Blood. But how I am led to look at it tonight is by looking at a passage of scripture that talks about having Faith In His Name.
Acts 3:1-16
>The man was healed by faith in the Name of Jesus.
>But where is the faith?!
>As we look through this story we will see the many evidences that indeed this man had faith in the Name.
Romans 3:26
>Now the same way you can have faith in the Name you can also have faith in the blood of Jesus
Are You A Slave?
John 8:31-36
Last week we talked about this passage of scripture asking ourselves the question “Are we pretending?” One of the most powerful messages that we have heard to date. Jesus was very vocal about hypocrites. We looked at that because of what it says here in John 8. He said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
The word INDEED here means truly, in reality, in point of fact, as opp. to what is pretended, fictitious, false, conjectural. Pretend – speak and act so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not. Hypocrites – an actor, stage player; a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite. Jesus specifically spoke regarding being a hypocrite in how you do church, in relationships, in decision making, in respect to money, and in praise & worship and our words.
Now today, the question is, Are You A Slave? Obviously you should not be so quick to answer, like they were. We wouldn’t be talking about this if this were something that we didn’t need to talk about. I challenge you, as we go through the Word, to exam all areas of your life to see if you are in any bondage. Jesus not only wants you free, He wants you FREE INDEED.
John 8:31-33,34-36
>So evidently they thought that they were already free when in reality they were not! I wonder if the same could be so with us, that we think that we are free when in reality we are not FREE INDEED?
>ILL: Kunta Kente, 12 Years a slave. Sometimes it seems like the same is the case for the believer that says they are a Christian but sin is beating the mess out of them continually.
Romans 6:6-7,17-18,19-22
>Notice in all these verses how directly connected they are to what Jesus was saying in John 8.
>Freed, made free from sin, free and made free from sin.
>As I was preparing for this message revelation came to me clearly about this and I want to share this with you. I have it in a figure and I am about to transfer it to you.
>Yes, Jesus has freed you from the slavery of sin. But are you still sitting in the cell? Yes, you are free. But are you FREE INDEED?
Luke 4:18-19
>Jesus is anointed to preach deliverance to the captives.
>Deliverance – release from bondage or imprisonment; forgiveness or pardon, of sins (letting them go as if they had never been committed), remission of penalty.
>Captive – captured and kept in a prison, cage, etc.; Forced to watch or listen to something because you can not leave
John 11:43-44
>You and I have already been called out of darkness in to His marvelous light! But as it was with Lazarus, for many of us when we came forth we were bound.
>If you continue in My word… The loosing process comes from time spent in the Word of God.
>Are You Free but still Bound? Are You A Slave?
Acts 16:25-29
>The power of freedom is in your praise!
>The doors were opened, AND every one’s bands were loosed. Right? But no one left. They are free but are still sitting in the cell. “We are ALL here.” Not where I’m from…
>So it possible for someone to be released from bonds but for whatever reason continue to sit in that place of bondage. The Bible has something to say about those that sit in darkness.
Psalm 107.10
>They are sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death and are still bound…
Isaiah 42:7
>He has called you FREE, now its time for you to be FREE INDEED. It’s time for you to get up and not longer sit in darkness in the prison house.
>The Spirit of God will lead you out of the prison.
Micah 7:8
>This ought to be your own confession!
Faith in His Blood
Romans 3:21-26
We are beginning a new series tonight on a subject that I don’t believe I have taught since we became a congregation. The Title of this new series is called The Blood of Jesus. And specifically today we will look at having Faith In His Blood.
Romans 3:21-26
>He brings into his discussion the righteousness of God, so let’s just take a moment to remind ourselves what it is.
>Righteousness means in its simplest form right-ness. Being or doing right.
>For the New Testament believer, it means being able to stand in the presence of God without the sense of condemnation fear guilt or inferiority; and as if sin has never before existed.
>So this WITHOUT THE LAW is manifested… He is writing to groups of people who were very familiar with The Law and in some cases were Jews.
>Righteousness is BY faith
>Justified means declared righteous. We were declared righteous freely by His GRACE. Now he brings in another yet all important factor into the equation. Grace is the biggest word in the New Testament. In its most simplest definition it has been defined as unmerited favor.
Ephesians 2:8-9
>All three are gifts, but specifically grace is gift from God which is unmerited.
Romans 3:24-25
>Let the redeemed of the Lord say so. ILL: Raffle ticket. Go and redeem your prize.
>But what was the cost that had to be paid for your life? How much did it cost for you to be redeemed? What is your price? Everybody can be bought…
>God set Jesus forth to be a offering!
>Faith is a firm persuasion; a conviction based upon hearing.
Are You Pretending?
John 8:31-36
Today we are starting a new series of teaching from the Word of God about the subject of Freedom. This is something that has been on my heart for about the past 4-5 months. According to this passage of Scripture, Jesus says that if you belong to Him and continue in His word that you would experience freedom. But many that are in the Body of Christ are not free indeed.
The word INDEED here means truly, in reality, in point of fact, as opp. to what is pretended, fictitious, false, conjectural. The title of this introduction today is Are You Pretending?
John 8:36
>Are you pretending?
>Pretend – speak and act so as to make it appear that something is the case when in fact it is not.
>One of arguments that people that don’t go to church have about church is that the people who do go to church are hypocrites.
Luke 11:44
>Jesus talked often about hypocrites… So we should too.
>Are you not who you appear to be because you are pretending to be something that you are not. And the people who come into contact with you, are they not aware of who you really are?
>Hypocrites – an actor, stage player; a dissembler, pretender, hypocrite
Matthew 6:2,5,16
>Giving, praying and fasting all are “church” related and here Jesus speaks to how you “do church.” In other words He is saying when you do church, don’t be an actor, or stage player. Don’t be a pretender or hypocrite.
>Some of the fakest people in the world are in the church?!
>When you come to church are you pretending? Or are you the same way at home as you are at church?
Matthew 7:1-5
>Here Jesus speaks of being a hypocrite in relationships.
>Are you pretending in your marriage? Are you pretending in your “friendships” but later talking about them behind their back? Are you pretending in your church relationships?
>Disrespectful Judgements is one of the things that can ruin love in a marriage. Judging someone else’s wrongs in a relationship without respect to the fact that you’ve been and maybe are wrong is being a hypocrite.
Matthew 16:1-3
>Ecclesiastes 11:4 says that he that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.
>So Jesus is speaking about being a hypocrite in your decision making. How is it that you can make this kind of decision by observation and in a more important situation not observe and make a proper decision?
Matthew 22:16-21
>Being a hypocrite in respect to money… Show me the money!!
>Are you pretending financially? Trying to appear to be something or at a place that you are not. One of the biggest illusions and deceptions of debt is that it allows you to live a hypocritical lifestyle.
Matthew 23:13-15,23-29
>He just goes off on this group of religious folks who are suppose to know better…
>So its not just the argument of the people in the world, but its Jesus’ argument.
Mark 7:6-7
>He even addresses it as hypocrisy relates to praise and worship. Are you pretending to praise God? Are you pretending to worship Him?
>Saying al the right things in church and around the people in the church and in other places saying other things.
>ILL: Coach Eric cussed yesterday but is heart is for God. That’s real. What’s fake is bro. so-n-so that cussed yesterday and comes to church today “Oh praise the Lord!”
The Breaking of Day
Haggai 2
Haggai 2:15-19
We are concluding a series today that we started a little over a month ago. We’ve looked together at some powerful truths about tithing.
> We’ve all been there when we expected more than we actually received and the whole while God was allowing us to not have enough.
> They were tithing every now and then, and in situation after situation they struggling without necessities. Amos 4:4-12
> God will allow you to go through things in effort for you to return to Him to find out why is there a struggle. Deuteronomy 8:1-7, Joshua 7
> So in our first lesson the message was simple, RETURN TO TITHING
> The next was called POCKETS WITH HOLES, again noting the obvious that because they were taking care of their house first and leaving God’s house unkept.
> If you are ever in a situation where it seems like you got some holes in your pockets, then you might want to check up on your tithing.
> You’ve worked so hard for it so don’t just blow it.
> Some important things to remember: 1. It belongs to the Lord, 2. It’s a tenth not a first, 3. It’s received by Jesus, 4. It results in two things: the blessing & protection.
> Then there was part 3, You are not cursed. Malachi 3:10
> You are not cursed BUT you may be on hold… Joshua 7
> If you have decided to give God a tithe, learn to do it cheerfully and not tearfully. Do it in faith and not in fear. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
Genesis 30:27
>Jacob had enough experience with God to come to value the blessing.
>God wants to be good to you. He will even bless the unrighteous for your sake.
Genesis 32:24-31
>I say this prophetically, Day is about to break over your life! While the seed is yet in the barn, God says, I will bless you.
>Now the struggle is for the blessing. Don’t go without the blessing. You’ve gone through all you’ve gone through, have this attitude.
>I will not let you go until you bless me.
Genesis 35:9
>He keeps blessing me
Hebrews 7:1-8,11,15-17,20-21,24,28
>Abraham had gone through a struggle and afterwards receives the blessing.
>What I am trying to show you here is that TODAY Jesus is to us what Melchizedek was to Abraham.
>And when you bring your tithe, the blessing over your life is supposed to be released! Don’t go without the blessing! Wait for the breaking of day!
Hebrews 6:20
Hebrews 5:6,20
Numbers 6:23-27
>As your Pastor I bless you.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10
>Born out of struggle came the blessing.
>This should be your prayer. Don’t tithe without the blessing. God promised from this day forward I will bless you!
How to Dawn The Glory
Haggai 2:6-9
We are concluding our study today on the subject of the Glory of God. It has been said prophetically that this year the church must dawn the Glory. The Word of the Lord came to me around the end of last year and set a course for us and the basis of that word is taken from this passage of Scripture.
God will fill this house and specifically He will fill this house with the Glory of God. So we have endeavored to prepare ourselves for what is to come and to increase our expectation of it. We have been gaining the light of the knowledge of the Glory of The Lord, as it says in 2 Corinthians 4.
Tonight let’s find out How to Dawn the Glory!
1 Kings 8:6-11
>Now this is a very important passage of Scripture because it details for us some very important factors as it relates to the Glory of God filling a place.
>It says here that the priests were not able to stand to minister… Can you imagine what it would be like to have a service in which God interrupts with the very essence of Himself, so much so that pastors and ministers are not able to continue as normal?
>To get the greatest benefit and understanding of what took place let’s start back in verse 1.
1 Kings 8:1
>Now any time you hear about the Ark of the Covenant in the Word of God don’t think Raiders of the Lost Ark or Noah’s ark.
>The Ark of the Covenant was a container that Moses had constructed after having spent so much time with God on the mountain. God gave him great details about how things were to be constructed like the tabernacle, etc.
>The Ark of the Covenant represents the presence of God. Let me explain that from the Scripture. Don’t just take my word for it.
2 Samuel 6:1-23
>He went to bring the Ark of God… And it says that David played before the Lord.
>It’s not quite clear as to what it was about the way they did it the first time. But evidently there was something about the way he did it the second time that allowed them to make it all the way.
>vs. 14 says that he danced before the Lord with all his might. And the people also ushered in the “ark” (presence of the Lord) with shouting.
>This is How to Dawn the Glory of God.
1 Kings 8:1
>From 2 Samuel to 1 Kings we have recorded the life and reign of David. And 1 Kings begins with David’s death and Solomon’s first assignment as the new King: Build God’s House.
>Remember that in Haggai’s prophecy he refers to a former house and the glory of it…
>So now the temple is built and is about to be dedicated and before the service we get vs. 1.
1 Kings 8:1-5
>Notice how they usher in the ark! The significance for us is connected to a New Testament verse about sacrificing.
Hebrews 13:15
>Again, this is How to Dawn the Glory of God.
>Our praise and worship is important to the presence of God being ushered in to our services.
Psalm 9.1
Psalm 111.1
Psalm 119.10
Psalm 119.34
Psalm 138.1
>In each of these verses we see the example of how we should worship God.
