FINISH!

We are here for a purpose and there are things written in the Lord’s book that we are to finish.  When we go home to heaven and we look at what is written in our book and what we have finished here on earth I wonder how they will line up.  How will we be judged?

It has been more and more on my mind that I am here to do things for the kingdom.  It is not about my agenda, my possessions or how I am perceived by the world at the end of my time. That stuff will be wood, hay and stubble.

It has to be about how I have finished the work that the Father has given me to do.

 

We need to finish His work

John 17:4

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

This is what Jesus stated at the end of His life.  This has to be our aim, to be able to say this.

 

How should I be perceived when I am here?

John 5:36

But I have a greater witness than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

The Lord has given me many things to do while I am here and I am working towards those and I can get very busy as I go about my day.  I can get so busy that I forget that I am doing these things for the Kingdom. I remember clearly a word that the Lord gave me through a friend one night.  I had been very busy focused on a list of tasks which were important to what I need to complete for Him.  The Lord said to me through this friend “Remember DW it is about saving souls”.  I don’t forget this word as I get about doing things these days as this is the outcome of what I am here to do.  Like Abraham I might not see the outcome of these works while I am here but I still get on and do it. Every soul counts.

 

Finishing His work means being in His will.

John 4:34

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”

When I am tired or at the end of what I can do, if I am about His will then this becomes the food I survive on.  I remember I am about His work not mine and He will sustain me.

He reminds us again in John of being in His will.

John 6:27

Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

If you are in your will doing your stuff then this will perish and won’t count but if you are in His will doing his kingdom work then it is everlasting and eternal.

John 6:38

For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

His will His finished product.

 

Be about the works

We all know these verses in Philippians

Philippians 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Why did Paul write this?  He wrote it because he knew there was a finish line, he knew he would get measured on how he went in finishing and achieving what he was here for.  I wonder as he is in heaven now does he say “I wish I could have done more” or did he finish what he was here for?

John 5:17

But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”

This is a pretty clear verse.  We don’t finish by sitting on the couch and being inactive.  We are expected to be doing things.

James 1:22 

 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Again a powerful verse.  Don’t convince yourself that you can just go through life not pushing into the kingdom and finishing the works you are supposed to be doing.  We will be held accountable for this.

Now in getting about the works there is a maturity in understanding that comes with this and that is the point that it is Him that does the work not us.  In doing the works we have a peace and understanding that as we are in His will doing the works He is actually completing them.  When we are in this maturity this enables Him to move us very quickly in His kingdom and we finish things.

James 2:22

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

You have to do something in the end.  You may be in an oasis for a period but it can’t be for ever.  You have to give the Lord something to work with, a small step of faith.

Hebrews 6:12

that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Being about His works requires faith.  It is not easy when you are taking ground completing things. He tells us in Hebrews 6 to look to those examples in His children who have been down this path.  We have many examples in the bible and when we look around we see people today walking like this.

Luke 17:20

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.”

The Kingdom of God does not come through observation.  The Kingdom of God is within you.  But to be walking with the Kingdom of God shining from you and to be walking in power in the kingdom you have to be about his kingdom works.  You have to be pushing towards the finish line.  If we aren’t doing this then we can’t be walking in all we are meant to in the Kingdom of God.

Luke 17:10

So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’ ”

It is not our glory it is His.  It is an expectation that we are about doing His works and finishing the race. It is our duty.

 

If you are unsure what your works are then get close to the Lord and ask Him.  The Spirit will reveal this to you.  It may be a matter of starting with one small step of faith and doing a small task but this could be the mustard seed experience that gets you to the finish line.

You alternatively may be walking fully in battle as you are about the tasks He has given you.  The Lord is excited for you and with you and like Paul you push to the finish line remembering it is an external reward we look to.

 

As I finish this I get this word

“Tell my children this, I am going to come upon many quickly now and ask a lot of many so I need my children ready, pushing in to all that I have for them.  There is much ground to take and the battle is on for many. The victory is mine.  I have written many things in the books for each of my children and they will know this when they come home but I ask now that they put the immaterial things of life on the back burner and they get on with the things of the kingdom because this is what I am going to reward.  I will bless those who pursue me now and are hungry for what I have for them, they will know that I am with them and they are on my tasks.  It is an exciting time of power and revelation and I am here with them.”