Finishing What Is Started

2011-08-23T08:57:00.000-07:00

In Matthew sixteen verse eighteen Jesus spoke a very powerful, and encouraging prophetic word. One that the Church has held on to for centuries. One that has the power to effect our perspective. Here's what He said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell (powers of darkness) shall not prevail against it."

The engine on the mammoth project was started on the day of Pentecost. Jesus was very careful in instructing His disciples. He was about to ascend to the right hand of the Father and the entire Gospel ministry was about to be handed over to them. They were told to wait. Before heading out, before becoming actively engaged with the Lord in building the spiritual temple, the house of God, the Church they needed to receive special Holy Spirit power.

Lk. 24:46-49 - ... "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

Acts chapter two records this very dramatic and spiritually powerful happening. The first Post-Pentecost Gospel message preached by Peter is recorded in the book of Acts. Three thousand came to Christ and were added to the Church. The spiritual body of Christ on the earth began its growth process. What was to become of it?

Being able to finish something we start is important. It is to God! So much so that He instructed us about it.

Lk.14:28 - 30 - For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.

It seems that it was to this very principle that Moses made his appeal to the Great Jehovah in Ex 32:12 - "Why should the Egyptians say, 'With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people." Moses was seriously concerned about what the Egyptians would think about the LORD if He was not able to complete the salvation work he had begun for the nation of Israel. They would have had occasion to say, God could bring them out of Egypt but He was unable to bring them in to Canaan land. Moses seems to have understood how important it was for God to finish what He started.

Clearly, before Jesus ever laid the first brick He sat down to calculate the cost, evaluate His recourses and on the basis that He had all power in heaven and on earth He made the quality decision to lay the corner stone of His Church. He started the project fully convinced He'd get the job done. We've been given a great prophetic picture of this in Zechariah chapter four. Zerubbabel is a type of Christ. Zech. 4:8 - Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. ...

The job will be completed. It'll be completed on time and within budget. Who again is the CEO of the project! Who again has all power in heaven and earth! Not only that we've also been left with the Revelation and in it's pages we find the end of the story. How about these words from Rev 21:6 - And He also said, "It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End.

When Jesus said "I will build my church, and the gates of hell (or the powers of darkness) shall not prevail against it." He meant that for every generation of the Church right up until His appearing in power and great glory. That includes this generation. How awesome to know that Jesus will continue building in our generation. We can expect the salvation of souls and the maturing of the saints. We can expect the Lord's name to be great in the earth. (Mal.1:11)

Perception

2011-04-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

In Matthew chapter nine we find where a couple of blind men came to Jesus seeking to be healed. He asked them if they believed He was capable of doing this miracle. Their response was simple, yet powerful, "Yes Lord". How Jesus responded to them is what we need to apply. Jesus said, "According to your faith be it done unto you". What we're believing God for is important?

Our perception is our reality. That in turn dictates our faith. It dictates what we expect to receive from God. If our perspective of the Omega, (last days) Church is one of apostasy then we're looking for (excepting) "so called" Christians to turn away from the faith. We're not expecting positive powerful spiritual growth. We're not expecting souls to be saved. In fact we may not even want it because that might prove our perception to be wrong. That's kind of how it was in the little church I got saved in. All that was expected was a "falling away".

Our perception of the Church in the last days will dictate what we are believing God for. As we race closer to Jesus' return how we perceive God's "end times" purposes will become even more critical.

In Luke eighteen verse eight Jesus said something that really stirs my heart. He said, But when the Son of Man returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?" I don't know where your at with this question but as one who firmly believers in the soon return of Christ I take it to heart. I find myself reaching out to God for grace to be found solidly in the "Believer's Camp".

Personally I'm not interested in one drop of Christ's blood having been shed in vain on my behalf. He is so worthy. We're not our own, we've been purchased with the blood of the Lamb (1 Cor. 6:19,20). He's worthy of our full devotion and commitment. He's worthy to be "believed". Lord what is on your heart? What do want to see happen in our generation? How can you be honored through our lives?

The Omega Church

Finishing What Is Started

Perception