Welcome to day 40 of our 40-day countdown to Easter 2019! It is Finished. Well praise the Lord! It is so delightful to have made it to day 40. Say it out loud, "Thank you Lord for your abundant mercy and Grace!" Today, we are discussing the words of Jesus as he gave his life on the cross for our sins. In John 19:30, He said, "It is finished".
Here's the thought ~ the finishing of one thing is only the beginning of a new thing.
WHAT WAS FINISHED?
The price tag for sin is death and giving of an innocent life on the cross (the death of Jesus) was a payment that we could not have made for ourselves. Romans 5:8 expressly states, "But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
WHY WOULD JESUS DO THAT?
Why? Well you just saw in Romans 5:8, that it is God showing His love for us. Another amazing and well known passage is John 3:16, which says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him would not perish but have everlasting life." So it's all about God's love for you.
WHAT IS NEW?
If you receive what Jesus is offering, then you are new! Think of it like this, when you pay for something valuable you then enjoy what was purchased. You make room and change things around to accommodate what's new in your life. In this case, Jesus' death opened the door of access that mankind did not have to God before the cross. We call it salvation. 2 Corinthians 5:17 describes it this way ~ "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
What we receive more than anything else is to be saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Now open to us, is a completely new way of life!
Salvation introduces us to divine healing, deliverance from heavy burdens and overwhelming sin, safety is provided by God and His provision is available to us like never before. All of this is accessed through Jesus Christ by faith. It is transferred from the supernatural into the natural where we can access it and apply it to our lives right now. Sometimes it doesn't work as we expected, but by faith, we realize that it is still working as it should.
As you grow in faith toward God, it becomes clear that God really knows best. Through Jesus' death, salvation was purchased for all of mankind and although it wasn't free, He offers it to you and me as gift (Romans 6:23).
As a Christian, we are now able to connect with God in ways that we could not before. We can pray directly to God in the name of Jesus, we can study His Word (the Bible) and receive understanding from the Holy Spirit who Jesus described as the Comforter (John 14:26) and raising our hands in worship to God becomes a way of life. Yes, it's different but it is undeniably liberating!
THE NEW LIFE
So we have finished 40 days of prayer and fasting.
What has changed in your life over the last 40 days?
Do you feel stronger, or perhaps closer to God?
Did you overcome a bad habit or maybe you became better with a spiritual discipline like Bible reading, prayer, church attendance, worship or simply sharing your faith with others?
Whatever it is that changed as a result of you making a commitment over the last 40 days, don't quit now. Stick with it. Let God be BIG in your life and reflect His glorious attributes through the life you now live.
OUR PRAYER
Lord, thank you for showing me that if any person be in Christ they are new creations; old things pass away and all things become new. It is wonderful to know that You looked past my short comings and loved me so much that You paid the price that I could not have paid for myself. I am so grateful. It is my desire to pursue this new life that You have provided for me. I will not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and I will boldly proclaim my faith where ever I go. Let the glory of Your presence rest on me. I am ready to shine like a light in dark places so that everyone can see what I have seen. I want to hold on to what You have provided and never let go. I receive, by faith in Jesus Christ, the new life! In Your matchless name, AMEN!
~Inspiring hope and seasoning faith, Pastor Sean