Rev.Dr.Jeffry David Camm

COMPLETE WHAT YOU STARTED

 

Many people in life are good starters of projects, but somewhere along the way, they get diverted, they get tired, or they just give up.

 

They are like 100-yard sprinters in a marathon race, very unlikely to have the stamina, or the willpower to complete the course. That is not what the Bible teaches us.

In John chapter 15 verse 16 we read:

 

16  “Ye did not choose out me, but I chose out you, and did appoint you, that ye might go away, and might bear fruit, and your fruit might remain, that whatever ye may ask of the Father in my name, He may give you.”

 

Remember, this is Jesus Himself speaking. We did not choose to follow Him, He chose us - and He called us – each one of us by name, and according to His plan and purpose for our lives. His chose us so that we may bear fruit and that fruit should remain.

 

This means He chose us to bear fruit, firstly in our own lives, and through the plan and purpose He had ordained for each of us - yes, fruit which affects others.

 

So, if Jesus has a plan and a purpose for each of us, do you know what God’s plan is for you?

 

If you know what this plan is, have you started this plan? How far are you from finishing this plan? – Or have you been sidetracked, or given up?

 

2 Corinthians 8:9-13 says:

 

9         You know how full of love and kindness our Lord Jesus Christ was. Though he was very rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.

10       I suggest that you finish what you started a year ago, for you were the first to propose this idea, and you were the first to begin doing something about it.

11       Now you should carry this project through to completion just as enthusiastically as you began it. Give whatever you can, according to what you have.

12       If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have.

13       Of course, I don’t mean you should give so much that you suffer from having too little. I only mean that there should be some equality.

Apostle Paul makes this very clear. You must always complete projects you started in God’s name, because if you don’t, you bring disrespect upon Him.

 

So today, I want to challenge every one of you to look back over your lives and see if there are any projects, which you started for God, which are still unfinished.

If so, re-commit your lives to completing them, to bring glory and honour to Him.

 

Because of your obedience God will bless you - if you complete these tasks, and He will than allocate another task for you to do. Each task makes you more mature in Christ and closer to Him.

 

Think about that for a moment. In Hebrew chapter 6 the writer tells us that we will move to a more mature position in Christ – “if God permits”.

 

Why would God not permit?  Because we still have some unfinished business we promised to do in His name. He will not allow us to move to the next level until these promised works are completed.

 

Only then can you be ready for the next “God assignment”.

 

In 1 Timothy 6:12 it says:

 

12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.

 

We must all recognize that there has to be a fight – not against men but against principalities & evil powers of darkness.

 

Philippians 1:6 says that

God has begun a good work in you and He has promised that He will complete it.

 

This does not mean that there will not be trials and tribulations NO!!! It is only through trials and tribulations that we learn to trust more in God and learn to lean more on His understanding. Be happy for the trials, because you know that God is testing you for greater things.

 

• Without a fight, there can be no victory

• Without a test, there can be no testimony

• Remember, Satan was disarmed and defeated by Christ on the cross.

• This means he has no “arms”, no “feet” and no “Teeth”

 

 

James 1:6

2       My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy,

3       because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;

4       and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

5       If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you.

6       But ask in faith, never doubting, …

 

·         Endure all trials and tribulations, because they make you perfect

·         Wanting nothing,

·         Become what God wants you to be.

·         Become fully developed – both in the spiritual and the secular worlds.

·         Don’t be quitters – become overcomers.

 

Gal 6 9-10

 

9       So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

10     Whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone, especially to our Christian brothers and sisters.

 

Notice this instruction from Apostle Paul is not restricted to the family of God (our brothers & sisters in Christ) – but applies to all people, believers and unbelievers alike. By doing this we are being obedient to His word and He will bring all to pass in His due season.

 

Psalm 126:5 says sow in tears, but you will reap in joy.

Verse 6 tells us we must go forth (even when there is sorrow) we must go forth sowing, tithing, praying, reading God’s word, so that God’s promises can be fulfilled in your life and in the lives of the people you meet.

 

Remember:

 

***       Champions don’t give up

***       Champions don’t blame others for failure

***       Champions know and believe the promises of God.

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2 Cor. 8 10-12

To complete the work we must have:

 

·         A willing mind

·         One who co-operates with God

 

2 Cor. 10:3-4

Warfare is not physical – it is spiritual. Use the Holy Spirit to overcome these four areas in your lives.

 

·         Thoughts – let them on godly, not worldly things

·         High Thoughts – things which can lead you away from God – is a trap from satan – be aware of these and reject them

·         Rebellion – Attach yourself to a church congregation and be loyal to their leadership

·         Strife – anything which will cause you or members of the local community to be disruptive does not come from God – it is satanic – reject it and concentrate on what God has told you to do – because Jesus completed what God told Him to do for us.