"It is Finished"

The final words said by our Lord Christ on the cross have a whole new meaning.

Yes I am repeating myself, but it is so worth repeating!

I think that this too I had been told, but it wasn't hitting home. When He said it is finish, no it wasn't just the punishment, it was my being complete in Christ at the point of my salvation. Really? Are you serious? Is the Bible true?

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
-2 Peter 1:3-4



I recall more in the journey that got me here (beyond what was written in "This is the Beginning")...

I felt like I was going to spontaneously com-bust Tuesday, so I could not sit down to write this until today. But really there was nothing spontaneous about it, it was a sovereignly predestined "coming apart at the seams" that I was experiencing.



Over three years ago I came across the verse in Ephesians which says "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might" (1:17-19). I memorized it and prayed it for my father, who is unsaved. I wanted him to know what are the riches of the glorious inheritance in the saints, that he might want it and come to Christ. Little did I know the Apostle Paul was praying it for us, as believers. Little did I know I had not barely scratched the surface of the understanding of what these riches are myself.



A few months ago I listened to an old New Years sermon by Pastor Dave in which he pointed a similar verse out, I think it was from Colossians 1 "And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (9-14) and he said something to the effect of “imagine if we all prayed this for each other, what amazing things the Spirit of God would do.” I started praying that for us and myself. I didn't even know what I was praying for, but the Holy Spirit did.



Then yesterday I was randomly selecting sermons to listen to by John MacArthur and providentially listened to the one on Ephesians 1:17-19. He pointed out that only the Spirit can reveal this supernatural truth and that is why Paul broke out into prayer for them because he knew the Spirit must reveal it.


Stop here and listen to the sermon... www.gty.org - (2008) "Our Resources In Chirst" Part 1... it's only 20 min if you skip the intro and end (first 1.5 min and last 6 min.) then you won't want to stop and you can listen to both part 2's.

So basically it's a beautiful reality of Him completely having already given us everything we need to live a godly life, on top of the justification of our souls with the promise of heaven.

Now I know this power, and I have still only a small understanding, but it's there, and by God's grace will continue to grow. This is what I know I was never displaying before. This is indeed what my dad and all unbelievers will marvel at when they see it in action. This is what I have heard so many other Christians refer to, and I always knew I didn't get it. Oh my gosh! Now I do! I need to hold on to it, because Satan would like nothing more than to snatch it away (not that he can, but he can destroy my testimony by taking my joy).

So now I know how to pray for myself and all my brethren! And wouldn't you say that in every corner at FBC God is already manifesting this? He is doing great things for His glory... "and greater things are yet to come." SOLI DEO GLORIA!