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Jesus – The Author and Finisher of our Faith Song:
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Jesus is the Pioneer and Perfecter of our faith. Jesus is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Jesus had been there right from the beginning: Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." (Genesis 1:26). “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). God created us in His own image and likeness and He placed us in the Garden of Eden which is literally a place of delight. “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” (Genesis 2:15). God gave us a rare privilege to provide names to all things that He created: “Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.” (Genesis 2:19). Man fell and God was angry with man and he meted out punishment to man: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." (Genesis 3:15). Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.” (Genesis 6:11-13). God made a covenant of love and restoration with us: 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him: 9 "I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you 10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." (Genesis 9:8-11). God promised cleansing for man: 24 "For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. 32 I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel! (Ezekiel 36:24-26, 27, 32). God promised us a Saviour, His only Son Jesus Christ to be an atoning sacrifice for us once and for all since blood was necessary to atone for our sins and He was no longer pleased with the blood of animals: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14). “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6). "The multitude of your sacrifices— what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. (Isaiah 1:11). “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22). “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21). Jesus was and still a compassionate man, he came to seek the lost and not the saved. He died for us while we were yet sinners and even now his arms are wide open ready to accept as many as would want to come to him. His love for us was so great that he accepted to die on the cross of Calvary. Ultimately he said: ‘it is finish!’ “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36). “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6). “Having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:14). Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." (Galatians 3:13). “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1). “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 15:13-16). When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30). Jesus is the author and finisher of your faith. He is interested in you. He doesn’t want you to perish. He wants to rescue you and give you freedom from the sin of fornication, adultery, drunkenness, tobacco, drug addiction etc: “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” (Matthew 18:14). “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (Matthew 11:12). "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22). Jesus alone is the source of your peace, joy and happiness. He will set you free the bondage of witchcraft, wizards, occultism, secret society etc. You don’t have to be afraid of charms: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27). “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32). “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 54:17). 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." 19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. (Mark 16:16-20). Jesus will set you free from anxiety, confusion, worry, frustration, sorrow, despair and all forms of downtrodden and downcast: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33). The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is only Remaliah's son. If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.' " (Isaiah 7:9). Are you sick? Are you living in abject poverty? Are you childless? Are you jobless? Are you seeking life partner? Are you homeless? Jesus can do all things for you: "Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!” (Isaiah 49:15). “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19). “The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” (Psalm 34:10). "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). This was to fulfil what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases." (Matthew 8:17). Exhortation: "Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.” (Isaiah 45:22). “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Proverbs 18:10). “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37). "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deuteronomy 30:19-20). God bless you Evang. Oseh J. B |