COMPLETION

COMPLETION

FOCUS VERSE: Haggai 2: 9 - The glory of this great house will be greater than the glory of the former house.

DECLARATION: God completes what He began in me; the work of my hands will end in glory and increase.

God encourages us to finish what He started:  The people of Israel had begun rebuilding the Temple, but they became discouraged because there was a lot of opposition from the authorities and people.  It is at this point that the prophet Haggai encourages the Israelite children to continue the work until completion.  God pays much attention to whatever He has purposed us to do and encourages throughout the project.  God values not only the beginning but also the faithful completion.  It is the nature of God to bring to completion - what He began in Genesis, He brought to completion in the Book of Revelation.  This is why He is called the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Zechariah 4: 9 - The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it.  

The spirit of a finisher - you will bring to completion whatever you begin.  A grand finale is a must in every project.  Faithfulness means finishing whatever God has entrusted to us.  Completion brings purpose into full expression.  

Philippians 1: 6 - The One who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.  
Ecclesiastes. 7: 8 - The end of a matter is better than its beginning.  

Completion often requires perseverance:  When we begin a project sometimes we tend to lag behind or even lose interest in it; but only continued persistence and perseverance will see through to its completion.  The building of the temple at Jerusalem faced delay, opposition and discouragement and many other negative factors.  Many God-given assignments pass through seasons of challenge before reaching completion.
 
Galatians 6: 9 - At the proper time you will reap a harvest, if you do not give up.
Hebrews 12: 1 - Run with perseverance the race marked out for you.

There may be many temptations and tribulations taking your concentration away from your goal.  But here, the apostle Paul exhorts us to run with perseverance on the track that is specifically marked out for us.  

James 5: 11 - As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  

Perseverance turns unfinished efforts into lasting accomplishments.  The victory belongs to those who cross the finishing line.  Completion requires endurance.  

God’s later work can be greater than the former:  Sometimes what may begin as small will have a great ending - this is how God works.  God promised the Israelites that the glory of the present temple would surpass that of the former one.
 
Isaiah 43: 19 - See I am going to do a new thing.
Job 8: 7 -  Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.  
Joel 2: 25 - I will restore the years the locusts have eaten.

God always moves from glory to greater glory.  Take the case of a sunrise.  You see a small glow of light and as the sun rises over the sky, the light becomes brighter and brighter.  At noon, the sun is right over us and the light is strong and bright.  Similarly, God’s plans unfold progressively.  

Completion reveals God’s faithfulness:  Every fulfilled promise and finished assignment becomes a testimony to His reliability.  God is dependable and trustworthy; He is accountable, we can depend on Him.
 
Joshua 21: 45 - Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.  
1 Kings 8: 56 - Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.
2 Timothy 4: 7 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  

Completion is the moment when faith becomes testimony: When God finishes His work, the whole design becomes clear.  

God bless you all!