EXPLOSIVE PRACTICALITY 3

“IT IS FINISHED!”

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.   When He had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. John 19:28-30 (NLT)

tetelestai (te-tel-les’-ty); to end, complete, execute, discharge (a debt).

The prophetic word of God should give us the courage to follow through even when it’s hard. 

The promises of God are to be sought and worked out. They do not fall from the sky and promote you by chance. 

We have left way too much of our obedience to His Word and displaying His character to chance. 

WE ALL HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND STOP SHORT WHEN THINGS GET UNCOMFORTABLE. 

…I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Revelation 3:1-2 (NLT)

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. Acts 20:24 (NLT)

STRONG AT THE END AND AT EVERY BEND

MAKING DECISIONS THAT SEE YOUR  RESOLVE LAST AND YOUR INTENTIONS SEEN. 

MAKING DECISIONS THAT SEE THE FATHER’S CHARACTER DISPLAYED AND HIS WORD OBEYED. 

STRONG FINISHING DECISIONS

Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’  Luke 14:28-30 (NLT)

Things get left undone when the costs disrupt the desire. 

‘Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.’  Luke 22:42 (NLT)

His will is to see His Father’s character revealed and His Word obeyed. 

A FINISHED DECISION:

MOTIVATES YOU TO ENDURE SHORT-TERM PAIN FOR LONG-TERM GAIN. (Hebrews 12:2, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27) 

DIMINISHES NEGATIVE INFLUENCE. (Hebrews 12:1) 

FINISHING ACTIONS. 

Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means. 2 Corinthians 8:11 (NLT)

…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

WHO WILL BE NUMBER ONE IN YOUR LIFE?

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 (NLT)

Jesus is our finisher. He does not finish it for you but gives us the courage to follow through and finish it for Him. 

Prayers don’t go unheard, confessions go unsaid. 

Love isn’t given as an investment to see a return, it is given away completely and sacrificially. 

Seed is not sown only when a crop is assured, but whenever, wherever, and to whoever. 

Let’s get our business complete and make a new level of commitment to Jesus. 

IDENTIFY YOUR UNFINISHED BUSINESS…

Extra Notes – The Promises of Jesus. 

• Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23) 

• Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7) 

• Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-9) 

• Would be rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7) 

• Die a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53)

• Sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15 

• Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 55:12-14; Matthew 26:49-50 

• Disciples forsook Him (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:56) 

• Accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-60) 

• Spit on Him (Isaiah 50:6; Matth

EP2 – MY GOD WHY

EXPLOSIVE PRACTICALITY

MY GOD WHY?

RECAP:Identity Blessing and PurposeSatan cannot change the character of God, He can not conquer the Word of God, so he attacks our ability to walk out the purpose of God.

FATHER, FORGIVE THEMWhen we know His forgiveness, we are more open to repentance.

MY GOD WHY?

For three hours, beginning at noon, a sudden and unexpected darkness came over the earth. And at three o’clock Jesus shouted with a mighty voice in Aramaic, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” —that is, “My God, My God, why have you deserted me?” Matthew 27:45-46 (The Passion Translation)

Jesus fully man proved to us that we in our humanity can chose to do the tough things.

We may not always feel His presence, But His Word is always still true.

Our circumstances do not govern our responses, the Word of God does.

Why does God do such good things to me? – I am such a bad person.

EASY ANSWERS FOR HARD TIMES:

IT’S YOUR FAULT.IT’S SATAN’S FAULT.IT’S GOD’S WILL/FAULT. For we know in part…Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:9,12 (New Living Translation) THE FATHER’S PART OF THE STORY THE FATHER FORSOOK JESUS BECAUSE HE BECAME SIN. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (New Living Translation) Shame keeps us from reflecting the image of God.Shame hides us.God removed His presence from Adam and Jesus had to feel the same despair to fully understand how shame would make us feel.We don’t serve God for His presence, we obey God because of the supremacy of His Word.

(God’s) eyes are too pure to look on evil; (He) cannot tolerate wrong. Habakkuk 1:13

God is holy and will not tolerate sin.God is just and will judge sin where it is found.God is love and devised a way that justice would be satisfied and forgiveness made available. Shame and promise don’t coexist well. JESUS’ PART OF THE STORY THE SON WAS FORSAKEN SO WE COULD BE FORGIVEN. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 1 Peter 2:24 Jesus placed himself in the worst possible position. He had every level of shame to deal with.He had to do that without a sense of God’s presence. He had to remain true to who He was – THE WORD. OUR PART OF THE STORY WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16 (New Living Translation)

SHAME HAS NO ABILITY TO KEEP YOU TRAPPEDOur sense of His presence is not an indicator of His forgiveness.

We cannot think at the Father’s level.He dreams bigger than us, He imagines deeper than us, and can strategize to the extent that obliterates Satan.

DOUBT OBLITERATES FORGIVENESS

Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.Ephesians 3:20 (The Passion Translation)

WE SUBMIT OUR THINKING TO GODWe offer our ideas to His character and allow his character to help us “think straight”

When we are embarrassed by what we were thinking, humility compels us to have an open conversation with God.

Jesus modeled this. He discussed what He was thinking with God and let God speak into His ideas and thoughts.

Then he withdrew from them a short distance to be alone. Kneeling down, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup of agony away from me. But no matter what, your will must be mine.” Luke 22:41-42 (The Passion Translation)

WE CHOSE THE LIFE OF GRACE

So be very careful how you live, not being like those with no understanding, bu

EXPLOSIVE PRACTICALITY FATHER, FORGIVE THEM 

FIRE TRIANGLE: Heat, fuel, and oxygenGRACE TRIANGLE: Identity, Blessing, and Purpose (Genesis 1) 

Identity Blessing and Purpose (Genesis 1) 

Satan cannot change the character of God, He can not conquer the Word of God, so he attacks our ability to walk out the purpose of God. 

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. – 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NLT) 

Dunamis—Explosive power of God!Ochuroma—fortified, military stronghold, strong-walled fortress 

Fortress or a prison—Prisoner locked by deception. 

Operating in the purpose (church) we storm the fortress of Hell. Operating in shame we are trapped in the prison of Hell. 

What does our enemy do? Shapes your thinking. 

You can’t trust. Won’t succeed. Always broke. Never amount anything. God doesn’t care about you. Can’t let them know struggles. Reject you. 

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NLT) 

The knowledge of God is both informative and transformative. It is both the acceptance of Who He is AND the expression of who He is… 

Where the character of God meets the nature of man is where the greatest expression of Kingdom occurs. 

Repentance calls you from your comfort. 

You know your circumstance, you know His character, and when you compare the two, you prefer to face Him than face the blame and shame of your circumstance. 

Repentance is the highest level of the expression of God.We prefer to be turned towards Him than towards our current stupidity or circumstance. 

We have to know His character to want to see it become an expression of our lives. 

Three of Jesus’ last interactions before He died. 1. FATHER, FORGIVE THEM2. MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY?3. IT IS FINISHED 

1. FATHER, FORGIVE THEMWhen we know His forgiveness, we are more open to repentance. 

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals-one on his right, the other on his left. Luke 23:32-33 

Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing…’Luke 23:34 

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PRAYER 

JESUS FULFILLED PROPHECY. 

…he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Isaiah 53:12 

We are a prophetic expression of God’s character. 

JESUS MODELED THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER. 

This…is how you should pray: ‘Our Father…Matthew 6:9 

We belong to and have a conversational relationship with the Father. 

JESUS REVEALED MAN’S GREATEST NEED. 

This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28 

Forgiveness is the divine incentive for us to desire to be in the presence of God. 

Adam, where are you? 

…for they don’t know: ignorance does not equal innocence. But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on 

earth to forgive sins… Matthew 9:6The greatest form of obedience is to purvey the character of God 

for the benefit of others. Its what Jesus did! 

WHEN SOMEONE HURTS YOU, PRAY! 

1) PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HURT YOU. 

…bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 

Luke 6:28 

· My prayer for others may or may not change them, but it always changes me. 

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Matthew 5:43-44 

2) PRAY FOR RESTORATION. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil…If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Romans 12:17-18 

Be

The Kingdom Fight – The Line in The Sand

Psalm 2:1-12 TPT

How dare the nations plan a rebellion.

Their foolish plots are futile!

Look at how the power brokers of the world

rise up to hold their summit

as the rulers scheme and confer together

against Yahweh and his Anointed King, saying:

“Let’s come together and break away from the Creator.

Once and for all let’s cast off these controlling chains

of God and his Christ!”

Humanity choosing for themselves what is best for them by redefining what is good and evil and the expense of those around them.

God-Enthroned  merely laughs at them;

the Sovereign One mocks their madness!

Then with the fierceness of his fiery anger,

he settles the issue  and terrifies them to death  with these words:

“I myself have poured out  my King on Zion,  my holy mountain.”

“I will reveal the eternal purpose of God.

For he has decreed over me, ‘You are my favored Son.

And as your Father I have crowned you as my King Eternal.

Today I became your Father.

God has declared Jesus King Forever!

Ask me to give you the nations  and I will do it,

and they shall become your legacy.

Your domain will stretch to the ends of the earth.

And you will shepherd them  with unlimited authority,

God’s Kingdom invading earth!

crushing their rebellion as an iron rod  smashes jars of clay!’

How does He crush the rebellion?

“Listen to me, all you rebel kings

and all you upstart judges of the earth.

Learn your lesson  while there’s still time.

Serve and worship the awe-inspiring God.

Recognize his greatness and bow before him,

trembling with reverence in his presence.

Fall facedown before him and kiss the Son

before his anger is roused against you.

Remember that his wrath can be quickly kindled!

But many blessings are waiting for all

who turn aside to hide themselves in him!”

Be hidden in Christ!(Colossians 3:3-4)

What is the Kingdom worth to you?

Matthew 13:44-46 NLT

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant on the lookout for choice pearls. When he discovered a pearl of great value, he sold everything he owned and bought it!

They sold everything!

A Call of Surrender!

Romans 12:1-2 TPT

Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be his sacred, living sacrifices. And live in holiness, experiencing all that delights his heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.

Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you,  but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.

Surrender is your genuine expression of worship.

Luke 5:9-11 TPT

Simon Peter and the other fishermen—including his fishing partners, Jacob  and John, the sons of Zebedee—were awestruck over the miracle catch of fish.

Jesus answered, “Do not yield to your fear, Simon Peter. From now on, you will catch men for salvation!”

11After pulling their boats to the shore, they left everything behind and followed Jesus.

Do you allow fear to keep you from total surrender?

Luke 9:57-62 TPT

On their way, someone came up to Jesus and said, “I want to follow you wherever you go.”

58Jesus replied, “Yes, but remember this: even animals in the field have holes in the ground to sleep in, and birds have their nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay down his head.”

59Jesus then turned to another and said, “Come be my disciple.”

He replied, “Someday I will, Lord, but allow me first to fulfill my duty as a good son  and wait until my father passes away.”

60Jesus told him, “D

The Kingdom Fight – Clean

Heaven and Earth (Eden) – Mankind was to partner with God to spread His Kingdom to all the earth. 

Mankind rebelled and rejected God’s kingdom.

Mankind brings hell on earth by rejecting God’s kingdom and building their own. 

Jesus came to restore humanity and announce that His Kingdom has come!

Humanity’s struggle is the internal battle to do what is best for me and to redefine good and evil for my own comfort, convenience, and benefit at the expense of those around me. 

How does this statement apply to the individual and the family?

How does this statement apply to the Church?

How has the church redefined good and evil for its own comfort, convenience, and benefit at the expense of those around it? 

Rationalizing – an attempt to explain or justify one’s behavior with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate. 

Your hair is too long and you must change your clothes. 

Tattoos are a sin, you know. You cannot attend here.

You are living together and you are still not married? 

You haven’t tithed enough. 

You are still struggling with_____.  Come back when you can contribute. 

The Church has a rough history…

The Church is not the judge – God is. 

Matthew 13:24-30

Then Jesus taught them another parable:

“Heaven’s kingdom can be compared to a farmer who planted good seed in his field. But when everyone was asleep, an enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat and ran away. When the wheat sprouted and bore grain, the weeds also appeared. So the farmer’s hired hands came to him and said, ‘Sir, wasn’t that good seed that you sowed in the field? Where did all these weeds come from?’

He answered, ‘This has to be the work of an enemy!’

They replied, ‘Do you want us to go and gather up all the weeds?’

‘No,’ he said. ‘If you pull out the weeds you might uproot the wheat at the same time. Let them both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I’ll tell my harvesters to gather the weeds first and tie them all in bundles to be burned. Then they will harvest the wheat and put it into my barn.”

God sows good seed

The enemy sowed bad seed among the good

God forbid the keepers of the field to pull up the weeds

God doesn’t trust our judgement to pull up the right plant

The Church is not a place of drama and division!

The Church is not a place for gossip and slander! 

The Church is not a place of judgement! 

The Church is a place of mercy and forgiveness.

The Church is a place of love and grace. 

The Church is a place of fellowship! 

The Church is a place for equipping believers! 

The Church is a place of worship!

What should the church look like?

Heaven, Earth and Eden *1

Heaven and Earth separated by sin *2

Hell invades Earth through mankind’s decisions. *3

The earth becomes polluted with sin and death. *4

Genesis 6:5 NKJV

Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

What is the solution?

The Cross

Something had to be done about sin. 

Romans 5:8 TPT

But Christ proved God’s passionate love for us by dying in our place while we were still lost and ungodly!

2 Corinthians 5:21 TPT

For God made the only one who did not know sin to become sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God through our union with him.

Jesus makes us clean. *5

Hebrews 10:21-22 TPT

And since we now have a magnificent High Priest to welcome us into God’s house, we come closer to God and approach him with an open heart, fully convinced that nothing will keep us at a distance from him. For our hearts have been sprinkled with blood to remove impurity, and we have been freed from an accusing conscience. Now we are clean, unstained, and presentable to God inside and out! 

Ezekiel 36:25-27 NKJV

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be cl

The Kingdom Fight – Thrive vs. Survive

In the beginning …. Genesis 1:1

Heaven and Earth were united in a place called Eden. 

Mankind had one job, fill the Earth with God’s Kingdom. 

MultiplyBe fruitfulHave dominionSubdueFill

Mankind rebelled against God and His Kingdom. (Matthew 11:12)

Despite humanity’s rejection of God’s Kingdom, God still honors their original purpose and design. (Genesis 1:28)

Instead of fulfilling God’s purpose and design, humanity began to build its own kingdoms. 

The results were humanity created a HELL on Earth in an attempt to obtain comfort, convenience, and benefit, but at the expense of others. 

Jesus came to reestablish His Kingdom on Earth by restoring the hearts of men to once again obtain His Kingdom within. They then have the supernatural ability to release that Kingdom and its effects on a lost and dying world. 

Humanity’s struggle….

is the internal battle to do what is best for me and to redefine good and evil for my own convenience, comfort, and benefit at the expense of the people around me. 

When we seek convenience, comfort, and benefit at the expense of others we produce selfishness and pride in ourselves. 

How does this statement apply to my family?

How has my family redefined good and evil for their own convenience, comfort, and benefit at the expense of the people around me? 

Rationalizing – Attempt to explain or justify one’s behavior with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate. 

That teacher doesn’t care about my child because they are always in trouble!

My family is one of the biggest givers at this church, so we don’t have to serve. 

My family is small and we don’t have much to offer, so it’s ok if we do not serve. 

I know my family causes a lot of drama and is known for doing some bad things around town, but we had it really rough growing up. 

My family is one of the richest families in town, so we deserve to be honored and respected more than any other family. 

I know that my son/daughter isn’t qualified for the job, but they are family. 

Families can become judgmental in our rationalizing. 

Look at the way her children are dressed— she must not be a good mom. 

That family is so messed up because the dad spends all their money on alcohol. 

My family is so amazing because we head up every youth sports event, and my kids are the star athletes. 

Look how that family is struggling. They have no food, their kids are always dirty, and their house is a wreck. I always hear the parents fighting. They need Jesus. 

Thrive vs. Survive 

Survive – continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship. 

How many of us feel like we just exist, doing whatever it takes to just stay alive?

Cycle of the living dead

WAKE UP – GO TO WORK – COME HOME – GO TO SLEEP – REPEAT

Survival Mode can cause you to become lethargic about life. 

Survival Mode can trigger rationalizing. 

If we only had … we would be happy. 

If my kids would … that would make things so much better. 

If I was only married, that would fix everything. 

We can start to use God for the benefits, thinking that the blessings (stuff) will fix everything. 

Then we will blame God for not getting us the blessings (stuff). 

Proverbs 19:3 TPT

There are some people who ruin their own lives

and then blame it all on God.

Survival Mode will keep you from fulfilling the commission of God. (Be fruitful, multiply, take dominion, subdue, fill.)

Often times, we default to survival because we are so busy. 

Keeping up with the Joneses is a major contributor to this way of life.

Simplify and declutter your life!

Survival Mode leaves no room for the discovery of purpose.

David would still be a shepherd. 

Peter would still be a fisherman.

Gideon would still be hiding in a winepress. 

Mary would still be a prostitute. 

Paul would still be a Pharisee persecuting t