God's Faithfulness: Completing the Work He Begins

Summary

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves starting projects or endeavors that we never see through to completion. This is a common human experience, often due to limited resources, changing desires, or simply biting off more than we can chew. However, the promise we find in Philippians 1:6 offers us a profound contrast: God is not like us. When He begins a work, He sees it through to completion. This assurance is rooted in His sovereignty and faithfulness, qualities that are unchanging and eternal.

Paul's confidence in this promise is not based on wishful thinking or subjective feelings. Instead, it is grounded in the objective truth of God's character and His past actions. Paul has experienced God's sustaining grace and knows that the work God begins, whether it be the gift of life, our salvation, or our sanctification, will be brought to completion at the day of Christ. This completion is not something we will necessarily see in our earthly lifetime, but it is assured in the eternal timeline of God's plan.

The promise extends to various aspects of our lives. Firstly, the gift of life itself is a work that God began and will sustain until the day of Christ. Our daily prayers for provision, protection, and wisdom are rooted in the confidence that God is actively involved in our lives. Secondly, our salvation is a work that began with Christ's sacrifice and continues as we are being saved and will be saved from the wrath of God at the final judgment. Thirdly, our sanctification, the process of being made holy, is ongoing and will only be completed when our sin nature is fully redeemed. Fourthly, the good works we are created to do are part of God's plan, prepared in advance, and will continue to bear fruit even after our earthly lives end. Lastly, the work God began in the church will also be brought to completion, as the church continues to bear fruit and witness until Christ's return.

To rest under this promise, we must embrace the eternal perspective, recognizing that the completion of God's work is not confined to our earthly timeline. We must also accept that suffering is part of the process, trusting that God is with us through every trial and tribulation. This promise is a source of hope and assurance, reminding us that God is faithful and will complete the good work He has begun in us.

Key Takeaways:

- God's Faithfulness in Completion: Unlike humans, God finishes what He starts. His faithfulness is not hindered by limited resources or changing desires. This assurance is rooted in His unchanging nature, providing us with a foundation of hope and trust. [04:04]

- Confidence in God's Promise: Paul's confidence in God's promise is based on objective truth, not subjective feelings. This confidence is an active trust in God's character and His past actions, assuring us that He will complete the work He has begun in us. [08:48]

- The Eternal Timeline of God's Work: The completion of God's work is not confined to our earthly lifetime. It is part of an eternal timeline, culminating at the day of Christ. This perspective helps us to rest in God's promise, knowing that His work will be completed in His perfect timing. [12:46]

- The Role of Suffering in Completion: Suffering is part of the process of bringing God's work to completion. It is through trials and tribulations that we learn to rely on God's strength and provision, deepening our faith and trust in His promise. [28:56]

- The Ongoing Fruit of Good Works: The good works we are created to do will continue to bear fruit even after our earthly lives end. This assurance encourages us to remain faithful, knowing that our efforts are part of God's eternal plan and will be completed at the day of Christ. [21:50]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:43] - Human Incompletion
- [02:33] - Reasons for Incompletion
- [03:16] - God's Faithfulness
- [04:04] - God's Unchanging Nature
- [04:46] - Context of Philippians
- [06:59] - Confidence in God's Promise
- [08:48] - External Trust
- [10:18] - Gift of Life
- [11:33] - Sustaining Grace
- [12:46] - Day of Christ
- [13:44] - Good Work of Salvation
- [14:50] - Process of Salvation
- [16:44] - Preservation of the Saints
- [17:38] - Sanctification Process
- [19:01] - Completion in Christ
- [20:24] - Good Works and Purpose
- [21:50] - Ongoing Fruit
- [23:44] - Church's Good Work
- [26:16] - Resting in the Promise
- [28:56] - Suffering and Completion
- [30:01] - Assurance in Christ

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Philippians 1:6: "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

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Observation Questions:

1. What are some reasons mentioned in the sermon for why humans often fail to complete what they start? [02:33]

2. How does the sermon describe God's nature in contrast to human limitations when it comes to completing His work? [04:04]

3. According to the sermon, what is the significance of the "day of Christ" in the context of God's work being completed? [12:46]

4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the ongoing nature of the good works God has prepared for us? [21:50]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does Paul's confidence in God's promise differ from human confidence, and what is it based on according to the sermon? [08:48]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that suffering plays a role in the completion of God's work in us? [28:56]

3. How does the sermon explain the concept of sanctification, and why is it important to understand its completion at the day of Christ? [19:01]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the impact of our good works beyond our earthly lives, and how does this relate to the eternal timeline of God's plan? [21:50]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a project or goal you started but did not complete. How can the assurance of God's faithfulness in completing His work encourage you in your personal endeavors? [02:33]

2. Consider a current trial or challenge in your life. How can embracing the eternal perspective of God's timeline help you find peace and hope in this situation? [12:46]

3. Identify an area of your life where you struggle with patience or trust in God's timing. What steps can you take to rest in the promise that He will complete His work in you? [26:16]

4. Think about a time when you experienced suffering. How did it shape your faith, and how can you use that experience to deepen your reliance on God's strength and provision? [28:56]

5. What specific good work do you feel God has prepared for you? How can you actively engage in this work, knowing it will bear fruit beyond your lifetime? [21:50]

6. How can you support your church community in its mission, knowing that the work God began in the church will be brought to completion at the day of Christ? [23:44]

7. Reflect on the role of prayer in your life. How can you incorporate prayers for provision, protection, and wisdom into your daily routine, trusting in God's sustaining grace? [11:33]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Unwavering Commitment to Completion
God's faithfulness is a cornerstone of our spiritual journey, offering a stark contrast to our human tendency to leave things unfinished. Unlike us, God is not limited by resources or changing desires. His nature is unchanging, and His commitment to completing what He starts is unwavering. This assurance provides a foundation of hope and trust, reminding us that God's work in our lives is not subject to the same limitations we face. His faithfulness is a testament to His sovereignty and eternal nature, offering us a profound sense of security in His promises. [04:04]

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle to trust God's faithfulness? How can you actively remind yourself of His unwavering commitment to completing His work in you today?

Day 2: Trusting in the Objective Truth of God's Character
Confidence in God's promises is not based on fleeting emotions or subjective feelings but is grounded in the objective truth of His character and past actions. This confidence is an active trust in who God is, as revealed through His Word and His faithfulness throughout history. By reflecting on God's unchanging nature and His past faithfulness, we can find assurance that He will complete the work He has begun in us. This trust is not passive but requires us to actively engage with God's promises and character, allowing them to shape our perspective and strengthen our faith. [08:48]

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:23, ESV)

Reflection: What specific promise of God do you find difficult to trust? How can you remind yourself of His past faithfulness to strengthen your confidence in His promises today?

Day 3: Embracing the Eternal Perspective of God's Work
The completion of God's work is not confined to our earthly timeline but is part of an eternal plan that culminates at the day of Christ. This eternal perspective helps us rest in God's promise, knowing that His work will be completed in His perfect timing. By embracing this perspective, we can find peace in the midst of life's uncertainties, trusting that God's plan is unfolding according to His divine timeline. This understanding encourages us to focus on the eternal significance of our lives and the work God is doing in and through us, even when we cannot see the full picture. [12:46]

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." (Romans 8:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from immediate concerns to the eternal perspective of God's work in your life? What practical steps can you take to cultivate this mindset today?

Day 4: Finding Purpose in Suffering as Part of God's Completion
Suffering is an integral part of the process of bringing God's work to completion. Through trials and tribulations, we learn to rely on God's strength and provision, deepening our faith and trust in His promise. This understanding of suffering as a tool for spiritual growth allows us to find purpose in our pain, knowing that God is using it to refine us and bring His work to completion. By embracing this perspective, we can face challenges with hope and resilience, trusting that God is with us through every trial and that our suffering is not in vain. [28:56]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: What current trial or challenge are you facing that you can view as an opportunity for spiritual growth? How can you invite God into this situation to deepen your trust in His promise?

Day 5: The Lasting Impact of Our Good Works
The good works we are created to do will continue to bear fruit even after our earthly lives end. This assurance encourages us to remain faithful, knowing that our efforts are part of God's eternal plan and will be completed at the day of Christ. By focusing on the lasting impact of our actions, we can find motivation to pursue good works with diligence and purpose, trusting that God will use them to further His kingdom. This perspective helps us see the significance of our daily choices and actions, reminding us that they have eternal value and contribute to God's overarching plan. [21:50]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9, ESV)

Reflection: What specific good work or act of service can you commit to today, knowing that it will have a lasting impact beyond your lifetime? How can you remain faithful in this pursuit, trusting in God's eternal plan?

Quotes

1) "What we're looking at today is one of the great promises of scripture, is that God is not like us. When God starts something, he finishes it. He does not have the issues that we have of limited resources. He does not have the issues of we have of being fickle. He's the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So he doesn't change his mind. He doesn't have the struggles that we have because he can't force himself to discipline himself to do what he needs to do. He is sovereign. He is faithful. He finishes what he starts." [04:04] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "So what it means he's putting his active trust in something that is external to himself that he knows to be true. It's not just how he feels, it's not just what he thinks, not what he hopes, not wishful thinking, but it is active faith in something that is external to himself, objectively true. And that's the cross through the cross. He's putting his confidence in that. And the same thing's true here in verse six, Paul is saying, I am confident. I am putting my active trust in something that is outside of myself that I know to be true. And what he knows to be true is he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ." [08:48] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "So what does it mean to say that God began the good work of giving you the gift of life? You realize scripture says that God knew you before you were born. He formed you in your mother's womb. He was knitting you together in the secret places before you were born. The days of your life were already written in this book. That's psalm 139. And so he began the good work of giving you life, and he is bringing that good work to completion. He didn't just meet you at the starting line, shoot the pistol and you go head off running, and he's I'll see you at the finish line, but he is bringing that good work to completion." [10:18] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "So scripture uses this language, we have been saved. We are being saved, and we will be saved. So often we think of our salvation. We want to point back to the time when we gave our life to Christ and our sins were forgiven and we were born again. But scripture also points forward, because at the day of Christ, what happens? The wrath of God is going to be revealed against all unrighteousness. The day of Christ is judgment against sin, which we deserve fully. But we are saved from that by grace, through faith, because we show up on Judgment Day, and we are dressed in his righteousness alone. And so we will be saved from the wrath of God, that is in the future, at the day of Christ." [15:34] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "How many of y'all get frustrated because there is a part of your sin nature that you continue to battle, and you want it to be completed and to hear the promise. It says, he began this good work. He will bring it to completion at the day of Christ. Another way to look at this, the fourth way is this, a verse from Ephesians 210. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. So another way of looking at this great promise, he who began a good work in you is the good work that God created you to do his purpose for you, the way that God works in you and through you, to minister and serve, to bless others, and to bring glory to God on earth." [19:01] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "And this is the promise that Paul was giving to the church when God began this. He's bringing it to completion in the day of Christ and to rest under that promise. It's a beautiful, beautiful promise that God gives to us. So what is, how do we, the third word then, is this word completion. We talked about why Paul has confidence. It's active faith that he has and something outside of himself that he knows to be true. We talked about the different kinds of work and how this promise shows up in different areas of our life. This last word, though, the word completion really helps us or challenges us to think about how it is that we rest under this promise." [26:16] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "And so to rest under this promise is to believe it to be completely true. Even in the moments of our life where we're having a hard time seeing that it's true. It's not hard to believe that my God shall supply all your needs. When you're riding on the waves of provision. It's when you're in the valley and you're praying and you're waiting and you're waiting and you're hoping and you're praying. That's when you need the promise. That's when you need to be reminded. Look, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ. He's not just met you at the starting line, I'll see you at the finish line. But he is with you through this race. What an incredible promise that we have. I am sure of this. He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ. Jesus. Amen. Amen." [30:01] (66 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

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