The Consequence of Unfinished Work

Introduction

Text - ;

1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV

So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

Hebrews 4:8–9 NKJV

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

Background

King Saul was given a job: destroy Amalek, and don’t anyone alive, not even animals -

But he did not do as he was commanded. They thought it best to spare all that was good, and destroy only the despised and worthless -

little did he know that his unfinished work would cost him the pleasure of God and the kingdom -

From that time he spent all his life trying to keep and preserve what God has already given to another man. He used up all his resources trying to kill the man to whom God has given the throne and the kingdom.

My Main Point

If God has given you a job, a task or an assignment to accomplish, and it remains unfinished, BY ALL MEANS GO FINISH IT! Don’t stop, don’t rest, until the work is finished!

The truth is, ALL of us have at least one WORK to accomplish in the economy of God.

The reality of Christian life is that MANY WORKS IN THE ECONOMY OF GOD REMAIN UNFINISHED

not because we lack the funds, or we lack the strength, or anything;

but it’s because the Christians who are supposed to do the work are either giving up or giving in to discouragement, compromises, or fear.

Examples of unfinished work in the kingdom of God -

prayers that have stopped

fastings that have yet to be started

mission works that lack missionaries

souls that are not followed through

evangelisms that have yet to be started

contributions and funds that have yet to be given

enemy territories, workplaces, that have yet to be conquered

vices and bad habits that remain undestroyed and un-renounced

demons and demonic influences that have yet to be cast out

broken relationships that have yet to be reconciled

Unfinished works have terrible consequences!

It affects the flow of God’s blessings

It affects the next generation

It can affect the whole church

Joshua’s Unfinished Work

Hebres 4.8

Hebrews 4:8 NKJV

For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.

Joshua left Israel with unfinished Work

Although it could be said that Joshua’s work was done, the work of the conquest of Canaan was really unfinished.

Joshua 11:23 NKJV

So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had said to Moses; and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. Then the land rested from war.

rested from war - the wars were over, but the pockets of enemies remained

Joshua 13.1

Joshua 13:1 NKJV

Now Joshua was old, advanced in years. And the Lord said to him: “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains very much land yet to be possessed.

very much land was yet to be possessed, and Joshua was already old

Joshua 18:1 NKJV

Now the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before them.

the land was subdued - made subordinate, subservient

Joshua 23.2-

Joshua 23:2–4 NKJV

And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them: “I am old, advanced in age. You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the Lord your God is He who has fought for you. See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward.

Joshua’s parting words

the nations that remain

Israel’s Failure to Finish the Work

Judah and Simeon failed to drive out the inhabitants of the lowland

Judges 1:19 NKJV

So the Lord was with Judah. And they drove out the mountaineers, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the lowland, because they had chariots of iron.

Judges 1.19

Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites

Judges 1:21 NKJV

But the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; so the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

The house of Joseph (Manasseh and Ephraim) left a Canaanite family alive

- this family helped them find the entrance to the city of Luz

Manasseh did not take possession of certain cities and left Canaanites alive there

Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites in Gezer

Zebulun did not drive out the inhabitants of Kitron and Nahalol

Asher chose to live with the Canaanites in his territory

Naphtali also chose to live among the Canaanites

Dan was forced by the Amorites into the hill country

The Consequences of Israel’s incomplete Conquest

God was angry at Israel’s disobedience

Judges 2:1–2 NKJV

Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said: “I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, ‘I will never break My covenant with you. And you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall tear down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed My voice. Why have you done this?

God decided to never drive the Canaanites out of the land

God

Judges 2:3 NKJV

Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ”

The next generation arose who did not know the LORD nor His work, and they followed the Canaanites’ way of life.

Judges 2:7–10 NKJV

So the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. Now Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died when he was one hundred and ten years old. And they buried him within the border of his inheritance at Timnath Heres, in the mountains of Ephraim, on the north side of Mount Gaash. When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which He had done for Israel.

Joshua 2:11–15 NKJV

And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father’s house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.” So the men answered her, “Our lives for yours, if none of you tell this business of ours. And it shall be, when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.” Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.

Judges 2:11–15 NKJV

Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals; and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; and they followed other gods from among the gods of the people who were all around them, and they bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtoreths. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel. So He delivered them into the hands of plunderers who despoiled them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for calamity, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn to them. And they were greatly distressed.

Joshua 2.11-

Israel had no rest. Throughout the days of the Judges, Israel went from many cycles of backsliding

Israel sins against God

God becomes angry and punishes them

Israel cries out and repents

God delivers them

Israel sins yet again!

There remains a “rest” for the people of God!

Hebrews 4:9 NKJV

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

and it will be provided by one who can accomplish God’s purpose - Someone who can and will FINISH THE WORK!

The Finished Work of Christ

When Christ came, He announced His intention to finish the work appointed to Him by the Father.

John 4:34 NKJV

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

Luke 12:50 NKJV

But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!

And finish the work, He did!

John 17:4 NKJV

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

John 19:28 NKJV

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”

John 19:30 NKJV

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

John 19:28 NKJV

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”

John 19:30 NKJV

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

WHEN JOSHUA DIED, HE LEFT ISRAEL WITH AN UNFINISHED WORK THAT THEY CANNOT COMPLETE THEMSELVES.

WHEN JESUS DIED, HE DID NOT LEAVE HIS CHURCH WITH UNFINISHED WORK - EVERY ENEMY IS CONQUERED, ALL POWERS DISARMED, ALL PROBLEMS RESOLVED!

John 16:33 NKJV

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Colossians 2:14–15 NKJV

having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Colossians 1:14–15 NKJV

in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

The Results of Christ’s Finished Work

Saints are perfected for all time

Hebrews 10:14 NKJV

For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Hebrews 10.12-14

Hebrews 10:12–14 NKJV

But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

Hebres 10.14

Saints are complete in Christ

Colossians 2:10 NKJV

and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

COMPARISON

JOSHUA LEFT ISRAEL WITH UNFINISHED WORK.

JESUS WENT TO HEAVEN WITH A FINISHED WORK FOR US.

ISRAEL MISSED THE BLESSING OF COMPLETE AND TRUE REST IN CANAAN.

GOD PEOPLE TODAY CAN ENJOY COMPLETE REST IN CHRIST.

ISRAEL FOUGHT FROM JOSHUA’S UNFINISHED WORK, AND FAILED.

THE SAINTS ARE FIGHTING FROM CHRIST VICTORY!

THE SAINTS ARE WORKING FROM CHRIST’S FINISHED WORK!

Colossians 1.14-15

Conclusion

Those who are in Christ are not afraid to fight their battles -

because they believe Christ are overcome the world!

Those who are in Christ are not afraid to finish the work -

because they know Christ has finished the work for them!

because they know there is COMPLETE REST when their work is finished!

Hebrews 4.11

Hebrews 4:11 NKJV

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

be diligent - have or show deep interest, intense desire or show excitement towards something

LET’S FINISH THE WORK -

It means you do not believe that Christ has finished the work on the Cross

so we can all rest

It means

SO THE CHURCH CAN REST IN GLORY

THE CHURCH IS AT THE FINISH LINE NOW!

- the mystery of God should be finished

- God will finish the work and cut it short in righteousness!

- in the 70th week of Daniel, God will finish Israel’s transgression

- Zerubbabel’s hand laid the foundation of the temple, His and will also finish it!

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