 Colossians 1:25-29

Completion Project

I. God Began a Work  Philippians 1:6 ●God began the good work within you ●He will continue his work until finished ●NASB – perfect it ●NIV – carry it on to completion ●Finished when Jesus returns  Philippians 1:6 ●God began the good work within you ●He will continue his work until finished ●NASB – perfect it ●NIV – carry it on to completion ●Finished when Jesus returns

 Spirit Born – spiritual birth by the Spirit of God ●John 3:3-6 ●2 Corinthians 5:17  Spirit Filled – empowered by the Spirit of God ●Acts 1:8; 2:38-39  Spirit Born – spiritual birth by the Spirit of God ●John 3:3-6 ●2 Corinthians 5:17  Spirit Filled – empowered by the Spirit of God ●Acts 1:8; 2:38-39

 Spirit Formed – ●Maturity ●Discipleship ●Christlikeness ●The practical aspect of eternal life in contrast to the promised aspect of eternal life  Spirit Formed – ●Maturity ●Discipleship ●Christlikeness ●The practical aspect of eternal life in contrast to the promised aspect of eternal life

 Philippians 2:12-13 ●AMPLIFIED – …cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete your own salvation…[not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.  Philippians 2:12-13 ●AMPLIFIED – …cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete your own salvation…[not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

II. Cultivation  “cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete your own salvation”  Cultivation defined – to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and, to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine  “cultivate, carry out to the goal and fully complete your own salvation”  Cultivation defined – to promote or improve the growth of (a plant, crop, etc.) by labor and, to develop or improve by education or training; train; refine

 Disciplines whereby we root out the weeds and fertilize the fruit bearing plants ●Establishing God’s word as final authority in your life ●Walking with God – ears to hear and a heart of obedience ●Walking in integrity ●Walking in a spirit of submission ●Walking in dependent faith ●Etc.  Disciplines whereby we root out the weeds and fertilize the fruit bearing plants ●Establishing God’s word as final authority in your life ●Walking with God – ears to hear and a heart of obedience ●Walking in integrity ●Walking in a spirit of submission ●Walking in dependent faith ●Etc.

III. God’s Word  Matthew 4:4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ●Quote from Deuteronomy 8:3 – God fed you with manna to teach you that people do not live by bread alone…  1 Peter 2:2 "like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”  Matthew 4:4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” ●Quote from Deuteronomy 8:3 – God fed you with manna to teach you that people do not live by bread alone…  1 Peter 2:2 "like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,”

 God’s Word for knowing the voice of the Lord ●John 10: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” ●Know what it sounds like ●Know what it doesn’t sound like ●Know how he speaks  God’s Word for knowing the voice of the Lord ●John 10: The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. 5They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.” ●Know what it sounds like ●Know what it doesn’t sound like ●Know how he speaks

 God’s Word for knowing the path ●Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.  God’s Word for knowing the path ●Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

 God’s Word for keeping pure ●Psalms 119: How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.  God’s Word for keeping pure ●Psalms 119: How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. 10I have tried hard to find you—don’t let me wander from your commands. 11I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

 God’s Word for Wisdom ●Psalms 19:7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ▪Simple – inexperienced  God’s Word for Wisdom ●Psalms 19:7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ▪Simple – inexperienced

 God’s Word for Success ●Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ●NASB – “this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth…” ▪In your mind ▪In your heart ▪On your lips  God’s Word for Success ●Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ●NASB – “this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth…” ▪In your mind ▪In your heart ▪On your lips

 God’s word for establishing Faith ●Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. ▪Impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6) ▪Faith, the shield with which we extinguish the flaming missiles of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16) ▪Faith, the victory that defeats this evil world (1 John 5:4)  God’s word for establishing Faith ●Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. ▪Impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6) ▪Faith, the shield with which we extinguish the flaming missiles of the evil one (Ephesians 6:16) ▪Faith, the victory that defeats this evil world (1 John 5:4)

IV. Heart Condition for the Word  Mark 4:3-20 ●Soil types – conditions of the heart ▪Footpath – hard, word is stolen ▪Shallow – rocky, word dries up ▪Thorny – word is choked out ▪Fertile – word produces fruit  Mark 4:3-20 ●Soil types – conditions of the heart ▪Footpath – hard, word is stolen ▪Shallow – rocky, word dries up ▪Thorny – word is choked out ▪Fertile – word produces fruit

Interactive Time  In what ways do you become familiar with the voice of the Good Shepherd?  How does having the Word in your mind, in your heart, and on your lips, initiate prosperity and success in your life?  How do you cultivate a good soil to receive the seed of God’s word?  In what ways do you become familiar with the voice of the Good Shepherd?  How does having the Word in your mind, in your heart, and on your lips, initiate prosperity and success in your life?  How do you cultivate a good soil to receive the seed of God’s word?