Category Archives: Completion

Auto mechanic cleaning a wrench beside tools in a garage
Bible, Completeness, Completion, Finish, Perfection, Romans, Scripture

FINISH THE JOB

ROMANS 15:28

“Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.”

I can still remember my dad teaching me how to do certain things. He could do just about anything. He was truly a “Jack of all Trades.” No matter what task he assigned me, he spent the time to show me how to do it correctly. And more importantly, he taught me how to finish the job. He always said the job was not finished until you had cleaned up. That might mean blowing off the lawnmower and putting it away properly. It might mean cleaning and putting away any tools I might have used. He didn’t want me to be lazy about a job but instead to finish it well.

Paul uses a Greek word for “I have finished” that is used ten times in the New Testament. Paul uses it seven of those times, Peter once and it appears twice in Hebrews. The word is epiteleó from epi and teleó. Epo is a preposition that reinforces the result of an action while teleó means to complete or finish. Put those together and you get the idea that Paul’s finishing this task of delivering the gift to the Jerusalem church had a major result on these saints. Paul made sure he completely finished this task.

APPLICATION

I love how this word is used in 2 Corinthians 7:1. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” You see here that our obedience of cleansing ourselves results in holiness. That’s simple – pursue flesh and stay unholy. Cleanse yourself and achieve the holiness God expects from His children.

My favorite use of epiteleó is found in Philippians 1:6 which says, “or I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work among you will complete it by the day of Christ Jesus.” What is Paul saying here? God does not simply work on us. He completely finishes the job. He perfects us. He saved us, He is saving us and He will completely save us. We are currently a work in progress, but God promises to finish the job.

Has the Lord given you a job to do? You know He spoke to you and told you exactly what to do. He has equipped you to do it. Finish the job. You may not see the end results right now, but God will perfect it. Don’t stop short of completion. And when you have finished that job, put your “tools” away and be ready for the next job He gives you. Always keep them ready to use. One day you will hear those words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Use me, Lord, to complete the tasks You have given me, and I will lead the results up to You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Completion, Isaiah, Judgment, Romans, Scripture

THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY

ROMANS 9:28


“FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.”

I like to watch videos of yard cleanups. I follow a few YouTube channels and am amazed at the before and after pictures. My wife asks me all the time why I like to watch these videos. I tell her that I like to see the work being done, how they do it and how it turns out. I guess I really like the finished product. There’s satisfaction in seeing a job well done which is carried out to completion.

The Lord is busy finishing His work. Paul alludes to that in today’s verse. I really like the how the NIV reads. “For the Lord will carry out His sentence on earth with speed and finality.” Paul is quoting Isaiah 10:23. Albert Barnes gives some great background on this verse. “This is taken from the Septuagint translation of Isaiah 10:23. The Hebrew is, ‘The Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.’ Or, as it may be rendered, ‘Destruction is decreed which shall make justice overflow; yea, destruction is verily determined on; the Lord Yahweh will execute it in the midst of all the land.’ (Stuart.) The Septuagint and the apostle adhere to ‘the sense’ of the passage, but do not follow the words. The phrase, ‘will finish the work,’ means ‘he will bring the thing to an end,’ or will accomplish it.” I think you get the picture.

APPLICATION

The Greek literally reads, “The sentence for conducting and bringing swiftly the Lord will perform upon the earth.” The word for “concluding” is sunteleó which is defined as “to complete entirely” (Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance) And the word translated as “bringing swiftly” is suntemnó and is only used once right here in this verse. Both words have the preposition syn which is the preposition for “with” but means unseparable. So, both those words have the idea of finality.

God isn’t messing around. He is a God who is unchangeable. What He says goes. You’ve heard the expression “Mean what you say and say what you mean.” That’s God! When He says something, you can take it to the bank. God will have the final say in all things regarding judgment. Which side are you on?

We don’t know the day or hour when God will unleash His judgment on the earth. We know as followers of Christ that we will not face the Great White Throne judgment. But we will be judged according to our works. I want all my service for Him to pass the test. Don’t you? And I don’t want any of my loved ones to face the harsher judgment, do you? Know this, the Lord is a God of His word.

I am thankful that I am secure in Your hands whenever You complete Your final judgment on this earth. I am Yours eternally.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Completion, Fulfill, Ministry, Scripture

FULFILL YOUR MINISTRY

COLOSSIANS 4:17

“Tell Archippus, ‘See to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, so that you may fulfill it.’”

I am nearing the end of my ministry season. I began it back in 1979 when I served as a part-time Music and Youth Director at Bishop Baptist Church located outside of Athens, GA where I attended college at the University of Georgia. My ministry years have seen me in six states and numerous countries internationally. What a ride. I want to finish well.

As Paul ends this letter to the Colossians, he asks them to deliver a message to Archippus. He tells him to watch after the ministry he has “received in the Lord so that” he “may fulfill it.” I want us to camp out today on that last phrase – “may fulfill it.” What did Paul mean by that? Why did he tell Archippus this in particular?

APPLICATION

Strong’s Lexicon says this about the Greek word for “may fulfill.” “The verb pléroó primarily conveys the idea of filling something to its full capacity or bringing something to completion.” Paul was telling Archippus to bring his ministry to completion. It’s interesting that Archippus means “Master of horses.” It was a name which represented strength. Maybe that is why he became one of Paul’s “solidiers” (Philemon 1:2).

Jesus used the word in Luke 4:21. “Now He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” Just as Jesus fulfilled His ministry on earth, you and I have a mandate from Him to fulfill ours. Wait a minute, Carl. I am not in full-time ministry. Oh really? Are you a believer? Do you claim to be a follower of Christ? Francis Chan said (and I am paraphrasing), “The trouble with calling yourself a follower of Christ is you don’t follow Christ.”

What is your ministry? How do you fulfill it? You fulfill your calling by continuing every day to put Christ first in all your interactions with people or circumstances. All we know of Archippus is his mention in two verses. That’s it! But he obviously had a ministry which Paul was concerned about him finishing. Jesus wants us to fulfill our ministry with Him also. Will you do that? Finish the course! Keep fighting every day!

Father God, I want to finish well! I give You praise for the ministry to which You have called me.

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