THE CROSS IS A CRUEL INSTRUMENT OF PUNISHMENT AND DEATH. GOD USED IT IN HIS PLAN TO REDEEM MANKIND. THE FINAL SOUNDS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WERE NOT SOUNDS OF PAIN, BUT OF TRIUMPH: IT IS FINISHED. THE CROSS WAS NOT FAILURE, BUT TRIUMPH !! IT WAS NOT DEFEAT, BUT VICTORY !! IF JESUS HAD NOT WENT TO THE CROSS, YOU AND I AND THE REST OF HUMANITY WOULD BE THE LOOSER. I AM GREATFUL THAT JESUS DID FINISH THE TASK THAT WAS PUT BEFORE HIM, I AM ETERNALLY GREATFUL. WHAT WAS FINISHED. I. THE PROPHESIES CONCERNING THE DEATH OF JESUS WERE FINISHED!! JOHN 19 28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. JESUS KNOWING THAT ALL THINGS WERE FULFILED, AND YET THERE WAS ONE SMALL DETAIL THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. HE HAD TO TASTE THE VINEGAR. THIS WOULD BE THE FULFILLMENT OF THE PROPHESY FOUND IN PSALM 69:21 21 They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. THAT ONE SMALL DETAIL OF SCRIPTURE HAD TO BE FINISHED. HE’S PUTTING THE LAST STROKE ON THE CANVAS OF REDEMPTION. THANK GOD FOR THE FULFILLED PROPHESIES. THERE IS NO WAY TO EXPLAIN AWAY THE FULFILLED PROPHESIES OF GOD’S WORD. FULFILLED PROPHESIES CONFIRM THE WORD OF GOD. PSAIM 22 READS AS THOUGH SOMEONE WERE STANDING AT THE FOOT OF CALVARY AND DESCIBING THE THINGS THEY SAW. PSALMS 22 WAS PENED HUNDREDS OF YEARS PRIOR TO CALVARY AND BEFORE CRUCIFICTION WAS EVEN KNOWN OF. PSALS 22 SPEAKS OF THE PIERCING OF HIS HANDS AND FEET. IT ALSO SPEAKS OF THE WORDS OF HIS ENEMIES, THE TORTURES OF THE CRUCIFICITION, AND THE GAMBLING FOR HIS GARMENTS. “ IT IS FINISHED “, ALL PROPHESIES CON THE DEATH OF JESUS WERE FULFILLED. II. THE SUFFERING OF JESUS WAS FINISHED! HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THE FACT THAT JESUS KNEW THE SUFFERING HE WOULD EXPERIENCE AT CALVARY CROSS. JESUS KNEW THE FUTURE, HE KNEW WHAT LAY AHEAD OF HIM. AND HE STILL CHOSE TO FINISH THE TASK THAT WAS GIVEN HIM. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU SAID,” I WISH I KNEW THE FUTURE “. YOU AND I REALY DON’T WANT TO KNOW THE FUTURE. HOW MANY OF YOU WOULD SLEEP GOOD TONIGHT IF YOU KNEW THAT SATURDAY AFTER NOON YOU CHILDREN WOULD BE KILLED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT. BUT YET THE WORD OF GOD GIVES US GLIMPSE OF OUR FUTURE. GOD’S WORD TELLS US THAT WE WILL SUFFER, THAT WE WILL HAVE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. THEN GOD’S WORD GOES ON TO TELL US OF THE GLORY THAT AWAITS AFTER OUR SUFFEREING IS FINISHED. III. SALVATION WAS ACCOMPLISHED !! LUKE 19:10 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. ALL THAT IS NECESSARY FOR YOU AND I TO BE SAVED WAS ACCOMPLISHED AT CALVARY. THERE ARE THOSE THAT BELIEVE THAT SALVATION IS A COMBINATION OF GRACE AND WORKS. THEY EXPLAIN IT THIS WAY. THEY SAY IT’S LIKE CROSSING A STREAM IN A ROW BOAT. ONE ORE IS FAITH AND ONE ORE IS WORKS. IF YOU PULL ON THE ORE OF FAITH WITHOUT THE ORE OF WORKS YOU GO IN CIRCLES, IF YOU PULL ON THE ORE OF WORKS WITHOUT THE ORE OF WORKS YOU GO IN CIRCLELS THE OTHER WAY. BUT, IF YOU PULL ON THE ORE OF FAITH AND WORKS TOGETHER YOU CAN CROSS THE STREAM WIYH A STRAIGHT LINE. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THAT IS, I AM NOT GOING TO HEAVEN IN A ROW BOAT, I’M GOING ON THE WINGS OF GOD’S MERCY, GRACE AND LOVE. IV. THE POWER OF SATIN IN YOUR LIFE IS FINISHED! 1 JOHN 4:4 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. HEBREWS 2:14-18 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. 17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. JESUS DID NOT DEFEAT SATIN AS GOD BUT AS A MAN. JESUS WHIPPED THE DEVIL IN THE DEVIL’S OWN BACK YARD. JESUS LEFT THE IVORY PALACES OF HEAVEN AND ENTER INTO A WORLD OF WOE AND STRIPPED THE DEVIL OF HIS POWER. SATIN DOES NOT WANT YOU AND ME TO KNOW THAT HE IS A DEFEATED FOE. V. THE WORK OF THE DEVIL IN OUR LIVES WAS FINISHED AT CALVARY! WIN YOU AND I ACCEPT THE FINISHED WORK OF CALVARY IT BREAKS SINS DOMINIAN IN OUR LIVES. I JOHN 3:8&9 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. NIV 8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. 9 No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. ROMANS 6:1-2 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Conclusion: Thank God for “ THE FINISHED WORK OF CALVARY ”. I am free from satan’s power and work in my life because of the plan of salvation was finished at calvary. If you are not free from satan’s power and work in your life, you can be today because of the finished work of calvary. Will you accept the finished work of calvary and receive Jesus into your today. Pastor James Mooney Living Waters Church of God, Walls, Ms E-mail = MOONEJO@concentric.net THE FINISHED WORK OF CALVARY ( PART 2 ) JOHN 19:30