Finish Strong

Yesterday I asked the question at NewLife "How do we finish strong?"

The Bible teaches us two principles to finish strong. The first thing is to commit to a finishing decision, to make a decision to step across the line and to say, “I am deciding to commit.”

I believe as Jesus prayed in the Garden before he was crucified, He made the decision that no matter what, “I will do what the Father sent Me to do.” He said, “Nevertheless, not my will, but the will of God be done in my life.” It doesn’t matter how much pain, how much ridicule, how much torture, I believe at that moment, He made the finishing decision. No turning back. “Your will be done, God. Not mine.”

The second thing that we do is this. We execute finishing actions. We commit, and then we execute. If God has called you to do something, take a step in that direction today. Finish the work.

This week we celebrate Easter...the death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ. Jesus fulfilled prophecy after prophecy and I mentioned that I'd put some of them out here on my blog for your further study. I'd say as you look at His life we can see someone who finished strong.

• Born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:21-23)
• Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7)
• Would enter Jerusalem as a king on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9; Matthew 21:4-9)
• Would be rejected by Jews (Psalm 118:22; I Peter 2:7)
• Die a humiliating death (Psalm 22; Isaiah 53)
• Sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15)
• Betrayed by a friend (Psalm 55:12-14; Matthew 26:49-50)
• Disciples forsook Him (Zechariah 13:7; Matthew 26:56)
• Accused by false witnesses (Psalm 35:11; Matthew 26:59-60)
• Spit on Him (Isaiah 50:6; Matthew 27:30)
• Silent before His Accusers (Isaiah 53:7; Matthew 27:12-14)
• Wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5; Matthew 27:26)
• Hands and feet pierced (Psalm 22:16; Luke 23:33)
• Crucified with thieves (Isaiah 53:12;Mark 15:27-28)
• Prayed for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12;Luke 23:34)
• People ridiculed Him (Psalm 22:8; Matthew 27:41-43)
• Took his clothes and cast lots (Psalm 22:18; John 19:23-24)
• His forsaken cry (Psalm 22:1;Matthew 27:46)
• Gall and vinegar given Him (Psalm 69:21; John 19:28-29)
• Bones not broken (Psalm 34:20; John 19:33)
• Committed Himself to God (Psalm 31:5; Luke 23:46)
• His side pierced (Zechariah 12:10; John 19:34-37)
• Darkness over the land (Amos 8:9; Matthew 27:45)
• Buried in a Rich Man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9; Matthew 27:57-60)
• Would rise from the dead!! (Psalm 16:10; Mark 16:6; Acts 2:31)
• Ascend into Heaven (Psalm 68:18; Acts 1:9)
• Would sit down at the right hand of God (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:3)

What do you need to commit to finish and then execute on?

Commit and execute and don’t give up.