Word of Prayer: He will finish what He started

By Guest Columnist

Presented before King Agrippa, he pleaded his cause for why he shouldn’t be charged.  From prison to prison and even at one point being stoned and left for dead, this man named Paul kept on preaching God’s Word even though the opposition was present.  This particular day was no different, as he told of the man he used to be and the story of how Jesus changed his life forever.  Paul, who used be known as Saul of Tarsus, began to unpack his chronicle for  King Agrippa and all those who stood near to hear.  He told them how he was one who persecuted the church and how he made it his business to get rid of the name of Jesus and anybody that followed Him.  As King Agrippa hears his story, Paul begins to tell how he was on his way to Damascus, and it was midday when he saw a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun shining round about him and all those that were with him.  

Acts 26:14-15 KJV says “And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.”

This was the moment that changed the rest of Saul’s life.  Everything changed!  His heart was changed!  His mind was changed!  Even his name got changed!  And he knew that God had started a good work in him that day! Saul, who became Paul, would now spend the rest of his life traveling from place to place preaching and teaching God’s Word, and, where he would go, lives would be changed!  Aren’t you so glad that God changed you when He did!  There’s a song that says, “If it had not been for the Lord who was on my side, where would I be?”  I’m so thankful for that night Jesus changed everything for me when He filled me with His Holy Ghost and Fire!  From that moment, I have never been the same!  

And for Paul, he was never the same!  As he journeyed, he went confidently in God’s ability to turn lives around. Besides, for Paul, he knew if God could change his life, then he could change anybody’s life!  If he could save his life, then He could save anybody’s life!  Paul knew there was nobody too messed up or too far gone!  What a blessing it is to know we serve a God like that!  But, for Paul, as soon his sandals hit the sand to preach about The Risen Lord, the opposition began.  From prison cell to prison cell and resistance on every side, Paul continued to face opposition.  The devil would have loved to keep Paul discouraged, confused, and accused.  But no matter what challenges he met, Paul knew that God was working through Him.  He knew that God would finish everything He started in him! 

He penned these words, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ”

You see, Paul knew who was holding the pen to his story.  It was The Author and Finisher of our faith!  Men and Women of God, can I just say that God is not done with you!  The very One who began writing your story when He first called you out of darkness and into His marvelous light is The Same One who is going to finish it!  Yes, there has been opposition ever since God saved you- that’s the devil’s job.  And just like in any war- you’re going to get hit and you’re going to get blood on your uniform from time to time.  The devil will attempt to discourage you, confuse you, and accuse you.  But if God is for you, then who can be against you?  And God didn’t bring you this far to let you down.  He started a good work in you and He is going to perform that work in you until the day He comes back! It’s time to get your sword back in your hand, get back in the ring, and continue to fight the good fight!  God is on your side,  and He is fighting for you!

God called Paul.  And God has called us.  And He’s not done with us yet!  Let’s get a hold of this truth with everything we’ve got and be the men and women of God He has called us to be!  He is going to finish everything He started in us! 

Romans 8:28 KJV  And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Kylie Warren is an associate preacher at Apostolic Lighthouse Church, where he has been a member his entire life and attends with his wife Cassidy and daughter Harbor Mae. He is also the owner of Kylie Melons on East Peace Street.