Commitment to Truth

Cedrick Brown: "He is risen!"

"He is risen indeed!"

That was pretty good. He is risen!

"He is risen indeed!"

Yes, so I may say that periodically. So be ready for it, okay? Because He has risen and He has risen indeed. Amen. So, as the children are exiting, which is so cool to have children, right? They're such a gift. I just want you to be mindful that our new campus that's in Reading, Pennsylvania, they are opening today. So they have their service starting today, which is pretty cool.

So Pastor Juan and Martha, they text me some pictures of their setup and things like that, so it's pretty exciting. So be praying for them as God is doing some cool things there. And don't forget Mechanicville, New York, Colombia, South America, as well as Williamsport, Pennsylvania. And also be praying because we got a call—Pastor Walt is in Orlando. Who knows that's with me? He's in Orlando, and we got a call from him this past week saying that his son is down there and there's some people who are stirring and want to possibly start a campus there.

So just to let you know, as a church, we never put a pin in a map and said, "This is where we're going." It's pretty much been where God is at work, we just followed Him. And it seems like God is continuously moving. So let's just be sensitive to what He's doing, wherever He's doing it. Amen? Amen. He is risen!

"He is risen indeed!"

Alright, sweet, sweet, sweet. Let's bow our heads.

Father, we're so thankful for the finished work of Jesus. We thank You for what He has done, what He is doing, what His work will perpetually do. God, I pray now that You will settle all of our hearts, remove the distractions from me first and the hearts of Your people. Many times we come with all kinds of stuff stirring in us and around us, and God, we just want to hear from You, oh God.

So Father, empower me, speak through me. Spirit of God, come and do what You do best in us through the authority of Your word. Thank You for what You're doing in these other places that are attached to us. We pray that You just be with them and let Your presence be among them and let Your work be transformational and life-changing today. Lord, we love You. We thank You so much for Your unfailing love towards us. In Jesus' name, we're all set. Amen.

So as we reflect upon this Easter season, it's very easy to think about family traditions and all the wonderful nice things that come along with it, like good food, nice clothing, and all those different things. But the reality is that's not where our attention should be focused. Appropriately, we should be turning our hearts towards the finished work of Jesus and His supernatural resurrection that has transformed the life of many of you here today and those that God wants to touch generationally.

When you look at the term "it is finished," when Christ said "it is finished," He didn't mean that He was finished or that He was defeated in any kind of way. It is from a Greek word, *tetelestai*, which means this: it's the perfect tense of a verb, *teleo*, which means to finish, bring to an end, or to be complete. Now this word had many usages during its day, and I will give you about five or six of them today, and I'm going to start with the first three.

It was used as a business or a finance term in ancient times. It was written on receipts, or if you can imagine "stamped paid," right? Or you can say that the debt was paid in full and completely. It was also used for daily tasks. So let's say if you had a honey-do list, and at the end of the honey-do list, the word *tetelestai* was written at the end, saying all of our tasks are complete. Or let's say that you were hired by someone; at the end of the day, you would punch your clock and say all the work is finished.

And thirdly, it had to do with a mission accomplished, which means in a military or judicial sense, it meant like a soldier would come home, mission is complete, mission is done, and we've been victorious. Or in a legal sense, again, that the legality has been completely served, or the one who knocks on your door and said, "You are what?" Served, right? In a legal sense.

So what did this finished work of Christ encompass? So if I try to describe all of it today, we'll be here all day until next Resurrection Sunday. But what I'd like to do is really uncover some nuggets as relates to how Christ finished the work. And think about this for a minute. When Christ first was born, His work began, believe it or not. He was 12 years old in the temple, trying to identify what God had called Him to do. The work was continuing, and the work was inaugurated, if you would, when Christ started His public ministry at age 30, and then it reached its final course or its finale upon the cross.

Luke chapter 2, verses 9 through 10 says this about Christ's birth: "The angel of the Lord spoke to the shepherds that night and says this, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people. For today, in the city of David, there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, He is the Messiah.'" And then at 12 years old, Luke chapter 2, verse 49, the King James Version reads it this way: it says, "Did you not know that I must be about my Father's business?" So at 12 years old, He was about the Father's business.

And then Luke chapter 4, verses 17 through 18, Jesus begins His public ministry, and it reads this way: "And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him, and He opened the book and found the place where it is written, 'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,'" meaning upon Jesus, "'because He anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release of the captives and recovery of the sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.'"

So what does all this look like? So when you look at the crucifixion of Christ and His death, His burial, and resurrection, you have all these tentacles, if you would, tied into it, which simply says this, if you take Luke chapter 4, verses 17 and 18: it is that through the finished work of Jesus Christ, He endured so much so that we can be released from bondage. He also says He preached the Gospel to the poor—economically poor could be, but it was the spiritually poor, poor in spirit, poor in the soul, poor on the inside.

But then He also says that He preached the recovery to the sight of the blind, right? How many of you can look back on your life and say, "Man, I remember when I didn't see like I see today." Right? Now you have eyes to see what the Spirit of God is now instructing you. And then He also says He set free those who are oppressed and ultimately, climactically, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, that not my will but Your will be done, let Your kingdom come and Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Christ was coming to set up a kingdom, but not a kingdom of this world, a kingdom that could not be ruled by man, governed by man, but a kingdom that had one King and one purpose, and that was Christ and to glorify God.

Now that being said, within this again, nestled within His finished work, I believe if you look at just these verses in Luke chapter 4, you find some core things I think all of us wrestle with. And what I'd like to do is identify some of the things that Christ had to go through so you would never have to experience them yourself. I'm going to give you four crucifixion experiences so you can now nail them to your cross forever.

If you can open your Bibles with me to Luke chapter 22, we're going to begin with verses 39 through 48. Luke chapter 22 beginning with verse number 39, and this is when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane. And just for the record, Jesus frequented the Garden of Gethsemane. It was His sacred place, if you will. It was His prayer closet that He frequented, spent time with the Father.

And it says in verse 39: "And He came out and proceeded as was His custom to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed Him. And when He arrived at the place, He said to them, 'Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' And He withdrew from them about a stone's throw away, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, 'Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from me. Yet, not my will but Your will be done.'"

Verse 43 it says, "Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He was praying very fervently, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling down on the ground." Now just for a pause, just for some proof of the agony that Jesus went through, it is medically proven that a person can be under such duress and stress that one can begin to sweat blood. So He reached, think about this, He was under such duress and such stress of bearing the sins of the entire world, past, present, future, to a point that it overtook Him that He began to sweat literally drops of blood, and it's medically proven that it's possible.

Verse 45 says, "When He arose from prayer, He came to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow. And He said to them, 'Why are you sleeping? Get up, pray that you may not enter into temptation.'" No change of scene. In Jesus' quiet place, the betrayal began to happen. "While He was still speaking, behold a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the 12, was preceding them. And he approached Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, 'Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?'"

The first thing that Jesus Christ experienced was betrayal—betrayal so that you and I will never ever have to experience betrayal like He did. Now am I saying to you today you'll never be betrayed? No. But because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, He empowers us on how to handle and navigate and be strengthened and overcome betrayal. In other words, you will be betrayed, live long enough, have relationships long enough, but it's how we navigate betrayal. Does betrayal consume us, overtake us to a point that it paralyzes us, or does it happen and we navigate it and it propels us to become more like Jesus?

Romans chapter 4, verses 23 and 25 says this: "Now not for his sake only as was written that it was credited to him, but for your sake also to whom it was credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions and was raised because of our justification." Jesus was betrayed so that we will always be justified because part of betrayal is this, listen, it is: What did I do to make them do that? What did I say to make them say that? What's wrong with me that they would do such a thing to me? Jesus paid all of this.

Romans chapter 8, verses 31 and 32, and 38 through 39, I encourage you to go back to read all of Romans 8, but here's some nuts and bolts of it, if you would, for the betrayal that Jesus experienced for you and I. It says, "What then shall we say to these things?" And just fill in the blank "these things," whatever things. "If God is for us, who can ever be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give you all things?"

Now let's skip again for the sake of time to verse 38. It says, "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is found in who? Christ Jesus our Lord." What this is saying to you and I is that because Christ was betrayed, He will never ever betray you. Though your mother, your father forsake you, He will never disappoint you. You see, if you're betrayed because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, God will always be there even when no one else is.

Secondly, we find in chapter 23, verses 1 through 4, we're going to skip through and read some verses for the sake of time again. We're in Luke chapter 23, verses 1 through 4 first. It says this: "Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate." Now the scene is transitioning, Jesus is now arrested, He's now appearing before Pilate, then He's going to go to Herod, then back to Pilate. All right? It says this, "Then the whole body of them got up and brought Him before Pilate, and they began to accuse Him, saying, 'We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar and saying that He Himself is Christ the King.'"

For the record, you know what Jesus said about paying taxes to Caesar? Sorry if you don't like the IRS. He says, "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's." So He encouraged people to pay their taxes even today. Verse 3 it says, "So Pilate asked Him, saying, 'Are You the King of the Jews?' And He answered him and said, 'It is as you say.' Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, 'I find no guilt in this man.'" Underscore that. "I find no guilt in this man."

Then fast forward to verse number 8. It says, "Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus, for he had wanted to see Him for a long time because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him. And he questioned Him at some length, but He answered him nothing." So think about this. This is Herod, fascinated by Jesus, hearing about all the miracles He has done, and now he's like, "Oh, we got Jesus in front of me. Do a miracle." Crazy, right?

Verse 10 it says, "And the chief priests and the scribes are standing there accusing Him vehemently. And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate." Listen to verse number 12, which is so crazy. "Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day, for before they had been enemies with each other." Now let me interject some realism here. Have you ever been accused of something, and it's almost like people start pairing up and inciting against you? It's like they start marrying up together just to get at you. Well, Jesus is experiencing this right now.

Then verse 13 it says, "Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people and said to them, 'You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you,'" underscore this, "'I found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him. Nor, nor has Herod,'" so neither Pilate nor Herod, right? It says, "'For he sent Him back to us and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by this man.'"

Let's skip to verse number 22. "And he said to them the third time, 'Why? What evil has this man done? I have found in him no guilt demanding a death.'" But the pressure gets to him. "Therefore I will punish him and then release him," which is crazy. It's almost like Jesus could have been, "Oh, here's my chance," but He chose not to.

This is what we need to embrace today: that Christ was wrongfully accused for you. Three times it says, "I find no guilt in this man." The words "no guilt" mean this: no cause of anything. Could not find any causation, anything at all to say he did something wrong. He wasn't the author or not the author. In other words, he wasn't stirring anything. He wasn't starting as an author. He wasn't writing a script about anything at all. And then the other part of this definition of guilt is there was no crime, no offense in this man at all. Three times, this is what they were saying.

And to me, it's so beautiful that God chose to allow the perfect Lamb without spot or blemish. The Scripture says in Hebrews that we have a High Priest that can sympathize with our weaknesses because He's endured all things just as we have, but yet without sin. No sin, no guilt, and to me, perfect scenario. Why? It is because the best scenario could be this: is that somebody becomes this mediator between God and man, right? To say that He is so perfect, no charge against him, so that His perfection would cover our imperfections.

Because if we're honest, we are guilty of a lot of things. Some of us today in this room are guilty of who they were—bad decisions, and it still creeps into your present and it's infecting your relationships with people around you and it's infecting your relationship with God. There's been wrong that has been done to you, but because we don't nail it to the cross, it continues to infect today and affect your future. Colossians chapter 1, one of my favorite chapters in the Bible. Here are a few verses from it, verses 21 and 22, reminds us of this truth.

It says, "And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds," anybody can say amen to that? I know I was chief. Verse 22 says though, "Yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death in order to present you before Him holy, blameless, and beyond reproach." Can we do that in and of ourselves? No. But you have to courageously nail all your wrong to the cross and view yourself how He now views you based upon the text. If you've ever been accused of anything, now because of the finished work of Jesus Christ, guess what? You're found faultless.

Number three, we find in chapter 23 again, verses 33 through 39 now. He's now approaching the actual crucifixion, and it says this: "When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. But Jesus was saying, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.' And they cast lots dividing up His garments among themselves. And the people stood by looking on, and even the rulers were sneering at Him," that's kind of like the first mockery, right?

"Saying, 'He saved others, let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His chosen one.' The soldiers also mocked Him, coming up to Him, offering Him sour wine." And I want to pause to interject something here because Jesus was considered a Nazarene. No razor can cut His hair, nor could He drink any strong drink, any wine at all. It was a mockery saying, "Oh, You're the Messiah, You're the Savior, You're a Nazarite? Here, drink some wine." Secondly, that's what's unfolding there is that it was also, if you would, an anesthetic, something to numb the pain. But Jesus was fully conscious, fully aware.

Now let me tie some application here. There'll be times you need to endure your cross, and you too will be tempted to numb it. Come home from a long day at work, crack open a wine bottle, run a nice hot bath, want some Mommy time. Swing by the bar with your boys, crack it open, right? Have a couple of brews because, "Ah, man, I just got to download it before I get home." Creep down to your man cave or your woman cave or your she-shed or wherever you go. The temptation would be for called-out ones, chosen ones, when it gets hard, "let me numb it."

But what we need to know is Christ received all the blows verbally, because a lot of times that's where it shifts from, is that people tell you you're no good, people tell you what you did was wrong at work, people ride you at work like, "Oh, you're not doing your job, you're not doing your job," or you even verbally get into your own head. Or not to mention you're not even healed from what was said to you as a child. Or not said to you as a child, because that's also verbal, you follow me? Not saying something is also extremely verbal.

So I like to give you a quick exercise. How many of you today can think about something that was said to you when you're a kid, and you can recall it like this? You're not good, you'll never make it, you'll never be enough. Or because parents weren't around, then you start building a narrative in your own head. It starts us to understand that Christ received all of this and more. Think about this for a minute. The criminals on verse 39—no, let me go back, verse 38. Actually, verse 37.

It says, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself. Now there was also an inscription above Him: 'This is the King of the Jews.'" That was another mockery, right? So whenever someone was accused of something, right, they would put it over their head to publicly disgrace them. Publicly disgrace them, publicly humiliate them. "Ah, You're the King of the Jews? Are You really the King of the Jews?" That's kind of what was said. It wasn't like, "Oh, King of the Jews." It was like, "He said he's the King of the Jews, ha ha ha."

Then the criminal next to Him, one of them said, it says, "Who were hanging there hurled abuse at Him, saying, 'Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself.'" There's more mockings you can find in the other Gospels. Matthew chapter 27, verses 27 through 33, listen to some of them: they stripped Him and put scarlet robes on Him. That was also mockery, a mockery. Like, "Oh, You're a King? Let me give You this robe." Then they took it off. Crown of thorns, mockery. Reed in His right hand, it was like a scepter, mockery. They knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him.

Again, they took the reed and began to beat him, and they took the robe off and put it back on. So think about that for a minute. He's all bruised and beaten and scar tissue—the theologians and authors would say that He was beaten so bad that His back was open that you could see His vital organs from the back on the inside. So think about putting a scarlet robe on Him, letting it stay on there for a few minutes, letting it dry. You ever have a Band-Aid on you for a bit and you peel it off after it dries? Just imagine that this is what He received.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines this word "mock" this way: it is an act of ridicule, to treat with contempt, disrespect, to mimic. Again, go back in time. When is the last time you were mimicked for the first time? I would say. Do you remember guys or gals who maybe played pickup basketball in the neighborhood? You're the last one chosen. Right? Maybe you're the first one chosen because you had height, right? You know?

All these things cumulatively we have. But let me affirm you today with some verses. Isaiah 43, verse 1 says this: "But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, oh Jacob, oh Cedric, oh John, oh Mary, He who formed you, oh Israel, do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine." So no matter what you think about yourself, no matter what someone said about you, you are His. Again, you're the last guy chosen on the basketball court or whatever, right? Maybe you're skipped over with promotions at work and you just feel undeserved and unappreciated and all these different things that come along with real life. I'm the baby of eight. Man, I got mocked and ridiculed and, "Oh, you got it so easy, oh, what's wrong with you? You know, when we were younger, mom and dad didn't let us, you got away with murder." Anybody get those baby narratives? You know?

You are His. Isaiah 53, verse 5 says this: "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging you're healed." Psalm 139, verse 14 says this: "I give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, wonderful are Your works and my soul knows it well." That's what He thinks of you. You're a king's kid, you're a royal priesthood, you're a holy nation, set apart for good works. That's what God thinks of you, no matter what someone says to you or even what you say to yourself. Always, always know what God says about you. Amen?

And lastly, we find in chapter 23 again, we're still in Luke, verses 44 through 46. It said it was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour because the sun was obscured and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last. I want to also fill some more content in based upon Matthew chapter 27, verses 45 and 46. It says this: "Now from the sixth hour, darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying," there are two ways pronounced it in the original language, it is "*Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani*" or "*Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani*", which means, "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?"

I think it's super important to know that He was betrayed for you, wrongly accused for you, He was mocked for you, but guess what? The last part is super important: He was forsaken so you'll never, ever be forsaken. You know, theologians would say this: that at this moment in history, it was the first time that God, if you would, turned His backside towards the Son, okay? Meaning Christ. Or you can say that there was a break in fellowship. Well, there's some balance to that because if we believe in God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, they are triune God, right? But what it should show us relationally, there was a break. Why? Is it because He was imperfect? No. It's because He perfectly bore all the sins of all mankind: past, present, future. And sin separates us from God. And because He bore our sins that we had committed, are committing, and will commit, nothing will ever separate you.

The word forsaken here means this: to abandon or totally abandon, desert, leave helpless, utterly forsake. God will never do this to you, ever. Your boys, your friends, your family, they can forsake you, they can leave you in a lurch, you can feel lonely, forsaken wherever you are, whatever context of your life. The promise is God will never forsake you because Jesus Himself was forsaken. Hebrews chapter 13, verses 1 through 6, it is beautiful how Hebrews describes this. It's because it's like the author speaks of real-life responsibilities and it is like if you don't act this way, if you don't do this, or if you act this way, right? Or you should do exactly what is written here and know when you do it, He will always be with you.

And I think that's super important for a follower of Jesus Christ to know. When you stay on the cross and when you endure for righteousness' sake, you can confidently know that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords will never forsake you. You may lose friends, family members may not talk to you for a second, but He will never leave you in a lurch.

So let's read this together with that understanding. It says, "Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners," even though you're critical in thinking why they are in prison. That's not in the text, but that's what we think. "Remember the prisoners as though imprisoned with them." In other words, remember them as though you're in prison with them, that you're their equal. "And those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves are also are in a body." In other words, you as a believer in the body of Christ, you will be ill-treated.

Then he shifts to marriage. "Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is not to be defiled, for fornicators and adulterers God will judge you." It says, "Make sure that your character is free of the love of money, being content with what you have." Then he shifts. "For He Himself said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?'"

Now let me stitch all this together. Let's think about this for a minute. It says to you and I, "Let love of the brethren continue." That's tough, especially if you're trying to love someone and they ain't loving you back. But God is saying you love in spite of the response, and I will also always be with you. You love not looking for a response, you love in all things at all times with all people, and I will help you. I will not desert you. I will not leave you in a lurch. What can man do to you if you love them and they don't love you back? Because you have the lover of your soul. So love.

Then it goes and it says, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers," and specifically says strangers. Why? It's because we very easily show hospitality to people we like. But the ones you really don't know are like, "Mm, stranger danger, I don't know if I'm gonna let you in my house, you know, I don't know if I can trust you." How can even a stranger know Jesus if you don't let them close enough? So let them get close so they can see Jesus and know He will always be with you. He will help you. What can man do to you?

Remember the prisoners as though in prison with them. Why? Because we're very critical of prisoners. "I wonder why they're in prison, wonder why they were in jail, what'd they do? Were they a murderer? What did they do? Were they a thief?" No, He says remember them. And when you're extending yourselves to the person who has been imprisoned, it's okay. God's got your back. What can man do to you?

When you're ill-treated because you're just part of the body of Christ. Do do we act like Peter and deny Him three times? Third time start cursing and swearing because people say, "Well, you talk like one of those Christians." Or do we just say, "Yeah, I'm one of those, I'm one of them, I'm one of them. It's okay, no matter what you think of me, no matter now what you perceive of me, because I know even though you may desert me, even though you may not want to be around me anymore, even though you may accuse me and wrongfully treat me, I know there's someone who'll never forsake me, I know there's someone who will help me, I know there's someone that I could depend on so I don't need to be afraid because what can man do to me?"

Marriage, keep it honorable. When it gets tough, when you don't feel like you're respected, when you don't feel like you're loved, when you don't feel like you're appreciated, you still love your wife as Christ loved the church and He gave His very life for her, and He will help you do that even when she goes through seasons of change. And she laughing. You know, because it gets, you know, and it's tough and it gets complicated and gets muddy. But He's your helper. What can your husband do to you? What can your wife do to you if you're standing for what is right?

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, and remember, it clearly says free from the love of money. Doesn't mean money is evil; it's how we approach it, how we use it, how we steward it. But our challenge is we get greedy because we get fearful because we think we're going to run out of it. So we hoard it. Then it becomes an idol, then it controls us and overtakes us, and then we have this crazy audacity to think that it all belongs to us. But we have to remember, be free from the love of money. Can't serve two masters. You'll either what? Love the one, hate the other. Gain the whole world, lose your soul.

So the challenge is to understand this: no matter how difficult and dark life gets, because of the work of Christ, we'll never be forsaken. And listen, I get it. There are certain seasons that are darker than others. There are certain seasons that you beat yourself up more than others. But you just got to focus on the cross, nail to the cross, and sometimes you just got to remind yourself in Philippians 4 says, "Think on those things that are holy, that are righteous, that are of good reputation, that are righteous and just and holy, right? Those things of good reputation. You got to set your mind, think on those things." Then he says, "The God of peace will be with you." Pain is real, disappointment is real, rejection is real, but we serve a God who died for it all.

So here is what I want to end with. All of this we discussed today is Christ was not forced to do any of it. He wasn't forced to take your betrayal. He was not forced to be wrongly accused. He was not forced to stay on the cross and be mocked. He was not even forced to even be forsaken. But He did it willingly. All of the unreasonable sufferings that Christ did, He did it willingly.

So what I'd like to do is finish up with three last descriptions of the word *tetelestai* that my hope would encourage you today. You see, this word was also used to describe artwork. It was used to signify an artist's work was finished. You're a wonderful masterpiece that the finished work of Christ has completed. And He's inscribed His name on your heart. You see, whenever an artist finishes a work, what do they do? Sign it. *Tetelestai*. He has signed you.

Secondly, it also meant a victory cry. It represents a shout of triumph, not defeat. So in other words, stop walking around here like you are defeated. Satan is defeated. Darkness is dispelled because Jesus Christ is Lord of all. Amen? So your challenge is to understand that there's this victory cry that is found in the finished work of Jesus. You are victorious, and listen to this, underscore this: you will never, you can never be defeated. Oh death, where's your sting? Oh death, where's your victory? Right? Through the cross, the sting of death lost its victory. So if death can't even conquer you, what else can?

And lastly, it also meant the work of Christ was completed. We get that. That the redemption story was completed, it was finished, but this is the piece that I think we many times forget. He finished it and its effects are perpetual. It is perpetual, which also means this: it's not stuck in time. It is not governed by time. Perpetual theologically is when Christ died, He went back in time to rescue those who died believing of the coming of Christ. It's perpetual because it's current in the contemporary, right?

But it is also perpetual because it's for our children and our children's children and our children's children and our children's children until Jesus Christ returns. Amen? It's for children yet unborn who one day will grow up and what? Honor Him and sing of His praises and honor Him because of His great deeds. That's His promise. But the challenge we face is it begins in us. Live like a masterpiece. Live like you're victorious. If you say you have not sinned, you're a liar and the truth is not in you. We've all sinned. But we're all victorious because of Christ. Live perpetually, knowing that, man, His work covers you now and forevermore. Amen?

Let's pray. Father, we're so thankful, so thankful for the finished work of Jesus. God, I pray again against guilt and condemnation and just feeling horrific about poor decisions and all the lies of the enemy. Oh God, I thank You that You've given us a pathway to victory, and it's Christ and Christ alone. And Lord, I pray that we would just begin to be that people who just live confidently, not arrogantly, but confidently in the finished work of Jesus—all of it. And Lord, whenever we kind of fall into guilt and condemnation, I pray that we would just pause and nail it to the cross. Because God, You said that through the finished work of Jesus, that You have cast our sins as far as the East is from the West, and You remember them no more. Help us also to be forgetful of our sins.

Today there may be someone under the sound of my voice who is here today who says, "Hey Pastor, I hear what you're saying, but I haven't quite made that decision to follow Christ. But I do want to. I want to put my faith and trust in Christ because I've tried so many other ways." If this is what you want, I'd just like to lead you in a short prayer, and it just will talk about and the prayer will be about you recognizing you're a sinner and that you've chosen to live your life apart from Christ. But now you realize that Christ came to die for you. He was buried for you. He rose again for you, and His blood washes you clean once and for all. And then we're going to pause and just ask Him to come into your heart, your life, to rule through the power of His Holy Spirit that you may live for Him with courage and confidence until you see Him face-to-face.

If this is something you'd like to do today, I'd like to lead you in a short prayer. You can just repeat after me. Just say, "Jesus, forgive me, because I've chosen to live my life up until this point apart from You. But I do now realize that You came to die for me. You were buried for me, Jesus, and You rose again from the grave just for me. Would You forgive me of all of my sins and wash me white as snow through Your blood? And I ask You to come into my heart, my life, as my Lord and my Savior through the power of Your Holy Spirit, and strengthen me to live for You all the days of my life until I see You face-to-face."

But then there could be another group that is here today that maybe today you realize that, "Man, I have neglected to realize what Christ has done for me, that He was mocked and verbally abused and He was rejected so I don't have to be anymore." And maybe you've been kind of living life not in light of these truths. But today can you just pause and just ask the Lord to strengthen you, and can you maybe just make a decision right now to just nail it to the cross? If there is sin and wrong that you feel that, man, it just keeps creeping back and creeping back and creeping back and causing you heartache and guilt, can you just say once and for all, "I just nail it to the cross"?

Maybe you've been verbally abused and you just feel belittled and you lack in confidence because of this. Just nail it to the cross. Maybe you feel that you've been forsaken in any kind of way. This is a great opportunity for you to humble yourself and say, "God, I'm nailing this to the cross once for all. I get it. I feel forsaken. I feel some kind of way towards someone or some people. Just believe that Jesus died for you and finished this all on the cross." Thank You, Jesus. Amen.

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