Victory – Your Daily Encouragement

It is Finished

The Most Significant Word in Human HIstory

He said “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. —John 19:30

Crucifixion was brutal.

In fact, it was so humiliating and painful that the Roman empire outlawed the crucifixion of Roman citizens. And if a Roman citizen was crucified, the penalty was crucifixion for the one who authorized it.

Spikes were driven into nerve bundles in the wrist, as well as the feet, sending uncontrollable, electric-like surges into the body. If you’ve ever struck the nerve in your elbow that we call the “funny bone,” you have an inkling of what that is like.

On the cross, the victim was in a constant struggle against convulsing muscles, shooting pain in the wrists and feet, pushing up the body to allow the lungs to take in air. Over time, the body would become so fatigued, that the victim would suffocate under the weight of their own body, unable to pull themselves up to fill their lungs with air. This type of execution could last days.

On top of it all, the victim was crucified naked.

Excruciating pain and naked humiliation. And the purpose was deterrence: it was a public declaration to all who passed by, “This is what happens to the person who opposes Rome.”

This is the how Jesus chose to display his love and redeem his followers.

From the beginning we were told that he came to save us. The angels who showed up to the shepherds at his birth said, “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” (Luke 2:11) He is born Savior.

His name Jesus—in Hebrew, Y’shua, or Joshua—means Yahweh’s Salvation. His identity is Savior.

And, he declared his purpose for coming into our world this way: “For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” (Luke 19:10) He is Savior. That is what he does.

And then, after 6 hours on the cross, Jesus uttered a single word that—in my opinion—is the most significant word in human history. He said “It is finished!” (OK, it’s three words in English, but in the original Greek, it was one.)

“Tetelesai!”

“Tetelestai!” he declared. After Jesus said that word John, one of Jesus’ disciples, tells us “Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30)

That word Tetelestai means to complete something in its entirety—to the utmost.

It was used in financial transactions to mean “Fully Paid.” If payment was made, a receipt was marked “Tetelestai.” Nothing more was owed.

In military usage, it meant that a battle had been decisively and overwhelmingly won. The mission was accomplished. “Tetelestai!”

And in jurisprudence, it was used to describe a prison sentence that was fully served. “Tetelestai!”

As Savior, Jesus defeated sin and death—and because he lives, you can live as well.
And your sentence, due to sin, has been served by the Son of God.
And as Savior he also paid your debt of sin.

“It is finished!” As a follower of Jesus, you now have a new life. A new start. A new identity.

Which brings me to a single question: Since this is true, why would you surrender to worry? If you’re a follower of Jesus, you have a new life. A new identity. The past is gone. The new has come. Your past is paid for and your future is secure.

Why would you surrender to worry, anxiety and the stress that accompanies it? Instead, surrender to Jesus. Every time worry comes knocking at your door, recognize it, then let Jesus answer the door. Surrender to him and ask him to take the worry himself.

In Matthew 11, Jesus said “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Go to him, give him your burdens. Then enter his rest.

Jesus is your place of peace.

Love you,
Pastor Bill

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006.

Image by Three-shots from Pixabay

The Victory Is Already Won

let this truth-filled reminder flood your thoughts

“I love this truth-filled reminder that the victory is already won. We have more than conquered whatever this world throws at us, because we are God’s children. We have his kingdom in our hearts and he loves us dearly.” —Christine Caine

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” —John 16:33

The battle was fought and the victory is already won. When Jesus rose from the dead, he proclaimed that it is finished—the victory is complete.

Death’s days are numbered. Love wins. Life wins.

Let this reminder fill your mind and flood your thoughts, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. —1 John 4:4

Cheering for you,
Pastor Bill

Image by Karl Egger from Pixabay

The Victory

this is a battle you don’t want to lose

This is amazing to think about: when we read the Psalms, we’re reading the very thoughts that were sung over 3,000 years ago in ancient Israel. These were songs for weekly worship.

And 3,000 years later, God has preserved these same songs to help us worship and to gain perspective on reality. Here is a snippet from one of the Psalms:

The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory. —Psalm 118:14

This stood out to me, because this theme of strength, joy (my song) and overcoming are threads throughout scripture.

“Strength“: the ability to do all that life requires.
Joy (“my song“): fuel and encouragement for the journey.
And “victory”…oh yes, sweet victory. Let me camp on that word for a minute…

This promise of victory is something we easily skim over today. But Jesus used it a number of times to describe the reward he offers to his people.

And if we don’t understand what he is referring to we might think, “Victory over what, exactly?”

“Victory” is a powerful, powerful theme throughout scripture, and it describes those who overcome an enemy—especially an enemy that would destroy them. In the psalms it refers primarily to enemies or warlords who would attack ancient Israel, taking and destroying anything they please.

Jesus continued using this idea, but clarified our common enemy.

Your enemy is not a person, or group of people. Your enemies are not members of a rival tribe or political organization.

Your enemies are the Evil One (Satan), this World System (the attitudes and values at work around us that are in opposition to God, that work to mold our thinking and living apart from God), sin and ultimately death.

These are our common enemies.

People are never the enemy, but they can be victims of the enemy. While God made us, values us, redeemed us and calls us to Himself as King, the enemy promises a counterfeit kingdom.

The truth is that you, and everyone you know, are at risk.

Satan—the enemy of your soul—uses the temptations in our world to destroy you, your faith, your family, even your finances and your future. His goal is to destroy you utterly.

This is a battle you don’t want to lose.

This battle is waged in every generation—a battle for the souls of people. But Jesus—who purchased our redemption—also gives us the path to victory.

In the book of Revelation, he describes the victory that comes to those who follow him (the Victor), who overcame death. He says:

Those who are victorious will sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat with my Father on his throne. —Revelation 3:21

And keep this in mind: When you follow Christ you will not dodge the struggle; rather you will become aware of it at an existential level (maybe for the first time), realizing what is truly at stake.

In the passage, Jesus says that the victory came to those who set aside this world’s agenda to follow Christ. The victorious are those who follow The Victor who overcame sin and death and now lives forever.

Death has no hold or claim on him, and those who follow him will be victorious as well—not over an athletic competition, or a political campaign, but over death itself. Death has already been defeated. And only those who follow Christ will experience this victory.

This is why we follow him. This is why we worship him. He is the victory.

Today, live from that perspective. He is your strength, your song—and yes—your victory. Worship as if your life depends upon it. Because it does.

Love you,
Pastor Bill

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Jesus’ Return, Pt. 1

Don’t be misled. Don’t be distracted. Honor Jesus

Over and over Jesus referred to his coming Kingdom. The return of paradise. Evil will be dealt with and death will be a part of the past.

So, naturally his disciples wondered when this would take place. They asked him “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3)

Jesus gives them 9 areas to watch for, signaling his return. I can’t go into complete detail on all 9 in this post, but let me touch on two areas that are salient for our time.

First, Jesus warns them “Don’t let anyone mislead you. For many will come in my name claiming to be the Promised One (the Messiah).”

Every generation looks for an answer to the problems of life—a savior—a utopian ideal. Could be social, political, material or religious. And we think:

“If only we had a more equitable system of distributing wealth, then we would be at peace.”
Or, “If only we had _______________ (fill in the blank) party in power, that would change everything.”
Or, if only we had more money, then we would be happy.”
Or, “If only we had a religion everyone could agree on. Then there would be peace.”

And history has shown us that every attempt to create a utopia on our own terms has led to disappointment, chaos and death. Earthly utopias promise much, but can’t deliver. One system, in particular, has failed miserably everywhere it’s been tried.

Joseph Stalin wanted to create paradise on earth, so he imposed Marxism over Russia. To realize “the greater good,” Stalin butchered over 50 million of his own people on the altar of dialectic materialism. That is nearly 10X the number of people that Hitler murdered.

Pol Pot was motivated by Marxism in Cambodia, resulting in the annihilation of 25% of the total population of that country. Mao Zedong did the same in China and eliminating somewhere between 40-80 million of his comrades as well.

We could go down the list of every group that’s imposed Marxism, promising a paradise on earth, but in every case it’s ascendency was built on the death of millions who opposed their totalitarian leaders.

The problem with a political system is that it cannot change the human heart.

But this is what Jesus specializes in. Hope begins with him, and the promise of what is coming is life-changing.

Will finish with part 2 tomorrow.

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren.

Image by Aristal Branson from Pixabay

Warrior Dad

Dad, you are the key

“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me…His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” —Malachi 3:1, 4:6

God sent a messenger with a specific purpose: that he would turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.

What is that all about?

One of the most disturbing trends in our time is the villainization of men. Complaints of “toxic masculinity” and the pejorative “mansplaining” are thrown around with zero definition to silence men—along with the idea that men aren’t even necessary in the family—has gone viral.

But nothing could be further from the truth. Men are essential.

According to data collected by Promise Keepers and Baptist Press, dads are essential to the spiritual health of their families. Here is what they uncovered:

“If a father does not go to church, even if his wife does, only 1 child in 50 will become a regular worshiper. If a father does go regularly, regardless of what the mother does, between two-thirds and three-quarters of their children will attend church as adults. If a father attends church irregularly, between half and two-thirds of their kids will attend church with some regularity as adults.

“If a mother does not go to church, but a father does, a minimum of two-thirds of their children will end up attending church. In contrast, if a father does not go to church, but the mother does, on average two-thirds of their children will not attend church.”

“Another survey found that if a child is the first person in a household to become a Christian, there is a 3.5% probability everyone else in the household will follow. If the mother is the first to become a Christian, there is a 17% probability everyone else in the household will follow. However, when the father is first, there is a 93% probability everyone else in the household will follow.” (courtesy of Nick Cady)

Here is the point: Dads, you are essential.

There is a spiritual battle being fought in our world dads—and you are the target. The enemy’s goal is to make you feel depressed, unnecessary, or thinking that church is irrelevant. Either way, he wins.

But you play a massive role. You are a key influencer in your children’s and grandchildren’s lives. You have waaaaaaay more impact than you imagine.

And with God’s strength, you will overcome.

So the question for us as men is this: “Do I want my family to be healthy spiritually? Do I want God’s blessings on our family, our marriage and on my children’s lives?” I can’t overemphasize how important you are in all of this.

It starts with us.

And why not join us this Sunday at CenterPoint? You can join us in-person, 10AM PST in Tacoma, or online on our CenterPoint FB page. Either way, I look forward to worshiping with you then.

Fighting for you,
Pastor Bill

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet.

A Battle You Must Win

don’t sell yourself short

Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind. —Craig Groeschel

Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it. —Proverbs 4:23

Be watchful of your self-talk.

What is self-talk? It is the conversation you have with yourself throughout the day. Every day we make thousands of decisions—most of which are quick, easy ones (e.g. “What should I have for breakfast?” or “Do I have time to stop for gas on the way to work?”).

But then there are decisions that are weightier. And those decisions require more thought.

So when God calls you to something outside your comfort zone, resist the urge to tell yourself “I could never do that” or “I’m too busy” or “That’s impossible.”

It may seem impossible to you, but nothing is impossible for God. He loves taking us beyond our comfort zones and he loves accomplishing the “impossible” through his people.

Don’t hem yourself in with small thoughts. Don’t allow yourself to think you can’t grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ because “No one in my family has.”

Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re most likely right.

Allow God’s word to inform you. Allow his Spirit to guide you. And don’t sell yourself short. Put yourself in a position to trust God for something greater.

Allow him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to do what only he can do.

If God has called you to it, He will see you through it.

And remember: Most of life’s battles are won or lost in the mind.

Love you,
Pastor Bill

Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

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CGM: Thank You Victor

this is personal

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. —Psalm 116:15

Thank you so much again, Christian Grandfather Magazine, for hosting another of my posts from Your Daily Encouragement.

This one is special to me, as it highlights a man whose life was all about serving others. He loved to serve others, and now he has his reward.

Here is today’s post about my friend, Victor.

Love you,
Pastor Bill

Thank You Victor

precious and faithful

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. —Psalm 116:15

I met Victor one day at CenterPoint, and what caught my eye was his exuberance. Victor shined with the love of Christ.

Victor with his son Dylan and wife, Lesa

One day he said, “Pastor, can we get together?” So, we meet at a local coffee shop and he shared with me how he had begun following Jesus: how he went from homelessness as a boy (in the 1960’s) to following Jesus through the Jesus Movement in Southern California. He told me how a Christian couple took him in and loved him in a way he had never experienced.

Jesus—through His people—changed Victor’s life.

He shared how he went through a number of ups and downs, but the love of God had been with him through every high and low. As we spoke, I asked him if we would like to be part of a group we were about to launch, called “the Disciple-making Path,” and his eyes lit up—he was totally down for it.

Victor—a 68 year-old man—wanted to continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Wow! Wherever you are in your life, it’s never too late to keep growing.

Victor started up with our new group and he rocked it. When he spoke, he brought wisdom and experience to the group, all of whom were younger than he was. He came every week ready and read-up on that week’s devotionals.

The group took a break this summer, and he was looking forward to the upcoming group time this fall, and start year two—that is, after he returned from a trip to Europe he and his wife Lesa would be taking this next month. Victor and his wife Lesa hosted exchange students in their home and were looking forward to visiting them in their home country for a few weeks.

We got the news this last Tuesday night that Victor passed quietly in his sleep. He had been called home to be with One he loved and served for over 40 years.

Victor reminded me that our time here is short: we don’t know how long we have, but one day we will join him in leaving this world.

Moses asked God: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” There is wisdom in remembering the brevity of this life. And although I will miss him dearly, I know that there is no place safer for him than the arms of Christ.

But there is something new that Victor taught me in his passing, and it is in his name.

Victor.

John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, wrote ‘Every child of God is victorious over the world’ —1 John 5:4. John says those who follow Jesus are “victors.” And by the “world,” John means we are victors over the values of this world system—that Jesus’ followers will overcome the corruption and evil of this world and ultimately overcome even death itself.

Victor is a victor.

And Victor isn’t actually dead; he is more alive today than he has ever been. He is standing in the presence of Christ and one day he will accompany Jesus when He returns to bring God’s Kingdom to this world and restore what was lost in the fall.

And what a day that will be.

Image by Shah Rokh from Pixabay

Unshakeable God

He can be trusted

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. —Hebrews 10:23

“God is faithful. He’ll fulfill every promise he’s made.

There’s no disease God cannot heal, no heart he cannot mend, no bondage he cannot break, no enemy he cannot defeat, no mountain he cannot move, and no need he cannot meet.

And because that same Spirit lives inside each of us, we move forward undaunted; we are unstoppable; and we live unshakeable.

Focus on our unshakeable God instead of the chaos around you and he will carry you through the challenges and on to victory.”

—Christine Caine

Your Daily Encouragement. Bill Herried is a pastor at CenterPoint Church in Tacoma, Washington and is married to the most extraordinary woman on the planet. Together they have 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. He has been the lead pastor at CenterPoint Christian Fellowship in Tacoma since 2006. He has an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, and Master of Divinity from Corban University in Salem, Oregon—and he loves a good biryani.

Image by Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay

Who Do You Say I Am?

here is the big picture

“Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” —Matthew 16:13

There are a lot of ideas in our world about who Jesus is. In fact, if you asked ten different people, you might get ten different answers.

One of my heroes of the faith, C.S. Lewis, experienced this confusion in his day, because many thought of Jesus only as a good man. Lewis wrote that, although many have had an opinion of who Jesus is, the idea that he is merely a good man is not an option that Jesus has left open to us. More on that later.

Jesus had called his 12 disciples to follow him. They heard what he taught, and they saw him do the miraculous: he healed people with incurable diseases. He gave sight to people who were born blind. He healed paraplegics and even brought people back from the dead. Then after all this, he asked them what the word was about him. He asked, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

(By the way, the Son of Man is a name that Jesus used for himself that the prophet Daniel described in his writings, 5-1/2 centuries before Jesus was born. Jesus claimed that name and identity for himself. This is a fascinating study in itself, but here are the key passages describing what this son of man would accomplish in a time that is still to come.)

So, Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

“Well,” they replied, “some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.”

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. —Matthew 16:13-17

There is so much happening here, but Peter essentially says “You are the One we’ve been waiting for—the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

In Hebrew, the name “Messiah” meant “Anointed One” (the Greek word is “Christ”). In ancient Israel, when they crowned a new king, they would “anoint” his head with olive oil. Oil was poured over his head to symbolize the pouring out of God’s Spirit on the new king.

But, the problem with kings is that they die. So, over and over the next king would have a coronation and anointing—and the nation hoped that this next king would be as helpful (or better!) than the previous king.

The difference between these kings and the Messiah is that the Messiah’s reign would never end. He would live forever. And he would be God’s King—the perfect King; not merely anointed with olive oil, but with the very Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus’ disciples had seen and heard enough. They knew that he was the Anointed One. He is the One the scriptures had spoken of. He is the Promised One of God.

So notice what Jesus says to Simon Peter’s declaration:

Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

“Exactly!” Jesus says to Simon Peter. He calls Peter blessed—because God himself was the source of Peter’s understanding of Jesus’ identity!

And now that they understand who he is, he calls them to follow him at a deeper level:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”

There is something far bigger coming, and it will require a next level of discipleship: giving up your own ideas about how to live life and following him. If we hang on to our own ideas about life, we will lose it.

But, if we give up our lives—because we’re following him—we will save it.

This is the paradox of God: To win, we must surrender. To live, we must die to ourself.

“And,” Jesus adds, “what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”

Nothing in this world is more valuable than your life.

Then Jesus finishes this section with these words:

For the Son of Man will come with his angels in the glory of his Father and will judge all people according to their deeds. —Matthew 16:27

Here is that name again “Son of Man.” And what will he do? Exactly what the prophet Daniel said he would do: Return with the armies of heaven and bring God’s judgment against the evil in our world.

Based on what Jesus said about himself, he cannot just be a “good man.” Based on this, Lewis proposed what he called the tri-lemma. He wrote that either Jesus was a liar (and a liar of the worst kind: a religious impostor), a lunatic, or he was who he claimed to be: Lord.

Lewis wrote:
“You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come up with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” —Mere Christianity

Who is Jesus? He is God’s King. King of kings. Lord of lords. The Son of the Living God. He is Savior. Redeemer. He is the advocate to all who seek him out. The hope of the world. The Rock of ages. He is the commander of the armies of heaven.

And as he promised, he is coming again. Jesus will return to establish his kingdom. Evil will be dealt with. Death will be conquered and life with him will be forever.

Better than any paradise we now know, it will be true paradise.

Forever.

This is our King. This is Jesus.

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