God of the Worm

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV)

"Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Why do people start something and not finish it?

People get started in either one of these three conditions:

1. The Dangerous State Where Work Hasn’t Even Started

Luke 8:12 (ESV)
"The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so that they may not believe and be saved."

Thinking about work or having a great idea is not enough. Trying to be ready is not enough. The Kingdom of God is already here, and it is ready.

Luke 14:17 (ESV)
"And at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’"

The decision to get moving is hard because the heart is hardened. Hardened hearts do not believe and will not be saved. People in this first state have not entered the Kingdom of God.

• Matthew 13:15 (ESV)
  "For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them."
• Matthew 16:24 (ESV)
  "Then Jesus told His disciples, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.'"
  
  

2. The Dangerous State of 30% Christian

Matthew 13:5–6 (ESV)
"5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose, they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away."

This is also a dangerous state because people rejoiced for a time. Speed is not what Jesus is looking for. Instead, Jesus is looking for steadiness and steadfastness.

People in this state start something based on their feelings. Emotional stories will not preserve our faith. People in this state quickly lose interest when they do not get the desired results promptly. They get tired of God, then they start sinning, and they eventually tire God.

Isaiah 43:22–24 (ESV)
"22 Yet you did not call upon Me, O Jacob; but you have been weary of Me, O Israel! 23 You have not brought Me your sheep for burnt offerings or honored Me with your sacrifices. I have not burdened you with offerings or wearied you with frankincense. 24 You have not bought Me sweet cane with money or satisfied Me with the fat of your sacrifices. But you have burdened Me with your sins; you have wearied Me with your iniquities."

When we stop serving God, we start sinning against Him. The ‘sun’ that arose is not the issue because it is normal to face trials and difficulties in life. The problem of a dying plant is because there is no root to survive the scorching heat.

3. The State of 60% Christian

Luke 8:14 (ESV)
"And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature."

The people in this state are not devoted 100%. The thorns represent our various cares and commitments in life, and they grow together with the seed. Distractions and the attraction of the world can choke us. Our commitments will only grow, and we may eventually find ourselves with many excuses.

• Luke 14:18–20 (ESV)
  "18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’"

Busyness will always be an excuse. But we must excuse busyness.

4. All Hope is Not Lost: The Fourth State

The Good State of 100% Christian

Luke 8:15 (ESV)
"As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience."

The seed is planted deep in the right place of the heart that is a good soil. The person is not perfect, but the condition of the planting is.

Ezekiel 36:26–27 (NIV)
"26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws."

It matters to God how we start and how we finish. What God has started, He will complete.

When God touches the heart in the right places, we will have a work that God will complete. We will deeply appreciate our salvation by the way we live. We will grow, press on, and our fruit will mature. Do not belittle the planting of the Lord because God is a good planter.

Jacob’s Two Titles

The Holy One of Jacob (Isaiah 29:23)
Mentioned 25 times in the book of Isaiah.

Worm Jacob (Isaiah 41:14)
Mentioned only once in the book of Isaiah.

God called Jacob ‘worm’ because he was worthless, dishonored, and unloved. That’s the nature of a worm. Still, the many mentions of ‘the Holy One of Jacob’ was a constant reminder to Israel that God will complete His work by bringing His people back to their homeland.

God	The Holy One
(Elohim)	(Yahweh Jehovah Lord)
God in general	Personal reserved

Here we see a great God bonding and pursuing an insignificant maggot named Jacob. That is what God does with us worms too.

Conclusion

When we come before God, we must always remember that no one else can help us but the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:10–14 (ESV)
"10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. 11 Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; those who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 12 You shall seek those who contend with you, but you shall not find them; those who war against you shall be as nothing at all. 13 For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, 'Fear not, I am the one who helps you.' 14 Fear not, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel [God of the worm]."

So fear not, church! Let’s move forward, for God is going to complete the work. The imperfect worm will make it because it is the planting of the Lord. God is the God of worms, and He will pursue us until the work He had begun in us is complete.