Quitters - Pt. 3 Series

I. Introduction

In a 2016 research project a study of how long New Year's Resolutions actually last. Here are the results:

Only 64 percent last longer than the first month and only 46 percent last longer than six months.

Even more discouraging is the statistic that only 14 percent of people over 50 actually achieve their resolution compared to 39 percent of people in their 20’s. So does that mean you can't teach a dog new tricks or that we are just supremely comfortable in our routines?

So, it is apparent that quitting is a part of life. In fact, I have said that learning what to quit and what not to quit is the real key to learning how to win.

Scripture is full of lessons on what we should quit and what we should not quit! Let's continue to learn the lessons today!

1 Kings 19:1-13; 18 (NIV)

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Now I have a problem because there are about 6 lessons I could teach out of these passages. I am just going to mention 3 and then move on to 3 I really feel like we need to drill down on.

Quit isolating yourself when God is trying to push you into necessary relationships. Loners have no one to lean on so they quit. Your ability to continue to fight, to win, to persevere is wrapped up in your relationships. Some of you have set goals to get more connected but if you aren't careful life and your enemy will make sure you are too busy to follow through.

Quit running away from a fight you have been called to win. Some of us are trying to pray our way out of situations we have been called to conqueror.

Quit relaxing after a victory. Usually the biggest battle takes place immediately after winning a great victory. We are most vulnerable after a win! Don't let down! If you are winning, then keep watch!

So here are the things I felt like God wanted us to focus on this morning.

a. Quit mistaking a season for a sentence!

Notice that Elijah gets word that Jezebel is making threats and because he is faced with an immediate threat he mistakes a season for a life sentence. This is it. It is over. I am done. It was supposed to be a momentary attack and he turns it into a monument to his death.