“WHY SOME CHRISTIANS WILL NEVER GIVE UP!”
TEXT: Ephesians 6:10-13
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
INTRODUCTION:
Too many Christians are backsliding!
But Praise God… many Christians NEVER give up!
Winston Churchill failed sixth grade.
He was subsequently defeated in every election for public office until he became Prime Minister at the age of 62.
October 1941 speech…
“Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in. Never, Never, Never, Never give up.”
1 Corinthians 15:58
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”
No matter how hard the trial…
No matter how difficult the journey…
No matter how many obstacles in the way…
NOTHING will hinder them from reaching that Golden City of God!
WHO ARE THESE DETERMINED CHRISTIANS?
I. THOSE WHO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
a) This country has seen its share of WAR!
World War II (1941 - 1945) -- Lasted 4 years…
Korean War (1950 - 1953) -- Lasted 3 years…
Vietnam War (1965 - 1975) -- Lasted 10 years…
The Persian Gulf War (1990 - 1991) -- Lasted 7 mos.
The Iraq War (2003 - present) -- 5 years, 7 mos.
b) There is no discharge from THIS WAR!
If we are not building up the Kingdom of God, then we are breaking it down.
(Jesus said) “He who is not with Me is against Me.”
(Matthew 12:30)
c) The purpose of putting on the whole armor of God:
“…that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
“Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth…” (v. 14) (means literally, “wrapping truth around us.”)
“Having on the breastplate of righteousness.”(v. 14)
(It protects our HEART! or ATTITUDE!)
“And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.” (v. 15)
(Roman soldiers had sandals with nails on the bottom that firmly gripped the ground…)
Romans 8:31
“If God be for us, who can be against us?”
“The Shield of Faith” (v. 16)
Faith shields us!
Faith in the promises of God…
Faith in His overcoming grace…
Faith in His unlimited power…
IT IS THE SHIELD OF PROTECTION IN THIS SPIRITUAL WARFARE!
“…and take the Helmet of Salvation…” (v. 17)
“A head covering…It protects the head!”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
"think" means “to consider, reflect, reason, and ponder.”
The idea is that of focusing our thoughts until they shape our behavior.
The truth is:
What we think is what we become.
Where we have kept our minds is where we are.
our thoughts shape our behavior.
What we do is what we think.
William Barclay says,
"It is a law of life that, if a man thinks of something often enough and long enough, he will come to the stage when he cannot stop thinking about it. His thoughts will be quite literally in a groove out of which he cannot jerk them"
“And the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.“ (v. 17)
It is not only a defensive weapon, but an offensive one!
Hebrews 4:12
(The Word of God)
“…is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
It pierces through all disguises of error…
It lays bare all the wiles of the devil…
It opens up and exposes the heart and soul of man…
THOSE WHO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
II. THOSE WHO BUILD ON A SOLID FOUNDATION WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
Matthew 7:24-25
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.”
Both are building a house.
Both choose a foundation: there is one supreme difference—the foundation.
Both experience rains, floods, and winds beating upon their house.
Both heard the instructions.
a. One heard and obeyed:
Experienced a great deliverance.
b. One heard and did not obey:
Experienced a great fall.
Ephesians 2:20
“And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.”
III. THOSE WHO WILL NOT BE MOVED WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
Those who are determined!
Psalms 62:6
“He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.”
“Jesus is my Savior, I shall not be moved;
In His love and favor, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that’s planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.”
IV. THOSE WHO ARE FAITHFUL TO GOD WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
Revelation 2:10
“…“Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
David’s Mighty Men
II Samuel 23:8-12
1. Adino
“…he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
2. Eleazar
“He arose, and smote the Philistines unto his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day…”
3. Shammah
“And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentils: and the people fled from the Philistines. But Shammah stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.”
V. THOSE WHO OVERCOME WILL NEVER GIVE UP!
John 16:33
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer;
I have overcome the world.”
1 John 5:4
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:
and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”
