When you feel like quitting DON’T!
1 Peter 2:9
John 21:1 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: (NIV)
John 21:2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. (NIV)
John 21:3 "I’m going out to fish," Simon Peter told them, and they said, "We’ll go with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught
nothing. (NIV)
This morning are you a quitter?
Most of us at one time or another has felt like quitting, at one point or another.
I can honestly tell you while holding my son in my hands and watching him die, I felt utterly helpless.
I felt like Peter all I wanted to do is anything but minister.
And how could I minister effectively when my faith had been totally rocked.
I was angry, hurt and disappointed that all the dreams we had for our family had been destroyed in just five minutes.
God why me? I have preached all over the country for you why did it have to be my son?
The Lord began to speak in that still small voice back to me, saying "I Love you Ron." And what the enemy meant for evil I will turn it into a blessing if you just don’t Quit!
I knew the voice for I have heard him before but he just did not understand where I was at... I was broken and crushed and he was asking me not to quit, I had never been in this place before. I have always preached He is the God of "I can."
Despondant I was now the one seeking for some kind of stregnth, I kept trying to pull strength from my inner most being and it was not there. I would look into my wifes eyes and it seemed the pain was to much.
It seemed this lesson of faith was more than I could bare...
A friend of mine came to me and told me he had written a song for my babies funeral called "My Strong Tower."
As he sang that song to me I suddenly realized preacher you are in need of a "strong tower," because I was weak. The more he sang the more I cried realizing that the same Gospel I have preached night after night was also for me... for me, for my wife and my entire family.
I found when we began to get the word of God in our heart, we find the courage to face that which is facing us and the will to carry on, for He is still God.
This scripture kept running through my spirit like water over the rocks in a river.
Jer 16:21 "Therefore I will teach them-- this time I will teach them my power and might. Then they will know that my name is the LORD. (NIV)
Zech 4:6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, ’ says the LORD Almighty. (NIV)
I found when the going gets rough the Ranks thin, even I was being tempted to be one of those that make up thin...
There are alot of ministers who get hurt and quit, setting down there high calling and settling for second best.
I want to encourage you he is the God restoration!
Even our churches go through times when it seems it would be easier to just quit.
Do you realize that over,
35,000 churches have closed this last year
Still struggling I said "So, What the Use!"
God’s word declares unto me the harvest is ripe unto harvest and that, " There is one name whereby you might be saved "
There are people who are in need, they too need a Savior a lifter of their burdens, a healer of their hurts and mender of their broken dreams.
When we take our eyes off of Jesus all we are stuck with is Religion.
And Religion makes me want to throw-up
It cannot heal the hurts of man
It cannot turn sorrow into joy
But, Christianity, serving Jesus really excites me clean to the bone!
Yet as we look at our text "Peter was the first one to Quit."
We find 7 men went fishing and 3 were not even fisherman.
But they followed after Peter, hey we might not be able to fish but it seems like the thing to do.
How many have found this to be true
"Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” NIV
To many times we are looking for perks "Don’t look for perks."
The bible declares:
“ For it is the Love of God that constraineth us."
Some have said " I won’t," "I can’t do it or I just cannot go on."
And have totally missed the blesing that comes with just being faithful to the END.
Sometimes it takes us getting knocked off our high horse.
Acts 9 (Paul on the road to Damascus)
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (KJV)
Paul said they can’t kill me,
For I died with Christ
Jesus asked Peter: Do you Love me
Jo 21:15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know
that I love you. “Jesus said, "Feed my lambs. "
(NIV)
Jo 21:16 Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you. “ Jesus said "Take care of my sheep.”
(NIV)
Jo 21:17 The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me? " Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you. " Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. ( NIV )
Key: You serve him by serving others.
If you ever have been touched by Jesus you will want to serve others no mater what has happened in your life.
If you want to go to heaven lets go, but if you want the devil to overcome you with frustration, then just start thinking about how misteated you are, how you felt God should have come through.
“Oh, give me faith to trust Him"
I’ve heard so many excuses till it makes me sick:
* Pastor I am just not cut out to teach small children it’s not fulfilling (just loose one and you will teach till you cannot teach anymore.)
* I just can’t work with that person, I say to you this morning " stop grinding your axe and look at your similarities.
“Do you both love Jesus?
Do believe that he died for your sins?
*We would be there but,
We all could begin to make excuses till our hair falls out…
II Misery likes company
Here are the 3 Mistakes People make;
1. People look back
Lu 9;62 Jesus replied, No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God. II ( NIV )
Gen 19;17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. (KJV)
Gen 19;26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. (KJV)
Lot’s wife looked backed and turned to salt in an instant.
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
(NIV)
Rom 12;2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. (NIV)
But now exhausted from the trauma of the cross, Peter turned back to the comfort of fishing.
He went back to what he felt comfortable in.
What he knew to be fact:
He went to the Rock,
from there he could fashion a hook
He went to the Ground,
from there he knew he would find worms
He went to the Tree,
for He knew he could make a branch into a pole
He went to the waters of the sea,
for He knew he could find Fish there
Jesus the Son of God he could not Hear, Touch or See any longer now his walk would take faith.
So, He simply said “ I go fishing” I’m gonna quit, cause I can’t Hear, Touch or See Him anymore.
The other night I was in service with Doctor M.F. Cornin when somebody asked him why he still came to church when he couldn’t hear very well or see very well and with that impairment how could He feel the Touch of God anymore? Daddy Cornin replied simply “I want God to see me here.”
Oh, he could stay home and seem to have a valid excuse, but, He was simply saying I’m not a Quitter.
He began to tell me after Church of the times God had saved him over and over.
And his little eyes just sparkled as he was ministering once again to a Young Pastor to hold tight to the master’s hand.
This morning I challenge you to get back to the faith and facts in your life and align them according to the Word of God.
When you remember how God has saved you from death, You will not quit.
Or how many times has he saved your life?
Don’t even say no to God !
But, You need to learn how to say Yes by faith, I may not feel it but "I love you Lord"! Lord here am I …
** Have you noticed how Life keeps getting faster and faster.
When it comes to the Kings Business, you better do it Right.
This morning if God were to ask me if I would do it all over again?
My answer would be YES!
My question to you this morning is would you do it all over again if God was to ask you to?
Ill. There was a couple that were millionaires here in California and one day they decided they were tired of the rat race and they were going to move and leave their ministries at the church. They bought some land in Colorado and it was beautiful. They loved the beauty of the snow and the brilliance of the water falls. They thought they had escaped the pressure of the ministry they were in. Then one day there was a gnawing at their inner man, as they began to see the need that was around them. No longer could they
deny that these people were in darkness. As they began to minister first to one then another the spirit of God began drawing them back. They sold their property and went back to the same rat race they had ran from, they were confronted with looking back. Yet God needed them as vessels and would not let them forget the tremendous need of the inner city.
2ndly: Don’t look for Rewards
Heb 11:25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. (NIV)
Matt 19:27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
(NIV)
Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. (NIV)
Phi13:7 7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing----
But in relation to God’s word where does your excuse stand?
Look what Jesus did for you on the Cross of Calvary!
And you don’t have time for Him...
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(KJV)
* Oh Pastor working with young people would get on my nerves.
Don’t you know the crucifixion got on Jesus’ nerves?
Look at him on the cross then tell him what you don’t want to do.
What’s it going to take to get your attention?
I want you to know, He’s not some befuddled old man in the Heavens that is to old and blind to touch you and minster to your needs.
My bible tells me he came from teman -which means he came from no-where
He is the God that created the Heavens and the earth
A person that is self-motivated will not last
But those that are Love motivated will last
3rdly Don’ t look at others
Heb 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(NIV)
People will fail you!
"Oh, THAT WE WOULD SEE JESUS"
You lift up Jesus
He has not called us to build up our kingdom -But Build His
Jesus said Peter you are the head of the Church, But it was John that laid his head on the block.
If I want John to die, what’s that to you, you follow me.
God is not going to measure your head when you get to
Heaven, but rather he is going to measure your Heart for your reward
All service is equal in the sight of God:
Browning
Church God is keeping record
Who is that man? Preacher, why do they get everything good what about me?
With-out God you will self-destruct
You better plant your allegiance on one side or the other
If you don’t make it to heaven who’s going to wear your crown, play your harp, or make up your family.
You don’t have to talk to your kids about God, walk in front of them and live the life of true faith for it speaks louder than your words.
What would have happened if they had not gone fishing, if they had chosen to quit.
What would have happened to the great commission? When
Jesus appeared John said " That’s my Lord"
Peter jumped into the water and began to swim toward Jesus!
You may have suffered great loss but when you cath a glimspe of Jesus you will forget all your troubles, oh there may not be any beauty about him... for the beauty is found in him.
Teri and I have found that He is our God also, and that when you don’t quit there is blessing. For God gave us David Matthew meaning beloved gift of God. I will never forget that night that enemy hit us hard. But MY God is greater than his best hit. His love is deeper and touch far exceeds the natural man’s tendency to give up when faced with hardship.
So I challenge you like he challenged me "Don’t Quit."
For life begin with Him.
INVITATION:
