When The Excitement Fades Or Don' Quit

When the Excitement Fades or Don’t Quit

Quitters never win - - Winners never Quit

Failures are often stepping stones to success. Winners win because they continue to step.

Quitters: Nobody wants to be one; yet all of us have been disappointed by them. Are you a quitter? I suspect that most of you would answer “Absolutely not!” But one of the most discouraging realities in the church is the average believer’s inability to stick it out. When the going gets tough, the ranks thin quickly.

The dropout rate in Christianity is alarming. Few believers follow through on their initial zeal for the Savior, and the loss to church in potential ministry is great. Most of us assume that sin or bad doctrine is responsible. A closer look reveals that many of us simply quit. When the excitement fades so do we.

Absolutely not !!! Peter- “yet will I not deny thee” Absolutely not!! V. 69 – 74 but he denied before them all v. 75 wept bitterly

Matt. 26:30-35 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee. 33 Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. 34 Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35 Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.

69 Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. 70 But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. 71 And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. 72 And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. 73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. 74 Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. 75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.

If you are listening Peter, God wants you to help build the church. But,

(1) Don’t Look Back

(2) Don’t Look for Rewards (Perks)

(3) Don’t Look at Other People

According to Ed Underwood, these are the three major mistakes Christian quitters make.

I. Don’t Look Back

A. Comfort Zone - The first mistake Christian quitters make is looking in the wrong direction. When we walk with Christ our entire orientation is to the future. We are new creatures in Him and all things have become new (2 Cor 5:17). When we begin to look back at our comfort zone we get into trouble. [Comfort zone is that time of doing whatever the natural person desired - - a bed of ease.]

We remember the good old days when life was uncomplicated: the daily routine of fishing, the security of knowing what was next, the satisfaction of running your own life.

Do you ever ask yourself, “Why do I put up with all this?” Being a serious Christian adds a lot of pressure to our schedules. And serving with other believers often results in strained relationships, disappointment, and even pain. Many of us will sometimes dream of what life was like before we were so committed. But we need to know that we can never simply pick up where we left off.

(1) Jeremiah 20:7-9 LORD, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived: thou art stronger than I, and hast prevailed: I am in derision daily, every one mocketh me. 8 For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the LORD was made a reproach unto me, and a derision, daily. 9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

Jeremiah may have looked back on easier days – sleeping in a bed instead of a dungeon – eating regular well balanced meals instead of bread and water.