“First Words” Counsel From Corinthians “For which cause we faint not, for though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) The New Living Translation states the first part of verse 14 in this way: “That is why we never give up...”. Regardless of whether we are in the pulpit or the pew, who among us has not been tempted at some point to give up? Give up on our dream. Give up on our healing. Give up on change. Give up on the salvation of a loved one. Give up on a relationship. Give up on our ministry. At one point Abraham and Sarai gave up on God’s promise of a son. The Israelites gave up on being able to overcome the inhabitants of the Promised Land and as a result wandered in the wilderness for forty years. Elijah gave up on his ministry and asked God to let him die. Samson gave up and gave in to Delilah and lost God’s touch on his life. John 6:66 records the following statement: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more”. Satan’s ultimate goal is not discouragement, or to get us to do something we shouldn’t do or even get us out of church….his ultimate goal is to influence us to give up and go back on God. Has the “spirit of quit” come on you? Perhaps you are ready to quit church, quit trying, quit the ministry, quit your marriage….to just give up. Consider with me for a moment Paul’s admonition to us in Hebrews 12:1-3: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and the Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. FOR CONSIDER HIM who endured such great contradiction of sinners against Himself, LEST YE BE WEARIED AND FAINT IN YOUR MINDS.” Are you carrying some weights? Situations, circumstances, obstacles and oppositions can weigh us down. Paul said “consider Him”….in other words keep our eyes on Jesus….lest we become weary and faint or give up. Faith without focus results in failure. Quickly, let me share three reasons not to give up. 1) “Faithful is He who called you who also will do it” (I Thess. 5:24). The scripture doesn’t say, “Faithful are people”…..it says FAITHFUL IS HE….God is forever faithful! 2) Faith makes the impossible possible, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed ye shall say unto this mountain be thou removed to yonder place and it shall be removed and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” 3) God’s prayer promises are not contingent upon conditions: “Call unto me and I will answer thee and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not.” (Jeremiah 33:3) Hear me this morning….you may be down, but, you’re not out. Giving up is not an option…Going back is not an option…..for what is there to go back to? Jehovah God will make a way and get you through what you are going through. For The Harvest, Bob Wilburn
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 15:25:40 +0000
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