NEVER GIVE UP
GALATIANS 6:9
1. INTRODUCTION: LIFE IS FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS. THINGS DO NOT ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED. FRUSTRATION, IRRITATION, AND AGITATION ARE INEVITABLE. BUT IN-SPITE OF ALL WE GO THROUGH FOR THE KINGDOMS CAUSE, WE MUST NEVER GIVE UP. LISTEN TO THE POETIC, PROFOUND PROCLAMATION,”WHEN THINGS GO WRONG AS THEY SOMETIMES WILL, WHEN THE ROAD YOU’RE TRODDING SEEMS ALL UPHILL. WHEN FUNDS ARE LOW, DEBTS ARE HIGH, YOU WANT TO SMILE BUT HAVE TO CRY. WHEN CARES ARE PRESSING YOU DOWN A BIT, REST IF YOU MUST, BUT DON’T YOU QUIT. WE MUST CONTINUE TO PRESS OUR WAY TO THE FINISH LINE, BECAUSE GREATER IS HE THAT IS WITHIN US THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. I KNOW IT GETS HARD, BUT DON’T QUIT. I KNOW THE JOURNEY IS TEDIOUS, BUT DON’T QUIT. I KNOW YOU GET TIRED OF BEING LIED ON, TALKED ABOUT, AND OUR BACKS GET PUSHED TO THE WALL. BUT WE MUST BE MINDFUL THAT NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US WILL PROSPER.
2. THE TEXT: THE ARTICULATE APOSTLE PAUL, WRITES THIS PASSAGE TO THE CHURCH AT GALATIA TO ENCOURAGE AND INSTRUCT THEM HOW THEY ARE TO TREAT THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL WHO ARE LABORING FOR GOD.
A) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AS BORN AGAIN BELIEVERS IN CHRIST, ALL OF US ARE CALLED TO LABOR FOR THE LORD.
B) AS WE LABOR FOR THE LORD, THE TEMPTATION TO BECOME WEARY PRESENTS A MAJOR OBSTACLE.
C) TO BECOME WEARY MEANS TO BE BEATEN OUT, WORN OUT, AND DISCOURAGED.
D) PAUL ENCOURAGES US NOT TO BECOME WORN OUT IN DOING GOOD UNTO OTHERS.
E) IN OTHER WORDS, DON’T BE WORN OUT FOR DOING MINISTRY!
F) WHY? HE PROVIDES THE ANSWER BY ASSURING US THAT IN DUE SEASON, WE SHALL REAP IF WE FAINT NOT. (EXPLAIN).
3. ON THIS JOURNEY…
A) THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL PUT STUMBLING BLOCKS IN OUR PATHS.
B) THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL SET TRAPS.
C) THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL ATTEMPT TO DISTRACT US. NEHEMIAH.
D) THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL CRITICIZE YOUR GOOD WORKS.
E) THERE ARE THOSE WHO WILL TRY TO TURN OTHERS AGAINST YOU.
F) IT CAN SOMETIMES BE DISHEARTENING. BUT WE MUST ENDEAVOR TO BE FAITHFUL UNTO GOD.
G) ON THIS JOURNEY, IT IS EASY TO BECOME WEARY, BUT IT IS NOT PROFITABLE.
H) GIVING UP IS NOT AN OPTION FOR THE CHILD OF GOD.
4. THE REMEDY FOR OVERCOMING WEARINESS…
A) IT TAKES A STRONG DETERMINATION TO PLEASE GOD, AND KNOWING THAT WHAT WE DO, WE DO FOR HIM.
B) WE MUST HAVE AN UNYIELDING FAITH IN GOD TO SUSTAIN US.
C) WE MUST HAVE A PRAYER FILLED LIFE. JESUS PROCLAIMS IN LUKE 18:1, “THAT MEN OUGHT TO ALWAYS PRAY.”
D) WE MUST BE BATHED IN HIS WORD. THE PSALMIST SAID,” BUT HIS DELIGHT IS IN THE LAW OF THE LORD; AND IN HIS LAW DOTH HE MEDITATE DAY AND NIGHT.”
5. THREE POINTS…
A) ONE, THERE IS STRENGTH FOR THE STRUGGLE. JESUS SAYS, AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD.
B) TWO, IF GOD IS FOR US, HE’S MORE THAN THE WORLD AGAINST US.
C) PAY DAY IS COMING. JESUS SAID “BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY, AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME TO GIVE EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HIS WORK SHALL BE.”
6. CONCLUSION. WE’VE COME TOO FAR TO GIVE UP NOW. WE’VE…
A) COME TO CHURCH TOO MANY TIMES TO GIVE UP NOW.
B) PRAYED TOO MANY PRAYERS TO GIVE UP NOW.
C) CRIED TOO MANY TEARS TO GIVE UP NOW.
D) LABORED TOO LONG TO GIVE UP NOW.
E) FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH TO GIVE UP NOW.
F) HELPED TOO MANY PEOPLE TO GIVE UP NOW.
G) SHARED OUR FAITH TOO MANY TIMES TO GIVE UP NOW.
H) HELD UP THE BLOOD STAINED BANNER TOO LONG TO GIVE UP NOW.
I) THAT’S WHY THE SONG WRITER COULD SAY, I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS, NO TURNING BACK, NO TURNING BACK.
J) ANOTHER WRITER SAID TROUBLE IN MY WAY…
