When You Feel Like Quitting Don't! Part 2

When You Feel Like quitting Don’t!

By Pastor Ron Crandall

Introduction:

John 21:1-4

1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

(KJV)

Poem: Author unknown

When things go wrong as they sometimes will

When the road your trudging seems uphill

When funds are low, and your debts are high

You want to smile, but, have to sigh

When care is pressing you down a bit

Rest if you must

But, please don’t Quit

Success is failure turned inside out

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt

You can never tell how close you are

It may be near when it seems so afar

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit

It’s when things go wrong, you must not QUIT!

This poem has new meaning for me, for you see the past two years it nearly seemed to me that God had forgotten my address. Now I know none of you have ever experienced that feeling. But, Church, though I know God, I went through the fire. Write this down, if you get nothing else from this message, "Know that there is finality to your trial."

I want to minister on the thought, "When You Feel Like quitting Don’t!"

Are you a Quitter? Are you looking for your nets or poles tonight to go fishing to?

Most of us have felt like quitting at one point or another, maybe you have thought about it and thought about it till you’re blue in the face.

Maybe you to can identify with Peter. Hey I’ve had those same feelings, I know how the disciples felt. They felt like Jesus where are you? You said you were the Messiah and now you’ve left us out here on our own, I don’t get it!

I’m going fishing and at least that something that won’t leave me with nothing to show for my effort.

1 Pet 4:12-14

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

(KJV)

But check out verse 3;

In the last part of that verse it says: "but that night they caught nothing"

There are six crucial words right here:

"and that night they caught nothing." tells us God did not intend for them to return to something Familiar!

He wanted them to know, that He was their power source so, the result was they caught Nothing! It’s what my wife says every time I go fishing.

This does not in any way reflect on their ability to fish.

If you think you’re the only person who has missed the mark or are struggling with problems, or challenges. You are wrong. If we were to search the bible you would find many who are listed in Faiths hall of fame who struggled:

*** Yet these men can still be found in the Hall of Faith

Have you ever heard this quote?

** When the going get tough the tough get going

But reality is for a lot of us is,

** When the going gets rough, the ranks thin

Do you know that 35,000 churches have been closed and their doors shut for good in just the last year?

I’ve had people say to me Pastor what’s the use?

My response to them and to you this day is: The Bible declares “If I’ll cry out he will answer my call, honey it may not be in Ron Crandall’s time, but he has never been late yet!”

It doesn’t matter if 90,000 churches close he is still God!

When we realize this one Fact, we then understand God will cause us to know his hand and might and that we are still his:

Jer 16:21

21 Therefore, behold, I will this once cause them to know, I will cause them to know mine hand and my might; and they shall know that my name is The LORD.