dickbraswell

When you feel like Quitting

There will be times in your Christian Life when you will just feel like quitting.  You will get tired and weary and impatient.  You will begin to wonder if it is really worth it all.  Discouragement will move in and the devil will be­gin to make you tempting offers and alterna­tives.

The faith walk is not an easy walk. According to Jesus,  the way into life is narrow and straight and only a few will find it.   Sometimes, the way out seems to be just to quit; to follow the path of least resistance. To forget it.  To retreat.  To back down.  You see, it is always easier to cop out than it is to cope.  The greatest temptation any believer faces is the temptation to quit. When you begin to listen to and follow your feelings and your reasoning sets in, the option to quit may look like the best thing for you to do.

The pressure and stress of maintaining your victory may build to the point of breaking.  Situations and circumstances may de­velop that will press you beyond measure and push you “over the edge.”  Now, how are believers to handle such situations?  What are we to do when we feel like quitting?  Where can we go to get some “relief?”  Is there a way out when we are at the breaking point?  What are our alterna­tives?

 You can Quit

This is probably the easiest to do and it is always a temptation when things really get tough.  It is the simplest and of­fers the least resistance.  But anybody can quit.  You can quit.  We can quit.  Many have quit.  And others will quit.  What about you?  Has the devil “got your number?”  What will it take to make you quit?  How much more “can you stand?”  Is quitting a real temptation for you in your situation at this time in your life?  I am sure some reading this right now are at the “giving up” and “quitting” stage.

You can compromise

Satan may be saying to you “if you will back off, I will back off!”  “If you will ease up, I will ease up…”  “If you will compromise, I’ll give you some relief.”  You can back down and ease up and let off.  You can stop and get stuck where you are.  You can re­treat and give up ground that you have fought for and won.  Compromise is an alternative.  But it is costly. You can slip back and fall back and go back.

You can give in to self-pity

You can compare yourself with others and get mad at God.  You can become jealous and envious and get discouraged.  Often you will feel that nobody really cares anyway.  You can begin to wonder about the wicked being blessed and you can get jealous and pout.  You can play on the sympathy of others and complain and murmur.   The pity demons will inoculate you with their lethargy and they will constantly tell you how pitiful you are and how others should patronize you and cater to you.

OR… you can turn your problems into Opportunities to trust God! 

            You can make your “situations” a test track for the Word of God.  You can stand and sing and shout and refuse to accept defeat.  You can endure and count it all joy when you come into temptations and trials.  You can see every impossible situation as an op­portunity to defeat the devil.  You do not have to quit!

OK… so you have decided not to quit.  You have decided not to compromise.  You have de­cided not to feel sorry for yourself.  You have decided to quit complaining and murmuring.  You have de­cided to turn your problems into Opportunities to trust God… NOW:  HOW do you do it?

            FIRST…. Understand that you are not the only believer facing a tough situation.  There are literally thousands of other saints who have not bowed their knee to Baal in the thick of the battle!  The very fact that you are tempted to quit is a good sign.  If you are not facing any resistance, it is obvious you are headed in the wrong direction.  No resistance means you are doing nothing for the Kingdom of God.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.    Ps. 34:19  

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.   1Cor. 10:13  

SECOND... never expect your faith walk to be easy.  You have not chosen an easy way of life!  To live by the Word is the most disciplined life a man or woman can know.  All the forces of darkness are set in array against you… demon powers have zeroed in on you because you have become a threat to them. You should recognize that your “situation” is really a conformation that you are headed in the right direction.  So, begin to rejoice and be glad!

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            THIRD... You should review your contract with God.  Look it over.  If you do, you will see that there is no provi­sion for quitting in it.  When you got saved, you made a Life Commitment to God with no strings attached.  There were no “what ifs” or “just in cases” or other conditional clauses in the Contract.  God did His part.  Jesus did His part.  The Holy Ghost did His part.  The Salvation Contract calls for you to do your part.  You are expected to ENDURE.  You are required to STAND and not WAVER.  You are bound by your Contract with God not to QUIT no matter what.

… but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matt. 10:22

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Hebr. 12:3  

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.   Eph. 6:13  

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  Ps. 91:1  

FOURTH... Remember your victories in the past.  See how God delivered you from the “hand of the lion and the hand of the bear…”  That is what David did as he faced the uncircumcised heathen giant.  Remember and relive the many victories in your past Christian Life.

I can remember the numerous times God came to our rescue in situations when there seemed to be no way out.  In over a half century of preaching, teaching and pastoring, I can attest to the faithfulness of God and the power of His Word.  He provided deliverance in times of financial crisis, attacks of sicknesses and health difficulties, times when we had to totally trust Him for food and sustenance.  Every time… not just sometime, but every time, He was there and carried us through and gave us victory over the devil.  I can only praise Him now as I remember those wonderful times of confidence and trust, knowing that with God all things are possible and that in all seasons and situations He will never leave us nor forsake us.

           We have endured dishonest building contractors and thieving con men.  We have maintained our honesty and refused to bow to criticism.  We have lived down lies and resisted the devil and watched him run.  We have held our head high we have bowed our knee to no man and we have refused to compromise our convictions.  And we won.  We are still winning.  The Word will always win.  And God will never fail.

If you are considering quitting, stop right now and remember your past victories!

            FIFTH… You need to repent for even considering quitting.  It is a sin and an affront to your faith to even give any thought about giving up and going back.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 2Pet. 2:20  

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.   2Pet. 2:21    

But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.  2Pet. 2:22  

In fact, you do not have the RIGHT to quit.   You can­not legally cancel your commitment to God.  You are bound by your promise and the integrity of your word.  If you have quit, REPENT and come back.  If you are consid­ering quitting REPENT and stop considering it.  Quitters are apostates.  Quitters are backsliders.  Quitters are losers.  Quitters are cowards.   The Bible calls quitters those who “fall away.”

They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  Lu 8:13 

            SIXTH… Rededicate your efforts to keep on keeping on.  Renew your mind so that you can think right in the middle of your tight situa­tion.  If you allow your situation to dictate how you think and how you feel you will surely fail and you will more than likely quit.  If you allow your mind to be re­newed by the Word of God you will think like God thinks and you will know that quitting is not an option.

Notice, God did not quit.  Jesus did not quit.  The Holy Ghost did not quit.  The Word did not quit.  Aren’t you glad they didn’t?  Why don’t you decide to be a non-con­formist?  Be a misfit in the declining culture of the world.  Don’t conform to the world and the world system.  Be a Word radical.  Determine to be different.  Don’t yield to the pressures and allow them to make you back down.  Resist all temptations to give in.  Make your boldest confession in the midst of your darkest trial.

You do not have to be like everybody else.  Trying to be like others in order to please men is foolish.  Say this with me right now:

“Jesus, forgive me for even considering quitting.  I repent of the sin of turning back and slowing down and backing down and giving up.  I vow this day to never quit!  I will stand and I will not yield to the pressures of satanic powers.  I decide today to keep on keeping on… no matter what.  I will not be moved.!  Hallelujah.” 

Be as persistent as the three Hebrew Children:  “I will not bow I will not bend… go ahead and heat the furnace and throw us in… God will deliver us out of the fire and out of your hand, devil.!”  (See Daniel Chapter 3)

Be as unwavering as David when he faced his giant with a sling and a stone and the assurance that God was with him…. (we all have our giants to face, don’t we?)  Remember… your “situations” are not defying you… they are defying the Lord God Who lives inside of you!

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. 1Sam. 17:45  

This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.  1Sam. 17:46  

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands. 1Sam. 17:47  

 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 2Chr. 20:15  

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isa. 54:17  

AND  THEN…  Rejoice and praise God for the Victory even before it comes.  Know you “got it” before you “get it.”  Sing and shout.  Leap and dance.  Run and jump.  Rejoice and praise God right where you are before you see any signs of relief.  Get some banners and flags.  Paint some posters.  Hang out some ribbons.  Declare and advertise your victory before you get it.  Buy a billboard. Let the world know.  Shout it from the housetop!

Show God that you are committed to winning and overcoming.  You can never embarrass God with your faith.  (You may embarrass your friends and family, but not God!)  Persist.  Press through.  Stretch.  See your victory with the eyes of your spirit.  See it so real that you can shout about it.  Sincere, heart-felt praise al­ways precedes victory.  (2 Chron 20:20-21)

… Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.   Jos 6:16 

 

 

 

 

 

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