YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO QUIT
Isaiah 43:14-15, 22-2nd
Thessalonians 3:13
King James Version Utilized
& Matthew Henry’s Commentary Study Aide
Simonton Genesis Ministries ©
May 2011
According to Dr. Webster, to quit
means; (1.) to stop, cease, or
discontinue: She quit what she was doing to help me paint the house. (2.) To depart from; leave (a place or
person): They quit the city for the
seashore every summer. (3.) To
give up or resign; let go; relinquish: He
quit his claim to the throne. She quit her job.
In our first
text, Isaiah 43:14-15 & 22, we find that God is talking to his people
through Isaiah and he tells them who he is to them as a reminder. God here claims titles of his honor that
should have been very encouraging to them. He is the Lord their Redeemer, not
only WILL HE redeem them, but will take it upon himself as his office and make
it his business to do so. If he IS their God, he will be all that to them which
they need, and therefore, when they are in bondage, he will be their Redeemer.
He is the Holy One of Israel (v. 14), and again (v. 15), their Holy One, and
therefore will make good on every word he has spoken to them. He is the Creator
of Israel, who made them a people out of nothing (for that is creation),
actually, worse than nothing; and he is their King, that rules over them as his
people and presides among them.
Starting with verse twenty-two, God tells them they have become
quitters. They have QUIT and gotten weary
of being his people and he goes on in this chapter to remind them that they
cannot afford to quit because the consequences for quitting after being chosen
by God can be very detrimental. God let
them know they made it more difficult than what it was and they had become
weary. They had
cast off prayer: Thou hast not called
upon me, O Jacob! Jacob was a man famous for prayer (Hos 12:4); his
seed bore his name, but did not tread in his steps, and therefore are justly
upbraided with it. God isn’t pleased when children degenerate from the virtue
and devotion of their devout ancestors. To boast of the name of Jacob, and yet
live without prayer, is to mock God and deceive ourselves. If Jacob does not
call upon God, who will? (2.) they had grown weary of their religion: thou hast been weary of me." They
had been in relation to God, employed in his service and in communion with him;
but they began to snuff at it, and to say, Behold,
what a weariness it has become! Note, those who neglect to call upon God do
in effect tell him they are weary of him and have a mind to change their
Master. (3.) They grudged the expense of their devotion, and were sarcastic and
penurious in it. They were for a cheap religion; and in those acts of devotion
that were costly they desired to be excused.
What sacrifices they did offer did not honor God and so they were, in
effect, as no sacrifices (v. 23): Neither hast thou honored me with thy
sacrifices. Some of them offered their sacrifices to false gods; others,
who offered them to the true God, were either careless in the manner of
offering them or hypocritical in their intentions, so it might be truly said
they did not honor God with their sacrifices, but rather to dishonor him. They
grew weary and quit.
Our
second text in the New Testament tells us to keep on working and toiling for
the Lord. Paul exhorts those that did
well not to be weary in well-doing (v. 13); as if he had said, "Go on and
prosper. The Lord is with you while you are with him. See that whatever you do,
that it is good and you will persevere therein. Hold on your way, and hold out
to the end. You must never give over, nor tire in your work for God. It will be
time enough to rest when you come to heaven, that everlasting rest which
remains for the people of God." He
is actually telling them that you cannot afford to QUIT. Keep doing well to those around you in and
out of the church. In time you will
receive a great and proper reward.
Many
people in our 21st century churches today are like those whom God
addressed in Isaiah. They have grown
weary of being a Christian, a servant for Christ, a representative of the
cross, a man of the cloth, a woman of God, and even a member of a
ministry. They have grown weary and just
quit. There are many people who have
made a good start in their Christian race and then for some reason or another
(excuse), they just quit. Others, who
have stated, “I know God called me to a particular work in the local church!”
allowed something to distract them, and the result was they quit. Still others have had a tremendous ministry,
who were used mightily by God, and who were under a heavy anointing of God’s
Spirit, but something happened (and who knows what) and they quit.
You have
those who have experienced God working miracles and wonders within their life
and have had a glowing testimony, but somehow they cast it all aside and
quit. Then there are those who were faithful
to their local church, both in attendance and financial support, but they
became offended or dissatisfied with someone or something and they quit. You have saints who could pray the paint off
of the walls of a church during prayer, praise, and worship service and fast
with gratifying results, but they allowed something or someone to disrupt them
and they quit. Still there are those who
had been a wonderful blessing and help to the local church through their ways
and means, but they took their eyes off of the Lord and just quit. I stopped by to tell you that you cannot
afford to quit when God has called you to your area of responsibility and
expertise.
Allow me
to tell you that every time a Christian grows weary and quits on God, Satan
laughs at you and God. Every time a
Sunday school teacher quits teaching, Satan laughs. Every time a church member quits attending
services, Satan laughs. Every time a
tither quits giving the tithe, Satan laughs.
Every time a church worker quits working in the various ministries in
the church, Satan laughs. Every time a
prayer warrior quits praying, a bible student quits studying, a visitation
worker quits visiting the sick; calling the absentees and prospective members
Satan laughs. Each time a pastor quits
preaching the truth and starts watering down God’s word, Satan laughs. You cannot afford to quit when you are
called, chosen, and sent by God. The
consequences are too severe.
I mean,
people have quit for various reasons (or excuses rather). Some have quit because somebody in the
position of prestige and power didn’t shake their hand. They have quit because someone has not given
them a pat on the back, or bow at their feet, or let them sing “their” song, or
beg them to stay. Some have quit because
they did not receive a compliment on their new suit or dress. Some even quit because someone did not let
them “rule the roost” for a time.
Children
of God, you must understand that you have to remain humble, prayerful,
watchful, careful, and diligent in well doing toward your fellow man. You cannot get weary of doing well. How do you get tired of doing good things for
yourself and for others? That is a
million dollar question. If you grow
weary of doing well then the other alternative is to not do well. If you are weary of being positive, then the
alternative is to become a negative and nasty attitude having individual. You should often times ask yourself what
would happen in your personal life if you quit on God. What would happen if God quit on you? Ask yourself that question and then take your
time and look at all of the blessings he has bestowed upon you down through the
years both spiritual and material and you should come up with an answer.
What if
Moses had quit before Israel had passed through the Red Sea? What if Joshua would have quit before it was
time to shout down the walls of Jericho?
What if David would have quit before Goliath lay dead at his feet? What if Nehemiah would have quit before he
completed rebuilding the fallen walls of Jerusalem? What is the Apostle Paul would have quit
before he preached the Gospel to the Gentiles?
What if John would have quit when he became exiled on the Isle of
Patmos? Ask yourself these questions and
figure if it is worth it for you to quit on God since you are claiming to be a
believer.
You want
to know something? You do not have to worry about quitters in your
ministry. God is not short on
people. He just gives us an opportunity
to serve and he tests us to verify our genuine willingness to serve. Not for him, but for us to know that we are
real in what we say and do for God. Some
have quit because somebody else quit.
Some have quit because others didn’t quit. Some quit because they couldn’t or were not
allowed to do “it” their way. Some quit
because they got “tired” of it like the people in Isaiah. Some have quit because they could not get any
help for or they were criticized out of the program that God, the pastor, and
the church in general approved. You
cannot afford to quit.
I know
you have been placed in an area of responsibility and when you first came on
board; you were welcomed with open arms.
You established relationships both business and personal with many whom
wished you well. You have been in and
out of personal affairs with people who you thought were on your side. You found out that they were really trying to
ascertain your weaknesses to flaunt them to the rest of the wolf-pack that were
jealous of your God given talents and gifts.
You know they were unstable because they quit as soon as the hill got
steep, the path got rough, the load got heavy, the enemy got near, the night
got really dark, the storm got bad, and the “fun in the sun” was over. Yes they quit you because you had shown how
serious you were and not looking for a one night stand but a good man or
woman. They quit because they saw you
beginning to ask questions that made them uncomfortable. Oh yes, but YOU cannot afford to quit. They quit because they were not with GOD in
the first place. They just wanted you
and you only for that brief moment in time.
Saints,
you will often look around many ministries and you will see indications that
some of those members in those ministries would rather quit than stand up for
Jesus Christ. They would rather quit
than fight the good fight of faith. They
would rather quit than yield to God’s perfect will for their lives. They would rather quit than to trust in the
promises of God. They would rather quit
than face persecution and opposition from the enemy. They would rather quit that submit to
spiritual discipline. It is a sad thing
because most “QUITTERS”, who call themselves children of God, fail to fully
understand what it really means to quit doing what God told you to do and where
he told you to do it.
When you
quit on God’s plan for your life it means you forfeit you position in
Christ. It means you lose your eternal
rewards. It means you cast aside your
hope of heaven. It means you break your
commitment to God. It means you deceive
yourself with vanity. It means you face
your circumstances alone. It means you
subject your soul to torment and misery.
It means you may influence someone else to quit also. It means someone else may get
discouraged. To quit means someone else
must carry “your load” in the ministry.
It means someone else has to fill “your shoes.” It means someone else has to fulfill “your
responsibilities.” It means someone else
has to make up for “your absence.”
I
stopped by to tell you not to quit because you cannot afford it if you are a
saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost filled, and fire baptized child of the King. I want you to know that you come from
royalty. You come from an aristocratic
dynasty. The goal of the enemy is to
keep you from knowing who you really are in Christ Jesus. If you are a child of God, there is power
when you speak and you need to be mindful of the words you release when
ministering to anyone. I know that life
has challenged you, but the Jesus in me is speaking to the Jesus in you sitting
out there. You were born to rule and
there is a KING in you. If you are in
the body of Christ Jesus, then there is a King in you. I am aware that times may be tough, but,
don’t you quit. You cannot afford
it. You have been in the race far too
long and God has brought you a mighty long ways from where you first met him at
the crossroad of decision. I realize the
climb may be steep, but, don’t you quit.
The valley may be dark and full of shadows, but, don’t you quit. For I have never heard of a shadow hurting
anyone. A shadow may spook you, but it
can’t hurt you. I understand the path
may be narrow, but, don’t quit. Your
cross may get heavy at times but, don’t quit.
I know the pastor’s sermon is quite long sometimes, but don’t quit. I understand the local church may not be
perfect, but, don’t you quit. Use your
gifts and talents for the perfecting of the saints as much as possible.
I admit
it is not easy to keep working while others criticize, but don’t you quit. I admit it isn’t easy to keep praying, when
others won’t; to keep building, when others interrupt; to keep witnessing when
others laugh; to keep believing, when others doubt; and to love, while others
hate. I want to inform you that quitting
is not the answer you are looking for at all.
Besides, you really can’t afford to quit. Too much has been invested in you. If you think you are not valuable to God let
me enlighten you on how God feels about you.
God gave
his son for you, you can’t quit. The Son
gave his life for you, you can’t quit.
The blood of Jesus was shed for you, you can’t afford to quit. God’s grace is sufficient and his mercy is
everlasting, you can’t afford to quit.
People are praying for you, you can’t quit. The Lord is preparing a place for you, you
can’t quit. Jesus is coming back again
for you, you cannot afford to quit. Do
you see your value to God once you step into the body of Christ?
What if
Jesus would have quit when he was criticized and ridiculed; slapped and spat
upon; betrayed and falsely accused; beaten and bruised; forsaken and left
alone; harassed and hassled; and condemned and crucified? Where would we be today? Had he quit we would still be lost. Had he quit he would have lost his son ship
in the Garden of Gethsemane. Had he quit
there would be no opening of the grave changing it to a transformation
station. Had he quit Satan would be
totally in charge. Had he quit
Christianity would not exist. Had he
quit the captive would still be captive.
Had he quit he would have lost is royal priesthood. Had he quit we would not be descendants of
royalty by adoption. Had he quit there
would not have been a getting up on the third day morning. Had he quit there would not have been
ascension back to the Father. Had he
quit there would not be daily intercession for you or me.
I am
glad that he didn’t quit. I am glad he
hasn’t quit. I am glad that he won’t
quit. He won’t quit giving us brand new
mercies each day. He won’t quit
interceding on our behalf each day of our lives. He won’t quit guiding us along the narrow
way. He won’t quit healing us. He won’t quit helping us achieve our goals as
long as we give him the glory. He just
won’t quit.
Since
Jesus won’t quit, you cannot afford to quit either. Don’t quit singing if that is your gift. You cannot afford it. Don’t quit playing that Christian Music, if
that is your gift you can’t afford it.
Don’t quit teaching if that is your gift you cannot afford it. Don’t stop praying if that is your gift it is
a gift you cannot afford. It is a gift
you did not pay for it. Don’t quit
teaching, preaching, or reaching if anyone of these is your gift you cannot
afford it. DON’T QUIT ON GOD BECAUSE GOD HAS NOT QUIT ON
YOU AND YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO QUIT WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED CHOSEN AND SENT.
