Who Told You To Quit?

Our hope and prayer is that the Lord has given you an encouragement to continue what He has begun in you.  But, undoubtedly there are many who are on the verge of saying, I quit. Let’s talk about that…

Our study in Ezra and Nehemiah has brought us back around to when the Remnant Rebuilders have laid the foundation of the Temple two years after King Cyrus’ heart was stirred by God to let any and all of the captivity who were willing, go back to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.  In chapter 4 we see some ‘adversaries’ who wanted to join in the work.  That’s a whole other message.  When the ‘adversaries’ were denied that opportunity by Ezra and the ancient Hebrew men, they began to hinder the work.  The adversaries went so far as to bring a legal action against the Remnant Rebuilders and when king Artaxerxes sent back a cease and desist decree, the adversaries stopped the Hebrews from the work ‘by force and power’.  The work stopped for 14 years.

Then the Lord gave 2 old time preachers named Haggai (1:1-14) and Zechariah (4:8-9) a message for the Remnant.  WHO TOLD YOU TO QUIT?  The Remnant was obeying man rather than God and for 14 years the work stopped.  Who were they taking orders from?  Did Artaxerxes tell them to start?  Did he fund the operation?  Did he do the miraculous to obey God’s mandate?  NO!

There is a maxim in sales that every salesperson is engrained with.  “Never take a no from someone who is not authorized to give you a yes.”  The Remnant received no orders from the Father to quit and yet they stopped at the behest of pagan idol worshippers and a king who knew not the God of heaven.  Such is the case in many churches, families, and ministries today.  Folks are ready to quit when God has not said any such thing.  Let me give you some things to think about when you think about quitting…

Who Told You To Quit…

Serving (Galatians 6:9)  There is a harvest of blessing if we will just keep on going, even if no one else goes with us

Praying (I Thessalonians 5:17)  In every place at every time

Being Holy (I Peter 1:16)  The world says be a heathen but God says be Holy

Witnessing (Matthew 28:19-20)  It is the Great Commission, not the Great Convenience

Church  (Hebrews 10:25)  More church not less church

Because It’s Hard (II Timothy 3:12)  If it was easy everyone would do it

Old Time Religion (Jeremiah 6:16)  At the end of that verse some said ‘No, I Quit’

Because someone hurt your feelings – Jesus had his back laid open with a cat of 9 tails.  Something somebody said to you hurt worse than that???

Worshipping (II Samuel 6)  David’s spouse, Michal, criticized his worship and God never allowed her to have a child because of it.  But, David said, in southern-eze, “Honey, if you thought I was an embarrassment in my worship today, you just wait till tomorrow.  You ain’t seen nothin’ YET!!“

Being Modest (Deuteronomy 22:5)  READ IT

Marriage (Mark 10:9) Many quit because God was not in the beginning of it, but, if He has come into it, stay with it with all your might.  Marriage is Gods picture of our relationship to Jesus, and He is not quitting on His bride.

Being the Parent (Proverbs 13:24)  Your child does not need another buddy, they need a parent. Quit letting a screen or a school system raise your child.

No matter what it is that God has told you to do either in His Word, or in specific task or calling, there is no room to quit until it is complete (Zech 5:8-9).  It is not time to quit!  Ezra 5:1-5 tells us that when the Remnant heard the words of the preachers they rose up and began to build the house of God.  In verse 5 when the adversaries tried to come back, because the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews … they could not cause them to cease.

Everyone thinks about it occasionally, but, the question is… Who told you to Quit?

We Love You!!!

BroAdamB

evangelistadamborden.com