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QUITTERS, CAMPERS AND CLIMBERS

C. BOSTIAN 1/14/01

 

Ps 24:3-6

3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

 

   AS WE EMBARK ON A NEW YEAR I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO PURSUE GOD’S HIGHEST AND GOD’S BEST FOR YOU IN YOUR BUSINESS, IN YOUR CAREER, IN YOUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.  GOD WANTS YOU TO STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO SO THAT HE CAN REWARD YOU WITH SUCCESS IN EVERY AREA OF YOUR LIFE.  NOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT LIFE AND THE PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE IS  AN UP HILL CLIMB.  ITS NOT EASY, IF IT WERE THEN EVERYBODY WOULD BE DOING IT.  OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR MATES, WITH OUR FAMILY MEMBERS, WITH CHRISTIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND THE PEOPLE WE WORK WITH ALL HAVE THEIR UPS AND DOWNS.  FINANCIAL EXISTENCE HAS ITS PEAKS AND VALLEYS.  EVEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS OFTEN COMPARED TO AN ASCENT UP A MOUNTAIN.  FOR EXAMPLE:

 

Micah 4:2

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

 

   WE COULD TRACE THIS MOUNTIAN OF THE LORD TYPOLOGY ALL THROUGH SCRIPTURE AND FIND MANY PEOPLE HAD TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN OR COME UP TO FIND GOD’S PRESENCE AND SUCCESS FOR THEIR LIFE.  MOSES HAD TO ASCEND A MOUNTAIN TO RECEIVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.  WE KNOW THAT THE P[ROPHET OF ELIJA CALLED DOWN FIRE FROM HEAVEN UPON MT. CARMEL.  WE KNOW THAT JESUS WAS TRANSFIGURED ON THE TOP OF MOUNTIAN AND THAT HE TAUGHT HIS DISCIPLES THE BEATITUDES FROM A MOUNTAIN TOP.  BUT NOTICE THIS, YOU DON’T JUST ARRIVE AT SOME DYNAMIC PLACE OF INTIMACY IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND HIS PRESENCE.  ITS NOT JUST AUTOMATIC.  ITS CALLED A MOUNTAIN, SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY’S GOT TO CLIMB FOR THEMSELVES BECAUSE LIFE IS AN UP HILL JOURNEY.  SO WE CAN SEE THREE KINDS OF PEOPLE ON THIS UP HILL JOURNEY OF LIFE: QUITTERS, CAMPERS AND CLIMBERS.  LET ME QUICKLY DEFINE EACH ONE OF THEM THIS MORNING AND THEN WE’LL LOOK AT SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF EACH ONE OF THEM AS THEY APPLY TO OUR UP HILL JOURNEY IN LIFE.

 

1.      QUITTERS.  QUITTERS  ARE THE ONES WHO PICK UP THEIR MARBLES AND GO HOME AS SOON AS THEY REALIZE THERE’S A MOUNTAIN OR A FIGHT.  THEY’RE THE ONES WHO OPT OUT, COP OUT, ACT OUT AND DROP OUT.  SO IF LIFE IS AN ASCENT UP A MOUNTAIN, QUITTERS ABANDON THEIR CLIMB WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH.  THEY DESERT THE INNER DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD AND THEY ABANDON AND ABORT THEIR DREAMS.  THEY ARE OFTEN BITTER AND DEPRESSED AND EMOTIONALLY NUMB.  OFTEN THEY’RE A REAL DRAG TO BE AROUND.  THEY MAY BE MAD AND FRUSTRATED WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM.  THEY ARE USUALLY RESENTFUL AND OFFENDED AT OTHERS WHO RESUME THE CLIMB.  THEY USUALLY HAVE A LOT OF AQUAINTANCES BUT THEY DON’T HAVE A LOT OF REAL FRIENDS.  THOSE ARE QUITTERS.  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT QUITTERS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST CROWDS BECAUSE ITS SO EASY TO DO.  LET’S LOOK AT THE SECOND GROUP:

 

2.      CAMPERS: CAMPERS WILL ACHIEVE A LITTLE SUCCESS AND STOP.  THEY WILL SAY THAT THIS IS GOOD ENOUGH.  NOW IF LIFE IS AN UP HILL TREK THEY GET TIRED OF THE CLIMB.  SO CAMPERS DO CLIMB BUT IN GETTING TIRED THEY TEND TO MOVE THEIR VISION FROM THE MOUNTAIN TOP TO A SMOOTH COMFORTABLE PLATEAU IN WHICH TO HIDE FROM THE PRESSURE AND ADVERSITY OF THE CLIMB.  NOW THEY’VE TAKE SOME CHALLENGES IN LIFE BUT THEY’VE REACH THE CAMP GOUNDS AND THEY FOCUS ON BEING COMFORTABLE, PREDICTIBLE AND FURNISHING THEIR TENT WITH ALL KINDS OF MATERIAL GOODS SO THEY CAN BE COMFORTABLE RATHER THAN FOCUSSING ON THE GOAL WHICH WAS THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.  CAMPERS SAY SOMETHING LIKE THIS, “WELL THIS IS BETTER THAN MOST, MAYBE ITS NOT THE BEST BUT IT’S A GOOD AS I CAN DO.”  WE CALL THEY THE PLAY IT SAFERS.  THEY HAVE TO HANG OUT WITH OTHER CAMPERS AND ROAST MARSHMELLOWS, SING KUMBYA AND COMPARE ROLEXES, CARS AND HOUSES.  THEY DON’T ASSOCIATE WITH QUITTERS BECAUSE QUITTERS ARE LOOSERS, BUT THEY DON’T ASSOCIATE WITH CLIMBERS EITHER.  NOW WATCH THIS, CAMPERS CHOOSE PREDICTIBILITY OVER FULFILLMENT.  THEY SEE SUCCESS IN LIFE AS A DESTINATION RATHER THAN AN ADVENTEROUS JOURNEY.  THOSE ARE CAMPERS.  NOW LET’S LOOK AT THE THIRD ONE:

 

3. CLIMBERS.  CLIMBERS ARE DEDICATED TO THE LIFE LONG JOURNEY.  THEY LIVE LIFE TO ITS FULLEST.  SO IF LIFE IS AN ASCENT  CLIMBERS CONTINUE UP AND ONWARD REGARDLESS  OF ADVANTAGE, BACKGROUND, DISADVANTAGES, MISFORTUNE, OR PAST ACHEIVEMENT.  THEY ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS VISION ORIENTED.   THEY ALWAYS SEE A GLASS HALF FULL INSTEAD OF HALF EMPTY.  THEY SEE OBSTICALES AS OPPORTUNITIES AND THEY FEEL A DEEP SENSE OF PURPOSE AND PASSION.  THEY EMBRACE CHANGE AND CHALLENGE.  THEY HAVE STRONG FAITH, THEY’RE TENACIOUS, REZILLENT AND DETEREMINED.  THEY GET KNOCKED DOWN BUT THEY GET UP AGAIN.  THEY KNOW THAT A BEND IN THE ROAD IS NOT AND END OF THE ROAD.  THEY’RE WILLING TO TAKE A STEP BACK IF IT WILL HELP THEM MOVE FORWARD AGAIN.  CLIMBERS, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE GET LONELY AND GET BRUISED BUT THEY GET OVER IT.  THEY WILL STOP AT A CAMP GOUND TO  BE REFRESHED AND REFUEL BUT THEY DON’T SATY IN THE CAMPGOUND.  THEY DON’T BUY A LEATHER SECTIONAL AND A SATALLEITE DISH AND A JACUZZI TO THE TENT.  CAMPERS SEE THEIR CAMPGROUND AS A PERMANENT ADDRESS, CLIMBERS SEE CAMPGROUND AS A BASE CAMP BUT THE GOAL IS THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN.

 

TOMHAS EDISON WAS SUCH A CLIMBER.  HE FOUND A THOUSAND INVENTIONS AND ON OF THEM WAS THE INCADESCENT LIGHT BULB.  HE INVENTED THE PNONOGRAPH, THE MICROPHONE, BATTERIES AND AN HOST OF OTHER THINGS.  ONE OF HIS PROJECTS WAS TRYING TO COME UP WITH A LIGHT WEIGHT NICKLE IRON ALKALINE BATTERY.  IT TOOK HIM OVER TWENTY YEARS TO INVENT IT.  AFTER TWENTY YEARS HE HAD OVER 50,000 FAILED ATTEMPTS.  WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHY HE THOUGHT HE’D EVER GET ANY RESULTS WITH 50,000 FAILED ATTEMPTS, EDISON SAID, “RESULTS, I’VE GOT LOTS OF RESULTS.  I’VE DISCOVERED OVER 50,000 THINGS THAT DON’T WORK.  AND HE BECAME A CLIMBER.  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT WAS PROGRESS.  HE’S WEEDING OUT EVERYTHING THAT WON’T WORK.  YOU MIGHT HAVE TO CHANGE JOBS 5 TIMES BEFORE YOU FIND OUT WHERE GOD WANTS YOU AND THAT’S NOT NECESSARILY BAD CAUSE YOU’RE MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS FINDING GOD’S CALLING AND DESTINY FOR YOUR LIFE.

 

Matt 5:1-2

1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

 

Luke 14:25-33

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

WHEN JESUS SAW HIS MINISTRY DRAWING GREAT CROWDS THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT JESUS CLIMBED A MOUNTAIN AND THOSE WHO WERE AN APRENTICE TO HIM, THAT IS THOSE WHO WERE COMMITTED, CLIMBED WITH HIM.  ARRIVING AT A QUIET PLACE HE SAT DOWN AND TAUGHT HIS CLIMBING COMPANIONS.  WHICH MEANS MOST OF THE MASSES OF THE CROWD NEVER HEARD HIS MESSAGE.  ONLY A FEW HEARD THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT.  WHY?  BECAUSE ONLY A FEW  WERE COMMITTED TO THE CLIMB, ALL THE OTHERS HAD THEIR OWN AGENDA TO BE HEALED OR TO BE SUPERNATURALLY FED OR TO HAVE THEIR IMMEDIATE NEEDS MET.

 

John 6:11-15

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he

distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down;

and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that

nothing be lost.  13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled

twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which

remained over and above unto them that had eaten. 14 Then those

men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is

of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.  When

Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

 

Luke 14:25-33

25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, 26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

 

SO THERE ARE QUITTERS, CAMPERS AND CLIMBERS.  SO COMMITMENT TO CHRIST IS ALWAYS AN UP HILL JOURNEY.  ITS NOT AN UP HILL JOURNEY TO GO TO HEAVEN BECAUSE JESUS DID THAT WORK FOR US AT CALVARY.  ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS BELIEVE  WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR YOU AND TO RECEIVE HIM BY FAITH.  THAT’S EASY, BUT LIVING THE LIFE, THAT’S NOT EASY, ITS HARD.  SUCCEEDING IN LIFE, AND ITS NOT EASY.  FULFILLING DESTINY, NOT EASY CAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY.  IF ANY MAN IS GOING TO FOLLOW ME AND BE MY DISCIPLE LET HIM PICK UP HIS CROSS AND FOLLOW ME.  THAT MEANS YOU DON’T HAVE TO.  NOW, HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT’S HARD.  YOU GET SCRATECHES AND YOU BLEED A LITTLE BIT AND IT HURTS.  SO LET’S LOOK AT SOME SIMPLE LESSONS ABOUT QUITTERS, CLIMBERS AND CAMPERS.

 

1.      QUIT BEING A QUITTER.  DETERMINE AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR THAT YOU’RE GONNA QUIT BEING A QUITTER.

 

2 Cor 4:8-11

8 We are pressed on every side by troubles, but not crushed and broken. We are perplexed because we don't know why things happen as they do, but we don't give up and quit. 9 We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going.

10 These bodies of ours are constantly facing death just as Jesus did; so it is clear to all that it is only the living Christ within [who keeps us safe].

11 Yes, we live under constant danger to our lives because we serve the Lord, but this gives us constant opportunities to show forth the power of Jesus Christ within our dying bodies.

 

LISTEN NOW, THE CLIMBER HAS THE SAME KNIND OF TROUBLE THAT YOU DO ONLY THEY’RE DETERMINED TO GO ON AND QUITTING ISN’T EVEN A THOUGHT OR OPTION.  WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TROUGH GET GOING.  THEY PRESEVER AND FIGHT THROUGH THE OPPOSITION BUT THEY DON’T CAVE IN AT THE FIRST ONSLOUGHT OF TROUBLE OR PAIN.  NOW LET ME ASK YOU A FEW QUESTIONS:

 

1.      OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS WHAT DO YOU WICH YOU HAD NOT QUIT?  IT COULD BE HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE OR GRAD SCHOOL.  IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOME PIANO LESSONS OR VOICE LESSONS YOU QUIT.  DO YOU WICH YOU HAD WORKED ON THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR FIRST MATE.  DO YOU WISH YOU HAD MAINTAINED YOUR THAT LONG TERM FRIENDSHIP.  DO YOU WISH YOU HADN’T GIVEN UP ON GOD.  SO FACING THESE QUESTIONS MAY SPAWN ANOTHER QUESTION: WHY DID YOU GIVE UP SO EASY?  WELL, HERE’S THE ANSWER: ITS EASIER TO QUIT THAN TO ENDURE. ITS MUCH EASIER TO DECLARE BANCKRUPTCY THAN TO WORK OUT A RE-PAYMENT PLAN.  ITS MUCH EASIER TO DIVORCE THAN TO DEAL WITH YOUR PERSONAL PROBLEMS AS WELL AS YOUR SPOUSE AND COME TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU BOTH CHANGE.  ITS EASIER FOR YOU TO COME HOME AND PLAY, IF YOUR NOT BETHANY, THAN DO YOUR HOMEWORK.  ITS EASIER TO COME HOME AND WATCH TV THAN TO TAKE A NIGHT COURSE AT A BUSINESS SCHOOL OR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  ITS EASIER TO WALK OUT OF A ROOM IN AN ARGUMENT THAN TO HANG IN THERE AND WORK THROUGH IT.  ITS EASIER TO SPEND IT ALL RATHER THAN GIVE THE LORD 10%.  ITS EASIER TO GET UP AND READ THE PAPER THAN TPO GET THE WHOLE FAMILY UP AND COME TO CHURCH.  ITS EASIER TO DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF HANDING THE REIGNS OVER TO GOD AND TRUST HIM.  ITS EASIER TO QUIT FOLLOWING THE LORD ALTOGETHER THAN TO ENDURE THE PAINFUL PROCESS OF DAILY SUBMITTING YOURSELF TO HIM AND HAVING CHARACTER FORMED WITHIN YOU. 

 

YOU SEE, ITS JUST EASIER TO QUIT THAN TO ENDURE.  QUITTING IS ALWAYS EASIER BUT IN THE END YOU ALWAYS PAY MORE FOR QUITTING THAN YOU DO FOR FINISHING.  YOU SEE, THERE’S A PRICE, THERE’S ALWAYS A PPRICE TO PAY. NOT GROWING ALWAYS COSTS YOU MORE AND CHARGERS YOU MORE IN LIFE THAN NOT FINISHING.  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO GROW IT COSTS MONEY?  NOT TO GROW COSTS YOU A WHOLE LOT MORE MONEY IN CHILD SUPPORT AND ALIMONY; OR IN OVERHAULING AND ENGINE THAN A LITTLE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.  YOU OUGHT TO BE GLAD THAT YOU’RE NOT PAYING LIKE OTHER PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO HAVE QUIT AND GIVEN UP.  LISTEN WE ARE LIVING IN A NATION OF QUITTER WHO HAVE ADOPTED A QUITTERS MENTALITY.  WE START DIETS AND QUIT, WE’RE GOING TO GO TO CHURCH AND TITHE,  WE’RE GOING TO BE ACTIVE IN A CLUB OR SOMETHING AND WE GET OFF TO A GOOD START BUT QUIT AFTER A FEW TIMES.  WHY?  CAUSE ITS EASIER TO QUIT AND ITS NOT COMFORTABLE.  ONLY IN AMERICA DO YOU HAVE OPTIONS, CHOICES, MATERIALISM AND COMFORT: I’M WARM, I’M FILLED AND I’M IN NEED OF NOTHING.  SOUND LIKE SOMETHING YOU’VE READ:

 

Rev 3:14-19

14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write;

These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the

beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art

neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because t

hou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my

mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched,

and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to  buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

 

LISTEN, HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH AN AMERICAN?  WE ARE THE TOUGHEST ANIMAL ON EARTH TO IMPRESS AND TO GET LOYALTY OR COMMITTEMNT FROM BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT ARE BUYING FOR OUR ATTENTION THAT WHEN A LITTLE PAIN OF SETBACK COMES OUR WAY WE BUY INTO THE EASY WAY OUT AND MAKE QUITTING OUR PHILOSOPHY IN LIFE.  YOU SEE, WITH MORE OPTIONS AND CHOICES IT EASIER TO BE QUITTER THAN TO BE A CLIMBER AND FINISH WHAT YOU START.

 

Gen 1:31-2:2

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (2) 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

 

Exod 39:32

32 Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.

 

Josh 4:9-10

9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day. 10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.

 

1 Chr 28:20

20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD.  2 Chr 8:16 16 Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.

 

Neh 6:15-16

15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month

Elul, in fifty and two days. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our

enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw

these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for

they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.

 

John 19:28-30

28 After they crucified him, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst. 29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth. 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

 

John 17:1-4

1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven,

and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son

also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh,

that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,

and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the

earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

 

2 Tim 4:6-8

6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

 

Rev 10:6-7

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven,

and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein

are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be

time no longer: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when

he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he

hath declared to his servants the prophets.

 

NOW I REALIZE IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO READ THROUGH ALL THOSE SCRIPTURES BUT CAN YOU SEE A PATTERN OF FINISHING WHAT YOU START.  FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION WE SEE A PATTERN OF FINISHING.  THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THE CHARACTER OF GOD THAT INCULDES FINISHING WHAT YOU START.

 

 MANY PEOPLE ARE LIKE THE CARTOON CHARACTER, GARFIELD THE CAT: HE SAID, I HATE PEOPLE WHO DON’T FINISH WHAT THEY START, SO I DON’T START ANYTHING. I THINK THAT’S A TRUE MOTTO FOR MANY PEOPLE.  THEY DON’T WANT TO FAIL AT ANYTHING SO THEY DON’T TAKE THE RISK OF STARTING SOMETHING NEW.  THE QUALITY WE NEED TO DEVELOP IS NOT THE ENTHUSIASM TO START SOMETHING BUT THE ABILITY TO PERSEVERE THROUGH THE OBSTACLES AND TO FINISH WELL.  WHEN THIS CHURCH FIRST GOT STARTED IN FEB. OF 88 WE HAD 43 PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE FIRST MEETING.  THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT ARE STILL HERE AFTER WE STARTED IS MY FAMILY.  EVERYONE ELSE HAS QUIT AND NOW THE CHALLENGE IS BEFORE ALL OF US TO FINISH WELL WHAT GOD HAS DESIGNED FOR US AS A CHURCH THAT HE BIRTHED OUT OF A VISION HE GAME ME FOR BEING REAL AND NOT RELIGIOUS AND TO REACH OUT AND MINISTER TO HURTING AND LOST PEOPLE AND TO BE A BODY OF BELIEVERS THAT COULD BE THE CHURCH AND NOT JUST PLAY CHURCH.  NOW I DON’T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE FINISHED WHAT GOD HAS CALLED FOR US TO DO.  SO INSPITE OF DIFFICULT TIMES WE DON’T QUIT WE CONTINUE TO PRESS TOWARDS THE MARK FOR THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.  HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHEN YOU QUIT YOU’LL NEVER REACH THE HIGH CALLING OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE BUT YOU’LL SETTLE FOR SOMETHING LOWER.  SO LET’S DETERMINE TO GET BACK IN THE UP HILL CLIMB OF FINISHING WELL.

 

Phil 1:6

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

   HERE WE SEE THAT GOD, HIMSELF IS COMMITTED TO BE A FINISHER OF THE WORK THAT HE STARTED WHEN HE SAVED YOU AND FILLED YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT.  HE THAT HAS BEGUN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL PERFORM IT OR FINISH THE WORK UNTIL ITS DONE.  GOD IS DETERMINED TO BE A FINISHER OF ANYTHING HE PROMISED AND YOUR AGE AND DELAY AND SOME DETOURS AND PROBLEMS AND SETBACKS AND FAILURES DON’T CHANGE THE COMMITMENT HE MADE TO FINISH THE WORK HE HAS BEGUN IN YOUR LIFE.  NOW HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT’S SOME GOOD NEWS?  NOW LISTEN, IF YOU ARE BORN AGAIN BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND YOU TRULY ARE A CHILD OF GOD THEN YOU GOT GOD’S DNA IN YOU TO FINISH WHAT YOU STARTED.  YOU OUGHT TO BE A FINISHER, YOU OUGHT TO BE A PERSON WHO FINISHES THE ASSIGNMENTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU AND NOT A QUITTER.

NOW, HOW CAN WE BE A GOOD FINISHER?

 

1.      FIND EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE AND HANG AROUND WITH THEM BECAUSE FINISHING IS CONTAGIOUS. 

 

2.      FOR SOME REASON QUITTERS FLOCK TOGETHER SO IF YOU’RE GOING TO FINISH WHAT YOU START AND GET BACK INTO THE CLIMB THEN YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE PICK SOME NEW FRIENDS AND AVOID PEOPLE WHO BLUR YOUR VISION AND BRING YOU DOWN.

 

3.      NOT EVERYTHING THAT THAT COMES YOUR WAY, THAT SOUNDS GOOD IS GOOD FOR YOU.  ESTABLISH SOME PRIORITIES THAT WILL KEEP YOU IN THE CLIMB.

 

4.      IF YOU ARE GOING TO GET BACK IN THE CLIMB THEN YOU CANNOT FOLLOW PUBLIC OPINION BECAUSE WE’RE LIVING IN A NATION OF QUITTERS WHO HAVE ADOPTED A QUITTERS PHILOSOPHY.  YOU CAN’T FOLLOW THE CROWD AND FINISH YOUR DESTINY IN CHRIST.  YOU MUST FOLLOW CHIRST AND DRAW STRENGTH AND COURAGE FROM HIM TO GET BACK IN THE CLIMB AND FINSIH YOUR COURSE.

 

5.      A QUITTER ALWAYS ACCEPTS DEFEAT BECAUSE OF THEY WAY THEY FEEL ABOUT THEIR IMMEDIATE CIRCUMSTANCES.  IF YOU’RE GOING TO GET BACK IN THE CLIMB THEN YOU MUST WALK BY FAITH AND NOT LIVE YOUR LIFE BY YOUR EMOTIONS.  YOU SEE, ITS NOT HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MATTERS, ITS WHAT GOD HAS SAID AND ITS WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED.

2 Cor 1:18-22

18 But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.

19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. 20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

 

Heb 6:11-12

11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

 

2 Pet 1:4-8

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the cor-ruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Rom 8:28-32

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. 31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

 

If you have made quitting your philosophy in life there is hope for you if you will accept god and his call upon your life and determine to quit being a quitter and get back into the up hill climb of life.  Next week we will look at some of the characteristics of campers and climbers.