DON’T EVER QUIT---HEB. 6:1-2

A.       The church and Christians have many glaring faults today, just as they always have had.  It seems to me the one that stands out as the number one fault is that so many quit on the Lord.

1.      They make a good start, but they soon fall by the wayside.

2.     There is an epidemic of spiritual dropouts.

B.        A survey was made some time ago by a leading denomination to find out where their members were, and here are the startling statistics:

5% of their members don’t even exist.                                                           10% cannot be found.

20% never pray.                                                                                            25% do not attend church services.

30% never read their Bibles.                                       40% never give to the cause of Christ.

50% do not attend church on Sunday night.                     60% never give to missions.

75% never accept any responsibility.                            85% never go to prayer meeting.

90% do not have any type of family devotion.

95% never speak to a lost soul about Christ.

C.      May God help us to never quit.

I.              DON’T EVER QUIT GROWING

A.       We are to “grow in grace”--2 Pet. 3:18a 

1. We know that grace means what God does for us.  It is His unmerited favor.  So what it means when it says “grow in grace” is to learn more about God: more of His ways: more of how He works: more of His power.

2. Jeremiah  9:23-24a Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:/ But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me—

B.      We are to grow in knowledge.---2 Pet. 3:18b

1. Knowledge comes from God’s Word.  Never lay your Bible down and forget it.  Read it: meditate upon it: love it: enjoy it.

Illus: A young lady once laid down a book which, she said, was dull and boring.  In the course of time, she fell in love and became engaged to a young man.  One night, in the course of their conversation she said to him: “ I have a book whose author has the same name as yours.  Isn’t that a coincidence?”  He replied, “No that is not a coincidence.  I am the author of the book.”  From that moment on the book became a cherished possession to her, and it was the most interesting book she ever read.  Knowing the author made the difference.

  II.           KEEP ON SOWING---Psa. 126:5-6  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

A.       Isn’t it amazing how a little seed can be planted, and you think it is never going to come up, then one day you notice the ground cracking, and a little sprig is coming through.

B.        We used to throw our watermelon rinds over the fence for the stock to eat.  The birds and chickens would come and eat also, and they would get most of the seed.  However, the fowls didn’t get all the seed for in a few weeks we would see melons coming up right where we had thrown them.

C.        If we will be faithful in sowing God will surely take care of the seed and see that it will come up.

Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

III.   KEEP ON PRAYING--Matt. 7:7  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

A.       I am told that in the original Greek where it says, ”Ask”  it actually says, “Ask, and keep on asking.”

B.  How long have you been praying for something or someone?  Don’t quit.  The answer will come someday.

Conclusion: Don’t Quit, no matter what the critics say. Don’t quit, no matter how many people ridicule you. Don’t quit, even when the going gets tough. Keep on growing, Keep on Sowing, and Keep on Praying…Knowing that your labor is not in vain if you are laboring for the Lord.

Don’t hesitate to start on the road to glory if you are here lost this morning…The Lord will help you every step of the way…Keep on keeping on for the Glory of God…You will win a Crown someday.