Topic: Do Not Quit!
Paul wrote this letter to the church in Corinth to correct some issues and bad behaviors. He explained that if Jesus was not resurrected, the gospel is a lie. However, Paul then proclaimed that Christ has risen and that He’s alive. After explaining the power of the resurrection, Paul called the church and all believers to not quit believing and stand strong.
I Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
I Corinthians 16:13, “Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.”
First, you must be strong. Steadfast means to be firmly fixed in place or to be determined. Paul instructed the Corinthians that they must stand firm on the teachings of Christ, especially the resurrection. Not to become complicit and never waiver in the gospel. We should not be tossed back and forth in our beliefs and carried away by every wind of doctrine. We must be strong and determined to the work of the Lord. Now is not the time for you to become defeated. Now is not the time for you to get distracted. You have to stay the course. He said in your weakness, you are strong.
Secondly, you must be steady. Being immovable is a lot like steadfastness. However, immovable means one is not capable of being moved. At some point along the journey, we all may take a stance and decide that we are not going to be moved. But somewhere down the line, we lose our footing. We sway and rock back and forth. We find ourselves distracted by the slightest sight of trouble. God tells us it is not the time to quit. Get your feet back under you and remain steady. During storms, heartache and pain, we must remain steady. Stand firm in the resurrection of Jesus.
Thirdly, you must abound or strive to be successful. Another word one could use is “faithful.” Faithfulness brings about an abundance of success or blessings. It increases the quantity or overflow of the blessings God rains on you. Don’t mistake success as measured by the dollar amount in your bank account. It isn’t measured by the number of bedrooms you have in your home. Success is when the enemy thought he had killed you but you get back up, dust yourself off and get back in the game. Success is when you thought your marriage was destroyed, but you and your spouse realize that there’s nothing better than what God has joined together. When the enemy tries to convince you that everything you try fails, so stop trying but you keep pushing and pressing for the dream that God has called you to. That’s success and regardless of what it looks like or even how it feels, God is saying to you now is not the time to quit.
You have too much left for you to do. You’re right at the cuff of your breakthrough. Now is not the time to quit. I know you have been through a lot. I know you are tired and worn out. I know you feel like you are all by yourself, so what’s the point? But God is saying to you today, that through it all, He’s been right there. He is saying that in it all He didn’t give up on you so don’t give up on Him. Now is not the time to quit!
See you Sunday!
Dr. Scott Kallem