I was walking across the campus of ONU one day -- where I had gone to attend a special event -- when suddenly a young couple came running up to me -- hugged me -- & told me how glad they were to see me!
Without letting on -- I stood there trying to figure out who they were; -- I could not recall them!
As we visited -- it finally began to come back to me.
It had been 4 or 5 years since the last time I had seen them.
At the time I had been pastoring in S. Indiana at Jeffersonville -- just across the river from Louisville, KY.
Someone called me one day & asked me to visit a young couple who had recently married -- & were living in our community.
I went to see them; -- they had an apartment -- but no furniture; -- we sat on the floor & visited. -- I invited them to church.
They did not come -- even though I stopped by several times.
One day they called me -- & asked me to help them retrieve their car; -- They had been over in Louisville, KY to attend the Sate Fair -- had parked illegally -- & their car had been tolled away.
I picked them up at their apartment -- drove across the river -- went to the police station; -- paid their fine; -- took them to where to car was in storage; -- paid for the storage -- & got them on their way
Still -- they did not come to church! -- I felt used!
I moved from Jeffersonville -- to take a church in WI -- forgot all about the young couple. They also moved -- where now living in MI.
While in MI -- they got to talking one day about the fact that they ought to begin attending church -- somewhere -- but where?
They recalled the times I had called on them; -- & they tried to remember what kind of church it was that I had pastored.
They finally remembered; -- It was a Nazarene Church!
So they looked in the phone book -- found one listed -- & went.
They gave their hearts to the Lord that morning -- became active in the church -- & now were the coaches of the MI District Teen Volleyball team -- & had brought the team to Olivet in competition.
Later that afternoon they introduced me to their pastor -- who told me: "They talk about you all the time & how you impacted them."
The Bible verse that came to me in that moment was -- "Let us not weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." -- Scripture lesson: -- Gal. 6:7-10
Don't get discouraged & give up, -- for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
Let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good! -- At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up -- or quit!
Sometimes we give up because we are discouraged.
Sometimes we surrender because we are physically & emotionally exhausted.
At other times we lose heart because people oppose us.
For what ever reason -- we often grow so weary that we give up -- we quit doing our God-given task!
God expects us to give of ourselves -- give of our time -- give of our finances; -- but one thing He does not expect of us is to 'give up'!
We may all get weary at times -- but we must not let weariness overcome us! -- God has called & equipped us all to be champions!
Doing Good -- means to fulfill the will of God in your life.
Sometimes -- it seems hard -- & the way rough; -- we may even falter; -- but we must get back up -- & then move forward!
We cannot afford to give up!
God does not judge us by our success or failure; -- He judges us by our faithfulness! -- Faithfulness; -- perseverance!
By perseverance the snail finally reached the Ark!
Illus: -- The Greeks had a race in their Olympic games that was rather unique. -- The winner was not the runner who finished first!
It was the runner who finished with his torch still lit!
My friends -- keep the torch lit!
I for one -- want to run the Christian race all the way -- with the flame of my torch still lit for JC!
Allow me to encourage you -- & to challenge you today: --
1. Be Not Weary in the Lord's Work!
If God has called you to a task -- quitting is never fitting!
I know -- oh do I know! -- I know that every one of us have trudged through the lowlands of discouragement -- looking to every side for an opportunity to leave a difficult & frustrating work.
Satan is so quick to suggest we might as well give it up.
But my friend -- you are where you are by God's appointment!
Until He changes His orders -- or gives you a new task -- never give up; -- never quit!
We don't always see the results we would like -- & we wonder if we are doing any good! -- But never give up doing good!
Illus: -- A dying soldier asked a chaplain to write to his former SS teacher: - "Tell her that I'm a Christian because of what she taught me in SS." -- He sent the message & received the following reply: -- "Last month I resigned my SS class -- for I felt my teaching had been fruitless. -- And then came your message from my former pupil. -- May God forgive me for my impatience & lack of faith! -- I will ask my pastor to let me teach again -- & I promise by God's grace not to quit."
In the Lord's work -- our limitations need not be a handicap -- if we are persistent in our efforts -- & stay with a task until it is completed.
Endurance & 'stick-to-it-ness' is often more important than great talent! -- Or education -- or genius.
In service for Christ -- keep on doing good! -- Perseverance wins!
Illus: -- In a manufacturing town in Scotland -- a young lady began teaching a SS class of poverty-stricken boys.
The most unpromising youngster was a boy named Bob. -- After the first 2 or 3 Sundays, he did not return. -- So the teacher went to look for him. -- Although Bob had been given some new clothes -- they were already worn & dirty when the teacher found him.
He was given another new set of clothes -- & he came back to SS.
But soon he quit again -- & the teacher went out once more to find him. -- She discovered that the 2nd set of clothes had gone the way of the first. -- The teacher told the SS Superintendent: 'I am completely discouraged about Bob. -- I guess we might as well give up on him."
The Superintendent pleaded: "Please don't do that. -- I believe there is still hope. -- Try him one more time."
They gave Bob a third set of clothes -- & this time he began to attend faithfully. -- It wasn't long until he became a Christian -- & eventually even taught in that same Sunday school.
Who was this ragged boy who for a time seemed so unreachable?
None other than Robert Morrison -- who later became the first Protestant missionary to China! -- He translated the Bible into Chinese -- & brought the Word of God to literally millions!
My friends -- God has given us a particular task that He wants us to accomplish for His glory!
Do not grow weary in the Lord's work!
2. Be Not Weary in Intercessory Prayer!
The Bible says: -- "Pray without ceasing!" -- Which means to live in an attitude of continual prayer.
Jesus said we “ought always to pray -- & faint not!"
A.J. Gordon tells of two men who were viewing the great Niagara Falls! -- Pointing to the rapids, one of them said: "Here is the greatest unused power in the world."
"Not so" -- the other replied: -- "The greatest unused power in this world is the power of God through prayer."
My friends -- the most important thing you will do today -- or any day -- is to pray!
God wants us to come to Him -- & make our request known Him!
How pleased He is when we come to Him for a time of fellowship -- when we just want to talk with Him -- & be near Him!
There are three keys that will unlock the innermost chambers of friendship with God: -- a key time; -- a key book; -- a key word.
The key time is time spent alone with God -- uninterrupted!
There He will instruct us -- strengthen us -- sweeten us.
The key book is the Bible! -- Read it & allow God to speak to you through His Holy Word!
The key word is obedience! -- Which is saying 'yes' to God's will.
I ask you an all important question! --
Are you on solid praying ground? -- If you are to keep intimate friendship with the Lord -- you must guard against that critical spirit which saps the warmth from Christian fellowship -- & gets us off of praying ground!
Ask God to keep your spirit -- your attitude in check! -- & to keep you sweet! -- A critical spirit is a killing spirit!
Are you being faithful in prayer?
Are you praying for unsaved loved one?
Are you praying for your church family?
Are you praying for your pastor? -- A pastor is either prayed for -- or prayed on! -- He is being either toasted or roasted!
Moses was the great leader of God's people -- leading them out of Egyptian bondage -- & through the wilderness to their homeland.
They saw miracle after miracle -- & yet the people would whine & complain & murmur & grumble -- until it would displease God!
But Moses interceded in prayer for the people; -- & then came the time when the warriors of Amalek came to fight against the people of Israel. -- We read about the battle in Exodus chapter 17.
Moses commanded Joshua to fight the army of Amalek! -- Joshua did what Moses had commanded -- & led the men into battle.
Meanwhile Moses, Aaron & Hur went to the top of a nearby hill.
As long as Moses held up the staff with his hands in prayer -- the Israelites had the advantage. -- But whenever Moses lowered his hands -- the enemies gained the upper hand.
We are told that Moses' arms finally became too tired to hold up the staff any longer. -- So Aaron & Hur found a stone for Moses to sit on. -- Then they stood on each side, holding up Moses' hands.
As a result, -- Joshua & his troops were able to crush the enemy!
Prayer makes all the difference in the midst of the battle!
Don't ever give up in praying for the lost -- & in praying for the church -- & in praying for the pastor & the leaders of the church!
3. Be Not Weary in Holy Living!
We live in a culture that often mocks spirituality!
We live in a day when people would rather come out of the closet -- than clean out the closet!
But God has called His people unto a life of holiness!
The Bible says: "God has not called us unto uncleanness -- but unto holiness."
God still says to His people: -- "Be holy for I am holy!"
My friends -- don't ever give up in your efforts to live holy & clean lives before the Lord God! -- By His sanctifying grace you can do it!
God has called us to love one another! -- Love them by God's grace!
People -- people are unreasonable, illogical, & self-centered -- love them anyway!
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives -- do good anyway!
If you are successful, you will win false friends & true enemies -- succeed anyway!
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow -- do good anyway!
Honesty & frankness will make you vulnerable -- be honest & frank anyway!
The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds -- think big anyway!
People favor underdogs but follow only top-dogs -- fight for the underdog anyway!
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight -- build anyway!
People really need help, but may attack you if you help them -- help people anyway!
Give the world the best you've got, & you'll get kicked in the teeth -- give the world the best you've got anyway!
In spite of what the world may think of you; -- in spite of what your fellow-workers may say about you; -- in spite of what family members may think of you; -- keep on keeping on!
By the grace of God -- live as holy & as godly -- as you can!
For Jesus declared: -- "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." -- Do not become weary in holy living!
Illus: -- I love the story about the lady who testified in church one evening -- saying she had been a Christian for 40 years -- & had never been down!
A new Christian of only 4 weeks -- heard her say that -- & thought to himself: -- "I've been down 40 times in just 4 short weeks."
After church the new Christian goes up to the lady & asks, “What is your secret?"
She looks at the young man & replies: -- "Oh, that’s easy! -- In 40 years I’ve either been up, or I've been getting up!"
Do not be weary in holy living!
Conclusion: --
Nothing worthwhile is obtained without strong determination!
There will be times when you'll be discouraged in your Christian walk -- but you must never, never, never give up!
If nothing else - your struggle against sin & failure - will cause you to turn to God again & again -- & cling to Him in your desperation!
Are you facing discouragement today? -- Are you about to 'throw in the towel'? -- Listen again to our text; -- it's just for you!
Don't get discouraged & give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.
Do not loose heart! -- Instead, take fresh courage in what God is calling you to do for Him! -- Keep it up!
Don't give up & quit if it seems no one appreciates what you do; -- keep on working for God!
Don't be discouraged if it seems like your prayers are going unanswered; -- keep on praying!
Don't throw in the towel because the devil fights you & calls you a failure; -- keep on striving for a greater degree of holiness!
We all get weary at times -- but we must not let weariness over-come us!
God does not measure success in numbers -- or buildings -- or bank accounts -- or ratings!
He will not look you over for medals -- degrees -- or titles!
He will look & see how many scars you have! -- Scars earned in faithful service have great value in Heaven!
God Himself will reward you richly according to your many scars -- when you hear those final words: -- "Well done, you good & faithful servant."
Illus: -- Winston Churchill was asked to give a speech one time at a college commencement. -- All ears were tuned to hear what this great statesman would tell them. -- Churchill was old then -- a man who had been through many hard times.
The speaker introduced him -- & Mr. Churchill -- a man gray-haired with wisdom -- using a cane -- hobbled up to the podium.
He spoke these 8 words: -- “Never give up! Never, never, never give up!" -- & with that he sat down!
And I say to you today - my friends - don't get discouraged & give up, -- for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time!