Giving Up is Not an Option

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12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. 13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

King James Version Chapter 6

12 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

King James Version Chapter 6

13 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.

King James Version Chapter 6

14 And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

Introduction:

The book of Judges is all about the period in which God raised up special people called “Judges” to deliver the Israelites when they would repent.

This generation of Israelites were the total opposite

This generation of Israelites were the total opposite in character when compared to their forefathers in the previous book of Joshua.

After Joshua died the Israelites went back to serving Baal and Ash-ta-roth.

What this shows us is that the Israelites were taking God for granted.

The sad part about this is that it didn’t only happen one time. This went on for years year after year.

The period of time that The Judges ruled Israel was between 325 to 350 years.

There was a total of 15 Judges in the Bible. However, our focus today will be on the 5th Judge of Israel, Gideon.

Transition:

There really isn’t any background information on Gideon before chapter 6.

When we are introduced to Gideon, we find him in a winepress.

Show Wine-press Power Point

Talk a bit about how it is used

Describe what Gideon was doing in the Wine-press ‘Have a little fun with this!’

Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine Wine-press to hide it from the Midianites.

As he is doing this an Angel appeared and sat under the Ter-e-binth, which is a type of Oak Tree.

This is when the Angel addressed Gideon and they began their conversation.

The first thing that we notice in this text is that he has heard about God and all of the things that God did for his ancestors.

The first thing that we notice in this text is that he has heard about God and all of the things that God did for his ancestors. Gideon's current experience with God was barren. He didn’t have a relationship. He was able to quickly recall what God had done for his forefathers but he had no experience to draw on for himself. This happens to a lot of believers. We get so religious that we leave righteousness behind. Bible Study is not relationship. Sunday School is not relationship. Worship Service is not relationship. Religion can be and often is compartmentalizing to our lives. But what we must understand is that relationship with God is all about resonation. When we are in relationship with God the effects should resonate in every part of our lives.

Gideon's current experience with God was barren. He didn’t have a relationship.

He was able to quickly recall what God had done for his forefathers but he had no experience to draw on for himself.

This happens to a lot of believers.

Bible Study is not relationship.

Sunday School is not relationship.

Worship Service is not relationship.

These things are tools that God has provided us with to improve our relationship with him.

Religion can be and often is compartmentalizing to our lives.

But what we must understand is that relationship with God is all about resonation.

When we are in relationship with God the effects should resonate in every part of our lives.

"Lack" kills a lot of dreams and destroys a lot of people. “Lack comes in many forms.

"Lack" of support (Spiritual, emotional or otherwise), money, Zeal are things that can drive us to lose focus and quit.

But what we must remember is that "Lack" is often an attack of Satan to create in us a "Lack" or diminishing effect of Gods vision in our lives.

It's funny how the harvest that God calls you to gather in the field where your planted always looks smaller when we see it thru tired and discouraged eyes.

What we must remember in all of this is that God's vision and purpose for us and our lives does not change even when our circumstances and emotions do.

The Bible has an opinion on the general subject of what we call quitting.

Whenever the word of God addresses this it usually in situations that relate to some form of ministry.

However, what the Bible does do is speak to situations from a spiritual perspective.

Most of the time these people are facing difficulties that will stop them from walking-in or accomplishing the work that God has for their life.

The problems that they were facing were so great that they wanted to give-up and die.

Anytime we see a story in Scripture about a person that is facing various challenges

Elijah wanted to die because he expected that Queen Jezebel, and King Ahab would repent when they saw the power of God.

Elijah assumed that the drought, the holy fire, and now the rain would have been enough to convince them that Jehovah was the only true God.

(Read Scripture)

Obviously, that didn't happen. So Elijah was disappointed and this is how he responded:

Read this -

4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Move to this slide - READ SCRIPTURE

The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.(Read Scripture)

The Revised Standard Version Chapter 19

4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree; and he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am no better than my fathers.”

King James Version

The Prophet Jeremiah was beaten and put in the stocks for preaching the word of God.

This is how he responded:

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The Revised Standard Version Chapter 20

15 Cursed be the man

who brought the news to my father,

“A son is born to you,”

making him very glad.

The Revised Standard Version Chapter 20

18 Why did I come forth from the womb

to see toil and sorrow,

and spend my days in shame?

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The Revised Standard Version Chapter 20

18 Why did I come forth from the womb

to see toil and sorrow,

and spend my days in shame?

18 Why did I come forth from the womb

to see toil and sorrow,

to see toil and sorrow, and spend my days in shame?

to see toil and sorrow,

and spend my days in shame?

Both Elijah and Jeremiah where at points in there life where they are stressed, discouraged and depressed.

and spend my days in shame?

Even the Judge Gideon could not accept that God had called him to a great work for his people.

The Revised Standard Version. (1971). (). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

What we must understand is that our downward spiral starts when we accept the half-truths and lies that Satan tries to feed us.

The Revised Standard Version. (1971). (). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

If you want do find Hope when you are faced with difficult situations:

FIND THE LIE

If you want do find Hope when you are faced with difficult situations:

FIND THE LIE

Elijah in that moment forgot that GOD IS SOVEREIGN! The only thing on his mind was “Jezebel is going to kill me.”

Jezebel did stated that she was going to kill him.

“Just like the prophets before me, I have failed; because the people have not given-up their idolatry.” It was true, the stubborn Israelites seldom repented completely. He forgot that a prophet controls what he says and does; he is not responsible for other people’s behavior. If he obeyed, he is a success; regardless of the outcome.

Elijah overlooked that God controls life and death.

He felt like Jezebel had the final say.

The fact of the matter is that God is in control, not people that mean you harm.

DON'T READ THIS On to Jeremiah

Jeremiah was actually accepting 2 lies. Today I am only going to be covering one of those.

So the one that I will focus on is that he based his value is based on other people’s responses.

DON'T READ THIS “The other one is that - deserve an easier life, because I am obedient to God.”

‘Have a little fun with this! Talk about how 2 people can do the same thing and get different responses’

You are more valuable that a hand clap

You are more valuable that a good job or a pat on the back

Don’t get me wrong, its nice when we receive those things right?

But what we must remember is we can not put our worth in the hands of others.

If you do this your self image and value will be distorted and this gives room for Satan to plant lies in your mind.

As for Gideon, he was just trying to live his life.

The Bible doesn’t say if he was a good man or a bad man.

But what we can understand by reading this text is that Gideon was under the impression that God had abandoned the Israelite people.

This is the lie that he believed.

That God had abandoned him and his people.

So he was living life from a warped perspective.

But how many of you know that our relationship with God and the word of God provide hope.

See, when I focus on the truth, I am not deceived.

“I regain HOPE in times of trouble because my HOPE is not based on anything or anyone but JESUS.”

But oftentimes what happens is we get caught in the “TYRANNY OF THE MOMENT.”

What this means is that the NEED TO ACT overwhelms any WILLINGNESS TO LEARN.

God wants us to learn in these moments!

The Apostle James says this:

The NET Bible Chapter 1

1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

Biblical Studies Press. (2005). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (). Biblical Studies Press.

1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

Biblical Studies Press. (2005). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (). Biblical Studies Press.

1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

Biblical Studies Press. (2005). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (). Biblical Studies Press.

The NET Bible Chapter 1

1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.

Biblical Studies Press. (2005). The NET Bible First Edition; Bible. English. NET Bible.; The NET Bible (). Biblical Studies Press.

It was true, the stubborn Israelites seldom repented completely. He forgot that a prophet controls what he says and does; he is not responsible for other people’s behavior. If he obeyed, he is a success; regardless of the outcome.

Giving Up is Not an Option

Giving Up is Not an Option

Why do we Give-up?

Lack of a Resonating Relationship

We get so religious that we leave righteousness behind.

The Lack of......

What does the Bible say about quitting?????

My family

How do I handle the moment that I want to quit?