Pastor Rich's Sermon, "Don't Ever Give Up" September 26, 2004

Several years ago college basketball coach Jim Volvano, spoke at the ESPYs. The ESPYs is the sports world version of the Emmy’s. When he spoke he was dying of cancer. Physically weakened by the disease he spoke with great passion he said, “It (referring to his cancer) may take my mind. It may take my body. It may take my life. It cannot take my spirit. Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up.”

Long before Jim Valvano spoke those words, Paul said,

“Therefore we do not lose heart.
Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”

“Therefore we do not lose heart.”

These words are translated in The Message a contemporary version of scripture as,

“So we’re not giving up.”

It is easy to lose heart and quit. We all have faced problems in our relationships that make us want to throw in the towel. We all have faced problems in our work that make us want to walk off the job. We have all suffered. Suffering has many forms – physical abuse, debilitating disease, persecution. There are days when Murphy’s Rule reigns supreme. When our lives are different than life in Florida. When storm after storm after keeps rolling in. When hope has diminished or even vanished. When pain and anguish tempt a person, to surrender, to give in.

Why are we so surprised by problems? Jesus made it very clear to us. John 16:33

“In this world you will have trouble.”

Could Jesus be any more blunt? Jesus didn’t say, ‘You might have trouble.’ Nor did he say, ‘It is a good chance that you could experience some difficulties.’ NO, Jesus said,

“You will have trouble.”

Unfortunately when those troubles occur we allow them to raise our level of doubt in God’s faithfulness.

When you take a look at all the great names in the Bible, Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, David, and Paul to mention a few. You will see that they have all suffered. I am certain that if God did not want them to suffer he could have prevented it. I am also certain that if God wanted to he could keep each one of us from experiencing our particular hardships. I am not saying that God willingly grieves and afflicts us with suffering.

I am saying that God uses our suffering, as he used suffering in the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, etc. to draw us closer to Him.

Romans 8:28
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who are called according to His purpose.”

Notice Paul said,

“In all things.”

Not some things. Not only good things.

“In all things God works for the good.”

This does not mean that all that happens to us is good. Evil is prevalent in our culture, but God is able to turn every circumstance around for our long-range good.

I believe a major problem that we have is that we believe that one of God’s purposes is to make us happy. Happiness is temporary. What God desires is that we would have joy. Happiness is dependent on circumstance. Joy is dependent on God. It is the serenity we have despite the circumstances. Joy comes when God fulfills His purpose in your life. God’s purpose is that you and me become like Christ.

Becoming Christ like means we share experience similar to Jesus. As we read the record of Jesus’ life in the gospels you will see that Jesus experienced loneliness, criticism, rejection, problems and suffering.

Hebrews 5:8
“Although He (referring to Jesus) was God’s son,
He learned obedience from what He suffered
and was made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.”

It was Jesus’ suffering that made Him perfect.

Paul tells you and me that we should rejoice in our suffering.

Romans 5:3
“We also rejoice in our suffering, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, character, hope and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”

What would it take for you to rejoice in your suffering? This is not to say enjoy the pain or deny the tragedy. Rejoice in suffering because you know God is using life’s difficulties to build our character.

Suffering offers us a choice, to become bitter or better.

How can you become better?

1. Remember God has a purpose or plan for your life. His purpose is for you to become more like Christ. When Jesus encountered suffering His focus was on God. When encountering suffering focus on Jesus. We can all learn from Peter’s mistake when Jesus called to him and he stepped out of the boat started walking to Jesus on the water. He was fine until he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at his circumstances. That is when he began to drown. Learn from Peter’s mistake fix your eyes on Jesus. He is your only sure and certain hope.

2. Give thanks IN all circumstances. Notice I said, “Give thanks IN all circumstances not for all circumstances. You can give thanks in any circumstances when you know and believe that God is using this problem, using that suffering to fulfill his purpose. His purpose being to make you more like Christ.

3. Refuse to give up.

The first step in refusing to give up is to stop asking, WHY? Why me? As long as you keep asking that question the focus is on poor little old me. The focus has to be on God. So instead of asking “why”, ask “what do you want me to learn?”

God is attempting to teach you. He is attempting to transform your life so you are more like Christ. Don’t abandon your faith or your God in times of suffering. Hebrews 10:36

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

Don’t give up. Don’t ever give up. Instead use suffering to help you grow up to be more like Christ.