This sermon outline was derived from a message I heard preached by Pastor Brian Workman. He was the keynote preacher at a conference hosted by Community Baptist Church of Rugby, North Dakota. Pastor Workman is the pastor of Community Baptist Church of Lexington, North Carolina.I was helped greatly by his message that cold January day. I later preached this outline in the church I was pastor of at the time… Cornerstone Baptist Church of Beulah, North Dakota. God moved in a great way!
Title: “Why I Cannot Quit!”
Text: John 6:66
(John 6:60-66) “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (KJV)
Introduction:
• Jesus gave a hard saying about those who would have eternal life in our previous verses, and, because of the statements Jesus made, many quit on Him!
• Yes, people quit on God!
• Many times we come to a position in life and we say that we cannot make it anymore, but we can!
• Sometimes we can appear to others as if we are continuing on but we have quit on God long ago and we are just going thru the motions!
• Christian don’t quit on God!
Proposition: There are four reasons why I cannot quit on God!
I. I Cannot Quit Because Of What’s On The Inside!
A. Salvation brought us into a relationship with Christ!
B. Our Salvation enlisted us into service for Christ!
C. If God can save us, then we have all the power of Heaven to help us!
(Ephesians 2:8-10) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (KJV)
(Philippians 1:6) “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” (KJV)
II. I Cannot Quit Because Of What’s On The Outside!
A. We have friends and acquaintances that are watching us wanting us to fail!
B. Sometimes people in the church would desire to see the pastor fail just so they could say, “I told you so!”
C. Family is paying close attention to our actions and would desire to say, “I knew there was nothing to them, and that ‘born again stuff’!”
D. There is a work for us to do and we must stay in the field until the harvest be brought in!
E. Satan desired to have Peter and sift him as wheat, but Jesus prayed for him!
III. I Cannot Quit Because Of What’s On The Backside!
A. There are some wounds that have been bandaged!
B. The great balm of Gilead has annointed our broken bones and has put salve in our wounds.
C. Our experience teaches us that everything is going to be okay!
(Romans 5:1-5) “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (KJV)
D. We have come thru rough waters before and we must keep sailing on!
E. We have had dark valleys and there will be more, but we are more than conquerors!
(Romans 8:35-39) “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (KJV)
IV. I Cannot Quit Because Of What’s On The Other Side!
A. We all have loved ones that have gone on before and many have paid a great price for their faith!
B. We have a host of ones that are encouraging us to go on!
C. Heaven is waiting and so is our reward, so why should we sit and sulk when we can get up and fight!
D. It is no mistake that in the conclusion of the great chapter on the resurrection, I Corinthians 15, that God would place a great encouragement!
(1 Corinthians 15:58) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (KJV)
Conclusion:
• Sinner, repent and be saved!
• Christian, don’t quit! Stand for God and keep on going!
