(2 Tim 4:7 KJV) I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” Yesterday we looked at the life of Joseph. It would have been understandable if he had crumbled under the pressure, but he didn’t and he saw his dream come to pass because of his perseverance and the grace of God. This morning let’s look at another great example of someone who faced seemingly insurmountable opposition, but who refused to quit and because of it he was able to accomplish a great deal for Christ. He is the Apostle Paul.
Paul was assigned to minister the Gospel message to the Gentiles at a time when the political and religious climate was not friendly to Christianity. Actually, men and women were put to death for openly believing in Christ Jesus as Lord. But nonetheless Paul was fully committed to his assignment and he faced all sorts of opposition as he persevered to fulfill it. When looking back on what he had been through Paul said, “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked” (2nd Cor 11:23-27). That does not sound like a perpetual picnic at all. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not glorying suffering so that you can go out and look for it, but I am making it clear that you will have to face opposition if you are going to accomplish anything of significance in the Kingdom of God; and the same can be said for your life’s assignment. The devil is not going to sit by and watch you fulfill God’s plans and purposes for your life. He will come at you, but you must be determined to cave in, give up, or quit!
Paul had a vision. That Lord had shown him what his assignment was and Paul was determined to fulfill his purpose before he died. With the vision before him, Paul held on to the end. In his last letter he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2nd Tim 4:7). He knew what his assignment was and he also knew it had been completed. Paul did not live much longer after writing this letter. In this same letter he said the following to his spiritual son Timothy: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus… Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” What was Paul doing? He was helping Timothy get mentally and spiritually prepared for the challenges he would face on the road to fulfilling his own life’s assignment. Paul was not alone in this mindset. James said, “Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end” (5:10,11).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. You will face challenges as you seek to fulfill your life’s assignment, but you must NEVER quit!
2. The only way you can truly lose is if you quit.
3. If you refuse to cast away your confidence (Heb 10:35), God will refuse to allow the enemy to overtake you.
4. Fulfilling your life’s assignment will require divine perseverance.
Closing Confession: Father, I know I have a part in what You desire to do in my life. I declare, by faith, that I will fulfill that part. I refuse to allow opposition or challenges to cause me to quit. I am not a quitter, I am a fighter and I have a Warrior Spirit burning inside of me. I am determined to die empty – to get out of me (before I die) all the things You have placed in me. I know that the devil and his demons will not sit idly by as I seek to fulfill my life’s assignment, but when they come up against me, I believe that by Your grace I will come out on top. I am not in this fight alone. You are on me, in me, with me, and for me. You are on my side and You are more than the entire world against me! I will persevere and I will arrive at Your desired destination for my life! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
