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CARRY ON!
Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
PAUL BEFORE AGRIPPA AND FESTUS
WE NEED TO CONTINUE
1. BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TASK.
2. BECAUSE OF THE IMMENSITY OF THE TASK.
We need to “carry on” because we are nowhere near finished.
WE ARE TO WITNESS TO SMALL AND GREAT.
Re 6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:
17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
PAUL SAID “I CONTINUE” “UNTO THIS DAY” “WITNESSING”
Ac 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
There won’t be a day when we can say
“this day is not needed.
this service is not important.
though some act like that.
PAUL DIDN’T BOAST OF TOMORROW:
Jas 4:13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
PAUL CONCENTRATED ON CONTINUING TODAY.
Mt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
SADLY, NOT EVERY BELIEVER CONTINUES
Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Phm 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; … .
SOLOMON
1Ki 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.
7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
9 ¶ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,
10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.
11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.
12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.
JESUS TAUGHT US NOT TO BE SURPRISED
WHEN PEOPLE FAILED TO MEET THEIR POTENTIAL.
MARK 4:14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
30% 60% short of what they could have been.
short of their potential.
A WHOLE GROUP CAN FALL SHORT.
Ga 3:1 ¶ O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Ga 5:7 Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth?
8 This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.
9 A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
WE DARE NOT THINK OURSELVES BETTER.
IF WE’RE GOING TO RUN,
IF WE’RE GOING TO FINISH,
WE MUST KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.
Heb 12:1 ¶ Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 ¶ Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
IT IS NOT FAILING THAT IS BAD.
IT IS BEING A FAILURE.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE “WHILE WE CAN”
BECAUSE WE WON’T ALWAYS CONTINUE ON THIS EARTH.
Ps 49:11 Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.
WE WANT GOD TO CONTINUE TO BLESS US.
WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO HONOR HIM.
Ps 36:10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE WORD.
Joh 8:31 ¶ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN LOVE.
Joh 15:9 ¶ As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Heb 13:1 ¶ Let brotherly love continue.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN GRACE.
Ac 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN PRAYER
Col 4:2 ¶ Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH.
Ac 14:21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
Jude 1:3 ¶ Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works
WE NEED TO CONTINUE IN THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL.
Ga 2:5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.
Col 1:22 … , to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
…
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.
CBC – 9-2007 YES JP
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