“Failure at some point in your life is inevitable, but giving up is unforgivable.” Joe Biden (VP)
Forward Thinkers at this point of my life what winning is to me is not giving up, no matter what’s thrown at me, I believe I can take it. Forward Thinkers I believe I can keep going. Forward Thinkers I’ve adopted a can’t stop won’t stop attitude.
Forward Thinkers Jesus Christ was our earthly example for everything we would experience in life. Jesus showed us how to overcome, conquer, and handle the ups and downs of life. God also promised us He would send His Holy Spirit to guide us through the difficulties of life so we would never be unequipped to handle whatever life throws at us. Forward Thinkers we must not forget the bible clearly calls us more than conquerors.
Matthew 26:39New International Version (NIV)
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Forward Thinkers here in this passage Jesus is experiencing the pains of being in a difficult place and feeling alone while he is also dealing with the fact he has been betrayed by the same people he had committed his life efforts on to saving.
Forward Thinkers let me break this down for you Jesus, our earthly example, is in so much pain he cries out my God my God why have you abandoned me. Today, I can image Jesus saying Daddy why are you dogging out your boy and to make matters worse the same people I fed, gave sight to, and blessed are the same people tripping on me today. Jesus was probably thinking I don’t need to deal with all of this nonsense I might as well just give up and I’m sure many of us have felt the same way while we were dealing with difficult places and difficult people.
Forward Thinkers while Jesus was saying God fix this mess now I’m tired, I quit, I’m calling uncle but then right before he throws in the towel Jesus remembers he can’t quit and won’t quit before his experience is bigger than him. Forward Thinkers have you ever realized how many people are counting on you to win so they will have a chance to simply compete in life.
Forward Thinkers Jesus uses my favorite word in the midst of it all he declares ‘but’ meaning he realizes God’s will is better than his current desire to be released from his current situation. Yes, no matter what you are dealing with you can turn it over to God and trust God to perform His will in your situation.
Forward Thinkers I’m so glad I realized God’s will for my life was much greater than any attack on my life.
Let’s look at how Paul and Silas won with a can’t stop won’t stop attitude.
Acts 16:22-26
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.
Forward Thinkers Paul and Silas were put in a messed up situation but their situation didn’t stop them from praying and praising God. Forward Thinkers I challenge you to release a praise right now that will confuse your current situation.
Forward Thinkers Paul and Silas were under attack because they were following God instead of following the powers to be. Forward Thinkers we can’t let attacks stop us from following God. Forward Thinkers in fact we should use the intensity of the attack as a measuring stick of how great our next victory will be.
Forward Thinkers remember the giant, Goliath made David’s name great and a nation of injustice gave Dr. King a dream. We must adjust our attitude to turn what the devil meant for our bad into our good. Forward Thinkers because Paul and Silas kept praying and praising God through a difficult place it changed the atmosphere of the entire prison. Forward Thinkers your attitude has the power to change the atmosphere.
Forward Thinkers did you notice the jailer, the one assigned to keep them locked up, was so moved by their courage and faith he got saved and went and declared the gospel to his whole family and they all got baptized. Forward Thinkers if Paul and Silas would have been overcome with fear or the why me spirit the opportunity to witness the power of God would not have been possible for the jailer.
Forward Thinkers does your attitude lead people to God in times of trouble or push people away from God?
Notice the other inmates chains broke off also and all the prison doors opened. Forward Thinkers when we are operating with a can’t stop won’t stop attitude our attitude has the power to impact those around us for the better. The chains falling off represented freedom to move around and the open doors were a sign of being free to move out of their current situation.
Forward Thinkers Paul and Silas now have a testimony that is powerful enough to encourage others out of what they were once also stuck in. The No More Bloodshed Movement and the Village of Mothers are filled with people who have experienced the lost of a child to senseless violence and their can’t stop won’t stop attitude have empowered them to minister and encourage others through the most difficult place they will ever experience in life. I must also acknowledge a new organization being birthed in our city, LIPS, (Living In Pure Silence) where survivors of domestic violence are now leading and empowering others out of violent and unhealthy relationships.
Acts 17:2-4
2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.
In conclusion, Forward Thinkers preaching the gospel caused Paul and Silas to be thrown in jail but their can’t stop won’t stop attitude caused the entire jail to receive the plan of salvation and once Paul and Silas got out of jail they kept on preaching and proclaiming Jesus as the Answer and their can’t stop won’t stop spirit lead others to Jesus. Forward Thinkers this season your testimony of not quitting under pressure will empower others to get up and win.
Pastor E. A. Deckard is the Senior Pastor/Founder of the Green House International Church now located, in both Houston, Texas, and the Woodlands, Texas. To contact Pastor Deckard for speaking engagements contact him at pr.ghic@gmail.com, follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Periscope @ Pastor E A Deckard or the church website www.ghic.net