“NEVER GIVE UP”
by Mr. Levi Jones
God called us to succeed!
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be
saved.
Rev. 21:7
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev. 2: 26-28
26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the
end, to him will I give power over the nations:
27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the
vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my
Father.
28 And I will give him the morning star.
Never give up on:
Yourself
God
Your brother
Mt. 13:33-52
44 ¶ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure
hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof
goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the
kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls:
46 Who, when he
had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought
it.
47 Again, the
kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered
of every kind:
48 Which, when it
was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels,
but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be
at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from
among the just,
50 And shall cast
them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus saith
unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
What God has given us (our Calling) is more valuable than anything else we could possess.
Mk. 4:16-20
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.
{offended: or, stumbled, or, caused to fall into sin}
Barnes TFG TSK
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. {lusts: or, inordinate
desires}
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.
Rom. 10:1-3
1 ¶ Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for
Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them
record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
Gal. 6:16
And as many as
walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel
of God.
Rom. 15:4-6
4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were
written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the
scriptures might have hope.
5 Now the God of patience and consolation
grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus
6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth
glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gen. 32:1-3, 8-12, 22-30
1 ¶ And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met
him.
2 And when Jacob
saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place
Mahanaim. {Mahanaim: that is, Two hosts, or, camps}
3 ¶ And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
8 And said, If
Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is
left shall escape.
9 ¶ And Jacob
said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which
saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well
with thee:
10 I am not
worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast
shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I
am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I
pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him,
lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. {with: Heb.
upon}
12 And thou
saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea,
which cannot be numbered for multitude….
22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and
his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
23 And he took
them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
24 ¶ And Jacob
was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the
day.
25 And when he
saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and
the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said,
Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except
thou bless me.
27 And he said
unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said,
Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou
power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. {Israel: that is, A prince of
God}
29 And Jacob
asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is
it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
30 And Jacob
called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my
life is preserved. {Peniel: that is, The face of God}
Jn. 3:16 (How important we are to God)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jer. 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?
Don’t let the knowledge of our weakness knock us out of the game. Don’t give in to self-pity due to guilt feelings. No matter how many times you fall, get up on your knees and ask God for His help.
Gal. 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Prov. 24:16
For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
2Cor. 7:9-12
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye
sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner,
that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. {after...: or, according to God}
10 For godly
sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of
the world worketh death.
11 For behold
this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it
wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea,
what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all
things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 ¶ Wherefore,
though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong,
nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight
of God might appear unto you.
Mt. 26:31-35
31 ¶ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended
because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the
sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
32 But after I am
risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.
33 Peter answered
and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I
never be offended. {offended: or, though the faith of other men should be
shaken and fail, yet mine will be firm and constant}
34 Jesus said
unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou
shalt deny me thrice.
35 Peter said
unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise
also said all the disciples.
Mt. 26:69-75
69 ¶ Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel
came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.
70 But he denied
before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest.
71 And when he
was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were
there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he
denied with an oath, I do not know the man.
73 And after a while came unto him they that stood by,
and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth
thee.
74 Then began he
to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock
crew.
75 And Peter
remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou
shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
God knows our weaknesses and each is different. Peter had zeal, but he lacked courage. (He did later overcome that weakness.)
God will help us, but He will not force us to change. We have to take the responsibility for daily prayer and bible study.
Mt. 13:23
But he that received seed into the good
ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit,
and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
Ps 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a
good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise
endureth for ever.
Mk. 4:20
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.
Luke 8:15
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
James 1:12
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Isa. 49:14-16
14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord
hath forgotten me.
15 Can a woman
forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her
womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
16 Behold, I have
graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
Ps. 37:3-9
3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in
the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. {verily: Heb. in truth, or, stableness}
4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give
thee the desires of thine heart.
5 Commit thy way
unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6 And he shall
bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7 ¶ Rest in the
LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who
prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
{Rest in: Heb. Be silent to}
8 Cease from
anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9 For evildoers
shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the
earth.
I Thess. 5:23-24
23 ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I
pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he
that calleth you, who also will do it.
Luke 18:1-8 (Don’t give up on God)
1 ¶ And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that
men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There
was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: {in a city:
Gr. in a certain city}
3 And there was a
widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4 And he would
not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God,
nor regard man;
5 Yet because this
widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary
me.
6 And the Lord
said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7 And shall not
God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long
with them?
8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Don’t give up on your brother either – remember that God doesn’t give up on you!
Luke 15:1-32 (Remember this when you feel unworthy to be with God’s people)
1 ¶ Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners
for to hear him.
2 And the
Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth
with them.
3 And he spake
this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of
you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety
and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he
hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he
cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them,
Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you,
that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than
over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
8 Either what
woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a
candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? {pieces...:
drachma, here translated a piece of silver, is the eighth part of an ounce,
which cometh to seven pence halfpenny, and is equal to the Roman penny}
9 And when she
hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying,
Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I
say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner
that repenteth.
11 ¶ And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the
younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that
falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many
days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a
far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he
had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in
want.
15 And he went
and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his
fields to feed swine.
16 And he would
fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man
gave unto him.
17 And when he
came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread
enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto
him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more
worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose,
and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw
him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son
said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am
no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father
said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a
ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring
hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my
son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to
be merry.
25 Now his elder
son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music
and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what
these things meant.
27 And he said
unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf,
because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was
angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him.
29 And he
answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither
transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid,
that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as
this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast
killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said
unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad:
for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
2 Pet. 1:2-10
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as
his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and
virtue: {to: or, by}
4 Whereby are
given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust.
5 ¶ And beside
this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to
knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to
godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these
things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor
unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. {barren: Gr. idle}
9 But he that
lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that
he was purged from his old sins.
10 Wherefore the
rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if
ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
