“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning…” Job 42:12

Do you still want what God has for you, your family, and your church?

Do you still believe that all things work together for good to them that love God and those who are the called according to His purpose, and that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform until the day of Jesus Christ?

Do you still believe as long as there is life there is hope, and that God knows the way you take?

Do you still believe that God is God and His Word is true, and that He will do what He said He would do?

Do you still believe that God CAN when we can’t, and that there is nothing is too hard for or impossible with Him?

Do you still believe that God is not willing that any should perish and that all should come to repentance, and that the gospel must first be preached to all nations?

Do you still believe God is calling preachers and revival is possible?

F.B. Meyer said, “It is a great matter to excite hope in a man; to stir with fresh conceptions of the possibilities of his life.” Dr. Lee Roberson said, “Leadership is stirring others. And, I am always looking for ways to stir Lee Roberson.” Paul said, “Stir up the gift of God, which is in thee…” 2 Timothy 1:6

𝟑 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐆𝐨𝐝’𝐬 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐈 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭:

𝟏. 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;" 1 Timothy 1:12

“When you are not sure if you can finish, remember why you started.”

I started because:

• God saved me and changed my life

• God called me and put the ministry in my heart, and put me in the ministry

• Calvary captured me and the empty tomb compelled me

• The Holy Spirit dealt with me and stirred me to go and tell

• He put a fire in my bones and I just could not keep it to myself

• I had to tell somebody about Jesus

• I started because - “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

I went everywhere preaching the gospel. I had a fire burning inside of me that would not let me stand still and keep quiet. I remember my very first sermon was at cottage prayer meeting from Proverbs 3:5, 6. What a glorious time it was starting out for the Lord in walking with Him and preaching His Word!

𝟐. 𝐈 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐭

“But as for me, my feet were almost gone; My steps had well nigh slipped.” Psalm 73:2

Spiritual warfare is real. I remember the enemy putting this question in my mind - “How’s that thing of not wanting to waste your life working out for you?” I started out wanting all that God had for me and my family, but I did not know how deeply it would be tested. I came so close to missing all God had for me.

Through the years, many of us have faced so many things and have much water under the bridge. If we do not keep our heart right with God, we will become cynical and hard. My friend, Pastor Rick Finley, said, “Many men are still in the ministry, but the ministry is no longer in them.”

With regard to the ministry after all these years, I am thankful that I still have:

• A pastor’s heart that can be broken

• A church family to shepherd

• A pulpit to preach from

• Many things yet to do for God still in my heart

𝟑. 𝐈 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐭

“Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day…” Joshua 14:12

This is the day to go to the ends of the earth with the gospel, starting at our own Jerusalem. God is still building His church; we just get to get in on what He is doing in this world through the local church. We must:

• Launch a Gospel First movement

• Mentor more servants of the Lord

• Rebirth the evangelistic Sunday School

• Renew our emphasis on church planting and pioneering works for God

• Train more people through new Christian schools and colleges

Please do not die before you die. You did not come this far to come this far. It is always too soon to quit. When you do not know if you can keep going, look back and remember why you started.

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“Tis grace hath brought us safe thus far, and grace will lead us home.”

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Dr. Lee Roberson said to me years ago: “You are going to face many things as the pastor of this church. But, no matter what you face, keep going!” I still want what God has for me and my family, and our local church. I still want to go out of here with an abundant entrance into Heaven.

Do you still want what God has for you and your family, and your local Church? May we say with Caleb, “I still want it.”

Sincerely,