DEALING WITH DISCOURAGEMENT

DISCOURAGEMENT

Luke 24:13 ¶ And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

There was some tremendous happenings just before this portion of scripture. The Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ had died on the cross to pay the sin debt for all mankind. But the good news was He didn’t stay dead. If there is any potential for happiness the resurrection should make you happy. But for some reason it didn’t.

Cleopas and his friend was sad and defeated when they should have been rejoicing. It was no time to be discouraged but they were discouraged. It was no time to be depressed but they were depressed.

Just because there is victory around you does not mean that there is victory in you. Just because there is victory for you does not mean that victory is yours.

How many have ever been discouraged?

Notice how Jesus dealt with discouragement.

1. He wanted them to try and understand why they were discouraged.

verse 17-And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

You can get discouraged when there is nothing to be discouraged about. These disciples did.

Or you can get discouraged and continue to feel discouraged when you’ve forgotten why you are discouraged.

You soul , mind, will and emotions are all connected together. But it is possible for your mind to affect your emotions and make you feel discouraged then your mind forgets why but your emotions still feel discouraged.

You can get discouraged and not be able to figure it out without some help. Psalm 42:5,11-Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

Discouragement on our part is often a reaction to a real or an imagined loss. These disciples were discouraged because they thought they had lost Jesus.

What have you lost that would cause you to become discouraged? Job, income, security, status, position, self-respect, friendship. Maybe you have lost your testimony, credibility, money, opportunity, loved one, closeness to someone, trust of your mate, hope for the future.

What have you expected? raise, recognition, help, respect, expect your mate to stay with you and she or he didn’t.

Elijah expected Jezebel to back down after his victory over her prophets on Mt. Carmel. But she didn’t and he thought he had lost his power and he became discouraged. He went a days journey into the wilderness and then some and sat under a juniper tree and begged God to let him die. (That was a man of God.)

Have you sinned? Consequences often come when sin is committed. Is God chastening you because you have refused to repent? Have you ever done something dumb that has caused others to react to you?

Some of our worst storms are self created storms. But it will go along way if you would admit it was my fault and not blame God or others.

Is God sending a trial in your life to see if you will serve Him even when you would rather quit.

Numbers 21:4-¶ And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

They were in the center of God’s will but because it wasn’t what they wanted they were discouraged and began to complain.

A path that God leads you down that is discouraging is a better path than a path you choose for yourself that is not discouraging.

When you are discouraged ask why? Did I lose something? Did I do something? Did someone else do something to me?

2. Talk about your discouragement to the right person.

These disciples were talking to Jesus. Some won’t talk to anyone, they just crawl into a shell just like Elijah did when he found a cave. Elijah went off by himself.

Make sure you are talking to the right person.

1Sam.1 Hannah was childless and tormented by the other wife’s fruitfulness. She was at the tabernacle talking to God when Eli thought she was drunk.

Talk to someone who has a genuine walk with God. Someone who is spiritual.

When you are discouraged talk, open up. It is either pride or independence that clams up or won’t talk.

If you are discouraged you need to talk but make sure it is the right person.

If you talk to a carnal person with no experience they will always give or wrong advice.

3. Listen to truth until you get a fresh prospective on life.

Sometimes your friend if they are really a friend and really love you and they are spiritual they may get plain with you in dealing with discouragement. vs.25,26- 25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

The first thing we need to do when we are discouraged is emerge yourself in the word of God. But the first we do is stay away from anything that is truth.

Elijah was under the juniper tree and ended up in a cave and God said what doest thou here?

4. Do for someone else what you feel like you need.

dThe best way to attack discouragement is to get a fresh vision.

Discouragement feeds on itself and becomes worse. You find someone discouraged and if they don’t get up and do something it becomes worse.

Discouragement lack incentive and initiative. Discouragement digs itself a hole and instead of pulling out of it digs it deeper because of self-pity, and deeper.

The worse thing you can do when you are discouraged is to sit and do nothing.

Unless you are doing something you won’t get the fellowship that you need and you get discouraged because you are doing nothing. Then you lose your vision completely and you want to quit.

Joshua was on his face before God after Ai and he was discouraged. But God said Get up and deal with it.

The common fruit of discouragement is quitting. These disciples were going away from Jerusalem but when Jesus encouraged them they returned to Jerusalem.

We need a fresh vision a fresh truth. Get up and do something to minister to others.

ILL. Boy playing football all of his life.