PERHAPS ABOVE ALL ELSE, SATAN TRIES TO DEFEAT GOD'S PEOPLE THRU DISCOURAGEMENT. BUT I REALLY FELL THAT IN THIS MESSAGE WE HAVE The MIND OF GOD ON HOW TO DEFEAT DISCOURAGEMENT. [OCCASIONALLY PERSON HAS SPIRIT...]. IT'S GOING TO BE SOME WORK, ...
I. 1ST OF ALL “DON'T GIVE IN TO IT”. (JAM 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (KJV)
A. MANY CHRISTIANS GIVE INTO DISCOURAGEMENT. MEDITATE OF The THING THAT IS CAUSING The DISCOURAGEMENT. (1PE 5:7) SAYS, Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (KJV)
B. DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE TO USE “WILL POWER” WHEN IT COMES TO DEFEATING DISCOURAGEMENT?
1. YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE TO GET OUT OF DISCOURAGEMENT & YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.
2. YOU HAVE TO USE YOUR WILL, BUT HIS POWER. THAT'S MY DEFINITION OF “WILL POWER”, YOUR WILL BUT HIS POWER. [SMOKING, DRINKING, SIN]
a) DETERMINATION & FAITH BRINGS GOD'S POWER.
II. 2ND “DON’T GIVE OUT OF YOUR DISCOURAGEMENT”. PSA 105:2
A. WHEN PEOPLE ARE DISCOURAGED, THEY ARE USUALLY NEGATIVE, and The MORE NEGATIVE THEY BECOME The MORE DISCOURAGED THEY ARE.
B. WE NEED TO BE POSITIVE ‑‑ LOOK FOR T GOOD, & NOT The BAD. SPEAK The POSITIVE, NOT The NEGATIVE. (PHI 4:4) Rejoice in the Lord alway: {and} again I say, Rejoice. (KJV)
III. 3RD “DON'T GET YOUR EYES OFF The LORD” PSA. 3:3
A. WHEN CHRISTIANS NEGLECT TO PRAY & BELIEVE GOD, THEY ARE EASY PREY TO DISCOURAGEMENT.
B. WE MUST HAVE FAITH IN GOD. WE NEED TO ASK HIM TO LIFT US UP & BELIEVE THAT HE WILL KEEP US FROM FALLING. (JUD 1:24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present {you} faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (KJV)
IV. 4TH “PROVE The PROMISES OF GOD”. 2COR 1:20
A. MANY CHRISTIANS DON'T EXPERIENCE GOD'S BLESSINGS IN THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY FAIL TO APPROPRIATE HIS PROMISES CONCERNING THEIR PERSONAL NEEDS.
B. WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT GOD'S PROMISES APPLY TO OUR EVERY NEED. WE NEED TO READ THEM, REMEMBER THEM, & CLAIM THEM AS OURS. (PSA 119:11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (KJV)
V. 5TH “PRACTICE The PRESENCE OF GOD”. MAT 28:20
A. FACTS & FAITH ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN FEELINGS. WE MAY NOT ALWAYS FEEL T PRESENCE OF GOD, BUT T FACT OF T MATTER IS STILL T SAME, HE IS ALWAYS W/ US. HEB 13:5
B. WE NEED TO SPEND TIME PRAISING GOD & BELIEVE THAT HE IS THERE EVEN WHEN WE DON'T FEEL HIS PRESENCE.
1. TO DO SO, IS AN ACT OF FAITH IN HIM & TO PRAISE HIM BRINGS GOD EVEN CLOSER.
2. (JAM 4:8) SAYS, Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
VI. 6TH “PURSUE T PEACE OF GOD”. PSA. 34:14
A. MANY TIMES PEOPLE DON'T PUT The PEACE OF GOD TO WORK IN THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEY DON'T FEEL IT.
B. BUT WE NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT HIS PEACE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM AT ALL TIMES. (PHI 4:7) SAYS, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV)
VII. 7TH “PROCLAIM The WORD OF GOD”. (MAT 28:18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (KJV)
A. A. IF WE PROCLAIM OR CONFESS T WORD OF GOD, WE RELEASE The POWER OF GOD. REV 12:11
B. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HORSEPOWER OR ATOMIC POWER, BUT THEY FORGET TO TALK ABOUT T POWER OF GOD.
1. LETS PROCLAIM T POWER OF GOD BY CONFESSING The WORD OF GOD.
2. PAUL MADE THIS CONFESSION IN (PHI 4:13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (KJV)
VIII. 8TH “DON'T GIVE UP” (MAT 10:22) SAYS, He that endureth to the end shall be saved. (KJV)
A. IN The BOOK OF EPH PAUL SAID `WHEN YOU'VE DONE ALL TO STAND, KEEP ON STANDING.'
B. ISA 61:3 WE'RE TOLD HERE TO PUT ON The GARMENT OF PRAISE FOR The SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS. IF YOU FEEL THAT DISCOURAGEMENT COMING ON START TO PRAISE T LORD.
1. IN CLOSING I'LL JUST SAY THIS, IF YOU'RE SUBMITTING TO GOD & YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP, YOU WILL DEFEAT DISCOURAGEMENT.
WOL 12/29/91 SUN AM Didn't preach this message but it is almost the same as Discoura.Doc which I did preach.
