Discouragement # 1
The Amplified says, “Why are you cast down, O my inner self? And why should you moan over me and be disquieted within me? Hope in God and wait expectantly for Him, for I shall yet praise Him, my Help and my God.”[i]
I thing 1 of the greatest areas that Satan tries to trip up the body of Christ is in the area of “Discouragement.” This is an area where so many Christians are defeated. The Word of God shows us how to defeat discouragement, but it’s going to take some work on your part. You have to be a doer of the Word.
I. 1st of all “DON’T GIVE IN TO IT.” JAM 4:7
A. Many Christians give into discouragement. They meditate on the things that cause 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? (My definition of WILL POWER is, your will but His power.)
1. You have to choose to get out of discouragement and you have to do something.
a. All of us go through discouragement from time to time, but if we don’t do anything about it, it will become depression.
2. You have to use your will and make the choice to come out of it, but you can never think that you can do it on your own; you need God on your side.
a. When people try to get out of discouragement and depression on their own and by the worlds ways the end up on prescription drugs and in many cases that are worse than they were before they started them.
b. Determination and faith in God will bring in God’s power to set them free. ISAIAH 10:27.
II. The 2nd thing that in necessary in getting out of discouragement and depression is, “Don’t get your eyes off the Lord.” PSA. 3:3.
A. When Christians neglect to pray and believe God or trust God, they are easy prey to discouragement.
1. We need to keep our eyes on the Lord; He’s the only one that can keep us from discouragement.
a. (JUDE:24) Says, “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)
b. God can keep you from falling into discouragement and replace that discouragement with Exceeding Joy.
B. MATT 14:14-17.
1. This could have been a source of discouragement to Him.
a. He could have thought, “They’re looking to me for food, but I have nothing to give them.”
2. MATT 14:17-20.
a. The part that I wanted you to see is found in (V 19), “and looking up to heaven.”
b. Jesus knew where the answer comes from and where you find fulfillment.
3. (HEB 12:2) Says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
a. No matter how bad thing seem we need to keep looking to the Lord Jesus Christ.
III. But we can’t stop there, 3rd “Apply the promises of God.” 2COR 1:20.
A. This V means that if you ask God for one of His promises, He says, “Yes.”
1. 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, and claim them as ours.
1. Sometimes the world tries to give you a negative report, but (ROM 3:4) says, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.”
a. Often the Bible tells us that our God is a God of Truth.
b. Even in (2 TIM 2 15) it says that the Bible is the Word of Truth.
i. The word “Truth” means “That which is true, a reality, a fact, a certainly.”
IV. 4TH “Remember that God is with you and that He will never leave you.” MAT 28:20.
A. Facts and Faith are more important than feelings. We may not always FEEL the presence of God, but the FACT of the matter is still the same, He is always with us.
1. (HEB 13:5) Says, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
B. We need to spend our time in the Presence of God, Praising Him and believe that He is there even when we don’t feel His presence.
1. To do that is an act of faith in Him and to praise Him even brings God closer.
2. (JAM 4:8) Says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
V. 5th, “PURSUE the 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.
1. (COL 3:15) Says “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts.”
a. He’s saying let your hearts be filled with peace.
2. (PHI 4:7) Says, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
VI. 6TH “PROCLAIM the WORD OF GOD.”
A. (MAT 28:18) Says, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (KJV)
1. If we proclaim or confess the word of God, we release the power of God.
2. REV 12:11, REV 19:15
a. (HEB 4:12) says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
B. Millions of people talk about horsepower or atomic power, but they forget to talk about the power of God.
1. Lets proclaim the 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)
VII. 7th “DON’T GIVE UP” (MAT 10:22) SAYS, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (KJV)
A. In the book of (EPH 6:13-14) 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 the Lord.
VIII. 8th “Don’t give out of your discouragement.” Don’t speak out your discouragement. PSA 105:2
A. When people are discouraged, they are usually negative, and the more negative they are the more discouraged they become.
B. We need to be positive. —Look for the good, and not the bad. Speak the positive, not the negative.
1. (PHI 4:4) Says, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: {and} again I say, Rejoice.” (KJV)
2. There is well over 50 times that the Bible tells us to rejoice.
a. (ISA 61:10) Says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God.”
6. If we put our trust in the Lord, no one will be able to steal our joy.
a. JOH 16:22-24
TFC and WOLCC SUN 12/29/91 AM and WOLCC SUN AM 3/24/96 and W. O. L. C. C. Sunday, August 05, 2001 and 4/13/06
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[i]The Amplified Bible, Containing the Amplified Old Testament and the Amplified New Testament. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1987. Ps 42:5.
