The Discouraged Christian

The Discouraged Christian

Text: Isaiah 40:28–31

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, That the everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth,Fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint;And to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.

Introduction:

Definition of Discouragement:

‎discouragement

‎A sense of unhappiness arising from a loss of confidence in: 1). One’s own abilities.

* The most common reason that we become overcome with discouragement is because we try to live the Christian life in our own strength and in our own power.

2). In the reliability of God.

* One of the first things that we do when something bad happens to is to question the reliability of God. We question his faithfulness, because we can’t see past our loss or pain to understand the bigger picture of what God is doing.

‎Where Was God?

*During World War II, following word that an only son had been killed in action, a preacher was called to the home of grief-stricken parents. * The father, pacing the floor, weeping, in anger demanded, “Where was God when my son was being killed?” * Silence prevailed filled the room. Then the preacher replied, “I guess God was where He was when His Son was being killed.” * The answer of the priest caused the grief stricken father to look away from the self-pity of his own grief, and open his eyes to the reality that God is still on his throne, even when everything is falling apart for us.

3). In the power of the gospel.

* To be discouraged is to lose your courage. A discouraged Christian is a Christian who no longer has the courage to go forward. Just as a soldier with no courage shrinks back from the battle, so a discouraged Christian no longer has the courage to go forward and live the Christian life.

* The discouraged Christian no longer has the courage to read the Bible, no longer has courage to pray, no longer has the courage to have faith in God.

* Most of the time a discouraged Christian will withdraw from church, but not always. Sometimes they will stay in church and appear to be just fine on the outside, but inside they are filled with anxiety, worry, and despair.

* The discouraged Christian is a defeated Christian. Satan has already knocked their feet out from under them. * A discouraged Christian does not have the strength to do anything for God. He doesn’t have any strength or courage because his trust in the faithfulness of God has been subverted by the Devil.

* The Devil works day and night to - discourage you, - to dissuade you, - to discredit you, - to disable you. * Jesus said that all those who have believed on Him, will finish the work that God had given Him to do on this earth. Just as Satan hated the works of Jesus, He also hates you. He wants you to fail. His primary directive is to take you out.

* We has discussed for several weeks now that there is a epidemic of “spiritual depression” in the lives of Christians.

* I have pointed out that the primary reason Christians become miserable and unhappy is that they don’t understand what is happening in their life.

* We believe on Christ and are saved and think that there is nothing else to do. I’m saved and now everything is going to have a fairy tale ending. Now life will be happily ever after. That’s the way preachers make it sound many times.

* This could be nothing further from the truth! The moment we get up off our knees at salvation and turn around we walk right into a raging battle that we call “spiritual warfare.”

* I make it a point when I lead someone to Christ and show them how to be saved, to warn them that they are now the enemy of the Devil and they need to be aware that the Devil will try to take them down.

* The Devil is out to wound you in this battle. There are many people in this room who have been wounded this morning. They carry scars in their lives from “spiritual warfare.” * Some have since healed, and have regained their courage and have given their lives to come to the aid of their fellow Christians, but there are others who remain down on the battle field, wounded, and have no courage to get up and finish what they started.

* Those believers who have been wounded by the battle now have a sick, wounded heart. They suffer from “spiritual depression.”

* Listen to how the Bible describes the discouraged person:

Proverbs 17:22

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 15:13

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 18:14

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a wounded spirit who can bear?

* If you find yourself in a discouraged state with a broken heart that feels like dried up bones,- if you have a sick and a wounded spirit this morning- if you are suffering from “spiritual depression.” You need help from God.

* In the Bible we find several reasons, or experiences that cause Christians to fall into “spiritual depression.” I. The experiences of Discouragement:

* There are several reasons for discouragement this morning. I would like to share a few examples with you from the Bible.

1). Discouraged because of disappointment.

* First of all, many Christians become discouraged because of some great disappointment in their lives.

* This is one I can speak of from personal experience. When I was 11 years old I felt the call of God in my heart to be a preacher. From that moment on I began to prepare to be a preacher.

* I remember writing to different evangelists for their bible study materials when I was 12 years old. My father was a pastor and in 1973 we moved to Pontiac Michigan where my father attended Midwestern Baptist College.

* While at Midwestern, as a middle school boy, I was exposed to some of the greatest men of God that have lived in our lifetime. My faith grew and I was determined to do nothing in life but preach, because that was God’s will for my life.

* 1n 1973 we moved to Jefferson City, Tennessee, where my father started Faith Baptist Church. I watched as God took a handful of people and raised up a mighty church for his glory in that city.

* During the early days of Faith Baptist Church I went door to door with my father inviting people to church and sharing the gospel with people in their homes.

* Countless times I babysat kids, handled distractions, turned the tv down, while my father took the Bible and led people to Christ in their homes.

* We would rent films like “The Burning Hell,” and show them in the high school auditorium. I remember on one such occasion 40 people were saved on one night.

* When I was 15 we had three tent revivals. In the first one there were 20 people saved. We had another the next summer and this time it was for two weeks and around 40 people were saved. We had a third the next summer and around 40 people were saved again.

* I began to preach in my father’s church at 16. After I graduated from High School, I went back to Pontiac Michigan and enrolled on Midwestern Baptist College myself. I later attended another Bible Institute for 3 years after that.

* By the time I was in my early thirties, I was the assistant pastor of a church and had a wife and three children. All I ever knew in my life was building churches and preaching. I never even considered preparing for anything else in life. My family, and preaching were two most precious things in all the world to me.

* Now at this point is where I want to tie all this in to point this morning- the idea that we can become discouraged because of great disappointments in our life.

* While I was the assistant pastor of a church, my wife of 17 years, walked out and left for another man.

* Now this would be a blow to any man, but what made this such a great disappointment to me was that, because of the way I had been taught, I would never be able to preach again.

* God had called me to preach. That was the only purpose in life, to obey God! I had invested my total life in preaching! And now it was all gone! I had prepared for nothing else! I wanted to die.

* I remember being in such a state of mind that when came in from work one morning broken hearted, depressed, and in tears I just dropped into the bed. When I did the bed broke and one corner fell to the floor. I began to weep and sob, crying out to God in despair. I laid there for a day and couldn’t get the strength to get up and eat.

* I remember loading my books from my library into a U-Haul trailer and renting a little storage unit. I had my boys Time and Thomas with me. * I wept and sobbed as I loaded boxes filled with what was once my pastoral library into a storage ben to be ruined by humidity and mildew.

* I remember my red-headed son Timmy put his hand on my shoulder as I sobbed and tried to encourage me saying “it’s going to be ok Dad.”

* My friends, I know what it’s like to be disappointed in life. If you have endured Great disappointment in life I understand what you are going through.

* The Bible says Jesus came unto his own and his own received Him not. Jesus cried out to the father from the cross, “My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me?”

* You savior understands your disappointment too this morning.

* The writer of the book of Proverbs understands you you are going through this morning also. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:12:

Proverbs 13:12

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

* If you have a sick heart this morning I want you to know that there is compassion and healing with God this morning.

* David understood what it was to have a sick heart, and David experienced the healing of God in his life. Listen to the inspired words of David as he speaks of the healing of his sick heart in Psalms chapter 30:

Psalm 30:title–5 (KJV 1900)

1 I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up,

* David was down. David had been to the bottom. David had been to the proverbial “end of his rope.” David felt as if he let go of that rope he would sink down into hell its self!

* What did David do? If we can see what David did in order to be healed from his sick heart, then we could be healed also!

* Here is the answer; David “Cried unto the Lord.”

And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.

3 O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. 4 Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. 5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:

* You may feel at this moment that you are utterly destroyed, but there is hope for healing this morning! Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

Psalm 42:4–6 (KJV 1900)

5 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. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee

* Listen to the encourageing words of Psalms chapter 34 and verses 6-8:

Psalm 34:6–8 (KJV 1900)

6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encampeth Round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

2). Discouraged because of Difficulties.‎

* Another reason Christians become discouraged in the Christian life is because of great difficulties in life. We see this illustrated in by an episode in the story of the children of Israel as they wandered in the wilderness:

Numbers 21:4–10

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. 5 And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. 7 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

10 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.

* The Devil had defeated the children of Israel by discouraging them. He caused them to lose their confidence in God. The Devil damaged their faith and took them down.

* After God had dealt with their complaining, and whining, because of discouragement then they once again began to move out.

* What is the cure for being discouraged because the life you are living seems just too difficult? How can we keep going when we feel like we can’t move another step? He find the answer to these questions in Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1-15:

Hebrews 12:1–15 (KJV 1900)

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

3). Discouragement because of Disobedience.

* The third thing that I would like to deal with this morning that causes discouragement in Christians is chastisement because of our disobedience.

* When the Lord has to take us out to the wood shed and give us a good old fashioned spanking.

* If we fail to understand that when the Lord uses the circumstances of life to bring us into obedience to him, it is for our good, then we will become discouraged and angry at God.

* David knew what it meant to be disciplined by God. Listen to the words of David as he complains to God because of his discipline in his life in Plsalms 38-1-22

Psalm 38:1-22

1 O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: Neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me, And thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; Neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin.4 For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: As an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt Because of my foolishness. 6 I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long.

7 For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: And there is no soundness in my flesh. 8 I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; And my groaning is not hid from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength faileth me: As for the light of mine eyes, it also is gone from me. 11 My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; And my kinsmen stand afar off. 12 They also that seek after my life lay snares for me: And they that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, And imagine deceits all the day long.13 But I, as a deaf man, heard not; And I was as a dumb man that openeth not his mouth. 14 Thus I was as a man that heareth not, And in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O Lord, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. 16 For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: When my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me. 17 For I am ready to halt, And my sorrow is continually before me. 18 For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: And they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. 20 They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; Because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, O Lord: O my God, be not far from me. 22 Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

* So what is the cure for depression caused by our disobedience- David said “I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.”

* The answer for this kind of discouragement is to repent of our sin and cry to the Lord for help.

4). Discouragement because of Disillusionment.

Ecclesiastes 2:17–20 (KJV 1900)

17 Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit. 18 Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me. 19 And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity. 20 Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.

5). Discouragement because of Deception. Zechariah 10:2 (KJV 1900)

2 For the idols have spoken vanity, And the diviners have seen a lie, And have told false dreams; They comfort in vain: Therefore they went their way as a flock, They were troubled, because there was no shepherd. 6). Discouragement Because of Despair.

2 Corinthians 1:8–11 (KJV 1900)

8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us…

II. The Effects of Discouragement.

* Those believers who are discouraged have a sick heart. They suffer from spiritual depression.

Proverbs 17:21–22 (KJV 1900)

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:21–22 (KJV 1900)

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 15:12–13 (KJV 1900)

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 18:13–14 (KJV 1900)

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a wounded spirit who can bear?

III. God has promised to help the discouraged.

* If you find yourself in the discouraged state of a broken heart that feels like dried up bones,- if you have a sick and a wounded spirit this morning- if you are suffering from “spiritual depression” this morning, I have good news for you!

* Have you not heart that God is there to encourage all those who are of a broken spirit this morning? Listen to the worlds of the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 40 and verse 28:

Isaiah 40:28–31 (KJV 1900)

28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, That the everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; And to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings as eagles; They shall run, and not be weary; And they shall walk, and not faint.

* Jesus said that the reason He came to this world was to help those who are cast down and brokenhearted this morning!

Luke 4:18 (KJV 1900)

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

* One day the disciples of Jesus of Jesus were caught in a mighty storm on the Sea of Galilee. They were so filled with fear that the thought they were going to die. One of them ran to Jesus who was asleep in the back of the boat and woke Him up and screamed “Master, carest not the we perish?! Jesus arose and rebuked the wind and asked them how is it that you have no faith.

Mark 4:37–40 (KJV 1900)

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

* My friend you may right now be in the midst of such a terrible storm in your live that you don’t know how you will ever make it! You may feel like you have reached bottom! You may be at the end of your rope, but don’t give up just yet! Cast your great problems and cares on the Savior this morning He is able to calm your storm this morning and give you faith!

* The apostle Peter in I Peter chapter 5 and verse 6 Says:

1 Peter 5:6–7 (KJV 1900)

6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

IV. The power of Encouraging Others.

* The dictionary defines encouragement as “the act of inspiring others with renewed courage, renewed spirit, or renewed hope.” * In the New Testament, the word most often translated as “encouragement” is parakalein. This term comes from two Greek words: para, meaning “alongside of,” and kaleo, meaning “to call.” –Encouragement means to come alongside of someone and help them. * When people come alongside us during difficult times to give us renewed courage, a renewed spirit, renewed hope—that’s encouragement.

A Parakletos is therefore an Encourager, one who puts courage into the fainthearted, one who nerves the feeble arm for fight, one who makes a very ordinary man cope gallantly with a peri-lous and a dangerous situation.…

there has never been a time when the ministry of encouragement has been more crucial for the Christian family

A. Encouragement is the most needful thing in our homes and churches.

* Encouragement is the most important thing you can do as a parent and a church member. * A church who’s members do not encourage each other and even those outside the church will soon die. We need to continually ask the Lord to help us see when others around us need encouragement.

* There has never been a time when the ministry of encouragement has been more crucial for Christian families.

* We wear many hats as a parents, we are providers, a leaders, we provide discipline when necessary, But our greatest responsibility as parents is as a cheerleader. More than anything else, kids today need the supportive love, encouragement, and cheering-on of their parents.

Ephesians 6:4 (KJV 1900)

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

B. Encouragement is of great importance in the mind of God.

* In the New Testament, each member of the Trinity, or what we call the Godhead, (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit) places a priority on encouragement.

* Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Blessed be the God,…the Father of mercies, or in otherwords, [encouragement]” in (2 Corinthians 1:3). * In this verse Paul used the word paraklesis, in other words, God the Father comes along side us and encourages us.

* In one of his letters to the Thessalonians, Paul reminded his readers that Jesus Christ is also, at the very core of His ministry, an encourager.

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 (KJV 1900)

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, 17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

* And when it comes to the Holy Spirit? “Encourager” is one of His names! The Bible says of the Holy Spirit (in John 14 and 16), “However when He the Comforter is come.…” The title “Comforter” translates the word paraklete which means “to encourage.” * When we encourage people, we are carrying out the ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the Encourager.

* God the Father encourages. God the Son encourages. God the Holy Spirit encourages. We need to be encouragers because encouragement is the priority of each member of the Godhead.

C. It is the underlying purpose of our Bible

* The Bible itself is filled with encouraging truth. * God’s Word is filled with truth, given to us for the sole purpose of encouraging our hearts. * In Romans 15, Paul reminds us that one of the purposes of the Old Testament was to provide encouragement for us today: “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort [encouragement] of the Scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4–5). * Everything from Genesis to Malachi was written for our learning, so that we, through the encouragement of the Scriptures, might have hope.

*The world offers many kinds of encouragement today. If you go to any bookstore you will find an entire section labeled the Self-Help section. In there you will find kinds of books that are supposed to encourage you, but If you don’t get your encouragement from God’s Book, you may find the worlds methods of encouragement and self-helps are sadly temporary.

* In the New Testament, the theme of encouragement is everywhere, especially in Paul’s writings. When Paul wrote to Timothy and Titus, he reminded those young pastors of the critical importance of using God’s Word as a tool of encouragement. “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, which means to [encourage], with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Timothy 4:2).

* In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul told the Thessalonian believers to be confident about their future with God in heaven. He told them how future events would transpire and how Christ would come back for His own. Then, after delivering this great teaching about future hope, Paul said, “Therefore, comfort [encourage] one another with these words”

* In 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul spoke of the Day of the Lord which would come like a thief in the night. When he finished teaching about this great prophetic truth, he said, “Therefore, comfort, or in other words, [encourage] each other and edify one another!

* One of the highest goals as a pastor is that his flock, by the grace of God, will leave every Sunday with encouragement in their hearts. Not by some empty sermonette that uses the world’s wisdom to encourage you, but the solid, dependable Truth of God’s Word, the Bible that encourages the heart. People are truly encouraged by the Eternal Truths that are taught in the Bible! That kind of encouragement will not fail you.

D. A word or deed of encouragement begins a never ending process.

* Encouragement is like a pebble thrown into water. While there is always an immediate impact, the ripples continue indefinitely. Paul spoke of this when he wrote to the Corinthians,

2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (KJV 1900)

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

* When you have been encouraged, your first impulse is to encourage someone else. Encouragement is infectious. The only way you can truly appreciate the encouragement you have been given is to give it to another. That person will in turn hook up with someone else who needs a word of encouragement, and the ripples continue to grow.

* Encouragement begins a process which like the ripples on the water, will go on and on forever.