Misc. - "Dealing with Discouragement" - Luke 7:18-23 (2)

“Dealing with Discouragement”

What’s up CRU!

My name is Hayden Crompton, and I would like to say a few things as we start...

1. I consider it a great privilege to be with y’all tonight! So, Weston and team - thank you all so much for the invitation to be here.

2. The best things about me are: Jesus, my wife, and our boys.

3. I know you’re walking through a sermon series called, “Running Free.” And I want - SOOOOOO BADLY for you to be a believer… a follower of Jesus that runs free making disciples.

But I recognize there are things in life that trip us up.

Tonight, the topic that Weston asked me to address is “Social Anxiety and the fear of failure.”

And we are going to in this message. But I also want to be cognizant of everyone in this audience...

Spiritual discouragement are times in a believer’s life when courage, confidence, and commitment seem to have been stolen from us.

Social anxiety steals our courage, confidence, and commitment to what Jesus has called us to do.

It’s the person in this room that KNOWS Jesus. You know His power, His love, and His calling on your life to make disciples… but you get spiritually discouraged and start thinking things like this:

“I pray for my friends, and want to pray outloud… but what if I open my mouth and nothing comes out? I once tried and failed at praying because my voice changed and it was super embarrassing.”

“The idea of getting up and sharing what Jesus has done in my life is “mortal poison…”

Social anxiety produces a fear of failure that steals your courage, confidence, and paralyzes your commitment.

Spiritual discouragement is a matter of time.

Spiritual Discouragement comes to all of us, so tonight, I believe it would be wise for us to approach this Scripture with an open heart ready to learn what to do when we are dealing with discouragement.

Look at Luke 7 with me tonight..

Luke 7:18–23 CSB

18 Then John’s disciples told him about all these things. So John summoned two of his disciples 19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ” 21 At that time Jesus healed many people of diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 He replied to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news, 23 and blessed is the one who isn’t offended by me.”

Wait a minute… is this THE John the Baptist? It is, and later on in Luke 7, Jesus said he was the greatest man to walk the planet… and he dealt with spiritual discouragement.

1. The Reality of Spiritual Discouragement

Here’s the reality, those of you that are walking and living with social anxiety and the fear of failure are dealing with true spiritual discouragement.

spiritual discouragement has a way of creeping in and rooting itself in our hearts with its fruit blooming in our minds.

When does Spiritual discouragement begin to approach us and set in?

a. In Light of the Exceptional

Luke 7 opens with two incredible miracles!

First, the centurion’s servant is healed by Jesus just speaking a word, and if that wasn’t proof enough that Jesus was who He said He was, he touched the coffin of a dead young man and said, “Arise....” and the young boy woke up!

Jesus was at work!

He was moving!

He was being talked about. He was being proclaimed. He was being followed.

He was doing an exceptional work, and John’s disciples come to talk with him about what Jesus was doing. They were likely amazed and what they were seeing.

John asked this question immediately after he heard about all that Jesus was doing.

When Jesus’ bright light goes to work, it seems that discouragement is always near to cast a shadow.

That shadow of discouragement seems to be cast when you have an awesome quiet time with Jesus and know that He’s calling you to witness to your roommate, but you feel so paralyzed that you can’t speak up.

That shadow of discouragement seems to be cast when other people seem too have a true and BOLD faith.

That shadow of discouragement seems to be cast when you watch another prodigal return home while yours hasn’t yet.

The reality of spiritual discouragement is that it shows up in light of Jesus’ exceptional work.

But it also shows up...

b. By Leaning on Expectations

John’s currently in prison. The forerunner of Jesus… in prison.

John ‘s life goals:

to preach the rest of his life.

to see the King enthroned

to bye a Green Egg smoker and try some nice honey wrapped locust one day.

John did not expect to:

be in prison.

be beheaded

Spiritual discouragement becomes a reality when your experiences don’t match your expectations.

You probably didn’t expect to be dealing with social anxiety this long… yet you’re experiencing it.

You probably didn’t expect to have to struggle with fear of failure this long… yet you’re experiencing it and discouraged.

You probably expected by going on that mission trip, or going to CRU every week, you’d be getting better… yet you’re experiencing it and discouraged.

You probably expected to be delivered from these fears by now… yet you’re living in paralysis of spiritual discouragement.

God is still so very faithful.

Spiritual discouragement shows up (1) in light of exceptional, and (2) leaning on expectations… but it also shows u

c. By Listening to the Enemy

Discouragement is a dangerous place because it leaves us open to his assault.

John began to think that maybe he got it wrong.

“Did my ministry fail?”

“Was it worth it?”

When Weston asked me to preach in this series, and asked if I was comfortable addressing social anxiety and fear of failure… you know what my first thought was? (1) Yes! I’ve dealt with that for a long time. you know what my second thought was? (2)“Shoot… I hope I don’t mess this up.”

You know one of the most used lines of Satan when he tries to discourage: He reminds you of your past sins.

Weston sent me an article called “Social Anxiety: Learning from the One who Despised the Shame”

The author illustrates social anxiety as “a tightly woven rope made of three thick strands: (1) is the experience and fear of shame… (2) is underlying desires to please others and be affirmed… (3) is deep feelings of inadequacy and low self-worth.”

Think about how the enemy uses that against you.

Not only does he remind you of your past sins, but then it reminds you of how it felt. Then you, in order to feel better, look for affirmation from anybody! All while (even if you do get those words of affirmation) you still feel inadequate and have a low-self worth.”

Is this reality hitting home with anyone right now?

2. The Risk of Spiritual Discouragement

This question and these doubts began to produce something in John. What was it?

a. A Doctrinal Confusion

John wouldn’t have asked a question if he wasn’t confused.

there are two Greek words for “another” - one is another of the same kind.. this was used when Jesus refered to the Holy Spirit as the one coming after Him. They were of the same kind!

the other “another” refers to something else that’s different.

John asked the question of “should we expect another (of a different kind) to come?” Are you really the Messiah?

b. A Distinct Crisis

“look we for another...”

This Greek word means “to wait for anxiously, or to look forward to an occurence with trepidation or anxiety.”

So the man that came in the Spirit of Elijah.... the bold man we knew by the River Jordan is now asking a question FULL of anxiousness and fear.

John found himself asking, “is this really it?”

Have you ever noticed that in times of crisis we ask the similar things?

Midlife crisis

“Is this it?”

Is this all I have?

If not careful, we can look to ANOTHER to fill the void.

Another provider, another

Circumstantial crisis

Are you going to do something about this?

If we are not careful, we will look to ourselves to fight our battles.

Religious Crisis

“Is this it or should I look to another?”

If we are not careful, we will look to another religion to fill our void.

The discouragement that you think is crushing your faith can actually be a catalyst to cultivate your faith.

c. A Dangerous Choice

According to a study by Barna Group in June of 2017:

45% of people who experienced doubt STOPPED attending worship.

29% STOPPED READING THE BIBLE

29% STOPPED PRAYING

25 % STOPPED TALKING TO FRIENDS & FAMILY ABOUT DOUBT

3. The Response to Spiritual Discouragement

SO much of the Christian life is how we respond and react. This is where our character shows up and is proven.

a. Turn to your Community

Luke 7:19–20 CSB

19 and sent them to the Lord, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 20 When the men reached him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask you, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’ ”

Thank goodness John did something about his doubt.

John turned to his community during doubt.

Proverbs 24:10 CSB

10 If you do nothing in a difficult time, your strength is limited.

Proverbs 20:6 CSB

6 Many a person proclaims his own loyalty, but who can find a trustworthy person?

Proverbs 27:10 CSB

10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend, and don’t go to your brother’s house in your time of calamity; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

John had two good friends.

During a time when John couldn’t seem to get to Jesus, John was connected to people that were able to get near Jesus.

Do you have a friend that will go to Jesus for you?

Actually let me ask you this… Are you the friend that has been going to Jesus?

John’s disciples made their way to Jesus.

Let me pause here for a moment… don’t ever underestimate the power of time with Jesus.

Don’t stop petitioning Him on someone else’s behalf.

b. Treasure His Work in other Christians

Before Jesus ever speaks up to answer their question, look what He does

Luke 7:21 KJV 1900

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

This gives the idea that those disciples were waiting on Him for a while.

This also gives us the idea, in the way this verse is written, is that Luke is trying to communicate this simple truth: JESUS IS THE ANSWER.

Even when I don’t see it, You’re working.

Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working.

You never stop, never stop working.

Some of you have been waiting on Jesus to respond for a while.

DON’T LET THE WAY HE’S WORKING AROUND YOU CAUSE YOU GRIEF, PAIN, OR HURT. THE WAY HE’S WORKING AROUND YOU IS ALL A PART OF THE PROCESS.

One of my favorite things about Jesus is that He’s busy, but interruptible.

Jairus’ daughter… He was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood, and yet He still got to Jairus’ daughter.

Sometimes waiting can be hard, but remember, our God is still at work!

c. Trust His Counsel

Jesus finally sends word, “Go tell John this...”

And blessed is he that is not offended at Jesus.

The remedy for doubt is always found in the Word and work of Jesus.

Time out… this is how I should deal with discouragement??

Turn to your community.

treasure his work in other Christians

Trust His Counsel

Dear Jesus, You are absolutely amazing.  Bigger than I can imigaine and more wonderful than I can express.  Thank you so much for saving me by your precious blood.  I belong to you.  You are in charge. Right now I choose you! Speak to me as I train my brain to process your thoughts. Take control.  I choose to praise you right now. Praise. . .

You may be thinking… I’ve tried this Hayden… I’ve tried this so many time. Well listen to me...

In Luke 5:4-11, Peter had just spent the night fishing out in the lake of Gennesaret. Jesus asked to use his boat to teach the crowd, and after he finished teaching, Jesus said something to Peter…a discouraged fisherman. Here’s what He said:

“Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”

It’s interesting to me that Jesus told Peter to go to the same exact spot that he had previously been in.

Jesus said, “go back out and drop your nets again.”

If only we could try something new, go to a new place, then trying again would be easier.

But here’s what Jesus says, “use the same ole net, in the same ole boat, in the same ole spot.”

They went out and their discouragement turned into delight, when they used the same ole net, in the same ole boat, in the same ole spot.

Some of you believers dealing with discouragement need to use the same ole net of community, in the same ole boat of prayer, trusting in the same Lord to deliver you.

Conclusion:

If you need to be saved, come.

If you need to join the church or get your baptism on the right side of your conversion, come.

But some of y’all need to grab a friend by the hand and say, I need you to go to Jesus for me.