OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 288 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
OVERCOMING DISCOURAGEMENT
Good morning! VBS starts tomorrow!!!! Are you ready?!?
VBS is a big event. There is a lot of work that must be done behind the scenes to make it happen. And even more that must be done by volunteers every single day. We are so thankful for our volunteers and their love and passion for the children of our community.
VBS is a big project. We have many large projects in our future here at BFR. As a church of approximately 40 members, we have a ton of work to do to rebuild what God has started here in Randolph. I love that I have been able to hear from many of you, your excitement and commitment to seeing God work in this community through this church. I have heard your enthusiasm about getting this church off the ground so to speak, and back at reaching deep into this community with the saving message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I wanted to take this morning, this break that we have between sermon series and VBS, to talk about discouragement. Anytime we answer God’s call to do something big for Him, our adversary will do his dead level best to discourage us from doing it. He never plays fair. He will use any tool, any method, any person to block us from being obedient to what God has called us to do.
So, this morning we are going to look at a Character named Nehemiah. This was a man that could teach us a master’s course on the topic of discouragement. We don’t have to time to really dive into all the aspects of his interesting life. So, I want to give you a quick summary then talk about what we can learn from his life.
This story is set in the Old Testament after the Nation of Israel had been defeated by the Babylonians, Jerusalem had been ransacked and destroyed, and the Jews were taken into captivity. The Babylonians were then defeated by the Persians and the Jews were kept as slaves by them. Nehemiah was a Jew and a slave. He was Chief Cup Bearer to the Persian King. That means that if the King were to drink something, it was Nehemiah’s job to taste it first and make sure there was no poison in it. This job was a very important one and if you had that job, it meant that the King trusted you very much!
In short, Nehemiah felt burdened that Jerusalem was destroyed and asked the Kings leave to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the defensive wall around the city and the King agreed and sent Nehemiah and other slaves home to Jerusalem. If you want the full story with all the details, I highly encourage you to read the book of Nehemiah in the Old Testament. It is a great book and does not take long to read. This sermon is about the trials Nehemiah faced in his task and how he overcame great discouragement while trying to accomplish an impossible task.
Have you faced great discouragement? I know I have. What gets you down? What discourages you? What makes you want to give up? What impossible task are you facing?
I want to take this time to show you some things that discouraged Nehemiah and his workers and how he dealt with those things. Hopefully we can learn how to Biblically deal with our discouragement as well! And if discouragement strikes this week, we will be equipped to recognize it and deal with in a Godly manner.
Let us consider some of the common causes of discouragement.
I. THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT (Neh. 4:1-12)
Nehemiah 4:10 (ESV)
10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
10In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
1. FATIGUE
Nehemiah 4:10 (NLT)
10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”
10Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”
You simply get tired as the laborers did in Nehemiah 4:10. We’re human beings and we wear out. You cannot burn the candle at both ends. So, if you’re discouraged, it may be that you don’t have to change anything. You just need a vacation! Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is go to bed, take a break, take a vacation.
THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
1. FATIGUE
2. FRUSTRATION
Nehemiah 4:10 (ESV)
10 In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
10In Judah it was said, “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”
Nehemiah says there was rubble all around, so much that it was getting in the way of rebuilding the wall. Do you have rubble in your life? Have you noticed that anytime you start doing something new, the trash starts piling up? If you don’t clean it out periodically, it’s going to stop your progress. You can’t avoid it, so you need to learn to recognize it and dispose of it quickly, so you don’t lose focus on your original intention. What is the rubble in your life? I think rubble is the trivial things that waste your time and energyand prevent you from accomplishing what God has called you to do.
THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
1. FATIGUE
2. FRUSTRATION
3. FAILURE
Nehemiah 4:10 (NLT)
10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”
10Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”
Nehemiah’s people were unable to finish their task as quickly as originally planned and, as a result, their confidence collapsed. They were thinking, "We were stupid to think we could ever rebuild this wall." But you know what I do when I don’t reach a goal on time? I just set a new goal. I don’t give up. Everybody fails. Everybody does foolish things. So, the issue is not that you failed - it’s how you respond to your failure. Do you give in to self-pity? Do you start blaming other people? Do you start complaining that it’s impossible? Or do you refocus on God’s intentions and start moving again?
THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
1. FATIGUE
2. FRUSTRATION
3. FAILURE
4. FEAR
THE REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT
1. FATIGUE
2. FRUSTRATION
3. FAILURE
4. FEAR
Nehemiah 4:11–12 (ESV)
11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”
11And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”
12At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.”
Nehemiah 4, suggests the people most affected by fear are those who hang around negative people. If you’re going to control the negative thoughts in your life, you’ve got to get away from negative people as much as you can. Maybe you’re discouraged because of fear. You’re dealing with fears like, "I can’t handle this. It’s too much responsibility." Maybe it’s the fear that you don’t deserve it. It’s the fear of criticism. Fear will destroy your life if you let it. But you can choose to resist the discouragement. Say, "God help me get my eyes off the problem - off the circumstance - and keep my eyes on you."
So, how did Nehemiah respond to discouragement? Did he quit? Did he go back to Persia? Did he curl up and cry? No, look at the steps he took.
II. THE REMEDY (Neh. 4:13-23)
THE REMEDY
1. Nehemiah Brought in REINFORCEMENT
When discouraged, call the family of God for help
Nehemiah 4:13 (ESV)
13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
13So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
Moses is one of the greatest leader in the Bible, handpicked by God and yet he became so discouraged that he became suicidal.
Numbers 11:14–15 (NLT)
14 I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!
15 If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”
14I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy!
15If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”
The Lord’s solution to his discouragement
Numbers 11:16–17 (NLT)
16 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you.
17 I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.
16Then the Lordsaid to Moses, “Gather before me seventy men who are recognized as elders and leaders of Israel. Bring them to the Tabernacle to stand there with you.
17I will come down and talk to you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is upon you, and I will put the Spirit upon them also. They will bear the burden of the people along with you, so you will not have to carry it alone.
You will not have to carry it alone! You need to delegate. We all need somebody to help and to pray and to work with us.
THE REMEDY
1. Nehemiah Brought in REINFORCEMENT
2. Make a REQUISITION
When discouraged, call on God through prayer.
Nehemiah 4:9 (ESV)
9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
9And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
Joshua was a great general, handpicked by God to lead Israel into the Promised Land but he felt like quitting after the defeat at Ai. He was discouraged.
Joshua 7:8–9 (ESV)
8 O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”
8O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies!
9For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name?”
During time of discouragement, Joshua talked to God and prayed. Prayer is the best antidote to discouragement.
THE REMEDY
1. Nehemiah Brought in REINFORCEMENT
2. Make a REQUISITION
3. Seek REVITALIZATION
When discouraged, remember the Lord who is great and awesome. Find rest in God and be refreshed by his Word and his presence. Spend time in Prayer, Study His Word. Listen to God’s Word being taught.
Nehemiah 4:14 (HCSB)
14 After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”
14After I made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the great and awe-inspiring Lord, and fight for your countrymen, your sons and daughters, your wives and homes.”
Elijah is perhaps the greatest prophet of Old Testament. He was willing to challenge the idolatry of his day and called fire down from heaven, won a faceoff with prophets of Baal, but he requested for himself that he might die, and said, it is enough now, O Lord, take away my life!
1 Kings 19:4 (ESV)
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”
God then sent encouragement to him.
1 Kings 19:7–8 (ESV)
7 And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
8 And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
7And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.”
8And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
THE REMEDY
1. Nehemiah Brought in REINFORCEMENT
2. Make a REQUISITION
3. Seek REVITALIZATION
4. REPOSITION Yourself
When discouraged, reposition yourself from the position of doubt and defeat to the position of faith and victory. You can only do this through changing your posture and position. Stand on the Word of God and not on your doubt.
Nehemiah 4:16 (ESV)
16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah,
16From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah,
When I think of discouragement, I immediately think of Job - We talk about his patience and faith, and he was truly a great man…he had a great beginning and a great ending, but in-between, when he lost everything, he wished he had not been born, became suicidal, and was extremely depressed for a period of time!
Job 3:3–8 (NLT)
3 “Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived.
4 Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it.
5 Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own. Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it.
6 Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months.
7 Let that night be childless. Let it have no joy.
8 Let those who are experts at cursing— whose cursing could rouse Leviathan— curse that day.
3“Let the day of my birth be erased, and the night I was conceived.
4Let that day be turned to darkness. Let it be lost even to God on high, and let no light shine on it.
5Let the darkness and utter gloom claim that day for its own. Let a black cloud overshadow it, and let the darkness terrify it.
6Let that night be blotted off the calendar, never again to be counted among the days of the year, never again to appear among the months.
7Let that night be childless. Let it have no joy.
8Let those who are experts at cursing— whose cursing could rouse Leviathan— curse that day.
God’s Solution for Job
Job 42:10 (NLT)
10 When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!
10When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!
Job changed his position too. From crying and complaining to praying for his friends.
THE REMEDY
1. Bring in REINFORCEMENT
2. Make a REQUISITION
3. Seek REVITALIZATION
4. REPOSITION Yourself
5. REFLECTION is Necessary
THE REMEDY
1. Bring in REINFORCEMENT
2. Make a REQUISITION
3. Seek REVITALIZATION
4. REPOSITION Yourself
5. REFLECTION is Necessary
When discouraged, reflect on God’s power and love. Look on God who will fight for us.
Nehemiah 4:20 (ESV)
20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
20In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
Jonah is another one of my favorite men in the Bible. His story is mesmerizing to me. I think many of us have a little Jonah in us.
Jonah wanted God to kill him, and he was spiritually depressed and not even happy for all the souls that just got saved in Nineveh! God gave him a lesson – something to reflect so he can understand better.
Jonah 4:10–11 (ESV)
10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.
11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”
10And the Lordsaid, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.
11And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”
Often, our discouragement is due to our short foresight. Spending time in reflection and meditation of the word of God will help us so that God, Spirit can illuminate the Scriptures to our hearts and minds instructing us on his purposes and plans for our lives.
God promises to renew our strength and even take away our discouragements if we will just wait and reflect on God.
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
31but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
So maybe you came in this morning discouraged. Maybe sometime this week, you find yourself discouraged. Perhaps our enemy singles you out and tries to get your down, hoping that you will quit!
My hope is that we can all learn from the lessons of Nehemiah. God is the God of kept promises and completed goals.
I am certain that if we are faithful, God will give us a successful VBS.
I am certain that if we are faithful, God will send us lost souls to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with.
I am certain that if we are faithful, God will grow the Church.
He will not ask you to do anything that He cannot help you complete. He will see you to the end. Because he loves you.
Let’s Pray!