God of Encouragment
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I am now a man of despair, rejected, abandoned, shut up in this iron cage from which there is no escape.
John Bunyan
I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on the earth. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell; I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible. I must die or be better, it appears to me.
Abraham lincin
Again, “We are sometimes dejected, or cast down; the enemy may in a great measure prevail, and our spirits begin to fail us; there may be fears within, as well as fightings without
Matthew Henry
“You seem to imagine that I have no ups and downs, but just a level and lofty stretch of spiritual attainment with unbroken joy and equanimity. By no means! I am often perfectly wretched and everything appears most murky.”
“The Greatest Preacher in the English-speaking World”—Dr. John Henry Jowett.
“I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever get to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.”
Charles Haddon
Spurgeon whose marvelous ministry in London made him perhaps the greatest preacher England ever produced.
“We sometimes say, “A man is in high spirits;” and the proper opposite to this is, “He is low spirited.” Does not this imply, that a kind of faintness, weariness, and listlessness affects the whole body, so that he is disinclined to any motion, and hardly cares to move hand or foot? But the mind seems chiefly to be affected, having lost its relish of everything, and being no longer capable of enjoying the things it once delighted in most. Nay, everything round about is not only flat and insipid, but dreary and uncomfortable. It is not strange if, to one in this state, life itself is become a burden; yea, so insupportable a burden, that many who have all this world can give, desperately rush into an unknown world, rather than bear it any longer.”
John Wesley.
Discouragement is no respecter of persons.
In fact, discouragement seems to attack the successful far more than the unsuccessful; for the higher we climb, the farther down we can fall.
We are not surprised then when we read that the great Apostle Paul was
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.
“Dispare” - Exa-po-reo = To fall apart emotionally.
Great as he was in character and ministry, Paul was human just like the rest of us.
What caused Paul’s depression?
He had founded the church at Corinth and had ministered there for a year and a half.
When serious problems arose in the church after his departure, he sent Timothy to deal with them and then wrote the letter that we call 1 Corinthians.
Unfortunately, matters grew worse and Paul had to make a “painful visit” to Corinth to confront the troublemakers.
Still, no solution.
He then wrote “a severe letter” which was delivered by his associate, Titus.
After a great deal of distress, Paul finally met Titus and got the good report that the problem had been solved.
It was then that he wrote the letter we call 2 Corinthians.
One of the key words in this letter is comfort or encouragement.
The Greek word means “called to one’s side to help.”
The verb is used eighteen times in this letter, and the noun eleven times.
In spite of all the trials he experienced, Paul was able (by the grace of God) to write a letter saturated with encouragement.
What was Paul’s secret of victory when he was experiencing pressures and trials?
His secret was God.
When you find yourself discouraged and ready to quit, get your attention off of yourself and focus it on God.
Out of his own difficult experience, Paul tells us how we can find encouragement in God.
We must never think that trouble is an accident.
For the believer, everything is a divine appointment.
There are only three possible outlooks a person can take when it comes to the trials of life.
If our trials are the products of “fate” or “chance,” then our only recourse is to give up. Nobody can control fate or chance.
If we have to control everything ourselves, then the situation is equally as hopeless.
But if God is in control, and we trust Him, then we can overcome circumstances with His help.
He is in control of trials
8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, of our affliction which occurred in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.
We do not know what the specific “trouble” was, but it was great enough to make Paul think he was going to die.
Whether it was peril from his many enemies, serious illness, or special satanic attack, we do not know; but we do know that God controlled the circumstances and protected His servant.
When God puts His children into the furnace, He keeps His hand on the thermostat and His eye on the thermometer.
13 No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
“Temptation” - Pe-ras-mos = test or trial
6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
God delivers us from our trials (v. 10).
10 who rescued us from so great a danger of death, and will rescue us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us,
Paul saw God’s hand of deliverance whether he looked back, around, or ahead.
The word Paul used is Re-yo-mey and it literally means “current”.
When the waves of our trials get to big and we are in danger of drowing - God will, like an ocean current, carry us to saftey.
But that of course requires faith and trust.
Has anyone ever been caught in a rip current?
There is only one way to safty: Do not fight it, just trust: Trust that it will takew you out far, carry you along and drop you in safe waters.
That is how we trust the Lord -We trust in His goodness, Providence, love and care.
6 This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.
The can rescvue us from our troubles because he knows our troubles.
Jesus experienced all the pain of humanity.
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin.
Have you been betrayed by one you love? The Lord knows how to heal you.
Have you been crushed by the weight of care? The Lord knows what it is like to be crushed and knows how to heal you.
Are you atterly exhiusted from the struggle of your situation? The Lord knows exhiustion and will suplly you the strength you need.
Is your mind in torment and pain? Jesus was in such emotional torment in the garden that he sweated blood - hemohydrosis - extreem stress. He can give you his peace today.
I opened this sermon quoting men in a depressed state.
I opened this sermon quoting men in a depressed state.
Let me now quote the same men:
In great distress, abused and mistreated for four days, far away from society, they were beaten down with sorrow, fear, and doubt. Christian and Hopeful see no way out of this stronghold that is so horrible. When the prisoners are about to be killed by the giant, Christian suddenly remembers that he has a key called Promise that will open all the doors and gates of the castle and they escape back to the Holy Way.
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the key. Trust in His Promises. There is no giant too great that God is not greater, and God is a God of grace.
John Bunyon
Nevertheless, amid the greatest difficulties of my Administration, when I could not see any other resort, I would place my whole reliance on God, knowing that all would go well, and that He would decide for the right.
Abraghm Lincon
Though we be depressed, yet let us not be dejected, for we are sure that God will be exalted, and that may satisfy us; he will work for his great name, and then no matter what becomes of our little names. It is Christ by his word, and the power of his grace going along with it, that raises up good men from their dejections, and silences their fears; and none but Christ can do it; Arise, be not afraid.
“That perpetual assaulting, that perpetual stabbing, and cutting, and hacking at one’s faith, is not so easy to endure.” But endure we must. And it is precisely “by enduring that we learn to endure.” Our trials make these promises richer and make our faith in them even stronger as we see again and again that they are robust enough to sustain us. They teach us humble dependence on a faithful God.
Charles Spurgion
Matthew Henry
“But this cannot be done by your own strength; it can only be done by the mighty power of God. If you are convinced of this, set about it, trusting in Him, and you will surely conquer.”
john wesley.
Finally:
7 But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed;