A Spiritual Drop-Out (The Victim Of Discouragement)

And yet No True Loyal Pastor Will Permit Such a Thought to Linger Long in His Mind or Heart.

You See the Flock Needs a Shepherd And by Example He Must Feed Them and Lead Them out of Any Discouragement… And into New Heights and Depths of Spiritual Victory and Maturity.

listen to the preacher- Jonah 4:3,- therefore now Oh Lord take i beesech thee my life from me for it is better for me to die than to live.

Don’t you find it strange that a man who had experienced such a fantastic ministry as Jonah would talk like this?

You say pastor is it possible that men like Jonah and Jeremiah, and David, and Elijah would be so quick to despair?

Oh yes!… The dark hour of the soul is much more common than we think!

The whole problem is that too few are willing to admit it.

All of us occasionally get discouraged.. and some may even think of giving up or dropping out.. but the truth is that most of us are not man enough or Christian enough to admit it.

And furthermore… Rather than admit that the problem is a personal spiritual one… Sometimes some of us tried to blame someone else for personal woes.

now the difference between these great spiritual giants and we who are but mere pygmies of the faith, is that they openly, honestly, personally admitted their condition when usually we deny ours.

In our text… And in these heart cries of other men of God I observe a very significant spiritual truth.

1. Elijah chose a juniper tree to sit under and to talk to in his our of discouragement. He had sense enough to leave his servant behind.

2. Jeremiah wished for a wilderness where no human ear could hear his complaint… Or mortal eye, could witness his spiritual despondency.

3. Jonah went clear outside of the city and found the place where he could be alone to express his disappointment and dissatisfaction with God and man.

4. David wished for the wings of a Dove so that his spiritual discouragement and disillusionment could be vented totally away from hurt and harm to anyone and everyone else. Oh how unlike these discouraged but thoughtful man most of us are…

Instead of sharing our discouragement and disappointment with God alone… We share it with everybody around us… Until we transmit the dreadful and deadly virus to a dozen friends.

oh beloved beware of the contagion of discouragement and be reminded that the joy of the Lord is also contagious, and if we are compelled to infect others let it be the beauty and fragrance of a transformed heart and a spirit filled life.

Where was this discouragement found?

In such a man as Elijah… And

When did this temptation break-in upon the soul of the spiritual giant?

It was at a time of unprecedented victory and unparalleled opportunity for himself and for the lord.

For Elijah there had been:

1. The wonderful supernatural provision of food at the Brook cherith.

2. the miraculous cruse of oil but failed not

3. then came that final amazing miracle when the fire of God fell to evidence his presence and power.