Dealing With Discouragement

DEALING WITH DISCOURAGEMENT

Text: Heb. 6:9-20

Introduction: Discouragement--you know what the word means.

We, each one of us, have had our battles with dicouragement.

The Lord directs us to cast our cares on Him because He

cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).

Praise God that Christians have a burden bearer, a paraclete,

and One who can identify with our struggles and pain--Jesus

The Christ!

Theme: Verse 12 of our text directs us to be followers of them who through

faith and patience inherited the promises (them = those listed in

Scripture in general and in the book of Hebrews in particular).

I. Three Main Thoughts To Consider

A. God has not forgotten about us (Heb. 6:9-12).

B. God promises are reliable (Heb. 6:13-18).

C. Jesus will lead us into God’s glory (Heb. 6:19-20).

II. God has not forgotten about us (Heb. 6:9-12).

A. Consider v. 9 a verse of encouragement.

1. in danger of falling away

a. not out of calculated rebellion

b. but because of depressing discouragement

2. They needed to be warned.

3. They needed to be encouraged.

4. Application: We should seize every opportunity to give encouragement.

Encouragement is oxygen to the soul.

The days are always dark enough.

There is no need for us to emphasize the fact by spreading

further gloom.

__George M. Adams (appointed secretary of state for Kentucky by

Gov. Simon B. Buckner and served from 1887 to 1891)

B. Do not be discouraged into giving up on Jesus.

1. He has not forgotten what we have done for Him and others.

2. He sees our service.

3. We may not receive the applause & attention of men.

C. Keep working, pressing on, hoping and going on.

1. We inherit (not earn) God’s promises.

2. Have Abraham’s kind of faith and patience.

3. Have David’s kind of encouragement ( 1 Sam. 30:6).

III. God Promises Are Reliable (Heb. 6:13-18).

A. Heb. 6:15, "...patiently endured..."

1. Sometimes this when the attacks come.

a. We ask, "Will God really come through?"

b. We ask, "Will we too obtain the promise?"

2. Heb. 6:15, "...He (Abraham) obtained the promise."

a. God sealed His promise with an oath.

b. God swore by Himself.

c. GOD’S PROMISES (LIKE HIS CHARACTER) ARE UNCHANGING

B. God’s promise (v. 13) and His oath (v. 16)

1. Be consoled because God cannot lie.

2. Numbers 23:19 (KJV) God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man,

that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken,

and shall he not make it good?

C. Hebrews 6:18 (KJV) "...we might have a strong consolation,

who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:"

1. Do not be discouraged.

2. God has a refuge of hope ready for us.

(David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible are reproduced by permission of David Guzik, Siegen, Germany.):

"a. similar to the cities of refuge of Numbers 35

b. Both Jesus and the cities of refuge are within easy reach of the needy person;

they were of no use unless someone could get to the place of refuge.

c. Both Jesus and the cities of refuge are open to all, not just the Israelite;

no one needs to fear that they would be turned away from their place of

refuge in their time of need.

d. Both Jesus and the cities of refuge became a place where the one in need

would live; you didn’t come to a city of refuge in time of need just to look around.

e. Both Jesus and the cities of refuge are the only alternative for the one[s] in need;

without this specific protection, they will be destroyed.

f. Both Jesus and the cities of refuge provide protection only within their

boundaries; to go outside meant death.

g. With both Jesus and the cities of refuge, full freedom comes with the death

of the High Priest.

h. However, there is a crucial distinction between Jesus and the cities of refuge.

The cities of refuge only helped the innocent; the guilty can come to Jesus

and find refuge."

IV. Jesus will lead us into God’s glory (Heb. 6:19-20).

A. v. 19, "...anchor of the soul..."

1. In the ancient world "anchor" was a figure for hope.

2. Saints are anchored to that presence "...behind the veil."

3. Hope, our anchor, will see us into the very presence of God.

4. Hope is the opposite of discouragement.

B. rougher the weather--more important the anchor

1. We are anchored in heaven, not in the ground.

2. We are anchored to move on, not to stand still.

C. v. 20, "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,

made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."--