How Can I Be Encouraged In The Day Of Troubles

Text: Isaiah 41:10-13 (KJV) 10Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 11Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. 12Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 13For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Isaiah 41:10-13 (AMP) 10Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice. 11Behold, all they who are enraged and inflamed against you shall be put to shame and confounded; they who strive against you shall be as nothing and shall perish. 12You shall seek those who contend with you but shall not find them; they who war against you shall be as nothing, as nothing at all. 13For I the Lord your God hold your right hand; I am the Lord, Who says to you, Fear not; I will help you!

Introduction: Many things will discourage you in this life. When you see the world growing in power and wickedness, it will discourage you. When it seems that nothing is the same as before, it has the potential to discourage you. You would think that because of the wickedness of the world the church would fight harder than ever before. However, Jesus declared in Matthew 24:12, (KJV) “12And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” God wants us to be an encouraged people!

Some people tend to think that I am always encouraged. However, since I know me better than anyone else does, I know that I am not always encouraged. However, I do want to be so full of joy that when I am around the people of God, they will be encouraged. There are some truths in the Word of God that I want to give you. These truths will help us in these days of discouragement, dismay, despair, and disorientation so we can stay encouraged. I have determined that there are three things that will get us through the trials and discouragements of life.

I. It is still the Blood that works.

A. Revelation 12:11 reads, (KJV) “11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (AMP) “11And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].”

B. Hebrews 12:22-24 says, (KJV) “22But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” (AMP) “22But rather, you have come to Mount Zion, even to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless multitudes of angels in festal gathering, 23And to the church (assembly) of the Firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to the God Who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect, 24And to Jesus, the Mediator (Go-between, Agent) of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].”

1. The Blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, did not disappear at the foot of the cross.

2. It is eternal.

C. Ephesians 1:7 declares, (KJV) “7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” (AMP) “7In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor.”