Overcoming Discouragement
Prairie Baptist Church – 12/13/09
P.M. Service
Text: Nehemiah 4:10-23
Key verse: Nehemiah 4:20 - In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
Premise: When discouragement comes we have an encouraging word to get us moving again.
The Introduction
Did you ever find that the more you do for Christ, the more discouragement seems to try and hit you?
Discouragement and disappointment come our way to throw us off and make us want to give up.
At other times they come as a result of our own delusion. It is like the wife who woke up one morning and said, “Honey, I just had a dream that you bought me a new gold necklace. What do you think it means?” “I don’t know, but Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Tuesday, you’ll know,” He replied. A few nights later, she again woke up after having a dream, “This time, I dreamed you gave me a pearl necklace. What do you think it means?” “You’ll know Tuesday,” He replied. The night before Valentine’s Day, she again woke up telling him about her dream, “This time I dreamed that you brought me a diamond necklace. What do you think it means?” “Honey, be patient. "You’ll know tonight." he said. That evening, the husband came home with a package and gave it to his wife. Delighted, she opened it--to find a book entitled, "The meaning of dreams."
We are all subject to times of discouragement and the people of God here were no exception.
Discuss text from verses 10-14 (go to transition statement)
Body
1. Remember The Lord – 4:14
A. Maybe you heard that Jake at one time had a really horrible memory. One day Jake ran into a friend whom he had not seen in a long time. He greeted him & said, “Bill, do you remember what a bad memory I had?” Bill answered, “Yes, I certainly do.” “Well, it’s not bad any more. I went to a seminar that taught us how to remember things. It was a great seminar, & now I have a wonderful memory.” Bill answered, “That’s great! What was the name of the seminar?” “Well,” Jake said, “wait a minute, my wife went with me. I’ll ask her.” He turned & saw his wife nearby. Then he turned back to Bill & said, “What’s the name of that flower with a long stem & thorns & a red bloom?” “Do you mean a rose?” Bill answered, “Yeah, thanks,” Jake said, “Hey, Rose, what’s the name of that seminar we attended?”
B. Our older generation always gets picked on for not having a good memory. Well, for the rest of us, here are the top ten signs you are getting older 1. You’re asleep, but others worry that you’re dead. 2. Your back goes out more often than you do. 3. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room. 4. You sing along with the elevator music. 5. You would rather go to work than stay home sick. 6. You enjoy hearing about other people’s operations. 7. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge. 8. The end of your tie doesn’t come anywhere near the top of your pants. 9. Your ears are hairier than your head. 10. You’re sitting in a rocker and you can’t get it started.
C. Sometimes, when we get discouraged, it is easy to forget the Lord
D. There are some traits of God that we can remember to encourage us:
i. The Lord is good – Psalms 34:8 - O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
ii. The Lord is on our side – Psalms 118:6 - The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
iii. The Lord is helpful – Psalms 121:1-2 - 1I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.
2. Return To The Work – 4:15
A. Two frogs fell into a can of cream, or so I’ve heard it told, the sides of the can were shiny and steep, The cream was deep and cold, "Oh, what’s the use?" said No. 1, "tis fate -- no help’s around -- Good-bye, my friend! Good-bye, sad world!" And weeping still, he drowned. But No. 2 of sterner stuff, kept paddling, which was wise, then while he wiped his creamy face And dried his creamy eyes. "I’ll swim awhile, at least," he thought this cream I still can tread "It wouldn’t really help the world if one more frog was dead." An hour or two he kicked and swam -- Not once he stopped to mutter, But kicked and swam, and swam and kicked, Then hopped out, via butter.
B. Sometimes when we are down, we tend to stay down
C. We quit, or slow down:
i. This backfires almost all of the time
ii. Getting back to the work actually will help us overcome our discouragement
iii. The opposite will happen when we give up or back off
D. The biggest mistake we make is allowing Satan to convince us to quit working
E. God encourages us to keep going:
i. Romans 12:11 – Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
ii. Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
3. Ready For A Fight – 4:16-17
A. We are sometimes like the young man that wrote this to his girlfriend. “Sweetheart, if this world was as hot as the Sahara desert, I would crawl on my knees through the burning sand to come to you. If the world would be like the Atlantic Ocean, I would swim through shark infested waters to come to you. I would fight the most fiercest dragon to be by your side. I will see you on Thursday if it does not rain.”
B. We should never be that fickle.
i. There is a war raging and a lot to be done
ii. We can’t give up just because the enemy is numerous, well armed, angry, and threatening
C. This is what we are called to do - 1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good (worthy) fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
D. This is a lifetime struggle that is well worth the effort - 2 Timothy 4:7-8 – I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
4. Reinforce One Another – 4:18-20
A. A loaded mini-van pulled up to the only remaining campsite. Four youngsters leaped from the vehicle and feverishly began unloading the gear and setting up the tent. The boys rushed off to gather firewood while the girls along with their mother began to set up the camp stove and cooking utensils. A nearby camper watched and marveled to the children’s father, "Sir, that is the greatest display of teamwork I have ever seen. How do you run such a disciplined family?" The father said, "Well, it really works on only one basic principle. Nobody gets to go to the bathroom until the camp is set up!"
B. Teamwork is essential to get the job done.
C. There is strength in numbers and we will stay discouraged when we try to go it alone
D. We need to find others that will build us up:
i. They will give us good, sound, biblical advice
ii. They will pray with and for us
iii. They will encourage us
iv. They will give us a swift kick when we need it, in love of course
E. What does the Bible say about what we are to do for one another?
i. Love one another - John 13:34
ii. In honor prefer one another - Romans 12:10
iii. Do not judge one another - Romans 14:13
iv. Admonish (caution or give warning) one another - Romans 15:14
v. Serve one another - Galatians 5:13
vi. Bear one another’s burdens - Galatians 6:2
vii. Forbear (patience) with one another - Ephesians 4:2
viii. Forgive one another - Ephesians 4:32
ix. Teach one another - Colossians 3:16
x. Comfort one another - 1 Thessalonians 4:18
5. Rely On God – 4:20
A. Overwhelmed Christians sometimes approach the Lord for strength with the mind-set of the old Hee-Haw TV show’s song--"gloom, despair, agony, deep dark depression, excessive misery."
B. Our strength is found in God.
C. We should never rely on our strength to carry us through, because it will fail
D. God, as the commander in chief, is ever vigilant, and ultimately the war is won because of Him. – Psalms 24:8 - Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
E. We need to learn to trust the Lord for our safety - Proverbs 29:25 – The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Conclusion:
Are you discouraged at times? Do you feel like throwing in the towel? Don’t!
Maybe you have already given up and surrendered.
It is time to get back to the work and face life in Christ head on.
