THE BROKEN ALASBATER BOX?
TWO GIANTS: FRUSTRATION AND DISCOURAGEMENT
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This lesson will be a series.)
I HAVE A CANDLE BURNING UP FRONT. I dance with a butterfly (or my hands) around and around the flame. Have you ever sat around a campfire and watch the moths fly around and around. They get closer and closer to the fire? Then the moths love the warmed of the heat? Then the little moth gets frustrated with where they are and the cool night air. So sad beautiful little moth, your frustration brings you to your end as the bright light and the warm heat will burn you until you fall in the ashes? WHY DO WE REFUSE TO SEE THE JOURNEY OF DEPRESSION AND FRUSTRATION will leads us to a SUDDEN END?
Are we hurt when we wake up one day and realize I will never own a Cadillac? No mansions for me? No great TV ministry? No millions of dollars? I will never walk the streets of London or Paris? I will never be a pilot and own my own airplane? I will never achieve my doctorate? I will never be rich or famous? I will never pastor a large church with a big budget? I will have many read my lessons of hard work and time, but I will never be invited? I have more request of people that want to come and speak for me?
SEEDS? SEEDS? LIFE IS ALL ABOUT SEEDS? MINISTRY IS ABOUT SEEDS. THE QUESTION IS REALLY NOT ABOUT WHAT DID YOU HARVEST TODAY? THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT KIND AND HOW MANY SEEDS DID YOU PLANT TODAY? FRUSTRATION AND DEPRESSION HINDERS GROWTH IN OUR GARDEN.
Seems the enemy of God has so painted the picture that is about what you are getting today. This is so twisted and vanity. Spiritual life is about what kind of seeds have you plant? It is also about how many seeds have you planted. If you have so many weeds growing in your garden, you will limit your harvest. Wake up! Wake up! It is high time we REDEEM THE TIME.
Let us study how depression and frustration and consider our enemy sneaks into daily life and destroys so many. FRUSTATION and DEPRESSION can be very hazardous to life. HEAVY? What do we do when life gets so heavy and dark? Seems we face dark seasons that blind eternity’s real purpose. These two problems threaten our emotional, mental and spiritual health. COME WITH ME, LET US REASON THE BATTLE OF DEPRESSION AND FRUSTRATION. COMMON? COMMON TO ALL?
Text:
2 Corinthians 9: But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
Galatians 6:6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
What a person plants, he will harvest. Will we harvest a crop of weeds? All some have to show for life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit.
COME, LET US CONSIDER THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A TOY AND A TOOL? IMMATURITY VS MATURITY?
As we consider TOYS vs. TOOLS, a child has more TOYS than tools? An adult should have more TOOLS than toys.
TOY: something a child plays with, something for play, entertainment, an object for a child to play with, typically a model or miniature replica, amusement
TOOL: something to accomplish a task, a means to an end, a thing designed to accomplish work.
TOOLS… We need to have the proper tools to complete the work set before us. Our work can be easier to finish if we have the proper tools. Look at a carpenter’s tools. He has a good balanced hammer, plane, saw, level, square, sandpaper, ladder, anvil--- a good anvil outlasts several hammers, air guns, etc. A good carpenter has thousands of dollars of tools.
Look at a mechanic: sockets, wrenches, Allen wrenches, hammer, rubber hammer, jacks, screw driver: Philips head, flathead, etc. A good mechanic has thousands of dollars of tools.
Consider how the TOOLS VARY BY THE TRADE? A doctors tools? A cook‘s tools? A preacher has tools?
ONE OF THE GREATEST AND BOLDESS LIES OUR ENEMY WHISPER IN OUR EARS MIGHT BE: YOU ARE A FAILURE? MY FRIEND, YOU FAILED THE TEST! QUIT TRYING!
DO WE UNDERSTAND OUR ETERNAL ENEMY HAS MANY TOOLS?
I do not enjoy saying our enemy’s name. Lucifer, Satan, Beelzebub, Father of Lies, Deceiver. There is nothing new or creative about our enemy. He uses the same TOOLS since the creation of world. PRIDE, might be the original tool? Sexual sin, perversion, hot tempers---anger and wrath, keep the humans away from the Bible, procrastination, un-forgiveness, loneliness, dysfunctional families, greed, selfishness, hard heartedness, bitterness, hatred, BREAK THE 10 COMMANDMENTS, compromise and many more. Two of the greatest satanic tools are FRUSTRATION and DEPRESSION. Sometimes we cry, other times we laugh, sometimes our mouth will run wild, other times we just shut our mouth and go on… TEARS CAN BE A BIG SIGN OF DEPRESSION/FRUSTRATION. Often we feel isolated, unloved, unappreciated, or lonely.
BUT TWO OF OUR ENEMIES GREATEST TOOLS ARE FRUSTRATION AND DISCOURAGEMENT.
FRUSTRATION: to cause others to feel angry, discouraged or upset, to defeat, to make of non-effective, delay, a feeling of anger or annoyance caused by being unable to do something, something that prevents us from succeeding, aggravation, trial.
One of the most amazing things is that discouragement/frustration can do is to smack us down even in seasons of success.
DISCOUARGEMENT: to destroy hope and confidence, to hinder, losing no hope of winning, throw cold water on, dishearten, gloom, and despair. THE TOOLS OF OUR ENEMY MAKE US ACT IN HASTE AND SEE THINGS AS THEY ARE TODAY… QUIT SEEING OBSTACLES, START SEEING BEYOND.
OBSTACLES ARE WHAT WE SEE WHEN WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE GOAL. Will we ever learn the more we have, the more selfish we are, the more depression and the more frustrated will grow?
I once read life is like a rose garden, the more you save roses the more they fade. The more roses you give away to others the happier you will grow.
HAVE YOU EVER STUDIED TO FIND THE ROOT OF YOUR FRUSTRATIONS AND DIISCOURAGEMENTS?
Great men of God have always faced THE TWO GIANTS THAT CONSTANTLY ATTACK EVERY CHRISTIAN WORKER. Robert J. Morgan wrote about the leader that is called the “Father of Modern Missions.” WILLIAM CAREY. William Carey’s first mission trip was to INDIA. Carey’s first frustration and discouragement was within his family.
1. He loved his wife and felt a great burden for INDIA. But Carey’s wife never had any desire to go to INDIA. She was very HOSTILE to her husband and to INDIA. All the pressure he faced started within his marriage. This was so frustrating and was a source of depression for this great man of God. Carey’s wife slowly moved TOWARDS A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN AND SANK INTO INSANITY.
2. Carey had 4 children. He loved them very much. When they arrived in INDIA, SEEMS THE KIDS WERE ALWAYS SICK. The tropical diseases were rampant.
3. Carey had a friend that agreed to go to INDIA with him. His name was JOHN THOMAS. Thomas had a change of mind and left WILLIAM CAREY’s dream and took all the money. Thomas left Carey with nothing. Carey was hopeless.
4. The local authorities rejected Carey’s message of Jesus and they treated him bad.
5. After his messages there was no interest in his preaching and his evangelism of the Indian people. He thought he would lead thousands to the Lord? Nothing?
6. William Carey was heartbroken and question himself. Carey became bitter and very angry at his disappointment and he fell into dark discouragements and frustrations.
One day Carey was writing in his journal ABOUT TRUSTING GOD’S PLAN…
“When I first left England, my hope of the conversion of the heathen was very strong, but among so many the obstacles, it would entirely die away, unless upheld by God. Nothing to exercise it, but plenty to obstruct it for now a new year and 19 days, which is the space since I left my dear charge (church) at Leicester. Since that I have had hurrying up and down; five months’ imprisonment with carnal men on board the ship, 5 more learning the language, my colleague separated from me; long delays and few opportunities; no earthly thing to depend on, or earthly comfort, except food and raiment. WELL I HAVE GOD, AND HIS WORD IS SURE.
One of the enemy’s greatest tools is for you to hear his whispers: YOU WILL NEVER MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
He speaks of being knocked down as a FATAL CHOICE? So what, if you can’t change the direction of the wind, that is OK. You can learn to change YOUR SAILS.
REFUSE TO BE BROKEN AND BITTER. THE ONLY CERTAINTY OF LIFE IS UN-CERTAINTY! WE ARE NEVER EXEMPT. LIFE IS BRIEF AND BURDENS THE ONLY THING THAT IS CERTAIN. ASK YOURSELF TO ADJUST YOUR ATTITUDES WHEN YOU COME UP ON TRIALS, STORMS AND TROUBLE…..
Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble.
Job 14:1 (MSG) We're all adrift in the same boat: too few days, too many troubles.
THE SONG OF THE SIRENS BROUGHT SURE DEATH.!
Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isaiah 61:3 (MSG) To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by GOD to display his glory.
IN THE MYTHS OF YESTERDAY THERE WAS AN ISLAND CONTROLED BY WOMEN CALLED SIRENS. WHEN SHIPS OF MEN WENT SAILING BY THE SIRENS WOULD SING THEIR SONGS AND LURE THE MEN TO COME ASHORE. Once there, the sirens would kill every man in a cruel torturous ways. The men knew this but the songs had such lure that the men would sail straight to the shore and sure death.
How do we overcome this LURE that will bring us to destruction? One young captain had the answer. The captain would use ear plugs to dampen any sound, THEN HE WOULD TEACH HIS MEN TO SING THE SHIP’S SONG SO LOUD, THEY WOULD DROWN OUT THE SONGS OF THE SIRENS.
Just in case a sailor would hear their song, the captain would tie each sailor down. He would set the sails to cruise past the island, and even tie himself down until they were passed the SIREN ISLAND… The answer was from within… plug your ears, sing as loud as possible.
Might I add the only way to overcome frustration and discouragement is to learn the song of PRAISE AND EDIFICATION…
COME AND GO WITH ME TO ZIGLAG. KNOCKED DOWN? GET UP… SEEK GOD’S PLAN.
ONE OF THE GREATEST LESSONS OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND FRUSTRATION IS WE ALWAYS ARE LOOKING TO OTHERS TO ENCOURAGE AND PAT US ON THE BACK…
King David has had a great victory after many other great victories. Life is so wonderful. God is so good. The men love their King. David is well respected. The soldiers have many great gifts to give to their families of the spoils of battle.
Then David and his army climbed over the steep hill to see ZIGLAG in the distance. Everyone is singing praises to God and to David. WAIT A MINUTE, IS THAT BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF ZIGLAG? The army realized that while they had great victories, the enemy came into the camp. Everything was lost? Who cares about the things? Their whole families were taken? No wife? No kids? No material blessings.
1 Samuel 30:4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
I WILL CRY IF I WANT TO, CRY IF I WANT. The love and respect for the King was gone? David made a great mistake. David never left warriors to protect the HOME FRONT. Great distress came over all the army. David himself was in great distress, he was frustrated and discouraged. No one person stood with King David.
1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
POOR KING DAVID, HE STOOD ALONE IN THE MIDDLE OF FRUSTRATION AND GREAT DEPRESSION. WHAT DO I DO? WHAT DO WE DO? David knew he and his men had no real solution to this nightmare. DAVID HAD BEEN IN THIS VALLEY BEFORE. David knew, QUIT CRYING. Sure you have been knocked down, the SECRET IS PRAY. GET UP AND PRAY.
When you find it hard to pray ---PRAY HARD…
1 Samuel 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
GOD BRINGS PEACE AND A PLAN, DAVID YOU SHALL OVERTAKE THE ENEMY AND WITHOUT FAIL YOU SHALL RECOVER ALL! HEAR ME ALL!
DAVID HAD TO LEARN THIS FRUSTRATION AND DISCOURAGEMENT DOES NOT HAVE TO DESTROY US… THERE IS A SOLUTION, DON’T RUN FROM THE ENEMY’S TOOLS… GET UP, GET UP--- FIND THE LOST ART OF VICTORY --ENCOURAGE YOURSELF… WHEN YOUR OWN TEAM MEMBERS WHISPER TO DESTROY YOU, ENCOURAGE YOURSELF… CAN GOD? NO, THE ANSWER IS GOD CAN!
Ziglag was a great lesson for King David. Quit depending on others and to encourage you, arise let God scatter the ENEMIES.
NEHEMIAH LIVED IN A DARK, DEPRESSING, FRUSTRATING DAY. THE WORD OF GOD HAD BEEN LOST. BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF KNOWING GOD’S WORD THE PEOPLE SINNED AND JUDGMENT WAS SURE.
One day someone was cleaning the church and found the wonderful word of God, IT HAD BEEN LOST SEVERAL YEARS. They read the word. They shared the God’s word. Depression and frustration filled the people’s hearts and the tears started flowing. It seems they were so hopeless.
Then the Preacher steps to the podium and speaks: QUIT THIS CRYING, GET UP AND CHANGE… REJOICE.
Nehemiah 8:8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
There is a time to quit crying. Get up, share, and rejoice. We need an attitude adjustment. LAUGH! REJOICE! FOR GOD BRINGS JOY!
FEW LEARN THE LESSON OF BROKENESS AS AN INVESTMENT TO GAIN WHAT WE CAN NOT GAIN FOR THAT WHICH WE CAN NEVER LOSE.
Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
Luke 7:37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
I love the lesson of the dark lady breaking open her expensive ALABASTER BOX to POUR at Jesus’ feet. She was doing a great deed and did not even realize it… I think the wonderful fragrance arose to the Throne Room of God. See her expensive gift released her selfish sinful desires. All her frustration, depression and hopelessness well released and JESUS UNDERSTOOD HER REAL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS… JESUS I GIVE YOU ALL MY PAST, PRESENT AND FURTURE TO INVEST WHAT I HAVE FOR THE THINGS I COULD NEVER ACHIEVE… I will trade my sin, sorrows, depression, frustration, hurt, pain that represented my carnal desires… TO RECEIVE WHAT I COULD NEVER BE WORTHY … I TRADE MY TEMPORAL POSSESSION TO RECEIVE THE ETERNAL BLESSINGS OF GOD THE FATHER. I receive complete forgiveness, new life, new hope, new birth, new attitude, a new perspective, new her humbleness? Jesus brings a new patience, and a new outlook of her value system. SEEMS WE REUSE TO SEE THE LESSON OF THE ALABASTER BOX OF GREAT FRAGRANCE THAT WITNESS TO THE OTHERS IN THE ROOM. But more than a personal testimony, the lady BUILT A MEMORIAL THAT SPEAKS BEYOND THE POWER OF WORDS…
The disciples missed the lesson. Today we tend to miss the lesson that by breaking what we love and giving our love gift we now bury all the frustration and make the COMMITMENT I GIVE MY LOVE FREELY…
Matthew 26:13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
WHAT YOU LOVE YOU WILL FIND TIME TO DO. IT IS A DEEP TRUTH WE INVEST TIME TO DO THE THINGS THAT WE LOVE.
We learn to overcome FRUSTRATION and DEPRESSION by investing in the things that GOD LOVES… How many have buried, un-developed talents and are like THE TINMAN with Dorothy. They set on the shelf of DO NOTHINGNESS, waiting for the opportunity of advancement and applause? RUSTING ON THE SHELF? How sad?
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
CONCLUSION: Frustration and discouragement thrive in idleness and laziness. Do you have a God plan to pour yourself into your church? Your family? Little kids? Old people? Negative, angry words will add to your frustration and depression. Quit allowing negative gossips to pour their poison into your ears and heart. We must turn our frustrations and depression into the LOVE OF LIFE. Jesus intends us to fascinate with the new opportunities of each day. Have you buried the dreaming ability? Quit crying, my friend. Embrace the love of life and imperfect people. Identify the issues that cause pain and worry. We must realize the enemy of frustration and depression and identify the problems and the causes. We need the Holy Spirit to teach us how to handle frustration, discouragement and anger in better ways. WILL WE BRING OUR ALABASTER BOXES TO JESUS FEET?
Sure we come to the crossroad, is this the end? Is this a new direction? Life is about the things that happen? But often life can focus on the things that do not happen? Quit crying? Recognize frustration and depression are our enemy. RISE ABOVE THE RAT RACE OF FRUSTRATION AND DEPRESSION. Quit running away, face the problem and see what God can do in you!
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Kyfingers@aol.com
Please help me and do a favor for me? Could you tell some other preachers of my work? Be my partner and pass my work forward to others? (THIS IS SEVERAL PART SERIES)
