Encouraged in the Lord
Personal note: Remember to be led of the Lord as you are preaching
There is not a single, devoted, faithful Christian who has who has an easy, trouble-free life.
Jesus said in this life we would have troubles: He said be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.
Every Spirit-filled, anointed servant of the Lord goes through deep waters and fiery furnaces.
The Lord wants to wean us from all confidence in the flesh,
to help us get your eyes off people,
off books and sermons,
off well-meaning friends and associates -- and on the power of God that worketh in you.
Ephesians 3:20"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us...").
1. Webster’s dictionary speaks of encouragement: 1. To inspire with courage, spirit, or hope: hearten 2: to spur on: stimulate
Intro: Every Christian needs encouragement.
Little words that we speak can encourage someone.
1. It could just be one word or a full sentence
2. But sometimes Christians have to get into the Word and find encouragement a. Philippians 4:1: the word of God tells us to stand fast
Philippians 4:1: 1Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved
a. the Lord our Saviour is going to come and snatch us away soon
b. So the Bible tells us we should stand fast
Eph 6:10: Paul tells the church of Ephesus to “stand” after everything else is done
1. STAND when it does not go our way
2. STAND let the devil know that we are encouraged in the Lord.
1. Phil 4:1313I can do all things through Christ, which strengtheneth me.
Ps 40:1-3:I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
a. As we commit to Jesus He will lift us up
b. as we are dependant on the Spirit of God (like when we first became born again)
c. vs. 4 says Blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Sometimes in order for us to be encouraged in the Lord
a. We must put all of our trust and hope in the Lord
b. Christianity is tough when we try and walk it alone.
c. We can make a lot of unnecessary mistakes
Psalms 42:1-5: 1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, where is thy God? 4When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
a. There is a deep longing for God (42:1–5);
1. It is not a deep longing to please man
2. but to please the King of Kings
· That verb “to pant” is expresses of a spiritual thirst for God.
· A longing for presence and intimacy with God
3. We are not always on the mountaintop with the Lord
a. Sometimes we are going through some things with the Lord
b. Our confidence stays in the Lord Almighty
4. David was a man that went through things in his life
a. But he always fell back on the Lord Amen
1 Samuel 30:1-6: And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 3So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6And 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.
a., David and his men returned to Ziklag, anxious to be reunited with their wives and children.
b. Vs.3 they found their city burned to the ground, their homes destroyed, and their children and wives gone. (they lost everything)
1. Vs. 4 says then David and the people that went with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep
2. They were in deep distress
c. The Amalekites had invaded and taken captive all that was precious to David and his men.
1. This was a hard day in the life of David
2. The bible says in vs. 6 that 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.
a. there was mutiny that was arising in the camp
b. they were going to vent on David and it was not his fault
* But the Bible shows that David sought the Lord..
* And encouraged himself in the Lord
But this shows a contrast:
1. A man that was anointed king over Israel by Samuel
2. He was declared to be a man after God’s own heart, chosen and set apart to lead God’s people.
a. When Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David "the Spirit of the Lord came upon him from that day forward" (1 Samuel 16:13).
Daivd knew he was called, specially chosen, destined to the throne.
· He had a daily visitation of God’s Holy Spirit.
· he had zeal for the Lord,
· he was holy and burdened for the poor and needy.
· He lived a circumspect life that caused even his enemies to respect him.
But he must been asking God a lot of questions:
· Why Lord is my home a burning ruins and my family is missing
· Why did Saul try and kill me, when I was just working for you
· Why is he so jealous over me
· Why did I have to hide in a cave
· Sleepless nights in fear of my life
5. Now,David faces unbelievable disaster.
· David’s closest associates were blaming him for the tragedy
· He is no longer the giant killer whose praises are being sung by admiring crowds
· He is no longer the mighty man of faith and vision, looked upon with respect and love.
· Now he is in total rejection, on the verge of being stoned as a failure.
· David stands alone, stripped and confused—in total despair.
· Would appear that God is mistreating His servant
What does a child of God do:
· when discouragement sets in
· feel useless, like a complete failure,
· abandoned by God and rejected by those who once cared
· When friend and family is nowhere in sight
· Where shall he turn for encouragement?
“And David encouraged himself in the Lord...”
This is one of the most wonderful statements ever made
.
God wanted David to
· get his eyes off all his enemies,
· off all his friends—
· and on to the Lord
We must learn to stand dependent on God only
finding all he needed through personal communion and affection for the Lord.
David stood amist the ruins of his life—rejoicing in God’s faithfulness and encouraging himself in the presence of the Lord.
He came to see that all that really counts in the face of death and despair—is a personal knowledge of God.
David inquired, and God answered. “Without fail you will recover all.” There was nothing lacking—David recovered all.
From then on, David could look back and boast in the Lord, “In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthened me with strength in my soul...” (Psalm 138:3).
There will be times in our lives when:
the circumstances will not produce any joy or happiness.
when we find ourselves in dark places, like David.
What should we do?
Be discouraged?
Give up?
Say we are through?
we must encourage ourselves in the Lord.
He wants to make Himself real to us.
The Lord is our Strength
Ex 15:2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him and habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
2 Sam 22:33: God is my strength and power; and he maketh my way perfect
Ps 28:8: The Lord is their strength, and he is the saving strength of his anointed
Ps 46:1: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble
Ps 73:26: My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever
Ps 81:1: Sing aloud unto God our strength; make a joyful noise unto the god of Jacob
Ps 84:5: Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.
Ps 89:21: With whom my hand shall be established; mine arm also shall strengthen him.
