. Sometimes Christians become discourages, or lose heart, because of any number of reasons. Some of these are listed below. If untreated, they can cause you to just give up and fade back into where you came from: the world.
II. Reasons for being discouraged:
A. REASON #1: Bad things are happening to you
1. Satan only goes after threats to his kingdom. So, if you are being attacked by the devil, then you are doing something right! Ever wonder why lost people seem to be prospering while you are struggling? They are on Satan’s team; you are the opponent. Remeber when Jesus was tempted by Satan. He was the ultimate threat; notice how Satan didn’t go after Peter or James.
a. 1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
b. Remember Job. He lost everything he had, even his servants and children, and he was covered with sores. In Job 2:9 his wife wanted him to give up. “Just curse God and die,” she said. He stated in Job 1:21 that “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return. Praise be the name of the Lord.” He had the choice to give up, but he didn’t. He couln’t explain why this was happening to him, but he still trusted God.
2. God will use evil for good. Take note of the story of Judah. He did some really bad things, but God used them to lead to the bringing about of his son Jesus. Genesis 38:14-27 tells the story of how Judah, a Godly man, sinned greatly. Tamar, his daughter in law, went down to join the prostitutes secretly after her husband had died. Judah went to get a prostitute and unknowingly slept with his daughter-in-law Tamar. She became pregnant, and when he found out that she became pregnant out of wedlock as a prostitute, he demanded her to be burned! She then pulled out the jewelry that he used as payment, and he was humiliated. He was caught. Tamar had twins by Judah (Perez and Zerah), and Perez went on to be the line that Jesus came from! (Matt 1:3) God used this incest, this evil, to bring about his master plan for the greatest good ever.
a. Don’t be discouraged, God can turn use the bad things happening to you for good just like he did for Judah.
b. It was over a thousand years before Judah’s evil was proven to be a good thing. Jesus didn’t come around until long, long after Judah and his kids--and even grandkids--were dead.
B. REASON #2: The future looks bleak.
1. 1 Cor 10:13 states that “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”
a. no matter how bleak the future looks, you either can handle it, or he will help you escape it.
2. God will not punish his people with the world. Before it gets too bad, you will be taken out of the world, or he will just protect you.
a. God had sent his angels to get all of his people out of Sodom before he destroyed it. Genesis 19:15,22,23,24. The angels couldn’t destroy the city until Lot and his family left. As soon as they did, God rained down fire and brimstone.
b. God gave his people (the Israelites) specific instructions on how to avoid God’s punishment that was about to be brought on the Egyptians because of Pharoh. Exodus 12:7,12,13,29,30.
1. God will not punish you with the world. If the future of the economy, nation, or your workplace looks bleak, remember that God takes care of his people. (key word: HIS people. If you are not living right, expect fire and brimstone, not mercy.)
2. Noah and his family were spared. If they had been living in sin, they would’ve died too.
c. Remember that in Rev 20:10, the devil gets what he has coming. We win in the end. Rev 21:1-7 Overcomers get to go to heaven!
C. REASON #3: Failure in your faith.
1. If you are discouraged because you have believed, and what you prayed for didn’t happen, remember: All of God’s promises are “yes” and “amen.” It is true and God is faithful, even if your experiences tell you otherwise. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, you must believe what the word says: Noah’s Ark, Moon turns to blood (no oxygen is space), etc.
a. We all fail. It is just what you do with your failure. Peter failed in Matt 26:69-75 when he denied Jesus 3 times, then went out and wept bitterly (v. 75). That is discouragement. He then he sought out the desciples (John 20:1-2) and became strong in the early chuch. He had other believers to rely on. Judas failed by turning against Christ, but when he felt remorse, he sought out unbelievers (Matt 27:3), but they couldn’t help him, and he eventually killed himself.
11. Peter’s faith failed him when he walked on the water: when he started to sink, Jesus helped him--with a slight rebuke. “O ye of little faith.” (Matt14:29-31). If you fail, he will take you by the hand too, but you must learn from it.
b. Things happen we can’t explain. You might have sin in your life, but you might not.
11. Stephen: Stephen was a young man. Acts 6:8 states that Stephen “was full of grace and power and went on doing great wonders and signs”. Later in Acts 7:59 Stephen is stoned while praying to God. Why did God allow this to happen? We don’t know. We just have to believe that God has a plan. My dad....
22. Consider Job. He was upright in the sight of God, but God allowed things to happen to him and his household ----for a reason. Even if we don’t know what it is, God always has a reason. He still stayed true to God, even when it looked like God had abandoned him.
33. We don’t always know why God does things. Samson, according to our standards, was not a very good person: he killed over 6000 men, women and children, he slept with many women--including prostitutes, lied, and disobeyed his parents, yet in his final moments he prayed for God to give him enough strength to kill 3000 men, women, and children as revenge against the Philistines for blinding him, and he got it! Why would God honor such a request? Only God knows. He does work in mysterious ways.
44. We just have to remember that God watches over his word to keep it, and is trustworthy. He loves you and wants the best for you. He will provide.
D. REASON #4: Your problems are too big.
1. “Things are just too messed up. There is no hope. I just don’t care anymore. No one understands.”
a. God can do anything and knows everything. Job 42:2. He can get you out of your problems, and answer your questions. You must seek him and his will.
11. The Bible states in Psalms 119:105 that the “word is a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path.” We should look to the holy scriptures to find out what we should do in a given situation. Proverbs 11:3 states that “The integrity of the upright will guide them.” What you have already learned from the word will guide you.
22. If you cannot find anywhere in the scriptures that fits your situation, pray for wisdom and direction. (For example--should I pay my car payment or my house payment? I can’t afford both this month.)
aa. The Israelites had a pillar of fire to guide them! (Ne 9:19)
bb. You will probably not have a pillar of fire, but instead will rely on prayer. When you pray for wisdom about what to do, you will probably have to wait.
11. Isaiah 40:31 “Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.”
22. Don’t be afraid to pray repeatedly until you get your answer. God doesn’t forget, but Jesus did repeat it. Matt26:42-45 “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners” Jesus kept repeating it---word for word until he heard an answer.
2. Don’t look at the circumstances. Mark 6:49-50 They thought they saw a ghost and were afraid. “For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.” When you see things that discourage you, listen to what Jesus told them: “Be of good cheer” & “be not afraid.” Don’t be discouraged.
E. REASON #5: “I just don’t care anymore.”
3. If you don’t care, then you have a real problem. If you have given up already because it is just too hard, then look at Jer 12:5. “If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?” It hasn’t started getting really tough yet.
aa. Nero killing christians. vs. we quit because someone hurt our feelings, said something about us, pastor made us mad, we can’t celebrate Halloween anymore, pastor said we shouldn’t play the lottery, church is too long, I don’t like the praise service, I’m just waiting for a church with a (fill in the blank) nursury, youth group, steeple, building, etc.
bb. If you can’t believe that God will provide for you and take care of your problems, then look at Rev 21:8. “But cowards who turn away from me, and unbelievers, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those who practice witchcraft, and idol worshipers, and all liars – their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”
4. “We will never get this building built; there’s just not enough of us.”
Genesis 11:1-9 The tower of Babel was being built and it would’ve reached heaven because “they all spoke the same language and worked together” ---that is, they all had the same goal and went about solving it the same way, working together. God even said that if they worked that way, then “nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible.” These were lost people. Would God not honor our purposes more, being
believers?
F. REASON #6: The Way Society Treats You
1. One reason people get discouraged, especially new Christians, is that society treats them differently.
a. You might lose your old friends. That is alright, after all, 2 Cor 6:14 states that you should not be yoked with unbelievers.
b. The world will hate you. Matt 10:22, Mark 13:13, John 15:18, Matt 24:9, Luke 21:17 all say this. Don’t be surprised. You are told in the word how to react to this persecution:
11. Romans 12:14 “Bless those who persecute you”
22. Matt 5:10-12 “Blessed are thow who are persecuted for righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom....”
33. In Acts 20:22-24 Paul shows us the perfect attitude for dealing with persecution: Bring in on! It just means you are doing something right. After all, if you are not being persecuted, Jesus must not have been talking about you in Matt 10:22 when he said that the world will hate you. He was talking to the believers---are you one?
c. Remember, you are not of this world, and you are just passing through.
III. God loves you, and gave his son for you so that you may have the everlasting life that you are now enjoying. He wants you to be victorious. He also made us many promises. These are some that you may want to cling to and confess when you are feeling discouraged:
“The Lord is our refuge and stregth, our ever present help in time of trouble.” Psalms 46:1
“The Lord is a refuge in time of trouble.” Nahum 1:7
“Come to me all you who are burdened and weary; I will give you rest.” Matt11:28
“He will never let the righteous fall.” Psalms 55:22
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29
“I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Isaiah 46:4
“Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sins.” Job11:6
“I will show you compassion” Isaiah 60:10
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18
“For through me your days will be plenty, and years will be added to your life.” Psalms 9:11
“The peace of God will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
“He will deliver the needy who cry out.” Psalms 72:12
“You will pray to him and he will hear you.” Job 22:27
“He heals up the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalms 147:3 (Discouragement!)
“He have never forsaken those who seek him.” Psalms 9:10
“I will restore your health and heal you wounds.” Jer 30:17
“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
Isaiah 53:5
“Sin shall not be your master.” Romans 6:14
“I will cleanse you from all your impurities...I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you!” Ez 36:25,26
“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your season and bless all the owrk or your hands. You will lend to many nations but, will not borrow. You will be the head but not the tail.” Deut 28:11-12
“The Lord will make you ... prosperous in the ...fruit of your womb.” Deut 30:9
“The fruit of your womb will be blessed...Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed. You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.” Deut 28: 3-6
“I will instuct you and teach you in the way that you should go. I will watch over you.” Psalms 32:8
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for the father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32
“Have no fear of sudden disaser or the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:25,26
“For I am the Lord your God who takes you by the right hand and says ‘Fear not, for I will help you.’” Isaiah 41:13
“When you pass through the waters I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not pass over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.” Is 43:2
“You will have plenty to eat....” Joel 2:26 (Thanksgiving special)
2 Corinthians 7:1 “Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
Song of Solomon 2:15 states that “it is the little foxes that spoil the vine.” The hunters would hunt foxes in Autumn when the foxes had eaten on the grapes all summer and were fat. They killed their foxes. So should we.
1. What are the little foxes in your life? Murder, rape, probably not. Lying, secret sins, probably. It is time to go fox hunting in your life. Get rid of them if you want God’s promises.
Matt 26:41 “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
I. Cleansing ourselves from the filthiness of flesh
A. Sin
1. Continual sins. We know how to get forgiveness for sins, but how do we keep from sinning? What can cause us to continually do wrong?
a. Change your daily habits. If you always do this particular sin right after work, purposely change what you do and where you go after work. If you sin everytime you watch this particular show on TV, quit watching that show.
11. Matt 5:29 “And if thy right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.”
b. Change your friends or peer group. If you sin every time you are around certain people, spend you time in other ways. After all, 2 Cor 6:14 states “Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness?”
c. Know that you are not alone. Romans 7:14 Paul states “but
what I hate, that I do.” He had a consistent problem of a certain sin too.
d. a spirit, we may need deliverance
2. Secret Sin
a. If you have a secret sin, you will be cut off from God until you repent.
11. repenting is actually being sorry and changing your ways---not just being sorry you were caught. See President Clinton and “The Love Gov”
22. The Bible states that you should “Pray without ceasing,” and this is impossible if you have a secret sin.
33. Your secret sin can affect others--not just yourself. Jeremiah ?? God promised them protection, but they had secret sin, and it cut them off from the promises of God.
a. Psalms 90:8 states that “no sin is hidden from God.”
b. Hebrews 4:13 states that “all things are naked unto God.”
B. What does your flesh want you to do?
