The Age Of Discouragement

He was asked why he refused to auction off the tool of discouragement. His answer we are told was simple. He said, “With this one tool I can accomplish everything I want to accomplish.”

This is the most powerful weapon that Satan has, and he is a master at knowing how to use it skillfully!

• Elijah got so discouraged that he thought of death as a better alternative to life

• We are told that President Abraham Lincoln had severe problems with discouragement. Of course, being married to Mrs. Lincoln was no plus in his life.

• Martin Luther, the reformer, had severe problems with discouragement. We are told that he got so discouraged one time that his wife dressed up in black. He asked her where was she going and she told him she was going to a funeral. He said, “Who died?” She said, “God died!” He said, “God isn’t dead!” She said, “The way you have been acting I thought perhaps He had died!”

Some of the greatest men and women who ever lived have had to battle discouragement. According to the American Psychiatric Association, it is a problem with:

• One of every ten men

• One of every four women

The devil knows that discouragement is a powerful weapon. He is busy using it:

• TO DESTROY MARRIAGES

We are told that over half the people in this country are headed for the divorce courts, simply because they have become discouraged and do not know how to deal with the problems.

• TO DESTROY CHURCHES

Some of the people in church are losing this battle with discouragement. Others are jumping from church to church like some do in their marriages, trying to find the perfect church to satisfy them.

• TO DESTROY THE YOUTH OF THIS NATION

Suicide is a major problem among teenagers these days. The number one tool that Satan is using today seems to be the tool of discouragement.

When Elijah was here on earth, he was probably one of the greatest servants of the Lord. But notice WHEN Satan tried to stop this servant of God. It was, as some would say, WHEN HE WAS ON A ROLL!

When we are on a roll, it can be a very dangerous time in our life. Why? Because no matter how good things might be going today, not too far down the road bad times will be coming. For example:

• A BUSINESS might be booming, and it would be great if it continued to do well, but in the business world, all good things come to an end eventually.

• A CHURCH might be booming today, and it would be great if it continued to boom, but you can rest assured that bad times will eventually come.

• A person might enjoy GOOD HEALTH today, and it would be great if that good health would continue, but you can rest assured that bad health will eventually be coming.

Just because things are going great now does not mean they will always be that way!

WHY DID LIFE TURN SOUR ON THIS GREAT MAN OF GOD? Satan knew he had to stop this man, and the best way to do this was to use his weapon of DISCOURAGEMENT.

Notice when he used this weapon against Elijah. It was …

I. WHEN HE TOOK A STAND FOR GOD

Look at 1 Kings 18:21-42, we read that Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest. The God that answered by fire would be declared to be the true and living God. He allowed them to go first, but when it came his turn, God sent the fire down and consumed the sacrifice before their eyes.

Notice, Elijah’s severe problems came when he took a stand for God. It never fails. You can go along with the ungodly and they will:

• Believe your lies

• Laugh at your jokes

• Smile to your face and pat you on the back

But when you take a stand for godliness, they will rise up against you every time.

Many who have taken a stand for the Lord were shocked when the devil jumped on them with both feet and tried to destroy them. But why should this surprise us? Why is it that we think we can take a stand for the Lord and the devil is not going to do everything he can do to try and stop us?

He is not worried about people sitting in the pews who are not taking a godly stand. The people he is concerned about are those:

• That are faithful unto the Lord. Every time the church doors are open they are there.

• That have a good testimony. People know they are not playing church, they are serious about serving the Lord.