The Christian Sources For Encouragement

For example, it use to be for us to make a good grade on our report card we had to have a good memory.

For example, in homiletics in college we were assigned to take a test on:

• Memorize 10 of these

• Memorize 13 of these

• Memorize 25 of these

And if you had a good memory you made “A” in that subject.

And if you had a bad memory, you did not do so well even though you might be smarter than someone with a good memory in the class.

But the problem with this method of teaching we cannot retain all of these things we memorize after a couple of days.

Unfortunately, memorization often comes without understanding.

In this sermon instead of listing a bunch of stuff that you are going to forget in several days.

I want to show you HOW TO FIND THE SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR ENCURAGEMENT IN TIMES OF DISCOURAGEMENT.

Everybody gets discourage from time to time.

Yes, even preachers.

Illus: Years ago, a famous preacher, I want to mention his name because he has died, and I do not want to say anything bad about the dead.

But at this conference of five-thousand preachers he said, “I have never been discouraging in a day of my life.”

I did not believe then and I do not believe it now.

In fact, some of the greatest men in the Bible got discouraged.

For example…

• When Jezebel was on the trail of Elijah in the Old Testament he got so discourage, he almost had a nervous break down.

• When John the Baptist was put in prison the Lord had to send someone to cheer him up BECAUSE HE GOT DISCOURAGED.

• That great servant King David got discouraged many times as we read the psalms.

If there is one thing that we all have in common is that we are all are subject to discouragement.

Many things can get us discourage

(1) Domestic problems in the home.

(2) Money problems

(3) Relationship problems

(4) Job problems

(5) Health Problems

Sometimes it is bad news that gets us discouraged when it comes to our HEALTH.

Illus: Makes me think of a man had a physical checkup and then he went later to see his doctor to get the results.

The doctor said he had bad news and worse news for him. Which did he want to hear first?

• The man was shocked and said, “Well, give me the bad news first.

• The doctor said, “The bad news is that you only have 24 hours to live.”

• At this the man jumped up, totally distraught and said, “24 hours to live? What could possibly be worse than this?”

• The doctor replied, “The worse news is that I was supposed to tell you yesterday, but I forgot.”

Even the great apostle Paul got discouraged.

Look at 2 Corinthians 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:”

There are three things that I think contributed to Paul’s discouragement in the ministry.

(1) The Strain of the ministry can be discouraging.

For example, no pastor can do the work alone.

Illus: You ever tried to pick up something and it was too heavy for you to pick up alone. But someone came alone and helped you and they took on half the load itself and you picked it up.

This is why a church must have:

• Sunday school teachers

• Deacons

• Ushers

• Song leader

• Janitors

• Money counters

• Church Clerk

No pastor can do it ALONE! It does not matter how many DEGREES he has behind his name HE CANNOT DO IT ALONE!

In his job he assumes…

• The member of the congregation loves the Lord as much as he does.

• He assumes that the members who have joined the church love their church as much as he does.

• He assumes that the members of the congregation who hired him will support him when he preaches God’s Word.

• He assumes the members of the congregation love him as much as he loves them.

• He assumes those who love him and support him will be lifetime friends.

But when these ASSUMPTIONS do not WORK OUT, the ministry can be very DISCOURAGING.

The Strain of the ministry can be discouraging.

Another thing that can be discouraging for Paul…

(2) Secondly, The Little Success of the Work Can be discouraging.

We all like to see growth and success in ANYTHING WE DO!

• And while Paul saw some success, he has been basically run out of every TOWN he WENT TO MINISTER.