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, 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.

But the problem with this method of teaching we cannot retain all of these materials 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 two 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.

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 breakdown.

• 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 subject to discouragement.

Sometimes it is bad news that gets us discouraged.

Illus: Makes me think of a man had a checkup and then went in 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 II Cor. 1:8, Paul said, “For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself”

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!

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 in the ministry men and women wear these titles only.

Let give you an example…

Illus: When the apostle Paul was in jail for preaching the gospel, it must have been a sad moment when he had to write in 2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world…”,

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 the work of the Lord.

• And while Paul saw some success, he has been basically run out of every place he has been.

• While he has seen some success come to the Lord’s work, he still sees the masses of people rejecting the truth and that is discouraging.

Then finally…

(3) The Lonely Service of the ministry can be discouraging.

He has to do a lot of the work alone or with just one or two at his side.

You would think more would get involved and more would be excited and more would prioritize their lives but much of the time when you travel God’s path it is a lonely path and that can become discouraging.

But during these times we can all be THANFUL…