The Power Of Discouragement Series

SERIES: DAVID - A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART:

Part 9: The Power Of Discouragement

1 Samuel 27:1 And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines; and Saul shall despair of me, to seek me any more in any coast of Israel: so shall I escape out of his hand. 2 And David arose, and he passed over with the six hundred men that were with him unto Achish, the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife. 4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him. 5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee? 6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day. 7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

INTRO: David - A Man After God's Own Heart Pt. 9 The Power Of Discouragement

Illustration: Once upon a time the devil decided to have a garage sale. He did it because he wanted to clear out some of his old tools to make room for new ones. After he set up his items, a man dropped by to see what he had. Arranged on a long table were all the tricks of his hellish trade. Each tool had a price tag. In one corner was a shiny tool labeled “Anger - $250,” next to it a curved tool labeled “Sloth - $380. “Criticism - $500”. “Jealousy - $630.” Out of the corner of his eye, the man spotted a beaten-up tool with a price tag of $12,000. Curious, the man asked the devil why he would offer a worn-out piece of junk for such an exorbitant price. The devil said it was expensive because he used it so much. “What is it?” the man asked. The answer came back, “It is discouragement. It always works when nothing else will.”

There Is A Plague Sweeping Churches, Individuals, Governments & Nations Today? It’s not Ebola, Zika Virus, West Nile Virus, cancer, or even the flu. It’s called the Epidemic of Discouragement. This outbreak is universal, deadly as the most dreaded disease known to man. Being discouraged once does not give you an immunity to the disease. You can be discouraged over and over again. Discouragement is highly contagious and spreads by casual contact. People can become disheartened because you are discouraged. Believe it or not – elections are run on the heels of profiting on the discouragement of people. This coming election earns a high mark in that area. How Many Of You Have Ever Been Discouraged? Welcome to the camp. As long as you are alive, you will get discouraged – at times. Bible characters: Jesus: Mk 9:2-29 Epileptic, who will be great, Job, Abraham, Moses, Jacob, Joshua(7), Samuel, Elijah, Jeremiah, Mary, David, etc.

TWO MAIN CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT – NEHEMIAH’S CASE SCENARIO

1. External Causes Of Discouragement: Set of problems comes at us from the outside. Look at the story of Nehemiah and builder of the walls of Jerusalem. The wall workers began the work with great anticipation and joy. It says of them in Nehemiah 4:6 that the “people worked with all their heart.” Things were going well. Then where God is at work, the enemy is also at work. Satan stirs up agitators to block the work of God. These enemies used 3 types of external forces. 1. Ridicule. Nehemiah 4:1-2: “When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews…” Ridicule is the “language of the devil.” Those who can stand bravely when shot at will collapse when they are laughed at. The enemy often insults the servants of God. Goliath ridiculed David. The soldiers mocked Jesus during his trial and the crowd taunted Him while He was on the cross. They called the workers “feeble” - meaning “withered and miserable.” Next they ridiculed the job they were doing by asking 4 taunting questions: “Will they restore their wall?” “Will they offer sacrifices?” “Will they finish in a day?” “Can they bring these stones back to life?” “What they are building ¬ if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!” 2. Repression: (V. 7-8). They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 3. Lies: They falsely accused them of trying to overthrow the king.