The Wet Blanket Of Discouragement

BEWARE OF THE WET BLANKET... OF DISCOURAGEMENT

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com Part #1

I. I AM NOT HAPPY HERE?

A. HAYDEN PLANETARIUM ran several advertisement in different news paper.

The ad invited people to submit applications for those that would like to be the first

to journey to another planet.

Immediately there were 18,000 applications.

The applications were given to a panel of PSYCHOLOGIST to study.

The vast majority of the 18,000 applications replied THEY DESIRED TO START A NEW LIFE

ON ANOTHER PLANET BECAUSE THEY WERE SO DISCOURAGED WITH LIFE ON EARTH.

B. if you are not happy here, what makes you think you will be happy there?

C. The man on his 5th marriage says: I HAVE FINALLY FOUND A GOOD WOMAN.

Later that year he was looking for #6.

II. DO I GIVE LIGHT?

WHAT KIND OF CHURCH WOULD MY CHURCH BE IF ALL THE MEMBERS WERE

JUST LIKE ME?

A. They tell a story of a man that was told: "CHEER UP, THINGS COULD BE WORSE."

He said: "I CHEERED UP AND THINGS GOT WORSE!

B. NEGATIVE MINDS SEEM TO FIND DIFFICULTY IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES

THEIR WAY.

Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be

hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men,

that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

C. A positive attitude and mind set will define THIS DIFFICULTY has great opportunity

hidden here for me.

III. THERE IS A BATTLE --- THE BATTLE OF THE WET BLANKET... IT IS REAL BATTLE.

A. The fire at the campsite seemed to be out of control and several just stood and watched.

One man grabbed a blanket and ran to the river. He held the blanket by the corner and

threw it into the river's edge. He let the blanket soak up water, then he pulled the wet

blanket out of the water and ran up to the fire.

The WET BLANKET EASILY SMOTHERED THE FIRE...

B. WET BLANKET: grinch, kill joy, one that quenches or dampens pleasure/enthusiasm

A person who makes it difficult for other people to enjoy themselves by

complaining and showing no respect or enthusiasm.

C. The wet blanket becomes a symbol of QUENCHING, DAMPENING ZEAL.

ELISHA, the preacher cries long and hard, because he sees what is coming ahead...

2 Kings 8:15 And it came to pass on the morrow, that he took a thick cloth, and dipped it in

water, and spread it on his face, so that he died: and Hazael reigned in his stead.

IV. WE TEND TO GET DISCOURAGED AND HIDE IN A CAVE ---

WHEN WE ALLOW THE ATTITUDE: ME, MYSELF, & I... I AM THE ONLY ONE GOING THROUGH

THIS...

1 Kings 19:9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of

the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of

Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with

the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

A. DISCOURAGE:

To hinder by disfavor, to dissuade from doing, to deprive of courage and confidence, to

dishearten, TO MAKE LESS DETERMINED, to be less confident, less hope, to make less likely

for something to happen, to make people not want to do something

B. 1 KINGS 19: 18 God tells the Preacher, ELIJAH WHILE YOU ARE HAVING YOUR PITY PATY,

I WANT YOU TO KNOW SOMETHING --- I HAVE OVER 7,000 PEOPLE IN ONE CITY THAT HAS

NEVER BOWED TO BAAL, NOR EVER KISSED AN IDOL.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful,

who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way

to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

V. DISCOURAGEMNET GROWS WHEN WE DEVELOP A: DO I HAVE TO ATTITUDE...???

THE HAVE TO ATTITUDE WILL ALWAYS FLOW TO DEPRESSION...

A. ALL THESE HAVE TO STUFF MAKES THIS RELIGION HARD...

How many laws do we have to pass to enforce DOING RIGHT?

Luke 10:25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what

shall I do to inherit eternal life?

B. We tend to want to fuss and argue and depression & discouragement smothers us like