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What causes discouragement?
How to prevent it
How to overcome it
Thesis: Overcoming discouragement is a battle we all fight at times and when we do what we’re supposed to do we will be victorious.
Causes of Discouragement
1. Proverbs 13:12a
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,…
2. Disobedience = Discouragement
Sometimes discouragement comes when we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing. Some people create a false reality to appease their disobedience. This makes it very difficult to overcome because the false reality masks the true problem, even defending the disobedience.
Disobedience can come in the form of doing more than God asked you to do or less. You are responsible for being faithful and obedient to what God has told you. Nothing more, nothing less.
You have to obey the written word of God for the believer but in the specific activities of our lives you must hear the spoken voice of God for yourself. Trust the Lord to direct your life perfectly.
I believe ultimate joy and fulfillment is found in extending God’s kingdom.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Galatians 6:7-10
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
3. Discouragement from the Flesh.
When we sow to the flesh we can reap discouragement. We must not give up because the harvest God has for you may be on it’s way. Be encouraged!
2 Thessalonians 3:11-13
11 We hear that some among you are idle and disruptive. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12 Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the food they eat. 13 And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.
4. Discouragement from Others.
People can tire of doing good because they are around people who are idle, disruptive, and busybodies. When we’re around people who are like this, we can get discouraged.
Preventing Discouragement
1. Keep Your Eyes on the Prize!
Philippians 3:13,14
13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 2. Trust that God loves you and wants to bless you.
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Overcoming Discouragement
Proverbs 13:12b
…but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Sometimes all we need to overcome discouragement is patience. The answer is on it’s way we just need to wait for it.
Daniel 10:12-14
12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
Hope against hope
Romans 4:18
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
What has God told you to do? If He told you to do it, He is somewhat responsible for the results. You are responsible to be obedient and faithful to do the task He’s given you. Once you do this you can rest! Do what you can and leave the results up to God.
Hebrews 4:9-11
9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
Consider Joseph
Joseph means, “may he add”. Rachel was a woman of faith believing for another son even as Joseph was conceived.
Joseph has a great dream where his brothers and parents subordinate themselves to him. His brothers conspire to kill Joseph then sell him to Ishmaelite traders.
He becomes a slave in Potiphar’s house and is falsely accused of sexual assault and convicted to the kings prison. He get’s promoted to being the head guard of the prison.
Joseph correctly interprets the dream of the cup bearer and the baker.
Pharoah puts everything in the land of Egypt under Josephs control except the actual throne.
How did Joseph maintain himself through all these challenges? The Lord was with him but in addition to that, Joseph had an awareness that the Lord was with him and inside of him. Joseph held on to the dream the Lord had given him. He would one day be a ruler over his family.
What about us? Do we know the Lord is with us? If we don’t, why don’t we? Maybe we’re using the wrong criteria to measure His presence.
How about the dreams God has given you. Are you living the dream? Are you working toward the dream? Have you given up on the dream?
My dream is to win souls and make disciples and when I’m not doing this I get discouraged. When the Lord uses me in this way I get encouraged.
Let's dream, get a goal, and work towards it!
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Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501
(870) 793-9124