Discouragement is a personal and very pesky obstacle to service. In today’s message we will visit a Biblical hero who learned how to be delivered from discouragement.
2. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Nehemiah 4:6-9 (NLT) 6
At last the wall was
completed to half its original height around the
entire city, for the people had worked very hard.
7
But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs,
Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work
was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall
were being repaired, they became furious. 8
They
all made plans to come and fight against
Jerusalem and to bring about confusion there.
9
But we prayed to our God and guarded the city
day and night to protect ourselves.
3. Deliver Me From Discouragement
If we were to ask ten people what it means to serve the
Lord, we would achieve multiple answers, yet the sum
total of our purpose and existence is predicated on service
to the Lord. Even though being selfish and self-serving
seems appealing, these attitudes and practices never
provide life long fulfillment. To be honest, they leave us
with feelings of emptiness. Add to our discussion,
“discouragement” which seemingly attacks our attempts
to serve and with it the unwelcome weight of failure and
futility, it is like a Category 5 hurricane. Discouragement
is a personal and very pesky obstacle to service. In today’s
message we will visit a Biblical hero who learned how to be
delivered from discouragement.
4. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Discouragement: feelings of lost
motivation, confidence, or optimism;
something that makes somebody lose
motivation, confidence, or optimism
Nehemiah = Jehovah comforts
5. Deliver Me From Discouragement
The devil has a plan for your life:
• Doubt - To make you question God’s word and His
goodness
• Discouragement - To make you look at your problems
rather than at God
• Diversion - To make the wrong things seems attractive so
that you will want them more than the right things
• Defeat - To make you feel like a failure so that you don’t
even try
• Delay - To make you put off doing something so that it
never gets done
6. Deliver Me From Discouragement
2 Corinthians 4:1 (NIV) 1
Therefore, since through
God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose
heart.
2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV) 16
Therefore we do not lose
heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet
inwardly we are being renewed day by day.
Luke 18:1 (NIV) 1
Then Jesus told his disciples a
parable to show them that they should always pray
and not give up.
7. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Recognize Discouragement – Nehemiah 4:10-12
• Discouragement can cause Fatigue
• Discouragement can be Frustrating
• Discouragement can cause Failure
• Discouragement can elicit the spirit of Fear
8. Deliver Me From Discouragement
"What we do not see, what most of us
never suspect of existing, is the silent but
irresistible power which comes to the
rescue of those who fight on in the face of
discouragement.“
Napoleon Hill
9. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Responding to Discouragement
Cry out to God
Nehemiah 4:4 (NIV) Hear us, O our God, for we are
despised. Turn their insults back on their own
heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of
captivity.
Nehemiah 4:9 (NIV) But we prayed to our God and
posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.
10. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Responding to Discouragement
Continue the Work God Has Given You To Do
Nehemiah 4:6 (NIV) So we rebuilt the wall till all of it
reached half its height, for the people worked with
all their heart.
Nehemiah 6:1-4
11. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Responding to Discouragement
Concentrate on the Big Picture
Nehemiah 4:13-14 (NIV) 13
Therefore I stationed some of the
people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed
places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and
bows. 14
After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the
nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid
of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and
fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your
wives and your homes.”
12. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Responding to Discouragement
Claim the Encouragement of God’s Promises
2 Thessalonians 3:13 (NIV) And as for you, brothers,
never tire of doing what is right.
Galatians 6:9 (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing
good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if
we do not give up.
13. Deliver Me From Discouragement
Responding to Discouragement
Carry Somebody Else’s Burden
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV) 28
“Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
29
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I
am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls. 30
For my yoke is easy and my
burden is light.”
THE ANTONYM OF JOY Discouragement is dissatisfaction with the past, distaste for the present, and distrust of the future. It is ingratitude for the blessings of yesterday, indifference to the opportunities of today, and insecurity regarding strength for tomorrow. It is unawareness of the presence of beauty, unconcern for the needs of our fellowman, and unbelief in the promises of old. It is impatience with time, immaturity of thought, and impoliteness to God.
The Parable of the Persistent Widow: Luke 18:1 through Luke 18:8 (NIV) 1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ 4“For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” 6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Tell Carrots, Eggs, and Coffee story
Sanballat = sin has healed Tobiah = Jehovah is good Geshem = rain
Tell Discouraging Bible Sale Story
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will, When the road you're trudging seems all uphill, When the funds are low and the debts are high, And you want to smile but you have to sigh, When care is pressing you down a bit— Rest if you must, but don't you quit. Life is odd with its twists and turns, As everyone sometimes learns. And many a person turns about When an individual might have won had he or she stuck it out. Don't give up though the pace seems slow— You may succeed with yet another blow. Often the goal is nearer than it seems To a faint and faltering woman or man; Often the struggler has given up When he or she might have captured the victor's cup; And one learned too late when the night came down, How close he or she was to the golden crown. Success is failure turned inside out— The silver tint of the clouds of doubt, And when you never can tell how close you are, It may be near when it seems afar; So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit— It's when things seem worst, you mustn't quit.