A sermon presented by Bro. Godfrey Nwogu (Deacon) on 23th November, 2014 at The Church of Christ, Sangotedo, Lekki.

1. THE CHURCH OF CHRIST,
SANGOTEDO, LEKKI
OVERCOMING
DISCOURAGEMENT
A SERMON BY:
BRO. GODFREY NWOGU (DEACON)
11/23/2014

2. AIMS OF THE SERMON
To apply the solutions given in God’s word for overcoming
the foes of happiness and peace of mind.
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3. 1. INTRODUCTION
♣A person is discouraged if the confidence or
hope of doing something is taken away. Is the
state in which one is being down or out. Some of
the very finest Biblical characters were victims
of discouragement.
♣Everybody at one time or another becomes
discouraged, like parents, teachers, preachers,
elder etc.
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4. 1. INTRODUCTION
♣The graph of life is not a straight line. It will have
its valleys and peaks, its downs and its up, its
high and its low. The problem is getting down,
getting low, getting into valley and not getting
out. Thus depression sets in. in 2cor 2:11 we are
made to understand that we are not ignorant of
devil devices.
♣The device of the devil is to take away the
confidence or hope we have. This is done by
attacking the faith which is the victory we have
to overcome the world 1 Jon 5:4, through fear
anxiety, grief and gloom.
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5. 1. INTRODUCTION
♣God does not want us to become discouraged,
frustrated and despondent. His message is “Be
of good cheer” --- matt 14:27
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6. 2. THE CAUSES AND OCCASIONS
OF DISCOURAGEMENT
i. Illness: Paul (2 cor. 12:7; Timothy (1 Tim 5:23)
Job (2:7), there is need for patience and prayer
James 5:14,15).
ii. The Death of Loved Ones: Because of the
certainty of death, we must all experience this
loss.
The Shunamite – (2 kgs 4:20); David (2sam 12:18)
marry and Martha (John 11:14). During such losses
we must remember that God is a God of comfort 2
Cor 1:3-5, He comfort us like mother Isa 66:13.
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7. 2. THE CAUSES AND OCCASIONS
OF DISCOURAGEMENT
iii.Material Losses
Job lost 11,500 head of cattle, seven sons and
three daughters, yet, he said Job 1:21.
The loss of material prosperity will either make one
bitter or better. If, and when we most lose our
prosperity let us remember .
a. None of it was ours in the first place Hag 2:8
b. We are going to have to leave it all one day any
way 1 Tim 6:7
c. God will still provide for our material needs Heb
13:5.
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8. 2. THE CAUSES AND OCCASIONS
OF DISCOURAGEMENT
iv. A Sense of Insecurity
God has promised to provide for our every need
Phil 4:19
a. He provided for Elijah (1kgs 17:1-7)
b. The widow of Zaraphath (1kgs 17:8-16)
c. Christ (Matt 4:11)
d. Multitude (Jn 6:1-14)
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9. 2. THE CAUSES AND OCCASIONS
OF DISCOURAGEMENT
v. Friends Turning on You
Christ’s own familiar friend life up his heel against
him (Ps 41:9) and Demas forsook Paul (2Tim 4:10)
but neither gave up in despair and despondency.
Remember that, in Christ you have a friend that
sticketh closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24)
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10. 2. THE CAUSES AND OCCASIONS
OF DISCOURAGEMENT
vi. Blighted Hopes and Dreams
Your business may have failed, you may have lost
your job. Your college education may have eluded
you. You may have been studying hard to gain
admission to higher institution, but to no avail.
Consequently, discouragement, despondency and
despair set in. but have you ever considered that
you can turn disappointments into His
appointments Paul and his company assayed to go
into Bithynia, but were prevented to do so by the
spirit. Such resulted in the establishment of the
cause of Christ upon European soil (Acts 16:7-40)
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11. 2. THE CAUSES AND OCCASIONS
OF DISCOURAGEMENT
vi. Blighted Hopes and Dreams
Your business may have failed, you may have lost
your job. Your college education may have eluded
you. You may have been studying hard to gain
admission to higher institution, but to no avail.
Consequently, discouragement, despondency and
despair set in. but have you ever considered that
you can turn disappointments into His
appointments Paul and his company assayed to go
into Bithynia, but were prevented to do so by the
spirit. Such resulted in the establishment of the
cause of Christ upon European soil (Acts 16:7-40)
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12. 2. HOW CAN ONE OVERCOME
DISCOURAGEMENT
i. Remember that beneath your burdens and
causes of discouragement, there are blessings
a) Rolling a large stone away by a poor peasant
ii. You can use your burdens and causes of
discouragement as bridges
Paul (Phil 1:12; 2Cor 4:16-18)
A little ant carry a long stick
a) Paul (Phil 1:12; 2Cor 4:16-18)
b) A little ant carry a long stick
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13. 2. HOW CAN ONE OVERCOME
DISCOURAGEMENT
iii. Be Perpetually Optimistic
Two shoe salesmen went to Africa one
discouraged wired back saying, No market. No one
wears shoes the other optimistically reported,
“Market unlimited. No one has shoes over here”
the difference? Optimitism!
Let us see opportunities and not obstacles.
Remember the report or the exploration of the land
of Canaan. Number 13:32, 33
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14. 2. HOW CAN ONE OVERCOME
DISCOURAGEMENT
iv. Talk to Yourself
The woman with the issue of blood could have
said, I’ve tried hard. I’ve been deprived. Nothing
avails. There is no God. But instead of thus, talking
to herself she said. “If I may but touch his garment,
I shall be whole (matt 9:20-22). The point is this,
avoid talking to yourself discouragingly, telling
yourself that you are a failure, that nobody cares,
that you are not appreciated, that you are nobody.
Instead, tell yourself that you are not a failure, that
people do care, that you are appreciated and that
you have a vital role to play in life.
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15. 2. HOW CAN ONE OVERCOME
DISCOURAGEMENT
v. Consider how useless you are when
discouraged
We are to be encouragers of men – Heb 10:24
1thess. 5: 11-14.
VI. PRAYER
David encouraged himself in the Lord his God
1sam 30:6. Notice it was in the Lord. We must learn
to take our causes of discouragement to the Lord
in prayer (Phil 4:6,7). The psalmist, when cast
down, made his prayer into the God of his life Ps.
42:5,8.
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16. CONCLUSION
Trying times are no time to quick trying.
Quitters never win and winners never quit
Jas 5:11.
11/23/2014