Overcoming Discouragement Dr. Kenneth Jones SERIES: Diss Dis-es
Purpose To provide for a study of those Dis-es that hinder Christians and their leaders in pursuing God s purpose, achieving spiritual maturity, and enjoying kingdom living Discontent Discouragement Distraction Disappointment
Scripture Psalms 112:7 - He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD. Heart is fixed - to be established, be stable, be secure, be enduring; to be directed aright, be fixed aright, be steadfast The believer should be steadfast and stable, even in the midst of troubling times Doesn t mean that there wouldn t be trials, but we are required to stay steadfast in the midst of them for our trust is in the Lord
Heart Problem Christianity is a Heart Issue (Proverbs 18:14) When Satan attacks our resources, our health, our relationships he is really attacking the heart or the spirit of man The heart represents the inner man the part that connects with God Satan wants you disheartened to lose heart; faint; grow dim Proverbs 15:13 - A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.
Spiritual Attack To Dishearten Believers That is why the term, Spiritual attacks. Satan and his invisible evil horde seeks to attack the Christian in such a way to dishearten the believer, causing one to lose faith, connection, joy, strength, and purpose. Thanks be to God who provides protection, power, and presence through the completed work of Jesus Christ and the power of His Spirit
Scripture Ezekiel 13:22 - Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: We can become disheartened by looking at this world s system and how false teachers harden men in sin, by giving them hopes of eternal life, though they continue in their evil ways
God s Judgment For Those Who Breaks The Read Psalms 109: Heart of His People Psalms 69:20: Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. We need one another; We need to be encouraged and exhorted Thanks God for the Comforter, but we are called to comfort others
Making the Righteous Sad Ezekiel Admonishes the False Prophets as we see today by making the righteous sad By teaching such doctrines as depreciate the love and grace of God the Father; Making one s love dependent on the creature; God s covenant conditional, and salvation to be by works, and not by grace (Religion and tradition) Denying God s deity and divine sonship through Christ; making light of his blood, and setting up man's righteousness against the work of Christ: and such as are injurious to the Spirit's work; Ascribing regeneration and conversion to man's free will and not the Will of the Father
Diss our Dis-es The prefix, dis comes from the Latin prefix meaning apart, asunder, away, utterly, or having a privative, negative, or reversing force The word, diss means to confront and speak to someone rudely. Discouragement is not your friend. We need to speak to those things that hinder us and put them in their place which is out of our lives.
Discouragement One of the greatest obstacle that Christians (especially leaders) face Discouragement is the act of being apart from experiencing and exercising courage and confidence in oneself, others, and God Hebrew Associated with dismayed - to be shattered, be dismayed, be scared to be short, be impatient, be vexed, be grieved (Numbers 21:4) A loss of courage when facing the trials/circumstances of life
Don t Be Discouraged: God Is With You Joshua 1:9 - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. (KJV) Joshua 1:9 - I command you be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (NLV) John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Troubled - to render anxious or distressed
Question Why Am I So Discouraged? How Do I Allow Myself to Become Discouraged? Have you ever asked yourself that question?
Causes of Discouragement People and Circumstances can discourage you Deuteronomy 1:28: Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there. Colossians 3:21: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. Greek word, athymeō which to be disheartened, dispirited, broken in spirit
Watch Your Words It reads in scripture that Words has a lot to do with discouragement What you say to others can either build them up or tear them down What you say to and about yourself can do the same
Art of Correction Because of the flow of information within the body of Christ, we have become more skilled in the Art of Correction than with Encouragement. Remember the Easiest Thing to Find is FAULT
Causes of Discouragement We focus on our problems rather than on God s power Matthew 19:26 says, Jesus looked at them and said, With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Genesis 18:14 asks, Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son. Jeremiah 32:17 - Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: We serve a God who can do the Impossible Yet we still become discouraged
Causes of Discouragement Deuteronomy 21:4-5 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. The children of Israel were discouraged over the way the Lord was leading them. They felt the way was too hard. Our Christian walk will have its challenges, trials, tribulations and stresses, but we are not to become dismayed or discouraged.
Soul Discouragement The people became discouraged in their soul. Soul - seat of emotions and passions; activity of the will Since man is a total being (nepesh- spirit, soul, body), what affects him mentally, emotionally, and even physically can weigh him down spiritually Example: Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Sometimes because of circumstances, even a melancholy spirit, we become disheartened and discouraged in our spirit
Causes of Discouragement Review of our circumstances and fate outside or apart from faith or the Word of God From the words/actions or lack of words/actions from others (especially significant others) Cares of the World Discouragement comes with a preoccupation of Cares Martha was encumbered by much serving Sometimes, when we busy ourselves with activity we tend to be discouraged as we observe others like Mary who sat at Jesus feet
People Who are Discouraged Are: Disheartened by obstacles, failure, or criticism from others Distressed and fearful, lacking courage and confidence to do necessary things Disillusioned, losing hope for the future Disinterested, apathetic, lacking initiative Doubtful about the value of certain actions Down on Oneself, with a poor sense of worth
God is Aware of Your Discouragement: Let Him Lead You Out Exodus 13:17 - And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: God led the children of Israel by another route because he didn t want them to become discouraged, lose heart, repent and want to return from whence they came. Deuteronomy 31:8: And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Satanic Attack Discouragement can result from different scenarios, but Satan is the instigator. He will do anything he can to dishearten us and keep our focus on negative things instead of on God. The Devil loves to break our fellowship with God. He breaks it by the sin of discouragement (Romans 14:23)
Overcoming Remember the Promise and the Promises of God 1 st Sam 30: David Encouraged himself in the Lord Pray/Cast your cares upon the Lord 1 st Peter 5:8 Realize and trust that God is in control John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (We overcome because Jesus overcame) Luke 22:32 - But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Overcoming Discouragement Pray Psalms 119:147 - I anticipated the dawning of the morning and cried [in childlike prayer]; I hoped in Your word. (Amplified) Resist Satan's efforts to discourage you more James 4:7 Live a life of Praise - Psalms 57:7 - My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Encourage Yourself Daily in the Lord 1 st Samuel 30:6: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
Overcoming Discouragement Read the Word of God Psalm 119:49,50 ; Remember the Word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy Word hath quickened me. Get into the Word of God because it can revive your spirit and give you hope if you believe Take a hold of these Scriptures, letting them be your comfort in your affliction and the Word will quicken you
Overcoming Through Praise A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. 1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. 9 O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. 10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Encouragement Through Praise Psalms 43:5 - Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. The help of my countenance: The psalmist knew his countenance needed help - and God was just the one to bring it. The peace and joy that comes from trusting and praising God will help our face and build us up. Matthew 11:28 - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. (Where do you go or who do you go to when you are discouraged?)
The Problem Is The Lord is saying Come but many times we just Go 'Come'; he drives none away; he calls them to himself. Jesus favorite word is 'Come.' To Jesus himself we must come, by a personal trust and faith in him Unfortunately, when many become discouraged they go to other places and the wrong people for recovery
Ministering to the Discouraged Determine the Root Cause Spiritual Attack Feelings of Despondency; Generational Sins, Sin in One s life Actual Events Transition (i.e. retirement, failed marriage, church breakup; etc. Interpretation of those Events- How one may interpret what is having in their lives Irrational Thoughts Needs to be Cast Down (2 Corinthians 10:4,5) Sickness or Discomfort Not Feeling or Sensing Relief Environmental You may not like your current social or financial status concerned about will it improve or change
Ministering to the Discouraged Encourage them through sharing the Word Proverbs 12:25 - Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, But a good word makes it glad. Research the Scriptures regarding the Root Cause and have them read Give Comfort - Ensure they know what God says about them, their situation and His plan and desire for them to walk in joy and victory 1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage (admonish, exhort) one another and edify (strengthen and build up) one another, just as you are doing.
Ministering to the Discouraged Pray for Deliverance 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Discouragement can become a stronghold in a believer s life and must be broken through prayer, encouragement, and the deliverance
Prayer Lord, I repent, renounce, dismiss and disband from my heart every thought, image or picture of discouragement, in the name of Jesus. I reject every spirit of doubt, fear and discouragement that comes from satan and his invisible evil kingdom and I cast every anxiety, every care, and feelings of discouragement upon you because I know you care for me. Lord, my heart is fixed and I will trust in you. I do not have to be dismayed for thou are with me. I receive the Comfort of your Spirit and I trust in the Lord who always causes me to triumph in every situation.
Prayer I refuse to entertain thoughts and imaginations that will weary my soul and discourage my heart. I believe your Word Heavenly Father and trust that You will deliver and strengthen me according to thy Word. I Encourage myself in you this day and seek your face on how I may overcome the anxieties, situations, environment, moods, sickness, sin, and despair that I am experiencing and feeling. Thank you heavenly Father for delivering me and I accept my deliverance in Jesus Name - Amen
Conclusion Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.