DISCOURAGEMENT

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DISCOURAGEMENT

• 1 Kings 199-18

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INTRODUCTION

• Discouragement is a universal problem
• No one is exempt from the dark shadow it casts
  over us.
• The person who is never discouraged is not
  looking at life realistically.
• Great men of God became discouraged
• In the Old Testament we think of David, Job,
  Elijah, and Jeremiah.
• Discouragement can take on many forms and has
  many causes.

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THE DEVILS TOOL SALE

• There's an old fable that says the Devil once
  held a sale and offered all the tools of his
  trade to anyone who would pay their price. They
  were spread out on the table and each one
  labeled. Hatred, malice, envy, despair, sickness,
  sensuality -- all the weapons that everyone knows
  so well. But off to one side lay a harmless
  looking wood-shaped instrument marked
  discouragement." It was old and worn looking but
  it was priced far above all the rest. When asked
  the reason why, the Devil replied, "Because I can
  use this one so much more easily than the others.
  No one knows that it belongs to me, so with it I
  can open doors that are tightly bolted against
  the others. Once I get inside I can use any tool
  that suits me best." (From Bible Illustrator)

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WHAT CAN CAUSE DISCOURAGEMENT?

• Family problems are often the source of
  discouragement. (Proverbs 3110 Psalm 1273-5)
• Moral and spiritual failures cause us to be
  discouraged. (Galatians 61, 1 Peter 31
• Faithfulness is no guarantee that we will not be
  discouraged at times. (Jeremiah 92)

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TEACHING OTHERS CAN BE DISCOURAGING

• Some never get involved in teaching others in any
  capacity. (2 Corinthians 1127 Acts 2024)
• Notice a few things that can discourage us.
• Dull minds (John 733-36 838-43 Hebrews
  511-14)
• Closed minds (Matthew 1222-24 1315)
• Opposition to the truth (John 1147-50 1912)
• Bad spiritual environment (Romans 118-32 21)
• Drop in interest (John 666-68)

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HOW SHOULD WE DEAL WITH DISCOURAGEMENT?

• As always, Jesus is our best example.
• He did not give up when facing discouragement.
  (John 1930)
• He took a wider view of things. (John 435
  Romans 828)
• He prayed often and fervently. (Matthew 1423
  Luke 516 612 1 Thessalonians 517)

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HOW SHOULD WE DEAL WITH DISCOURAGEMENT?

• We must beware of false solutions.
• We must not be like Elijah and try to run away.
  (1 Kings 191-7)
• We must not become cynical. (Philippians 413)
• We must not blame God and quit serving Him.
  (Psalm 5516-23)
• Above all, we must not quit believing in the
  power of the gospel. (Romans 116 John 626)

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CONCLUSION

• IN THE MIDST OF DISCOURAGEMENTS JESUS KEPT GOING
  ON
• WE MUST NOT GROW WEARY IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT