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Grace Notes Sermon Ministry:
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Dealing with Discouragement
Nehemiah 4:7-10
Here we find the first
discouraging words in this book.
And depression and discouragement will come to you if you try to accomplish
anything in life. As the people
of God were rebuilding the walls of
The curse of discouragement, the causes,
and the cure.
1. The Curse
of discouragement—it’s the devil’s #1
tool he uses to try to get you out of the game!
Out of church / give up on life.
Satan tries to discourage
people in their finances…even if you tithe!
Or your children, even tho’ you bring them up in church.
Or, thru problems in ministry at church.
Or thru physical problems.
a.
Discouragement doesn’t discriminate.
Even the best
John Wesley was also given
to discouragement. He married
poorly, the wrong woman. There
were times she would drag him around the house by the hair!
[that would only happen once at my house before I’d shave my head!]
v. 10 first 3 words…
You’re not a bad
b.
Discouragement is debilitating.
It will stop you dead in your tracks.
‘Anyone can do more than a man who has lost heart!’
ill.—back in the days of
horse-drawn wagons, a man was hauling logs.
On a hill the horses couldn’t make it, and gave up.
He unloaded half the wagon, but they still wouldn’t try…he emptied it
completely, but still they had given up!
They were utterly discouraged.
They gave up and wouldn’t try!
Some do this w/ their
marriage, children, their church!
But that’s not what God
wants. He wants us to stay in
the game, put our shoulder to the wheel, keep trying, and keep trusting!
2. The
Causes of discouragement
v. 10-11
a.
Worn out
They had been working hard,
but still things weren’t going anywhere.
They had lost their zest for the work.
v. 6 It was halfway
done. That’s where we often get
discouraged, when we’re in the thick of it.
When do you get tired of
your car? When it’s about half
paid for!
When does marriage get old?
Halfway thru. Somewhere
between ‘I do’ and ‘You’d better!’
When is school the most
boring? Beginning after lunch!
What’s the most depressing
part of winter? Half way thru!
Where are we at in this
sermon? About halfway thru!
When’s the most
discouraging time for men?
Middle age…mid-life crisis!
A guy looks at his life and
gets discouraged. His body / his
job / his goals / his wife!
It’s time to buy the sports
car, unbutton your shirt and tell the world you’ve still got it.
Halfway thru is when we get
worn out…like rowing a boat across a big lake…in the middle you are worn
out, but you realize to turn back is fruitless.
You are worn out and discouraged, and maybe the only thing that
sounds good is sitting still!
The men of
b.
Weighted down
v. 10 “much rubbish”
They were looking at the
total job, instead of just their section.
They had miles to go and had their eyes on the wrong focus.
Rocks everywhere. They
were trying to juggle too much…they let life just pile up on them.
We must:
·
Prioritize—not just what’s the
most fun, but what’s most important.
Not only what’s most urgent, but truly important.
Set aside daily time for God as a priority.
For family / for homework / for a project / and for church.
Some of our young people have just laid it out clearly, and told
their boss, I have a previous commitment on Sundays and Wednesdays.
When it comes to summer ball leagues, some of our parents just tell
the coach, we can participate any time except for Sun. and Wed. when we have
a ‘previous commitment’. That’s
God’s time. I won’t take the
Lord’s day and give it to anyone else.
Not only because that offends the Lord, but because it’s a bad
testimony to others I’ll be with who know I claim to be a
·
Plan—don’t bounce around like the
pinball in the machine, but learn to live by a schedule…be organized.
Most people don’t plan to fail, they just fail to plan, and it leads
to bigger failure!\
·
Plod—this means to just take it a
day at a time, don’t look at the whole job and the long term, but take the
vision we laid out in planning and have some focus…what do I need to do
today?! Just plod away, and keep
going. Life:
by the yard it’s hard, by the inch…what a cinch!
How do you eat an elephant?
[One bite at a time!]
c.
Wasting away
v. 11 Their enemies were
planning. And Satan has a plan,
so we might as well form a game plan, too!
The devil’s plan is to hit us when we’re down and discouraged, and we
won’t even see him coming. So
our plan must be not to abide in discouragement, but to escape it!
Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is
formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against
thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of
the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.
Notice from v. 10 it is
compounded when
James 3:4-5
Behold also the
ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet
are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor
listeth. [5] Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great
things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
What we say can be
encouraging, or very discouraging to others around us.
The same is true w/ what we do.
Your presence in services this wee
3. The Cure
for discouragement
Nehemiah gave his people
3 steps to getting
out of discouragement:
1. Nehemiah
armed the people.
v. 13 He said, we’re not gonna
take the enemies advances lying down.
He gave them swords, spears, and bows.
‘To be forewarned is to be forearmed.’
It works for
Think about it:
we already know what Satan is going to try to do.
He’s gonna attack us with discouragement.
So, we are foolish if we don’t prepare ourselves and take up arms!
Ephes. 6:10-13
Finally, my
brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. [11] Put on
the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of
the devil. [12] For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. [13] Wherefore take unto
you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand.
Then it goes on to detail
each piece of armour to put on!
Accept no substitutes.
As
2. Nehemiah
assured the people.
v. 14a
‘Your dad’s
bigger than their dad!’
If it had been written I’m
sure Nehemiah would have quoted
Romans 8:31
If God be for us,
who can be against us?
Psalm 54:4
Behold, God is mine
helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait
upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not
faint.
That’s the opposite of
discouragement!
Know why we get
discouraged? In a nutshell:
because we take our eyes off the Lord!
Are you discouraged?
I beg you, look to heaven, and see the smile of captain Jesus!
Keep your eyes on him, not on others.
Peace is not found in the
absence of trouble; it is found in the presence of God. His arms are
available to you if you’ll let Him love and encourage you through the body
called the church, the presence of His Holy Spirit, and through Bible
verses.
Psalm 18:2
The Lord is my
rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will
trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
There’s no panic in heaven,
only plans.
Romans 8:28
And we know that
all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose.
3. Nehemiah
aroused their spirits.
v. 14b ‘There’s too much at stake to be
discouraged. We cannot quit!
We’re not just building walls…we’re fighting for our families and all
we hold dear! It’s not just
brick and mortar, it’s flesh and blood!’
At GBC the glory of God is
at stake. Don’t give up on your
church / your marriage / your children / your dreams / what God has called
you to do!
There are many
discouragers…so we need you to join the ranks of the encouragers.
Be a “glass half full”
When Nehemiah saw the
potential of the wall, many people saw only problems. In verse 12, others
came to Nehemiah and warned him of the impending
I want to let go, but I
won't let go.
There are battles to fight,
By day and night,
For God and the right—And
I'll never let go.
I want to let go, but I
won't let go.
I'm sick, tis true, Worried
and blue,
And worn through and
through, But I won't let go.
I want to let go, but I
won't let go.
I will never yield!
What! Lie down on the field
And surrender my shield?
No, I'll never let go!
I want to let go, but I
won't let go.
May this be my song:
"Mid legions of wrong—Oh, God, keep me strong
That I may never let go!"
Author Unknown
Every day we remain
discouraged is a day that we’re not going anywhere for God.
Don’t let up, don’t shut up, don’t back up, and don’t give up, until
you’re ta
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