C. BOSTIAN HOW TO OVERCOME 4/11/06
DISCOURAGEMENT PT.2:
Neh. 2:2-3 (MsgB)
So he asked me, "Why the long face? You're not sick are you? Or are you discouraged?" That made me all the more agitated. [3] I said, "Long live the king! And why shouldn't I be discouraged when the city, the city where all my family is buried, is in ruins and the city gates have been reduced to cinders?"
when you are attacked with discouragement it is enevitabbly tied in to one of these 4 causes: fatigue, frustration, failure OR fear. so do a little checklist in your life and see what’s causing the problem and once you do we have an antedote in the same passage of scripture.
[S]now here’s god’s answer for discouragement:
when discouragement is caused by fatigue: (how simple this is,) rest your body!
[S]Psalm 127:2 (KJV)
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
Psalm 127:2 (MsgB)
It's useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don't you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?
[S] Prov 3:24-26
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror, nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes; 26 For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.
THE FIRST THING NEH. DID WAS TO GIVE THE PEOPLE SOME REST. HE ACTUALLY DECLARED SOME HOLIDAYS FOR THE WORKERS. I’VE HEARD BUSINESS LEADERS BRAG ON NEVER TAKING A VACATION AND I WANT TO SAY YOU’RE A FOOL. YOU ARE VIOLATING SCRIPTURES THAT ARE GIVEN TO US IN THE BIBLE AND YOU’RE HEADED STRAIGHT FOR BURNOUT. DR. ROY WILLIAMS WRITES: WE HAVE TOO MANY CHOICES IN AMERICA TODAY AND TOO LITTLE TIME. OVER-CHOICE NOT ONLY KEEPS AMERICANS AVERAGE IT MAKES US TIRED. WE DELUDE OURSELVES INTO THINKING WE CAN MAKE TIME FOR EVERYTHING. WE WILL QUIT FEELING TIRED WHEN WE SAY NO TO OVER-CHOICES AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT WE CAN’T DO EVERYTHING BY OURSELVES AND LEARN TO SAY NO.
Isaiah 55:2 (KJV)
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which doesn’t matter? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?
YOU DON’T HAVE UNLIMTED TIME AND YOU DON’T HAVE UNLIMITED RESOURCES. GOD MADE YOU WITH ENOUGH RESOURCE TO DO HIS WILL FOR YOUR LIFE. ITS POSSIBLE TO SPEND YOUR TIME AND MONEY ON NONPRODUCTIVE THINGS THAT ARE IN ADDITION TO YOUR PURPOSE AND COME UP SHORT AND BURN OUT. THAT MEANS THAT I WILL HAVE THE NECESARRY VISON TO SEE WHAT IS IMPORTANT AND WHAT IS NOT IN THE PURSUIT OF MY GOALS IN LIFE. OTHERWISE WE WILL JUST BE AVERAGE IN AMERICA BECAUSE OF OVER-CHOICES AND WE THINK WE CAN CHOOSE EVERYTHING AND DO EVERYTHING AND WE CANNOT!
IN PHILLIPIANS 3 PAUL SAID. ‘THIS ONE THING I DO.’ HE DIDN’T HAVE A LOT OF THINGS, HE JUST HAD ONE MAJOR THING HE DID TO KEEP HIM FOCUSSED AND ON TRACT WITH THE STRENGTH AND ENERGY TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT AND FINISH WELL. VISION GIVES YOU THE ABILITY TO JUST SAY NO TO THINGS THAT WILL DRAIN YOUR RESOURCES AND TIME AND ARE NOT WHAT YOU WERE DESIGNED AND CREATED TO DO SO THAT YOU CAN FINISH WHAT YOU START. SO THE FIRST STEP TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT IS TO REST YOUR BODY.
Psa.127:2 (LVG)
God wants his loved ones to get their proper rest. Its vain for you to rise up early and stay up late.
ARE THERE ANY PEOPLE IN HERE THAT THEIR JOB REQUIRES THEM TO WORK FROM EARLY IN THE MORNING TO LATE AT NIGHT EVERY DAY? NOW THERE MANY BE OCCASSIONS WHEN YOU NEED TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT FOR A FINAL EXAIM, OR FOR CLOSING A BIG BUSINESS DEAL BUT IT SHOULDN’T BE A PATTERN OR YOU WILL BURN OUT. GOD DESIGNED YOU BODY FOR THE NEED TO GET REST IF YOU WANT TO BE PRODUCTIVE THE NEXT DAY.
Psalm 119:73 (MsgB)
With your very own hands you formed me;
now breathe your wisdom over me so I can obey your law.
We got to get some sleep. We’ve got to eat right and exercise your body AND THEN REST. WHAT WE NEED IS BALANCE. SO GOD WRITES SOME COMMANDS THAT WILL ENHANCE OUR LIVES AND GIVE US THE STRENGTH NECESSARY TO OVERCOME ANY HARDSHIP AND FINISH WELL. SO HE SAYS, SIX DAYS YOU SHALL WORK AND ON THE 7TH YOU SHOULD REST. NOW THAT’S NOT A RELIGIOUS THING WE MUST DO TO BE A CHRISTIAN. ITS SOMETHING THAT’S DESIGNED FOR YOU BY GOD TO BE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR HEALTH AND WELL BEING. IF THERE IS ANY JOB THAT CAUSES YOU TO BE OVER CHALLENGED THERE IS NOTHING LIKE A GOOD 8 HOURS OF SLEEP THAT WILL RADICALLY INVIGORATE YOUR LIFE.
2. THE SECOND WAY TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT CAUSED BY FRUSTRATION AND DISSAPPOINTMENT IS TO REORGANIZE YOUR LIFE. THIS HAS TO BE DONE PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. WHEN NEH. SAW THE PEOPLE WERE GETTING DISCOURAGED AND READY TO QUIT HE SAID IN VERSE:
Neh.4:13
[13] So I stationed armed guards at the most vulnerable places of the wall and assigned people by families with their swords, lances, and bows.
WITH THE THREAT OF THE ENEMY ATTACKING AND THE WORK BEING DELAYED OR STOPPED ALTOGETHER HE REORGANIZED AND SAID WE’VE GOT TO HAVE A NEW STRADGEY FOR SUCCESS. SO ITS POSSIBLE THAT YOU COULD BE DOING A RIGHT THING LIKE BUILDING THE WALL BUT IN A WRONG WAY. THE TENDENCY WHEN WE ALL GET DISCOURAGED IS TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE, ‘MAYBE GOD DOESN’T WANT ME TO DO THIS AFTER ALL. MAYBE I’M DOING THE WORNG THING. BUT MAYBE YOU’RE DOING THE RIGHT THING IN A WRONG WAY AND YOU JUST NEED TO REORGANIZE AND CHANGE YOUR METHODOLOGY. IF YOU’RE GOING INTO DEBT REORGANIZE YOUR BUDGET. IF YOU’RE OVERCOMMITTED THEN REORGANIZE YOUR TIME SCHEDULE. IF YOU’RE OUT OF SHAPE THEN YOU NEED TO REORGANIZE YOUR LIFESTYLE AND EATING PATTERNS. DIFFICULTY CAME, PLANS BEGAN TO FAIL, FRUSTRATION AND DISSAPPOINTMENT SET IN AND IT WAS TO REORGANIZE BEFORE DISCOURAGEMENT SET IN AND CANCELLED THE WHOLE PROJECT. MAKE SURE YOU SET SOME PRIORITIES AND SET SOME TIME APART FOR SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH GOD AND YOUR FAMILY. DON’T CUT GOD OUT OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE YOU’RE OVER COMMITTED.
AS YOU GROW OLDER IN LIFE YOU CAN’T DO THE THINGS YOU COULD DO WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER. SO PART OF GROWING IS TO REORGANIZE AND BECOME MORE EFFICIENT AT WHAT YOU CAN DO WITHOUT BEING OVER COMMITTED AND TIRED ALL THE TIME AND HAVE TO SETTLE FOR MEDIOCRITY. SO WE HAVE TO SET SOME PRIORITIES AND SAY NO TO SOME THINGS AND REORGANIZE AND SEPARATE THE GOOD THINGS FROM THE NECESSARY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND STAY HEALTHY, HAPPY AND WELL. DIFFERENT SEASONS IN YOUR LIFE REQUIRE YOU TO REPACK YOU BAGS. SOMETIME WE HAVE TO UNPACK SPIRITUALLY AND DETERMINE WHAT WE DON’T NEED. THAT’S CALLED REORGANIZING AND ELIMINATING THINGS THAT DRAG US DOWN IN LIFE.
HIGH PERFORMANCE PEOPLE IN ALL STUDIES DONE HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON AND THAT IS STRONG RELATIONSHIP, LOVE AND SUPPORT GROUPS. WHEN NEH. REORGANIZED THEM HE SET THEM IN FAMILIES. WE NEED EACH OTHER, THAT’S WHY WE NEED CHURCH TO ENCOURAGE AND DEFEND ON ANOTHER AND FIGHT OUR SPITITUAL BATTLE TOGETHER. THE BIBLE SAYS: BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS AND THUS FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST. THE PHRASE ONE ANOTHER IS USED OVER 50 TIMES IN THE N.T. WE CONCLUDE FROM THAT INFORMATION THAT WE NEED ONE ANOTHER. GOD SAID ITS NOT GOOD THAT MAN SHOULD BE ALONE SO HE MADE ADAM A HELPMATE. SO ITS NOT GOOD TO BE ALONE OR ISOLATED WHEN YOU BECOME DISCOURAGED. WHAT YOU NEED MOST IS SOME BALCONEY PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. WE LEARNED LAST WEEK THAT ONE OF THE PRINCIPLES OF SUCCESS IS BURING STRONG RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE YOU CAN’T BECOME SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT THE HELP OF OTHER PEOPLE.
3. IF YOU WANT TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT THEN REORGANIZE YOUR LIFE, GET THE NECESSARY REST YOU NEED AND REMEMBER THE LORD!
Neh. 4:14 (KJV)
And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
THE 3RD THING WE NEED TO DO WHEN DISCOURAGEMENT COMES IS TO RECOMMITT OUR LIVES TO THE LORD. WHEN WE GET DISCOURAGED WE USUALLY TAKE OUR EYES OFF THE LORD AND FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM. THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT WHEN DAVID GOT DISCOURAGED THAT HE ENCOURAGED HIMSELF IN THE LORD. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED? LET ME GIVE YOU FOUR THINGS YOU SHOULD DO.
Psalm 103:1-5 (KJV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. [2] Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: [3] Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; [4] Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; [5] Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
WOW, THAT’S A LOT OF STUFF HE HAS DONE FOR US AND THERE’S A WHOLE LOT MORE IF YOU’LL JUST READ THE REST OF THAT CHAPTER. HE’S FORGIVEN YOU, SAVED YOU, PRESERVED YOU, HELPED YOU OUT OF BIGGER PROBLEMS BEFORE AND WHEN YOU REMEMBER THEM YOU ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD. PSYCHOLOGIST SAY THAT THE HEALTHIEST EMOTION YOU CAN AVE IS GRATITUDE. START PRAISING THE LORD FOR PAST PROVISION AND VICTORIES. PRAISE SCATTERS THE ENEMY AND INVITES THE PRESENCE OF GOD INTO YOUR LIFE.
Deut. 31:6 (KJV)
Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
GOD WON’T LEAVE YOU ALONE IN A LAWSUIT OR A BANKRUPTCY OR IN A DRAMTIC DOWNSIZING EVEN IF IT IS YOUR FAULT. GOD WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU WHEN YOU GET LAID OFF FROM WORK OR WHEN YOU GET THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A FATAL DISEASE. JESUS SAID I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU. YOU ARE NEVER WITHOUT CHRIST. RECOGNIZE THAT YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE AND PRACTICE THE PRESENCE OF GOD. IN HIS PRESENCE IS FULLNESS OF JOY AD THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH TO GET THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT COMES AT YOU IN LIFE.
Isaiah 41:10 (KJV)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
GET YOUR MIND OFF OF THAT DISCOURAGING PROBLEM AND PUT THEM ON THE ONE WHO WILL BRING THE SOLUTION. GOD’S NOT DONE WORKING YET. THE DOCTOR DOESN’T HAVE THE FINAL SAY IN THE DIAGNOSES. I KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE MEDICAL FIELD THAT HAS MORE AUTHOIRTY AND THAT’S JESUS THE GREAT PHYSICIAN. HE HAS THE FINAL WORD AND BY HIS STRIPES WE WERE HEALED. GOD’S NOT DONE WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF. HIS WORK CONTINUES TO GO FORTH BEFORE US, THAT’S WHAT DIVINE PROVIDENCE IS ALL ABOUT. YOU DEFINE THAT AS DIVINE SUPPLY BEFORE THE NEED EVER GOT THERE. IF YOU WANT TO OVERCOME DISCOURAGEMENT THEM REMEMBER THAT GOD IS GOING AHEAD OF YOU TO PREPARE A WAY THROUGH IT TO VICTORY.
Deut. 31:8 (MsgB)
God is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you. Don't be intimidated. Don't worry."
Psa.119:25
David said, I’m completely discouraged, I lie in the dust. Revive me by your word.
WE KNOW THAT THW WORD OF GOD IS QUICK, POERFUL AND OPERATIVE. THE WORD OF GOD HAS SUPERNATURAL, CREATIVE POWER IN IT. JESUS SAID THAT MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF HIS MOUTH. WHEN YOU BECOME DISCOURAGED YOU NEED A PROCEEDING WORD FROM THE LORD. THAT’S NOT A LOGOS WORD THAT’S A FRESH REHEMA WORD THAT GOD HIMSELF QUICKENS TO YOU AND SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO YOUR HEART. AS A PASTOR YOU ARE ALWAYS STUDYING THE WORD TO PREPARE A MESSAGE AND A SPIRITUAL MEAL FOR OTHERS. BUT DON’T FORGET TO MAKE A MEAL FOR YOURSELF EVERY DAY. REMEMBER THE WORD OF THE LORD.
NOW YOU CAN’T GET MUCH LOWER AND DISCOURAGED THAN JONAH. HE’S ON THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN SWALLOED BY A BIG FISH AND HE’S AS LOW AS YOU CAN GO. BUT DOWN IN FISH HOTEL HE REMEMBER THE WORD OF THE LORD AND REPENTS AND GET RECOMMISSIONED AGAIN. SO WHEN YOU GET DISCOURAGED REMEMBER TE WORD OF THE LORD.
4. THE FOURTH THING YOU CAN DO WHEN DISCOURAGE-MENT COMES IS TO SUBMIT TO GOD AND RESIST THE DEVIL.
NOW ON THIS ONE YOU’RE GONNA HAVE TO BE PROACTIVE AND WORK AT THIS. DISCOURAGMENT IS ONE OF THE ENEMIES MOST FORMIDABLE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THAT HE USES AGAISNT PASTORS AND THE BODY OF CHRIST. DISCOURAGEMENT HAS A SPIRITUAL SOURCE SO YOU NEED TO RISE UP AFTER YOU HAVE GOTTEN SOME REST, REORGANIZED YOUR LIFE AND REMEMBERED THE LORD AND HIS PROVISION FOR YOU LIFE AND REBUKE THAT SPIRIT OF DISCOURAGEMENT.
1 Tim. 6:12 (KJV)
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
