Sunday, September 14, 2014
DEALING WITH
DISCOURAGEMENT
It
may not be true of all of us, but for many (if not most) we have times
in our lives when we become discouraged.
As we strive to serve God things do not always go the way we wish
they would.
People let us down – brethren, family members, friends and prospects; we
sometimes fail in our efforts to overcome sin; sometimes we are dealing
with difficult circumstances such as an unbeliever or one who is
unfaithful; constant criticisms when one is trying to do good things, at
other times we grow anxious or frustrated because things are not
progressing the way we think they should; and you could add many other
examples. We face
discouragements. BUT how do
we as Christians deal with them?
In our lesson tonight we are going to notice some things we can
do. Our approach will be to
look at the life of Jesus.
a.
The question is one that
is debated. Now where are we
told in so many words that Jesus was discouraged.
Isaiah 53:3 describes Jesus, “He is despised and rejected by men, A
Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our
faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He
has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him
stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:3–4)
Being a “Man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief” could indicate discouragement at times.
To whatever degree grief and sorrow are related to discouragement
it is possible.
On the other hand, Cf. Isaiah 42:1-4, another passage that addresses
Jesus (the Messiah) says, “A bruised reed He will not break, And
smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.
He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in
the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”” (Isaiah
42:3–4, NKJV) The KJV, NKJV use
the word discouraged.
However the word means, one that is crushed or broken.
That is more the result of one who gives in to his
discouragements.
Considering these passages, depending on what we mean by discouragement
(as we understand the word in our language – a feeling of having lost
hope or confidence), whether or not Jesus was actually discouraged is
debatable.
b.
BUT, what is NOT
debatable is that He faced MANY occasions where He could have been
discouraged.
i.
John 6:67.
After many of His disciples walked with Him no more because of
His teachings, we read,
“Then Jesus
said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”” Was He disappointed or
discouraged on that occasion?
ii.
Luke 9:41, after the
transfiguration, the next day a man approaches Jesus because His
disciples were unable to cast out a demon.
Luke 9:41 says, “Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless
and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you?
Bring your son here.”” After all the time His disciples had been
with Him, yet they seemed to not “get it”.
Continually Jesus dealt with misunderstandings and poor attitudes
of His apostles – bickering with one another, fighting for positions of
preeminence, seeking a physical kingdom (like the Jews were looking
for), etc.
iii.
Consider His
apprehension in the Garden – He prays to the Father, but then He comes
back and finds His disciples sleeping.
Mark. 14:34 says, “Then He said to them, “My soul is
exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.””
iv.
Shortly thereafter, He
would be abandoned by all of them, Peter would deny Him 3 times, Judas
would betray Him with a kiss, Israel would outright reject Him and
conspire against Him. They
would break so many laws in trying to have Him cruelly killed including
lies, playing politics, twisting God’s laws, etc.
On the cross, His enemies mock Him and soldiers gamble for His
clothes.
v.
Matthew 23:37-39 finds
Jesus lamenting over Jerusalem knowing what lies in store for them, ““O
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those
who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children
together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not
willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you
shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name
of the Lord!’ ”” (Matthew 23:37–39, NKJV)
vi.
Consider everything He
endured in His life, how could such things NOT discourage Him?
c.
In my studies on this
subject, I am convinced that being discouraged is not wrong within
itself. It is HOW you deal
with it! As we have said,
whether or not Jesus in His mind was actually discouraged I cannot say,
but I know that He took steps to ensure that He would NOT be overcome.
When we face discouragement in this life there are things we need
to do. AND, those same
things that will help us overcome discouragement, can prevent it from
happening. So let us notice
some things that Jesus DID that can help us deal with discouragement.
d.
Hebrews 12:3 says, “For
consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.”
a.
One of the dangers of
discouragement is that one wants to give up.
But we can’t. When we
give up, we admit defeat.
a.
Jesus knew He could not
give up. He endured
hostilities.
He persevered. 1 Peter
2:21-23, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered
for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who
committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was
reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not
threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;”
He had a job to do. At the
age of 12, Luke 2: 49 finds Jesus in the temple when his parents find
Him there. “And He said
to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My
Father’s business?””
Later He would say, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while
it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” (John 9:4,
NKJV) He kept moving
in that direction. IN John
17:4,
“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work
which You have given Me to do.” Even on the
cross one of His final sayings was, “It is finished.” (John 19:30)
b.
We must remind ourselves
that we can never give up.
Galatians 6:9, if we do not lose heart.
The Hebrew writer expressed concerns saying, “You have need of
endurance” (Heb. 10:36).
1 Corinthians 15:58, be steadfast, immovable…
Matthew 10:22, facing hatred and opposition Jesus said to His disciples,
“But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
c.
We need patience and
longsuffering – Romans 2:7, “eternal life to those who by patient
continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;”
James 5:7–8, “Therefore
be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer
waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it
until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient.
Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
a.
One of the sources of
discouragement is that we don’t look out far enough at the results.
Usually, what we are looking at is that which is immediately in
front of us. It may be a
present crisis or a setback in our efforts.
When that happens, we need to step back and take a wider picture.
b.
Jesus tried to get His
disciples to see the “bigger picture.”
John 4:35, “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then
comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at
the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” (John 4:35,
NKJV)
In John 14:1-3 He said,
“Do not let your hearts be
troubled…” This was followed
by a promise of waiting mansions that He was going to prepare.
c.
In Genesis 50:20 -
Joseph speaks to his brothers after the death of Jacob.
He tells them not to fear. “But as for you, you meant evil
against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it
is this day, to save many people alive.” Sometimes, when we endure,
later we can look back and see that our trials and troubles were
actually what we needed.
d.
In 1 Kings 19, Elijah
was discouraged when Jezebel called for his life.
This comes after a spectacular victory against the prophets of
Baal. Elijah wanted to give
up. While the Lord made
arrangements for Elijah, He told him, that in Israel there were some
7000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal.
He was NOT alone (even though it felt like he was).
e.
When Paul was alone in
prison and about to die, he knew the Lord was there with him (2 Timothy
4:17)
f.
When we face
discouragement, let us remind ourselves who is in control!
God is in control - Romans 8:28,
“All things work together for good to those who love God…”
1 John 4:4, He is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 5:4, with faith we can overcome the world.
a.
When you face
discouragement, one of the worst things you can do is to just stop and
“stew on it”. Yet that
is what many do when they have been dealt some set-back.
The longer you dwell on something – the deeper into despair you
will sink, it will begin to affect other areas of your life and
thinking, AND in the end that which caused your discouragement will
probably NOT get changed (because you do nothing.
b.
I am convinced that one
way Jesus dealt with rejection, disappointments, etc. was to get to
work. He kept busy doing
what needed to be done (Acts 10:38 – He went about doing good).
When a city rejected Him, He just went to another one, Luke 4:43,
“For this purpose I have been sent.”
He even instructed His apostles to do the same things (Matthew
10:11-15).
Again consider John 9:4, “I must
work the work…”
c.
There is plenty of work
for us to do. Practice your
faith. Being busy keeps your
mind off of troubles AND quite often, in time, it helps to solve some of
them.
The prodigal son didn’t stay in the pig pen.
(Luke 15:15-19)
a.
“As iron sharpens
iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs
27:17) When you are discouraged,
find someone who can help you get back on track.
Find someone who cares about you and the Lord and will encourage
you in the right things.
b.
Jesus, after being
rejected in John 6 67, note what the response of His friend Peter was,
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ,
the Son of the living God.”
(68-69) Words Jesus
needed at that time.
In the Garden as Jesus was about to face rejection, God sent an angel to
comfort Him (Luke 22:43).
c.
We need each other.
There are few (and that is probably being generous) who don’t
need companionship and help in times of trouble.
Paul needed Timothy and Titus and others.
In 2 Cor. 7:6, Paul was comforted by Titus being sent to him (as
an example).
In Hebrews 12:12-13, we are told “Therefore strengthen the hands
which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your
feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.”
! Thess. 5:14 says to comfort
the faint-hearted.
That is ONE reason we have provided additional assemblies throughout the
week. Heb. 10:24-25
a.
I find it remarkable
that Jesus, the Son of God, spent so much time in prayer.
I am convinced that is one of the “tools” that helped Him resist
discouragement and other troubles He faced.
He prayed early in the morning (Mark 1:35), He prayed in the
evening (Matt. 14:23); He
prayed often (Luke 5:16), He
prayed all night (Luke 6:12)
He taught His disciples about prayer.
Luke 18:1, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always
ought to pray and not lose heart,”
b.
When we are facing
discouragement or others troubles we need to pray.
1 Thess. 5:17 – without ceasing.
Heb. 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
James 5:16-18, “Confess your
trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be
healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that
it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and
six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth
produced its fruit.” Phil. 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”