4/17/13

From Gary V. Womack... DISCOURAGEMENT (two parts)



DISCOURAGEMENT

Life is not always made up of mountain-top experiences. Sometimes, it is lived down in the valley - which may lead to discouragement.

When life is good - we feel like taking on the world - courage runs high.

"courage" - (Webster) "The attitude or response of facing and dealing with anything recognized as dangerous, difficult, or painful, instead of withdrawing from it... Fearless or brave...."

But when life is low - or trouble is on the horizon - discouragement is near.

"discourage" - (Webster) "To deprive of courage; make less confident, or hopeful, dishearten."

Example of discouragement:
Josh. 2:8-11 Rahab described Jericho's loss of courage in the face of Israel's presence and the prospects of war.

Discouragement robs us of enthusiasm and distracts our focus. It blinds us to what is possible & emphasizes the negative. It dismantles our hope & darkens our vision.

Discouragement is the failure to use trials as opportunities for growth.

Good parents will challenge their children, but not break them.

Fathers are admonished not to be a discouragement to their children.

Col. 3:21 "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged."

To provoke is to become antagonistic - to "stir up" - or demand that which is beyond grasp & impossible to achieve

Our heavenly Father knows how to admonish without discouraging:

Heb. 12:9-11 Chastening is not pleasant, but it is beneficial.

"chastening" [paideia] - "Denotes the training of a child, including instruction; hence, discipline, correction, chastening." (Vines)

How does God do this - to admonish without discouraging?

1 Cor. 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."

Rom. 8:18, 28, 31-ff All things work for our good - even suffering.

If God is for us, who can be against us?




DISCOURAGEMENT - Part 2

The Challenge of Spiritual Growth

Consider how the Father dealt with Jesus:

Heb. 12:1-8 Jesus was allowed to be exposed to "shame" & "the cross" - which involved contact with people who hated & abused Him.

Isa. 53:3 "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."

The experience of things suffered promotes growth & obedience.

Heb. 5:8 "Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."

God gave Him a fleshly body subject to physical suffering & death.

Heb. 2:17-18 "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. (18) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted."
So must we learn & grow by those unpleasant experiences that God permits us to be exposed to.


How we deal with those growth opportunities will depend on whether we become discouraged or become spiritually mature.


We should PRAY for spiritual growth. Such as patience:
Beware - The answer to your prayers may involve exposure to difficult challenges that must be experienced in order to benefit & grow.

I prayed for patience. I was given 4 grandchildren.
What you suffer may be an answer to something you have prayed for.

Every trial is an opportunity for growth

Being brought in contact with certain people challenges us to grow.

Sometimes this may involve brethren who may be hard to get along with. Sometimes we may become discouraged by our own brethren:
Why don't they grow faster? Why aren't they here? Why don't they show interest?

Example: Paul & John Mark - An opportunity for growth in trial:

Acts 12:25 "And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark."

Acts 13:5 "And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant."
Acts 13:13 "Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem."

Acts 15:36-40 A rift between Paul & Barnabas over John Mark.
Paul & Mark had a difference in ZEAL.

2 Tim. 4:9-11 "Be diligent to come to me quickly; (10) for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed from Thessalonica - Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. (11) Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry."

When we pray for spiritual growth - remember that God's way is perfect.

Psm. 138:7-8 "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me. (8) The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of your hands."

The Lord is not done with any of us yet. He is still working on us.
Pray that He will not give up on finishing us.

He is the Potter - We are the clay. Good clay is pliable and able to be molded into shape. Are you?

Isa. 64:8 "But now, O Lord, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand."

Acts 8:36-37 "Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, 'See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?' (37) Then Philip said, 'If you believe with all of your heart, you may.' And he answered and said, 'I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.' (38) So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him."