Discouragement can take many forms and be caused by many things.
Family Matters. Possibly a marriage is not working out as the man and woman had hoped and dreamed that it would. Children may cause concern and
constant anxiety to parents. There may be illness of loved ones, financial insecurity, etc.
Moral Failure. In the battle between the flesh and spirit, many times the flesh keeps winning. One may have, among other things, a weakness to alcohol, drugs, sex, dishonesty or laziness. When we lose a battle, we lose heart and often become discouraged.
Spiritual Matters. For example, there are wives who try to keep the lamp of faith burning in spite of the unbelief of a husband who has no interest in spiritual things. It could be that one becomes stagnant in his spiritual growth and his zeal begins to wane and Christ may not mean as much as He did or as He should, prayer seems to get him nowhere, church attendance seems flat and worship assemblies are boring. Some get discouraged because their convictions for truth cause them to be at odds with relatives or friends. Some may become disappointed in preachers, elders or other influential Christians because of their hypocrisy, carnality or apostasy. Discouragement in spiritual matters may result from a lack of success in the church in converting the world and building up the local body.
As shocking as it may seem, faithfulness to God and His word do not guarantee that one will not become discouraged. As a matter of fact, the more one is involved in the work of the Lord, the greater, at times, his discouragement may be. Those who endeavor to teach God's truth or live faithfully as a Christian encounter many and varied discouragements. What faithful teacher and Christian has not asked himself at one time or another, "What's the use?" when his efforts to teach others and to set a proper example seem not only to accomplish nothing but also to be unappreciated. Discouragement also comes to preachers. The pulpit provides no insulation from it.
We must remember that others before us have had their disappointments and discouragements also. Jeremiah was met with almost unimaginable discouragements (Jer. 9:2). Yet, in spite of all his longings to leave, he stood at his post of duty through the weary years, faithful to God even to the last. Jesus and His apostles faced many discouragements. So must we.
Discouragement, though, is not sin within and of itself. While it may be defined as to deprive of courage or confidence, to hinder by disfavoring, to attempt to dissuade; it may also be defined as deep and sober concern because of real problems. The person who is never discouraged is of no real value. The real issues and grim realities of life are too deep to pretend that nothing is ever bad enough for heartache and tears.
Discouragement will come. We must know how to deal with it.
Discouragements When Teaching Others
We are not able to effectively consider all the discouragements that plague the one who is endeavoring to be spiritual because of space restrictions. But we can look at one aspect of Christianity that often is very discouraging to people. That is the area of teaching others.Many children of God fail to be involved in personal evangelism and others who are doing it quit because of the discouragements connected with it. Because a work can be discouraging, though, is no reason not to be doing it if God wants it done. Paul, as the apostle to the Gentiles, was often discouraged in his labors but he did not allow it to stop him from doing what he knew to be right. Nothing, including discouragements, moved him from his work of evangelism (Acts 20:24). Neither should anything keep us from our work for the Lord.
It has been said that the person who is forewarned is forearmed. Perhaps if we can anticipate some of the discouragements that typically arise when one attempts to teach others the gospel, we will be able to deal with and overcome them. A few of them follows.
Dull Minds. The writer of Hebrews was hindered in his efforts to teach some because they were "dull of hearing" (Heb. 5:11-14). While He was upon the earth, people, because of dull minds, failed to comprehend what Jesus said (John 7:33-36; 8:21-27; 8:38-43; Matt. 13:10-16). Even His most dedicated followers sometimes missed the point of His teachings (Matt. 15:10-20; 16:21-23).
Closed Minds. There are those who neither try to nor want to understand. They want to have things their way. The apostle Paul foretold of this attitude in 2 Timothy 4:3-4. Jesus also encountered this attitude when teaching. Consider those who would take His loaves and fishes but not His teaching (John 6:24-29). They put their personal desires ahead of the truth He taught (John 11:47-50; Matt. 12:22-24). When He would not serve their purpose and teach them what they wanted to hear, they had no time for Him but, rather, closed their eyes and hardened their hearts to the truth (Matt. 15:13).
Opposition. Any kind of opposition is discouraging but when opposition seems to triumph, real conviction and genuine dedication are needed to stand against it. Jesus faced successful opposition. Many were determined to destroy His influence and defeat His purpose. They resorted to perversions, misrepresentations and lies in an effort to destroy His reputation (Luke 23:1-2; John 19:12). His good works infuriated them so they sought to pervert them in order to turn others against Him. They were wrong but they temporarily got the upper hand (Matt. 27:20-23). But He ultimately triumphed.
An Antagonistic Environment. We live in a power-mad, pleasure-crazed world. Materialism, secularism, skepticism, pessimism, degeneracy and hypocrisy offer little encouragement for the spread of the gospel. Remember, though, the spiritual condition of the world in which Jesus lived and taught. Both Gentiles (Rom. 1:18-32) and Jews (Rom. 2:1,17-24; 3:9-10; Eph. 2:1-3) were extremely sinful. The people were ignorant and vile, their rulers were bigoted and politically motivated, and the priests were oppressive and unmerciful. Skepticism, traditionalism and hypocrisy prevailed. Yet, amid such undesirable conditions, Jesus launched and continued His work refusing to be deterred in His efforts.
Waning Interest. We feel elated when interest is growing and enthusiasm is high but what happens when interest lags? Some become despondent and say, "What's the use?" Jesus experienced the disappointment of decreasing interest. Great crowds followed Him at first but when they considered His teaching "too hard" they dropped out and lost interest. At the end of His three year ministry, only a handful remained. He understood that even one soul was worth more than all the wealth in the world (Matthew 16:26).
Dealing With Discouragements
Jesus is our perfect example as we live our lives before God (1 Pet. 2:21), the proper standard for conduct and attitudes. The apostle Paul encouraged the members of the church in Corinth to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Cor. 11:1).While He was on the earth, Jesus had to face discouragements. We must ask, "How did Jesus handle His discouragements?" In learning how He dealt with them, we can learn how we ought to react to those discouragements that come our way. The following are some ways that Jesus dealt with those things that disappointed and discouraged Him.
He Did Not Give Up. Jesus recognized that the key to any situation was in Him, not in the obstacles He faced. Discouragement, you see, is a condition of mind not one of outside circumstances. Happiness does not depend upon where you are but upon what you are. Keeping in good spirit is not a question of circumstances about us but, rather, a question of what we are within ourselves.
He Took a Wider View. The higher up you are, the farther you can see. Jesus saw things from the Godward side and that side is not discouraging. He encouraged His disciples to have that same perspective. In John 4:35 He told them to "lift up your eyes." No matter what happens in our lives, all will ultimately turn out well if we are faithful in doing the Lord's will. The promise is made to faithful Christians in Romans 8:28 that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."
He Kept Working. When He was blocked in one direction, Jesus patiently looked in another. When nothing was left for Him to do but to die, He went to the cross willingly and confidently. Sometimes in life, things may not turn out as we have planned or as we would like them to and we may feel like giving up. Whenever you feel that way, look to Jesus and follow His example. Keep doing the will of God. Persevere with all your heart.
He Always Prayed. When faced with a crisis situation, Jesus gained strength through prayer unto His Father (Matt. 14:23; Luke 5:16; 6:12; Matt. 26:36-42). We must be people of prayer (Luke 18:1; 1 Thes. 5:17). In times of despondency, discouragement and disappointment, prayer is the answer.
Conclusion
In the midst of many discouragements, Jesus calmly, serenely and thoughtfully, kept right on proclaiming the great truths of heaven, doing the will of God and living the proper life. So must we. "And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Gal. 6:9).
My Most Beloved,
If you look for God with your whole heart you will find Him and He
will remove that affliction out of your life, family, marriage and business.
God is great and also the wisest personage in the
universe. Your decision to look for Him today as the solution to the problems
that have weighed you down in this life is the only key to the problem.
You might be among those who are searching for God but
not with your whole heart. You might also be searching for God and at the same
time going to the places you know from your heart that is not pleasing to God
Almighty.
God is everywhere you go though not accessible from all
places you have fixed your heart for the solution to your needs.
So many people have looked for this God through many
gods of various religions and yet they are still confused of life and why they
even came into existence.
Others have believed that joining different kinds of
Self Realization organizations is the key to actualize and realize what they
are looking for.
I have seen others who are tired of other gods of other
people but now they have decided to create their own gods to worship. Can a man
create God?
Yet many men have created gods and deceived you to
worship them.
Many are calling upon the names of other gods they do
not know about simply because they want to try a certain kind of worship and
see how it can be with them. Some others
are busy looking for a place to discover another strange god which is not yet
discovered by any other man. If we move
a little into the Bible book we will discover the exact message of God
concerning searching and developing gods in any other scientific method which
the Bible rightly stipulated, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any
likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve
them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that
hate me;
And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me,
and keep my commandments.” – EXODUS 20: 3-6.
God is warning you from this portion of the scripture
to stop developing any form of worship that will
entice you to worship other gods.
God is also warning you in particular to remove and
throw away those gods you kept in secret places which men do not know you are
worshipping.
Stars and other things in the skies are not made to be
worshipped by The Almighty Father and the Creator of universe. God commanded
you also never to worship gods of woods, silvers, gold and iron.
God
spoke to us through Moses and said. “And
the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye
might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
Take
ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on
the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
Lest
ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any
figure, the likeness of male or female,
The
likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl
that flieth in the air,
The
likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish
that is in the waters beneath the earth:
And
lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the
moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to
worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations
under the whole heaven. - Deuteronomy 4:14-19
God is angry with you as you are bowing down to them
and this is the source of those problems that refuses to go out of your life.
The Almighty Father does not want you to worship the gods of your land.
Some people do carry the gods of their lands in wooden
form to another country for worshipping purposes but The Almighty Father cannot
be carried in a wooden form because He is accessible from any place and any
condition you can call Him in truth and in Spirit wholeheartedly.
There is no good gods in seas and oceans. There is no
marine good gods that is capable to do what Almighty God cannot do for you.
He warned you never to bow down to any of them. Your
destiny is purely in the hand of The Almighty Father. None of your blessings
comes as a result of worshipping idols.
God is jealous and will not be happy if you are giving
the glories that are due to His Most Holy Name, Jehovah to other gods of
nations and other gods who have ears but cannot hear.
If you believe me today, and decide to drop those gods
you are serving and to come to The Almighty Jehovah through His Son, Jesus
Christ.
The
Bible warned, “As
many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold,
I stand at the door, and knock:
if any man hear my voice, and open the door,
I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
To
him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also
overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches. The Revelation of Saint John 3:19-22.
Why not decide right now as you are reading this
message and give your entire life to your Creator so it shall be well with you,
your family and all your businesses?
Will you continue to serve the gods that demands for
the blood of your children for ritual purposes and sacrifices so as to bless
and protect you?
Will you serve the gods that takes away your fertility
in other to give you unrealistic financial blessings and fame?
Reason well before you go.
God is telling me that some group of people is trying
to initiate you into a cult, an occult group, a satanic system of worship.
Please beware and run away for your dear life so you
will not regret the final outcome of it.
There is nothing absolutely good in Satan. He is a liar
and father of all liars.
If you believe this message is for you in particular
and you wants to be saved before it is too late. Why not call my attention for
my direction to establish your faith in Jesus Christ?
Accept and Confess the name of Jesus Christ so He shall
come into your life and be your God as you have totally dropped all form of
other gods with sincere heart.
Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
If ye had
known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him,
and have seen him.- JOHN 14:6-7
Am available to assist you to develop your faith in God
and also to pray with you for instant divine solution to those problems that
has taken you far and wide without hope for solution.
“And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy
father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the
LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the
thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him,
he will cast thee off for ever. - I CHRONICLES 28:9.
God bless you for giving a listening ear to this
message of God that is specially made for you today for your upliftment.
If you are moved by the Spirit of God to
support this work. Please don’t hesitate to tell us of how you are led by God
to assist. Or you can send us your Check to our office below for our mission to
Africa and building of schools for Orphans and Orphanage .
We need an offering and a monetary donation
motivated by the Spirit of God for the poor and less privileged because God
loves a cheerful giver.
Please
kindly send us Check of the amount placed in your heart by the Spirit of Most
High GOD JEHOVAH to-
Bishop Uchenna Celestine
Okonkwor
472 Amherst St
Suite 732225
Nashua, NH 03063
U.S.A.
Tel:
781-569-0201.
Alternatively, I will also suggest that you
forward your donation to us for the poor through Our Payoneer Bank Account
details below to make the deposit…
Bank Account Holder: Uchenna
Celestine Okonkwor
Bank Name: Bank Of America
Account #: 00003503352939167
ABA (Bank Routing) #: 061000052
Account Type: CHECKING.
You may as well send your financial
donation in support of this missionary work through our paypal account at
zionagency@yahoo.com.
You can visit our outreach and ministerial sites below
for perusal to enable you understand our mission practically well. We need up to $2,ooo,000 to facilitate the
schools building project for the poor and less privileged. This will have
primary, secondary and University educational system. We are pleading that you
give us your financial contribution and support as you are capable and also led
by The Spirit of The Almighty God.
http://agnes-orphanage.blogspot.com/
God bless you.
Bishop Uchenna C. Okonkwor
472 Amherst St
Suite 732225
Nashua, NH 03063
781-569-0201.
U.S.A.
JESUS CHRIST IS THE LORD.
Bank Name: Bank Of America
Account #: 00003503352939167
ABA (Bank Routing) #: 061000052
Account Type: CHECKING.
Suite 732225
Nashua, NH 03063
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