Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry - Pastor Kenneth Woolf

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New Life COTR Wednesday September 12, 2007
Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry

INTRODUCTION: In life and especially in ministry there arises the opportunity from time to time to get discouraged. If discouragement takes root in our life it can lead to depression.
Discouragement is a reality of life. We’re all flesh and blood and have to fight discouragement.
2Corinthians 1:8- “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.”
Despair- To be overcome by a sense of futility or defeat. Utter lack of hope. Something that destroys all hope.
1Samuel 30:1-6 Turn and Read
The Bible says that David was greatly distressed. Talk about discouragement.
Many times circumstances and situations present to us the opportunity to get discouraged and depressed.

FOUR MAIN CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT AND DEPRESSION
1. Unfulfilled expectations.
The passing of time works against hope and faith in your life.
Proverbs 13:12- “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”
Many times we loose hope and when we loose hope we loose faith.
Have you ever heard this phrase? “Don’t get your hopes up.” If your hope is not up your faith is not up!
Hebrews 11:1- “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Unfulfilled expectations can cause discouragement.

2. Attacks of the enemy.
Attacks of the enemy can cause you to loose hope.
Luke 22:31-32(AMP)- “Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain. But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren.”
Jesus tells Peter, “I’m going to pray for you not to loose hope.”
Attacks of the enemy can cause us to loose hope and get discouraged.
Ephesians 6:12,16- “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Attacks of the enemy can cause you to become discouraged.

3. Financial Setbacks
1Kings 17:12-16- Turn and Read
Financial setbacks can cause discouragement.
Philippians 4:14-19- Turn and Read

4. The loss of someone close to you.
Deuteronomy 34:8- “The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.”
Grieved – to weep, wail, cry, sob, mourn.

FOUR CURES FOR DISCOURGEMENT
1. Do not compare yourself to your problem or enemy but compare your enemy to your God.
Psalm 27:1-3 Turn and Read

2. Go to the secret place of God.
Everyone needs a secret place.
Psalm 27:4,5- Turn and Read
Psalm 32:7- “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”
Psalm 91:1(KJV)- “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the almighty.”

3. Offer up a Sacrifice of Praise
Psalm 27:6- “Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.”
God inhabits the praises of His people.
It’s your responsibility to offer up a sacrifice of praise.
Hebrews 13:15- “Through Jesus therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise-the fruit of lips that confess his name.”
1Peter 2:9- “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

4. Wait in faith on the Lord
Psalm 27:13,14 Turn and Read
Isaiah 40:28-31 Turn and Read

CONCLUSION: 1. Compare your enemy to your God. 2. Go to the secret place of God. 3. Offer up a sacrifice of praise. 4. Wait in faith on the Lord
1Samuel 30:6- “David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.”
2Corinthians 1:9,10- “Indeed in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope, that he will continue to deliver us.”