R329 Overcoming Discouragement

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based preaching of Dr. Don Wilton and a message on overcoming discouragement.

Indeed, we will be encouraged as we study the word of God together today and know that we're here for you to encourage you both online@tewonline.org that's TW online.org a great place to grab resources like the new Ruth Bell Graham DVD we been talking about the book from Dr. Wilson about salaries with Billy and a wonderful trust in God DVD.

Those are just some of the resources you'll find at T. E. W online.org the course know we love to pray with you phone numbers 866899 word that's 866-899-9673 mallets open our hearts and God's word together with a Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton friends. I wonder if if you have ever been discouraged before, I'm going to just off the question. If you've ever been discouraged when you raise your hands. Please, thank you so much. That makes me feel a whole lot better. You see, every one of us have suffered discouragement.

I've spoken to people who gone to the doctor and who have taken the right medicine and undergone the right treatment and get by just don't seem to be made well again. I've spoken to people who have lost loved ones. Despite all the prayer I've spoken to people whose marriages are on the rocks, and they are discouraged they are doing everything by going to marriage counseling, but nothing seems to work by Discover I've spoken to people who are contemplating selling their home and moving into a small home because they struggling to make ends meet and spoken to people in all walks of life in our church and in our community. In politics there is one thing Satan wants to do. He wants to discourage God's people nearby was no different. Nearby was given an audible unbelievable magnificent cost and yet he faced discouragement.

I want you to turn with me in your Bibles to Nehemiah chapter 4 Nehemiah chapter 4 and follow along in God's word. Listen to what the word says when sand ballot heard that we were rebuilding the wall. He became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates's remarkable how people like this always going to gather other people to join them in trying to discourage others. Listen to what happened. He ridiculed the Jews in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria. He said one of these people Jews doing well.

They restore their wall.

Now there's a lot of sarcasm here folks will I offer sacrifices will they finish in a day can they bring the stones back to life, from those heaps of Robert Burns as they all course whenever you get a sand ballot like this in the business place or in the community.

It's guaranteed there's going to be up to buyer right behind it.

Watch what happens provide the I am a night who was at his side, saying what they are building. If even the fox climbed up on it.

He would break down their walls exposing Nehemiah said hero. So God, for we all despise turn their insults back on their own heads, give them Oliver's plunder in the land of captivity do not block cover up their sin. They guiltily brought out their sins from your side, for they have flown in so in the face of the builders so we rebuilt the wall to all of it reached half of its high for the people work with all of their heart. But when sand ballot told by the Arabs, the Lamanites in the main of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed. They were very angry.

They all plotted together to come against and to fight against Jerusalem, and to stir up trouble against it, but we prayed to our God and we posted a God day and night to meet this threat.

Meanwhile, the people in Judah said the strength of the laborers is giving out there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.

Also enemies.

Before they know it or see us. We will be right there among them. They were defiant. They said it doesn't matter what you do what you say to me, we will stand up against and will kill them and will put a man to the work then the Jews who live near them came and told us 10 times over whenever you turn they will attack us. Therefore, I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places posting them by families with a sword spears and bows off dry look things over. I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people.

Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives in your homes and when our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it. We all return to the wool, each to his own work, and from that day on half of my main did the work while the other half will equip us.

She was bows and llama. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah.

Kind of reminds me of the deacon who were rebuilding the wall. Those who carried materials that they work with one hand and held a weapon in the other at each of the builders wall.

He sorted decide is the work but the man who sounded the trumpet right with me.

Then I said to the nobles, the officials at the rest of the people to work is extensive and read out and we are widely separated from each other along the wall whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet.

Join us there.

God will fight for us, so we continued the work with half the main holding spears from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time. I also said to the people have every man enemies help her stay inside Jerusalem at night so they can service as gods by not and workmen by day.

Neither I nor my gods with me took all ripped off our clothes each had his weapon, even when we went for water by the Lord. Write these word upon our hearts this morning when I read verse 1760, God spoke to me about my role as dad now folks are going to confession.

I'm not used to sitting in a chair older. What a waste of time. On Friday he was out of it. Most of the day when he woke he was in a lot of pain and I just set what a waste of time and I read that verse.

The officers posted themselves behind all the people the dads posted themselves next to their sons and daughters. The business people posted themselves in the fortress of God's garrison.

The Christian people posted themselves on the walls around the city and said Satan will not attack our nation anymore. This man Nehemiah. It seems to me perhaps understood what so many of us understood when businesses fire when our lives, when marriages are in our people.

When labs seem to fall apart. Nehemiah understood that he faced discouragement, just like all people knew what he knew about. Well, there are six principles here, I want to share them with you. How can I overcome discouragement.

How can you overcome discouragement. What can we do according to God's word number one talk to God. Yes sir verse four.

Nehemiah said hero.

So God look at verse nine but we prayed to God talk to God is that simple is not the most simple, yet most profound thing that you could ever imagine.

Talk to God. Nothing like it. There's nothing like prayer there's nothing like just simply telling God I don't how many wire times, my precious wife when when we've gone through discouragement or something's happening. Our family just brings us together and says why don't we just have a little chat with God. Why don't we just talk to God, young person all person.

Let me tell you in Spartanburg. They many of them I've never seen them so discouraged as they are today are superintendents principles board members, community leaders, I want us to pray from Leah James Talley exceptionally fine gentlemen, I want us to pray for our moms and dads.

I want us to pray for our medical personnel. I want us to pray for our children. We got people who are sick and dying. We got children who are scared and running away. We got people who are angry we got people who have broken heart businesses that are failing people you don't know what to do next.

We going to come into God's house tonight and maybe, just for 10 minutes going to talk to God what it Nehemiah do any got discouraged talk to God, but also want you to note never lose heart. Never lose heart money talk to God, but he never lost part look down there in verse six I love verse six verse six is just a power punch. It's an explosion all on its own. So we read wool now folks remember this comes in off the mark & balance. Jerry was told by the Arabs. All the people he began to rally around him and began with Sam better. The doors begins with one person and writing off the mark of what was going on. The Bible says we read the war till it reached Hartford side. Now what was the basis for the people work with all of their hard never lose heart. So easy to lose heart. I confess you are lose heart, quote you know if all life is a broken arm. We don't have a lot of problems doing because people come back from those things and they play for Bennett's guaranteed. God sometimes needs little sticks to be cut upon so that we can be shaped to be what he wants us to be a beautiful fruit that the monster can pick up and play a beautiful juvenile. We want to just remain all sticks lying in the road we never going to become what God wants us to be, but they still principles talk to God. Never lose heart. Next, remember who God is. Remember who God is. Look at verse 14 Bible says very clearly. Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord why because he is great and he's also he's also remember the Lord that I'm going to say to you that as Christians when we get discouraged is not true.

Would you not all agree today that even though we love the Lord and even though we know he died for us and even though we know that he's done so much for us when we get discouraged we think he's put us down but he has Nehemiah said to the people right there in Jerusalem. Remember the Lord but I want you to know the next principal. Prepare your silk. Prepare yourself. Look at verse nine. Again, but we prayed to God. We posted a God day and night. Look at verse 23.

Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the gods with me took off our clothes.

Paul had this in mind when he wrote to the church at Ephesus. Ephesians chapter 6 remarkable passage in Ephesians chapter 6 just knew what he says verse 10 finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Here it is. I love this put on the full armor of God, why, why do we need to do that so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

Look at San Ballack.

I look at the discouragement. This was a scheme folks. It was a deliberate plot against God's people. When your marriage breaks. The devil is scheming to break the marriage when when when you suffer discouragement. He wants to get hold of you listen put on the whole armor of God so you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, powers of the dog will against the spiritual forces of evil and heavenly realms.

Therefore put on the full armor of God so that not the day comes, so that when the day of evil, you may be able to stand your ground while forgive eruption will be back in just a moment, but that reminder of putting on the full armor of God so that we can stand our ground.

I pray that you know that you are not alone in that process.

Sometimes we need help getting we would love to help you to pray with you and connect you with resources that will help you grow in your faith. You connect with us on our website right now ITW online.org and every single day. Friends are writing and asking us to pray, and in particular sharing their stories about how God's working to The Encouraging Word with Dr. Don Wilton if you like to do so, he would love to hear your story love to know how got to know how you can pray for you. His email is Don doand@tbwonline.org that's Don doand@tewonline.org it would bless him to hear from you in the past few weeks is been doing something remarkable in a different part of our building where he's just calling out over the names of people that have given their lives to Christ praying earnestly, just know that we together would love to pray with you and for you also speak to someone and have them pray with you and for right now. Right now, 86689 connect with what I was happy to talk to this and praying. Connect with resources that number again 866-899-9673. Now back to today's great Bible teaching with Dr. Don Wilton you discouraged this morning look to God talk to God. Never lose heart. Remember God is prepare yourself number five. Stick to the assignment stick to the assignment. Look at verse six. So we went and rebuilt the wall, they did what God told him to do. Stick to keep your heart up. I tell you something folks don't leave the assignment that God is given to you. Stick to the assignment and finally claim the victory claim the victory.

It's right there in verse 20. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet. Join us there.

And God will fight for us.

Well that's very good. You know what we do as Christians we say that's in the word of God. So I'm just going to put that are bigger for just a minute I'm putting that over there because that's something that I cannot handle and God's word says I must claim the victory before I've even begun the fight he's he's placing man's die llama back into the context of play. It is that simple trusted someone in our community wrote me a letter when I talked about jumping off the ledge into your father's arms as a child. He wrote me this letter, how that he came to know Jesus that Sunday as I preached, as we worshiped and he said to me when you said that I realized that God was there that I need to take that leap of faith because he is not going to leave me so it is that you advise human beings we come join together with God's word. We hide God's word in our heart we appropriated and we become encouraged by overcoming the cycle discouragement. So I began us myself. What are some of the practical things that we can do to overcome discouraged.

This is what the word says, how can we apply this in practice I want to give you seven suggestions ready for these practical suggestions to help you overcome discouragement, whatever it is in your life. Number one. Check your energy level, both physically and emotionally.

Folks, this is true of all of us. It is a guaranteed fact that if you are physically exhausted.

You are going to be less able to handle discouragement. You not discouragement does it make you more exhausted the kind of works against the more discouraged the more exhausted the more things you fighting with propriety you get and the worse you get physically and emotionally. The less you're able to cope with discouragement. Check your energy level number to make sure that you get proper exercise. I'm going to share a secret with you this morning in on the first two years that I was here in Spartanburg. I gained over 20 pounds. I try I was beginning to develop furniture disease. My chest was dropping into modules folks are paid a lot of money for this was with ABC.

It's wonderful folks. I want to tell you something I haven't lost a whole lot of weight, but I've never felt better. I can't describe it to you. I like on what's his name and getting them to type up my jacket and I probably will never get there but you know something. There are times that I will go to the Nautilus and I'm so tired and I'm so exhausted and I don't want to do it and I woke on that machine and I'll push and jerk and ally and are full over the place and in 30 minutes walk out the and I just feel so much like the cobwebs of lift my head. Have you noticed all the flowers around you walk wanted to start walking every day just walk walk around the neighborhood smell the roses go to Milliken. What a beautiful park on and on it goes. Make sure you have proper exercise. Third, spend time with someone who's not discouraged you want to overcome discouragement. Find somebody you don't know anybody come to me, I'll show you the role of this congregation find someone who's not discouraged they'll pick you up in a New York second. Number four do something for someone else. Why don't you if you discouraged today about your marriage family. Find something that you can do for somebody else to soften and see what it does not go home and sit in front of a TV set, go and do something for somebody else. Then next accomplish a tossed set yourself a draw say this is what I'm going to do going to accomplish it in number six has a very important one attempt to learn important lessons from difficult situations and personal mistakes, learn something from folks this week I learn from mistakes that I've made here. I've said things that I ought not to say here in the church. Would you forgive me for that. Would you forgive me if I've ever said anything to you.

That is because you discouragement you prepared to turn your wife, your husband Diane say would you forgive me for what I've done, learn something from your mistakes. As a final point, and I must close. Always remember that God has a sense of humor overcome discouragement folks remember that God has a sense of humor. He does God's got a sense of humor anyone needed You discouraged today. What is God told you, you know, it's a very simple formula, it's difficult understand sometimes. And if you anything like me get into it like that. It's hard to be able to even make sense out of town discouragement sometimes is God's day he's in control is hard to make sense of that discouragement sometimes but being reminded is Dr. Don just did that God is there. He's in control his promise never to this or forsake us. As a part of the body of Christ. God has compelled us to be available to any right now. You could pick up the phone and call 866899 word talk with someone pray with some custard questions your heart, let's discover the answers and guts were together at 866-899-9673 jotted down stored in your cell 866-899-9673 will always connect was happy to talk and listen.

Pray for connect with great resources but maybe right now the call. You don't need to make is to us, but you just would open your heart to the what the pastors can call us to do that. You ready to give your heart to flock to the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm so happy to hear that wanted to pray this prayer with me today.

Dear God, I know that you love me very, very much and I know that the Lord Jesus Christ came died on the cross so that I might be forgiven of my sin. Today I repainted myself. I confess my sins and I invite you to come and Jesus name I pray, if you prayed that prayer that may be the first one welcome to the family this one. I hope that you know how much I'm going to be praying how very important this is for me. Call us so that we can talk to connect to the right place you can begin this wonderful June and in just a moment I come back with the final welcome to the family. I'm convinced that somebody just prayed along with the pastor to give your life to Jesus Christ. Or maybe we dedicate your life because this message about overcoming discouragement has reminded you of the power of God in and through you to get you over even the most deep valley I pray that you know we stand ready to pray with you as well, knowing that if you just gave your life to Jesus or you just rededicate your life Dr. Wilson.

Once you have a wonderful group of informational packets of the speak I will give it to you for free if you call us and let us know at 866899 word that's 866-899-9673 brother will be online as well. The website is TW online.org would love to connect with you there is TW online.org are some wonderful resources right there like this when Jesus comes, I will see even those who crucified Jesus and this is not shocked or surprised it what's going on today better wake up America. Jesus is coming again this month for your gift of support in The Encouraging Word you will receive Dr. Milton's powerful and timely methods.

Trusting God the bonus DVD movie on celebrating Dell Graham life marked by the faithfulness of God, 86689 to request trusting God in the bonus DVD movie today at $20 or standing with us never again is 866-899-WORD that 866-899-WORD 9673 and before we get away closing words from our pastor and chief encourage or hurt The Encouraging Word Dr. Don Wilton you know every single time I get up and have the privilege of being able to shape God's word with you. I pray for you and awesome God to allow me to see you through my spiritual heart because I know how much God loves you. I just want you to know that it means a great deal to me that you would write to me that you would allow us to talk together. Your life is important. Important first to the Lord Jesus every step of every day. But it's also important to me because I'm part of your family. We are part of the family of God, so God bless you my friend. Thank you for letting me pray for you at times gone for today but there's more gray teaching on the way tomorrow. Dr. Wilson talks about getting our house in order. That's another powerful message coming up, and between now and then I stay connected our website@twonline.org that's TW online.org and always available for prayer at 866899 word that's 866899673