Take Courage - Part 2

Today on Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt challenges you to become a fully functioning follower of Jesus Christ. We are his ambassadors. We are plan if it works it has to work in us for many of us like the vacuum cleaner door to door selling forgot to bring the vacuum cleaner. But we tell people how great the vacuum cleaner is over and visit us in our houses going up today on this additional Fellowship in the Word pastor Bill Gebhardt Fellowship in the Words the radio ministry of Fellowship Bible church located in Metairie, Louisiana. Let's join Pastor Bill Gebhardt now again he shows us how God's word.

Our world sometimes when you change the priorities of your life. Discouragement sometimes when you recommit your marriage and try to put your marriage back together was followed by a period of discouragement sometimes and you rededicate yourself to the disciplines.

The Christian life getting in the word of God getting in prayer being around other believers worshiping God, followed by.

Discouragement really believe that that's all part of the strategy.

The ideas that that's a time to drag you back down. I can remember myself that the one. My life I can remember really being discouraged with the end of the second year Dell seminary and the end of the second year I was discouraged enough to really contemplate not finishing just moving back to Western Pennsylvania. I was really I hadn't want to say this, I had had enough of Hebrew and he would had enough of me today. I mean, it was just that way. And by the way when you're sitting beside in class. Old Testament majors and people who really afford recreational reading read Hebrew and Eucharistic. You just feel like a buffoon in that class. But I can just remember thinking I just think it's time to pack. I just think it's time I just had so I'm so tired of them ever talk to Paul Meyer, the prison psychiatrist professional in my classes.

His whole view was that that's good that means you're right on the right track is the enemy is real. Discouragement is being hung out in front of you. See if you quit, don't quite and I remember making it through and I could see that was a point in life are Satan after you finally figured he might be doing something constructive. Who knows.

So let's try to come up before he does. Happens all the time I get couples in my office, especially marriage counseling go to a lot of difficulties and then when they get what is a breakthrough when they recommit, they really want to try to put together their marriage and it had all off a lot of issues and a lot of pain being distributed back and forth. Inevitably, I know that at first Sunday after the counseling I'll see them will be in the lobby to be actually holding hands and eliciting giddy happy at that time but I know within a month or so to be back in the saved always discourage something came up. Something happened the other shoe fell something big and it's always part of the strategy to destroy your commitment always part of the strategy to make you discouraged and so the timing of discouragement so often after you've had spiritual breakthroughs in your life. So if you're a spiritual high point in your life.

Be leery at that particular time Singh would love nothing more than stop your enthusiasm for Jesus Christ, to the reason for discouragement is comparison and the timing for the discouragement right after spiritual high and the solution was right there.

As I read it in verse four solution to discouragement, take courage, he says that Zerubbabel take courage, Joshua, and then to the people he says take courage that amazing how what is the solution to discourage drop edition just drop the disc in your left courage.

That's what his tone, take courage and humor were I do remember some Hebrew by the way that Hebrew word means inner tenacity means persevere means in Dorton. That's what it says it's an anxious take courage to that's right at the heart of the solution to courage to discouragement is courage, but the element of what courage is, is courage is doing things persevering through things and doing things and we don't feel like it or place in turn with me to Hebrews chapter 10 Hebrews chapter 10 verse 32 right of Hebrews says.

But remember the former days when after being enlightened. Notice after they had a spiritual high after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations and probably become insurers with those who were so treated for you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have yourselves a better possession of an abiding one discouragement was right there for the Hebrew believers. Betsy had the property being seized by Hebrew Jewish authorities because they were believers in Jesus Christ, they were losing their way of living, easy to be discouraged. He says of them, though. After you and let you endured verse 35 therefore he says do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward for you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God. You may receive what was promised and what you need to endure you endurance you need the courage of endurance in Chapter 11, then of Hebrews the whole chapter which we call the Hall of Fame of faith is really the Hall of Fame of endurance and as he writes on and on. He tells you what they endured in the beatings. They took some of them were killed. Some of them cave. He goes on and on and on. But notice over and chapter 12. Then at the end of the Hall of Fame.

The examples he had a faith, he says. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him did what endured. That's kind of what courage does. By the way, and that's what faith does faith F a I TH forsaking all I trust him faith signal. I trust him. How endure whatever it takes. That comes out to look like courage is endurance will we needed we needed in our lives not to be discouragement to have courage need of revenue needed by the end Betty Davis at older ages and for cowards you know and she's right you know we read this, we see the Hall of Fame of faith and we keep thinking these are the people that had it so wonderful because these are the champions of the Christian faith. They were stoned, they were sawn into they were tempted.

They were put to death of the sword.

They went about in sheepskins and goat skins being destitute, afflicted and ill treated. There's the champions of our faith of what they endured to enter. Christianity is a little bit like it's just the sort of like the ad it was in the paper lost dog three legs blind and left eye missing right here tell broken accidentally neutered answers to the name of lucky Christians are like is wounded is painful. What makes it so exceptional was not the fact that we don't have it never happened to us is that we can endure and have courage as we go through it back to Haggai take courage take courage to take courage and then is declares the Lord, and work there is be courageous drop in this not get back to work. That's what he says just going back to what you are doing, which is pretty mundane compared to what Solomon had done pretty much normal everyday life.

He said that's what it takes courage is absolutely operating in the normal world in the midst of fear. Fear of anything. Comparison failure whatever it is but courage operates. That's what it does. Mark Twain said courage is the mastery of fear not the absence of it and know that's really what it takes. And so even though they were discouraged by comparison feeling they weren't accomplishing anything. God's answer to. It was just get busy, take courage, persevere indoor and start building again. That's the solution to discouragement. Now the question is though how you do that to me that's the question we known what to do is one thing but how to do it.

That something else that's what he gives us and the rest of the chapter is going to say to Haggai's gonna say three things to us there when you're discourage drop the disc get busy and you can do it by one first, one by remembering what God is doing. See the end of verse four for I am with you, says the Lord of hosts, how can I take courage is as well because I'm with you, says the Lord of hosts it with think of things bother you. What are you comparing the makes you discouraged in your life is what is it because it is a spare fear in your life, and he says don't worry about that, get busy, for I am with you.

It's interesting to me that this idea that I am with you is to simply trying to tell you book you know face this alone and I think that's often what we end up doing only get despairing or discouraged. We actually were facing something along but you never says I am with you. He enlightens me he strengthens me. That's what he does.

There are no limitations to what God can do, of God working in your life, no limitations mean that's an amazing thing. Paul said to the Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 1 that he prayed that he wished that they would know the power, the power that they had at their disposal. And then he goes on explains that powers resurrection power is that's where my personal you would understand the power that you have.

Paul understood in the Philippians he said I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me. You understand what you really have a resource if you know Jesus Christ in the spirit of God." To understand the resources that you have the resources to give you contentment and circumstance are difficult if you contentment in the midst of ill health. Given the perseverance to work out the problems and situations you're a networker in your marriage have any idea what your disposal pulses are only way I can tell you what's at your disposal as you have a sense of the pot of power that you have the same kind of power that raised Christ in the dead think about that that what you think about when something discourages you. You and God are majority mean that's really what it takes you and God are majority in the matter how fearful it may seem that you now discouraged you are, you can persevere through that I'm reading the account once of a Rosa Parks seminar bus in Montgomery, Alabama really changed the United States forever and for the good. She said on that bus. She was not a real assertive person. She said I knew I was not sitting there alone I knew I sat there with the Lord and I was going to take whatever came my way because I knew I could because he was with me courage. I am with you, says the Lord. By remembering what God is doing in the present notice Nextel by remembering what God has done in the past what he is promised. As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt. My spirit is abiding in your midst, do not fear back to Exodus 29 holder placing the back to Exodus 29, right at the end when he come out of Egypt. The building the tabernacle. At that time. In Exodus 29 the last two verses of Exodus 29 God tells the nation Israel in verse 45 and 46 of Exodus 29 but I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and I will be their God and they shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord our God wants to let them know when you're leaving out of 400 years of slavery is that I want you to know that when I I'm not just going to deliver you out of Egypt but I'm delivering you out of Egypt so that I can have a relationship with you in the promised land back to Haggai that is exactly what happens to us to one of the beauties the Christian life is that what is not that just when you die you get to go to heaven when you trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, heaven, comes the new. That's one of the great things about Christianity. It's not just a number to go one day and be with God but the day I trusted Christ, God came to be with me, he says, is not just I want to give you the promised land and deliver you from the land of Egypt or the world. But what I want to have as a relationship with you is and that's what I want to have. By remembering what God has promised in the New Testament.

He says things like, I will never leave you nor forsake you know about you but that's not a discouraging thought is an is encourage me. He says things like he who began a good work in you, he is faithful to complete it. He said that's what I do all things work together for the good. He tells me over and over again to his promises. What can happen in my life by remembering what God is promised in my life by remembering what God is doing present and past, but he doesn't stop there. Notice now in verse six for thus says the Lord of host once more in a little while. I going to shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and also the dryland I was sick all the nations, and they will come with wealth of all the nations, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts, the silver is mine the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts the latter glory of the house will be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts, and in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts one to say Lord of hosts are quite a few times because he wanted to let you know who was really in charge as he is not only by remember what God is doing in the present. But what got us, and also by what God's promise in the past, but also we cannot be discouraged by remembering what God will do in the future matter how dismal your present is the present is do you have any idea how bright your future.

Any idea you see what he's doing there as he knew that they were discouraged by comparison.

They were comparing the Solomon's Temple God says don't even think about it when you see the temple to fill that spot at the end reducing the temple I put there when all the nations will come here to see what it's like when a rain from a thousand years here with you. See what happens. Is it still you get it. Just don't get it.

The silver is mine the gold is mine.

God says I don't need more stop.

You see all the cattle and all the hills bongo going the Psalm as they belong to God. God's as I don't need more stuff you think about this for a minute wondering what can you give God that he needs. Think about that is, even when we gave him and we supportively give of our time or if you give of our resources when we give our resources the God we write a check. I was so given that the guy got a call from Rich doesn't think that this he needed money, no Nestlé's trying to tell them I don't need the effect when I need is the effort that's what I want see what I want from you is your heart what I want from you is that a motivated life for my glory. When one for you in Israel. What I want for you is to build the temple. I don't care if it looks like Solomon Solomon's be nothing compared to what will be like in the end he said all the source mine and all the Goldmine anyway.

See, that's one of the things it should really keep us from getting discouraged is the fact that if we understand the future what's in life for us. The future is great. The future is wonderful.

No more sorrow no more tears, no more comparisons know what heaven will be better looking than your interest in knowing no one had will have more stuff than you know. All the same seat. When you think of it. Ultimately the future no one heaven will be healthier than you know what heaven will have better site than you better hearing no one in heaven will be any different than you are that your future, he said that should encourage you as a believer, even in the Hebrews chapter 11 that should encourage me to be able to endure so many the difficulties of life. You see, I'm afraid this so often the things that should discourage us, don't the things that should not do. Chrysostom, one of the great church fathers, Greek believer, was arrested by the Roman Emperor when he was arrested by the Roman Emperor was taken in front of the Emperor and the Emperor asked one of his advisors, he said, so I put him in a dungeon. One of his counselor said no. Will be glad to go. He longs for the quietness wherein he can delight in the mercies of his God Emperor stop for a moment thought he said will then go beat will execute counsel said no. I won't bother. He said he will also be glad to die, declares that in the event of his death, he will be in the presence of the Lord. He loves and serves Emperor to be will settle what we do with them. Then one counselor said there's only one thing that will give Chrysostom pain to cause Chrysostom to suffer make him sin is afraid of nothing but sin.

What discourage Chrysostom when he said that anything else discouraging will put them in prison all discouraging will kill all discouraging update and cause him to sin. They want successful in that, but the point of it is one of perspective.

Just think of that was how people saw you. The only thing it can to discourage those people.

The only discourage them is when they sin in their life that the people know you see, I'm afraid we discouraged but almost anything else. Some of us should be billboards for discouragement and we wonder why people really don't want to come to Christ. Don't you want to have all the joy I have been how we do that see when we do that. Remember we are his ambassadors.

We are his plan if it works it has to work in us for many of us would like the vacuum cleaner door-to-door salesman forgot to bring the vacuum cleaner. But we tell people how great the vacuum cleaner is been a come over and visit us in the house is filthy, we should not be discouraged by anything but sin, we should be the kind of people that was Chrysostom's idea. You cannot discourage this person to downsize in the office won't bother him.

I will bother her. She's an invasive trust in God is to go for a checkup counter what they say won't bother them, they don't get discouraged about things like that. You see, and whatever that kind discouragement comes what Haggai is telling us look when I can't discourage comes from the disk take of courage. Get to work remembering just remembering what God isn't doing your life right now.

But God's promise to your life and his work what God's going to do with your life. In the end if you do that he says you want be discouraged. You'll be an encouragement as a proverb says don't be a mouse because the cattle eat you and for us as Christians, we had to be so careful with that we should not be. People are discouraged, we have the everything we need not to be the source of courage is God, the focus of courage is his word promises the motivation for courage and to be your prayers. And when you're facing something. It's discouraging to you, take it to the Lord. Pray about it given to you be amazed what he wants to do in your life. Discouragement should not be fatal to any of us. We should request to build your heart on the radio ministry of fellowship Lord, if you ever miss one of our broadcast or maybe you just like listen to the message one more time. Remember, you can Google a great website called one place.com that's one place.com and you can listen the fellowship and the word online that website you will find on with today's broadcast but also many of our previous audio programs as well at Fellowship in the Word. We are thankful for those who financially support our ministry and make this broadcast possible.

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