Keep Pressing Ahead - Facing Discouragement, Part 1

Is like beat you down. No job.

Marriage may be a problem with your kids you feel like throwing in the towel. I mean literally just getting up before you make one more decision.

Would you hit the pause button life and spend the next 20 minutes with me. God wants to enter into your situation and bring hope you personally in the midst of your most discouraging time stay with welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge shipping chips are Bible teacher of this international teaching and discipleship industry in this program. Chip continues his series.

Keep pressing ahead but explaining how it's possible to face discouragement, head on and bring God's power to bear on your most difficult situation chips in Nehemiah chapter 4. So open your Bible, and maybe do a quick download of chips message. Note from the broadcasts tab of LivingontheEdge.org with the app just Billing notes. Alex joined them for part one of his message facing discouragement want to start with two questions that I have an answer to the second question question number one is what is the most difficult distressing discouraging situation in your life right now me what person what circumstance makes you feel like I want to give up.

I want to give in, forget it may not send it to anyone but suggest I want to get that in your mind, there's one thing that God could just wipe away and make right make different make easy solve for you, what would it be question number two is why must you keep pressing ahead. Why must you not give up not give in not opt out. Not even quietly quit. Why is it so important to persevere and here's the answer because the greatest things that will ever happen in your life will be birthed or forged in adversity. Think of that the greatest things will ever happen on this journey on earth. Although we hate adversity. We hate all that comes with it.

But I'm telling you the greatest achievements you ever have the greatest relationships you'll ever develop the greatest discoveries that you ever have the greatest good the greatest impact the greatest times when you know God the times when you'll be more honest with yourself. The times of greatest growth. The greatest things that will ever happen in your life will be either birthed out of adversity or they'll be forged and shaped during the difficult time and when you get with people who have lived a little bit longer and you to start packing around about how in the world did you get here and how did this happen and what happened and they will talk about pain and difficulty in discouragement and redirections and things that God did so, it's true May night if you just leafed through the Bible to start leafing through the body as it was through Joseph Struve, Esther met New Testament coming out of the early church startled a lot of adversity and it's even true in just sort of that, the general world most people when they quit quit just before something great was going to happen.

I wonder what the music world would be like if Elvis would've listened to the stage manager when he had the opportunity for the first time to go public and sing at the grand old Opry in the stage manager said son, keep driving trucks. You never gonna make. I wonder what would happen to all the people that love those Western novels when Louis l'Amour got several hundred rejections before anyone ever said we think you might be able to write a book. I wonder what would happen if Thomas Edison on try number 999, would just say I'm done, you know what this lightbulb stuff this whole electric stuff.

It'll never work. He had over a thousand failures before he discovered how the lightbulb would work and then I think of the where the basketball world would be your Michael Jordan if you would've said you know they cut me for my high school team. I guess I'm not very good at this, so here's what I want you to see what are you just on the other side of what you going through right now. The got a sink, don't bail out, opt out, don't quietly quit. You need to persevere, you need to let me use this adversity. This difficulty, this pain to talk about why God does it, but then how to overcome the number one enemy is what happens is you get discouraged and I get discouraged and and we quit and sometimes we act like were doing it on the outside but we quit on the inside so the very thing that God wanted to do doesn't happen marriage, it could've been saved doesn't get saved the kid that could get the encouragement doesn't get it.

The ministry that was just ready to break loose, well forget it. It's never going to work the person who said you know this, gonna make it on to break this addiction.

They get a setback, I'll forget I'm discouraged, they quit. And the thing is, than the ripples. Your relationships, the ripples of all the people in all the network of those who come behind you and so you notice in your notes. We'll talk about facing discouragement and working to face it because it's our friend doesn't feel like a friend but your friend and the big piece in this whole series you can keep pressing ahead when you can begin to rethink the adversity in your life.

Adversity is an uninvited unwanted friend but notice in the hands of an all-knowing God, and God has three purposes for adversity at least three first to wean us from our self dependency and pride to usher us second into a deeper intimacy with Jesus. And third, to redirect our pass. Stir in hard times it you realizing that that's not the right person. That's not the right decision. That's not the right job to redirect our pass for our greatest good in his greatest glory. Let me tell you why God brings adversity in your life. Number one need to remember its normal number two it's expected, Peter would say to people persecuted just expected. It's a fiery trial, Gotto use it for goodies can use it to test you.

Third, it's purposeful this is.

This doesn't get wasted unless you bail out.

He is going to make you and do things in you and through you.

It could never happen.

Apart from what you're going through.

Number four.

It's powerful something happens inside of people they get established, they get strong. There's character, there's confidence. There's a skill set there's capacity of what happens when people go through hard things and finally it's temporary right. It's not last forever. Here's what you need. Understand if you don't get thinking clearly about adversity what God says and I will tell you, you will spend your whole life trying to avoid it. You will try to manipulate you try to maneuver. God has the adversity or the difficulty of the problem or the circumstance in your life.

Casinos you perfectly and he's all wise and he's good and he wants to use it in ways to grow you deep to give you good to strengthen your relationships to draw you closer to him and then both use you in ways in the future to help other people you never could.

If you went through. Now with that said bottom of your notes. God has a promise for you and it's a promise. We don't like. It's one of those promises. Here's God's will for you.

Are you ready sometimes what's God's will. If I just know God's will. It's so difficult it's hard God, show me your will. Here's God's will. You have need of endurance.

Hoopoe Menno so that once you've done the will of God. You don't bail out.

You don't give then it's a great attitude I'm trusting is by faith. It's hard. I don't like it. I'm honest with God, but so that once you've done the will of God, you might receive that which was promised there's a rich rich reward, but the will of God for all of us going through adversity, whether it's in your marriage, whether it's in your singleness, whether it's in your job, whether it's your lack of job whether it's a personal issue with a personality problem. The will of God is. Don't give up. Persevere trust me any promises. As you trust him.

He'll do in you and through you.

His perfect plan and purpose in Morgan, who is working to follow Nehemiah as he blazes the trail in a chapter 4 he's going to face discouragement. If you don't know the story.

Nehemiah pick it up in chapter 1 what you find is a man has the right hand man of the King. There wasn't leadership. People were worshiping God. I mean it's a complete mess, but he's in a position of power. Next to the king, he begins to pray God puts a dream on his heart. He recruits a team he takes a radical step of faith. He comes up with a plan and the king says okay what here's some money here September. Here's some people you can go back to Jerusalem. He was living in Persia at the time the world rulers. You can go back and get that thing going and so the people are motivated and and the agenda was to rebuild this wall around Jerusalem is huge wall as we pick up the story. They're not quite half done.

Nehemiah chapter 4. Open your Bibles if you will, let's pick it up together first three verses when San ballot heard that we were rebuilding the wall. He became angry. By the way, he will be one of the bad guys in the story, and he was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates in the Army of Samaria. He said what are those feeble Jews doing what restore the wall. Will they offer sacrifices probably finish in the day can they bring the stones back to life, from those heaps of rubble burned as they are to buy of the Ammonite. He was by his side said what what they're building if even a fox climbed on it. It would break down their wall of stones. Here's the point I want you to get God ordained steps of faith are almost always followed by significant opposition and adversity. The hardest thing to get because we just have this unconscious idea that if I do what God wants me to do. We went to marriage counseling. I'm starting to read my Bible. I set some boundaries for one of my kids I went to an AA meeting or celebrate recovery time taking these steps and then instead of things getting better and worse, it gets harder. It's more difficult know what got what's the deal honey you prompted me you brought people in my life. I'm trying to do what you said get this clear. When you take steps to follow God, it will almost always get far worse before it gets better as you can make a difference.

You make a difference in you, you can make a difference in your family. You make a difference in your relationships. You make a difference in the world and every time you do then there's the opposition knows what the opposition here attack number one words that cause us to question our worth our work and our probability of success. The words were criticism right ridiculed it look look at the text. It's really interesting. Notice what are these feeble Jews doing what was he saying you're an adequate you're not strong enough.

You're not smart enough. You don't have the capability why are you trying to do this you don't measure up. You don't have it. How many of you had that read in your mind. You'll never amount to anything. You never make it here listening to the work.

It's the attack on your worth and so the criticism and is not only the attack on on on who they are but notice he goes on to say, will they will they will. They can they come in is only three verses is what I do. They're saying they can't do it, but then they attack their work in a fox would get on what they built and just fall down who you are, doesn't measure up what you're doing is not worth anything and so what what's what's the thing, the probability of success.

If I'm sit and listen to this.

I'm thinking you know when Nehemiah said this is not like such a good idea and I was yeah yeah Rob Rob, let's go for what these guys are, right. I mean, who are we to do this this and work. Look how high this thing is like a big three counseling sessions will argue more now than we did before I put in 433 resumes. I still have a job. Forget it. You know I did what they said. I called every time I was ready to you know nobody knows and would last night I just got off the wagon. I guess I'll always be stuck sis. Scott works and sometimes those voices of criticism. Sometimes they come from out there, but a lot of times a come right in here it is driving a car. Never heard this in every amount anything you don't think you can really quit your sons never get a change given up. You know what this jobs a dead end. Why do you keep and you can get up and perfunctory leg go through the motions but your heart can get turned off and you no longer trust in God. You no longer walk with God. You no longer believing the promise that God can see you through this. So that's the first attack notice Nehemiah's response in verses four through six here us OR God for were despised turned their insults back on their own heads give them over as plunder in a land of captivity do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your site, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders. Literally, they demoralize them.

So what's he do first thing he does it he prays and notice I you know part of us. We got some really bad orientations toward you hear the word prayer. I think some of us think prayers.

Now I lay me down to sleep. You know these aren't.

Now I lay me down to sleep. Prayers get to feel the emotion in this one you feel the passion you feel a fight. God what's going on here. So often we feel ashamed to do that are afraid to do that are like I can handle it. I shouldn't talk to them that way.

Nehemiah sent I'm on a mission from you about something you called me to do and then I'm getting ripped up and start to have these feelings and these thoughts and the people around me thinking were inadequate. We can't make it what were doing and worth anything and I can hear me in my thinking. I hear the buzz you know is I you not get my stuff over here and heads are you not by body, what you think is the McNabb things and where another name is Christ and truth and you hear that other stuff and think it, and so he says I mean God I want to intervene. You praying this conference is stepping up and saying the God of the universe who called me to do this.

It is his will for this marriage to work.

It is his will for this child to turn around. It is his will to be a light at that company.

It is his will for you to make a difference.

It's his well for you to be pure and free. And so you pray that you pray boldly and you praying with power and you praying with passion, not some little guy will you help me I don't really think it's can work, but it's really nice that would prayers in the notice, you know, if he didn't just pray he keeps pressing ahead. It just keeps pressing ahead. Look at verse six. So we rebuilt the wall to all of it reached A type Y for the people worked with all their heart what he said it was really hard. They were demoralized.

We ask God for help and why were asking for help. We didn't sit around and have a pity party.

We got after it. We just keep pressing ahead God work. Becky worked in a very very powerful way. The first attacks are with words, and they attack our worth in our work and so to our faith of believing what's going to happen.

The second most formidable attack when you're a Christ follower and you are fulfilling what God wants you to do is discouragement.

I mean you gonna face a lot of things in your life it of all the things I've seen. I think the most devastating thing I've seen really strong really bright really gifted people get so discouraged they just quit doing what obviously God wants to bless and already has. And sometimes it doesn't happen when things are going bad. I've had some of my most discouraging times were it's almost unexplainable like as if this is going well this is going well this is going well. God is blessing. This was this and then I'll have these overwhelming feelings, but you know you're the worst person that I know Chip you're a terrible pastor.

You're a bad dad.

You're a lousy husband you said this and you know so-and-so thought that in this email said that and and I just I just have this quiet little moment while this gets up in my head and I just had this thought of you to do some notes for give her have it. I just want to do this anymore on things can work how do you respond to that everybody has that and everybody has an almost any area on any given time to learn that there's four causes of discouragement. But let's look at the text together. Look at verses seven through 12 but when Sand ballot to buyer and Arabs, the ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed. They were very angry so you attack everyone comes look criticism will ridicule they pray they press ahead will now another making progress again will the enemy sees making progress in stalking other ticked off, here we go. They all plodded together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to stir up trouble against us.

Now notice the repetition here.

This is almost a reflex with this man but we prayed to our God and we posted a guard day and night to meet the threat, prayer, action, prayer action not know listen very carefully.

Meanwhile, the people in Judah and other words if you would go to the local coffee shop and Judah were in Jerusalem.

Jude is a surrounding area. If you go to local coffee shop and you hear the storekeepers and people talking. This is the bus.

This is kind of what people talk about notice what he says the people and Judah said the strength of the laborers is giving out. Second, there is so much trouble and we cannot rebuild the wall.

Then he goes on. Also our enemies. So this is what the people, the Jews are saying around Judah units not then look like it's going real well. Also, our enemies have said before they know it or CS will be right there and will be among them and will kill them and put it into the work then the Jews who live near them. I mean, you know, this is let's get everybody in on the game. The Jews who live near them came and told us 10 times over where ever you turn they will attack us and then in verses 13 he responds. If we wanted to break those apart. You see four causes of discouragement. The first is a loss of strength and just right next to that. The problem is fatigue. What what's it say it says the strength of the laborers is giving out you are vulnerable to get very discouraged and sometimes the problem is you're just fatigue. It's too much.

You're up early. You're up late you're doing a lot and you might've been doing a lot of the right thing. But you go and you go and you go and you go and when you get tired and when you get fatigue and you get emotionally vulnerable than you are prime for discouragement. That's why it's very counterintuitive to stop and take breaks. It's very counterintuitive to take care of yourself. It's very counterintuitive to stop and do some things at a renewing and fun when there's a lot to do, but as someone said this journeys a marathon not a sprint listing to chips talk discouragement series.

Keep pressing ahead. Chip will be back with the final word about his message, but before you is I hope you'll take a second to go online or Share and encourage others to hear this message to adversity comes in all shapes and sizes, discouragement, opposition, tough circumstances and personal failure. But with this series chip gives you the tools and the tactics you need to keep pressing ahead no matter what, for limited time, keep pressing ahead resources are discounted and the MP3s are free to order your copy or to send it to a friend. Just visit us online at http://livingontheedge.org or give us a call at 1-888-333-6003 before I come back with some really practical next steps from today's teaching I want to stop and let you know your financial support of this ministry is really impacting the lives of people I mean very very real people all over the world.

Every week more than a million people listen or watch your reader discuss or study a resource that comes from Living on the Edge. In fact, I just got a letter from an 18-year-old girl in Nebraska and she writes I was driving on my way to the post office and I was listening to your message. I've really been discouraged lately. No, just like Nehemiah disappointed discouraged she's down she goes.

Thanks so much for your work.

God really spoke to me today.

The only way we do. That is, there is a team, a family, a cadre of people that financially support us and so first I want to say thank you for those of you that support us. Second, if you are being ministered to by Living on the Edge you just get your car or you podcast tutor you catches on TV here and there and every time you come to save yourself you know this is really helping me.

Could I ask you to partner with us on me today and it doesn't have to be a large gift, but partner with us so that we could keep helping people all around the world. It'll make a big difference. Thanks a much to send a gift to Living on the Edge Donate, click the donate button that LivingontheEdge.org or give us a call at 188833360034 chip and the team here. Thanks for your continued generosity and your financial partnership with elders chip with a final thought as we close today's program could I just ask you a very simple little question. How about you, where are you feeling discouraged today and what what what just has that sort of that great feeling that comes over your soul that pushes you down. You try and keep it at bay but just there's little motivation and you just don't feel close to God. You may be don't feel close to people you don't have any sort of umph to get out and do what you know you need to do and maybe even find yourself you know in some very negative activities. Maybe the blatantly sinful, but he does find yourself watching too much TV you're eating too much food and cut it in this drift that is taking you in very negative places. What what he is struggling with.

Could it be, is it possible that you're trying to fight this battle on your own and alas the message we said you know I can't. He never said I could, he can.

He always said he would. It was the Philippians chapter 4 verse 13, and one of the things we get discouraged if we get inside of it and we try and pull out of it in our own strength and sometimes I found my own experience and as of counsel to other people, even when I just do it inside my mind.

I just cry out to God. God help me I'm not motivated.

II feel down I can feel myself going from discouragement to depression and in my case that's a bad place to go and maybe you just need to cry out to God and then you know when you're doing life in community as we talked about this whole series. Often I need someone in my case it's it's one of my kids are more often even my wife and and shall say just two days ago Teresa said you know what's wrong honey seemed kinda down. I said what Cunningham and she said so what's going on and I said I don't know she's a what you mean is it well you not, I'd I don't know I just don't feel motivated to still come to discouraged and and then she pointed out some basic things like, well, we've traveled for two days you haven't had much sleep you been through a number of time zones. I know you pretty well. You had a workout in about four days. You know what maybe a good night sleep healthy meal in a workout you feel a lot better will here I am 36 hours later, I've eaten well I've had to work out. So I got a good night sleep and of miraculous thing happen. I feel a lot better is all I want to say to you is get to the heart of what is discouraging you and if it is the need for rest or the loss of strength. Give yourself permission God's and graceful God let him love you, let him give you some rest and our next broadcast will talk about some other very specific causes of discouragement and how in the power of the spirit of God you can beat them will just before we close. We want you to know that as a staff we ask the Lord to help you take whatever your next step is. We'd love to hear how it's going. Would you take a minute to send us a note or give us a call either one is easy. Just send a quick note to chip@livingontheedge.org or give us a call at 188833360030. I hope you'll join us again next time, Mr. continues his series.

Keep pressing ahead. Until then, this is Dave releasing thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge