B-E-A-T Discouragement
“Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, Who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” –Psalm 43:5
- B-elieve the Promises of God
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.” -2 Peter 1:4
A. When discouragement strikes, many Christians are tempted to doubt God’s promises. They think they are written for others, not themselves.
B. God’s Word assures us that the promises “were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”(Romans 15:4), (Ps.1:2,3 )
C. Beat discouragement by believing God’s promises. We must read them(the Word of God), reread them, and appropriate/apply them for ourselves & our everyday life. (Related verses-Matthew 4:4, 24:35/Isaiah 40:8)
- E-xpect the Presence of God
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” -Hebrews 13:5-6
A. When discouraged, some Christians do not feel His presence and are tempted to doubt God and their salvation.
B. Few, if any, Christians feel God’s presence at all times. We must depend on our faith not feelings. (Hebrews 11:1)
C. To win over discouragement, we must expect God’s presence and rely on His promises. God said, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” –Isaiah 41:10
(Related verses- Matt. 28:20, Joshua 1:9, Deut. 31:6, Psalm 27:1)
- A-ccept the Peace of God
“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:7,(Romans 5:1)
A. Many Christians fail to accept the peace God offers. They persistently hold to their negative and distressed attitudes.
B. Through deliberate action, negatives must be replaced with positives. Look for the good things in life, not the bad. Think of all the answered prayers, unanswered prayers and undeserved blessings that God give and granted for you.
C. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” –John 14:27. Beat discouragement by simply accepting His peace.
- T-riumph with Praise to God
“..hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him...” –Psalm 43:5
A. Most of us fail to praise the Lord as we should. When discouragement strikes, we mope in self-pity and despair.
B. Praise enables us to win over discouragement. The more we praise Him, the greater victory we enjoy! Triumph by praising God!
C. The Psalmist(David-“man after God’s own heart”) said, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord.” –Psalm 122:1
“Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever.” –Psalm 106:1,107:1
“But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.” –Psalm 71:14
(Related verses- Psalm 100:2-3, 1 Samuel 12:24)
Life can be depressing when God is left out.But how exciting it is when He is at the center! –Herb Vander Lugt
The life that counts is linked with God
And hopes in His unfailing love;
It walks with joy where Jesus trod-
The life that counts is from above. –Anon
When we focus on Christ, everything else becomes clear..
Defining God’s mercy
“But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children’s children;” -Psalm 103:17
- Loving
“Hear me, O Lord; for thy loving kindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.” -Psalm 69:16
A. Webster defines mercy as “a blessing that is an act of divine favour or compassion.”
B. God’s mercy is loving. He loved us while we were afar off, still in our sins, and without hope.
C. Because of God’s loving mercy, He gave Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus gave Himself to die in our place. “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." –Romans 5:8
- Liberating
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” –John 8:36
A. Many Christians are in bondage to their own selfish desires. They are also in bondage to the opinions of others.
B. God’s mercy is liberating. It sets us free from self centeredness and the opinions of people.
C. Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” –John 8:32
- Lifting
“But Jesus took Him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.” –Mark 9:27
A. Jesus had mercy on the father of the epileptic boy. He healed the afflicted son. He “lifted him up; and he arose.”
B. God’s mercy lifts people today. The drunkard, gambler, thief, prostitute, homosexual, and all who repent and forsake their sins may be lifted up.
C. God’s Word promises, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9
- Lasting
“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.” – Psalm 100:5
A. Few things in today’s world are lasting. The material goods of this world wear out, rust, decay, and soon disappear.
B. Many people build their hopes on temporal things. They cannot take them to the next life. All must be left behind.
C. God’s mercy is everlasting. He is ever ready to forgive and cleanse those who come to Him in simple, trusting faith. (Read Psalm 136:1-26)
Burdens
are Lifted
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord,
and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
–Psalm 55:22
- The Surrendering
“Cast thy burden upon the Lord...” –Psalm 55:22
A. Many Christians fail to cast their burdens upon the
Lord. They try to carry them in their own strength and fail.
B. Some cast their burdens on the Lord but do not
leave them with Him. They continue to be crushed and overwhelmed.
C. Total surrender is needed. Our burdens must be left
with the Lord. Finite strength fails but God’s infinite power is all
sufficient.
D.
Peter
admonished, “Casting all your care upon
Him; for He careth for you.” -1 Peter 5:7
- The Sustaining
“...and He shall sustain thee:” –Psalm 55:22
A. Sustain means “to keep in existence; keep
up...carry weight or burden of...to strengthen the
spirits...comfort...encourage” –Webster.
B. Many Christians do not appropriate God’s sustaining
grace, because they fail to trust Him sufficiently.
C.
Scripture
says, “And the Lord shall help them, and
deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because
they trust in Him.” –Psalm 37:40
D.
God
sustains His trusting children. The Psalmist wrote, “I laid me down and slept; I awakened; for the Lord sustained me.” –Psalm
3:5
- The Stabilizing
“He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
–Psalm 55:22
A. Some Christians lack stability. They are
wishy-washy, up one day and down the next.
B. If we please God, we must be steadfast, keeping the
faith in the midst of trials, troubles, and testing.
C. God sometimes allows burdens to come to strengthen
our faith. He lifts them as we trust and obey.
D.
God’s
Word promises, “But the God of all grace,
Who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” -1 Peter
5:10
D-R-A-W
Near to God
“Draw nigh to
God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify
your hearts, ye double minded.” –James 4:8
I.
D-elight
“Delight thyself also in the Lord;
and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” –Psalm 37:4
a) Some Christians are overly concerned about world
conditions and their personal problems. Therefore, they fail to delight in the
Lord.
b) We draw near to God when we put everything in His
hands and trust Him for the results.
c)
The
Psalmist said, “I delight to do thy will,
O my God: yea, Thy law is within my heart.” –Psalm 40:8
II.
R-ely
“Trust in the Lord with all thine
heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” –Proverbs 3:5
a) Many Christians rely on self-effort and fail. Some
depend on other peole more than God.
b) We draw near to God by relying on Him for our
strength. Our strength is finite but God’s power is infinite.
c)
The
Psalmist admonished, “Commit thy way unto
the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.” –Psalm 37:5
III.
A-chieve
“That ye might walk worthy of the
Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in
the knowledge of God;” –Colossians 1:10
a) Achieve means “to attain a desired end or aim-to
become successful”-Webster
b) Some Christians fear criticisms or failure. Paul
said, “I can do all things through Christ
which strenghteneth me.” –Philippians 4:13
c) We draw near to God when we do His work, using our
time, talent, and treasure to assist the less fortunate, comfort the bereaved,
and console the sick and lonely.
IV.
W-ait
“I waited patiently for the Lord;
and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry.” –Psalm 40:1
a) Many Christians become impatient. The fail to wait
upon the Lord because they want everything to happen at their appointed time.
b) God’s timing is always best. He is never too early
or too late. Waiting should be a time of drawing near to God.
c)
Scripture
says, “But they that wait upon the Lord
shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” –Isaiah 40:31
