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Re: Bulletin Board [message #6126 is a reply to message #6121]

Fri, 16 October 2009 14:43

james
Messages: 2137
Registered: April 2008
Location: Birmingham, AL

Senior Member

Overcoming Discouragement...

I was reading in I Kings 18-19 where Elijah had gotten discouraged after he had experienced God's power and anointing when calling down fire from heaven to consume the burnt sacrifice on the altar. After the false prophets of Ba'al were killed Elijah went into the wilderness and stayed in a cave to get away from Jezebel(she didn't like him killing her prophets)

In verse 14 of I Kings 19, Elijah told The Lord; "...I have been very jealous for The Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."

God encouraged Elijah by first reminding him that he wasn't alone; verse 18 of chapter 19..."Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Ba'al, and every mouth which hath not kissed him." And second, by providing him with a helper, friend, and companion; Elisha.

I believe there's encouragement to be found in this account of what Elijah went through, for us today. It's easy to become discouraged, but we must remember that discouragement is a snare of the devil. We must focus on Jesus, His faithfulness in our past as well as His promise to keep us unto the end. Maybe things aren't happening like they did 25-30 years ago in our lives(maybe for some they are,if they are you should be giving God the glory and testifying about it to encourage others), maybe some of us feel like we're in that 'cave' in the wilderness...but even if that's true, remember, God sent an angel to feed Elijah. And he used that time to rest and strenghten himself for what lay ahead.

We, most of us, believe we're in the last days; are we using the time given us to prepare for what lies ahead? We can't become discouraged by what goes on around us, that only plays right into satans hand.

I believe The Lord would have us be encouraged, we're not alone, even though it may at times seem like it, there's an end-time army that God is preparing, who have not bowed their knees to the God of this world. The time is nearer than when we first believed, let us not become weary in well doing. He promised NEVER to leave us or forsake us...Remember our promise to Him? We said we'd never forsake Him, we promised to never let go of that plow handle, we said not our wills, but thine, O Lord. Stir up that which has been placed within us, it doesn't matter what's happening to the 'left' or the 'right', if we're dwelling in the secret place of The Most High...SURELY He shall deliver thee...

Remember the song we used to sing? 'Thou hast turn my mourning into dancing'.
Remember how it ends? 'To the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever.'
In the middle it says, 'Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness'...This song was written by David and is found in Psalms 30:11-12

We can't be discouraged while singing unto The Lord, while praying in The Spirit, while giving thanks unto God, while sharing The Word of God with others, or while focusing on Jesus. What is the victory that overcometh the world? Even our faith.

“But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,”

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