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KEY WORDS OF THE CHRISTIAN WALK

INTRODUCTION

The Christian walk is not all glorious as some would have us to believe. There are some days in our lives that we would just as soon skip. If we had our choice, there would be some days in our lives that we would not choose to live.

As Christians, even when we have one of those days, we still have a peace concerning the spiritual dimensions of lives. Even in the not-so-pleasant times we have the assurance in our hearts that no matter what happens, our salvation is settled.

But many times, if we are honest, we feel as if life just does not play fair with us.

Life throws us curves from time to time that we don’t know how to handle.

There are many words that must be in the vocabulary of the child of God. We are going to begin tonight to look at three key words in the life of the Christian. All three of these words are important words because we all have, or will, encounter them in the expectations of our lives.

Oftentimes we like to try to handle things ourselves. Understand that there are some things that we face that are beyond our ability to handle or control. There are even some issues of life that we cannot even begin to handle on our own. Those are the issues we just have to leave to God.

Actually everything in our life should be handled with God.

When difficult time come, we do have a choice in how we handle those times. We can choose whether we will be:

Discouraged in our Christian walk.

Encouraged in our Christian walk. or

Courageous in our Christian walk.

Tonight we will consider the first of these three key words. We must choose whether we will be Discouraged in our Christian walk.

I.         WE CAN BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK BECAUSE THE WAY WE ARE GOING GETS DIFFICULT. (Numbers 21:4)

            A.        Israel Became Discouraged Because Of The Way.

                        It says here in our text:

“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.”

                        1.         The path they took was not an easy path.

                        2.         According to historians, the journey from Mount Hor was probably begun around the time that would correspond to our August-September.

                        3.         That would be the hottest and driest part of the year.

                        4.         The route lay along a rocky, barren plain hemmed in on either side by mountains, and was subject to sandstorms.

                        5.         This wasn’t any 'walk in the park' so they became discouraged.

            B.        We Can Also Become Discouraged In The Christian Walk Because Of The Way. 

                        1.         Contrary to the 'pie in the sky' preachers on TV, our walk for the Lord can be difficult at times.

                        2.         Jesus told His Disciples in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

                        3.         Paul encouraged Timothy to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ in 2 Timothy 2:3. 

                        4.         The examples of the early New Testament believers reveal that Jesus' words were certainly true.

                        5.         The Book of Hebrews was written to some discouraged Jewish believers.

Hebrews 10:36–“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.”

                        6.         The same is true for the book of 1 Peter.

                                    (1 Peter 1:5-7, 2:19-21, 3:14-15; 4:1, 4:12-16, 19, 5:8-9)

III.      WE CAN BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK BECAUSE OF THINGS THAT HAPPEN THAT WE DON’T UNDERSTAND.

            A.        There Are Many Examples In Scripture Of Those Who Became Discouraged Because Things Happened That They Didn’t Understand.

                        1.         Job.

                        2.         The Disciples after the death of Jesus.

                        3.         Paul’s many hardships. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9; 12:7-10.

            B.        We Can Also Become Discouraged When Things Happen That We Don’t Understand.

                        1.         This can take many shapes and forms:

                                    An unexpected illness.

                                    An untimely death of a loved one.

The loss of a job.

                                    A financial setback.

                                    A spouse goes bad.

                                    Many other things we might could mention tonight.

                        2.         Some things to keep in mind about this:

                                    a.         Whatever Is Happening To Us Is Coming To Us God Filtered.

1 Corinthians 10:13–“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

                                    b.        God Knows What We Are Facing.

                                    c.         God Cares About Us. 1 Peter 5:7

                                    d.        Allow God To Get The Glory In Your Trials.

II.       WE CAN BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR CHRISTIAN WALK BECAUSE OF OTHERS WHO DISCOURAGE US IN FOLLOWING GOD. (Numbers 32:7)

            A.        Israel Became Discouraged Because Of Others Who Discouraged Them.

In Numbers 32:7 it says, “And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the LORD hath given them?”

                        1.         The tribes of Reuben and Gad determined not to go into the promised land.

                        2.         They chose to settle on East of the Jordan river.

                        3.         As a result Moses was concerned that their action would bring discouragement to the rest of the tribes.

                        4.         He said, “And wherefore discourage ye the heart of the children of Israel from entering into the land.”

                        5.         Now, Moses had good reason for his concern.

                        6.         He reminds them of what had taken place earlier with the spies. (Vs 9_

“For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the LORD had given them.”

De 1:28–“Whither shall we go up? our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, The people is greater and taller than we; the cities are great and walled up to heaven; and moreover we have seen the sons of the Anakims there.”

            B.        We Can Also Become Discouraged In The Christian Walk Because Of Others Who Discourage Us.

                        1.         Other believers can and sometimes will discourage us in our walk for God.

                        2.         The Bible makes it clear that usually when someone turns back from following the Lord, it causes others to turn back.

                        3.         Peter determined to return to the fishing business after denying the Lord, and he took others with him.

John 21:2-3 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee.

                        4.         What we do can and will have an impact on others around us.

                        5.         Often we can become discouraged because of other believers, and if we are not careful, our walk for God is hindered.

                        6.         God hates Church dissension. You want to know why?

                                    a.         Because it is wicked and goes against the idea of the Church.

                                    b.         Because people get caught up in it and get discouraged and sometimes quit because of other believers.

            May God help us not to be discouraging to others.

Conclusion

We Can Become Discouraged In Our Christian Walk:

            Because The Way We Are Going Gets Difficult.

            Because Things Happen That We Don’t Understand.

            Because Others Discourage Us In Following God.

God in His infinite wisdom created each of us with the power to make choices. That means that although there are many situations and circumstances that we cannot control, we get to decide how we will react to the circumstances of life.

We decide whether or not we will become discouraged. Tonight I want to challenge you to choose to trust in God and find the strength that only comes from Him to be able to continue in the way…regardless of the obstacles that are placed in our path. We don't have to be discouraged!

Along with that challenge, may we also realize that we cannot help but have an impact upon those around us. May the Lord empower us to live for Him in such a way that we would not be a discouragement to others!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!