Discouragement

1st Samuel chapter 30, reading at verse 4. Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept until they had no more power to weep. David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. David was greatly distressed for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters.

Now notice this remarkable phrase, but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. The Lord will bless to us just a few minutes in view of something that's been upon my mind. I've noticed recently that there are several chapters that I would like to remember as far as the great things that David has accomplished.

If I was to take a, if you were to take a, take your book and write down some of the mighty things that David has done, remarkable to think of what he has done, to think of what he could do under adverse circumstances and these seem to jump out of my mind as of late. I wasn't thinking so much of the fact that of he accomplishing and with that stone taking the Goliath down, or even the lion or rather even slowing the lion, or perhaps even the moments when he had those distressed and deaded men in the cave of Adullam. But what has struck me immensely is the fact that here's David and he discovers that his two, the city of Ziglag has been burned.

His two wives have been taken and the goods have been taken and he's left for nothing. Even the old men, his old men that were with him, even they, they want to stone him. And for weeping they could not weep anymore.

To think that they have lost some of their prized loved ones and possessions. Is it any wonder? Is it any wonder that he sat down and he wept? I want to like to speak this morning just for a few minutes about discouragement. Because if there's any time, I believe that there are times when God's people could be discouraged.

I come to the book of Numbers and Numbers chapter 21, that chapter that has to do with the lifting up of the serpent on the wilderness. And of course, why did they, why were they, why was the serpent lifted up? Why did they sin? When you come to Numbers 21, you discover that they were, they sinned because they discouraged. They were discouraged because of the way.

Five words seem to sum up their present condition. Discouraged because of the way. 1,450 years BC.

Has it any different today that we can be discouraged because of the way? Some here today have children and are not saved. And I happen to know you carry a burden every single day. Some here have children that have professed to be saved and they haven't gone on.

And the heartache is there at the very surface of your heart. You think about that child, you think about that son and daughter every day, don't you? You think how you could only, if you only had the switch and the power to turn the key. And to give them a little bit of a boost for God.

If only you could change their priorities. I happen to know that there are overseers and are groaning because of assembly difficulties. Decisions that have to be faced, have to be made.

And then of course, if you're like I am, you know what it is to look into the mirror and see failure. And realizing that there's much failure that has taken place. Opportunities that have slipped through your fingers.

The opportunities that we sometimes pass up, dear Christian, is appalling. To think that yet the Spirit of God can come in and yet revive our own souls. So it's possible to get discouraged.

It's possible to come to a point where because of the way, there are downcast hearts. There are lives that are deeply affected. There are saints who know what it is to be perhaps maybe want to quit.

Anybody here today that said this past week, I think I'll just quit. I think it's easy to get that way. But dear Christian, what then? If we quit, then what? So you'll spend the rest of your days not enjoying what you have enjoyed in the past.

Encouragement needs to be given. I notice in my Bible that Josiah was encouraged. Encouraged the priest in the house of God.

That remarkable man, Josiah. Tremendous young boy raised up and yet rule for God. The judges that we've been reminded of in chapter 20.

The men of Israel encouraged themselves. I notice also that Isaiah chapter 41. The carpenters encouraged the goldsmith.

And it seemed like the workers were encouraging one another. My learning over the Scriptures. My learning over the Scriptures can also be affected as far as discouragement is concerned.

Now, as far as being encouraged, as far as being discouraged rather. This is going to affect me. It's going to affect you in many, many areas.

And so dear Christian, we can't stay there. You can't stay in a state of discouragement. You cannot be occupied with that which is perhaps you see.

And perhaps maybe like myself, I'd have to admit publicly that I haven't been. I haven't been thinking about what Paul has us thinking about in Philippians chapter 3. Whatsoever things are lovely. Whatsoever things are of a good report.

And whatsoever things are pure. Think on these things. And you and I can think about the negative and then the negative.

And it ends up to discouragement. It's going to affect you. It's going to affect you in a multitude of ways.

But I think that perhaps maybe on three areas especially, that discouragement would take a great deal of toll. Number one, my love. My love is diminished for the saints.

If I become discouraged, there is a looking at the Lord's beloved people. And perhaps maybe finding fault. There's a difference, dear Christian, in finding fault and having a fault-finding spirit.

So I would suggest that if I get discouraged, I can look at others. I can look at my dear beloved brethren and sisters that I break bread with. And I can find fault.

You could probably find fault the way I cross my legs. But how would you like to carry my legs around every day as long as they are? So think of the positive. You don't have my long legs.

So I could find fault. I could find fault with a dear brother who has a routine in his prayer. I could find fault with somebody that comes in five minutes late and you can count on it.

Five minutes late. And dear Christian, at least they're there. At least that they had a desire to get up out of their chair and come.

So I could discover that all of a sudden my spirit has a fault-finding spirit. And my love has diminished for the saints. Number two, if I remain in that discouraged state, my learning has diminished over the scriptures.

And my lack of appetite, my study, my study routine, my study discipline can be eliminated. It can be removed entirely. I could be taken up with this and the other thing.

And pretty soon you get to thinking that, oh, what's the use? They don't listen to my ministry. They aren't appreciative of my gospel. And what's the use? Number three, if I become in a state of discouragement, my labor has diminished over souls.

And this is where it hits home. I knew, dear Christian, we all know that it's getting tougher. It's becoming very, very difficult to have anybody show an interest in the gospel.

And in fact, it's gotten sometimes to the point where in my own spiritual lack of spiritual zeal and warmth and devotion, I found myself thinking of asking this individual, oh, well, you wouldn't be interested in coming to a gospel meeting, now would you? And yeah, he said, as a matter of fact, I'm not. I said, I thought so. So you could get into a state like that.

You could let that bother you. But, dear Christian, I remind my heart, even since I come here, reminded last night about he that adheres to hear, let him hear. I'm not going to accomplish a thing until I come into a realization that I must give my ears.

I've got to give my ears to what the message is as far as to me is concerned. And most of the time, I personally might not even know what my need is. So if I remain in a state of downcastment, a state of discouragement, I'm just looking at a lady right now over in this section.

I'm looking over here, but I see her out of my peripheral vision over here. Children that have professed to be saved. Grandchildren that have professed to be saved.

And she would agree with me. The progress is little. The progress is so little.

But you get to talking to those dear relatives of hers. And you find out there's something there. They've got the root of the matter.

All you have to do is say the right word to the right person. And there is response. Thank God.

So it's easy, dear Christian, to become in a state of downcastment. Have I labored that long enough? It's easy to be discouraged to the point where you look at other people and you look at other families and other families are going on. You look at some other people and they're going flying right.

And my little family. So, dear Christian, have I lost my love for the saints? Have I diminished my late learning, my labor over the scriptures? And has my labor diminished for souls? Now, here's what has burdened me. There has been much said at Heightsville Conference about the pattern.

Patterns are absolutely essential. I cannot ever think about doing anything for God unless the pattern is there. Whether I am talking about even doing gospel work, there must be, the pattern must be followed.

Even seeing people brought in to hear the gospel and saying, what do we do with individuals after they're saved? Is there not a pattern? Very simply and clearly, there is. Is there not a pattern for gathering people together and seeking to carry out that which is the New Testament would follow? There is. These patterns, dear Christian, are being attacked.

And what bothers me is this. What we know to be right is not being stood for. Well, dear Christian, I could become discouraged over that.

I could become all taken up with that. I could become overcome with that. So what's the use? No, dear Christian.

And as we've been so clearly reminded that there must be our casting ourselves in the hymn that we've been singing, our casting ourselves upon Him. Only trust Him every day and every hour. Now, before I sit down, I would like to even remind our own hearts.

What did David do? David encouraged himself in the Lord. That's the only resource. That's my only fallback.

And when I fall back into that and I rely and I throw myself at the mercy of God and I sit down and I encourage myself in the Lord. Not only encouraged, but in the Lord. Not only to find help and resources, but find help and strength in the Lord.

And when I seek to do that, there is something that comes again. Now, I'm encouraged. I sit down and when I encourage myself in the Lord, I think of four things, very simply.

I think of God's promises to me. I think of how God's people have been an example to me. I think of God's place and where two or three are gathered together, there am I in the midst of them.

And I think of the pleasures that we're going to have forevermore. First of all, God's promises. Isn't that wonderful? When I take a look at Abraham, he staggered not at the promises.

In Romans chapter 4, he staggered not at the promises of God, but was strong in faith. He had seen God's hand manifested before. And was strong in faith.

And verse 21 of Romans 4 tells us that what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And he got a hold of that. That those promises that he once enjoyed, he now can enjoy.

When I sit down and I encourage myself in the Lord, I'm taken back and I'm taken about all his promises. Having therefore, 2 Corinthians chapter 7, having therefore these promises. The promises of what? The promises of chapter 6. That I will be a father unto you.

And ye shall be my sons and daughters. What a promise, dear Christian. I'm thinking of 1 Peter.

Or is it 2 Peter? Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises. And when I sit down and I encourage myself in the Lord, I think of all his precious promises. Those promises that he gave to his own.

Promises that we have to appreciate even today. When I encourage myself in the Lord, I think of God's people. What a wonderful lot.

What a beautiful group you are this morning. Aren't you glad you come, Duncan? You haven't been called beautiful in a long time. What a marvelous thing to be associated when I sit down and I encourage myself in the Lord.

I think of God's people. I think of those dear people that have supported. Supported me.

No, I'm not talking about financially, although that's included. But supported me in our work. Who have driven many miles to be at a gospel meeting.

Murray was telling me last night that there was 13 was his big number. 5 might have encouraged me last night. I didn't think you ever had numbers when you had down to 5. 5 was his lowest number.

Perhaps maybe I can tell you of times where people have driven 50 miles just to be there. Two people that are now in the glory. I had to know.

One is in the glory. The other one is 91 years of age. When I first was involved in gospel work, he would drive regardless of where I was at.

He would drive and support me in the truth of God and be there. Maybe I only had the 5, but they were there. I'm looking at examples today.

Looking at examples as far as God's people are concerned. You have been an example. I encourage myself in the Lord and I think to myself, that fault finding spirit disappears.

That ugly poison that can surface and pollute others, it disappears. And I examine and I take a look and I see dear believers that have been such an example over the years. I am thinking of the example of what Naomi must have been.

What did Ruth say? After watching Naomi and after even being told to go back to Moab, Ruth said, thy people shall be my people. Thy God shall be my God. Where thou dwellest, I will dwell.

So don't tell me, dear sister, you're not influential. Don't tell my dear brother that you haven't been influential. Thank God for the men that are here today that can minister the Word.

That have been fitted for that. That they know what their Bible is saying. And like we've been hearing, can get the Word.

A Word in season. In due time. Thank God for that.

We were talking about the older brethren this morning. Mr. McBain, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Alves. Those dear men.

I don't happen to believe that all the good men are dead or dying. Like Bill Lavery and I were having tea with this dear lady. Thankfully, she lived in one... well, I shouldn't say that.

She didn't live in Iowa. She was saying over and over all the good men are dead. And dying.

She went in to get tea and Bill whispers to me, I don't feel very good myself. So, I just, I don't happen to, I don't buy into that. That all the good men are gone, dear Christian.

Thank God for men who the Spirit of God has raised up. Sad to say we're losing men, but not by way of death. We're losing men, but not by way of death.

And if there's anything that could get you discouraged, I could. So, dear Christian, we've got to have, we must encourage ourselves in the Lord. There has to be, there has to be the falling down upon our faces.

And if nothing else, cry out to God. Thy preserving hand be upon us. I'm thinking of Paul to Timothy.

What an example that Timothy had. Let me just quote you one verse that has thrilled me over and over again. 2 Timothy chapter 3. He says, continue in the things that thou hast learned.

But here's my phrase. And from whom thou hast learned them. And one thing I have always thanked God for, that we have been able to sit under the ministry, under the gospel work of men who perhaps maybe didn't know Greek, but they knew God.

And they had a godly spirit about them. And they had a godly exercise for the care of the saints. And they had a burden for the lampstand.

And a burden for the assemblies. Thank God, dear brethren. Of course, Eunice and, what was her name? Grandmother? Lois.

Thank you. Is so influential. Such an example to Timothy.

You know, Timothy perhaps maybe could have gotten occupied with the negatives of his mother and grandmother. But he didn't. He got occupied with the positives.

And when he sat down, if Timothy ever got discouraged, he would sit down and he would encourage himself in the Lord. I can sit down and when I encourage myself in the Lord, I not only thank God for His promises and for His people, but thank God for the place where two or three are gathered together in my name. I used to go to Heightsville because my grandparents went there.

Both sets of my grandparents were on the ground floor of the foundation and for the beginning of the Heightsville assembly. But thank God I don't go there and I'm not associated with the assemblies because my grandparents were. Thank God I've developed a little bit farther than that.

And as a result of the place, I could get occupied. I could get occupied with that. We don't have we don't have numbers and we don't have the big bands and we don't have this and we don't have that way.

We don't even have sometimes good singers. But, oh, dear Christian, thank God for a table for a loaf of bread, for a cup of wine that we can sit down every single Lord's Day and appreciate and rejoice and worship because of the place where two or three having been and being gathered. Dear Christian, can I just say a blunt statement in love to every single one of you.

If you miss the Lord's Supper because of some flimsy excuse, you're missing a great deal. The Lord's Supper, the highlight, the oasis in the desert of a sick world that we live in. Oh, dear Christian, let's encourage ourselves in the Lord.

One more point. Abraham, when he come up out of Egypt, where did he go? He went to the place called Bethel. Why did he go to Bethel? He went there where the altar had been.

And where the altar had been set up and been. If I know Abraham just by the few passages that we have on Abraham, I'm thinking that he could hardly wait to get back there. Perhaps if he would have known the chorus, the hymn, Oh, the pure delight of a single hour.

He would have sung this. Oh, the pure delight of a single hour. When before the throne I spend.

When I kneel in prayer. And with Thee, my God, I commune as friend with friend. Dear people, dear Christian, let's not get occupied with the negative.

And even though every man that stands up on this platform has a care for the church. Something that has staggered my mind in view of Paul's persecution. How he goes on to that list in 2 Corinthians chapter 11, is it? Or is it chapter 12? And he goes on to the list of what he suffered.

And then he says this statement. Plus, the care of the churches. Amazing.

Dear Christian, let's encourage ourselves in the Lord. And we too will love the people. We'll love the place.

We'll love the promises. And then the great provision and the pleasures that await us at God's right hand.