Encourage Yourself in the Lord
You can trust the Lord to see you through any circumstance in your life, and learn to encourage yourself in the Lord for growth and strength in your faith.
David Wilkerson emphasizes the importance of encouraging oneself in the Lord, acknowledging that even the most faithful believers experience pain, confusion, and sorrow. He uses the example of David, a man after God's own heart, who faced deep emotional struggles yet found strength in God. Wilkerson reassures that feeling spiritually and emotionally bankrupt is common, but through faith and trust in God, one can receive supernatural strength and victory. He encourages believers to call upon the Lord for strength and to remember the promises found in Scripture, as God delights in our faith. Ultimately, the message is about finding resilience and hope in God's presence during difficult times.
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Some think that believers should always be upbeat, always sure of where they are going, always self-fulfilled and satisfied, but many times our smiles camouflage pain, confusion and sorrow. All true men and women of God have experienced such things. If you feel spiritually, physically and emotionally bankrupt, knowing that without a supernatural infusion of Christ's strength you simply cannot go on, you are not alone. But be assured that there is complete victory for you!
The Bible is full of accounts of great men of God who came to the end of their rope. David is an example of "a man after [God's] own heart" (Acts 13:22) and yet at times he was overwhelmed with remorse, depression, and negative emotions of all kinds. "I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long" (Psalm 38:6).
Why was David allowed to endure so much loss and turmoil in his life? Some of it came as a result of his sin, for which he repented with sorrow, but it was also because godly character was being forged in him. There was not a moment the Holy Spirit was not with David, but he was permitted to come to the end of himself at times.
God promises strength to his anointed: "Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield ... my heart greatly rejoices and with my song I will praise Him" (Psalm 28:6-7). If you will call on him, he will pour his strength into you: "In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul ... Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand ... and Your right hand will save me" (Psalm 138:3, 7).
You can trust the Lord to see you through any circumstance in your life. The Word of God is full of glorious promises and our Lord delights in our faith and trust. Don't neglect to encourage yourself in the Lord, just as David did, and grow stronger and stronger each day.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Mask of Pain
- A. True believers experience pain, confusion, and sorrow
- B. Our smiles can camouflage our true feelings
- II. The Example of David
- A. David was a man after God's own heart
- B. Despite his struggles, David repented and sought God
- III. God's Promise of Strength
- A. God promises to be our strength and shield
- B. We can trust in God's promises and provision
- IV. Encouragement in the Lord
- A. We must learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord
- B. This leads to growth and strength in our faith
Key Quotes
“If you feel spiritually, physically and emotionally bankrupt, knowing that without a supernatural infusion of Christ's strength you simply cannot go on, you are not alone.” — David Wilkerson
“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield ... my heart greatly rejoices and with my song I will praise Him” — David Wilkerson
“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul ... Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand ... and Your right hand will save me” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- We must learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord, just as David did, and grow stronger and stronger each day.
- We can trust in God's promises and provision, and learn to rely on His strength in times of need.
- God delights in our faith and trust, and promises to be our strength and shield in difficult circumstances.