Defeating Discouragement With Ourselves

(1) Defeating Discouragement With Ourselves - Introduction

2009-11-10T05:58:00.000-08:00

There are a number of things that can lead us to discouragement, but for some of us, we need look no further than our own selves. And there are a variety of reasons we can become discouraged with ourselves.

We may become discouraged by our physical “imperfections.” We may feel we are too tall or too short, too fat or too thin. We may not like our shape or proportions, the color of our hair or eyes, or skin. This list could go on and on if we considered every aspect of our physical make-up that we can become discouraged with.

We can also become discouraged by a lack of natural abilities, talents, or mental ability. We wish we could do something we aren’t capable of doing. We would like to be more adapt at sports. We would like to be more creative or artistic. We wish we could do carpentry or mechanical repairs. We wish we were smarter, able to learn quicker, read quicker and retain more. Again, the list could go on and on.

Then, there are more significant physical limitations & weaknesses that some of us experience. These are usually linked to illnesses & handicaps. Some suffer from nagging allergies, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other physical illness that limits their function. For others it is more severe challenges like cancer, spina bifida, paralysis, Crohn's disease, or a host of other illnesses.

Sometimes, we can become discouraged with ourselves because of things that are really only perceived or partially real but exaggerated. We may get down on ourselves and become discouraged because we see ourselves in a way that no one around us sees. A classic example is the woman who always believes she needs to loose a few pounds even when everyone else thinks she doesn’t. Many times we become discouraged over things that just don’t matter at all!

But, we can also become discouraged with ourselves and our situation in life because of some very real physical problems. I don’t want to minimize the reality of genuine physical problems. They are real, they are difficult to deal with. But there is hope. There is a remedy for discouragement.

How to deal with it? How do we get victory over discouragement with ourselves? I have found three biblical steps that can get us moving toward victory over discouragement with ourselves. First, Accept the Skin You’re In. Second, Pursue True Value. Third, Accept Help.

To get started toward victory, consider David's understanding of how God created us and His plan for us:

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-- how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:13-18 NLT)

Next: (2) Accept the Skin You're In

(2) Accept the Skin You're In

2009-11-09T06:01:00.000-08:00

How do you view yourself? Are you pleased with your physical make-up or do you think there are a few “design flaws”? Perhaps there are some things that need to be changed, adjusted, enlarged, shrunk, tucked. Or, perhaps you need to see yourself as God does. Re-read Psalm 139:13-18 and notice carefully how God sees you.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous-- how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can't even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me! (Psalm 139:13-18 NLT)

What is God’s view of you? He says that you, and every human being, are a unique work of God’s creativity, specially crafted according to His infinite wisdom and skill to serve a specific purpose in His grand design.

Our lives, with whatever weaknesses, frailties, limitations and even “defects” from man’s perspective contribute to our fulfilling God’s purpose to bring glory to Himself through our lives. You need to recognize that God has a purpose and plan for every aspect of your physical make-up – even the things you consider “flaws”.

Bring all who claim me as their God, for I have made them for my glory. It was I who created them.'" (Isaiah 43:7 NLT)

You were custom designed to bring Him glory in a unique way according to your unique design. So whatever weaknesses, frailties, limitations or supposed flaws you have are part of God’s special design to get glory for Himself from your life!

Many people don’t appreciate how they were created. In response to an objection over how God created man and how He has chosen to rule His creation, Paul says, "No, don't say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, "Why have you made me like this?" (Romans 9:20 NLT)

What did God say when we were created? “Very good!” What does it mean then when I say I have a flaw or defect in my physical make-up? When I call “bad” or undesirable what God has created for His glory and called “good” I am accusing God of making an error in creating me. When I resent some aspect of my physical make-up and question God’s wisdom in making me the way I am, I am insulting the wisdom of God and putting myself above God. I say I’m a better judge of how I should have been created!

Next: (3) Doubly Designed for Glory

(3) Doubly Designed for Glory

2009-11-08T21:21:00.000-08:00

You were custom designed and created by God to bring Him glory in a unique way according to your unique design. When someone comes to faith in Christ, they also become doubly created special to serve in God’s grand design and contribute to the spread of His fame.

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

Some translations say that we are God’s “workmanship.” While this word is not really inaccurate, it may miss the full significance of the Greek word which describes a work of art or a masterpiece. Paul is saying that God has recreated you in Christ as a special work of art. You are not just anybody’s work of art. You are God’s work of art. You are a masterpiece specially created in Christ by the master creator.

You are God’s special masterpiece, re-mastered in Christ for special tasks that God prearranged for you to do. How’s that for significance? You have great significance when you recognize that you are created by God according to His custom design. You were then re-mastered in Christ to fulfill a special mission of eternally significant tasks. You will discover and fulfill your great significance when you accept God’s unique design of you and seek to live it out according to His unique plan designed just for you.

Here’s the key. We each need to choose to accept the way God made us as individuals and accept the role God has for us to play in His-story. It comes down to acceptance and contentment. One author points out the importance of accepting how God created us.

The word accept is defined in part as: “to receive (something offered), especially willingly; to consider as usual, proper, or right; to consider as true.” Notice from this definition that to accept something involves the will. How does this apply to self-acceptance? It means that you and I have the option to accept or reject ourselves.

When we choose to accept ourselves, we see ourselves as being proper and right, even in the midst of things that need to be changed. The word acceptance is defined in part as “approval” or “agreement.” If we are having problems accepting ourselves, then we need to get into agreement with God. And the way we get into agreement with God is to agree with His Word.

Do you agree with God about how He made you?

Next: (4) Pursue True Value

(4) Pursue True Value

2009-11-07T05:35:00.000-08:00

Many times, when we have a hard time accepting the way God made us, it is because we have mixed up and misplaced values. We value the wrong things and we want people to value us for the wrong reasons. And, we don’t measure up to what we value physically or mentally or we don’t think we measure up to other people’s standard, and so we become discouraged. What we need is a reorientation of our value system. The Apostle Paul helps us with this.

Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you. Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of those who mutilate the flesh! For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, exult in Christ Jesus, and do not rely on human credentials – though mine too are significant. If someone thinks he has good reasons to put confidence in human credentials, I have more: I was circumcised on the eighth day, from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews. I lived according to the law as a Pharisee. In my zeal for God I persecuted the church. According to the righteousness stipulated in the law I was blameless. But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ. 8More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things– indeed, I regard them as dung!– that I may gain Christ, and be found in him, not because I have my own righteousness derived from the law, but because I have the righteousness that comes by way of Christ's faithfulness– a righteousness from God that is in fact based on Christ's faithfulness. (Philippians 3:1-9 NET)

Paul had a lot going for him; assets from the perspective of man. He had the right family background the right education, social status, religious and political position, an impeccable resume.

But notice that Paul declares that all these things that man looks at as assets are really worthless and in fact a hindrance to life in Christ and serving Christ for His glory. Paul recognized that there is greater value, ability, and significance in Christ then in the greatest assets man could possibly possess himself.

God doesn’t need great social status, a sterling reputation, or great verbal eloquence to use a person for His purposes and glory. All God needs is a willing heart in His able hands and He can impact the world. Our assets in Christ and our potential to impact our world in Christ far surpass any natural human assets when we choose to find our identity and glory in Him.

When it comes to getting discouraged with ourselves, one of our biggest challenges is often in regard to how we look. Our world puts great emphasis on good looks and appearance. Just turn on your T.V. or walk the mall and you’ll quickly see it. The world around us says you have to look a certain way. It’s all about “looking good.” Cosmetic surgery is nearly epidemic. And even we believers buy into it, wasting money on the latest fashions and name brand clothing, getting this enlarged and that reduced. And in the midst of all this, God says:

Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. (Proverbs 31:30 NET)

Physical assets of talent and beauty are superficial and fleeting. That’s why people have to keep buying new clothes and re-visit the plastic surgeon. It is a waste of effort, a discouraging pursuit, and a prescription for heartache when we try to impress others with our physical assets and talents. The praise, admiration or relationship gained through our good looks or giftedness is shallow, worthless, and destabilizing. We end up running from one fad to another, desperately trying to impress people.

What you gain by your looks or talents will have to be retained by your looks and talents and sooner or latter it doesn’t work. Everyone wants more in a person than good looks or talent. Everyone wants something deeper in a relationship. We want depth of character.

Don't be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT)

And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do. (1 Timothy 2:9-10 NLT)

Pursuing acceptance and trying to impress others with the way you look will mean a lifetime of tireless effort, frustration, disappointment, and discouragement. And, it is ungodly. And the answer is repentance and choosing to value what God values.

Rather than waste our energies and sinning, trying to impress others with the way we look, we need to invest our energies into pursuing Godly character which will build meaningful, deep, lasting, God honoring relationships. This is the path to victory over discouragement.

Next: (5) Accept Help

(5) Accept Help Pt. 1

2009-11-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

We may all struggle with breaking free from the superficial and vain pursuits of physical attractiveness that lead to discouragement. And then, beyond this, there are also real, legitimate physical challenges like disease, injury, persistent illness, or other physical limitation. And with these, no matter how hard we try, we just can’t seem to get victory over the discouragement they bring.

But then, God didn’t create us to go it alone. His design is for us to trust in Him and rely on Him, and allow Him to give us the strength to face life’s challenges. Paul discovered this strength, and some very important principles too.

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

There are three key steps to receiving God’s help with our physical challenges. First, we must choose to turn to God for understanding and wisdom rather than our own ability to interpret and solve our problems. And so, we return to the critical issue of perspective; how we view our life circumstances.

Many times we fail right here. We try to make sense of things from a human perspective. We say things like, “This isn’t fair!” “There’s no good that can come from this!” “This is the worst thing that could happen!” We view our physical challenges as things to be removed at all costs. We see no benefit in them. This is not God’s thinking.

Paul suffered from some kind of physical challenge that caused him great pain. This physical problem encountered by Paul was no small thing. He was tormented by it. Literally, he was constantly beat up by it. And he wanted to get rid of it. So, he prayed and asked God to remove it. But God showed Paul that His sovereign plan was behind his life circumstances. His physical challenges were there by God’s design.

Look again at what Paul says. God wanted to keep Paul from being prideful so God gave Him a thorn in His flesh. This is important. Satan didn’t want to keep Paul from pride. God did. Satan was not ultimately behind the physical pain in Paul’s life. God was. But, it was Satan who was the direct agent of the pain. God gave Satan permission to inflict physical pain on Paul because Paul’s character was more important than his comfort.

God will sometimes bring physical pain or challenges – even severe ones – into our lives directly in order to discipline us (see 1 Cor. 11:30 & Heb. 12:6-10). Other times He will do it indirectly by giving Satan permission to do something. Either way, we can be sure that it is not hap-hazzard or without purpose. God does everything for a purpose. God orchestrates physical pain, suffering, and challenges in our lives to teach us to rely on Him, trust Him, and develop the character of Christ in us. So, what’s more important to you, comfort, or Christlikeness? Will you adopt God’s view of your physical pain, suffering, weaknesses?

We naturally think wrongly about physical problems. We need to accept help from God in thinking correctly. We need God to give us His perspective. This will not be easy. We will keep going back to thinking the pain is pointless, purposeless. We will always be prone toward thinking the only good outcome is for it to be removed. We will always be in danger of resentment and bitterness over prolonged physical pain. We need to be determined to learn and accept God’s view of our physical challenges.

Accept help from God in thinking biblically about your physical make-up and challenges. God has a purpose and plan for your good and His glory. Even when you feel like you’re just getting beat up every day. Who will you believe, you, or God? Your feelings, or His Word? What will you live for, your comfort, or Christlikeness?

Next: (6) Accept Help Pt. 2

(6) Accept Help Pt. 2

2009-11-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

There is another important principle we can learn from Paul about accepting help from God. We must choose to submit to God’s will even if it is not what we desire.

Paul desired to have his pain removed. He asked God to remove it. God did not. And He may never change our physical weakness, disabilities, or afflictions. God may choose to change your circumstances or He may not. Either way, he has a purpose and plan to use it for your good and His glory.

But God doesn’t just say, “No, I will not change your circumstances, I will not remove this physical challenge.” He also provides all we need to face our challenges in a way that honors Him. God may be merciful and remove our physical problems or God may be gracious in empowering us to endure them. Notice how God responded to Paul’s prayer for the removal of his torment in 2 Corinthians 12:9. “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

Don’t feel like God has abandoned you because He has not changed your physical circumstances or because He has not healed you. God has not abandoned you. God is right there, eager to provide the strength, attitude, and character to rise above the challenge and brilliantly display the glory of God in spite of it.

We need to adopt Paul’s response when God chooses not to remove our physical weaknesses or problems.

So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Paul chose to accept God’s will in not removing his “thorn.” He actually chose to look at it as an asset! He chose to be glad and take pleasure in his thorn in the flesh and all the other physical problems he faced.

How could he do that? He listened to God and believed God’s Word about the benefits of his physical problems. He chose to take God’s view that the continual torment he faced was a benefit to him, not a curse. He could chose to take on this perspective because he chose to care more about the glory of God, the development of Christlike character and the demonstration of the character of Christ than he did about his own comfort. And if God said that physical weakness and torment would bring greater glory to Him, Paul was willing, even happy to let it continue. Accepting God’s help means accepting it even if it is not the kind of help we, in our humanity would prefer. It means accepting God’s help to continue facing the challenge, pain, or illness. Choose to believe that God’s grace is sufficient!

Next: (7) Accepting Help From Others

(7) Accepting Help From Others

2009-11-04T11:41:00.000-08:00

There is one more key ingredient to accepting help in facing physical challenges. When we face physical problems our natural thinking, reactions and responses are contrary to God’s Word. As we have discussed, we need to determine to think God’s way. But, given our human weakness and natural tendency, it can be extremely difficult to do this. God designed us to rely upon Him for wisdom and strength, but He also designed for us to get help from others in the Body of Christ. God designed the Body of Christ to be an interdependent family of brothers and sisters ministering to, encouraging, and caring for one another. In fact, Paul says, “If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it (1 Corinthians 12:26 NET).” God teaches us, empowers us and ministers to us through His Word and prayer, but He also does it through the Church.

So, we need to be honest share our struggles and accept help from others. This means we need to be living in fellowship with the Body of Christ. We need to be part of a local church, building relationships, and participating in reciprocal ministry with our brothers and sisters. You can’t expect to go to church for Sunday services, sit in the pew and walk out and really be part of the life giving and nurturing life of the Body of Christ. It is critical that you build relationships and get connected with others in a small group fellowship.

We must be careful that we don’t expect the Body of Christ to take care of every problem in our lives. God commands us to carry our own light burdens (Galatians 6:5). But there are times when we need support, encouragement and even physical assistance to carry a heavy burden (Galatians 6:2). At these times, we need to be humble enough to admit our weakness and accept help.

Conclusion

I can walk in victory over discouragement with myself when I accept the way God made me, recognizing that He designed me exactly as He desired and gifted me in Christ to uniquely display His glory.

I will walk in victory over discouragement with myself when I learn to break free from worldly temporal values that lead me to focus on physical beauty and attractiveness to pursue true, inner beauty and the character of Christ.

I can walk in victory over my physical weaknesses and illnesses knowing that God will use them for my good and His glory as I choose to receive and depend on His grace and live in interdependent fellowship with the Body of Christ.

Next: (8) When I Am A Failure

(8) When I Am A Failure

2009-11-03T22:34:00.000-08:00

I am a failure. Those words are words of discouragement. Those words are true. I am a failure. But I am not discouraged. I am confident, hopeful, expectant. I have peace, courage, determination. I am a fearless failure.

My failure runs deep in the one pursuit, the one success I value most highly in life, honoring the glory of God and being like Christ. But, I am not defeated. I am not discouraged. I can run boldly into the presence of the one I fail to honor without fear of being cast out. Why? Because I have a firm belief in God’s Word that it is not my success or failure in being or doing right that grants me my standing before God. No, it is a righteousness that is not mine that grants me standing, acceptance, and confidence before my infinitely holy, righteous and just God. Paul explains the foundation of this fearless failure. It is being declared right with God because we have received the righteousness of Christ by faith.

For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law . . .We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. . . . So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. (Romans 3:20-22, 28 NLT)

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21 NAU)

John Piper calls this gutsy guilt. Writing in When the Darkness Will Not Lift He says,

Gutsy guilt means learning to live on the rock-solid truth of what happened for us when Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose again from the dead. It means realizing that in this life we will always be sinful and imperfect. Therefore in ourselves we will always be guilty. This will prove emotionally devastating if we do not discover the reality of justification by faith, that is, the secret of gutsy guilt.

The best news in all the world to the “ungodly” who grieve under the cloud of darkness and guilt, is the news that God, by faith alone, counts them as righteous because of Christ. The capstone of joy-producing glory is that justification is by faith alone apart from works of the law. This is the rock where we stand when the dark clouds gather and the floods lick at our feet: justification is by grace alone (not mixed with our merit), through faith alone (not mixed with our works) on the basis of Christ alone (not mingling His righteousness with ours), to the glory of God alone (not ours).

God accepts us on the basis of Christ’s righteousness, not ours. To be sure, our progressive sanctification – our all-too-slow growth in Christlikeness – matters. It is the necessary evidence that the seed of spiritual life is in our soul and that our faith is real. But, Oh what a difference it makes to be assured, in the discouraging darkness of our own imperfection, that we have a perfect righteousness outside ourselves, namely Christ’s.

“The best news in all the world to the “ungodly” who grieve under the cloud of darkness and guilt, is the news that God, by faith alone, counts them as righteous because of Christ.” This is the gospel. This is the good news that I stand on when I fail. I can run boldly into the presence of a perfect, pure, holy, righteous, just God because I am righteous in Christ. I am a fearless failure.

Next: (9) Who Are You?

(9) Who Are You?

2009-11-02T22:06:00.000-08:00

Who are you? You could answer that question a variety of ways. I might say, “I am a human being, not an animal.” Or, I could think in terms of my ancestry – Swiss-German-English. By birth and nationality I am American. I also could think of the fact that I have permanent residency in the Bahamas. And beyond that, I have lived nearly ½ of my adult life outside the U.S. So who am I?

But all of this is insignificant compared to my identity as a believer and Christ follower. I am a Christian. What does this mean? Paul describes it in the book of Romans.

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. (Romans 6:6-7 NLT)

As Christians, we have been saved from sin. Many times we think of this as being saved from the penalty of sin – we are saved from Hell. But this is only part of the story. In Romans 6, Paul is trying to make an entirely different point. He is focused on salvation from the power of sin and the presence of sin in our lives now. As a Christ-follower, I am free from sin’s dominating power and I should be growing in victory over sin and personal holiness.

But this is exactly why I get discouraged with myself at times. I recognize these truths but I also see sin in my life. I see myself repeat the same sins over and over again. I feel enslaved to sin at times. And so, I recognize my failure and I can get discouraged with myself and my failure. Unless I remember who I am in Christ.

I must have a firm grip on the righteousness I have in Christ and rest in that right standing before God. But, it is critical that I don’t become comfortable and complacent in my sin just because my standing before God is settled. My standing before God as perfectly justified in Christ does not mean I can be tolerant of sin in my life.

Victory over spiritual discouragement is not just a matter of resting in the righteousness of Christ, it is also a matter of growing in daily victory over sin in my life. It will do me no good to ignore my daily sin and determine to focus exclusively on the right standing I have before God in Christ. This is not the path to victory over sin or spiritual discouragement. Yes, I must cling to who I am in Christ, perfectly righteous, but all the while I must tenaciously pursue personal, practical holiness each day.

But how do I walk in victory over sin? Paul gives us the key.

Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:11 NKJ)

We are dead to sin. Sin is powerless over us. We have a new power to live in victory over sin. But, we must believe this. We must take account of this truth and count on this to be true in the way we live. This is the first step toward daily victory over sin and the resulting spiritual discouragement. It is a matter of believing the truth that I don’t have to sin and it is a matter of making right choices.

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its desires, and do not present your members to sin as instruments to be used for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead and your members to God as instruments to be used for righteousness. (Romans 6:12-13 NET)

Because we have died to sin with Christ, sin has lost it’s power over us, and we can make the choice to live in victory over sin. This is the result of God’s continuing gift of grace. We can say “no” to sin every time. It is always our choice. Always. We must choose to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God. This is our daily battle.

Next: (10) You Are Not Alone

(10) You Are Not Alone

2009-11-01T22:30:00.000-08:00

We are dead to sin. We have the power by God’s grace to say “no” to sin. We can live in victory. But often, we don’t feel dead to sin. Often we feel like sin is very much alive in us. The battle to resist temptation rages and too often we loose the battle. And so, we can become discouraged with ourselves and with our spiritual progress, or lack of progress. If you can identify with this struggle, you are not alone. This battle rages with the most committed and mature believers.

For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. (15)For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (16)But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. (17)So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (18)For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. (19)For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (20)But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (21)I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. (22)For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, (23)but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. (24)Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (25)Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:14-25 NAU)

Paul says that “the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.” The problem in our struggle toward holiness is not a problem with the Law of God. The Law is the work of God, the product of the Holy spirit. A few verses before, Paul said that “The law itself is holy, and its commands are holy and right and good (7:12).

The problem in our struggle toward holiness is not a problem of requirements from God that are unreasonable. The problem is with us. Paul describes himself as being, “of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.” The grammar here inicates that there is a condition still in effect from a past action. In other words, we are still under the effects of the fall.

In Christ, I am free from sin’s consequence of spiritual death. But, because I am still part of humanity under the fall, I am still living in the presence of sin, under the effects of sin in my life and under sin’s consequence of physical death.

Though we have died to the power of sin, we are still imperfect human beings, often living as believers who are carnal, “of flesh.” We have a new nature, but, the old nature, the flesh, remains in us to influence us and draw us away to live according to the flesh. We can live and act nearly the same as unbelievers.

This is how Paul described the Corinthian believers.

Brothers, I was not able to speak to you as spiritual people but as people of the flesh, as babies in Christ. (1 Corinthians 3:1 CSB)

By saying, “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh,” Paul is saying that there is more to him than his new, regenerated nature. That is his “flesh,” his sinful human nature that he has to fight against continually.

Notice that. One of the greatest, most godly men who ever lived was engaged in a daily battle against his sinful nature. Paul had to fight for victory over sin all the time. You are not alone. This continuing struggle with sin and the “old man” was a common battle in Paul’s life and a common theme in the first century church. You are not alone.

Next: (11) How Could I Do That?

(11) How Could I Do That?

2009-10-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered how you could be so sinful, how you could commit the sin you have committed . . . again? If you’ve been a believer for any length of time, I’m sure you have. You are not alone. This is the personal frustration expressed by Paul.

For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. (Romans 7:15 NAU)

In Toward the Mark, Harry Foster shares his understanding of what is going on in Paul’s life.

Here was a man trying to achieve holiness by personal effort, struggling with all his might to fulfill God’s “holy and righteous and good” commandments (v.12), only to discover that the more he struggled, the worse his condition became. It was a losing battle, and no wonder, for it is not in the power of fallen human nature to conquer sin and live in holiness.

Many times in our struggle against sin in our lives we will be bewildered and amazed at the depth of our sinfulness. We really want to live holy lives, free from sin, honoring God but instead we fall back into the same sins we actually hate when we are convicted.

The reality is that we all have a love-hate relationship with sin. At the time of our sin, we are deceived. We believe the sin we are being tempted toward is the best, most personally beneficial or satisfying choice. We choose what seems more attractive to us because we are choosing to think and act according to the flesh rather than according to the Spirit and the truth. At that moment, we believe the lies and we love the sin. Latter, we are convicted by the Spirit of God and we hate the sin we have committed against the God we love.

But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. (Romans 7:16 NAU)

In our moments of sanity – biblical, Spirit led thinking, we see our sin for the ugly, destructive, disgusting offense that it is and we see that the law of God is beautiful, excellent, precious, useful, admirable, magnificent, good and right. We need a lot more moments of sanity! We need to saturate our thinking with the truth from the Word of God.

Next: (12) Jekyll & Hyde

(12) Jekyll & Hyde

2009-10-29T22:48:00.000-07:00

There is nothing within our human nature to help us in winning the battle over spiritual failure and sin. In our fallen human nature there is only sin. So we will never find victory over our spiritual failure, sin, and discouragement as long as we look for this victory in ourselves as human beings.

So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (18)For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. (19)For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. (20)But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. (Romans 7:17-20 NAU)

Translated literally, verse seventeen would be, “No longer am I myself producing it but the dwelling-in-me sin.” In the Critical and Explanatory Commentary, David Brown explains it this way, “In me dwelleth no good; but this corrupt self is not my true self; it is but sin dwelling in my real self, as a renewed man.

Paul is pointing out that there are two sets of desires at work in him, pulling him in two radically different directions. The flesh pulls us away from God and holiness. James Dunn and William McDonald helps us understand this struggle:

In early Christian literature the phrase “sin which dwells in me” occurs only in verse seventeen and in verse twenty-one. The reason for choosing this less than common verb is to stress the difficulty of doing good, not that it is impossible. The contrast between the willing and the doing is the contrast between on the one hand the renewed heart and enlightened mind, and on the other the yet unredeemed mortal body. (James Dunn)

The flesh here means the evil, corrupt nature which is inherited from Adam and which is still in every believer. It is the source of every evil action which a person performs. There is nothing good in it. When we learn this, it delivers us from ever looking for any good in the old nature. It delivers us from being disappointed when we don’t find any good there. To confirm the hopelessness of the flesh, the apostle mourns that although he has the desire to do what is right, he doesn’t have the resources in himself to translate his desire into action. (William McDonald)

In Christ, empowered by the Spirit of God, I have the desire to stop sinning, but I will never find the ability to stop sinning in myself. I will never find victory over sin and spiritual discouragement as long as I keep looking to myself alone for that victory.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. (22)For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, (23)but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:21-23 NAU)

Here Paul identifies with who he is in Christ and says that the sin he commits is not coming from him, in Christ. Sin is a freak of his old nature that still rears its ugly head at times. He makes the choice to act in keeping with the old man rather than living according to his new identity and ability in Christ.

There are remainders of indwelling corruption, even where there is a living principle of grace. This corruption is daily breaking forth in sins. True grace strives against these sins and corruptions, does not allow of them, hates them, mourns over them, groans under them as a burden. (Matthew Henry)

Victory over sin and spiritual discouragement can be found, but never in ourselves. We must look elsewhere. All this is leading us to realize how desperately we need help from outside ourselves . . . every moment of every day. We will only find victory in Jesus.

Next: (13) Victory in Jesus

(13) Victory in Jesus

2009-10-28T06:31:00.000-07:00

As we continue to walk our way through Romans 7, we come to the great cry of Paul that bursts forth as he looks at the ugliness of sin coming from within him.

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? (Romans 7:21-23 NAU)

I can identify with Paul can’t you? “What’s wrong with me?!?” “How could I have thought that way . . . acted that way?!?” The truth is everyone of us are wretched human beings intrinsically. It is not within us as human beings to gain victory over the power of sin and the rot it brings to our lives. We need help from outside our humanity.

Paul lets out his famous, eloquent groan. He feels as if he has a decomposing body strapped to his back. That body, of course, is the old nature in all its corruption. In his wretchedness he acknowledges that he is unable to deliver himself from this offensive, repulsive bondage. He must have help from some outside source. (William MacDonald)

The cry Paul utters is one of great distress, sorrow, bewilderment, but not of defeat and discouragement. It is a cry of battle, leading to a cry of victory expressed in the next verse. Who will set me free from the body of this death?

Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:25 NAU)

I struggle to walk in victory over sin in my life. In my mind I recognize and focus on the truth that I am fee from the power of sin in my life, I want to obey God. But, because of the old nature of sin in my flesh, I continue to sin. And I even amaze myself at times with my sin. I wonder if I will ever walk in consistent victory over sin. Can you relate?

But there is victory in Jesus! Though the victory will not be found in myself as a human being (the flesh), it can be found in Christ. Victory is found in Christ’s ability to conquer sin and the enablement He gives me to live victoriously over sin and spiritual discouragement. There truly is victory in Jesus!

Next: (14) Walking in Victory

(14) Walking in Victory

2009-10-27T16:28:00.000-07:00

Victory is found in Christ, but I don’t always live in that victory. How do I consistently walk in the victory that can be mine in Christ? Paul explains in Romans 8.

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:1-4)

There is no place for defeat, discouragement, or self-condemnation in Christ. The principle of life at work in us – that life comes through the regeneration of the Holy Spirit because of the work of Christ on our behalf – sets us free from the principle of life-sucking sin and death. The Law could not bring righteousness because in our human ability, we could never obey the Law. But, empowered by the Spirit of God, we can live a life characterized by victory over sin, a life characterized by righteousness.

The provision of deliverance from the power of sin is through the death of Jesus Christ, but experiencing it in one’s daily conduct comes through the controlling power of the Holy Spirit. – John A. Witmer (The Bible Knowledge Commentary)

How wonderful is the Word of God! What a true picture it draws of the person I really am! On the one hand I am a slave, a prisoner, for sin has such control over me that I cannot lead a sinless life. Yet, on the other hand, I am a free person. For though Satan tries with all his might and trickery to keep me from doing what is right, he cannot stop me from doing so. The sense of victory, which I possess in principle even now and will possess in perfection in the future, sustains me in all my struggles. I rejoice in the freedom which Christ has earned for me! – William Hendriksen (Baker New Testament Commentary)

Victory over sin and spiritual discouragement will be found when I choose to “walk in the Spirit,” be “led by the Spirit” and “controlled by” the Spirit, and “keep in step with the Spirit.” This is not an ambiguous or mystical experience. It is very real and practical. It is all a matter of practical choice.

Walking in consistent victory over spiritual defeat and discouragement is a matter of shunning anything that is contrary to the will and glory of God, and saturating my life with the Word of God, worship of God, and constant, interactive communication with God.

Walking in victory over sin and spiritual discouragement is really not very complicated. Paul actually put it pretty simply and clearly back in Romans 6.

Therefore, never let sin rule your physical body so that you obey its desires. Never offer any part of your body to sin's power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of. (Romans 6:12-13 GWN)

Paul doesn’t give us a twelve step program for victory, he gives us just two steps. First, stop choosing to sin with any part of your body. Second, actively choose to use every part of your body to do what is right before God. I have a choice in everything, what I think, look at, listen to, say, and do. Will it be honoring to God, His character and glory, or will it be dishonoring to God, contrary to His character and glory. Steer clear of those things which dishonor God and what He approves of and saturate you mind, heart, and life with God and you will sin less!

So, the real question of success over spiritual defeat and discouragement is this, “Will I listen to and obey the desires of my flesh, or will I listen to and obey the desires of the Spirit?” The choice is yours

Next: (15) Defeating Discouragement with Ourselves - Conclusion

(15) Defeating Discouragement with Ourselves - Conclusion

2009-10-26T22:32:00.000-07:00

There is no need for believers to walk in spiritual defeat and discouragement. Our ability to live in victory is fully assured in Christ. Let’s summarize what we learned about walking in this victory.

1. I must recognize and remind myself of the truth that in Christ, I am not dead in sin, I am dead to sin. I am not helpless to have victory over sin.

2. I must choose to say "no" to sin and "yes" to God, looking at this as my daily battle.

3. I will never find victory over my spiritual failure, sin, and discouragement as long as I look for this victory in myself as a human being. I need help from outside my humanity.

4. Though the victory will not be found in myself as a human being (the flesh), it can be found in Christ. Victory is found in His ability to conquer sin and the enablement He gives me to live victoriously.

5. There is no place for defeat, discouragement, or self-condemnation in Christ.

6. I must choose to listen to and obey the desires of the Spirit instead of listening to and obeying the desires of my flesh. I do this by staying away from those things which dishonor God and what He approves of and by saturating my life with God, His Word, Worship, and fellowship with Him.

Victory over “spiritual discouragement” is a matter of faith

from beginning to end.

I must rest in who I am in Christ,

perfectly redeemed and righteous.

I must rely on who Christ is in me,

graciously enabling me to live in redemption and righteousness.

Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling, and to cause you to stand, rejoicing, without blemish before his glorious presence, 25 to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time, and now, and for all eternity. Amen. ( Jude 1:24-25)

(16) Defeating Discouragement with Ourselves in Ministry

2009-10-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

Ministry is Discouraging!

Sometimes it seams that the things that should give us the greatest joy and sense of purpose and fulfillment can cause us the most discouragement. Such is the case with ministry. When we seek to serve the Lord and minister to others, we often will find ourselves becoming discouraged. I once read a youth pastor’s musings over his ministry discouragement and found they struck a cord with me. See if you can identify with what he said.

Have you ever felt like giving up? Have you ever thought about leaving the ministry your involved in? Have you ever wondered whether or not God could use you or if you were just in His way?

Honestly for a long while I have felt like I have been dying inside… this year to me was going to be make or break. I was ready to give up. I have felt like I have been pushing and pushing without any results and have felt attacked… by parents and apathy among the youth ministry students and leaders. So I really had been contemplating whether or not I was cut out for this...Or whether it was even worth it or if I was God's man or was just in God's way.

Ministry discouragement is very real. It is not something to take lightly and it cannot be avoided. At some point in ministry almost everyone will suffer from some type of discouragement. If left unchecked, this discouragement can lead to depression or worse yet- someone leaving the ministry. It may be caused by conflict, lack of support, or any other number of things, but the truth is it is very real.

Can you relate to what he says? I sure can. And he is right, discouragement in ministry is a very common reality and great danger to guard against. Even if it doesn’t lead us to quit, it can certainly lead us to diminished enthusiasm and complacency.

Ministry can be hard. Now that’s a revolutionary and profound statement isn’t it. We all know that. Or do we? I’m afraid that we all too easily forget that this is the case and that we should actually expect it to be the case. That’s the way it was for Jesus. Should we expect any different? Consider His candid assessment of His ministry.

"But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, "'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds." Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. (Matthew 11:16-20 ESV)

Was Jesus just being hard on Himself? No. Look how His closest friend described Jesus’ ministry.

He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. (John 1:11 NET)

Jesus was rejected by His brothers and sisters. . . .His hometown . . . His disciples . . . His countrymen . . . . The religious leaders . . . The Romans. He was resisted, rejected, falsely accused by the religious, kicked out of town. Now that’s encouraging isn’t it?

But here’s the important thing for you and me to consider when we are discouraged with ministry. If the sinless, perfect Son of God who did everything exactly right in ministry was resisted, rejected and falsely accused, should we expect anything different? Jesus told us we shouldn’t.

Next: (17) Following Jesus’ Example

(17) Following Jesus’ Example

2009-10-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

Jesus made it clear that those who follow in His footsteps should expect that they too will face resistance, rejection, and false accusation, just like Him.

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. "But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. . . . . "Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:16-18, 28 NAU)

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. . . . If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you . . . (John 15:18,20 NAU)

Paul certainly knew what is was like to face resistance and rejection in ministry. In fact, I would say he faced a lot more of this than most of us will ever face in ministry.

. . . beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned . . . I have been in dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles . . . dangers among false brethren . . . (2 Corinthians 11:23-26 NAU)

Jesus encountered resistance and rejection. Paul did too. And it shouldn’t be a surprise to us when we encounter the same thing when we seek to serve God in ministry.

In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Timothy 3:12 NIV)

The fact is that persecution is inevitable for all who desire to live in a godly manner. The reason for this persecution is simple. A godly life exposes the wickedness of others. People do not like to be thus exposed. Instead of repenting of their ungodliness and turning to Christ, they seek to destroy the one who has shown them up for what they really are. (William MacDonald)

If you are facing resistance and rejection as you serve in ministry, you’re not alone. You stand with the best company there is. Whenever you are true to the Word of God, you will face resistance and rejection. Don’t give up. Remain faithful to the Word. Remain faithful to Christ.

Next: (18) Finding Hope When You Fell Like a Failure

(18) Finding Hope When You Feel Like a Failure

2009-10-22T04:30:00.000-07:00

.
Where do I find hope and courage
when I feel like a failure in ministry?

It will do us no good to live in a ministry fantasy land expecting our every word about Christ to be met with approval and positive responses. It is just not going to happen. We gain victory over discouragement in ministry when we recognize that the most biblically sound and flawlessly executed ministry will be met with resistance and rejection.

We must remember that successful ministry cannot and should not be measured by a positive response by a large number of people who embrace and approve of it. Biblically this is the exception, not the rule. Successful ministry must be measured in lives that are transformed to greater maturity in Christlikeness.

Our responsibility is to do our best to faithfully fulfill our ministry according to God’s Word, following His lead, and then leave the results to God realizing that there will be some resistance and rejection when God’s Word is taught. “Faithfully fulfill” means doing our best, pursuing excellence, growing and improving, following God’s Word and God’s agenda.

But, perhaps our problem is that the reason we serve in ministry is so that we can get the approval of man, recognition, and praise. This is an unbiblical reason to serve and will regularly result in disappointment and discouragement.

Perhaps when we are discouraged in ministry, the first thing we should look at is our motivation for doing ministry. Are we discouraged because we’re not getting the warm reception and props we’d like to get to boost our ego? Sure, we want to know that we’re not spinning our wheels when we sacrifice time and energy to serve in ministry and an occasional word of thanks or testimony of effectiveness is valuable in evaluating ourselves. But, we must be careful that we only accept compliments for the sake or determining our effectiveness, not for the sake of feeling good about ourselves. The goal of ministry is to lead people to feel good about Jesus and respond to Him, not feel good about ourselves and make us feel good about ourselves.

So, take the compliments when they come as an affirmation that you are doing the right thing and that God is indeed using you, but don’t ever believe the lie that it is because of your greatness. It is only a gift of God’s grace that your are effective at all. And when the compliments are few and far between and the criticisms abundant and frequent, evaluate yourself to make sure you are in fact remaining true to God’s Word, doing what God wants you to do. Assure that you are true to His Word. And keep going, remembering that you are in good company when you face criticism.

Next: (19) Courage to Serve When I Feel Like a Failure

(19) Where do I find courage to serve when I feel like I have nothing to offer?

2009-10-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you just didn’t have anything to offer? All of us can go through times when we feel very untalented, ungifted and throughly ill equipped to contribute anything worthwhile to those around us and to the Body of Christ in ministry. We may even feel like this is an accurate assessment of ourselves. We really believe we are being truthful when we think this way. So, we must carefully consider what God has to say about this.

Paul gives us a very valuable portrait of the functioning of the Body of Christ and the value of each member in 1 Corinthians 12. It is very profound and penetrating but also very humorous if you try to literally visualize what he describes.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.

It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. How strange a body would be if it had only one part! Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you." In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary. And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen, while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.

All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.

(1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11-27 NLT )

Can you see it? A body made up only of one eye? A body made up of only an ear? How silly! Every part of our bodies is important and serves a purpose. And so, with the Body of Christ. How silly it is for you or me to think we are not important and valuable to the proper functioning of the Body. Let’s choose to look at ourselves, our abilities, and our contribution to ministry as God does. I make six observations of principles in this passage.

➊ Every believer is designed & specially gifted by God to serve in the Body of Christ.
➋ God expects you to use your gift in serving without coveting another’s gift or becoming jealous of their gift.
➌ To Paul, a body member who chooses not to function is an absurdity and unthinkable.
➍ You were custom made by God to minister in a way only you can!

➎ Every member is important to the proper functioning of the body to its fullest potential.

➏ We are dependent on each other to fulfill our individual ministry to our fullest potential.

There it is! By the gracious gift of God, you are enabled to serve in ministry as only you can. You have been specially and specifically gifted to play a key role in the Body of Christ. Don’t believe the lies, believe the truth of God’s Word and get busy using your gifts.

Next: (20) Where do I find strength to serve when I feel like I’m all used up?

(20) Where do I find strength to serve when I feel like I’m all used up?

2009-10-19T06:32:00.000-07:00

Let’s be honest, all of us who have been involved in ministry to any extent and for any length of time have had times when we felt like we just didn’t have the energy or the will to keep going. There are times when you just feel spent! There’s nothing left to give.

This can happen for a number of reasons. It can be a matter of physical fatigue where the primary solution may just be a little R&R. It may be because of challenges in ministry – unmet expectations and disappointments, people resistant to the Word of God, opposition, petty criticisms, even family demands. Most often there is a mixture of spiritual and physical exhaustion working together.

You may need a little break to get some rest, but you also need to refocus. You need to get your thoughts focused on a great and glorious God and the promises of His Word. Carefully consider what Paul says:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10 ESV)

Easy for Paul to say, he was so successful in ministry, right? Wrong! Oh yes, he did see success, and had a tremendous impact on his world for Christ, but don’t forget the failures and setbacks! Remember, Paul was kicked out of cities, beaten, imprisoned. It might be an interesting debate whether Paul was received or rejected more. But what does he say here? He tells us that he kept going and worked hard, by the grace of God. Paul didn’t do it on his own. He did it in the strength supplied to him by God.

The duties God requires of us are not in proportion to the strength we possess in ourselves. Rather, they are proportional to the resources available to us in Christ. We do not have the ability in ourselves to accomplish the least of God's tasks. This is a law of grace. When we recognize it is impossible for us to perform a duty in own strength, we will discover the secret of its accomplishment. – John Owen

Remember what Jesus said about this?

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. 5"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:4-5 NAU)

OK, so that’s Paul. He had a special measure of God’s grace on his life, that’s what kept him going, right? Wrong again! Look what he says to the Corinthian believers:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV)

Check this out. Paul didn’t have any more grace available to him to do what God wanted him to do than you and I have to do what God wants us to do. In whatever it is that God wants you to do, He will also supply all you need to do it. Oh, and by the way, He will even work in you to give you the will power to do it! Look what Paul tells us in Philippians 2:13. I will list it in three different translations so you can really get the depth of what he is saying.

For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13 NAU)

For it is God who is the cause of your desires and of your acts, for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13 BBE)

It is God who produces in you the desires and actions that please him. (Philippians 2:13 GWN)

With all this biblical truth in mind, let’s consider three principles for serving when we feel like giving up:

➊ Determine to trust God and believe His promise to give you the desire and the ability to do His will.

➋ Determine to abide in intimate personal fellowship with Christ through a lifestyle of worship, Bible study, and prayer.

➌ Determine to choose to be faithful in the ministry God has given you, serving to the best of your ability, pursuing growth and excellence.

(21) Defeating Discouragement With Ourselves – Conclusion

2009-10-17T22:03:00.000-07:00

So what does it take to keep going when you fell like you can’t seem to make a difference? Let me summarize with four key principles from scripture we must embrace.

I can have victory over discouragement in ministry when . . .

➊ I define success in ministry in keeping with the Word of God.

The Word of God teaches me to focus on unwavering faithfulness to God and growth in honoring God. The Word of God teaches me to determine my success by the reality of changed lives rather than large crowds.

The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This "letter" is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. (2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NLT)

I can have victory over discouragement in ministry when . . .

➋ I determine to fulfill my God-given ministry in submission to the will of God to honor and please Him, not man.

I must determine that I am going to be obedient to God above all others, seeking and following His plan and methods. Whenever I get excessively focused on pleasing people I am in grave danger of compromising the Word of God, disobeying the will of God, and falling into discouragement. My ultimate and governing passion must be to be pleasing to God, not man.

Am I now trying to gain the approval of people, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ! (Galatians 1:10 NET)

I can have victory over discouragement in ministry when . . .

➌ I choose to accept and be content with the gifts and abilities God has given me without coveting or being jealous of the gifts He has given others.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. . . . It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7, 11 NLT )

Any coveting of the gifts of another, any jealousy over their success is an indication that there is something wrong in my heart. I am saying that God doesn’t know what He is doing, that He has made a mistake. I am showing the roots of selfishness and pride.

I can have victory over discouragement in ministry when . . .

➍ I diligently serve in ministry, dependent on the power of God and fully confident in His grace to do the work of God.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me– and I in him– bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing.” (John 15:5 NET)

How do I know if I am abiding? How do I know if I am truly depending on God and not trusting my own thinking or ability? Let me suggest a test to answer these questions. Ask yourself the question, What am I praying about? You see, prayer is a big indicator of our dependance on God. I don’t pray about and seek God for wisdom and strength for the things I am depending on myself for. If I say I am depending on God for my ministry but spend little time praying about it, the truth is I am relying on myself, not God. And I will remain in discouragement. Sobering thoughts. Think about it.