Spiritual Warfare - Part 10

Disappointment and Discouragement

How do we handle life's disappointments?

~~ Watch the Lesson ~~

Outline:

• Introduction
• Traits of Wholeness
• Review of Spiritual Warfare
• Disappointment
• When God Says No
• Discouragement
• How to handle discouragement
• For the Glory of God

Scriptures:

• Psalms 42:11
• John 11:1-6
• John 11:11-15
• Philipians 4: 11-14
• Jeremiah 29:11
• Proverbs 3:5-6
• Joshua 1:9
• John 16:33
• Matthew 25:25
• 2 Corinthians 10:12
• 2 Corinthians 4:1-17
• John 11:39-44

Introduction

Psalms 42:11

Why are you in despair, my soul? And why are you restless within me? Wait for God, for I will again praise Him For the help of His presence, my God.

Is this a prayer?

• No

David is talking to…David

• Why are you in despair?
• …wait for God

Has anybody ever been tired of waiting for God to do something?

How many people are living the life that they dreamed of when they were a child?

Many are not

For some, it’s because… They realize that what they valued as a child isn’t what they value anymore

For others just because… They were never able to achieve it

• It just never happened, so they gave up

Marriage

Some of us trusted God for marriage, but it still hasn’t happened

• The preacher said “every good desire in your heart is from God”
• We’ve been in so many relationships that didn’t work..we’ve given up hope
• We’re discouraged

Some got married

• And are still unhappy
• Longingly remembering the days when you were single
• Now you’re stuck for the rest of our lives
• Given up on happiness and fulfillment
• “This is not the person I was dating”
• We’re disappointed

Today we are going to talk about Disappointment and Discouragement

This is the final lesson on Spiritual Warfare

Traits of Wholeness

We are in our series called Seeking Wholeness

How can we be:

• Spiritually healthy
• Emotionally healthy
• Mentally healthy

Free from oppression of

• Our past
• Ourself
• Bad thinking
• Strongholds
• The enemy

When Jesus touched people they

• Received salvation
• Got healed
• Got delivered from demons and bondage

…they were made “whole”

We’re talking about

• dealing with life’s current stresses
• being healed from experiences/wounds of the past

We’re not just supposed to have eternal life

• We’re supposed to have: joy, peace, patience, and self control here on earth

Traits of Wholeness

• Authenticity
• Honesty
• Kindness
• Not seeking external approval / validation
• Living by values and principles
• Setting Boundaries
• Taking ownership of your responsibilities
• Living with purpose and passion
• Optimism
• Confidence
• Healthy relationships with others
• Not losing control of your emotions
• Free from addictions
• Addressing Conflict with truth and love
• Vulnerability
• Not critical or Judgemental
• Not jealous of others
• Forgive those who have wronged you in the past
• Know that you’re worthy of receiving love
• Not afraid to fail
• Able to manage irrational fear, worry, and anxiety
• Selfless encounters with others
• Not manipulating others trying to control their actions/reactions
• You care about how others feel
• Patient
• Don’t give into peer/social pressure
• Can communicate directly
• Don’t take responsibility for other people's emotions
• Take responsibility for your own emotions
• Slow to anger
• Ability to maturely express your wants, needs and desires
• Being led by the Spirit

We want to become

• aware of our issues
• empowered to manage/fix them

Review of Spiritual Warfare

3 mistakes Christians make

1. Think spiritual warfare is a supernatural weird thing that we should ignore
2. We shouldn’t talk about Satan or demons because we give him power
3. Blame the devil and demons (or witches) for all of the problems in our life

The Enemy’s Goal in Spiritual Warfare

• Keep Us Operating in Our Flesh
• Prevent Us From Walking in Our Purpose
• Make us Question Our Identity
• To Draw us Away from God
• Kill, Steal and Destroy
• Damage Relationships

Enemies

We have unseen enemies

The devil

Demons

• Here on earth
• Possessing non-believers and influencing Christians

Rulers, powers, principalities

• In heavenly places
• Influence our culture and strongholds

Armor of God

Ephesians 6: 10 - 18

• Living a life of “truthfulness”
• Moral righteousness
• Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ
• Having faith in God
• Having the hope of salvation
• Reading the bible
• Hearing and obeying the Holy Spirit
• Led by the Spirit

The Enemy’s Attacks

The battlefield is our minds

The enemy attacks our thoughts with:

1. Temptation
2. Accusation
3. Deception
4. Disagreements / Divisiveness
5. Distractions
6. Disappointment
7. Discouragement

Temptation

The devil can’t make us do anything… he influences our thoughts or presents you the opportunity to sin

The deception behind temptation is that it will fulfill you

Accusation

Once you fall for the temptation… The enemy will start to accuse you

When you are living righteous… He tells you how wonderful sin is

• When you fall… He tells you how horrible you are

Condemnation from the enemy makes you feel

• Shame
• Regret

Conviction of the Holy Spirit encourages you to be righteous

Deception

The enemy’s goal isn’t just to make you sin, but to make you justify that the sin is ok

Disagreement

Disagreement / divisiveness is one of the few things the Bible calls out as specifically giving satan an advantage over Christians.  

We help satan when we have disagreements in our

• personal relationships
• church
• doctrines  

Distraction

The enemy wants to distract us from our:

• Christian walk
• Relationship with God
• Purpose

This can look like

• Worldly goals
• Entertainment
• Convenience
• Godly service that keeps us from our specific God given purpose

Disappointment

Some of you had dreams that you’ve given up on

Some of you had promises that you thought were from God, but they didn’t happen

Now you are…disappointed

Disappointment

• Lowers our self esteem
• Can cause you to lower your expectations
• Makes us doubt God

Disappointment keeps us from

• Trying
• Giving
• Risking
• Praying
• Believing
• Hoping
• Experiencing The presence of God

What are some things that Christians become disappointed about in life?

Lazarus is Sick

John 11:1-6

1 Now a certain man was sick: Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 So the sisters sent word to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.” 5 (Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister, and Lazarus.) 6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

• A man who Jesus love was sick
• Lazuras was Mary and Martha’s brother

Lazarus = "whom God helps"

Jesus Stayed 2 Days Longer

6 So when He heard that he was sick, He then stayed two days longer in the place where He was.

Has anybody ever been left wondering… Where are you at Jesus?

… I sent for you a long time ago

God is Not Working On Our Timetable

God’s not in a rush

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR7jRWVX/

Hindsight is 20/20

2 And it was the Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped His feet with her hair,

This doesn’t happen until the next chapter

• The author can add information to the story because he has the advantage of knowing how the story ends as he narrates the story in real time

Sometimes we are living in chapter 11, but don’t have the insight of what’s going to happen in chapter 12

Jesus knew what was going to happen

When we read this passage, was anyone sad to know that Lazarus is sick?

• Why not?

It’s easy when you know that the story ends happy

4 …He said, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

Mary and Martha didn’t know

• The disciples didn’t know

story: my season When God showed me why he did things

We don’t live our lives with the insight of hindsight with every situation

Verse: I can see clearly now that the rain is gone

Didn’t appreciate it until it was gone

There are some things that we don’t appreciate until they are gone

Story: Grew up in LA but never visited until I moved away

• Catalina
• Queen Mary
• Hollywood Walk of Fame
• Hollywood Bowl
• Randy’s donuts

Example: When I was younger

• I could eat anything and not gain weight
• I could eat anything at any time of day and digest it
• Any wound healed quickly
• I have full mobility and flexibility in my body
• I didn’t have to pay any bills

Love What You Have

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR7j5ugw/

What are some things you didn’t appreciate until after they were gone?

What has God given you that you don’t appreciate now?

Book: hindsight window

God worked it for good

Does anyone have an example of something bad that they went through, but later on they realized what God was doing through it?

When Things Didn’t Go How You Wanted

This Sickness Will Not End in Death - Andy Wood

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cpp7epasy45/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Lazarus Died

John 11:11-15

11 This He said, and after this He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going so that I may awaken him from sleep.” 12 The disciples then said to Him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will come out of it.” 13 Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about actual sleep. 14 So Jesus then said to them plainly, “Lazarus died, 15 and I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, so that you may believe; but let’s go to him.”  

Jesus had to make it plain

Everybody Has a Lazarus in Their Life

Everyone here has a “Lazarus“

• a person that you lost
• a relationship
• Healing that didn’t happen
• Dreams that didn’t manifest
• Addiction not cured
• Character flaw

Everybody Has a Lazarus - Furtick

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxtnbgRzg0GWr08txYEJQKV1dVEo0kf4ee

• The love of God is not proven by the way I feel his presence
• The love of God is proven by the way I deal with his perceived absence

Some peoples Lazarus has buried so deep that they forgot about it

• We learned how to move on from the event… But we never processed the disappointment

Processing the Disappointment

How you process the Disappointment determines whether it becomes

• Faith to propel all you
• Fear to paralyze you

Disappointment Can Lower Your Expectations

You never experienced the presence of God

• So you never expected presence of God
• So you never experienced the presence of God

Disappointment is a dangerous thing. It can cause you to set your expectations at the level of your experience and miss. purpose of God in your life

When God Says No

God is blessing you with His “no”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CplhnxpOjxZ/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Some promises are Potential

• It takes faith
• God tests your faith
• Your promise is on the other side of your faith test

Bible story: Abraham Sacrifice Isaac

God’s Promises Might Not Happen

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cpl5ofyD5Rj/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Contentment

Sometimes we need to learn to be happy with what God has already given us

Philipians 4: 11-14

11 Not that I speak from need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with little, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my difficulty.

Which disappointments to

• Accept
• Reject

Disappointment in Other People

Sometimes we’ve been disappointed by other people

Disappointed in Other People

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRWv3TaX/

1. Grieve - accept what really happened
2. Forgive them and yourself
3. Rediscover Your Passion
4. Formulate a forward vision
5. Guard your heart
6. Rehearse God affirmations

Memory Verses

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Joshua 1:9

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

John 16:33

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Read the Bible

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClE3ilQLa8l/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Discouragement

Discourage means to take away your courage

The enemy wants you to be discouraged

You can be discouraged by

• Failure
• Health
• Finances
• Relationships

Discouragement can cause you to give up

• Hoping
• Caring
• Trying
• Believing

Give up on your dreams

The enemy will tell you:

• God doesn’t love you
• God has rejected you
• God can’t forgive things as bad as what you’ve done
• No one cares
• Everyone is out to get you

Disappointment Lead to Unbelief

Satan will attack you with lies and doubt about God

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Co8gqdZu_i6/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Toure

Afraid to operate in your gifts

Some of you know how you are supposed to be serving in the Kingdom, but you’re scared

Matthew 25:25

‘And I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you still have what is yours.’

Comparison

2 Corinthians 10:12

For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.

Discontentment could be a sign that it’s time to move on.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ColQcUoLZji/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Sometimes a closed door is direction

https://youtube.com/shorts/j0Brrbj3AFQ

How to handle discouragement

2 Corinthians 4:1-17

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. 3And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled [a]to those who are perishing, 4in whose case the god of this [b]world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that [c]they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus. 6For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

7But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who live are constantly being handed over to death because of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal flesh. 12So death works in us, but life in you.

13But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written: “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will also raise us with Jesus, and will present us with you. 15 For all things are for your sakes, so that grace, having [f]spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day. 17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Never forget how much God loves me

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart,

When you get discouraged…you don’t feel the love of God

You need to focus on God‘s mercy

Some people only feel God speaking to them in a negative voice

• They only feel conviction

• When I focus on God‘s love and mercy
• 
  
• I don’t have to prove my worth
• I don’t have to wallow in my failures because I know that God forgives me

Never fake it. Be who I am

2 Corinthians 4:2

but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God.

God didn’t make you to be somebody else

Stop trying to live for the approval of other people

• God didn’t put you on earth for the approval of other people

When you try to be something you’re not…that’s discouraging

Fear is what keeps you from being real

Remember that it’s not about me

2 Corinthians 4:5

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus.

The more self focused my life is… The more discouraged I will be

When you think everything is about you:

• Prideful
• Fearful
• Bitter

God wants you to reach people through your life message

• But your life message isn’t about you… It’s about God

Everything in our culture tells us that you got to think about you

• Have it your way
• Do you
• Live your best life
• You only live once
• You’re number one
• You deserve the best today
• Self care
• You deserve a break today

Remember it’s not about you when

• You get praise
• You get criticized
• Someone disagrees with you
• Someone misunderstands you

Your Motivation

You get discouraged when you’re doing it for the wrong reason

Example: going to ALCF

• Doing because God told me to

God is more interested in why you do what you do then he is with what or how you are doing

• You can do the right result for the wrong reason

Your “why” determines how long you will do something

• Why are you gave your life to Christ
• While you got married
• Why you took your career

Accept Your Limitations

2 Corinthians 4:7

But we have this treasure in earthen containers, so that the extraordinary greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

You get discouraged when you try to be Superman

You can’t fix everyone's problems

Anytime you don’t live within the limitations of your life… You get discouraged

• finances

It’s easier to fill your schedule down to fulfill your schedule

It’s easier to make a promise than to keep a promise

Pride vs Humility

Humility is not denying your strength

• It is being honest about your weakness

Use your pain to help others

2 Corinthians 4:15

For all things are for your sakes, so that grace, having spread to more and more people, will cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

Sometimes God will let you go through pain for the benefit of other people

Your greatest ministry will come out of your deepest hurt if you

• honest to God
• honest to yourself
• talk about it with other people

Find Your Purpose

Human beings can handle an enormous amount of pain if they see a purpose in it

https://youtube.com/shorts/ymJarwEuZys

Take time to renew yourself

2 Corinthians 4:16

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer person is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed day by day.

You need to renew yourself every day

• Emotionally
• Mentally
• Physically
• Spiritually

Stay focused on eternity

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

17 For our momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

You can’t live for just the here and now

There are three types of motivation

• Internal
• External
• Eternal

“If you look at the world, you'll be distressed. If you look within, you'll be depressed. If you look at God you'll be at rest.”

― Corrie Ten Boom

Remember Others Have it Worse

2 Corinthians 11:23-28

23 Are they servants of Christ?--I am speaking as if insane--I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. 24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent adrift at sea. 26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; 27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

Story: missionaries from Turkey

• Missionary before him was murdered
• US Embassy told him to leave because Al-Qaeda was planning to kill them
• A Muslim came to his door because family was going to kill him
• If you proselytize (evangelize) the receiver kills you and goes and get the police
• The police tells them to let your body rot in the street so people will know not to proselytize

Keep Fighting

The Devil Never wins unless you don’t fight

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnpoVznukbv/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

For the Glory of God

John 11:39-44

39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. And Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 “But I knew that You always hear Me; nevertheless, because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 Out came the man who had died, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Lazarus Was Called…But Still Bound

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CptcAKJu6pb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Sometimes God is Late on Purpose

Why did Jesus stay 2 more days?

Jesus waited until the fourth day

• The Jews believed that up until the third day a person’s spirit could return to them
• Jesus let their preconceived time period Expire
• so that he could show his glory

He had to make sure they knew …it was a miracle

God showed up “late“ to show them his glory in a way that they had never seen before

 4 But when Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness is not meant for death, but is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it.”

Why did God

• Harden Pharaoh's heart?
• Allow Daniel to be thrown into the lion’s den
• Allow the Hebrew boys to be thrown into the fire

Sometimes God needs to perform a miracle in a way…

• That everyone knows that it wasn’t you
• The you know that it wasn’t you
• That you know that it could only be God that did it

If God did something miraculous in your life it’s not because …

• you were so holy
• your faith is so strong
• Your gift is so powerful
• It’s for the glory of God

Did God get glory from it?

It was to give you a testimony

If you got the miracle…

If you got the testimony…

… go tell it on the mountain

Instructor: Michael Leadon

References

Defeating discouragement with Rick Warren

Saddleback church

Facing your disappointment

Steven Furtick

Disappointment is dangerous

Steven Furtick

The Lazarus factor

Elevation church

Extra

The gates of hell shall not prevail.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpN6RB8piE-/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Demons Wear You Down Emotionally

https://www.instagram.com/reel/ClF2RfAjesO/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

—---------

The level that God speaks to us on is the level that we will trust him on

• If he speaks to you at the level of feeling you only trust him at the level of feeling
• If he speaks to us in thought we may only trust him at the level of logic

Acknowledge Your Weaknesses

The stages of your weakness

1. Don’t know you have them
2. Deny
3. Hiding
4. Rationalizing and excusing
5. Accept them
6. Glory in them