Never Give Up: Staying Encouraged Through Faith and the Holy Spirit

In today’s culture the most important part of our day, life, ministry is to stay encouraged.

2 Corinthians 4:1 Therefore, since God in his mercy has given us this new way, we never give up.

2 Corinthians 4:16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Ephesians 3:13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here.

How we handle discouragement is critical to our success.

Discouragement has taken more Pastors out than moral failure.

We cannot leave discouragement unchecked.

DISCOURAGEMENT IS:

1) Universal

2) Can be caught over and over

3) It is contagious

4) It is both circumstantial and out of the blue.

We are told to BE strong AND courageous.

(STOP SELF TALK)

How do we keep the encouragement tank full?

If we do not add to our faith we will never abound in encouragement…

2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (excellence), to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful.

1)           Rehearse Your Call

Keep it alive, never forget your call

2)           Monitor what drains you.

Uninterrupted worship

3)           Keep feeding your faith

Starve your fear…FEED your faith

4)           Stay full of Holy Spirit

Romans 8:8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

1)           Holy Spirit protects me from me!

2)           Holy Spirit brings contentment to where I am at the moment.

Romans 8:6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.

3)           Holy Spirit brings intimacy with the Father…

2 Corinthians 13:14 The amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, the extravagant love of God, the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of you.

To stay encouraged we need Holy Spirit to not just dwell but to reside. The difference is residing gives all access.