HELP FOR THE DISCOURAGED By REV. DR. JOHN SIM

Abraham LincolnCharles Spurgeon

REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT: 1. A weak faith. And David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish someday by the hand of Saul.” 1 Sam. 27:1a

“There is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape to the land of the Philistines.” 1 Sam. 27:1b 2. Living with the wrong crowd. REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2

“The evangelical church has accommodated to the world spirit of the age.” “95% of all Christians lived defeated lives.” Billy Graham

“David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day. Now the Amalekites had raided the Negev and Ziklag. They had attacked Ziklag and burned it, and had taken captive the women and all who were in it, both young and old. They killed none of them, but carried them off as they went on their way. When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.” 1 Sam. 30: A big loss. REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT:

3. A big loss. “So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep.” 1 Samuel 30:4

“David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters.” 1 Sam. 30:6 4. Criticism by others. REASONS FOR DISCOURAGEMENT:

Samuel Clemens

REMEDIES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT: 1. I need to renew my faith in God. “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Sam. 30:6

“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?... Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:1-2, 5

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him, and David inquired of the LORD. 1 Sam. 30:7-8a 2. I need to pray. REMEDIES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT:

2. I need to pray. “Cast all your cares upon Him, for he cares for you.” 1 Pet.5:7 “We should never be discouraged Take it to the Lord in prayer.” REMEDIES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT:

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” he answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.” So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him. 1 Sam. 30: I need to act on God's Word. REMEDIES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT:

So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him. 1 Sam. 30:9 4. I need to let others help. REMEDIES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!... A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Eccles. 4:9-10, 12

Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Gal. 6:2

“David fought them from dusk until the evening of the next day, and none of them got away, except four hundred young men who rode off on camels and fled.” 1 Sam. 30:17 5. I need to give God the glory. REMEDIES FOR DISCOURAGEMENT:

David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David's plunder.” Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Ravine. They came out to meet David and the people with him. As David and his men approached, he greeted them. 1 Samuel 30:18-21

But all the evil men and troublemakers among David's followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.” 1 Samuel 30:22

David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the LORD has given us. He has protected us and handed over to us the forces that came against us.” 1 Samuel 30:23

God will give us “beauty for ashes...oil of joy for mourning, garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That we may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

Napoleon Crossing The Alps By Jacques Louis David “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9