The spirit of Discouragement

THE DEVIL’S GOTTA DEADLINE!
(A SPIRIT OF DISCOURAGEMENT)
2 COR 2:11
JEREMIAH 20:11-17

INTRODUCTION: LAST WEEK, BEGAN TO LOOK AT THE WRATH OF THE DEVIL AND WHAT IT MEANS TO GOD’S CHILDREN.
A). REV 12:12 – “ THE DEVIL HAS A GREAT WRATH AND HIS TIME IS SHORT”
B). HE HAS LAUNCHED AN ALL OUT WAR AGAINST GOD’S SEED (YOU & I)
C). WHICH EXPLAINS THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND ALL THE SIN IN TODAY’S SOCIETY.
D). HOW AND WHY THE POWERS OF DARKNESS ARE PUSHING THIS CULTURE DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO DESTRUCTION.
E). SATAN IS INDEED ALIVE AND WELL ON PLANET EARTH!

1). KNOWING THE DEVIL’S STRATEGY!
A). 2 COR 2:11 –“ …FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS DEVICES”
B). DEVICES – SCHEMES OR STRATEGIES.
C). THE DEVIL HAS A MO (MODUS OPERANDI) – METHOD OF PROCEDURE OR HOW HE WORKS. HE HAS UTILILZED THE SAME MO SINCE THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
D). HIS STRATEGY IS TO DECEIVE YOU AND I.
E). BEING AWARE OF THIS HELPS COMBAT HIS ACTIVITIES IN OUR LIVES.
F). IF WE DON’T COMBAT HIS STRATEGIES HE WILL GET AN ADVANTAGE.”
G). ADVANTAGE – USED IN THE SAME SENSE OF CHEATING SOMEONE OUT OF SOMETHING.
H). OTHER WORDS; IF WE ARE NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE OF HIS DEVICES, HE WILL ATTEMPT TO STEAL OUR JOY, PEACE, VICTORY.
I). SATAN SEEKS TO KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY BY DRAWING FROM GOD.
J). TAKE A LOOK AT ONE OF THE DEVICES SATAN USES!

2). JEREMIAH 21:11-13
A). A PROPHET. IN CONTROL, RIGHTEOUS, FULL OF FAITH AND VICTORY.
B). JEREMIAH 21:14-17 – IN A MATTER OF MOMENTS, HE TURNED TO A PERSON IN DESPAIR, CONFUSED, DEJECTED – DISCOURAGED!
C). HE WENT FROM PRAISING GOD TO CURSING THE DAY HE WAS BORN.
D). WHAT JEREMIAH IS FACING, IS SOMETHING MOST OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED.
E). A DEMONIC ATTACK CALLED THE SPIRIT OF DISCOURAGEMENT!
F). THIS ATTACK COMES STRAIGHT FROM THE PIT OF HELL.
G). SATAN FEEDS YOU LIES OF HOW YOU BROUGHT IT ON YOUR SELF.
H). THIS IS ONE OF SATANS MOST POTENT WEAPONS; TRYING TO GET YOU INTO A FEELING OF DISCOURAGEMENT , SO MAYBE YOU’LL GIVE UP.
I). DISCOURAGEMENT – LACK HOPE – USUALLY AFTER A MAJOR VICTORY.
J). MANY FACE IT ON A MONDAY; AFTER A BREAK THROUGH ON SUNDAY.
K). IT HAS HAPPENED TO KING DAVID, ELIJAH (PASSIONS LIKE OURS)
L). IT’S YOUR FAITH AND LOVE THAT MAKES YOU A TARGET!

LETS BEGIN TO LOOK AT THE DEVILS STRATEGIES, DEVICES USED TO OVERCOME US WITH A SPIRIT OF DISCOURAGEMENT.

1). HE WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE; THINGS ARE WORSE THAN THEY REALLY ARE!
A). YOUR LIFE, SITUATIONS YOUR FACING, YOUR PROBLEMS THAT EXIST.
B). HAVE YOU EVER DWELLED ON A PROBLEM UNTIL YOU WERE
CONVINCED IT WAS A BAD SITUATION AND AFTER FACING IT, IT WAS NOT ANYWHERE AS BAD AS YOU THOUGHT; THAT WAS THE DEVIL.
C). THE DEVIL KNOWS IF YOUR FEELING DOWN, DISCOURAGED, PROBLEMS SEEM UNSOLVABLE, MORE DIFFICULT. YOU TAKE THINGS PERSONALLY AND TURN THINGS AROUND.
D). IN A MATTER OF ONE HOUR, A PERSONS LIFE CAN TURN SOUR.
E). YOU START TO QUESTION YOUR SPOUSE, JOB, CAR , HOUSE, LIFE.
F). KNOW HIS DEVICES; HE IS ATTACKING YOU WITH A SPIRIT OF DISCOURAGEMENT.

2). HE WANTS YOU TO BELIEVE; YOU ARE IN IT ALL BY YOURSELF!
A). WHERE’S MY HELP? AM I THE ONLY ONE THAT CARES?
HOW COME NO ONE ELSE WILL PUT FORTH A FINGER TO HELP?
B). DEVIL GETS US DISCOURAGED; THINKING WE ARE THE ONLY ONES.
C). WE BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT ALL THAT WE DO AND KEEP SCORE.
D). WHY AM I THE ONLY ONE AVG 4 HRS SLEEP, GOING 24-36