Sermon Central
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Encourage Yourself In The Lord
Contributed by Ron Hicks on Sep 6, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: God could pour blessings upon you any time He pleases, but sometimes He wants you to come and get them yourself.
ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD
1 Sam 30:1-7
30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives.
4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.
5 And David’s two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite.
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.
WHEN DAVID COULDN’T REACH OUT FOR ENCOURAGEMENT, HE BEGAN TO REACH UP FOR IT AND HE RECEIVED IT.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD?
1. REMIND YOURSELF WHO YOU ARE.
14 Ye are my friends,
ye are my disciples,
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people;
13 Ye are the salt of the earth:
14 Ye are the light of the world.
Rom 8:16
we are the children of God:
WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MIRROR IS NOT THE TOTAL INCOMPUSMENT OF WHO YOU ARE.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD?
2. REMEMBERING THE PROMISES OF GOD.
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Ps 34:19-20
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
affliction - A condition of pain, suffering, or distress.
1 Cor 10:13-14
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOURSELF IN THE LORD?
3. REMEMBER , WITH GOD YOU CAN NOT FAIL.
Ps 60:12
12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.
Isa 54:17-55:1
17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
Phil 4:13
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Heb 13:6
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper,
