Discouragement. We all face it. Some of us admit it as a part of daily life. Some of us deny it and consider it a weakness. But I'll call it what it is... and attack on my purpose! Sure it can come from fatigue, stress, over commitment and the busy-ness of life. And typically we turn to blame ourselves for those times life when we face it. But if we understood the definition and if we boiled our life down to having specific purpose... a driven desire to fulfill a designed plan, then maybe we might realize that we are not always the sole cause of this discouragement. First, let me take apart the word. dis: a prefix that means to break apart. courage: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to persevere in the face difficulty, despite fear. So if we are discouraged, our mind and spirit are broken apart in some way, slowing us, deterring us from accomplishing that which we pursued. To gain a new perspective on discouragement, allow me take you into the world of the Israelites who had a very interesting situation that gives us insight into this topic. I'm going to take you to a time when they were nearing the end of a very long captivity under Babylonian rule. There was a new king in charge and God did some pretty amazing things. Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the Lord God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel (He isGod), which is in Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-3 NKJV First of all, let me just say, WOW! This man Cyrus, king of Persia, was not a worshipper of the God he is talking about. But God still stirred in his heart to fulfill the prophecy of Jeremiah and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. So he let go many Israelite captives. They were told to return to Judah to build it. And he gave them the supplies as well. THAT, for certain has purpose. Now, we will skip ahead a bit, past their moving and getting settled. So it's year two and they have a plan and are beginning to build... with a purpose. Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the Lord God of Israel... Ezra 4:1 Let us pause right there, because we need to ponder that thought a moment. It's been 70 years since the Israelites were taken into captivity. So these are the descendants of most of the original captives. In 70 years, maybe only a few... who were most likely kids when taken captive, might still be alive. So how is it that they have adversaries? They don't even KNOW these people from this other nation. But this is that sort of feudal family thing. Nation against nation, that passes down hatred from generation to generation. Israel and Judah had be pretty desolate for 70 years and their adversaries... or their enemies, were pretty pleased. But now that they are returning to re-build the temple... well that was just not cool with them. So the enemy nation came and asked the governor, Zerubbabel, if they could help... pretending that they too worshipped the same God. But the Z-man said no! “You may do nothing with us to build a house for our God; but we alone will build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.” You see, Zerubbabel knew it was purposed for the captives released by king Cyrus to do the building. This was too strange a circumstance... too God-ordained to let anyone, or anything get tangled in the mix and mess it up. And the Israelites had a history of allowing the influence of others distract them from their devotion to God. It had led them away to idolatry in the past which ended in captivity. They were just now being released from decades of that. This certain purpose could not stand for interference... not now! But watch what happened in the next verse, just after he said no to them... Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. Ezra 4:4-5 Clearly, even their offer to join them in the building was not a sincere one. For the moment their offer was turned down they set out to direct opposition. If you can't join 'em, beat 'em. Is that how the saying goes? I'm not so sure... but these adversaries thought so. But here is what we need to realize... we all have them, adversaries, that is. And we may think they are people. But they are not. People are just... well, people. We are all actually, in the same boat. We all have the same type of adversary who lives in hiding, but reaches into our lives, stirs the pot of discouragement, then sits back to watch as we take out our frustration on other people. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood... contending only with physical opponents, but against the evil authorities, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly supernatural sphere. Ephesians 6:12 AMPC Scoff if you like. But that's exactly what pleases satan. He wants you to think he doesn't exist. He want's you to make light of the spiritual darkness and the battle over your soul. For then you won't take it seriously until it's too late. But if you should choose to pursue a purpose higher than yourself... one, in fact, like these former captives who longed to glorify God by building something that would bring others close to Him, then you may also face adversaries who discourage, frustrate and trouble you. And if that's YOU, then lean in. Because God wants to ENCOURAGE you. And we can define that as well... en: to bring together, all sides complete; to be in the state of... courage: the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty despite fear to persevere. When God purposes something, He will also bring together within us the courage to complete it. But we have to know that there will be an adversary who wants us to be halted. If he can't join us... or rather if we won't sit back and be idle joining him in nothingness, then he will try to beat us through discouragement, frustration and trouble. Just like he did when he got that nation of adversaries to the Israelites all stirred up after they came back from captivity. Little children, you are of God... you belong to Him and have already defeated and overcome them, because He Who lives in you is greater and mightier than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4 AMP Don't forget that you are purposed. Don't forget Who purposed you. Don't let your adversaries help you... for they will only lead you away to distraction. Don't become overwhelmed by discouragement, frustration or trouble. For if you are facing any of those today... it may just be that you are actually right in the middle of your purpose. And that is exactly when you need to press in and press on. BE ENCOURAGED! Be complete on all sides, surrounded by the courage of Christ, for you are found in Him. Word of God train me today... To know that You have purposed me to encourage others and lead them closer to You. To not let my adversary distract me, nor let him discourage, frustrate or trouble me.
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January 2019
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