Don't get discouraged, God is in control

2 Corinthians 4:1
We all get discouraged once in a while

Things that are within our control that bring discouragement;
1. Laziness
2. Procrastination
3. Not being committed enough
4. Weariness or exhaustion

Then we have things that we can't control many times
1. the car breaking down
2. others let us down
3. things just don't happen the way that we want


These things don't allow us to see results in our Christian walk


Paul says; "seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not"(means we don't give up or become discouraged).


The ministry that he is talking about is not the five-fold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers.


But the ministry is the great task that God has given to everyone of us as Christian;

 This ministry demands that we be constant in our Christianity

 That we don't waver and become unstable



1. It's a ministry of "triumph in Christ".

 I John 5:4 says; "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world (is victorious)
Verse 5 says; "and who is he that overcomes (or is victorious in) the world? But he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God".
Christ has given us triumph over; the evil influences of men, over spiritual forces, over afflictions and over things in the world that want our attention.





 2 corint. 2:14 Paul says; "God causes us to triumph in Christ and makes manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place".
 God shows others that He is real through us

A. We are to be the living trophies of Christ by whom others can see the victory of Christ.

B. A trophy is the evidence that one has conquered and won

C. The continence of a trophy is always one of victory never of defeat.


2. It's a ministry of life and reconciliation.
A. Proverbs 18:21 says that; "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit".
B. Lets partake of the fruit of forgiveness
C. Lets partake of the fruit of love
D. Lets partake of the fruit of righteousness
E. Lets partake of the fruit of kindness and goodness and faithfulness and joy and self control (DON'T ALLOW DISCOURAGEMENT TO TAKE CONTROL)

F. If you speak life it will produce life but if you speak death it will produce death.


3. It's a ministry Being Ambassadors of Christ

 What a privilege to be an ambassador of God's kingdom

 Billy Graham was asked one time if he was ever going to put in to be president, his reply was; "WHY TAKE A STEP DOWN"

2 Corin. 5:20 says; "Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though Christ was pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God"
4. It's a ministry of liberty and freedom not bondage.

A. 2 Cornt. 3:17-18 says that; "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.

B. Verse 18 in the amplified Bible says; "And all of us as with unveiled face, (because we) continued to behold (in the word of God) as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of splendor to another; (for this comes) from the Lord (who is) the Spirit".

5. It's a ministry of being living epistles of Christ (Gods living and walking letter to all men). (look at 2 Cornt. 3:3-4)

#2) Signs of loosing heart or being discouraged

1. Lack of persistence in prayer. Luke 18:1,Jesus said that; "Men ought to pray and not loose heart" (be discouraged)

A. Eph. 6:18 says; "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and being watchful to the end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints"

B. 1 Thes. 5:7 says to; "Pray without ceasing".


2. Getting tired of doing good and helping others

A. Paul said in Galatians 6:9 "Let us not grow weary of doing good for in do season we shall reap if we do not loose heart"

3. A bad attitude

When you have a bad attitude it shows and all around you gets affected by it.

 Our attitude towards the kingdom should always be to confess the word of God and not to curse what God is doing.

 To obey, follow, and imitate Christ.

 To obey those whom God has placed in authority.

 Our attitude towards the brethren should always be one of forgiveness.

 Our attitude towards the unsaved should be reconciliation.

 To pray for the unsaved, to plead with them to come to Christ


4. The words that we speak and how we conduct ourselves are a clear indication if a person is discouraged or is loosing heart.

1 Corint. 15:33 says; "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners".

 Paul says there in 2 Cor. 4:2 "As we have received mercy, we faint not. But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God".


#3) Secrets on how to overcome discouragement.

1. Pay close attention to the glorious nature of your ministry. It is a ministry of triumph in Christ and not defeat, a ministry of life and not death, a ministry of the good news, of reconciliation, and of freedom and not bondage.

2. Realize that God has given you the power to soar above the storms of life like an eagle. Don't be a chicken Christian who is earth bound (always concerned with earthly things. Isaiah 40:31 says; "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint".

3. Choose to look at things through the eyes of faith. "Without faith it is impossible to please God". The second part of I John 5:4 says; "And this is the victory that has overcome the world, Our faith".

* Heb. 11:1 says that; "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen".