DEALING WITH DISCOURAGEMENT.

 

You do not have to look for trouble before it locates you. Sometimes through no fault of yours you find yourself in a very difficult situation, between a rock and a hard place. Things start going wrong, everybody is against you and you can't make any sense of what is happening.

 

Scriptures:

Nehemiah  4:3-12

3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, "What they are building-if even a fox climbed up on it, he would break down their wall of stones!"4 Hear us, O our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of the builders.6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.

7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the men of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength

Humble Beginnings, Praise And Patience

Scripture: Luke 2: 1- 35

Luke 2: 1 – 7

Our Lord and King was born in a manger. That is a humble beginning. The Bible in Job 8:7 says though your beginning be small your latter end shall be greatly increased. God has a beginning for every one of us and he usually starts from the very bottom and gradually takes us to the top. Therefore, it is important that we do not despise where we are right now because we know that the Lord will greatly increase our latter end. Phil. 2: 6 – 11.

Discuss how believers can appreciated their present state while trust God for their future greatness.

Luke 2: 8 – 20

The company of angels appeared praising God. Likewise the shepherds gave glory to God for Christ’s birth. It’s all about praising God.

ATTRACTING GOD'S FAVOUR

Scripture: Luke 1: 26 – 56

In Nazareth where many virgins but only one particular virgin found favour before God. Favour is like a bright spot light that God shines on you and singles you out among many people.

Mary must have done something to attract such favour. God’s eyes are always going to and fro to favour his children. His Spot light shines on those who draw his attention through their acts of service from a pure heart.

Luke 1: 26 – 33

Discuss things that believers can do to attract God’s favour.

Luke 1: 34- 38

Mary’s question “How will it be” and Zechariah’s question “How can it be”. One question threw doubt on God’s ability to do what he said he will do. Many of us today repeat Zechariah’s question by doubting God’s promise for our lives. Heb. 4:2b tells us how we can miss God’s blessings

CHAPTERS OF LIFE

Introduction:

Your life is a book containing many chapters. From beginning to end, each chapter plays a role in making you who you are. We have closed chapters that need to be opened, opened chapters with hidden blessings and also chapters which should be maintained.

Scriptures:

Luke 1: 1 – 18; Luke 1:26 – 33; Math. 1:18 – 25.

·         Which chapters have you closed?

·         Which chapters are you opening?

·         Which chapters are you maintaining?

Closed Chapters: -

Luke 1: 1 – 18

In this scripture Zechariah had closed the chapter of ever having a child with his wife Elizabeth.  He was a priest of God but had given up with regard to having a child and even doubted the angel that brought him good news about having a child.

Be encouraged because God is capable of opening every