SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #118 ---- 4/17/00
Posted by: lifeunlimited <lifeunlimited@...>
As We fight The Good Fight
(A letter of Encouragement to People in
Vocational and Lay Ministry)
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER #117 ---- 4/17/00
TITLE: "Discouragement"
ANATOMY OF DISCOURAGEMENT:
Back in December, my good friend Jeff Floyd, founder and president of
Jubilee Ministries out of the Indianapolis, Indiana area wrote an
outstanding article on Discouragement. Jeff and I have a standing
invitation to print each other's "stuff", as long as we give credit where
it is due.
So, today I want to "Encourage" you by printing Jeff's letter on
"Discouragement". This has been prompted by two letters I received
recently from two brothers in ministry ---- one the editor of a major
ministers' newsletter, and the other a good friend who was "threatened
into resignation" from his church just a few weeks ago.
1. Here is what the first brother said:
"For me, lack of anticipated response from people . . . . has been hard
to take. At times, it almost feels like personal rejection (though I know
it is not). The Lord is telling me this is an obstacle He has faced and
one that all of us in the prayer movement must face with faith. Full
entry. Full commitment. Fulfilled perseverance. Pray for me in that way.
I'll do the same for you ... "
I responded:
"Boy, do I know how you feel! That's part of the intensity and drive of
true vision. And, invariably you want it for people more than they
sometimes want it for themselves. Yet, there's nothing you can do ----
except recognize not all will follow as closely as they should, not all
will abandon themselves the most important things but will burden
themselves with the lesser things (Like Mary's sister Martha), and not
all will stay with it to the end.
"True disciples are rare indeed. Jesus' own ministry demonstrated that.
"I'll never forget what Bill Yeager, former pastor of First Baptist
Church of Modesto, CA, said one day at a Campus Crusade meeting I
attended ---- "learn to go with the go'ers". I've never forgotten that.
"Just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your ministry. Our
schedule has been so packed of late that I haven't had as much time to
respond to some of your letters as I would have liked. However, be sure
to know that, at least in my case, silence is not to be equated with
disinterest. God has given you a mighty work ---- keep at it, my
brother."
2. Here is the note from the second brother, who is hurting deeply right
now, and is probably battling some of the very same things you and I
would be battling if we had gone through what he has ---- things like
feelings of failure, unworthiness, anger, bitterness, a sense of
rejection or abandonment, etc. Before you read Jeff's article, take a
look at excerpts from "Jim's" (not his real name) letter:
"Wellllll.... Can you say Forced? . . . . . I had a bit of a tiff with a
fellow after church over [subject]. . . . . Really insignificant except
someone called another and they saw someone . . . . .and I got a call the
same Sunday night, and was told, 'Me and (my wife) are going to see
that God moves you somewhere else.' Accurate quote to the word and
letter.
"There was a . . . meeting Monday evening with select others invited to
tear me apart, and they decided they would ask for the resignation.
Rather than fight them, like I had done before and messed [our] oldest
two kids up to the extent they really don't want to attend at all
anymore, I thought I would just bow out quietly.
"This whole thing happened while [wife's name] mother was sick with
cancer and then died . . . . . Real compassionate of some of the
people.... Others were the best.
"Anyway we're out of the ministry right now and probably will be for a
while. Going to let the . . . youngest graduate here from high school,
then perhaps we might get back into the loop.
"Really depressed and a bit bitter towards some and just don't want to be
involved at this time with a group of people who can be more concerned
about power and such...
"Sorry didn't mean to sound bitter. We still love the Lord, and want to
serve, just don't know what to do and really don't want to pastor right
now as the hurt is too fresh."
Here is Jeff's article.
"FACING DISCOURAGEMENT:
"Discouragement is the enemy of faith and faithfulness. In its grip the
mighty fall, the powerful weaken, and the great flounder in the slough of
despair. Few have escaped its debilitating influence on human affairs.
I would suppose that it is the weapon of choice wielded by the enemy in
his insidious and unceasing attack on human morale.
"Discouragement is the product of unrealized expectations and therefore
the antithesis of achievement. Only those who are the great achievers in
life place great expectations on themselves and/or others. Those who
have no
expectations tend to experience life as a monotonous, uneventful, and
unrewarding experience ---- expecting nothing therefore achieving little.
"Discouragement stifles creativity.
"Creativity is the lifeblood of both human and divine accomplishment.
The first work of our Creator was that of creation. The greatest gift
given mankind by the Creator is the capacity to be creative. Every
aspect of human progress is couched in God-given creativity. Therefore,
when creative juices began to wane, the demise of a person, institution
or society is certain. Nothing is as likely to destroy the creative flow
as discouragement.
"Discouragement smothers zeal.
"Zeal is an essential part of all human endeavors. Without it the drive
that motivates man to press forward in any
aspect of life will lose its power causing a cessation of achievement.
Discouragement is the consequence of a premature evaluation of facts,
circumstances, and human relationships. It is the failure to take into
account the plans of God and the fact that all accomplishment is
ultimately the product of His involvement. Discouragement is the
darkness that comes before the dawn of all achievement that causes one to
flounder when he should be zealously pressing forward into the coming
light.
"Discouragement suppresses spirituality . . . .
" . . . . since it is initiated by, or the product of, one's loss of his
God-given vision. The writer of Proverbs warned, 'Where there is no
vision, the people perish' (Proverbs 29:10). Vision is an essential part
of faith and faith is an essential part of spirituality. When
spirituality is lost, life becomes a mechanical succession of laws and
rules rather than the energetic and life-giving flow Of divine life.
There is nothing so debilitating as the loss of the spiritual dynamic
brought on by discouragement.
THE OPPOSITE OF DISCOURAGEMENT:
"When people get discouraged it is because they are expecting something
of which God hasn't assured them. When one attempts to function outside
the assurances of God, life will be a succession of defeats. When faith
is given for the initiation of a task, then perseverance will be given
for the completion of it. Paul assured that we can be "confident of this
very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it
until the day of Jesus Christ"
(Philippians 1:6).
"The opposite of discouragement is encouragement. The basic ingredient
of encouragement is confidence ---- confidence in both the Word of God
and the God of the Word. When one is in the grip of the struggles that
precedes the accomplishment of any task ordered by the Lord and thus
worthy of his efforts, there will inevitably be a time when it appears
impossible to go on. In such a time, one must keep his mind on the Lord
Jesus Who faced every human and devilish obstacle possible in His journey
to our redemption. We must keep our eyes on Jesus 'who for the joy that
was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat
down at the right hand of the throne of God' (Hebrews 12:13).
"Discouragement is a temporary blight on the human soul that should be
given no place to linger. A God given perseverance enables one to look up
when he has lost his vision, to get up when he is down, and to go on when
he thinks it impossible."
Jeff
Jefferson H. and Norma R. Floyd, CO-directors
Jubilee International
P. O. Box 3202
Carmel, IN 46082
Copyright December 1999 by Jefferson H. Floyd. All rights reserved.
Jeff puts out both a weekly and a daily devotional letter that, in my
opinion, is one of the best on the Internet. If you'd like to subscribe,
drop him a note at <[email protected]>.
FINALLY:
I really liked Jeff's comments about discouragement being "the weapon of
choice" in Satan's attack against the people of God. Has it been used on
you lately?
It has on me. Just this last week, in fact.
I have just gone through a brief yet intense episode of that very thing
---- but a subtle form which I did not quickly detect. In fact, it was
not until Sunday morning during worship services where I presently serve
as interim pastor that I finally detected it for what it was. I thought
I was just sorta "fed up" with what I perceived to be a general lack of
deepening in the lives of some of the people in that church.
Then, as the choir was singing "The Triumphant Church Will Rise", I
realized my "righteous indignation" was nothing but a selfish outburst of
discouragement ---- expectations over things God had not promised.
I hope Jeff's thoughts have blessed and EN-couraged you. I love the
practical definition of those words ---- DIS-courage means to be absent
of the courage needed. EN-courage means to add to or to give courage to
one who needs it.
So . . . . .
Be Of Good Courage!, my friend. God wrote the final chapter ---- and
it's a best seller!
Have a great week ---- and Be Encouraged!
In His Bond,
Bob
Bob Tolliver ---- (Rom 1:11-12)
Copyright April, 2000. All rights reserved.
We would love to hear from you ---- prayer requests, insights, etc. Feel
free to drop us a note at <[email protected]>.
If this letter has blessed you and you know of someone else who needs to
be encouraged, feel free to forward it in its entirety to all such people
you know.
If you would like a list of past issues which you could receive upon
request, just let us know. Write <[email protected]>.
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Hang in there! I'm with you!
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