June 8th Morning Sermon

"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven."                                 Matthew 5:3

Don't Let Defeat, Discouragement or Depression drive you from God!!

 Starting out in Psalms 42:1-5 you read verses written by the Sons of Korah. They were written while they were frustrated and suffering spiritually. They were persecuted and struggling in their lives - yet they reached out to God. It is important to remember that no matter what is going on in our personal lives, God knows our hearts and can see us through if we let him. Don't turn your heart on God no matter what the situation.

Looking in the book of Job you find that he went through great troubles and strife and in the end he ended up with more than he started with. The key is that Job didn't give up on the Lord...even when Satan took away everything he owned, nearly all that he loved and even his own health - he didn't curse the Lord.

Malachi 3:6 - The Lord is unchanging and he remains merciful. He says "Trust Me" and that we must do. Sometimes it is "giving it to God" that is the hardest part for us has humans.

We often find that when people get discouraged they turn from God. It is those times of despair, when they need God most, we find that people often:

• Stop Praying
• Stop Reading their Bible
• Stop Going to Church

When you abandon your studies and stop fellowshipping with the Lord you drift apart. You must be proactive about your spiritual life - talk to God and read the Word. God says, "Return to Me and I will return to you.". You must submit to God and resist Satan. The Word is your weapon. James 4:8.

Matthew 5:16 - Let God's light shine in you. It is up to us to show how great it is to be a Christian. We all know that just because we are Christians doesn't mean that we are going to make it through life with no worries and no strife - quite the opposite actually. It is our duty, however, to take everything life gives us in stride. We know that everything that happens is part of God's plan and we have to trust that he is in control and doing what is best.

Often we find that the most difficult times in our lives were there to shape and mold someone - often times us...but sometimes we suffer solely for the benefit of others. How awesome is that opportunity? To have the chance to bear the burdens of others for no benefit of your own... sound familiar? That is what we must do as Christians. We must take whatever the world gives us and take it with a smile. It is our job to make people want what we have spiritually, and if you are busy having a pity party you aren't living a life anyone is striving for.

It is also not our job to judge others. We aren't the judge or the jury - we are models. Ask yourself, "What kind of advertisement am I for Jesus?" Replace the negative with positive and accentuate on it ~ encourage others and build up one another. In everything remember to rely on the Lord, for without him everything is done in vain.

Psalm 37:1-5 Would you rather be rich on Earth or in Heaven? You can't have both, for the riches of this world are not the same as the riches of Heaven. Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord in ALL WAYS. It is up to us to let our words, our actions and our lives give Him glory.