CAC LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL FOR AUGUST 17, 2022 : TOPIC - FOUR CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT
CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH LIVING WATER
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
DATE: Wednesday, August 17, 2022
TOPIC: FOUR CAUSES OF DISCOURAGEMENT
READ: Nehemiah 4:1-12
[1] But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
[2] And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
[3] Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
[4] Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
[5] And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
[6] So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
[7] But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
[8] And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
[9] Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
[10] And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
[11] And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
[12] And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
MEMORISE:
Then Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is failing, and there is so much rubbish that we are not able to build the wall (Nehemiah 4:10).
EXPOSITION
Discouragement is a contagious spirit. The moment someone in group or even the leader gets discouraged, so many others become discouraged, too! In the text above, why was their strength failing?
1. Fatigue: He who relies on his own strength, soon gets tired. The builders of the wall here looked to themselves as the source of their power; they soon felt drained. Are you fatigued with regards to the race or the project you are running? Rely on Christ's strength, and not on your own (cf. Phil. 4:13). Pray for His strength/grace always.
2. Frustration: Frustration is a matter of perception. In reality, the piles were getting smaller, but they perceived that they were going nowhere! How do you deal with that? Let God and others assess the matter for you. Accept God's assessment, that will help overcome these statements I haven't achieved anything', 'I am a failure after all'mentality.
3. Failure: "...we are not able to build the wall." When you are tired, everything looks impossible. Programmes may fail, business may fail, marriage may fail; that doesn't make you a failure. The tempter comes to tempt you to fail, but God tests you to draw out the best of your ability to succeed.
4. Fear: So it was, when the Jews who dwelt near them came, that they told us ten times, "From whatever place you turn, they will be upon us" (Neh. 4:12). Fear discourages. It makes you see enemies all around you! Fear causes you to attribute omnipresent ability to the enemies! If you think of your enemies like this, what do you think of your God? No wonder, ...God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). Don't enslave yourself!
PRAYER POINTS
1. Pray for strength to continue and not to quit in the Christian race.
2. Ask God to open your eyes so you can make the right estimations of your undertakings.
3. Rebuke the spirit of failure and fear, in Jesus' name.
HYMN FOR TODAY:
CAC GHB 637
1. It is not meet for Saints to fear
Nor for them to despair,
For when they least expect His help;
The Saviour will appear.
2. When Abraham took up his knife
God's voice said to him, "stop"
The yonder ram caught by the horn
Shall substitute thy son.
3. When Jonah sank beneath the waves
No hope of escape near
God sent a fish that swallowed him
And brought him to the shore.
4. With such great might and love as this
Abounding in His word;
Pray to bring my anxious cares
And leave them all to Him.
5. Lift up your eyes and wait His help
It may be long but wait;
Though the promise may tarry long,
It soon shall come to pass.
Amen.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY:
Jeremiah 32 - 33
AUTHOR
C. A. C. Worldwide
Remain blessed
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