GOD’S CURE FOR BLAH Nehemiah 4:6-14

1. A PLAGUE UPON OUR LAND - discouragement - you see it everywhere - people fighting against

problems

1. Gas prices, credit, job loss, high cost of food, stocks failing, scared from ads about illnessness, Fearful of

Crime

2. three things about discouragemnt:

a. affects everybody

b. it is recurring

c. highly contagious

3. the suicide at the bridge - a man stopped to talk another out of it - 15 min later they both jump

1. building of the walls of the city - the people began well but then the enemies of the Jews began to threathen:

discouragement set in

I. Fatigue - v. 10

1. worked hard, half finished with the task

2. carrying rocks all day several days, weeks, months straight - fatigue

3. physically tired - we become discouraged easily

4. Rest and you can see the progress you’ve made - THEN - energy and drive to finish will be restored

II. Frustration v. 10

1. frustrated with the situation

2. all the broken wall, rubbish, and trash accumulated from years of neglect had to be moved first

3. like with any other project, the preparation is tedious and tiring

4. discouragement comes when we have trash and rubbish in our lives that keep us from doing the

important tasks of life

5. In Hebrews 12:1 we are told that we should “lay aside every encumbrance.”

6. clean it out rather than having to keep working around it wasting time and energy

III. Fear

1. the enemy is at your back so you have to keep looking over your shoulder - not much work gets done

that way

2. fear of failure is one of the worst enemies we have to deal with

3. when it comes to living and doing for God - the devil is always whispering in your ear

But what can we do about discouragement? We have seen some of the causes. What are some of the cures?

IV. Reorganize

1. verse 13

2. some times we have to change our approach to what we are trying to accomplish

3. better to make a change in the “How” than to “Quit”

4. discouragement can be overcome - Defeat can’t

V. Remember - v. 14 - Remember the Lord! Remember He is Great and Awesome!

2. The walls were completed - they did remember God was Able!

3. We need to remember as well - remember who we have trusted and why!

VI. Resist - verse 14: “Fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

1. fight the discouragement as you would some physical enemy

2. God will give you the Strength - remember He is there - able and ready

1. Discouragement is contagious but so is victory - SHARE WHAT GOD IS DOING AND HAS DONE

2. Let us clean up our lives, confess our sins and call upon the Lord