KEY SCRIPTURE: James 1:13 KJV “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man”:

In our previous study, we said that God allows temptations to come the way of a Christian for various reasons that go to benefit the child of God when he or she endures and overcomes them. Our key scripture now says God cannot be tempted with evil, neither does He tempt any man. There seems to be a difference in the use of the word “temptation” in both studies. The book of James clearly teaches that, although trial and temptation are used interchangeably in a number of scriptures, there is a clear difference in the two. According to James, trials are challenges that come against us to stir up our faith into action. (James 1:2-5).

He reveals, also that temptation is when one is overtaken with lust that entices the individual. When this condition fully dominates the person, it gives birth to sin. (James 1:14-15). Temptation in this concept cannot come from God, and neither does he use this kind of temptation in any way. This kind of temptation is purely a work of the flesh, mainly motivated by the devil.

Many people find themselves in this kind of temptation and have consistently fallen. If you find yourself in such a situation, don’t get discouraged and give up. There are some people who have tried to fast to overcome these temptations, yet to no avail. Don’t be discouraged and bow to such a state.

Your answer is not just efforts but an understanding of your freedom from sin and the proper application of the scriptures to live in victory. The Lord Jesus death and resurrection has totally freed you from every power of sin (Rom 6:14, 8:2,1st Corinth 6:17) It is up to you to accept and boldly declare that you are absolutely free from sin and can’t live in sin any longer. Don’t stop saying and believing that sin in any form cannot rule you. You would be free from any such wrong habit if you don’t give up your right believing and declarations.

CONFESSION

I am free from the power of every sin. I have resurrected with Jesus and have His life that overcomes all sin. My flesh does not lead and control me in any way.

FURTHER STUDIES

James 1:14 KJV. But every man is tempted when he is drawn away from his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

Rom 8:2 KJV “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Mark 13:13 KJV” And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved “.

Temptation or trials will happen to every child of God. The Bible calls it the evil day. God allows it our way so we can overcome and bring glory to His name. They also come to make us perfect and complete when we overcome them. We must see them as great opportunities to make great strides in the Spirit. We must actually count it all joy when trials come our way. (James 1:2–5) There is also a glorious crown for all those who will overcome (1st Peter 5:4). We must, therefore, not be discouraged under temptations. Our Lord Jesus was tempted in all points, yet he never sinned (Heb 4:15)

What made the master overcome all the grievous satanic temptations that came His way. He doggedly relied on the strength of the Holy Spirit. This was expressed in His commitment to prayer. He said to the disciples, pray that they may not enter into temptations. Mat 26:41 KJV “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak”.

 Temptation from the master’s statement is a state or condition that one’s strength cannot stand. His statement also means that your commitment to prayer makes divine strength available to help you overcome. The Lord added that in such trying moments, the spirit of a man may be willing to overcome yet cannot help because the flesh that must carry out the action is helpless. Prayer would keep you strengthened, so you are not overwhelmed with it. Watch and pray.

When the Lord had to go unto the cross, he had to pray so much that His sweat became as great drops of blood.

(Luke 22:44). Out of such agonizing prayers, the Bible said the following “And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (Luke 22:43)

 The Lord’s victory from this contest is deliverance for all humanity. Your victory is not your sole victory, but a solution to multitudes. You must not be discouraged in the moment of trial and difficulty. If the Lord overcame, then you can likewise overcome.

CONFESSION

Temptations will come in various forms, but I always overcome them. I depend on the Lord through prayers and the word of God to overcome. I count it all joy as they come my way, for they make me more perfect.

FURTHER STUDIES

James 1:2-4 KJV “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Luke 22:42 KJV Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1Ki 19:4 KJV ” But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.”

In our key scripture, the prophet Elijah, who had achieved so much for the Lord, got so discouraged with himself that he said, I am not better than my fathers and so, he asked the Lord to take his life. What was the challenge? He had defeated the prophets of Baal in a supernatural contest and, as a result, slew all the prophets of Baal. Ahab, who was present, took the unfolding events to his wife Jazebel. She quickly sent a death threat to Elijah, the prophet of God. This situation seems like a paradox. This man, Elijah, prayed for the rains to cease for a period of three and a half years, and it was so. He prayed again, and the rain came. When the king Ahab sent two groups of fifty men to go for him, he called for fire from heaven, which consumed the two groups. There was a third group of fifty, which he spared because they pleaded with him to save their lives.
In light of all these feats, why would he succumb to the threats of a woman?

Elijah responded from his natural senses as a man, losing the fact that he had such a big God who is too powerful and cannot fail him. This condition can affect any man if we fail to respond to the word of God but pay attention to the devil’s lies. Dear reader, was it indeed possible for Jazebel to have easily taken Elijah and slaughtered him? I believe the answer is a big no. Sadly, he accepted that lie and saw himself as one of the prophets who had been slain by the earlier kings. He felt so bad with himself and concluded he is no better than them, and that he must be taken away by the Lord instead of Jazebel taking off his head. This is a very sad state for such a great and fearful man of God. Jesus said the flesh profits nothing. The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul said that to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Dear one, are you discouraged in yourself? The simple explanation is that you have yielded to the voice of the enemy. You are seeing the weakness and inability of your flesh. In some cases, you might have experienced a multiplication of failures in various endeavours, and so your conclusion is that no good thing can come out of you. Dear one, so long as you keep looking at your ability and the human provisions that surround you, you will feel discouraged. Every Christian has ceased to live by his own abilities. The life we now have is the very life of God that cannot be defeated.
Remember, you proceed from God and the greater one lives inside of you. Never count your personal efforts to face any condition, realise that it is God who is at work in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. Phil 2:14.If you find yourself in a health condition that looks like death or failure, please do not consider your natural body facing that ailment. Consider the resurrection life present in you right now. Start jubilation about your victory because there is no power greater than death, yet the resurrection power has conquered death. Respond to the devil from the position of the new man that you are in Christ.

CONFESSION

I died with Jesus, and it is Christ alive in me. Nothing can put me down, nothing can defeat Jesus, who is my life. I can’t be discouraged in myself, no, it is never possible for the greater one who lives inside of me. I refuse to see myself as an ordinary man. I cannot fail; it cannot be taken down with disease, sin does not have dominion over me, for I live by a supernatural life. GLORY BE TO GOD.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Co 4:1 KJV” Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;”

Heb 12:2 KJV” Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

KEY. SCRIPTURE: Heb 12:3 KJV” For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Our key scripture is clear that the Lord Jesus endured the contradiction of sinners and never grew weary in His heart. Please note that our Lord Jesus functioned fully as a man so that He could be qualified to be our saviour. This means He endured all the negative, disheartening behaviours of men as a man. Consider His reaction to humanity as He hung on the cross. In the midst of the pain, disgrace and the sins of the whole world, He said Father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing. How was He so successful in handling all the negativity of those who related with Him?

The Lord knew He was here to teach men God’s pattern for living. He said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me.’He was here on a mission. This is the will of God. He had to demonstrate true love to all men. Expressing love through long-suffering. This is God’s demand from everyone who is a child of God. Col 3:13 KJV” Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”Many children of God do not realise that they have been sent into the world to be a blessing to others and to teach them what is right. Every Christian is a light to those who have not been saved. It is a very big error for any child of God to react to people according to how those people behave towards them. We are lights and examples to other men, and so we do not respond to them according to how they behave towards us but according to what God’s word tells us to do.

Some homes are continually boiling with strife and pain because husbands are reacting to their wives’ behaviour. Wives have likewise reacted towards their husbands according to how they behave towards them. The result is discouragement in each other. It is worse when one of them is an unbeliever, which the Christian partner should have demonstrated true Christian character to win him or her. Please note that any form of discouragement in another person is a failure on your part if you are indeed a child of God. Remember, love never fails. To fail in your love for anyone is a sign that you are functioning in the flesh.

Check yourself if you are discouraged in anyone (To be discouraged in anyone is to give up on that individual). Discouragement in a neighbour would cause you to be easily annoyed with that person. Secondly, you would easily lose your joy in the presence of that individual. Lastly, you may be tempted to inflict some pain on that person or may want to get the person out of your life. All these are signs of weakness in your character. You are always a loser to allow discouragement to enter your heart. Please note that it is very normal to be disappointed in certain individuals, but it is an error to give up on the person( discouraged)( to be disappointed is when one’s action fails to meet your expectation, which is normal)

THOUGHT: IT IS NORMAL TO BE DISAPPOINTED IN PEOPLE, BUT IT IS AN ERROR TO BE DISCOURAGED WITH THEM.

FURTHER STUDIES

1 Corinthians 13:4,7 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, “Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”

Eph 4:31-32 KJV” Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Thess 5:14 KJV “Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men”.

Many of us easily give up or get discouraged with others, or do not “suffer long” with their shortcomings. Our key scripture is a very profound one. It reveals four categories of people that we must relate to. They are as follows:

1 The unruly

2 The feebleminded

3 The Weak

4 All men.

The first group are those who have set themselves against divine systems and order. They act against the scripture as well as established authority. The instruction for them is that they must be warned. If they repent, they are accepted and allowed to be part of the body. If they do not repent, they are treated in light of their status. This means if they are acting out of deceit, they are helped to be free from deceit. If they are treacherous or acting out of animosity, then they are treated as “publicans”. (Matt 18:15–18)

The second group is the feeble-minded. These are those who are easily deceived because they lack knowledge. They are often fearful and may act against the word of God, but are simply ignorant and feeble-minded. Such ones must be comforted or strengthened. They are strengthened by teaching them the truth. Some of us give up or get discouraged with such people. Remember that Satan does blind the minds of men according to 2 Corinthians 4:4. We need to labour in prayer for such brethren to be set free from the deception and blinding effect of the devil. Gal 4:19 KJV “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,” As you pray, keep visiting them to show the love of Christ to them.

There is a third group that the Bible calls the weak. The weak may be the elderly or some who are physically challenged. They may express certain actions that reveal gross weakness in many ways, for example, one who is addicted to a substance. The bases of such weakness may be coming from age, an ailment, or their inability to apply the scriptures. The Bible says we must support such people. The word support means to hold one firmly from falling or to hold up. This involves making sacrifices to perfect the shortcomings and lacks in that individual. To give up or get discouraged with such a one means leaving him or her to the mercy of their state. These ones also need prayer support.

(Eph 4:2)

The last group is all men. The Bible says we must be patient with all men. All men include every kind of personality we can think of or imagine. Many people would not bear with the inconsistencies in people because they are not ready to lose the comfort they enjoy. Do not get discouraged with people. Show dislike for wrong actions, but not dislike for the individual who never gives up.

CONFESSION

I understand that all men are different from one another. I, therefore, attend to all men with love and wisdom. I do not get discouraged with any of them.

FURTHER STUDIES

Colossians 3:12 KJV” Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering”;

1Thessalonians 5:15 KJV” See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV” Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

We consider the last aspect of God’s prescription against discouragement. It says we must always give thanks to God. For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. To every occurrence, there are two purposes. God’s purpose and the devil’s. The following statement is God’s purpose and thoughts for you in that event. Jeremiah 29:11 KJV “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”.

It is in the light of a better end, which God has programmed and designed for you, that you must thank the Lord. Thanksgiving places you in that will of God, which is good and an expected end. When you complain, you fall into Satan’s part of his purpose for bringing that condition to you. Satan’s aim is to destroy you with that situation.

The child of God must continually be filled with thanks. The scriptures teach we should be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be known unto God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6&7. Thanksgiving declares that the issue at stake is settled and there is no cause for alarm. Remember that discouragement is always a result of a bad situation persisting over time or an unpleasant condition that seems insurmountable. A heart of thanksgiving has accepted that God has overcome the condition on your behalf. This is what faith is all about

Thanksgiving takes away every complaint that would lead to a bad mood. Thanksgiving is always a blow to the devil. It disorganises his arsenals in every form. Thanksgiving is a sign of being grateful unto God and silently declares that the Lord repeat his goodness unto you again.

Giving thanks is demanded by God. It is an act of sacrifice that pleases the Lord.

Psalms 107:22 KJV” And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing”. Anytime you give thanks, you fulfil scripture, and there is a release of divine provision to assist you to overcome.

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly father, for you are the king over the universe. All things are subjected unto you. Your verdict for me is victory, triumph, and peace. I thank you that I am always victorious. Glory be to your name. Amen

FURTHER STUDIES

Isaiah 51:3 KJV “For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.”

Jeremiah 30:19 KJV “And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:1Thessalonians 5:16 KJV Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In the above key scripture, we have three major instructions that I believe, if effectively employed, nothing should be able to discourage you.

These scriptural instructions are as follows.

1. Rejoice always
2. Pray always.
3. Thank God always

We considered the first instruction in our earlier discussion on this topic. We now consider praying always.

The Lord says, “Pray without ceasing.” Praying always builds up confidence in God. Praying always in the spirit builds up one’s spiritual stature. Jude 1:20 KJV “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost” A man who has built up his spiritual stature has great dominance over natural events and happenings. Please understand that just as we have a physical body, we also have a spiritual nature, which is built up through consistent prayer.

Many get discouraged due to challenges that appear insurmountable. The Lord Jesus assured us in Matthew 7:7 that “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” The Lord added that those who ask receive, those who seek find, and to those who knock, the door is opened unto them. He assures us to call upon him, and He would answer, and show us great and mighty things that we do not know (Jeremiah 33:3). Everyone who asks in childlike faith receives, bringing glory to God. The Lord Jesus knew that the only way to fulfil his mission on the earth was to pray consistently. He encountered contradiction of sinners, yet he prevailed (Heb 12:3).

PRAYER SETS up a legal channel for God to come into the affairs of men. The posture of prayer is a demonstration of man’s dependence on God. Luke 18:1 KJV” And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Many of the oppositions that come up against us are mostly demonic oriented. They would normally require God’s power to totally stop them. Do not wait for problems to entangle you before you start praying. Make prayer your lifestyle.

CONFESSION

I have committed myself to a life of prayer. I pray without ceasing. God, my father, helps me out of various situations in my life and therefore do not get discouraged about those situations.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 5:7 KJV” Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;”

Luke 22:46 KJV “And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Thess 5:16-18 KJV Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Discouragement is always linked to bad moods resulting from negative situations or negative anticipation. The scriptures give us very positive instructions that would break every wrong mood, which can lead one to being discouraged. The instructions are as follows.

1. Rejoice Always
2. Pray Always
3. Give thanks always

The very first instruction of scripture is to rejoice evermore. To rejoice means to be excited in your heart, which is mostly expressed in singing. We are called upon to rejoice in the Lord always. (Philip 4:4.) To rejoice in the Lord, you consider the completeness of Christ as your very completeness and being joyful about it. (Col 2:9&10) Joy is a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit. It is a focus on what the word says rather than what is happening. Isaiah 12:3 KJV” Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation”. With joy, you would provide answers to difficult situations. Joyfulness gives you staying power.

A JOYFUL heart is the same as a merry heart, and the scripture says it does as good as medicine, while a broken spirit dries the bones (Prov 17:22). A broken spirit is a sign of a discouraged person. Refuse to be broken in your spirit. The man with a joyful heart always has a continual feast. (Proverbs 15:15) Remember that joy is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10) You can’t be discouraged with a joyful heart. The scripture that says rejoice always is a command. This means you rejoice in principle. You choose to rejoice. Have a song of praise on your lips. It could be a song that declares your victory in Christ. The scripture says we must count it all joy when we encounter diverse kinds of temptations (James 1:2). It means when times become hard and you don’t know what to do, just decide to be joyful.

The worst enemy of a joyful heart is to complain. The scripture says Do all things without murmuring and disputing. (Phil 2:12) The moment you start complaining, you stop the flow of divine energy into you. You instantly cut off the grace of God when you complain. Just after the scripture said, “we must not complain,” it added that it is God who is at work in us. There is a supernatural power working in you to overcome every situation. It is the expression of joy that makes it function fully in you.

CONFESSION

My heart is continually joyful. With joy, I am in a constant feast and strengthened to do more all the time. I do not have any iota of giving up because I have a constant supply of divine provision to keep on excelling.

FURTHER STUDIES

Proverbs 15:13 KJV” A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken”.

Psalms 63:5 KJV “My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Pro 13:12 KJV” Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”

In our last study, we learnt that Jacob was deceived and disappointed by his uncle Laban, yet he did not get discouraged. At the end of the day, he got what he wanted. Please ask yourself what you would have done in that situation? Certain individuals have left their place of employment because the boss said something bad to them. These individuals may still be searching for a new job, yet things may not be going well for them. The insult from their boss could have been bad, yet did he have to be so discouraged that he stopped working? Is your mistreatment more than Jacob’s situation? Others might have had worse treatments, yet they chose not to be offended and so were not discouraged. A visit to the mental hospital has both men and women who have become social wrecks because they chose to be discouraged by their wife’s actions, a husband’s actions, or some other fellow. They chose to allow the condition to eat so deeply into them that they could not handle their thought pattern.

From the above, we see that to be discouraged is your choice. Now, what kind of individuals are prone to such negative responses?

1. People who have been pampered throughout their upbringing do not see that they are responsible for what happens to them. There are some students who feel they are in school for their parents. Such people are deeply hurt when the people they have been looking up to fail them.
2. The next set of people who easily get discouraged are some Christians who have not developed a personal knowledge and a relationship with God. When things go bad, they don’t have any solid grounds to stand on. An example is King Saul. He knew the prophet Samuel but did not know God for himself, so he was so full of himself that discouragement gave way to the spirit of depression that needed a psalmist to play and relieve him of the depression.
3. The third group is those who normally consider the negative aspect of what happens. They keep asking why things should go badly. They complain about the mistreatment of others. They are filled with themselves and have no love or true reverence for God. Such people can even get offended with God for making or allowing certain events to happen to them. They are never thankful to God. There is no time when such people are joyful to express gratitude to God. Sadly, such people are depressed most of the time.

What is the way out? As we have seen, such a person’s challenge is their own attitude to God. They must repent from their selfish tendencies and begin relating to the Lord on a more personal level. Please understand that any strong person of character has developed these three abiding virtues. Faith, hope and love. If you relate more with God and His word, you would gradually develop them, and you would not yield to discouragement, no matter how bad things may go.

THOUGHT: BUILD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE NEGATIVE ISSUES OF LIFE

FURTHER STUDIES

1Co 13:13 ISV “Right now, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

2Ti 3:2 ISV” People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,”