Sunday Service – Conclusive Message 03 for “Adding Disciples Year”

18/12/05
<2Timothy 2:1-10>
Disheartenment – The Fatal Blow to Our Christian Living

• It is a very deep spiritual problem when a Christian cannot have joy and thankfulness in his life.
When a person is in such a state, he is misunderstanding God’s faithfulness and love seriously.
What follow suit will definitely be disheartenment.
• Actually, for many Christians (even the matured ones) like us, it is easy for us to come to church
to worship and serve the Lord and receive conviction while listening to the msg. It is also fairly
easy to be joyful and thankful for a couple of times (even when faced with some sudden
tribulations), but it is very difficult for us to be joyful and thanksgiving ‘always’. It is difficult for us
to protect their hearts and minds ‘in all things’. The conviction just goes away so easily and our
hearts will so naturally wander to the world.
• This is because within our lives, there is ‘distrust’ towards God. To ‘believe in God’ and ‘trust in
God’ is different. One simply cannot believe in God and commit things to Him so unwearyingly
when there is ‘distrust’ within him. To be able to believe comes from trust.
• We can only have an unshakeable Christian life when our life has trust in God.
• Note that the 2 most outstanding “part-time preachers” in the Bible are definitely Joseph and
Daniel
• Both of them are serving God while taking on their worldly job. Therefore, they daily face the
tremendous influence and temptations of the world.
• However, what is most notable about Joseph is his continuous prayer. Therefore, when he is
faced with the greatest tribulation, he saw the Lord with him. He saw the loving kindness of the
Lord following him. Thus, when God’s day is up, He raises him to the highest position.
• And what is most outstanding about Daniel is his fixed time prayer. While enemies are
persecuting him, he nevertheless faced Jerusalem with the most thankful heart. Thus, this
translated into his continuous joy and wisdom while serving the King and was thus made the
Prime Minister. And with that, God gave him the vision of Revelations.
• But note that their crowns do not come from them being given the highest position on earth, but
rather through triumphing over their life long trials.
• Joseph was always accused by his brothers but he never loses hope in His God. Thus, God in
His time raised him up to be the ruler of his time.
• Daniel started off as a refugee, a 2nd class citizen in a foreign land. But because of his trust in
the Lord Jehovah, he receives tremendous wisdom to learn all the things (their culture, their
language, etc) of Babylon. Actually, Daniel faces all sorts of trials in his whole lifetime. However,
as long as he puts his trust in God, God do away with his enemies one by one.
• Therefore, for those whom God wants to use, He’ll not only give us problems, but also a slow
process of trials (or on-going trials), especially trials in our family, spouse relationship, sickness,
finance, studies, career, seeking a life partner, etc.
• If by one Holy Spirit filled prayer and God removes all my trials immediately, this could only mean
that our life cannot stand the trial at all. Therefore, God has to remove it immediately for us.
• Trials/problems for Joseph and Daniel are a long and on-going process. And thru that long and
on-going process, the blessings of the trials slowly reveals its blessings and problems was
resolved at the best timetable for them. But what is most important is that both of them do not
lose heart during that long and on-going process, as they continue to pray and hope in the Lord.
Therefore, this became their crown.
• Remember: our God is a faithful God; He listens to all of our request, cries and prayers during the
process of the trials.
• Therefore, if we are able to acquire the answers amidst the long trial period, we will naturally
develop our trust in the Lord. If however, we cannot acquire the answers, they will become our
disheartenments.

Read <2 Timothy 2:1-10>

 v1 “we must be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”. Stand up and not be disheartened by
changing and on-going problems.
v3 “Endure hardship…”
• Paul knew that very soon his life on earth will end as he wrote <2 Timothy>. Therefore,
these words that he wrote have very special and deep meaning behind
• Timothy is just like a son to Paul and he has probably witnessed all the trials that Paul
had been through. At the same time, Timothy has also witnessed how Paul overcame all
the trials and the answers lie in <2 Ti 2:4-6>
v4 our identity. Those who have assurance in their identity will not be disheartened.
v5 the mystery of prayer (i.e. our hearts and minds) is our solution to victory. Therefore, those
who receive blessings during prayer will not be disheartened.
v6 who are the hardworking farmers? They are those who are not disheartened. They are the
ones who will continue to pray and hope in God amidst trials. And they will be the ones who
will receive the best fruits.
v8 We must remember Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection everyday
v9 Our Lord is alive and nobody can bind the work of our Lord. Therefore, we should not be
disheartened at all
• If disheartenment had crept into our hearts, then the relationships between us and the Lord will
be broken
• God knows that even after bringing the Israelites (His people) out of Egypt, their relationships
with the Lord was actually a broken one. They have lots of doubts and question mark towards
God’s guidance. Their hearts were always grumbling against God and they could not receive
answers as to why they should live in wilderness and eat manna day by day, without being able
to enter Canaan.
• That was why God wants them to come before Him to make the fellowship offering to restore the
reconciliation and love with God.
• There are some differences between the burnt offering and the peace offering
• Burnt Offering leads them into the temple (meaning: receive salvation). Therefore, blood was
sprinkled at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. But they continue to distrust and be
disheartened even when they are inside the temple.
• Therefore, fellowship offering, which involves the sprinkling of the blood against the altar, brings
them to the altar (meaning: face God) and restore their relationships with God
• Therefore, no matter what is our problem today, God wants us to do fellowship offering today

1. God wants us to reconcile with Him. Only with that can we enjoy the most blissful life.
• How to reconcile with God? Is it thru having a holy life lifestyle? Of course that would come.
• But note: True reconciliation with God comes being able to ‘trust’ in Him
• Many people say they trust God because God has not disappointed them before in their
request to Him. But that is man’s trust.
• We must search for our trusts in the Lord from within us and not from the outside
• <1 Cor 3:16> <John 17:26> For He is within us. Therefore, absolute trust towards God
comes from being able to see Him who is within us!
• When there’s troubles on the outside, there’s a peace within us
• When there’s tribulation on the outside, there’s a comfort within us
• When there’s trials on the outside, there’s a strength within us
• When there’s some good things that came to us, our happiness comes from the joy within us,
for we know within us, all good things does not come apart from the Lord.
• Therefore, what is within us triumph everything that is outside us. The basis for trust comes
from within us, not from things outside us.
• Sometimes, when there’s lots of work pressure, there’s comfort within us and this help us not
to be stressed.
 • Sometimes, even after praying for so long, our family members are still stubborn, but there’s
a hope within us that gives us strength and hope to continue to pray.
• The Holy Spirit who dwells in us will never change. He always gives us the absolute joy,
hope, peace, comfort, etc. Those who can hear Him will have trust in God, for the answer
and strength the Spirit gives is infinite. Those who can hear Him have already been set free
from all problems.
• Actually, all who has received the salvation and is born again will definitely be able to hear
this voice that is within us
• However, many a times, we could not hear because of the accuser, Satan.
• Accusation is a dreadful spiritual assault that slowly separates the hearts of men from God.
• From then on, our hearts becomes ‘busy’. Our life slowly loses focus and our lifestyle will
become chaotic.
• From then on, unholy thoughts, speech, habits, doings started coming into our life. As these
things increases, one will be unable to hear the voice that is within him.
• And once a person couldn’t hear the voice of God, he will lose his trust in God. Because his
path becomes very uncertain without hearing the voice within him.
• And as we lose our trust in Him, it is useless to keep on believing, it is useless to keep on
testing and testing his will, because it is a state of struggle. Therefore, the more he tries to
believe, the more he will get disheartened after that, because he couldn’t get any answers at
all.
• Disheartenment is a result of continuous disbelieve and disappointment.
• Therefore, if a person continues to seek God with an incorrect perspective (i.e. with an inbuilt
of distrust in Him), he will face no answers in his prayers over and over again. And very soon,
disheartenment will be rooted.
• And from then on, one will become immune to God’s word/promise. And we will start having
these thoughts: “it’s useless to pray for this or that” and our conclusion will be that God will
not give it to me even if I pray, then we will really not want to pray and hope anymore.
• Disheartenment → knowing I’m beyond hope. Giving up hope of ourselves.
• Actually, when a person is in that state, he is in fact experiencing terrible accusation and
rebuke.
• Read <1 John 3:21-24>
• Disheartenment really makes us suffer / miserable because accusation will always creep on
us over and over again
• We must really get rid of the things that are stopping us from facing God or the pulpit’s word.
• If we feel weak, ashamed and is unable to face the message preached by on the pulpit, then
we are constantly being accused. We must really get rid of this kind of spiritual illness.
• When Adam and Eve have fallen, God came to find them with His love, yet they feel
ashamed, weak and are unable o face the Lord. Thus, if we were to do that, how can we hear
the voice that is within us?
• Therefore, in order to break / get rid of any accusations, we must start by:

2. Establish a covenant with God

• Establishing a covenant is the execution of our fellowship offering
• Only when a person establishes a covenant with God will he be able to hear the voice of God
easily and naturally after that.
• This is because the establishing of covenant brings the willingness to submit to the Lord
• For the sanctification work to be completed, we must submit to the Lord (i.e. obey the Lord).
Submission is the most important element in sanctification.
• In fact, all our misery comes from insubmission or disobedience.
• Many a times, God told us not to be worried, but we keep on touching and analyzing the
problem and as a result receive more hints. Therefore, misery comes.
 • Many a times, God told us that what we are currently doing is unholy. Yet, we do not run
away but keep walking into temptations. Thus, we fall.
• Many a times, God told us that we’ve got to wait for His timetable and the process of trials
must be experienced but we do not want to wait and want answers immediately. Thus, more
misery comes! Therefore, our all our misery comes from our insubmission!
• When we heard a msg and have understood a truth, yet as we continue to run away from it,
misery just creeps in.
• Burnt Offering makes us turn to God and fellowship Offering makes us submit to God!
• Submitting to God is the most joyful thing to do (because the joy of submission if infinite), yet
many believers finds it the most difficult thing to do. This is because of their
misunderstanding!
• One can only submit to God in His love, not when one is under accusation. One can only
summit to God while facing Him, not when one is hiding away from Him.
• We do not submit because:
1) we do not know what to submit; (but this will always be made known fast thru the word
and the spirit, or thru weekly pulpit message).
2) we hide from God’s presence and kept accusations within us
Therefore, there are two things with regards to establishing a covenant with God:
1) we must be upright and open up ourselves fully in front of God. Confess uprightly to
Him.
When the Israelites do the fellowship offering, they were told to remove all the fats from
the animals. It symbolized that we must be opened and laid everything in front of the
Lord. We cannot hide anything from Him at all
2) must remember God’s promises for us
although we are no good, dishearten, distrustful towards Him, God told us that He has
not forsaken us, His love has never leave us, and he is always doing His work in us.
Therefore, seeing how much God loves me, I am willing to die & let Christ be my head in
all things. This itself is submission.
Therefore, as the Israelites burnt the offering, they must do it on the altar, this symbolizes
our willingness to die to ourselves and submit to Him. The willingness is most important!
• Actually, we will receive more grace after we’ve triumph through lots of disheartenment
• But a lot of times, if we do not get rid of disheartenment, there seems to be a layer of
“darkness” always covering us, covering our perspectives, our prayers, and then our family
and ministry.
• Though we can still serve the Lord and lead normal lives amidst disheartenment, we cannot
stand up against trials. When problems come, we’ll just easily lose heart. We’ll worry easy
and chose the way of the flesh easily.
• Therefore, we must really pray today and ask God to remove all the disheartenments in us
• The question now is whether we are willing to submit to God? Have we realized that it is futile
to fight against God? Have we realized that it is impossible to reject God’s love for us?
• God will love us till the end, through all the way and through every way!
• Therefore, only after we establish covenant with God, then we will be able to look at God in
His eyes and see His deep love within them. If not, His love will just be plain knowledge to
us.

3. And with the covenant establish, we can do continuous prayer (i.e. walk with God)
• The conclusion of fellowship offering will be continuous prayer.
• Many people misunderstood that continuous prayer is so difficult. Because it is so difficult to
pray and work at the same time. It is so difficult to do our daily work and think about God at
the same time. This is a misunderstanding.
• God is spirit! And the spirit of God is the personality of God. Therefore, His personality is
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control (i.e.
the 9 fruits of the spirit)
 • Therefore, continuous prayer is not about praying so focally and thinking so hard about what
is God’s doing. Rather, it is the guarding of the nine fruits of the Holy Spirits in our hearts, in
our speech, in our facial expression, in our daily living, etc
• It is just like what David says: “I have always set the Lord before me. Thus, I’ll not be shaken.
My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body also will rest secure.”
• And when we are able to guard the 9 fruits of the spirit in our continuous prayer, every good
and perfect gift, wisdom, power, understanding will be given to us from above naturally.
• Thus, it is very easy to spot a person who succeeds in continuous prayer. He is one filled
with gentleness, self-confidence, joy and full of wisdom both in speech and living.
• Similarly, it is very easy to spot a person who fails in continuous prayer. He is always filled
with rage, flesh, inferiority, frustration, and always lacks wisdom both in speech and living.
• And as u look deeper, you can also tell that a person who a person who succeeds in
continuous prayer does not live for himself. He is one who lives to love God and love man.
• Just like Paul, whose joy comes from loving God and man. He endures everything for the
elect, (i.e. loving God and man). His purpose is to love God and man.
• One who loves God and man is the most blissful person.
• We must be like Joseph and Daniel. The long and on-going trials/test in their lives not only
does not result in disheartenment but has instead become deep trust in the Lord!

Prayer and Sharing Topics

1. Ponder: Did our Heavenly Father leave some long and on-going trials/test in my life now?
(e.g. the test of our weaknesses, the test of our family’s salvation, the test of the
relationship between us and our partners/spouse, the test of finding a life partner, the test
of handling our children, the test of our career, the test of our interpersonal relationships,
the test of our financial needs, the test of our physical health, etc)
Did I become dishearten because I cannot receive an answer? God tells me today that He
loves me forever and wants to bless me in all things! He understands me, heals me, leads
me, and reveal to me through my whole life! Quiet down yourself this week and listen to
the inner voice (the voice of the Holy Spirit) and acquire the eternal trust in our Lord (i.e.
reconciliation with God)

2. Examine: Why is it that I cannot be joyful always, prays continually and give thanks in all
circumstances?
Establish a covenant with God: Find out and list down all the weaknesses, distrust,
disheartenments in my life that prevents me from hearing the voice of God. After that, with
an upright heart, come into God’s present and let Jesus Christ (His words and Spirit) to be
my life, my head.

3. The conclusion of reconciliation with God is to pray continuously! Please examine the 9
fruits of the Holy Spirit. Try to restore these fruits in our daily continuous prayers. And
confirm whether my continuous prayers result in loving God and man.