The first week of the new year is gone and each of us has passed through it with different experiences. Whatever those experiences have been, remember the admonition of no retreat, no surrender. Over the next three sessions we will draw attention to three vulnerabilities to watch against, so we do not fall prey to the wiles of the adversary of our souls. We start with the experience of the Israelites under God’s leadership as they left Egypt with a sure promise of land flowing with milk and honey.

What challenges that Israel faced, that ought to have turned them to God, they allowed to overwhelm them—becoming discouraged. They fell to Satan’s master weapon, discouragement.

Discouragement leads us to utterances that are contrary to God! and which we may not mean! Contrast David’s confession in 1 Samuel 27 in the face of relentless pressure from Saul and in 1 Samuel 30:6. The events recorded between these two scriptures demand close study for each of us. When discouragement sets in, we are prone to pursue paths that are totally averse to God’s established purpose for our lives. The man who was chosen to protect Israel volunteered himself to be a tool of destruction to Israel, but for God’s intervention. The Ziklag experience was not just happenstance, it was God’s sure mercies at work, to bring the straying elect back to God. When David’s trusted men now turned against him, David turned to God for encouragement; and in 1 Samuel 30:8 it is as though God was waiting for David to come to Him. Note the rapidity of the answer to David’s request! The events recorded subsequently in 1 Samuel 30:11-20 tell a story of God’s sovereignty, power, omniscience and omnipotence. In the time of discouragement, turn to God immediately for help.

Consider Job’s reaction to the news of calamities that befell him.

And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, and the Sabeans swooped down upon them and took away [the animals]. Indeed, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The fire of God (lightning) has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, The Chaldeans divided into three bands and made a raid upon the camels and have taken them away, yes, and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you. While he was yet speaking, there came also another and said, our sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and behold, there came a great [whirlwind] from the desert, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.

Then Job arose and rent his robe and shaved his head and fell down upon the ground and worshiped and said, Naked (without possessions) came I [into this world] from my mother’s womb, and naked (without possessions) shall I depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed (praised and magnified in worship) be the name of the Lord! In all this Job sinned not nor charged God foolishly. Job 1:14-22 AMPC

The antidote to discouragement is prayer offered unto Him who is able to deliver, and doing so in the Holy Spirit, staying in the centre of God’s will and love, declaring what His word has spoken, not what circumstances make our flesh to dictate (Jude vs 20-21). Take heed to this word and you will fare well before God and before man. Selah.

Pastor Afolabi Oladele