Ministerial Association Week of Prayer The Little Whiles of Life

DEALING WITH THE DEALING WITH THE

DISAPPOINTMENT  Disappointed in ourselves  Disappointed in our loved ones  Disappointed in church  Thought they would always do right  Thought they would always be there when I needed them  Thought they would always do right  Thought they would always be there when I needed them

 Disappointed in God  He didn’t answer my prayers as I thought.  He didn’t intervene when I thought.  He didn’t change people as I thought.  He didn’t solve problems as I thought.  He didn’t answer my prayers as I thought.  He didn’t intervene when I thought.  He didn’t change people as I thought.  He didn’t solve problems as I thought. Don’t try to understand God. Disappointment can build a wall between us and God. Disappointment can build a wall between us and God. God is the source of help.

What is the answer?  Learn to live in the house of grace.  We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Grace teaches us how to live (Titus 2:11-13)  We must grow in grace in how we deal with others (2 Peter 3:18)  Have speech of grace (Colossians 4:5, 6)  We are saved by grace (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Grace teaches us how to live (Titus 2:11-13)  We must grow in grace in how we deal with others (2 Peter 3:18)  Have speech of grace (Colossians 4:5, 6)

 Let our words bring grace to hearers (Ephesians 4:29)  Let our words bring grace to hearers (Ephesians 4:29)  Allow forgiveness to come quickly and easily. (Ephesians 4:32)  Allow forgiveness to come quickly and easily. (Ephesians 4:32)  Trust God that He is working for our good and molding us into the image of Christ. (Romans 8:28-30)  Trust God that He is working for our good and molding us into the image of Christ. (Romans 8:28-30)  Don’t make your disappointments the center of your life. Let the center of your life be reserved for God.  Don’t make your disappointments the center of your life. Let the center of your life be reserved for God.

DOUBTS John the Baptist (Matthew 11:1-15) had been arrested for speaking the truth to Herod. had been arrested for speaking the truth to Herod. must have expected Jesus to come to his aid. must have expected Jesus to come to his aid. began to wonder about whether He was the Christ after all because of disappointment began to wonder about whether He was the Christ after all because of disappointment

It is that same source (disappointment) which often causes doubt to develop in any of our lives. We have definite ideas of what God is to do and be and when He doesn’t meet our expectation we begin to wonder if He is really real or not.

Two ways of reacting to this kind of doubt: 1. Right way: It will send us into a deeper study of God’s word to see if we can depend on it and to make certain that what we believe is right. Result: It makes us stronger than ever. 2. Wrong way: Feed the doubts by getting with others who have doubts as well and reading books, which are based on lack of faith in God and His word. Result: It will destroy our faith entirely. Two ways of reacting to this kind of doubt: 1. Right way: It will send us into a deeper study of God’s word to see if we can depend on it and to make certain that what we believe is right. Result: It makes us stronger than ever. 2. Wrong way: Feed the doubts by getting with others who have doubts as well and reading books, which are based on lack of faith in God and His word. Result: It will destroy our faith entirely.

What did John the Baptist do?  He could have called a meeting of religious leaders to see what they thought.  He could have taken a poll to see what the majority said.  He could have called a meeting of religious leaders to see what they thought.  He could have taken a poll to see what the majority said. He sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him directly if He was the Christ. When in doubt go to the One who can cure your doubt.

If we deal honestly with doubts in our lives, the Lord won’t turn away from us. When doubts come, let them drive you deeper into the study of God’s word. Learn more and grow stronger for Him through the whole time.

DEPRESSION What brings depression? a. Sickness, pain, problems b. Disappointment – Proverbs 13:12 c. Anxiety – Proverbs 12:25; 15:13 d. Fear and loneliness a. Sickness, pain, problems b. Disappointment – Proverbs 13:12 c. Anxiety – Proverbs 12:25; 15:13 d. Fear and loneliness 1 Kings Elijah had just had great success.

 He had observed the sin in Israel and had prayed to God to stop the rain. For 3 ½ years it didn’t rain.  When he met Ahab the king, he challenged him to bring all the prophets of Baal to Mt. Carmel for a contest between the two.  He had observed the sin in Israel and had prayed to God to stop the rain. For 3 ½ years it didn’t rain.  When he met Ahab the king, he challenged him to bring all the prophets of Baal to Mt. Carmel for a contest between the two.

 The challenge: each to place an animal on the altar and pray to their God to send down the fire on the altar to consume it. The God who answered with fire was the real God.  The challenge: each to place an animal on the altar and pray to their God to send down the fire on the altar to consume it. The God who answered with fire was the real God.  Elijah prayed and God sent the fire to lick up the water and consume the animal on the altar.  Elijah prayed and God sent the fire to lick up the water and consume the animal on the altar.  Elijah prayed for rain and the rains came in abundance.  Elijah prayed for rain and the rains came in abundance.

The Warning from Jezebel  Instead of being courageous, Elijah was afraid and arose and ran for his life.  Instead of being courageous, Elijah was afraid and arose and ran for his life.  He prayed to God to let him die. “What are you doing here Elijah?”

I have been very zealous for the Lord, but Israel has forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets and I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 1 Kings 19:9-10 I have been very zealous for the Lord, but Israel has forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets and I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 1 Kings 19:9-10 There was a strong wind but God wasn’t in it. There was an earthquake but the Lord wasn’t in it. There was a strong wind but God wasn’t in it. There was an earthquake but the Lord wasn’t in it.

There was a fire but the Lord wasn’t in it. After the fire, there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When we are discouraged, in doubt and depressed, the Lord is still speaking to us and giving us a mission to carry out.

Be Still and Know That I Am God Be Still and Know That I Am God