God’s Working to Encourage You!

Fresh Manna © by Pastor Tim Burt

Ezra 5:5 “But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.”

Have you ever been discouraged? Ridiculous question isn’t it? Discouragement is a part of life. That is a truth. But, let me ask you another question? Do you think it will be a part of Heaven? Read this verse that comes from the book of Revelation describing our future days with God before you answer that question: Rev 21:4 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Could it really be like this in Heaven – no more death, crying, or pain – no more tears? Absolutely! When that time comes, the devil will be banished to the lake of fire. Revelation 20:10 says, “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire….” The devil is the author behind all discouragement. God is the author of encouragement!

Are you ever used of God to be a blessing and encouragement to others? If your answer is “I hope so,” make the changes that allow you to say, “I know so.” Just as God can and does use us in the earth to touch people with His love and power, Satan uses those who don’t know Jesus to bring discouragement and hurt to people. They too will be dealt with in the end of the age. Because they did not choose to accept the love and forgiveness of sin by making Jesus their Savior, they stayed in the state of sin they are in and will be dealt with. Rev 21:8 says, “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars–their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur…”

This is not God’s will. It is not what He wants for any person. He didn’t send Jesus to condemn anyone but to save them. John 3:17 says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

Getting back to the point, discouragement is of the enemy and attacks our life through people. The word discourage is defined: to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; to dishearten; to obstruct by opposition or difficulty; hinder: to express or make clear disapproval of; frown upon: to discourage the expression of enthusiasm.

What is the goal of discouragement? To steal our courage, to steal our faith, and to steal our trust in the promises of God.

Discouragement was often the weapon of choice by the enemies of Israel. In the book of Ezra where we read about God’s people coming back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed many years earlier by their enemy. The prophets of that day had told them to go and rebuild the temple. God had even given them favor even with the enemy king to do so. As they began their work, jealous and hateful, people of the area attacked them with discouragement. They lied about their motives for rebuilding the temple. They attacked their character. They even wrote a letter of lies to the king that let them rebuild the temple. You know what happened. The king believed the letter. He told God’s people to stop. The courage of God’s people had been punctured by the discouraging attack of their surrounding foes. It was God’s prophets – His voices in the earth at that time that encouraged the people to keep going forward.

Today God’s Word tells us we have even a more sure word than what the prophets told them. 2 Pet 1:19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” This means that the scriptures are written for us to read every day. Today, because of Jesus Christ, we have the additional benefit of hindsight – something they did not have to the degree we do today. And we have the Holy Spirit within us to make the Word of God come alive and speak encouragement to our hearts as we read about God’s love and promises to us! That is a more sure word!

Today’s Fresh Manna verse is actually the words of the enemy as they are whining in a letter trying to talk the king into stopping God’s people from building the temple. “But the eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews, and they were not stopped until a report could go to Darius and his written reply be received.”

This letter reveals a powerful truth from the enemy’s perception. It says that the eye of God was watching over them and they couldn’t be stopped. This was true. God was supernaturally with them, helping them! It was evident to all! What stopped them then? Discouragement. It stole their faith. In time, as the Israelites allowed themselves to be encouraged through the voice of God through the prophets, they finished the temple.

I don’t know what Satan is working on to try and discourage you today, but God has got a more sure word from you that you need to hear and let encourage your heart. If you heard it through today’s Fresh Manna, great! If not, get into the Word and ask God to speak to and encourage your heart. Then rise up in faith and courage and get to work! God has got His eye on you and is watching to encourage you!

In His Love,
Pastor Tim Burt http://www.freshmanna.org/