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SCRIPTURE READINGS

EZEKIEL 2:1-5
2 CORINTHIANS 12:2-10
MARK 6:7-13

The theme for our sermon is “Perseverance in times of discouragement”. Perseverance means persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Discouragement a feeling of having lost hope or confidence due challenges, hinderance or obstacles. The theme therefore suggest that Christians must persist in serving the Lord regardless of the difficulties, disapprovals and hurdles that may encounter in the world. The theme leads us to the following points for discussion;

1. We must persevere as people called by God to in times of discouragement caused by rebellious people.

2. We must persevere as people who have been given authority by Jesus overcome the discouragement caused by unclean spirits.

3. We must persevere regardless of the discouragement caused by physical weakness and persecution because His grace is sufficient.

Firstly, we must persevere in times of discouragement because God is the one who has called us into the world to be His prophetic voice and ambassadors in the midst of rebellious people. The call to speak God’s word to His people does not happen without discouragement and resistance from rebellious people who are disobedient or opposed to the Word of God. Our first Scripture reading tells us that when God called Ezekiel, Ezekiel was filled by the Spirit of God and God said to him “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.” (Ezekiel 2:3-5). In other words, God admonished Ezekiel that even though his source of disappointment will be the rebellion or resistance of his own people, he must persevere in the declaration of His message to them whether they obey or not. Similarly, in the thirds Scripture reading, Jesus experienced discouragement from His own town folks, therefore “Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” ⁵ He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:4-6). Regardless of the discouragement, Jesus persevered by continuing with His mission of saving souls elsewhere, Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. ⁷ Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. (Mark 6:6-7). In the same manner, the Church and Christians of our time represent the voice of God to the rebellious people in our generation. There is a distinction be between the people of God who are filed with Holy Spirit and those filled with the spirit of the antichrist who rebellious and disobedient to the Word of God. “This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore, they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:3-6)*This encouragement should give us the boldness to persevere in spreading the Gospel and living a life worthy of our calling regardless of the discouragement we would encounter on our path as believers. Jesus knew that the disciples would face discouragement and obstacles yet commissioned and assured them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20) We a great encouragement to persevere in the spreading the Gospel because Jesus is alway with us to the very end of the age.

Secondly, what happens when rebellious people are possessed by unclean spirits and others who desire to be liberated are held captives by unclean spirits? Jesus did not only appoint us to be His disciples but He has also given us authority over unclean spirits so that as we shall be empowered to persevere in the spreading the Gospel, winning souls and liberating people from the bondage of unclean spirits. In our third scripture reading, we are told Jesus “…called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits… So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them”. (Mark 6:7,12-13). This is a strong and clear indication that we must persevere and walk in faith even as we use the authority given to us in Christ to overcome unclean spirits, for Jesus said that “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18-19). A believer and a disciple of Christ is no mean person, you surely have authority over unclean spirits regardless of the discouragement, therefore must persevere to the end as a man or woman of faith and prayer! Let us continue to persevere regardless of the spiritual obstacles, for we have been greatly assured by the Lord that “no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17)

Thirdly, when we suffer physical pain, persecutions and challenge as signs of discouragement, we must persevere to the end and be rest assured that God’s grace is ever sufficient upon our lives. Paul bears testimony to the forgoing fact in our second Scripture reading when he wrote, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. We are again greatly admonished by Paul in Ephesians 6:16 that “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” Indeed, we can persevere to the end in times of discouragement because of the sufficient grace of the Lord that is ever present in our lives through faith in Jesus Christ.

In conclusion, God has called us to spread the Gospel, however there are obstacles in the form human rebellion and spiritual forces, like Ezekiel and Jesus Christ, we must persevere even times of discouragement because the power of the Holy Spirit is upon us. Again, in our weaknesses and discouragement, we must persevere to the end even as we rely on God’s sufficient grace. May His grace continue to abide with us even as we persevere in times of discouragement. Amen.