Never Should be Heard a Discouraging Word

Understanding Your Worth and Value
Week Three – Dream…Big!

Day One- The Lost Dream

Never Should be Heard a Discouraging Word

“God, your God, has placed this land as a gift before you…Go ahead and take it now... Don't be afraid… Don't lose heart."

Deuteronomy 1:21

The long, difficult, treacherous walk—was over. The children of Israel had arrived. The land God had promised—was before them!  All they had to do was conquer the enemies in Canaan. God was with them. It was a sure win—until…

“We can’t go into that land! It’s filled

with giants. We’ll be creamed! Let’s quit while were ahead and go back to Egypt.”

Two leaders named Joshua and Caleb weren’t afraid, weren’t

discouraged.They had waited too long for this day. They were not about to return to dirt digging slavery in Egypt.

“God gave us a promise. He told us the land was ours. He

said He’d be with us… terrorizing our enemies.”

But the people didn’t listen to Joshua and Caleb. They

wanted to stone them.

“Joshua and Caleb have no sense. Let’s kill them.”

Smoke steamed from God’s ears. “You’ll wander 40

more years. You’ve lost your dream. Only Joshua and Caleb will set foot on the Promised Land because

they… believed… Me!”

Has God given you a dream? Are there things you want to accomplish the Lord

has put inside of you?

The devil wants to stop you in your tracts.  He’ll use critical “friends” to do his bidding. They’ll try to

discourage you, make you afraid—make you feel small.

Hold your head up high—walk away from them! Don’t

listen to discouragement. It’s an enemy. God hates it!

God Calling

 “But Lord, who am I?

“I know what’s in you. I made you. I don’t make junk! You’re the King’s kid, fearfully and wonderfully made!”

“Well, Lord, I have a dream but maybe it’ll never happen. I look at myself and feel discouraged. I’m

just kidding myself.”

“Discouragement kept my people from the prize I had for them. Discouragement

wants to kill everything good that I have for YOU! I hate it!”

Walk away.

Take My hand.

 I am God.

 I love you.

Dear Lord, Take me by the hand. I want to see my dream come true. With You... anything is possible!

But on the Third Day!

  But on the Third Day
“'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,
be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "
    Luke 24:7 (NIV)

                        Did he say if …again?

     “’If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross: and we will believe him.’” (Matthew 27:42n GNT)

    “‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’"                  (Matt.23:37NIV)

    “‘If you are the Messiah, save yourself and us!’"(Luke 23:39 HNV)

Satan - “Ha! Look at the mighty Jesus now. He’s so pitiful. He didn’t even put up a fight.  Crown me king. Let the party begin!”  (Laughter shakes the gates of hell.)

Heartbroken disciples stand in the rain as thunder, lightning and earthquake, shatter their hopes. He was gone. Really gone! How they had hoped for a miracle… but there was no miracle. Evil got its way. They had looked for Messiah all their lives. Their dream had died. 

They would take Him down from the cross. They would bury Him and come later to put more perfume on His body. It was the least they could do…it was all they could do.

                                                            But… three days later.

Hell’s Demons – (screaming) “What have you do with us, Jesus?”

Jesus – (His eyes, piercing and full of fury) “Give me the keys—now!”

Satan – (Bowing) He hands over the keys of hell and death and runs.
   
Rising above the cruelty of those who crucified Him, Jesus spoke up for you. “It is finished!” Jesus did what He came to do… make a way for your forgiveness…a way for you to become His child.

                                You are free. There are no more ifs.                          

“Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the Cross:
He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.”
Galatians 3:13 (MSG)
  
 Dear Lord,
        You…are who you say you are.
                                            I… am who you say I am.
                                                                                    No and's, if's or but's!