Oct. 24, 2018 | Three Confessions of Discouragement

These are notes from a sermon message heard at First Baptist Church of Atlanta. To hear the message, please visit their website here. My notes are only meant to be a guide to assist in your Bible study. Enjoy! :)

Date: October 24, 2018

Preacher: Dr. Anthony George

Title: Three Confessions of Discouragement

Base Verse: Titus 1:4

Paul wrote this letter to Titus for the same reasons he wrote letters to Timothy.

Confessions of Discouragement:

1. I am in a bad situation.
1. There’s an unlimited number of situations where we might say this.
2. Titus definitely felt like this with his assignment in Crete.
1. Titus 1:12-13
2. There was no leadership in the church that he was assigned to.
3. Timothy was in a bad situation.
1. 2 Timothy 1:15
2. 1 Timothy 4:12 NLT
   
   
4. Was any of the people God called in a good situation?
1. Noah?
2. Moses?
3. Elijah?
5. The people are the problem.
1. There is no end to the needs of peoples lives.
2. Examples of problematic people:
1. Mediocracy people
1. “I don’t see what the big deal is”
2. Contentment with the status quo
3. Dead weight in innovation
4. Not willing to look at options for optimization
2. Lots of doers; few thinkers.
1. If everyone is a doer, whos gonna think?
2. Capacity issue; some of us aren’t capable of doing more. But there are some of us that could do more if they thought more. In these cases, it's a mentality issue.
3. Turf Protectors
1. They see the walls of their kingdom. No interest in expansion, but rather self preservation.
2. No concern for the larger picture.
3. They become your problem when you threaten their turf.
4. Troublemakers
1. Titus 1:10
2. No regard for authority or protocol, and has a rebellious spirit.
3. Idle talkers; they talk to hear themselves talk. Jesus says we will give account to every idle word we speak. Are you keeping mind of your idle speak? Stop spreading private conversations without considering the consequences.
4. It is never good to lie. If we’ve gotten to the point where you don’t know the difference between the truth and the lie.
3. No matter how bad your situation is, someone has it worse than you. No matter how bad your situation is, the people you want to run from will still be here.
2. I feel left behind.
1. Titus 1:5
2. Paul left Titus behind to continue the ministry on his own.
3. We have all felt alone in a less than optimal situation.
4. Titus’s assignment
1. Pastors to appoint
2. Problems to solve
5. What can you do when you feel left behind?
1. Do something about the situation.
2. Help somebody identify the next step.
1. Wherever you are, there is somebody who needs to know the next step.
2. God has a way of putting people in your life to tell you what you need to hear.
3. You
3. Invest in someone with potential.
1. No matter where you are, you will find someone with potential
2. People just stand out to you.
4. Find a way to share your faith or give a word of witness.
1. Is there ever a situation where you can’t mention God’s love.
3. No one respects what I have to say.
1. Titus 2:1 NKJV
1. Contrast because the verse starts with “but”; even when all those around you are speaking unholy things, that doesn’t mean you can be lax and speak like them
2. It’s your job to speak the truth. What they do with it is up to them.
2. Titus 2:7-8 NKJV
1. Not only should you speak well, but live well too so that when someone wants to diss you, they have nothing to diss.

Now reverse these confessions of discouragement:

1. I’m in a bad situation, but I have an awesome God!
2. I feel left behind. But God has me here for a divine assignment!
3. No one respects what I have to say. But my job is to speak it and live it, and leave the rest to God!