Sermon: It's Enough! Now, Lord, Take My Life!
#1845
Martin G. Collins
Given 08-Nov-25; 67 minutes
description: Great luminaries of faith like Moses, Elijah, David, and Jeremiah all wrestled with devastating despair. Hebrews reassures God's chosen saints that depression is not a failure of faith, but instead a human struggle which we can only meet with divine strength. Depression can have emotional, spiritual, and physical causes. Elijah's story presents four divine remedies: rest and renewal, restored faith and focus, realistic hope, and obedient action in God's presence. We must face depression with honesty, compassion, including self-compassion, and unwavering trust in Almighty God's sustaining grace.
transcript:
Biblical characters of great courage at times showed their human frailty and weakness by suffering from depression. Noah, Moses, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, and others, all powerful prophets and leaders, experienced discouragement and depression, some to the point of wanting to die. These these faithful men and women eventually found a way to escape from depression, and they and others could access the right power and resources to overcome fear and worry. Now please turn with me to Hebrews 11:32. Now they could deal with seemingly hopeless situations and became and became emotionally and spiritually strong despite their weaknesses. Now notice what the author of the book of Hebrews here, probably Paul says, has to say about what the saints sometimes have to endure. You're very familiar with this section, but it helps to set up the uh the background of the sermon. Hebrews 11, we are going to read verses 32 through verse 40. He was 11:32, and what more shall I say, for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak, Samson and Jephtha also of David and Samuel and the prophets who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. Out of weakness were made strong. Became vigilant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. There are 35 women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned and they were sown in two, were tempted, were slain with a sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth, and all these have obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise. God having provided something better for us that they should not be made perfect apart from us. So we see there a list of of. Amazing Persecution and trial and testing and agony. That the faithful had to go through over the years. And we just wonder how in the world they did that other than with God's help, and you think we look at our um situations and we think, wow, that doesn't even match almost any of these, and we then we realized well we are so blessed, but yet we still have problems with depression, discouragement and things like that. So by overcoming discouragement through faith, they became more stable, compassionate and mature and spiritually mature. And we should be thankful that we haven't faced even half of these trials. Now, depression has many faces. It's not limited to or limited by intelligence or wealth or culture. Or age, sometimes people do not even realize they suffer from it. Depression is a serious issue among young children, and it is increasingly linked to more adolescent suicides. What a shame. Although depression affects all ages, it, it's it's occurrence spikes sharply during the teenage years. We certainly see that, especially with the situation we have where people do not know what sex they are and then there is professionals telling them what, what they are. Depression covers a broad spectrum of negative mental states. At the one end of the spectrum, depression shows up as a, as the ordinary short term. Down and sinking feeling after bearing bad news or perhaps after experiencing a loss of something or someone and sometimes it comes from a blow to the ego. This negative feeling might last only a few hours or days. On the other end are long term overwhelming feelings. Of futility and hopelessness and emptiness. And a lack of joy and energy, and these can be accompanied by a complete loss of self-esteem and relentless guilt, shame, and eventually even as bad as suicide. What is depression? Well, to gain a more thorough understanding of this very common problem, let's look at the different types of depression for a little while here. The majority of depressed feelings begin in response to a specific loss, as I mentioned, fear of loss or adverse occurrence in life, something we can pinpoint. There appears to be no way to retrieve or recover what is lost or threatened the loss or or threatened with loss. Now the depressive cycle leads to the collapse of self-worth, and then to self-deprecation, and then to a feeling that the situation is hopeless. Hopeless attitudes produce changes in the responses of the mind and body which begin to immobilize the person. God inspired Solomon to write. Uh, it's simply in Proverbs 13 and verse 12, hope deferred makes the heart sick. That certainly is a true thing that I think all of us at some point have had to deal with. In depression, all systems that is mental and physical, slow down. Growing evidence from medical and mental health research suggests that the changes occur in the chemical balance of the brain and the nervous system. And these changed chemical imbalances alter the transmission of brain and nerve impulses. which in turn produce disturbing brain patterns and painful or crippling emotional and physical feelings. For example, severe depressives often say, I can't get out of this. It's hopeless. I, I'll never get better again. Things will never change. And then others feel I'm powerless to do anything. What's the use of of trying? There are no options. I'm drained, empty. I can't sleep. I can't continue like this, but they see and, but they see no way out. In severe depression, almost everything is viewed negatively. The future appears bleak and unrewarding with no apparent way of change or to change. Depressives mentally stop fighting, their their sad feelings possess them, and they often assume others are equally obsessed with the same feelings, but the truth is they are not. And one type of depressive, the manic depressive, swings between periods of extreme optimism and unfounded pessimism. So depressives stubbornly resist reassurances of their worth. Statements do snap out of it or pull yourself together usually have very little effect. For every serious depressive, there are several masked depressives M A S K E D people who function at far less than their ability in jobs and homes and schools. They do not realize that their emotional problems and difficulties with a job or other people or many of their physical ills are caused by subtle depression which they do not recognize. For many people, a lack of positive emotions and attitudes has become a way of life for so long that they do not realize why happiness and good feelings continue to elude them. Now mass depressives find little genuine joy in life. They are constantly restless and irritable. They filled doctors' offices with real or imagined complaints of a lack of energy or chronic headaches, stomach problems, constipation, or similar ills. They are, they are a large part of the up to 85% of patients visiting doctor's offices who whose health problems are primarily mentally induced. Many of these patients seek a miracle drug to free them from their ills. The peace of mind and better health they seek will only occur when they develop a positive and constructive mindset and approach to handling their problems, but easier said than done. Still others because their depression is mixed with anxiety, engage in pleasure seeking, sexual activity or even violence. Growing numbers of depressives drown their depression in alcohol or drugs to kill the mental pain or of weakness and emptiness and futility. Now in normal grief at a loss, a certain amount of sadness or crying is often helpful and necessary to work through. The normal feelings that we have. Grief at the loss of a loved one or something highly valued is not wrong, but it becomes unhealthy and damaging. When it causes a total loss of personal self-worth or the desire to live. The line between natural remorse and pathological depression may be a subjective judgment. For example, a man who loses a job and is unable to mobilize himself to find works for weeks after being fired or losing his job is seriously depressed and needs help and encouragement, while the cause of the depression is often related to a loss that can be pinpointed. Which is sometimes called a reactive depressive or depression, the cause can sometimes be much vaguer. It may be a mood not understood. Depressed feelings can come over a person for seemingly no rational reason, but in reality there are mental, physical, and spiritual reasons. Endogenous depressions, I'm going to spell that E N D O G E N O U S depressives are related to less distinct causes that may develop slowly and suddenly within a person. The reason may be from subconscious or denied fears. They may be from needs or desires that unsettle that unsettling events now threaten. Susceptibility to frequent depression often depends on the kind of encouragement, values, self-esteem, love, or support that we receive in the early years of life or maybe the lack of them. Vulnerability may be connected to how we learn to respond to losses or problems in life. Additionally, some personalities appear more sensitive to feelings of discouragement than others. A depressive mood can cross the mind for no apparent reason. It could result from reaching a breaking point in a series of adverse setbacks in life. It's something we refer to as the final straw. We just do not feel like we can take any more. The breaking of God's spiritual law sets us up to experience problems and attitudes of the mind for which there seems to be no hope or help. Doing things we know are wrong results in negative or depressive feelings, as does the influence of demonic thoughts. Unsolved resentment, bitterness, jealousy, envy, or anger led to feelings of loss and a result to depressed feelings. Proverbs 1430 says a sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones. For such sins as envy, we must ask for forgiveness from God and invite others we have offended to forgive us as well. And then we set our values and priorities right and resolve not to repeat them. Now please turn over to Ephesians 2 and verse 1. No wonder so many psych psychiatrists and their patients do not understand many of their negative moods and attitudes. Here in Ephesians 2, we are going to read verses 1 through 3. Ephesians 2:1, and you, he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sin. In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of the flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature children of wrath just as the others. And then in Ephesians 6 and verse 12, Paul emphasizes the importance of putting on the whole armor of God in order to fight against these um this prince of of of the power of the air, the spirit. And there Ephesians 6:12 says, for we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. So these evil spirits place damaging moods and feelings in vulnerable or unsuspecting human minds. And to some people, they implant impulses to want to give in to the sin or give up on life. Not all depression not all depression is caused directly by spiritual problems. There are also physical problems, which I'd like to take a look at at this time. Let's not 7 physical causes of discouragement and depression. The first, physical or mental exhaustion. Physical or mental exhaustion may take weeks or years to develop. We all know that overwork, prolonged mental stress, anxiety, or fear can drain our mental and physical energy. This depletes our strength to handle life and its challenges. It eventually shows up as mental energy fatigue, a worn out feeling of being unable to cope. The second cause improper nutrition. Improper nutrition will gradually set us up for depression. Consuming excessive amounts of refined sugars and starches and fats and other unbalanced nutrients can compromise the body's physical endurance, mental alertness, and ability to manage problems and stress. Allergic reactions to certain foods or substance substances can also produce mental dullness, irritability, or depressed feelings. Even a lack of light can cause our bodies to go into depressive moods. We know that from the things we hear about women who live in Alaska for any length of time and how they have that seasonal dis dis disorder is it or something like that where they are so depressed from the lack of light. The 3rd cause. Is poor sleep and lack of exercise. Poor sleep and lack of exercise can cause depression. Getting proper rest and staying alive will help lift us out of a depressed state. Numerous studies have shown regular exercise to be an excellent antidote for mild to moderate depression. Researchers suggest that over time it may be more effective than medication in controlling symptoms. We're just looking at the practical application of this right now in the physical sense. The 4th is the lack of creative activity or achievement is discouraging. Positive creativity or achievement of any kind, even if it begins small, should be encouraged for depressed people. A depressive sense of worth and accomplishment needs to be rebuilt gradually one step at a time. Accomplishments should be highlighted positively to the depressed because their negative attitude tends to be little, even the things that they can achieve. Many deeply depressed people believe they are, they have completely lost all their previous skills and abilities and wrongly think that they are total failures, and this is a deceptive feeling. Caused by depression. Sadly, it, it sadly it aggressively fuels feelings of hopelessness and futility, but the skills and abilities remain intact. They will come back as the person recovers from depression and properly reprioritizes their life with positive values and attitudes. The 5th cause boredom and loneliness, boredom and loneliness. Harm our mood God designed our minds and bodies to need a balanced amount of healthy variety and stimulation to feel alive and maintain equilibrium. Boredom is the absence of dullness of stimulation and feeling. It produces apathy, lethargy, and a sense of worthlessness. Continual continual boredom sets us up for depression. When my children were young and they said they were bored, I told them, you're only bored if you're boring, and I rarely heard them say they were bored again. After that, they really said it. And so have interests, hobbies, and different projects that you enjoy working on. Jesus Christ said, my father has been working until now, and I have been working. That's the example to follow. Solomon, Solomon advises in Ecclesiastes 9 and 10, whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might. It doesn't sound like a And asking it sounds like a command to me. And he was the wisest man in the world. Loneliness in a state of distress or discomfort that arises when there is a perceived gap between one's desired social connections and actual experiences of connection. It can lead to feelings of emptiness, isolation, and a longing for companionship, even when surrounded by others. Loneliness can lead to harmful habits or become an excuse to give up on overcoming. Attempting to solve loneliness with sinful solutions might seem to help at first but it eventually degrades. Loneliness can deceive us into thinking that overcoming sin is pointless. It can make us feel sorry for ourselves. It leads to it feeds on itself to create more loneliness, which can lead to discouragement and depression. So loneliness is widespread. Many people today feel isolated and disconnected from others, and being in a crowd often makes individuals more conscious of their loneliness. Lonely people do not need to hear. Have a nice day. They need friends who will stay close, listen, care, and offer help when needed in both good times and bad. Having one true friend is better than knowing dozens of shallow acquaintances. Instead of wishing for a true friend, focus on becoming one. Some people need your friendship. Ask God to show you who they are and then accept the challenge of being a genuine friend. Proverbs 18:24 says a man who has friends must himself be friendly. A man who has friends must himself be must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. OK, the 6th cause is abuse of drugs and alcohol is often a depressant itself. Abuse of drugs and alcohol. So they are often used to tranquilize the pain. Or fill the emptiness in our lives, but the pain and suffering will not be alleviated without an exciting, worthwhile purpose in life. Depressive feelings can be induced by certain drugs, abuse of alcohol, improper functioning of bodily functions, or viral infections, and this is called toxic depression. Toxic depression. Wrong use of legal and illegal drugs has surpassed epidemic proportions in the US, and many depressives take barbiturates, sedatives, tranquilizers, and alcohol to alleviate their suffering. Of course, the list is unlimited now with so many things that people turn to in the way of chemicals. These are all drugs that depress the central nervous system. Some doctors carelessly prescribe such medications for vague physical or emotional complaints. Not realizing or caring that the problem is not physical in nature. Biochemical responses are already depressing, depressing the depressive's nervous, a central nervous system. These medications may provide temporary relief from specific types of pain or suffering. However, over time, they further weaken the brain and the nervous system, making it even more challenging to address the underlying issues with the appropriate responses. And then the seventh cause are other health factors. Other health factors, hormonal imbalances can also lead to feelings of depression. This can result from a malfunctioning pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, and other glands. Menstrual menstrual postpartum or menopause hormone changes often produce negative moods. Diseases such as diabetes, hypoglycemia, thyroid disease, mononucleosis. Infectious hepatitis, a heavy case of the flu, or other poor health conditions can be responsible for depressive feelings. Almost seems like we are being attacked in this life, doesn't it, from all angles. Not all depression is caused by spiritual problems, as we've seen physical causes can also contribute. But what about the spiritual causes of depression? God's church is not immune to discouragement and depression. However, when we feel depressed, we feel guilty and ashamed to talk about it, thinking that spiritual people should never feel depressed. But through experience, we know that's not true. But spiritual depression is a recurrent theme throughout the scriptures. The Bible contains many examples of servants of God, who during intense trials became discouraged and depressed, as we read there in Hebrews 13. Or Hebrews 11 rather The circumstances caused them to think negatively and they were tempted to give up. Job, for example, felt that his trial was too much to bear. He was so despondent that he wanted to die. I was just listening to an audio of the book of Job this morning and well, he was just really beaten down and he was about as depressed and discouraged as anybody. You can imagine with all that he was going through. The Bible contains many examples of the servants of God. Again, Moses, to whom God personally gave the 10 Commandments, was dejected enough at one point that he asked God to kill him. That's pretty far down. Please start the I Kings 19. I Kings 19. Now although they had their trials, they found the strength to fight and win their battles with depression. We too must learn to thwart discouraging and depressing thoughts. It's hard work, but we have to do it. Despite his strong faith, the prophet Elijah, which you're very familiar with his life, experienced depression and wanted to die, even after God performed extraordinary miracles through him. So I've got Performed an a series of extraordinary miracles in your life. And then not too long after that, do you think that you would become just so deeply discouraged that you want to die? It's hard to believe, is not it? Because we think, wow, if we saw the Red Sea miracle. Well, that would last with us for a long time. Well, biblical history shows it did not last very long with the Israelites. Did it I Kings 19:1 through 3 to begin, and Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done. Also how he had executed all the prophets with the sword. Verse 2, then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me and more also if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. Verse 3. And when he saw that that Elijah, he arose and ran for his life and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah and left his servant there. So Elijah had experienced 11 astonishing miracle after another, and God had sent ravens to feed him. Elijah, a widow, and her son were miraculously provided for during drought and famine, and Elijah even raised the widow's son from the dead. And then Elijah called down fire from heaven while confronting a group of idol worshippers who were antagonistic. Consequently, a spiritual revolution occurred throughout the nation. After all this, the last thing we would expect is for Elijah to fall into depression, but he did, and he allowed himself to spiral down into despair to the point of desiring his death. And then we continue on in verse 4. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree, and he prayed that he might die and said, It is enough now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my father's. I'm sure there was a lot of emotion in him at that point and a lot of despair. Elijah's situation reveals several problems that can bring us down too, so we should be forewarned. What were Elijah's four significant problems causing his discouragement and depression? One, he presumed the outcome. He presumed the outcome. Elijah assumed that everyone who would repent, but things did not go as he expected, and we can easily, easily relate to that. I'm sure everyone has looked forward to something, thinking we have everything planned out, only to have things suddenly change. We know how disheartening it can be, especially if it's something important to us. The lesson is that we must guard against unrealistic expectations. By remembering that God is sovereign. We must guard against unrealistic, unrealistic expectations by remembering that God is sovereign. We must never presume to know His perfect will. The 2nd Significant problem in Elijah's life here. He focused on the problem. He focused on the problem in the wilderness at the widow's house and on Mount Carmel, Elijah emphasized the power and greatness of God, but Jezebel's murderous threats consumed him and overwhelmed his faith. In his panic, he focused on the enemy's power to destroy him rather than on the power of God to deliver him. The, the third way. He focused on himself. These are so simple, but really eye-opening if you just stop to think about them. He focused on himself. Elijah was in the depths of self-pity when he said in verse 4, I am no better than my father's. Elijah's focus had shifted from God to his circumstances and then from his circumstances to himself. For he was physically exhausted. He was physically exhausted. Another reason we give in to depression is exhaustion. By the time Elijah arrived at Sinai, he was weak from fatigue. He was so weak. That he just did not want to live anymore. These four main problems that affected his reasoning are familiar to us at times of stress. Nevertheless, our loving father recorded a remedy to alleviate Elijah's spiritual depression so that we too can apply it in our lives. Now for the remedy for Elijah's discouragement and depression. The remedy has 4 elements that God provided for Elijah. The first one, again, very simple, get some rest, get some rest. I Kings 19 continuing on in verse 5, where we read verses 5 and 6. Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, Arise and eat. And then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals and a jar of water. So he he ate and drank and lay down again. So God's plan was simple. Rest and refreshment. A tired mind and body can more easily become disoriented, discouraged, and depressed than a refreshed mind and body. The second Solution, get a new faithful focus. Get a new faithful focus. Elijah believed that he was the only one in Israel who was faithful to the Lord, continuing it in I Kings 19:7, we will read down through verse 10. Verse 7 and the angel of the Lord came back to the, came back the second time and touched him and said, Arise and eat because the journey is too great for you. So he arose and ate and drank. And he went in the strength of that food 40 days and 40 nights as far as horror. The mountain of God. I was wondering what did God give him, manna, you know, to the last 40 days and 40 nights on that food. And verse 9, and there he went into a cave and spent the night in that place, and behold, the word of the Lord came to him and said to him, What are you doing, Elijah? So he said, I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts, for the children of Israel have forsaken your your covenant, tore down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone and left, and they seek to take my life. So Elijah believed he was the only one still faithful to God, and he had seen both the king's courts and the priesthood become corrupt. And after experiencing a great victory at Mount Carmel, he had to run for his life. Feeling lonely and discouraged, he forgot that others had remained faithful despite the nation's wickedness. And when you're tempted to think you are the only one remaining faithful to a task. Don't stop to feel sorry for yourself. Don't stop to feel sorry for yourself. Self-pity undermines the good job you do. Being confident, even if you do not know who they are. Others are faithfully obeying God and carrying out their duties. Loneliness made Elijah feel sorry for himself. He was in touch with his feelings, but he was not in touch with reality. Things were not as bad as he thought, so God reminded Elijah of the truth. And later God told Elijah that 7000 others were faithful. The fact was that Elijah was not alone. So the 3rd solution. Have have new hopeful expectations, have new hopeful expectations. Once God had Elijah's attention, he readjusted his expectations. Continuing on in verses 11 and 12, then he said, Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, and behold, the Lord passed by and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks and pieces before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind and earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake, and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, a still small voice. A still small voice. Elijah had unrealistic expectations, and God God was not in the wind or the earthquake. Instead, God had readjusted Elijah's expectations, coming to Him as a still small voice. Elijah learned that God's work is often an inner work of the heart and mind. It's an inner work of the heart and mind. Moving on to the 4th solution. Take obedient action. Take obedient action. Elijah when Elijah was up against the wall, God told him to get up and move. Continuing on in verse 13, we will read down through verse 15. I Kings 1913. So it was when Elijah heard the still small voice. That he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, What are you doing here, Elijah? In verse 14, and he said, I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts, because because the children of Israel have forsaken your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am am left and they seek to take my life. So he had that memorized because he said it exactly as he did before because it was his excuse, and that's what he was basing everything on. So God did not God's patient, though he did not mind hearing it again, I, I suppose. And then the Lord in verse 15 said to him, Go return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you arrive, anoint uh. Uh, hi. As king over Syria. Now God wanted him to make a choice of godly action based on obedience rather than in action based on his emotions. God wanted him to make a choice of godly action based on obedience rather than in action based on his emotions. Let's continue in verse 16 down through 1816 through 18, verse 16 also, you shall anoint Jehu, the son of Nimshhi, as king over Israel, and Elijah, the son of Shaphat of Abel Mihoah, you shall anoint as prophet in your place. It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of a hazel, Jehu will kill, and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill. In verse 18, yet I have reserved 7000 in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him. So most people believe that life's pressures lead to depression. But it's how we handle these pressures that lead us either to depression or to victory. Whether or not we suffer from stress depends on how we react to the frustrations of life. If depression creeps, if depression creeps in, try following God's general remedy. Rest, refocus, write expectations, obedient actions. To overcome discouraging and depressing thoughts, we need to identify the root cause. Need to identify their root causes. Negative thoughts ultimately originate with sin. Sin Satan is the author of confusion. God is not, and if negative or confusing thoughts come into our mind and we should rebuke, ask God to rebuke Satan. That if he's influencing us on something that we do not want to believe or we do not believe. Negative thoughts ultimately originate with Satan and he takes advantage of difficult circumstances in our lives. And uses these trials in negative situations to generate feelings of dejection. Satan, whom the apostle Paul calls the prince of the power of the air in Ephesians 2 and 2, can also broadcast negative feelings and moods into our minds, even when there is no apparent circumstance or reason for us to feel down. Often these thoughts come subtly. Satan influences the minds and attitudes of the world and so it's a negative. Attitude that permeates society and it affects us. We can even feel our moods change when we go out into society or into a crowd of Of people doing something that's uh. You know, against what we would normally do. For example, we start thinking about all the things we do not have, but wish we could have, and, but we do not have the money to buy them or our personality um or health may not be as dynamic as some of our friends, or we may feel lonely sometimes. Please turn with me to James 4 and verse 7. We allow these things to fill our minds, and before we realize it, we become depressed without understanding why. The best way to defend ourselves from this kind of attack is to stay constantly aware of the source of such discouraging thoughts. And to guard against them. And when they do start to grip us, to seek God's help to counter them. Counteract them James 4:7 through 10, you're very familiar with this passage. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. So we must trust that God will assist us during times of discouragement. This involves drawing on the power of God's Holy Spirit, the mind, attitude, and nature of God Himself. How do we prevent discouragement and depression with all of this bombardment we have in this society and our own human nature tends that way anyway. This involves drawing on the power of God. We must admit that we often feel depressed when we are not as close to God as we should be. Negative moods tend to overwhelm us more easily than God, when God is not the focus of our lives. Negative moods tend to overwhelm us more easily when God is not the focus of our lives. The solution, of course, is to maintain constant intimate contact with God. Especially during times when we feel discouraged and depressed, the nearer we are to God, the easier it is for him to develop his mind in us. What specific actions can we take to help fight discouragement in this and depression? Let's focus on 7 ways to prevent discouragement and depression. Number one, Of the seven ways to prevent discouragement and depression, focus on your marvelous Creator. Focus on your marvelous Creator. In God's words, you shall have no other gods before me. Meditate on His great power and mercy. Please turn to Romans 8:26. This sermon is more of a reminder of things than it is any, you know, great information. It's just common sense that we should try to follow. When we allow these things to fill our minds and before we realize it we become depressed without understanding why, the best way to defend ourselves from this kind of attack is to stay constantly aware of the source of such discouraging thoughts and to guard against them. And when they do start to grip us, to seek God's help to counter them. Think about what God has done in the past and what He is doing now to accomplish His great plan of salvation. When we put our problems in perspective with God's plan, the troubles and trials of life shrink into insignificance. God has promised the help of His Holy Spirit and His everlasting love. Here in Romans 8, we are going to read verses 26 through 28 and 31 to 39. Romans 8:26. Likewise, the spirit also helps in our weaknesses, for we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Verse 27. Now he that is Jesus who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know That all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. And jumping down to verse 31, what then, what then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also so freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God's elect, you and I. It is God who justifies. Who is He who condemns? It is Christ who died and furthermore is also risen. Who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us, who shall, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword as it is written, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us, for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from God or from shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. The 1st 28 doesn't mean the situation itself is good. It doesn't mean that it is good when our husband or wife dies and it doesn't mean that losing our jobs is good. Necessarily Please turn to Collagians 3 and verse 1. Any situation can work for good if we meet the challenge correctly and let God guide us. If we put our lives in God's hands, the result will always be good. It might not seem reasonable at the time, but something good will ultimately come of it. Now, the second Point is remember the spiritual goal. Remember the spiritual goal. The long range goal of every Christian is to be adopted into the spiritual family of God, and our short range goal is to become more like Christ by overcoming Satan, the world, and human nature. We must shift our focus from the physical to the spiritual. Galatians 3:1 and 21. If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. God wants us to enjoy life, but not at the expense of our eternal life. We are in training now for a glorious spiritual life. God has already chosen and set us apart for His purpose in the king in His kingdom. This is why Christ commands us in Matthew 6:33, but seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things food, drink, clothing, the necessities of life, and much more shall be added to you. Number 3, pray and study God's written word every day. Pray and study God's written word every day. Prayer is a conversation and interaction with God. It is a significant part of our intimate relationship with Him. Without it, our attitudes are easily battered by the world around us. Please turn to Philippians 4 and 6. Now we can overcome the world and its moods by using the stabilizing, strengthening tool of prayer several times a day. Here in Philippines, 4, we are going to read verses 6 and 7. Philippians 4 and 6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. We will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. So that's a guarantee we have. Remember that we, it's very important to show our thanksgiving and our prayers, to thank God for what He has given us, with the blessings he has, he has provided. God promises he will guard us and give us peace of mind, but we must ask in faith believing God's promise, believing God's promise. We ask in faith, we think if we ask in what we think is faith, but we do not believe, truly believe in God's promises. Then Our faith is Useless He knows he knows no one can grow out of depression or with unforgiven guilt hanging over his head. Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:13 to forget our past guilt for the sins and mistakes that we have previously made and repent and have repented of, and to to reach for our future spiritual goals and godly character. The Bible contains many encouraging and inspiring examples of the faith. Of people who faced virtually insurmountable mountable odds and yet overcame with God's help, still they had to ask in prayer, in faithful prayer. The Bible reveals God's greatness and the vastness of His master plan which he has lovingly designed for the entire universe. It shows His mercy, his compassion, and loving kindness for His creation. It shows that God promises to provide all our needs and doesn't want us discouraged. Let's turn over to Romans 15 and verse 4. The more we read his written word, the more we adopt the mind of God, and it is God speaking to us. And this is why daily Bible study is essential. We need to make the Bible the foundation of our behavior and the basis for sound, uplifting thoughts that dispel discouragement. Verse Romans 15 and 4, for whatever things were written before were written for our learning that we through the patient and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. I want to read that again just to emphasize it, for whatever things were written before were written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. So if God is leading us, we will be moved to seek God be moved to seek Him. The more effectively we can respond immediately to the influence of God's spirit, the more quickly our minds will adopt God's thoughts, replacing thoughts of discouragement and depression. OK, point number 4. Be patient with yourself, with others and with God. Be patient with yourself, with others and with God. It takes time for us to overcome obstacles and challenges. Sometimes a lot of time, sometimes a lifetime. We get discouraged from struggling to overcome faults and sins, but we haven't failed until we quit trying. We haven't failed until we quit trying. Every failure is only a lesson that helps us know better how to try the next time. Growth takes time and effort. Please turn over to Psalm 31 and verse 22, Psalm 31 and verse 22. We especially need patience to allow, allow God time to fulfill His purpose in our lives. Psalm 31 and verses 22 through 24. Verse 22, for I said in my haste I am cut off from before your eyes. Nevertheless, you heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to you. Verse 23, 0 love the Lord, all you saint, oh you all you his saints, for the Lord preserves the faithful and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord. So God is much greater in patience and understanding than we are, and if he judged as harshly as we sometimes judge, we would have good reason to be discouraged. But thankfully he has infinite wisdom and mercy and is available to help us and wants to help us. OK, the 5th point is be content, thankful, and generous. Be content, thankful, and generous. If we are not content and grateful for our blessings, why should God give us additional help and blessings? The apostle Paul says in I Timothy 6:6. In I Timothy 6:6, contentment is great gain. Contentment is great gain. Now that's in that context talking about money and wealth, but it is a principle that applies to all of life. I know in the past, looking back 40 years ago or so when I was looking for a job that and I had a job that I was not patient or was not content with I could not find another one for anything. So I thought, well, I'll just have to be content with this, and I became content with the job that I had, and right away a job came up for me. It was better than that one. So sometimes God's waiting for us to be content with our situation before. You know, he moves us on, so to speak. And David tells us in Psalm 92 and verse 1, it is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to his name. Isaiah 32 and verse 8 says, but a generous man devises generous things, and by generosity he shall stand. Please turn over to Galatians 6 and verse 7. It takes God's love flowing through us to make a personal sacrifice of time, money, and energy without strings attached, without expecting anything in return. But when we serve with a generous attitude, God's spirit gives us peace and satisfaction. If we plant goodness, we will harvest happiness and peace. If we plant goodness, we will harvest happiness and peace. Here in Galatians 6, we are going to read verses 7 through 10. For 7, do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap, for he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life. Verse 9, and let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. An excellent way to overcome feelings of self-pity is to be, is by being generous. By being generous It could be your time, your money, your effort. could be any number of things. Whatever you have the ability to give to someone else. We should find ways to assist others when we become overly fixated on ourselves. Perhaps it involves visiting the sick or comforting someone who is upset. It could be writing a letter of encouragement, calling someone who is lonely, or helping a widow. It is all, is not about, it's about bringing happiness to others. Giving is a natural unbreakable law that also brings joy to the giver. The key is to focus less on ourselves. OK, the 6th point. Be positive and active, making each day count. Be positive and active making each day count. We often fail to solve our problems and needs because we lack a positive attitude and diligent effort. Our human nature likes to dwell on the negative when things aren't going right, and this negative attitude shows up as a feeling, feeling sorry for ourselves. Or believing we are trapped, however, by adopting a positive outlook on life, we can overcome our problems with solutions based on positive knowledge and truth that we receive from asking for God's wisdom. Please start over to over to II Corinthians 5 and verse 9. II Corinthians 5 and 9. We should we should concentrate on the truth of God's goodness and the power and strength he provides. Every day is a chance to build character, serve God and others, and bear good spiritual fruit. Life should not be seen as something we just have to bear. In II Corinthians 5 verses 9 and 10. Verse 9. Therefore, we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to him, for we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each 1 may receive the things done in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Every day we have the opportunity to make a positive difference whether at work or at home. With our families, friends, or in other parts of our lives. Don't mope, achieve something meaningful. The 7th point. Be faithful and obedient to God no matter what happens or what your circumstances are. Be faithful and obedient to God no matter what happens or what your circumstances. Or God did not design a Christian's life to be easy. Everyone whom God calls can expect difficulties. Sometimes they seem overwhelming. Sometimes these difficulties and problems seem to get the better of us. When this happens, we must, despite how difficult things may seem, hold on to God and His way of life, not letting go even unto death. Despite his many hardships, the apostle Paul relied on God and did not let himself get depressed for very long, if at all. Now look at what he told the Corinthians. Back one chapter in II Corinthians 4, we are going to read verses 8 and 9 and then verses 14 to 18. II Corinthians 4 and 8. We are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed. We are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down but not destroyed. In verse 14, knowing that he who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus and will present us with you. That's Paul speaking. Verse 15, for all things are for your sakes, meaning you and I, that grace, having spread through the many may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. In verse 16, therefore, we do not lose heart, even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us as a more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Verse 18, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things that, but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Now flip over to Philippians 4 and verse 10. Paul had many reasons to get discouraged. His letter and the book of Acts record many of his unpleasant predicaments, yet he did not let adverse circumstances depress him. After 5 shipwrecks, he did not let it get to him. That's I'm still bewildered at that one. Philippians 4:10 to 1310. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again, though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to to abound everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. We receive some encouraging we receive some encouragement through the example of perseverance set by the apostles during their lives. But most of our comfort comes through Jesus Christ, our trustworthy source of encouragement. Please turn over to II Corinthians 1 and verse 5. Because we share in Christ's sufferings, we also share in the comfort God provides that helps us endure. Uh, such suffering. II Corinthians 1:5 through 7. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. Now, if we, that as apostles are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation, and our hope for you is steadfast because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings. So also you will partake of the consolation. So Paul knew that to share Christ's sufferings always involved God's consolation through through that suffering, and he hoped that this would give the Corinthians the boost they needed to triumph in their time of trial. And he, what he's also explaining there is by the apostles constellation. And sufferings The laymen, the people, God's people, saw those, and it encouraged them to be the same, to have consolation and salvation through Christ. So by our example of being positive and encouraging, we, well, it spreads to the rest of the congregation, the rest of our, our fellow brethren. Please turn to II Thessalonians 2 and 13. Whenever Jesus Christ's sufferings are multiplied, so is His comfort multiplied in us. The greater we suffer for Christ, the greater the comfort we receive from Christ and the greater our ability to share suffering and consolation with others in God's church. Here in II Thessalonians 2, we are going to read verses 13 through 17, where we are told to stand fast. II Thessalonians 2 and 13, but we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, Paul speaking, beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the spirit and belief in the truth, to which you to which he called you by our gospel for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 15, therefore, brethren, stand fast. And hold the traditions which you were taught whether up whether by word or our epistle. And those traditions are taken from the Bible and Verse 16. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. So in this passage, there is a kind of summary of the Christian life. First, it starts with God's call. And we could never even begin to see God unless he had already called us. The entire effort is his. The motivation and the foundation of everything is his gift of love. Second, it develops through our effort. We're not called to dream but to fight, not to stand still, but to climb. We are called not only to the most incredible privilege, but also to the most essential task in the world. Third, this effort is continually supported by the saints and God Himself. This effort is continually supported by the saints and God Himself. The teaching and the guidance and example of godly men support this. God speaks to us through those he has already spoken through. A saint is someone who makes it easier for others to believe in God. So help us not only through words and writings but simply by being who they are, men whose presence is like a reflection of God's truth and love. God helps us. We are never left to battle and work alone. He who entrusts us with the task also provides us with the strength to accomplish it. In fact, he does it with us. And we are not thrown into the into the fight with just our limited resources. God is behind us and beside us, and when Paul faced difficulties in Corinth, he had a nighttime vision in which the Lord said to him, Do not be afraid, for I am with you. There in Acts 18:9 and 10. Fourth, this call and effort are designed to bring about consecration and salvation. This call and effort are designed to bring about con consecration and salvation. In Greek, something that is consecrated is set apart for a sacred use or purpose. And this call and effort are designed to set us apart in such a way that God can use us for His service now and in His kingdom. As a result, our lives no longer belong to us to do as we please. We belong to God for Him to use as he likes, as he pleases, and this call and this effort. Aim to bring salvation and although our physical life comes to an end over time, its ultimate goal is eternity. Therefore, we can see our present suffering as minor compared to compared with the glory that awaits us. God's spirit supports us in our weakness and intercedes for us. When we do not know how to pray, aligning our hearts with God's will, God's works, all God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Therefore, we can have complete confident confidence in God's love for us. And we will never feel like saying, it's enough now, Lord, take my life. So may God grant you comfort, especially in times of despair.
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