June 14 2015 Freedom From Depression

FREEDOM FROM DEPRESSION

1 Kings 19:1-18 

Verse 4 – I have had enough, Lord.  Take my life.  I am no better than my ancestors.

A Prime Candidate For Depression Is: Physically tired & emotionally exhausted.

I. First, notice what causes or increases depression.

A) One – You focus on feelings instead of facts.

Verse 3-4 – Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.

B) Secondly, you can increase depression by comparing yourselves with others.

Verse 4 – “I’m no better than my ancestors.”

2 Corinthians 10:12 – We do not dare to compare ourselves with some.

C) Thirdly, depression is increased when we take false blame.

Verse 10 – “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty.  The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword.”

You can sometimes influence people but you can’t control them.

D) A fourth mistake we make about depression is exaggerate the negative.

Verse 10 – “Everybody’s against me.”

II. Secondly, notice God’s cure for depression

A) First take care of physical needs.

Verses 5-6 – Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep, and then the angel said, “Get up and eat,” and he looked and saw bread and a jar of water.

B) Secondly give your frustrations to God.

Verses 9-10 – Israel rejected the covenant, broke down the altars, put the prophets to death, the only one left.

Many emotions:

Verse 3:  He was afraid.

Verse 4:  He talks about resentment.

Verse 10:  Worked hard for nothing. Thought they would kill him.

C) Thirdly get a fresh awareness of God.

Verse 11 – “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord for I am to pass by.”

HOW TO GET A FRESH AWARENESS

Get alone with God.

D) Fourthly get a new direction for life.

Verse 15 –“Go back the way you came and go to the Desert of Damascus.  When you get there here’s what I want you to do.”

Matthew 16:25 – Whoever loses his life will find it.

YOU CAN CHANGE!

January 20 2013 How To Avoid Burnout

HOW TO PREVENT BURN-OUT
Exodus 20:8-9

Verses 8-9 - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.

I. The Sabbath is God’s solution for burn-out.

• What is it? It means rest.

• Why did God create it? For man’s benefit.

Mark 2:27 - Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

• The problem: Ignore or corrupt.

• When is it? We Worship on Sunday, but the principle is what is important.

Romans 14:5-6 - One man considers one day more sacred than another, each man should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special does so to the Lord.

II. What to do on your Sabbath.

Three Purposes

1. Use the day to rest your body.
Psalm 127:2 - God wants His loved ones to get their proper rest.

Psalm 23:2 - He makes me lie down in green pastures.

2. Use the day to recharge your emotions.

• Have a time of quietness.
Psalm 23:3 - He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

• Spend time with your family.
Ecclesiastes 9:9 - Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love.

• Fellowship with believers.
Hebrews 10:25 - Let us not give up meeting together, but let us encourage one another.

3. Use the day to refocus your spirit.
Psalm 122:1 - I was glad when they said to me: Let us go to the house of the Lord.

Psalm 95:6 - Come let us bow down in worship before the Lord our maker.

Colossians 2:16-17 - Do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink or with regard to a religious festival, or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come, the reality however, is found in Christ.

July 22 2012 How To Make Up Your Mind

How To Make Up Your Mind

James 1:5-11

Immediately after speaking about problems (vs. 2-4), James deals with the matter of decision-making.  The quality of your life will be determined by the wisdom or foolishness of your decisions.

1. The problem: Indecision.
Verse 8 - A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Double-minded: Two-souled

Indecision causes:

•  Unstable emotions.
•  Unstable relationships.
•  Unstable spiritual life.

2. The prescription: Get wisdom.

James suggests three practical steps:

Step One:  Admit your need.
Verse 5 - If any of you lack wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2 - When pride comes, the comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Step Two:  You need to ask.
Verse 5 - He should ask God.
Proverbs 2:6 - It is the Lord who gives wisdom, from Him comes knowledge and understanding.

Step Three:  You anticipate it.
Verse 6 - But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.
Hebrews 11:6 - And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

3. The Promise: God will give it.
Verse 5c - Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

How God Gives:
•  Gives it continuously
•  Gives it generously
•  Gives it cheerfully