DISCOURAGED AND DEPRESSED

DISCOURAGED AND DEPRESSED


Defined:

A. DISCOURAGED- to be deprived of confidence, hope, or spirit.

B. DEPRESSED- to feel sad or despondent.

I. WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION:

A. HEAVY BURDENS- NUMBERS 11:10-15
* Moses had the burden of leadership
* Moses had provided for millions
* Moses had to obey God- he had pressure
* Moses would have rather had died to spare him the stress

B. JESUS HAD BURDENS- MARK 14: 32
* Jesus bore everyone's burden of sin ( uncomfortable)
* He was troubled and distressed ( Gesthsemane)
* He grieved and prayed for relief
* End results was obedience and love
* LOVE ALWAYS PREVAILS FOR GOD!

We are supposed to let burdens make us better people, not bitter people.
The Egyptians tried to wear their slaves down intentionally to kill them off but instead
it bred a stronger better race of men. Our burdens today also make us stronger, cultivating us
into Christians who can endure. The burdens should build and prepare us for the future.
We should be true to God no matter what our situations so that we can have a testimony.
Even the worst situation can bring the best results!

C. PSALM 145- WHAT IS GOD?
Vs. 3 His greatness is beyond our measure.
Vs 4. He does mighty things for each generation.
Vs 5. He is majestic and glorious.
Vs 7. He is righteous.
Vs 8.-9. He is kind, merciful, patient, loving, and compassionate.
Vs 13. He rules over the everlasting kingdom.
Vs 15-16. He is our source of our daily needs.
Vs 17. He is righteous in all of his dealings.
Vs 18. He remains close to those who call upon him.
Vs 19. He hears our cries and rescues!!!

D. DEFEAT ( JOSHUA 7:7-9)
* Israel violated God's instructions about HOLY THINGS. Achen stole from God.
* The Lord was mad at the Israelite s.
* Joshua lost a battle around that time.
* Joshua in simay tore his clothing ( a sign of conviction and repentance)
* Joshua cried out to God because they weren't content ( the people)
* When we operate in our fleshly desires we cause ourselves and others defeat
* In defeat we can surrender and become prisoners of war, or we can keep fighting
and wait on God to get our backs
* Joshua was not fake, he kept it real , he poured his heart out to God
* If you don't ask you cant get a answer!
* To often we respond to situations on human strength forgetting it is a spiritual battle!
( we need a spiritual God to handle it for us!)
* Defeat really isn't what it seems at all. We should learn a lesson:
remove pride, and wait on God to work it all out for us!

NOTE: Once the sin was purged by Gods standards Joshua defeated his enemies
(Chapter

E. APPARENT FAILURE ( 1 KINGS 19:2-4)
* Elijah was a thorn in Jezebels side, he had eliminated all Jezebel's false prophets,
that in turn hurt her pride and her finances. Because of all that she sent out a death threat.
* Jezebel wanted to control Elijah because he always prophesied gloom and doom, and
didn't say what she wanted to hear.
* He experienced desperation and fatigue, he was discouraged because of the threats to him
she was very powerful and very evil.
* No matter how holy we are sometimes we forget who we are as he did and the ability that God gave us!
* No matter how great things are or how spiritual of a experience people may have there are still
down times as a christian. Even great spiritual experiences can lead to patches of depression
because they are so physically and emotionally draining sometimes!
* We must eat healthy, rest, and get spiritually renewed in a healthy balance.
* We must always remember when it looks bad , its not over. There will always be more
work to do for God! If you aint dead God aint done.

F. SICKNESS ( ISAIAH 38:9-20)
* Hezekiah was sick and had his death prophesied to him, in response he:
1. Turned his face to the wall and he immediately called upon God
2. He prayed and broke down and cried to God, God heard his cries and added 15 years to his life
BECAUSE OF GODS MERCY HE WROTE A POEM!
* In the depth and despair of Hezekiah's depression, he cried out to God. He poured his
heart out to him, he was honest with his fears and feelings to God.
* He acknowledged in verse 16 how affliction as a form of discipline can lead to life and health!
* He acknowledged in verse 17 how humbling the whole experience was and how grateful
he was in verse 20 ( he vowed to sing praises daily)
How do you respond when God heals you?
* His prayers brought physical deliverance and forgiveness.
What do you do when you are sick?

II. THE REMEDIES:

A. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE ( 1 KING 19:9-18)
* Elijah had seen the royal courts and priesthoods had become corrupt- he thought
he was the only true one of God left on earth.
* He thought he was the only true servant of God left- he forgot to even think about the
possibilities of others off in far away places.
* He was so concerned with worldly problems that he lost touch with his spiritual senses-
God helped him get them back ( vs 11-13)
* He recognized Gods whispers
Do you take the time to hear God's whispers?
* God does not just reveal himself through rallies, churches, conferences, big preachers, etc.
Sometimes he is in simple places where we have to humble ourselves to hear him.
* We need to stay in the spirit so we can hear God, we need to know what we are doing here!

B. CAST YOUR BURDENS ON THE LORD ( PS. 55:22)
* He will not let the godly slip and fall
* God wants us to cast our burdens on him- he will not let the godly slip and fall!
* We only can slip and fall if we are disobedient and try to carry our own burdens
* When we slip and fall it is because we do it to ourselves- we should be grateful
when we do fall it doesn't cost us our lives, many others don't get our chances!

C. COME ASIDE BY YOURSELF ( MARK 6:31)
* Know when its time to care of yourself- even Jesus understood that.
* sometimes we consume ourselves with others or worldly things and forget to tend to
ourselves- Jesus intervened and took them aside to rest.
* Doing Gods work is important but we cant work without rest and renewal!
* Sometimes we just need to spend some alone time with God, we need that
intimacy to strengthen us.
* There doesn't always have to be a reason to spend time with God!

D. LIFT YOUR HEADS ( LUKE 21:28)
* The Lord prophesied terrible things to come so that we would be prepared, but he also
made it a point to give us HOPE through those trials - told us of his return!
( THERE IS HOPE!)
* He tells us in verse 28 to STAND and LOOK UP Why wait> is what he is saying,
You already know who is coming, and where you are going, why wait? Our heads
should be looking up now in confidence!
* When disasters and tribulations start to occur we should be joyous, we know that Jesus
is near so we should never be downcast. We should keep our heads up high in excitement
and expectation of his return.
* We should not be terrified and fear things such as KATRINA or Tsunami's he already
has spoke on the issue and said these things were BIRTHING PAINS prior to his return.
We should instead be terrified of the thousands that will be unsaved when they happen
and die in sin. Its sad when you think of all the souls that will be lost due to lack of laborers,
or zeal in the church body to reach outside of the 4 walls,
* Events like Katrina, etc should fire us up as Christians we are slacking in today's church
and not doing as Jesus commissioned us to do- We should be motivated to get to work!

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