Fri, Nov 6th - 12:49PM

Let us turn to Matthew 6:25-34 and check out the significant address that Christ used to clarify His message and ministry.  This speech stood out in stark contrast to the mainstream teachings of that particular day's religious professionals, the Pharisees.  God's conclusions about worry are just as meaningful today as they were to 1st century listeners.  Let's look at them now:

1)   Worry keeps us from enjoying what we have - From verse 25 we find this, "...Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing?"  Worry focuses our attention upon what we do not have, or upon what we might lose, and strips away the enjoyment of what we already possess.  It prompts us to assume responsibility that is not ours to handle.

2)   Worry makes us forget our worth - From verse 26 see this, "...Are you not worth much more than they (the birds who neither sow, reap, or gather food into barns)?"  Worry makes us forget that God is not the heavenly Father of birds, but He is the heavenly Father of man.  It makes us feel forgotten, overlooked, and unimportant.  If He will feed a bird, which is a lesser creature, He surely will feed us without fail.

3)   Worry is completely useless - From verse 27 we find, "And which of you by being anxious can add a single cubit to his life's span?"  The reference is to the fact that none of us have the ability to add time to our lifetimes or to increase our physical height.  Quite the contrary, worry results in subtraction, not addition.  It leads to the loss of sleep, the loss of time, the loss of peace, the loss of energy, and ultimately to the loss of length of lifetime.  Our lives will be shortened by our constant worrying over things, it will not be improved nor increased by being anxious. 

4)   Worry erases the promise of God from your mind - Within verses 30-32 we find this:  "...Do not be anxious then, saying, "What shall we eat...drink...wear...Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."  We tend to forget what King David learned:  "I have been young, and now I am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread (Psalm 37:25)."  God's love for man motivates Him to care for those who walk with Him.  Nothing can separate the saint from that love, as can be read in Romans 8:38-39.

5)   Worry is characteristic of the heathen, not the Christian - Looking at verse 32 we can see this:  "For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek..."  When any of us exclude God's personal involvement in our life, we have no one substantial on whom to lean.  For all practical purposes, the worrier is alone and on their own and lives as the one who lives without God in their life.

That is all for today beloved.  Next time I shall introduce a family of worriers to you, a well known family found in the Bible.  We shall see what the fruit of worrying can become.  Until then, may our God show you His presence in your life.  May you hear His voice calling to you from the high places.  May you heed His voice which may be heard from every part of creation.

~Eric

Wed, Nov 4th - 10:17PM

The problem of worry.

Does it seem to you that many of today's Christians seem to have a motto of Why trust when you can worry?  Our minds are frequently tired with worry...our spirits are often weighed down.  This worry from yesterday's guilt adds to our anxiety over tomorrow's uncertainties.  We find ways to hide our worry from others.  We even go so far as to find new names for it:  "concerned," "troubled," "disturbed," "interested," and "bothered."  Irregardless of what name we decide to put upon it, this still boils down to worrying; anxiety, mental distress, lack of inner peace, and preoccupied agitation.  How can we battle this issue of worrying?  I want to direct our attention on Christ's counsel, then look at a series of five arguments against worry from out of Matthew 6:25-34.

Worries tend to be in one of three categories:   worry about death(whether your own or of a loved one), worry over guilt, and worry about daily problems.  That last one seems to chew away at most of us in some form.

A biblical perspective:  The word "worry" in our English language does not appear in the text of the King James Bible.  But the concept does.  Such words are used as "anxiety," "care," "trouble," and "concern."  In the New American Standard Bible text of Matthew 6:25-34, the term "being anxious" is utilized to convey the concept of worry, and it is used six times.  This begs the question:  What does it mean to be anxious?

A practical definition:  To be anxious is to be divided or distracted.  The thought is that of being so mentally ill-at-ease that the individual is distracted.  Such people cannot do what they are supposed to do, or may want to do, because they are divided in their thinking.  They experience a lack of focus.  An excellent example of this is Martha in Luke 10:38-42  "Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."  Here the word used is "cumbered."  Martha was worrying about serving the meal.  She became distracted with all of her preparations.  Mental distraction, or worry, leads to agitation.  It does this because the person with the problem of worry is caught in the middle.  Martha took her agitation to the Lord, seeking His assistance in forcing Mary to come back into the kitchen to help her with serving.  What was our Lord's answer to her?  Did He agree and tell Mary to go and help her sister with serving food to Him?  No, He informed Martha that she was worrying about many things but there was only one "needful" thing:  getting close to God and listening to what He had to say.  Jesus told Martha that this "needful" thing was not going to be taken away from Mary.  Martha needed to stop worrying about "things" and stop, and begin to get closer to God and listen to what He was saying. 

We may very well begin to see ourselves in Martha.  Busy serving our guests at church, unable to pull ourselves away in order to listen to God's Word being preached.  We have too many things to get straight before the service is done!  It must be just right!  Worrying, worrying, worrying!  All the while, God is speaking to those out in the sanctuary and we are missing out on the "needful" thing.  We need to become more aware of what God considers important and focus upon those things rather than become lost in unnecessary busyness while serving our Master.

This is all for tonight my friends.  God willing, I will cover more of this passage in Matthew 6 when this study is picked up once again.  Until then, grace and peace be yours.

~Eric

Tue, Nov 3rd - 7:07PM

Fear not:  for i am with you:  I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west;

I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back:  bring My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth.

Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.

Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears(43:5-8).

God states here in clear language that He shall regather the nation.  It has in fact happened.  God also states here that even those who are called by His name, Christians, shall be gathered.  This speaks to the time of the end which is described in the Book of Revelation. 

Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

You are My witnesses, says the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen:  that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He:  before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me(43:9-10).

God invites all the peoples of the world to get together and find anyone who can show us former things, who can produce witnesses who may justify their claims.  If mankind cannot do this then they need to hear God and just admit that it is truth.  The purpose of choosing the Hebrew people was so that the world could know and believe God and understand that God is the Living God, the one and only.  This also speaks to us as Christians today, we have the same purpose given to each of us.  We have been chosen so that the world can know and believe in God.

I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no saviour(43:11).

Here is a clear declaration by Jehovah that there is only one way to obtain salvation:  through Him.  Out of all of the religions of our world, only Christianity guarentees personal salvation.  Other religions have quite a program, but they do not guarentee salvation of your soul.  They may offer alternate realities, regeneration so that you may try to correct the mistakes made in previous lifetimes, or even coming back as an animal, but they do not claim to give you reunification with any god.  They can't conceive of such a thing. 

I have declared, and have saved, and I have shown, when there was no strange god among you:  therefore you are My witnesses, says the Lord, that I am God(43:12).

In plain English God is saying that as long as believers do not go into idolatry nor give into sin that He shall bless them.  It held true for the Israelites and it holds true for us today as believers.  We are to witness to the world that He is God, that He is Jehovah. 

That is all for today my friends.  God willing, I shall look into the verses that deal with future judgment, deliverance, and redemption of Israel.  Until then, may Christ's grace envelop you and your family, may the Holy Spirit speak to your heart each and every night while you sleep.

~Eric

Tue, Nov 3rd - 12:40PM

"Who is he that condemns?  It is Christ that died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us (Romans 8:34)."

Who can intercede for me today?  My biological father, or mother?  Perhaps in some matters they are capable to do so.  Perhaps a lawyer in a courtrooom of law may intercede on my behalf before a judge.  Perhaps a good friend may intercede for me in a personal conflict with another person.  But who is able to intercede for me in the case of spiritual sin?  Who has the ability to cover the cost of my debt to God?  Is there any mortal man who can do this for me?  The answer is no, there is no one who is capable, nor probably even willing, of interceding before God on my behalf.

One of the most glorious truths of the Christian life is that the Lord Christ Jesus, who died for our sins and rose for our justification, now lives to intercede for us before God the Father.  In John 17 we can find the greatest example of intercessory prayer in the Bible.  Christ Jesus poured out His heart for His disciples, "I pray for them,I pray not for the world, but for them which You have given Me, for they are Yours(John 17:9)."  But that was not the end of His prayer!  "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word (John 17:20)."  That's us today people!  Hallelujah!  Christ Jesus prayed for us away back then, and He prays for us today!

Then what is it He prays for us?  First, He prays for our security.  "Holy Father, keep through Your own name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one, as We are (John 17:11)."  That is security in numbers!  I've got you and you've got me.  And God has us all in His safe keeping.  Then He prays that we might have real victory over sin and the devil.  "I pray not that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil (John 17:15)." 

Christ's next request through prayer is:  "Sanctify them through Your truth:  Your word is truth (17:17)."  Our sanctification therefore comes through God's Word, not through some special experience or feeling.  He prays for our unity with each other and with Him.  He sends us out into this current world just as He sent out His disciples long, long ago.  Christ desires us to become the carriers of the glory of which He gives us.  As we become perfect in unity it allows the world to become aware of of the fact that God sent Jesus to us and that God has loved all of them just as much as He loves Jesus. 

Finally, He prays for our ultimate glorification.  "Father, I will that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which You have given Me (17:24)."  God wants us to be with Him where He is.  We are not to left behind once we accept Christ as our Savior.  Right now we cannot behold God's glory and survive the experience.  But once we have been given glorified bodies that are just like Christ's, then we will be able to gaze directly upon His glory and we shall smile broadly and bow down low in giving Him all praise, honor, power, and glory!  We shall be able to walk in His Holy presence, hear His voice, see Him as He really is.  What a glorious day that shall be, beloved!  It is a day that I yearn for even now. 

So what?  We can be assured that God will grant these requests of His beloved Son, and these things shall come to pass for us once we accept and trust in Jesus Christ.  That is the door to heaven, the door to truth, the door to love, the door to eternal life.  All that is left to do is to go, grasp the handle, and open the door.  It is up to each of us to decide...

~Eric

Sat, Oct 31st - 9:10PM

The problem of depression.

Nobody is immune to depression, not even Christians.  It hits at surprising moments, and yet there are times when we can almost predict it's coming.  Some depressions are deep and wide and complex, lasting for months or even years.  Some other depressions last for only a few hours.  Tragically, there are some that result in suicide.  Some leave lasting scars on one's life that affect how you relate to others.  Let's take some time and look st three of God's men who suffered from an episode with discouragement and depression; those feelings of extreme despair, undue sadness, unrealistic grief, or hopelessness.

Victims of Depression

Though each of these men suffered the same kind of depression, each one's struggle was different:   Moses had an inferiority complex, Elijah had a martyr's complex, and Jonah had a superiority complex.  By examing each of these men we will note physical, emotional, and spiritual reasons for their depression.

1.   Moses - In Numbers 11:1-15 we find that he had been miraculously used by God to lead the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt.  The people knew little else than a life of miracles: safe passage through the Red Sea, steady diet of manna in the desert, ample water to drink.  Divine guidance via cloud and fire, yet they griped about everything.  The people did not focus upon the Promised Land nor the promising future of living as free men, instead they focused upon Egypt.  They longed for the paltry fare that they had been fed by their Egyptian masters rather than the manna that came from heaven each night.  Verse ten of our text reports:  "...Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, each man at the doorway of his tent; and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly, and Moses was displeased"  Was Moses merely unhappy, or was he depressed?  I say that he was depressed since he asked God, "...Please kill me at once..."(verse 15).  It begs the question, Why was he depressed?

     (a)   Physically - From verses 16-17 we find that Moses was exhausted and overworked because he had not learned to delegate his work load.  He tried to do everything by himself(Exodus 18:13-23).  His father-in-law, Jethro, advised him to delegate so that he would be able endure until the end of his God-given task. 

     (b)   Emotionally - From verse 15 we find that Moses had an inferiority complex; he held a low view of his self-worth.  He took the situation with the people as a personal failure.  He was diligent in his leadership, and yet had as his reward griping and complaining people all around him.

     (c)   Spiritually - From verse 11 we find that Moses felt distant from God:  "Why have You been so hard on Your servant?  And why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid the burden of all this people on me?"  Can you hear the implication that is unstated?  Have you ever been in this place spiritually?

     (d)   How God handled him - From verses 16-25 we find that Moses was instructed by God to spread his work load, to slow down.  He was to find seventy men to do the work he alone was attempting to do.  We are not to try and do everything ourselves, we must find others to share the load with otherwise we will burn out and become depressed.

2.   Elihjah - Looking at I Kings 19:1-21 we find that a series of events tracked Elijah's life, including a famine that he himself had prophesied, and a confrontation on Mt. Carmel where he defied 450 prophets of Baal.  After hearing of the reward placed upon his life by Jezebel he sought out an extremely solitary retreat under a juniper tree.  And guess what his words were upon finding shelter underneath that juniper tree?  "...O Lord, take my life...".  Again we have an exhausted, depressed man of God.  Why?

     (a)   Physically - From verse 3 we find that Elijah, in fear for his life, had just run approximately 30 miles.  Not only was he weary, fatigued from running, but also from relating to the cultic prophets on Carmel.  He had missed sleep and meals...he was simply worn out.  Have you been there?

     (b)   Emotionally - From verse 10 we find that Elijah suffered from a martyr's complex.  Notice his words: "I have been very zealous for the Lord...for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword.  And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away."  He figured that he was all alone against the prophets of Baal and Ahab and Jezebel.  How untrue.  God soon reminded him that there were 7,000 others in Israel who had refused to bow to Baal worship.  Have any of us been here?  Thinking that we alone are standing for truth and that there is no one else who will stand alongside of us in support?

     (c)   Spiritually - From verse 3 we find that Elijah's fear was an indication that his eyes were not on God, but on the enemy.  Jezebel was anxious to take his life, payment for what he had done to her 450 prophets, and it seemed that all were against poor Elijah:  Jezebel, the world, even God.

     (d)   How God handled him - God did not rebuke Elijah.  Rather, God fed His faithful servant and allowed him to sleep (verses 5-8).  God understood that this man was in deep need of sleep and food.  God had sustenance provided to Elijah for forty days, and he also provided him with a friend: Elisha (verses 19-21).

3.   Jonah - From reading Jonah 4:1-11 we find that Jonah, in the wake of perhaps the greatest evangelistic success ever recorded, became victim of depression.  The entire city of Nineveh (capitol of the Assyrian Empire) repened and turned to worshipping God.  Now, note the same words, but from a different man, "...O Lord, please take my life from me, for death is better to me than life (verse 3)."  Why did Jonah battle depression?

     (a)   Physically - From verses 1-3 we find that Jonah had fought hard against God.  He had attempted a trip to Tarshish to avoid preaching in Nineveh, and in the process had survived time in the belly of a great fish.  He had subsequently preached his way across Nineveh, and effort that took three days to achieve.  Have you ever tried to avoid doing what God has placed directly before you to do?  Has your avoidance ever worked out for your benefit? 

     (b)   Emotionally - From verse 2a we find that Jonah was a bitter man, angry at God for showing His compassion and grace to the people he himself despised.  Jonah felt superior to them.  He was a bigoted nationalist more than he was an evangelist.

     (c)   Spiritually - From verses 2-3 we find that Jonah was carnal.  Anger was the tell-tale sign of his deeper problem.  In this instance he wanted to preach without seeing the results for which an evangelist usually hopes.

     (d)   How God handled him - In verses 4-9 God brought the facts to Jonah's attention and pointed out that he had no reason to let his anger get all heated up.

Become Victors Over Depression!

Five significant lessons emerge from out of this study.  If appled they can help us to win over depression.

1)   Realize that depression is not a sin, it is a symptom.

2)   Maintain a consistent program of relaxation and rest.  Do not overwork yourself, delegate some things to others to do.  And be thankful when they do the work for you!

3)   Guard against those subtle complexes (inferiority, marty, and superiority).  Keep your eyes upon Christ Jesus and away from yourself.

4)   Remember that God is for you, not against you.  It is not His design to make your life miserable, but meaningful.

5)   Don't forget, Satan and his demons may bring depression.  It's one of his sharpest darts that he hurls at us daily.

In summary, each of us must be aware of the three major areas that if we become unbalanced in them we will become susceptible to falling into depression.  Are we overworked?  Overextended?  Accepting too many tasks, can't seem to say "no?"  Thinking that God has turned away from you, that He is laying too heavy a load upon your shoulders?  Do not believe that Satan is out there waiting to take you down into the depths of emotional and spiritual depravity?  Remember that God warns us to do all things in moderation, that way maintaining balance in our lives. 

That concludes this section of our study on Our Problems.  The next section will deal with the problem of worry in our lives.  I hope that you all will return to find out more about how this problem impacts our spiritual walk.  Until then, grace and peace be yours.

~Eric