Are You a Friend or an Enemy of God

          

          The last post talked about filling your mind with God's Spirit.   This is just a note to take a look at the other side of the coin.  It would be prudent to examine what you are filling your mind with most of the time.  What are the lyrics to the songs you listen to the most?  Is it possible they are contributing to any of your temptations or ungodly behaviours?  Many of songs that are popular today promote suicide, cutting, sex of any and every variety, and promote the idea that you deserve whatever you want.  It is impossible to listen to these messages over and over without them impacting your very soul. As they say "garbage in -- garbage out."

          What about the movies and television programs you watch? If you are filling up on what the world thinks is funny or entertaining, do you even know what God thinks about those programs? The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and wichcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy,; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21)

  This Scripture could be the description for at least 75% of prime-time TV!  God hates this stuff.  Do you choose to fill your mind and soul with stuff God hates?

          "You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4) If you enjoy entertainment that is based on all that God considers wrong and harmful to us, you are a friend of the world.  You cannot be a friend of the world and a friend of God at the same time.  If you are friends with the world and what the world thinks is entertaining, and what the world prizes, then Scripture clearly says you are an enemy of God! (This is not saying that we are not to be friends with PEOPLE who are in the world -- but rather we are not to be friends with the ideas and values of the world).

Satan is taking greater and greater control of our culture.  We live in a world where right is considered wrong, and wrong is considered right.  We must make a conscious effort to fill up on the things of God and refuse to fill up on the things of the world.  Without a conscious choice, we will follow the ways of the world. 

Of the two Scriptures quoted in this post, one says that “those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God,” the other says that if you are a friend of the world, you are an “enemy of God.”  This is serious business!

Please leave a comment below and share some of the good things you are choosing to fill up on, and some of the things of the world that you have chosen to give up.

Full of God's Spirit

Here is an excerpt from Chapter 2: Full of God's Spirit

When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.'  When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order.  Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.  And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.  That is how it will be with this wicked generation. (Mt. 12:43-45)

            When we become Christians, or first deal with the spiritual aspect of our depression, we clean house.  It is essential for me to keep the "house" of my mind and heart filled with Jesus: his Spirit, his purpose, his thoughts and attitudes.  I have found that I can go for many months, even years without any major depression.  I start to think and act like I have been completely healed, and I lose my readiness to fight if the depression should return (which in my case it always has).  When Satan and his demons catch me off guard, I end up in a depression, frequently compounded by the sins of criticalness, bad attitudes, and harsh attacks against those who are closest to me.  I have ended up in depressions worse than those before becoming a disciple, because my guard was down and Satan had more desire to attack me and totally defeat me -- I am a child and fellow worker of his eternal enemy, the Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth.

            There are a few ways to fill yourself up with God’s Spirit, even when it seems extremely difficult (when you are physically depleted due to poor health or exhaustion, or when you feel the depression starting to descend).  One of my favorites is through music.  This is a biblical concept.  The Scriptures are filled with the call to praise God through music. 

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:20)

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob! (Ps 81:1)

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation. (Ps 95:1)

I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me. (Ps 13:6)

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. (Ps 63: 7)

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever. (Ps 89:1)

            However, there are times when it seems too difficult to make the music on our own.  King Saul was in a similar situation, after God had renounced him as king and sent an evil spirit to torment him.

Now the Spirit of the Lord had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.  Saul's attendants said to him, "See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.  Let our lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp.  He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better." (1Sa 16:14-16)

Most of us probably realize that David was the one brought to the palace to play for King Saul.  From David’s psalms recorded in the Bible, it is not difficult to assume that the songs he played for Saul were spiritual.  The combination of spiritual words and soothing music gave Saul some relief from the evil spirit.  When I listen to spiritual music, I also feel a bit of relief from the depression.  I feel more able to read God’s Word and to pray.  We are so blessed to live in an age where the opportunity to listen to spiritual music is at our fingertips.  Just put in a CD or pop in your ebuds and turn on your ipod and you can have an orchestra, choir, band, or soloist to fill your mind with things above. 

            The style of music you choose isn’t important, rather it is the message in the lyrics.  I cling to music that speaks of God’s love and forgiveness, which declare his praises, and proclaim the power of the cross.  The lyrics must be deep enough to deal with the demons attacking you.   

What are some of your favorite spiritual songs -- songs that can penetrate depression, anxiety, fear, bad news, or just a bad day?

Hab 2:14

The Battle Rages

       Although no one was confident enough to leave any comments, the traffic to this blog increased four fold after my most recent post about depression.  I am taking that to mean there is a great interest in the topic, so I will continue posting segments from my unpublished book, Depression, Demons and Discipleship.

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Chapter 1: The Battle Rages

And there was war in heaven.  Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.  But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.  The great dragon was hurled down -- that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.  He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.... ‘Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you!  He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.’ .... Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went to make war against the rest of her offspring -- those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus.  (Rev 12:7-9,12,17) 

            We often do not realize the infinite seriousness of the spiritual battle in which we have become involved.  Satan is filled with fury against God and anyone that tries to draw close to God.  One of Satan's major ways of attacking me is through my depression....

     In 1990 I was encouraged to read two books by Frank Peretti which were fictional stories portraying the human battle and the spiritual battle within the same work.  These books impacted my thinking tremendously!  The goal of those advising myself and many others to read these books was for us to get a perspective on the spiritual battle raging around us, beyond the sight of our mortal eyes. That perspective should then motivate us to take more seriously our need to pray.  I definitely got those messages out of the books, but I also gained something else.  As I read, a conviction was born, that my depression is a form of demon attack.  That conviction has only matured with the years.  I would like to share one scene from Piercing the Darkness.

            Sally flopped on the bed.  No, she couldn't think about it.  She was just too tired.  She was frightened,... she couldn't think, she was a hunted animal, and she was just too tired.

            Your hope is lost, worthless creature, said a voice in her head.

            It's only a matter of time; a very short time, said another...

            Now you can see how big we are, and how little you are!

            You are dead, worthless creature!  You are crazy!

            Sally leaped from the bed and grabbed a pen from the table.  She found some stationery in a drawer next to a Gideon Bible.  She would write things down, that was it!  Perhaps her mind wouldn't get scrambled if she put it all down on paper.  She could record her thoughts before they melted away.  She bent over the table, her pen poised over the paper.

            But Despair was wounded, humiliated, indignant, and determined to redeem himself.  He hung on her back like a coal-black leech, sucking out her will, whispering confusion to her mind.  The other three spirits were with him, circling Sally, taunting her, jabbing her with their swords.

            Insanity whipped his sword right through her brain.

            Sally stared at the paper.  Somehow she'd ended up on the floor.  Nothing would come.  What was that thought?  She'd just had it, she was going to write it down, and now it was gone.

            Give it up. Turn yourself in.

            No one will ever believe you.  You're crazy.

            Crazy.  It was a word.  She wrote it down.

            Insanity, cackling his witchy laugh, grabbed her mind between his two hairy palms and dug in his talons.  Death joined in the attack.

            Sally's mind went blank.  The paper began to grow into a white screen that filled her eyes like a fog, a blizzard white-out.  She was floating.  She kept writing:  "My name is Sally Roe...Sally Roe..."

            She could hear voices in the room, taunting her, and could feel sharp claws tugging at her.  They remained invisible, hiding from her, teasing, tormenting.

            Then came Fear.  Sally was overcome with a numbing, paralyzing fear.  She was lost and falling, spinning, tumbling in space.  She couldn't stop.

            She willed to think, to form a word in her mind:  Sally. Sally. Sally.

            Come on write it.  Take the blasted pen in your hand and write it!

            We have you now.  We will never let you go.

            Sally.  She could feel the pen moving.

            The pen raced over the paper in circles, squiggles, jagged lines, crisscrosses.

            It was gibberish.  Nonsense.[1]

            The imagery is intense enough to make your skin crawl.  The sharp talons of a hideous black creature penetrating your mind and soul.  Scrambling your thoughts.  Speaking ideas of despair, worthlessness, and hopelessness into your defenceless soul.  As I first read these stories, the imagery was too close to my reality to ignore. When I go into a depression, it is as if the only voices, the only logic I can hear comes straight from the depths of Hell.  I feel like a totally different person.  I am filled with negativity, hopelessness, despair, self hatred, and an incredible fear and distrust of people -- especially joyful people.  Life itself seems like too great a burden to bear.  There is a filter that prevents anything good from getting in:  encouragement from others, good advice, good news, encouragement from the Scriptures. Even the voice of God’s Spirit within me seems too far away for me to hear.  It feels like God is a zillion miles away and totally out of my reach.  ...

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The description above is the best  I have ever read of what it is like for me when I am depressed. 

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,

against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the

heavenly realms. (Eph 6:12)

 We are in a spiritual battle and we have to fight in spiritual ways. A depressed person cannot just decide to be happy.  Treat the person you know who is struggling with depression as a wounded soldier, not as one who needs discipline.  They need your compassion, your prayers, and your help.  They need healing, not more wounds from harsh words.  In future postings I will look at what has helped me, in hopes that you or your loved one can also find help.

Please leave a comment or question.  You know the old saying, "If you want to ask a question, do so. There are others who have the same question but are too afraid to ask."

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[1]Frank E. Peretti, Piercing the Darkness, Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Westchester, Illinois, 1989, pp 51-52.  You can learn more about Frank Peretti and his recent work at his website  http://frankperetti.com/

Can a Christian be Depressed?

            When I became a Christian at 19, I had already dealt with depression for 8 years.  I thought
by becoming a Christian that God would take away the depression.  However, just like when the
apostle Paul prayed that God would remove his “thorn in the flesh,” (2Co12:7-9), God has refused to
take away the depression. I have belonged to God for over 25 years now, and I still face depression. 
God has taught me much through His Word and through life experiences, so that the depression
doesn’t affect me so profoundly as it once did.

            I have had many well-meaning people say some very painful things to me regarding depression.

“Your depression proves that you really don’t love God.”

“Stop being a baby and grow up.”

“If you just take control of your life, then there will no longer be any depression.”

“Just get out of your pity-party.”

“You obviously lack faith, because God promises to answer our prayers for healing.”

“Stop trying to get attention.”

“Depression is sin – repent or you might as well leave the church.”

“Just read the Bible more and God will take away the depression.”

None of these comments had any positive impact on my healing.  Why?  Because all of these comments come out of the belief that depression is a problem with my motivation or my willpower, that depression is a mark of personal failure. They also look at it as a spiritual problem that needs repentance, rather than compassion. Fortunately, God has always provided someone who could speak healing truth into my life.

            Here is an excerpt from a pamphlet on depression that I found very helpful.

What is depression?

A common myth is that depression affects only those who can’t manage life’s ups and downs due to some personal weakness or failure of willpower.

This is untrue.  Depression is a medical illness not unlike diabetes or high blood pressure.  A person with depression can’t change his or her mood any more than diabetics can use will power to change their sugar level. 

The causes of depression are many, but in recent years it has become clear that all depressions involve a chemical imbalance in the areas of the brain that regulate mood and emotion.  Just as diabetics need regular treatment with insulin or other therapies, people with depression often require medications or therapy to restore mood and help them feel better.[1]

            Depression is an ILLNESS!  Please stop treating it as sin and failure!  Christians can be depressed, yet it is so difficult for them to get help, because there is such a stigma against depression!

            What does the Bible say about depression?  Did you know that the great prophet Elijah faced depression?

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life.  When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert.  He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die.  “I have had enough, Lord,” he said.  “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”  Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.”

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.”  (1Ki 19:3-5)

The prophet Elijah ends up so depressed he wants to die.  What does God do?  He sends an angel to give him food and encouragement.  After two visits from an angel and some angelic food, Elijah makes a 40 day journey to meet with God. 

     Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

     He replied, “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.  I am the only one left and they are trying to kill me, too.”

     The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the desert of Damascus.  When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram.  Also anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet.  Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu.  Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel – all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”  (1 Ki 19:13b-18)

            Elijah tells God his depressing “poor me” story.  God responds to Elijah by giving him a responsibility, and then very briefly corrects Elijah’s misconception that fueled his depression.  God didn’t treat it as sin.  He didn’t demand right away that Elijah grow up and get back to being His prophet. If God doesn’t treat depression as sin – then who are we to ever tell (or behave like) someone else who is facing depression that they just need to repent.

            There are thousands of Christians dealing with depression.  Many of them are trying desperately to hide it, because it is just not accepted in Christian circles. A pastor friend of mine shared that in one of his postings, the official above him demanded that he never share from the pulpit that he was depressed or dealing with any sin.  That is tragic!!  How can anyone find healing if you are too afraid to share what is in your life because “Christians are supposed to have it all together!”  

            King David who was called “a man after God’s own heart,” frequently expressed sentiments of depression within the Psalms!  He wasn’t trying to present an image of perfection or self-righteousness.  He knew his help would come from the Lord – but he knew he had to ask for that help. Listen to King David’s wise words from Psalm 51.  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” If God does not despise the brokenness that defines depression, why do we?

Let’s give people a safe place to be broken and find compassion, help, and healing!

Please leave me a comment to let me know if you would like to hear more about depression within Biblical Christianity.

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[1] Your Mental Health Matters:  Getting help for Depression, Panic Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder,  The Medicine Group Ltd., Mississauga, 1998, p. 2.

Demon of Self-Pity, Part 3

                Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Heb 12:1-3)

Today's post will complete our study of Hebrews 12:1-3. 

sitting at the right hand of the throne of God:   I know I don’t consider the impact of this enough.  The “throne of God” is easy to say, but incredibly difficult to picture.  Three men who saw the throne of God grasped for the words and images that could give us a mental glimpse of that throne and the One who sits there.

·        Ezekiel:

Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.  I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.  Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.  (Ez 1:26-28a)

·        Daniel

His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.  A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.  Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.... In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.  He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.  (Dan 7: 9b-10, 13-14)

·        John the Apostle

At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.  And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.  A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne....  From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.  Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing.  These are the seven spirits of God.  Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.  (Rev 4:2-3, 5-6)

I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me.  And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone ‘like a son of man,” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest.  His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire.  His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword.  His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.  Then he placed his right hand on me and said:  “Do not be afraid.  I am the First and the Last.  I am the Living One;  I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever!  And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”  (Rev 1:12-18)

All I can say in response to these passages is: 

                        Be still and know that He is God Almighty! (Ps 46:10)

            As we fix our eyes on Jesus we should be motivated to persevere.  “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart.”  When we give in to self-pity -- to the poor me syndrome--  we listen to more lies from the depths of Hell.  “Nobody understands how hard it is for me” -- “nobody understands my situation” -- “its easy for someone healthy to live the Christian life, but I have too many health problems and it is too hard” --  “nobody understands the burdens of my past” ....

 To stop listening to the lies of Hell you must fix your eyes on Jesus!

Jesus does understand you -- even better than you understand yourself!!  Jesus does care about your struggles!  At the cross, Jesus faced pain beyond anything you or I have ever faced –

• physical pain (his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness -- Isa 52:14);
• emotional pain (He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed him not.  -- Isa 53:3);
• and spiritual pain, as my sin and your sin separated Jesus from his Father for the first time in all eternity (At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” -- which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” -- Mk 15:33-34) 

We do not have to listen to the self-pitying lies of Satan’s demons!!  Jesus died, and then raised again so we could live victorious lives!   Let’s read Rev 19:11-16

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.  With justice he judges and makes war.  His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.  He has a name writen on him that no one knows but he himself.  He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.  The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen…. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Our King, (Ladies --our Handsome Prince) is dressed for battle and is ready to fight for His Beloved – YOU!  No demon will withstand the fury of God Almighty.  Jesus the King of kings and Lord of lords has already proved His love for you in His sacrificial death – as the Risen King of Heaven and Earth He has already won the victory over Satan and his demons! 

Focus on Jesus and the demons of self-pity will flee!

Thje Demon of Self-Pity, Part 2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Heb 12:1-3)

               

Here we continue with the analysis of this passage. The last post was very joyful. 

This one is heart wrenching, and even stomach wrenching.

·      endured the cross:  Jesus knew exactly the brutality and death that he was about to face, and still went through with it so that he could have the wedding described in the previous post.  The price he paid was infinitely more expensive than a diamond ring!! He went through that because He loves YOU!

      In our pristine society, I find it hard to really grasp the torture Jesus endured.  I encourage you to follow the link and read the medical description of the crucifixion written by C. Truman Davis, M.D., M.S., originally printed in Arizona Medicine, 1965.   The Passion of Christ from a Medical Point of View

      After reading the Biblical accounts and the medical account, we must conclude that there is no trial in our own lives that can come close to the physical, emotional, or spiritual suffering Jesus endured on the cross.  He went through that torture for you and me! Some of the trials we face are the result of our own sin or stupidity.  This was not the case for Jesus -- he endured the cross because of our sin, not his own!

·  scorning it's shame:      ”The cross was an instrument of ‘shame’ in both Roman (the standard proclamation of execution) and Jewish (cf. Deut 21:23; Josh 10:26-27) thought.”[1]  Crucifixion was reserved for the worst criminals.  No matter what their crime, Roman citizens could not be executed by crucifixion.  Jesus died the shameful death of the worst of sinners -- a death that our sin heaped upon him.  He scorned that shame and declared the victory of God Almighty over sin and death! We need to stop looking at our own problems and focus on Jesus!

    
“Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2Co 4:16-18)

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[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 1993, Inter Varsity Press, p. 678.

The Demon of Self-Pity, part 1

The following is an excerpt from a book I was working on a few years ago called Depression, Demons and Discipleship.  Over the next few posts I will provide the entire chapter entitled the Demon of Self-Pity.

         Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Heb 12:1-3)

               

The demons of self-pity hate this Scripture.  The overall key to overcoming self-pity is to take your eyes (emotional, spiritual, and perhaps even physical) off self.  We must “fix our eyes on Jesus” in order to maintain a healthy spiritual perspective.  What should we see when we focus on Jesus?

·        author and perfector of our faith: 

      “ The term archëgos, translated “author” (NASB, NIV) or “captain” (KJV), means “pioneer” (NRSV), “leader” (cf. TEV) or “champion.”  The term was used for both human and divine heroes, founders of schools or those who cut a path forward for their followers and whose exploits for humanity were rewarded by exaltation.”[1] 

Without Jesus we would have no faith.  Jesus is the source of our hope, our redemption, and our righteousness.  By living in relationship with Him and submitting to his leadership we will grow in our faith. Trials draw us closer to Him, so that we may experience intimacy with Him at deeper and deeper levels, perfecting our faith. In the deep places of pain that no human can share with us, Jesus comes to us with comfort, love, and ultimately even peace.  The greater the pain we face, the greater the comfort we can receive from our loving God.

·        for the joy set before him:

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.  He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’  He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!’…

One of the seven angels… came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.’  And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.  It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like jasper, clear as crystal. (Rev 21:2-5a, 9-11)

WOW!  This is the joy that was set before Jesus -- his wedding day!  This wedding will, of course, be a wedding unlike any in the history of mankind. We can only begin to imagine the splendor, brilliance and grandeur encompassing the wedding of the resurrected and glorious Jesus Christ to his bride, the church of the redeemed!  God has given us marriages and weddings so that we can have the minutest glimpse of the joy and celebration and magnificence that will permeate Jesus’ wedding day, and time eternal afterwards. Weddings bring many changes to the lives of the bride and groom.  Jesus’ wedding day will also mark a new beginning.  The dwelling of Jesus and his bride will be the New Jerusalem -- a time and place in which God will live together with man-- where sin and pain and tears and death no longer have a place!

                        We have the same joy set before us!!  If we belong to Jesus’ church, we are the bride!  The anticipation of your wedding day is overwhelming!  The joy, the excitement, the planning, the preparation, the showing off the engagement ring!  Are we looking to the joy set before us, or to the problems of today?  During my engagement, sometimes the planning and decision making became tedious and difficult, but I persevered through it for the joy set before me that one day very soon I would walk down that aisle to be united with the man of my dreams for life!  I would have the joy of being with him when I wake up in the morning and when I go to bed at night.  I would be able to share my joys and my sorrows with him.  We would be able to live out our dreams together.   Well, we are going through our engagement to Jesus.  Are we focused on all the difficult details of living life as a Christian, or are we anticipating that glorious day when we will be united with Christ in a new and even more intimate way?   Are we focused on the self denial (think about how many brides go on a diet in order to look her best on that special day), or are we focused on the groom?

If your own marriage has turned out to be less than anticipated (mine has ended), remember that our marriage to Christ will be perfect – no pain, no death.  He will wipe every tear from our eyes – and tears will never come again.  If thinking of your own marriage is part of the depression, think of being with Jesus – your King, your Saviour,  your Redeemer, your very best friend, and the Lover of your soul – forever in a place where pain and sin have no place.  It will completely eclipse the pain we face now.

                 

[1] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 1993, Inter Varsity Press, p. 654.

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Weariness

Anyone who follows this blog on a regular basis has probably noticed that I just haven’t been posting things as often as I once did.  I must confess I have become weary.  I deal with chronic fatigue and it can be a real struggle to manage the responsibilities in life – especially when I take on extra things.  I have had a couple of busy weeks.  I made decisions to take on things that I probably shouldn’t have done.  I certainly didn’t ask God for His opinion before I volunteered for some things at Christopher’s school. 

Well, the fatigue has been very evident.  My afternoon naps were not enough, or they were replaced with responsibilities that had been misplaced due to extra things in my schedule. At some point I started sleeping in.  I sacrificed my time in God’s Word for more shut-eye. 

Friday, in particular had been a very long and very active day as I went as a volunteer accompanying Christopher’s school band on a field trip. Saturday I spent most of the day in bed, trying to catch up on the much-needed rest.  At some point I realized I didn’t want to get out of bed, even though I had replenished myself physically.  I realized I was weary of soul.  I didn’t want to do anything.  I was one step away from depression. 

Sunday I even toyed with the idea of missing church.  Fortunately I knew that church was the best way to start dealing with the weariness.  The worship and fellowship helped, but more was needed.  I needed to revitalize my walk with God.

I got up Monday morning and had some good time with God.  I fasted breakfast and lunch.  I asked God to restore the joy of my salvation and to restore the passion in my relationship with Him.  I went to bed Monday night praying that I would not sleep in, but would get with God in the morning before the responsibilities started.  It worked.  Tuesday I was up at 5am spending time with God.  I took the dog on a prayer walk that was far more focused than so many other prayer walks of late. 

I had a productive day and used the significant time in the car to get back to memorizing Scripture, something I haven’t actively done in several years. I felt great in my relationship with God, but went to bed physically exhausted.  This morning I messed up again. I got up to feed the cats, then went back to bed.  I didn’t have a specific schedule, although I have a ton of things that need to get done.  5 hours later when I finally dragged myself out of bed, I felt no more rested. Once again, very close to depression, I sent out a prayer request.

 I decided to get into God’s Word and write a post relevant to where I am at.

Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

The Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

And his understanding no one can fathom.

He gives strength to the weary

And increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,

And young men stumble and fall;

But those who hope in the Lord

Will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles;

They will run and not grow weary,

They will walk and not be faint.

(Is 40:28-31)

God NEVER gets weary, and He provides the strength for people like me who do get weary!  All I have to do is hope in the Lord, and I will not grow weary nor faint!  Some translations use “wait” instead of “hope.”  Although Isaiah chapter 40 is a powerful and poetic description of God’s power and love, I don’t want to leave it there.  I try to make the Word practical. 

So what is the solution to my weariness?  God.  The Creator who never tires is the One who energizes me!  The God who calls out the stars by name, He is the One who gives me the ability to soar on wings like eagles. The New Testament provides more instruction on dealing with weariness.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Heb 12: 2-3).

I need to look to Jesus and His example as He went to the cross for me.  He didn’t even have the strength to carry His own cross, but He kept going!  Jesus could have called ten legions of angels to rescue Him and kill His enemies, but He didn’t because of His love for me and you!  He did not let weariness deter Him from His task. Jesus spent hours in the Garden praying for strength.  I need to look to Jesus’ example, and get on my knees before my Father, so that I do not grow weary and lose heart.  Jesus could have slept in the garden trying to get the physical energy for the task before Him. Instead, He chose to pray, knowing His strength comes not from sleep, but from His Father in heaven.

Sleep is not the solution to my weariness,

but rather time with God Almighty – the Giver of Life!

I hope you find this post helpful.  Sometimes we look at those whom God is using as “having it all together.”  I am not there.  Instead I want to share what God is teaching me as I face the many struggles of living for Him in spite of all my weaknesses and imperfections.