Dealing with Depression | Part 1

The were fighting studios still asleep about her entire career with your evolves. You live refining. Today we continue the series with Adrian Rogers getting a handle on your emotions today are messages dealing with depression in our Scripture reference. We had a numbers chapter 11 also first Kings 19 you know we know this time of year. Many people are dealing with depression. You will think about that, but this is the time a year that people are just there.

Down and out and we want to reach out to minister to those needs was Adrian Rogers points out some of the greatest leaders carry of the church and in the Bible had bouts of depression if you were to study the Bible and see the record of some of God's greatest service you could find that they were at times given to depression and not only that true about those heroes that we know in the Bible. But if we study the history of the church will find out that some of the greatest leaders in the church from time to time new depression. Dr. Roger said one time that the two weapons of the serpent's fear and discouragement.

Think about and that's true. And so when the serpent strikes, depression sets in and I think we have to guard ourselves. I think we have to we have to know that going into it and be prepared to combat this, so true.

We know Adrian Rogers says that Moses had his eyes upon others. Elijah had his eyes upon himself.

Jonah had his eyes upon circumstances, but none of them had their eyes upon God, and you can easily fall into depression if you take your eyes off God, you can become perplexed, puzzled. You know, delusional, all those things. When we take our eyes off Jesus Christ and you becoming a Christian doesn't make us immune to depression. It's something that we all face at times.

Again, we always love hearing from our love were finding listeners and you have a comment today.

I do this as I discovered Pastor Rogers right after my dad passed away glory his passionate love for the Lord comforted me so much like my own father's love and passion for the Lord. I love the authority with which this man speaks, he knew who he was.

In Jesus, no doubt about that all is so beautiful right it is to go back to this thing of depression because this time of year as we mentioned at Christmas. It brings back memories of maybe having lost a loved one, or something that is depressing us are heavy maybe financially on you is your dealing with maybe a bout of depression as you ask God for his provision. Remember that he loves you and when you draw near to him, he will draw near to you. That's exactly right. Nothing to sometimes we look over our shoulders and we realize that that God is batting a thousand, which means he is always been faithful you we look back to the cross we look back to Calvary. He was faithful. Then guess what he will be faithful today. Jerry proclaiming the message of the cross is what love were finding is all about is this year winds down for 2021, you know, we can't think our friends enough for their prayers, their faithfulness, especially during this time of year where this is the time of year and I just want to thank our supporters, you know, we have people that have a vested interest in the gospel and number two, they have the capacity to really come along side of us and really move the needle for the kingdom and so this is our year and we just wanted pause for a moment and say thank you. Number one, number two, it may be the time to just raise the bar and be a part of this glorious ministry and what God is doing. We carry we want to challenge our love were finding community to give it this year's in to help share the gospel of Jesus Christ through the timeless messages of Adrian Rogers call your calendar year-end gift at 1877 love God or you can give online@lwf.org/radio. Once again, we thank you so much for your support.

What today's message dealing with depression. Part one hears Adrian Rogers. I will ask a question. Have you ever been depressed, silly question. Have you ever been depressed. Of course you have a matter fact, John W. Stop a great biblical expositor said that the Christians to see occupational hazards are depression and discouragement. Now when I talk about depression. What do I mean what is depression a psychologist has described depression this way, a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that leads to sadness.

I think that's a good definition, a person who is depressed has problems, real or imagined, and he doesn't seem to be able to get a handle them.

There's no help available and that's compounded by the fact that there doesn't seem to be any help on the horizon. It is helplessness plus hopelessness that leads to this deep despond and see this sadness. Now if you think perhaps that your immune to depression and that it could never happen to you. I want you to look at the Scripture that I've chosen for us today and you're going to be amazed as we read scripture together. First of all I want you to take your Bibles and turn to numbers chapter 11 and verse 15.

I want you to read a prayer of Moses in Numbers chapter 11 and verse 15 to be amazed when you see this prayer here is Moses speaking to the Lord, and he says and if thou deal thus with me kill me. I pray that that is God if this is the way you're going to treat me than just going to kill me kill me. I pray the out of hand.

If I have found favor in thy sight, and let me not see my red. She made here was a man of God who felt so wretched so miserable so low down so depressed, so discouraged that he said all God, if you really loved me you would kill me. It's amazing prayer mentoring first Kings chapter 19 if you will please first Kings chapter 19 I look with me in verse four. This is the prayer of another prophet. His name was Elijah. The Bible says but he himself wanted Day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree and he requested for himself. Are you ready for this, that he might die and he said it's enough now, Lord, that is, I've had had it.

Now, Lord, take away my life, for I am not better than my father, that is God. I've had it up to here ready to throw in the towel kill me if you really love me. I want you to turn to the book of Jonah and look with me and Jonah chapter 4 and verse three and you going to find the third of these amazing prayer. Jonah chapter 4 in verse three hears Jonah praying. Therefore, now, oh Lord, take, I beseech the my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.

Jonah says God stop this crazy world and let me, I pray, kill malice. These were good men. These were men who love God. These were eminently successful profits and if it can happen to their I have an idea that it just might happen to you. So let's look and see if we can at the reason for this despondency is fine. First of all the problems they face, and then we go to see the provision I found okay but first of all, what were the problems that they face. As I look at the context of each of these prayers I see in that context that each one of them face three major problems. The first problem was a physical problem. There was a physiological reason that these men prayed away. They prayed all three of them are you ready for this. All three of them were physically worn out.

They were worn to a frazzle as we say, colloquially, they were just slap dab worn out turn to numbers chapter 11. If you will please again and look at the prayer of Moses and let's go back and and look at that what preceded that prayer would ask God to take away his life while I'm in Numbers chapter 11. Let's go back to verse 11 and Moses said in the Lord wherefore has now afflicted by servant, and wherefore by not found favor in thy sight, that thou latest the burden of all this people upon me were the people that it was talking about. Well Moses was leading them from Egypt to Canaan. You talk about a big church. He had about 2 million members. They were all complaining a pastor the First Baptist Church in the wilderness and he says if I conceived all this people have I begotten them. The doctor send me carry them in my bosom as a nursing polymeric sucking child into the land with Southwest under my father's when should I have placed a given to all this people. They weep on to me saying/that we may eat now look in verse 14. Here's the key. I am not able to bear all this people alone because it is to have a for me.

Anybody can tell. Here was a man that was worn out he had unbelievable burden. Mary had a Little Lamb, it grew to be a sheet and then became a pastor and died from lack of sleep.

Now that's the way Moses was right here. I mean he just was worn out physically, said III can't bear I can't bear I can't meet any.

What about Elijah when he pray this prayer been doing without food for a long time. Secondly, he had been emotionally strong out we got to get to that in a moment. Thirdly, he had just finished a 30 mile cross-country run. Could you do that here was a man whose strength was gone.

He was worn out. He was physically debilitated. He was at a point of exhaustion when he said, Lord, I want you to take my life for me and what about Joan you talk about a fellow who had a whale house for jailhouse as I've said before, spend the night on the phone blubber mattress and then he had just preached a citywide revival crusade in a city about the size of Philadelphia. One of these other major cities almost a million people in ancient Nineveh and have a Holiday Inn or Hyatt Regency to stay and and have a automobile ride and then have a public address system and here was a man who, on top of all that the Bible says that a hot wind from the East blue upon them and the son mode upon him. He almost had a sunstroke, and it was at that time that he said oh God, please take away my life from me to see each of these men were physically worn out my friend. I want to tell you something when you are physically worn out you are getting to be a candidate for depression. Vince Lombardi, the great coach of the Green Bay Packers. By the way, every great coach is somewhat of a psychologist. Did you know that he knows more than football. He knows people. Vince Lombardi said fatigue makes cowards of us all, fatigue makes cowards of us all. So there was a physiological problem. They were physically worn out but also there was a psychological problem. They were emotionally wrought, physically worn out emotionally wrought up if you study these Scriptures again you find out. For example, that Moses had what we call a people problem. He had his eyes on other people.

He said I'm not able to bear all this people alone, and he says in Numbers 11 verse 11 and Moses said in the Lord wherefore has now afflicted by servant, and wherefore by not found favor in thy sight, that thou latest the burden of all this people upon there were people just coming at them coming out and coming at him and and they were always asking him for things that he couldn't provide. He was emotionally overloaded. They were weeping and they were saying Moses.

It is your fault and Moses now is just his emotional fuse is getting very very sure depression comes when we get emotionally overloaded and additional Scripture to go with this over next is chapter 18 beginning in verse 13 and it came to pass on the morrow that Moses stood to judge the people and the people stood by Moses from the morning until the evening and when Moses father-in-law saw all that he did to the people. That's very interesting. All that he did to the people you think is elevated for the people. Print.

All he did to the people. I will take something a preacher who was always available and worth much when he is available to do know that it was Moses from Canada can from debris to sunset standing there counseling counseling.

Counseling and Moses father-in-law saw all that he did to the people and said what is this thing I'll do is to the people why he says now myself alone and all the people stand by the from morning on the eve and then he said later on.

The thing that you do. Moses is not good.

Moses was emotionally drained. He was giving of himself and giving of himself and giving of himself. Every time you give of yourself, something goes out of you, even that woman touch the hem of the garment of Jesus Christ. The Bible say Jesus said virtue when out of me something when out of me on listen listen Moses.

Then he had a people problem. What kind of a psychological problem. Did Elijah have. He had a problem he was drinking from the intoxicating cup of self-pity read in first Kings chapter 19 verse four the Bible says but he himself wanted days journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a juniper tree and requested for himself just underscore that for himself that he might die and he said it is enough now, Lord, take away my life, I am not better than my father is a very interesting statement you can see now that he's taken his eyes off the Lord he's requesting something for himself. He says I know better than other people somehow. Evidently he had thought for a while that he was better than other people. I don't know told him he was better than his father must've been his mother, but somebody somebody had the IV in this man's head that he was better than other people, and somehow he was going to be immune from difficulty and persecution in all of this and here is not he's drinking from the intoxicating cup. I say of self pity. Now the reason that he is putting himself is that Jezebel is just made a promise to Jezebel was a wicked queen of Israel married to that wicked King Ahab and she just made a promise to the preacher. She said I want to make you a foot shorter. The top before the sun goes down, that is, I'm going to take your head from you.

I'm good magic and by the way, he's not the last creatures had a fit of depression over some longtime Jezebel either had areas out there Allison. I don't believe that he really wanted to die. I mean honestly folks Bible says he just ran a days journey from her and he really wanted. I'll have to do is sit still. Jezebel take care of them. Amen. I mean just feeling sorry for himself. I don't think any of these men literally actually wanted to die but he's wallowing in self-pity. Moses had a people problem. Elijah had a problem and old Jonah.

He had a problem he didn't like the way God was doing things when you read what Jonah said here Jonah chapter 4 universe in chapter 4 that he has God killing but you have to back up a little bit and see what he said before that God sent a mighty revival, but the Bible says in Jonah 4 verse one but it displeased Jonah exceedingly and he was very angry. That's his emotional problem that he's very angry and he prayed him to the Lord and said, I pray the Lord was not this my saying when I was yet in my country. Therefore, I fled before on to Tarshish, for I know that thou art a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness and repentance. The evil therefore now Lord take, I beseech thee my life. For me, for it is better for me to die than to live. I why was he angry he was angry because God sent revival light anyone got us in revival on the first place. He prophesied judgment revival came as reputation as an evangelist was ruined. But I'm being a little facetious. Mike Tyson he was a super patriot. He loved this room, and his feeling toward minimum you want to God just to wipe them out as a God.

I know the way you work by gold and preach judgment you sent revival that's a reason why you want to go to begin with, and here he is touting it got angry with God, something about depression. Depression comes many times when something we love and value very much is threatened. Taken from us. It may be a possession maybe a loved one, it may be some hope. But when that is threatened or taken from us and we have unresolved grief that depression turns to an a lot of bitter angry people who own the second stage of depression because that thing that they live in Florida has been threatened, and that's the way this profit was let me tell you something folks.

You can look at all three of these men and they prayed and asked God to take away their lives every one of them had a deep emotional, psychological problem Moses a people problem. Elijah A. Problem Jonah about problem. Moses had his eyes upon others, Elijah had his eyes upon himself. Jonah had his eyes upon circumstances, but none of them had their eyes upon God. They were emotionally wrought, emotionally wrought. Now I watch this. Not only were they physically worn out. Not only were they emotionally wrought, but it was at that time they became spiritually run down now the devil is a master strategist and the devil knows exactly when to move in on you and to attack you with a fit of despondency and to take your eyes from the Lord that these people all three of them at that particular time were in spiritual disrepair. I mean anybody who prays such a prayer as this, and I won't ask the question. First of all when I talk about people who were spiritually run down prophets of God. Middle God. Men love God are you listening.

The ministry is not immunity and God's servants. I don't care whether it be in the pew on the pulpit cannot break God's law with impunity. The law of gravity works for the saved and the lost like you step out about can you find it out.

I mean if you don't use the stairs don't break God's law of gravity does demonstrate your broken own what you say belongs make any difference there certain principles you transgress those principles. These were men of God make love to all right that's it.

I will ask you when when did they get in trouble. What I got in trouble spiritually when they were already in trouble, physically and psychologically. I want to understand is see the devil is a master strategist. As I've said, the kind of friend you have in the devil as if you were in quicksand a patch on the head.

He knows when you're in difficulty and that's when he moves in an interesting passage of Scripture over here in Deuteronomy chapter 25, or 17 God said to Moses, remember what Amalek did under the by the way, when you were come forth out of Egypt, how he met the by the way, and smoke behind most of the that is the ones who were the stragglers, even all that were feeble behind the when I was saying and weary. This satanically inspired anomie watch the people of Israel, and he said I'm not going to attack the strong I would've find those were faint. I'm going to find those who are we now focus when you are physically and emotionally wrung out and worn out and wrought up your sitting duck for Satan. He sees the advantage.

I watch not only that, but they were all coming off of a great emotional high. I mean really, they were all coming off of the great spiritual victory. Moses had just come through the miracles of the Exodus. I just come through the Red Sea, dry shop, you think a man like that. Be on the mountaintop forever with yet is down in the valley wanting to die when did Elijah pray and say God kill me. Chapter 19 what happened in chapter 18 the mountaintop revival mount caramel but I Jonah after citywide revival.

You never seen revival like that.

I never have I any city, repented sackcloth and ashes and right on the heels of that great emotional crisis in crescendo. Now he's down in the valley but I'm just trying to tell you phot there is a principal there is a time and why did they get all this trouble because they had taken their eyes off the Lord and put their eyes either own people own self upon circumstances and any Christian is going to get depressed when he does that and coming up tomorrow will hear part two of this important message. In the meantime maybe you have a prayer request that you'd like to share with us you know in love with finding it's one of a great honors to come alongside you, and pray with you and for you if you can go to our website homepage@lwf.org/radio and scroll down to find our prayer wall. There you will find the option to either submit a prayer request or pray for others. This resource is one of our favorite ways to keep the ministry and the community crane continued one another's knee. We can't wait to hear from you today. Thank you for studying in God's word with us if you'd like to start receiving daily devotions and links to the program sign-up for a daily heart emails LWF.org/rating join us tomorrow for the inclusion of dealing with depression on low word find