1210. We Need Christ and the Gospel

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. The school was founded in 1927. The evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Senior's intent was to make a school where Christ would be the center of everything, so he established daily chapel services today.

That tradition continues with fervent preaching from the University Chapel platform today on The Daily Platform were finishing a short series on developing a healthy mind today speaker is Dr. Pearson Johnson, a seminary professor at Bob Jones University.

Certainly, the tragedy of suicide has has touched many of our lives, we feel it deeply. We grieve continuously if you've been touched via suicide in your life certainly our prayers and our hearts are with you regularly and and I know that's a difficult struggle and in you most of all, no why we need to focus our attention affections on one another and encouragement of one another when it comes to the deep and dark struggles that many people face kisses were coming to the end of national suicide prevention month and certainly this is a month when mental health professionals, and advocates prevention organizer survivors allies and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. I'm very thankful and God's common grace he has is gifted and in some way led many people, believers and unbelievers alike to be involved in in this kind of effort to present prevent suicide to to advocate for those who are struggling to speak with them and certainly wanted just wanted to go without saying that if you're here struggling with suicidal thoughts and and and really it deeply in despair than their people around here that want to help you want to talk to you, as a matter fact I learned you look at toasted in Caracas were there but you should be able to look around.

Units can be the focus of what I want to challenge you with today. Look around you people are here to help you and you are here to help others as well, but there's certainly a life suicide prevention lifeline.

You can call anytime if you want to speak with someone that's one 802 73 talk topic of the question of how I approach the conversation with regards to suicide and and I went through a training section is about two months training. Living workspace that was called on how to help people starting with suicide II certainly thought I needed more equipment and doing that to be better prepared to do that by living works as a very simple model is going to be a couple things a couple ways to frame the discussion. If you have people in your life you notice there there there struggling with having a hard time sometimes our tendency can be to want to leave them to someone else to help, but real or tendency needs to be that exactly the opposite. I want to move toward someone that is struggling in and difficulty and I want to help them in and then here's one model the task model. It's it's a state it's just an acrostic is relatively simple T stands for for two in that it is you want to be aware of those who around you focus on on their needs. Notice when something is off about them when they're going off by themselves maybe isolating themselves from relationships they've had before.

Tune in the what's going on around you.

The second letter and that and that acrostic is asked you willing to ask questions that people ask questions like are you struggling with with suicidal thoughts. Are you thinking about harming yourself. Are you facing hopeless circumstances. What can I do that help you.

How can I help you get connected with someone ask questions in our tendency, again, is often to say if I talk about suicide of her ask a straightforward question like that. It might actually lead someone toward further action. In that way in statistics and proven that it's actually the opposite is true. Asking them talking about what someone is feeling and struggling with actually leads them to get help and opens up doors of communication. We need to be a part of that. Certainly in our community and in the can in our families as well. The third one is the third letter is asked state straightforwardly being willing to tell someone that thinking about suicide thing about harming themselves as is a serious matter is not something to be dismissed as something that that when you trusted me enough to let me know how your struggling. I take that seriously. I want to help you deal with that.

I want to move toward you, not away from you to walk alongside of you, and that the fourth thing you see is connected to others in and I'll get into this more than the rest of the message but but certainly we sometimes feel insufficient when I'm unqualified and inexperienced to deal with some of the more desperate things of life and yet that we can be a part of helping someone, especially when it comes to connecting them with resources people demand more training and experience in understanding and so connecting them to someone else doesn't mean leaving them alone with a means knowing alongside of them going with them to connect them to help.

I think that's a very helpful and and pretty simple model to think through and it might help you frame a discussion with Karen caught in the moment of of seeing someone who is really struggling another one another.

Campaigns don't spend a lot of time on his be the one to this is is again a secular campaigns but be the one to that as we always think someone else is going to provide out to see an accident on the side really think someone else might go to help them receive someone start with someone else might help them out, but we need to be the one to provide help on the front lines be the one to move toward the person in distress.

The person that is struggling and so must be committed to that kind of thinking I want to be the one to help. It's like it's like the man who fell among thieves who saw the religious leader go alongside of them and someone else that should help you along but who actually moved to help the Samaritan.

The Samaritan saw the man in front of them and said I'm doing. I can to help us in the way we should be thinking thinking and and one thing about this model. They had a couple things like keep them safe and and be there in follow-up to the other. The other model that is a person's presence is is very much a part of helping someone through time or they may be struggling and so you need to be present at the front end. During the process of getting help and also in follow-up and showing support to those who are are are seeking help and there's another campaign called C Sacher. This is a more social media campaign, but this is in dealing with mental health issues.

More generally, but but being willing to ask the questions that might put you in an awkward position but yet also put you in a place where you can help someone and there's a few examples. There questions you can ask people women talk for a while. How are you doing are you okay you don't seem like yourself lately. I'm here for you. I'm concerned about you would like to know what's up so I can I can help you in and so really seizing the opportunity to move toward someone again to ask questions and and to help help the these are these are great campaigns.

There are excellent resources for culture in general as far as they go. They motivate all of us to get involved in each other's lives in such a way that we notice when someone's not doing well. This kind of involvement also opens the door for us to admit that we're not doing well right if we can create a culture and I know we arty have this culture and in a sense, but if we can further cultivate a culture were willing to open up to one another that we will be willing to open up to someone else when we need help as well. It's okay to not be okay should be something that we think regularly. It's okay to struggle. It's okay to do. Sometimes face darkness and it's okay to sometimes face homelessness and we need to be able to share in trust one another enough to move into one another's lives to provide help that we need were thankful for what takes place in our culture is I think an aspect of God's common grace work are people still don't actually follow their own worldview. They follow the biblical they borrow from a biblical worldview and say it's good for us to be in community and move toward one another to how we as Christians, we have much more to offer than just awareness.

This awkwardness just presence.

We have more to offer because we have Jesus Christ we have the power of the Holy Spirit.

We have the word of God that is available and accessible for us to to move and help one another. Certainly we have Jesus Christ and we know we need and we have Christ in the Gospels and in such a blessing that when we face the deepest and darkest, most inspiring moments of life.

We know we have Christ as we saying in Christ alone. My hope is found in Christ alone.

My hope is ultimately found there is no other hope, but Jesus Christ, we have Christ we have the gospel in a world that is cursed and broken and ravaged by sin, both within us and outside of us.

We have a Savior whose atonement is sufficient to meet all of our needs. We have a God that showed his love toward us, even as he looked and saw that while we were yet sinners he sent his son Christ to die for us.

The experience of love we face from God in the moment we have in Christ are not dependent on are deserving of it. Quite the opposite. Their necessary because we needed desperately we need Christ. We need the gospel we have a Savior who has redeemed us and is redeeming us and through the experiences and ravages of sin in this culture and arts in this world and sometimes in our own lives.

We have a hope to look forward to final redemption. When Christ makes all things right aren't you looking forward to that time when all things are made right.

What we face now so because a list along for that day.

And yet God in his sovereign, Providence has caused us to remain where we are now in part of that reason is the mission is called us to to spread the gospel to people that have no hope in another part of that mission is to spread the word of God to those who are growing to be built up like Jesus Christ. We need Christ and the gospel. Another favorite song of mine is this one. Christ will hold me fast. I'm so thankful that my my hope is not dependent on my ability to grasp truths in the grass Christ. But it's dependent on his ability to hold me fast. This become an excellent song when I fear my faith will fail.

Christ will hold me fast when the tempter would prevail. He will hold me fast. What a blessing we have Jesus Christ, but we also need and we have the word in the spirit. We believe that the word of God has what we need for life and godliness that God's word provides hope and healing that God gives us in and gives to his people through his word were very thankful for that and I think the sufficiency of God's word is something we need to hold onto them believe but sometimes we talk about the sufficiency of God's word that's not really enough.

God's word is not just sufficient it's actually essential.

Imagine living life without God's revelation we would we would be lost would be wandering in darkness is as a lost and dying world is described groping about if perchance I might find God or setting up an altar to all the gods that we can make up in our minds and also one to an unknown God, who were not sure even exists, but we have God's word. It is essential to us and so were so thankful that we have the word in the spirit and as we move toward one another to help one another. When we encounter suffering and despair in our lives and in our relationship we have the power of God's word and the Holy Spirit in our fingertips.

Don't sell short the power of God's word to change our perspectives to change our lives to bring us through the darkest of moments and darkest of times. Second Corinthians 10 verses three through six says for though we walk in the flashing and that includes everything that we bear in the flesh, we do not wage battle. According to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare weapons of our warfare and I think that's primarily the sort of spirit. The word of God weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses or strongholds were destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God.

We take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I read that from the new American Standard and think that such a powerful verse to talk about the power of God's word to break down strongholds that are holding us in councils of despair fastened by iron bar bars in the prison of the Castle were so thankful that we have God's word. It is essential to us. You might think God is given us Christ's sufficient savories given us the word essential revelation that we have is that not enough. Can I go off in the woods and with just me and my Bible and God in and be okay no I God in his wisdom, has decided to add 1/3 element to what we really need and that is we need each other. We don't only need Christ. We don't only need the word in the spirit.

But we also need one another. We need one another, speaking the gospel, fighting alongside of us using the word in the spirit to do battle against the despair that we often face we need each other when it comes to the issues of suicidal thinking and in depression and despair and hopelessness. We often office a man we need to leave this leave this to the professionals and I'm very thankful again I will say unthankful and God's common grace of the gives us medical professionals, psychiatric professionals, people with experience in dealing with specific issues like like trauma people to give that have a lot of experience dealing with grief. I'm very thankful for people both believers and nonbelievers. The godliness common grace it has granted to us and our culture were very thankful for what God is done.

He's given us many good professionals and I think we do need to get help when we need it. I know when people come to my office at the theater struggling suddenly with depression, especially if things have changed want to get the medical testing want to get them to talk to a doctor and see what's going on in the body and that so often is related to what's going on in the emotions and the mind and the spirit is sore, so thankful for the things that are available and we always have to be willing to engage in walking the wisdom tightrope when it comes to seeking medical help again in another question I get very regularly. What about medications for depression and I say you need to walk in wisdom when it comes to things like medications don't throw them out, don't put all your hope in them walk the wisdom tightrope that comes from an article written by Michael and what he's a medical doctor, also a biblical counselor. He says we need to seek to relieve suffering whenever were able suffering itself is not the righteousness will set the recognizes believer sometimes God allows us to go through suffering to teach us and train us and purify us to see that there's two sides to that of the wisdom tightrope medications thankfully are result of God's common grace and should be used with thanksgiving. We should be so glad God has placed us in a modern day where we have so much available to us when it comes to medical help in so many forms so many medications so many procedures. I know I came down with cancer a few years ago and maybe a year before. That is when it started but but I know that when I went to the doctor.

I was like I'm I don't know what to think about getting diagnosed with cancer and he said if you have got diagnosed with this cancer just 20 years ago.

Your chance of survival would be very low. But now, the chance of survival is actually very high. So thankful for medical advances that allow me to have a good chance of survival. And I'm still here think the Lord too much suffering can be hazardous to our spiritual growth. We certainly don't want to beat down and despairing because of the suffering but but too little suffering can also be hazardous to our spiritual growth as part of this tightrope as well. God does teach us and train us through our suffering. Charles Spurgeon said faith without trial is like a diamond that is uncut is brilliance is never seen. And maybe for the quote as well that in the darkest of nights stars shine most brightly. I think those things are true and want to understand that sometimes we gotta make use of what God is provided in our culture, but don't put all your hope in that the put all of your hope and that is a good friend said one sometimes we need something to dry up the tears so that we can see more clearly how we should move forward by God's grace for thankful for that kind of wisdom were given professionals were given pastors and teachers. Certainly God has given us teachers. Ephesians 411 and 12 said they gave apostles and prophets, evangelist pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the maturing of the saints for the work of ministries pastors are called to watch over our souls, as those who must give an account, so we should get help from our pastors and teachers as well. God is also given us. People that are around us that surround us to play a vital role in our spiritual growth. I think it's true, the Romans Romans 15 says that is that we that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the week and not only please ourselves with every one of us Lisa's neighbor for his good edification for whatever was written before time was written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. We have hope through the Scriptures got a patience and consolation grant you to be like-minded toward one another, were given the Scriptures about Paul immediately says were brought together in one another kind of relationship within the local church that we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God in the father Lord Jesus Christ wherefore receive one another as Christ also receives us to the glory of God and at the end of Romans 15. He says the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit, and I myself am persuaded of your brother then you are full of goodness filled with all knowledge and able to admonish one another. Paul wanted to make the point that we are given the gospel of hope, given the spirit of the word that gives us all were given one another to infuse hope into one another's lives. Paul says you are full of goodness filled with all knowledge and able to help one another, save each one of you here today you are full of goodness you have the Holy Spirit within you are filled with knowledge and well thought you have the Scriptures before you, and you also are able to help you been equipped by the Holy Spirit to help. I believe everyone here has a spirit given specialty to use in helping those that are around you. Paul says in Ephesians 4 speak the truth in love, you may grow up into him in all things, which is that even Christ, from whom the whole body fitly joined together by and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part makes the increase of the body and the building up of itself in love.

No Holy Spirit is gifted every one of us to provide something that every other one of us needs to grow up to be like Jesus Christ. So as we face difficult circumstances. Reason as we face difficult relationships and and despairing thoughts understand the goddess place around you people that are gifted by his Holy Spirit to minister to you and you need to understand God is gifted you for ministry to those who are around you that need you. You have a spirit gifted specialty and I want to finish by give me just a simple model of how can you be involved in helping others. The first thing is helped by prayer is so often pressure occurs so often prayer. One of the major problems we face is worrying about what we can do for someone forgetting what God can do through us for someone but speed depending on God to make a difference in others lives and do that through prayer. The second thing is share share the gospel share what God is, is teaching you.

You are a fellow sojourner through this life. A fellow sufferer. Someone who is also experiencing difficulty. Who needs to grow, God teaches us in humility to minister to others and that's why I didn't give you a specific this is how you help someone then was suicidal thoughts share this verse in this verse. This verse in this verse because I think God most effectively ministers through us.

That is most effective ministry does not come from a set of proof texts that address our problems with a series of contacts in the course of our relationship God will use you in the midst of what he's dealing with you about to help those that are around you very specifically God and his sovereign Robinson goodness can arrange those kind of conversations I know we still feel insufficiently God is called us to minister to one another.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer who stood up against the Nazis in Germany said this the most experience psychological psychologist or observer of human nature knows infinitely less of the human heart than the simplest Christian who lives beneath the cross of Jesus Christ think those were words of wisdom. And finally, we want to care for one another, be prepared when you minister to others to have your love stretched to be prepared.

The people working through the depression and despair. They need people around them. They can trust and sometimes trust is built over the course of circumstances and time staying with people when they're hurting.

It takes time. It's difficult it might not be what we want to do with what God is called us to do in many circumstances connecting people to further help is part of walking alongside of them doesn't mean you have to provide all the help they need, but you can be a part of providing all of the help that they need. Following up with them as they receive help from others is vital showing that you are committed to them through the long haul of the struggles that they face. Remember, if you feel like you don't have the ability remember you're not there Savior Christ is the Savior, not the source of wisdom, the word of God as a source of wisdom. God says in his providence that you are necessary you are a fellow sufferer who is specifically gifted to minister to other people in the body of Christ is also thankful for your ministry or care for one another.

I'm thankful for all of you thankful for your commitment to helping us move and be a force that makes a difference in one another's lives in spray father, thank you for this time we can have God Holy Spirit. Thank you for gifting. Each of these believers that are in front of me for ministry one another.

Lord I pray that you would be near to those were broken hearted. Those who are distressed in spirit forgot.

I pray part of that nearness would be that you send us into their lives to help us to encourage one another as we struggle for fellow travelers in this broken world and got a friend to help us to be confused with hope to come to the gospel in spirit praising Jesus name, amen. You've been listening to a message preached by Dr. Pearson. Johnson the seminary professor at Bob Jones University. I'd like to thank you for listening to The Daily Platform. I hope that you enjoyed it. I hope it's been a blessing and encouragement to you. We are living in very unusual times. This is just such a crucial time for all of us as believers to walk closely with the Lord. So I hope you'll take the opportunity to follow us up on these other things that we have it be GU.edu and find out what it is that God is doing in through the ministry of Bob Jones University with our 2500 students who are coming here to get a biblical worldview and see life from God's lenses and then go out with an accredited first-class education in go out in the world and make an impact for Jesus Christ in the workplace is a go out and serve in local churches not only hear the United States, but our students are globally in demand.

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