First Baptist Church Dec 26, 2021

3 million americans dealt with a major episode of depression at least once in the year of course this number has increased dramatically over the past year and a half it's no surprise there if you've never dealt with depression bill withers fans in there in here like ain't no sunshine when she's gone yeah darkness every day ain't no sunshine when she's gone and this house just ain't no home anytime she goes away it's a darkness of the soul it doesn't matter how good your day might have gone there's no description for it's nothing but oppression

This is maybe a musical form of depression nothing is bright or joyful everything is dark it's depressing no satisfaction it feels like love has gone out from you feels like hope has abandoned you and the author of this song he was a temple singer we know this if you look at let's see here down in verse four of chapter 42 he remembers leading them in the procession going to the house of God that's what brings him joy and so what's going on at this time is he's in the north and we know that because he's standing on mount in the land of jordan of hermann and from mount mizar there in verse five this author he is in exile he longs to be back in God's house that's where he wants to be and there are many saints of the Lord that we call shut-ins where that's one of their things when I talk to them they always mention how they just want to be in church again they want to be there and so many times we take for granted assembling together with believers they can't attend because of failing health and this is the cry of their heart this man he was he was in exile and he was among gentiles he these gentile people they worshipped other false gods you know we mentioned a few of them kimash molech and azeroth all of these different false gods and he goes back and forth through these two chapters between fair fear and despair in 11 times he asks the Lord all these different questions and this man he is struggling to find his footing and yet he finds himself sinking deeper and deeper and deeper into depression where are you God because I feel like you've forgotten me

I thought I was your child God if you were so good then why does this feel so bad if we look at verse one like let's let's just close our eyes for a moment he'd say pastor don't ask me close my eyes I'll go to sleep all right stay with me here okay but just close your eyes and visualize verse one okay as a deer pants for flowing streams so pants my soul for you oh God open your eyes now what were some of the things that maybe you visualized there what were some of the things how many of you all thought of a deer okay yeah please raise your hand all right that way I know that you're tracking with me okay all right some of you are like I'm still struggling way over tonight christmas it's hard how many of you thought of like a stream there with it okay how many of you thought of maybe green grass anybody think of some green grass cake bright blue skies anyone bright blue skies yeah some of us okay now if you were like me when I first read this that's what I'm thinking about right unfortunately it's the exact opposite that's going on here this deer it is panting for flowing water what that means is that it's about to die of dehydration so all right let's get a get rid of the water okay and let's put in a dry barren parched earth let's remove the grass there's none of that because it's dry and barren and parched now imagine a deer stumbling through the wilderness let's imagine that deer on the very verge of death from dehydration this is the image that this author is writing for you and I it is desperate

For water or else it will die but that is where this man is God I need you I need you God or else I will die the first step first help in overcoming depression is a longing for God it's a longing for God my soul thirsts for God for the living God I need you to touch my life I need you to call me back I want you God I want that intimacy I want that closeness I don't know what happened God but I am desperate for you right now and every saint of the Lord has gone through that amen even your pastor has gone through seasons like that you're not alone and feeling that way and so we think God can you just please just overwhelm me overcome me I need you I want you this is the desperate cry of the soul when a Christian is depressed are you thirsty do you thirst for God for the living God Jesus he said whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life this is the promise of the Lord what else does this author say here look at verse three he says my tears have been my food day and night while they say to me all the day long where is your God that's so personal isn't it to talk about what you're thinking and feeling in bed where you have just been weeping before the Lord what have you eaten today tears I've eaten tears thanks for asking didn't Jesus say I am the bread of life whoever comes to me shall not hunger this is another promise of the Lord and so why is it that oftentimes we as believers feel so thirsty and so hungry this worshiper of the Lord he is surrounded by

Unbelievers at this point in time where is your God they keep asking if God is real then why are you so down if God really is the omnipotent sovereign all-loving all-merciful creator of the universe why do you why are you acting this way this is still an argument that non-Christians ask if God is good and God is sovereign then why does evil exist in the world these are not new thoughts these are not life-changing thoughts people like to think that they are listen this man he was in exile who lived on mission for the Lord that's why they knew that he was a Christian or a believer in the true and living God how would these ungodly people know that he trusted the Lord he was a devout believer and devout believers often times wrestle with depression he says I remember I remember as I pour out my soul how I would go with the throng and lead them in the procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise a multitude keeping festival these were the good old days for this man and what a two-edged sword these memories can be memories they can they can oftentimes bring healing and oftentimes memories they can wound amen how does how does longing for God hear wound well it doesn't doesn't wound longing for God doesn't wound but wishing that we could go back to how things used to be can anyone ever had that thought man I wish that we could go back to how it was 20 30 years ago back when things were all good and right in the world some of us have thought that just for the youth and strength often times we think about

The good old days but the Lord is right where this man God he's the God of all creation he in this worship leader he can worship the Lord right here right where he's at right on this mountain right here in exile and he longs to return to how it used to be but culture it changes leaders change but God our amazing God our wonderful God he never changes and he is eternal memories can wound and this happens in hard seasons one day you're going to think of a memory that makes you happy and then a month later you're going to think about that same memory and it's going to make you sad it is in those moments that we have to preach the Gospel to ourselves what does the author say here hoping God for I shall again praise him my salvation and my God preach the Gospel to your own soul share the Gospel with yourself remind yourself of your daily need for Christ that's what we're called to do day in and day out and we never outgrow that this is the first of three stanzas in the song and the worship leader continues he says my soul is cast down within me therefore I remember you and the second help in overcoming depression is remembering God now this the tone of this song it changes from this dry parched barren desert in need of water to these raging waters and destruction you might not feel very dry but you might feel completely swamped and overwhelmed it's another way that we can get depressed sometimes that phrase when it says deep calls to deep what that means is that trouble oftentimes invites more trouble he's he has left the solid dry desert

And he's lost his footing in the deep waters of exile and he is drowning in sorrow and in pain and this should remind us of the peace of God that we talked about last week that is only available to us through faith alone in Jesus Christ the disciples they were being swamped by the waves on the sea of galilee but Christ brought peace to the storm and instead of returning to the good old days the worshiper he re he turns to God and he says by day the Lord commands his steadfast love over me look at verse eight by day the Lord commands his steadfast love and at night his song is with me a prayer to the God of my life I say to God my rock why have you forgotten me notice that he's still struggling with this depression he feels forgotten still and the first several uses usages of God in this passage the author he's been he has just referred to God in general using the hebrew word el which just is lowercase g God or even elohim which is more of a proper use for God but it's still not his personal name personal name for God is Yahweh the great I am the one who made the covenant with Abraham with Isaac and Jacob and it is right here at verse eight when he starts to talk about the Lord in his proper of verbiage using his personal name reminding that he is the great I am right there in the midst of exile in the midst of depression in the midst of anxiety in the midst of being overwhelmed that God still is sitting and thrown on the around the circle of the earth and he is sovereignly in control of all of those situations watching out for his people with a great magnificent merciful love for you

Because he loves you having the right view of God can help us put all these different things in the right perspective by reminding himself that God is God that he is the Lord that he is and he is here and he is there and he cares about your situation totally reshapes his thinking by reminding himself that God is in the very land that he is in it has helped him to understand that he does not have to just go back to the temple and lead a bunch of people in order to worship he can do it right then right there by himself because worship is more about intimacy with Christ than anything else when you realize that God is the mighty king of heaven and that he loves you and that he is guiding you even in the midst of depression look at this how he asked this question why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy let me rephrase it for us so that way we can kind of understand this a little bit better why am I grieving when evil comes my way so he's starting to get better he's starting to ask some questions why if God does love me and I don't like these situations but it's not driving me into despair it's not driving me to abandon hope but if there are these things that are coming my way I know that I can take these things to God doesn't the Bible tell us doesn't Jesus invite us to cast all of our burdens upon him because he cares for us you think Jesus wants to help you carry that burden of depression and being overwhelmed and anxious and scared and fearful and don't you think that God wants to help you with that and once again this worshiper he's he is there and he starts retracting he

Goes as with a deadly wound in my bones my adversaries taunt me while they say to me all the day long where is your God this is a tough season for this believer he's starting to see small victories and then he's suffering a major defeat and that's oftentimes how we feel in our walk where it's a couple of steps forward and a few steps back the cure and the psalmist comes back to this is to preach the Gospel to yourself he repeats it again what does he say verse 11 hope in God for I shall again praise him my salvation and my God and the second stanza ends the same way the first one did and it doesn't seem like we're that much closer to victory does it he's right back where he started but the third stanza it sets up in a brand new way instead of being filled with a dry parched land or destructive waters and waterfalls it really focuses around light and this cry of vindication it's totally different you got dying of thirst you got feeling overwhelmed and then vindicate me declare be innocent God prove that you are who you say you are God Deuteronomy 7 9 it says know therefore that the Lord your God is God the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments there will be opponents in your in your life if you live with the Gospel in mind like if you live for Jesus people are going to hate that and that's okay you will receive opposition and we can ask God vindicate me I am doing exactly what you called me to

Do vindicate me justify me before these men that you might be glorified in my life the worshiper he then does something here that helps us with our third help which is trusting God in order to get out of despair in the clutches of depression you must trust the Lord he is a rock of refuge he still struggles against depression mind you but notice verse 4 I will go to the altar this is chapter 43 verse 4 then I will go to the altar of God to my to God my exceeding joy think of just the radical transformation that just took place in this in this man's life to God my exceeding joy he's gone from I thirst for God to you're my rock have you forgotten me to your my exceeding joy hoping God for I shall again praise him my salvation and my God and he preaches the Gospel to himself again now there's three strategies from this that I want you to pull out and if you're taking notes write these downs one is that you need to be honest with God you got to be honest with God when you're pouring your heart out before the Lord you have to be honest with him he already knows what's going on in your heart and your mind anyways so share it and you can share it without even speaking it's better to have a heart and prayer than words without heart so share it let the deep troubles of your heart call out to God because God he can handle your pain he can handle your doubt he can handle your struggles and your shortcomings so come to God and be honest with him

Secondly listen to God he loves you he loves you so much he has given us everything that we need right here in his word and in addition to that he has given us his Holy Spirit which abides within us and so he's going to lead you through through his word he's going to lead you through circumstances by the power of his spirit he's going to allow other believers to give you wise and godly counsel you're not you're not intended to walk the Christian walk all by yourself you were called to live in community with one another when you're in the midst of suffering draw close to the Lord and remain there because it is only in there that you will find shelter from the storm as spurgeon once said great deeps of trial bring with them great deeps of promise so when the deep calls out from trouble remember that God's deep love also calls out to you as well so draw near to him and three you need to preach the Gospel to yourself you must you have to you have to preach the Gospel to yourself remind yourself daily remind myself daily cody of your daily need for the Gospel remind yourself of how you were once lost but now you were found by the love of Christ and that he called you out of death and into life and when the author I want y'all to notice this because this is just good stuff guys notice that when the author starts relying on his own wisdom in his own thoughts he begins going down the dark road but when he starts preaching to himself every single time when he preaches the Gospel to himself you start to see him finding joy because that's what the Gospel does the Gospel heals and the Gospel brings hope why are you downcast

O my soul and why are you at turmoil within me hoping God for I shall again praise him my salvation and my God notice something else here that this man he was upset at the beginning and he was depressed about losing the past and losing the good times but now he has come to a place of healing and why is that it's not because the circumstances have changed but because God is now his exceeding joy he's not just a refuge but he is salvation itself his focus isn't on the circumstances his circumstances haven't changed he's still in exile he's still surrounded by gentiles that are asking him where is your God but now he focuses on the God of his salvation who will always deliver head hand heart head I want you to know that it's normal for a Christian to struggle with depression and I think that I thank the Lord that we live in a time of tremendous science where people can receive the help they need with medicines and treatments I think the Lord for new there's a new counselor here at the lake that's a solid believer and if you need counseling we know of good resources that are available to you and we want to be helpful towards you and ministering to you in that way so just ask we'll get you there but remember that while those medical treatments and things those are good things that are given to us by the grace and mercy of God those cannot save you they do not bring salvation only God can save so I want you to seek the Lord and he will show himself to you and he will reveal his power and glory hand I want you to employ all three of these helps this week and see how it changes your

Life spend some time longing for God do you long for God do you thirst for God spend some time rediscovering what that means to long for him and desire closeness with him secondly remember God what has he done with for you and how has he proved his faithfulness to you over and over again and trust in God and do and believe that he will do what he said that he will do in heart I want you to believe that God will see you through the dark nights and bring about the brightest of days psalm chapter 30 verse 5 says weeping may last for the night but joy comes in the morning amen let's pray and so God we do thank you for this great day that you've given to us we thank you that you are God and that you can handle our struggles Lord we know about your deep and abiding love for us and we trust it God and we ask Lord that as we stand and we worship together that would be an overflow of our longing for you help us to remember what you've done help us to trust you God that even when we battle depression even feel doubts and fears and overwhelmed and dry Lord that we can still return to you the fount of living water and the bread of life our very peace and salvation God thank you for being all of those things and so much more we glorify you father in Jesus name amen let's stand and let's worship together [Music] how deep the father's love for us how vast beyond a measure that he should give his only son

To make a wretch's treasure how great the pain of searing lost the father turns his face away as wounds which are the chosen one bring many sons to glory [Music] behold the man upon a cross my sin upon his shoulders ashamed I hear my mocking voice call out among the scarface it was my sin that held him there until it was his dying breath has brought [Music] I know that it is [Music] I will not boast in anything no gifts no power no wisdom but I will boast in Jesus Christ and is [Music] why should I gain from his reward I cannot give an answer but this I know with all my heart his wounds have paid my ransom why should I gain from his reward I cannot give an answer but this I know with [Music] amen God is good amen y'all can have a seat I got a couple of announcements for you all real quick oh let's see here as you guys know this week is kind of touch and go with office hours because deborah and austin they are on a well-deserved vacation and we're thankful to the Lord for that thank you for allowing them to take that time and I would I would ask that y'all just pray for them pray for them to silence their phones and to get away I know for a fact that wednesday the office will be open barring any babies being born I would be I will be here all

Right but as soon as labor happens I'm gone okay let's see here church on wednesday we got to talk about that okay we need some track leaders we need Bible study leaders we need volunteers so if you want to help out with cal church on wednesday we want you to be there also we have our lottie moon christmas offering that is happening you can still give to that our church goal is eleven thousand dollars every penny that you give to that goes to equip missionaries with the Gospel that are there all around the world ministering to the lost also there will be a new members class that's going to be starting on november or november wow january 9th so in two weeks from today we're going to have our new members class if you are interested in being a member that's kind of a first step in the right direction and we would love to be able to have that have you involved in that it's four weeks and then it's it's back to community groups for the rest of you also I've had a lot of people ask me about core groups core groups are where men meet with men women meet with women once a week for one year and they get together for Scripture memory they get together for Bible study for prayer for accountability and all those different things that are happening core groups are going to be launching january 23rd and so you can sign up on the planning center app on the church center app and put your name down and you know we'll know who you are all that kind of stuff but that's how you can get plugged in with core groups we started out with four last year our first time doing it we ended with three and that's that's actually really

Good because most churches they have about half of their groups in so we're batting 75 percent which is great but now it's time to relaunch and everything like that is I'm excited let's see here also there's mission trip to oaxaca mexico informational meeting is going to be in here on january 16th during community groups so if you want to go to oaxaca mexico you need to be here for that meeting there will be a deposit that's due pretty soon church I love you so much and God is good he is faithful and he's working in our church and if you noticed this is the weekend or the sunday after christmas attendance is a little down and what I would ask you to do is be sure to contact those people that you know aren't here because we're a church family and people want to know that they're remiss amen do you like it when people contact you and say hey I missed you John don't call John although although you know I check on you sometimes all right so but contact someone say hey I don't know if you were here but I missed you and if you see someone that's around you that maybe you don't recognize be sure to tell them that you're glad they're here as well church I love you let's pray and so God we do thank you for your mercy and your grace thank you for all that you're doing in our church and in other churches in our community thank you for the Gospel thank you for calling us to walk with you and the hope that you give to us and Lord as many Christians struggle with depression we just pray that we would all rally around each other and rally around the cross help us to preach the Gospel to our own souls that we might live for your glory in Jesus name amen