Sermon Central
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Beauty For Ashes, Joy For Mourning, Praise For Heaviness.
Contributed by Thomas Dibble on May 22, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: God will console those who mourn in Zion. There is enough of God to comfort all who mourn around the world. But his word specifically states those in Zion or those in God’s house are going to get God’s attention.
ÿ Heaviness
ÿ Inner hurts
ÿ Depression
ÿ Despair
ÿ Dejection
ÿ Hopelessness
ÿ Broken hearted
ÿ Suicidal tendencies
ÿ Self pity
ÿ Excessive mourning
ÿ Insomnia
ÿ Sorrow or grief
The root of this spirit of heaviness can at times come from:
ÿ A lack of praise
ÿ Bitterness
ÿ Being unthankful
The spirit of heaviness will attempt to steal your JOY.
Without joy we have the tendency to move into self pity.
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
The devil wants you to feel sorry for yourself. He wants you to feel alone and depressed. But don’t let him lead you down that pathway. For the Bible says:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Listen to what else the bible says:
1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.
2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
3 For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee.
4 Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life.
5 Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west;
6 I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;
7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
This is talking about a God that is concerned about you. He cares for you.
In 1983 the National Institute of Mental Health said 1 in 5 have significant symptoms of depression.
Depression affects Christians because they get so wrapped up with the process of living day to day that they begin to lose interest in and neglect God’s word. They feel the weight of serving God because the joy is gone and they are left with the dull mechanics of Christian living.
Like a dark tunnel with no exit
King Saul was affected by depression. He called for David to play and sing the anointed Psalms.
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
You can give in to depression or resist it.
Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Don’t give in to the spirit of heaviness – but use the word of God like a sword.
ÿ When the devil says your no good remind him of 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
