Of Ordinary Sheep and the Great Shepherd

We live in a time that is overloaded with information and advice. Many people strive to convince us to trust their product, service or treatment. There are books, DVDs and conferences aimed at telling us how to find wealth, health, peace, and happiness. And then there are the people who say:  “Trust me, I will take care of you, give me your vote or your money and your life will be wonderfully improved.

The best that people can offer isn’t much when life really ‘dumps on us’

I invite you to consider the one person who is thoroughly reliable. Our thoughts centre on the premise that trust in him brings us everything we need for a good life, now and for the future.  This study from the 23^rd psalm encourages us to move in our thinking from the physical world to outcomes of the spiritual world and the nation lead by Jesus. 

Shepherd is a term that was used for Kings in the middle east. David, the shepherd who became a King begins this wonderful psalm with thoughts from his own reality: Because the Lord is my shepherd I have everything I need. One of the benefits of our sheep to shepherd relationship with God is contentment: The Lord provides everything we need to have a life of the highest quality.––Needs are met.

Verse 2: He makes me lie down in green pastures––Great imagery for David the shepherd. It’s a wonderful feeling to eat well then rest contented and safe.

There are so many people who would love to have a good nights sleep knowing their needs have been met and will be met when they awake. 

David speaks from personal experience.  His life wasn’t easy particularly when the mad King Saul was chasing him to kill him.  Yet, he isn’t primarily talking about his physical needs being met. David has found something better: The needs of the inner person are met in relationship with God. Contentment comes from inside.

He leads me beside quiet water and restores my soul. There’s rest and there’s movement in our relationship with the Lord. It’s not easy to be refreshed in running water.  The picture of ‘quiet waters’ suggest places of rest and refreshment. The Lord leads us through all kinds of experiences but as we place our trust in him he provides soul refreshment.

There are times when we need more than refreshment to provide strength to carry on with life. At times things enter our lives that wound, weaken and frighten us. Our shepherd is expert at spiritual and emotional resuscitation––He revives our souls.

C.H. Spurgeon: ‘When the soul grows sorrowful he revives it; when it is sinful he sanctifies it; when it is weak he strengthens it. He has many ways to revive the soul: Prayer, His word, the Holy Spirit, hope, Christian community, experience. He does it!

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his names sake.

God has created us so that our lives should bring honour to him. He guides us along the paths of life that will glorify him and give us hope as we journey through life.

Paths of righteousness Is a picture of well worn trails that the shepherd knows and must walk along so the sheep will follow.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. David shows that even when the end of

our earthly life is near we can still move at a calm pace. Fear can be overcome by the knowledge that the Lord is with us to bring comfort and hope.  

The imagery of the shepherd’s rod is of a weapon to fight of wild animals. The staff is used to guide, correct and discipline the sheep.  

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

The picture here is of an inferior person sitting down to a great meal as the invited guest of a powerful person.  And all around them are enemies  who can’t do a thing.

It’s a picture of the peace God gives to his people within the hostilities of life.

We haven’t been hearing about the thoughts of a great poet. They are the words of David, once a shepherd then a King––He speaks about  his experience and hope in God.

Confidently he says:  Surely goodness and love will follow  me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

As he prepares to leave them Jesus comforts his followers with these words: In my Father’s house are many rooms…I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be also where I am… ˆ(John 14:2)

From C. H. Spurgeon:  “While I am here I will be a child at home with my God; the whole world will be his house to me; and when I ascend into the upper room I shall not change my company, nor even change the house; I shall only go to live in the upper story of the house of the Lord forever.”

Pride: The Obstacle to Good Relationships

(C S Lewis) ‘Pride is a fault that everyone has. We hate it when we see it in someone else.  And we have great trouble seeing it in ourselves’.

Not all pride is wrong. The apostle Paul was proud of the Corinthians progress in the faith. (2 Corinthians 7) And to Christians generally: We can take pride in ourselves without comparing ourselves with others. (Galatians 6:4) We can also have pride in Jesus and in people and in personal achievements.

In this discussion I want to focus on the pride that damages relationships with God and people and how to manage it.

The Old testament words for pride suggest a self important pride. The kind of pride that leads to an arrogant insensitivity towards God and people. The New testament words for pride suggest a self willed, stubborn, self-centred and big-headed pride.

In the proverbs pride is: an evil to be hated. It leads to disgrace, breeds quarrels, and goes before destruction. (8:13, 11:2,13:10,16:18,)

Let’s take a look at pride in action:  Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve’s first children. One was a farmer the other a grazier. Abel kept flocks, & Cain worked the soil. (Gen. 4:2)

 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.  The LORD looked with favour on Abel and his offering, (Genesis. 4:3-4)

Cain’s offering of fruits of the soil was as appropriate for a farmer as Abel’s firstborn of his flock was for a grazier. There was something more at play here: They are being tested.  ‘but on Cain and his offering God didn’t look with favour. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (5)  That’s where it went wrong for Cain. Cain didn’t ask God why his offering wasn’t acceptable. Pride took over and he became angry. Pride has a way of not listening, because it’s controlling, self-centred and self-protective.

Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast?  If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (6-7)  There’s more to this story. 

It seems Cain knew what was right. It also seems that he liked things to go his way.

Cain had, and we have the ability to overcome our pride: God didn’t give us a spirit of timidity, but of power, of love, and of self discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7) …We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ (2 Cor 10:5b)

 Pride is active in the breakdown of relationships: between God and people. The thing Cain wouldn’t accept is that God chooses what is right and suitable. Cain didn’t agree with this: he wanted to decide what was best for himself. His pride is now in control of him and this leads to terrible consequences: Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. (8) Why?

The thing about people is that we actually think we can hide things from God. ‘Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”  - Pride has to lie to protect––“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?’ (9-10)

In his arrogance (pride) Cain lied to God. He knew where his brother was, and he knew he was his brother’s keeper (protector).

(C S Lewis): ‘Pride leads to all moral failure: it’s the complete anti-God state of mind’.

Ever since the creation of people pride has been the main cause of misery in human relationships. It brings hostility: between people and between people and God.’

(Roger Miller) ‘It is my contention that pride is the main cause in the decline in the number of husbands and wives’  How right is that!

Pride brings hostility. We see this clearly with Cain: He was hostile towards God for not accepting his offering. And he was hostile towards his brother because God was pleased with him. As a consequence of his pride Cain lies to protect himself. The apostle John says Cain was ‘of the evil one (and) Abel was righteous’ (I John. 3:12)

As with Cain, pride can also prevent us from seeing our real self.  It can even cause us to see our moral weaknesses and failures as good things.

Pride comes out in dummy spits––demanding to be heard, considered, tolerated, never to be disagreed with or criticized, etc.

(John Piper): ‘ Boasting and self pity are both signs of pride’.

Boasting is the wrong result of pride to success. “I deserve admiration because I’ve achieved so much.” Cain’s expectation and assessment of himself.

Self-pity is the wrong result of pride to suffering. “I deserve admiration because I’ve suffered or sacrificed so much”  Self pity is often not seen as pride in action. The reason self-pity isn’t usually seen as pride is because it appears to be needy and we don’t know how to respond when we see it. So we usually say nothing.

 (C S Lewis) ‘Pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense. It even deceives us into believing we have a good relationship with God.  The truth is that while ever pride rules our mind we can never know God’.

Because the proud person is always demanding God does things their way. They, like  Cain, are, often disappointed with God when they don’t get what they want.

 

What is God’s solution to the problem of pride? One word covers it: Humility. God wants us to have a healthy pride.  He wants us to find pride in what he is doing in our lives and in the world. Only humility that keeps us responsive to the Lord and his Word will enable us to maintain that state of mind.

The way to managing pride is:  Turn from demanding that things work for us, learn to accept God’s ways and learn to depend on Jesus as the one complete human to follow through life.

‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves then, to God’  (James 4:6) If we practiced this more we would experience more of God’s grace and grow in closeness with God.

Reality: We will never be completely free of pride this side of heaven. Yet, with determination, it can be controlled. God said to Cain: ‘ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” (Genesis 4:7)

The Genesis story tells us Cain didn’t change (4:12) His pride lead him to live with unrepentant guilt for killing his brother. His work was continually frustrating and he became a fugitive and wanderer for the rest of his life.  That’s what pride can do to a life.

We finish with two mindsets: Two negative and one positive, both essential if we are to live the rich life Jesus offers us and grow as a citizen of his world––The Kingdom of God.

Negative mindset: ’Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,

Positive mindset: in humility consider others better than yourself. (Philippians. 2:3-4)  

As followers of Jesus we are to value and serve other people above ourselves. As we to put this into practical actions we place our pride as it should be––covered by humility.

There's Something about Easter

The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ

The Bible tells us Jesus Christ died on a wooden cross. It was on a Friday.

Two groups of people watched him die. One group was glad to see the end of him because he had disrupted their corrupted belief system. The other group was overcome with grief, disappointment and despair. Jesus was the one man they believed could lead them to freedom and a better life, now was dead. They were lost and afraid and leaderless.

But that was Friday, Sunday was still to come, then everything would change. On Sunday, those who were disappointed on Friday were filled with joy. And those who were joyful on Friday were confused and disappointed on Sunday.

What’s the meaning of the crucifixion of Jesus? 

It’s answered in the resurrection and assent ion of Jesus: Through Jesus, God will reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col  1:20)

We must have been enemies of God for him to make peace with us.

Four things to consider

1. The crucifixion of Jesus  wasn’t an accident––God was involved. According to Scripture it was:  determined by God's set knowledge and purpose.  (Acts 2:23)  (Isa 53:4, 6).…We consider him stricken by God, and afflicted……..the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.        

2. Peace with God can only be secured through trust in the crucified and risen Jesus. Peter said: Salvation is found in no one else. (Acts 4:12)

3. The Cross is God's way to reconcile people to himself. (Col 1:20)

To be reconciled to God means everything that keeps us away from relating to God has been removed. In the mystery of Jesus’ death on the cross all our past and future failures (sins) are forgiven.

The reconciling death of Jesus means people can become friends with God.

The tricky thing about this is that many people don’t see themselves as God’s enemies. However, when we take a look at how we live compared to God’s standards (Ten commandments) we see how far we are from God. Incidentally, we must have been enemies if we needed to be reconciled.

And because reconciliation brings peace with God we have also have peace within ourselves. God’s offer of reconciliation through Jesus is for everyone.

The cross is central to Christianity, without it there is no true Christianity

4.  How do people respond to the Cross?   Some people think the story of Jesus dying on a cross for them is just a strange myth.  Others see it as the message with the stamp of the authority of God. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)

For many people the Easter Bunny story makes more sense than the Easter Saviour story––it’s foolishness to them.  Then, there are those who say “I believe the Easter Saviour story”––it’s life changing power from God to them.

How should we respond to the message of the cross?  

1. We should respond intellectually and emotionally. The New Testament talks about being crucified with Jesus. Our relationship to him means we, in some way experience his death. We also experience his life now and forever.

2.  Our response to Jesus affects us physically––We begin to change.

We begin to deal properly with problems like futility, ignorance, loneliness, selfishness, sickness and death. And we  become involved in helping people who are affected by those problems.

The Easter story tells us that through the events of the cross Jesus did everything that’s needed for people to become friends with God. The death of Jesus is heaven’s invitation to every person to join God’s everlasting family.

The message of the cross is God  is simple: Our creator loves us and invites his straying children to come home,

The heavenly Father says “All's forgiven, come home, the kettles on the boil" 

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Changes People

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most investigated events in history.  It is also the greatest thing that has happened in the history of the world.  That is, if it is true.

The Christian church has existed for 2,000 years on the belief that Jesus is alive, accessible and present with every true Christian. To the Christian he is guide, counsellor, leader, Saviour and friend and God in human form.  You may have noticed something unusual about Jesus He’s invisible. Yet the invisibility of Jesus shouldn’t take away the reality of his existence and power.  We can’t see God the Father but we can certainly see what he has done and is doing.

We live at a time when the miracles of the Bible are questioned - where is the truth?

Can I be a Christian and not believe Jesus came back to life. Does it really matter?

Some people say the resurrection symbolises the hope for everyone to rise up and enjoy life if they want to. Is this what resurrection is: a symbol for achieving an enjoyable life?

The apostle Paul said these words:  "If Christ has not been raised, our faith is useless; we are still in our sins." (1 Corinthians 15:17) If Jesus isn’t alive our faith is nothing more than a wish and a fantasy.  And nothing spiritual has been achieved, we are still separated from God - this is what ‘still in our sins’ means.

Let’s consider five things about the resurrection of Jesus.  Before we do we need to establish the context: ‘The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.  “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”  “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.’  (Matthew 27: 62-66) Remember as we go through this that significant work was done to ensure Jesus stayed in the tomb.

Consider the words of Jesus

Jesus' told his enemies that  if they killed him (destroyed this temple) He would  come back to life three days after his death.  (Jn 2: 19, Mk 14:58, Mt 26:61) He spoke also of the "sign of Jonah"   - Jonah spent three days inside the fish then appeared and Jesus will spend three days in the heart of the earth then appear. (Mt 12: 39, 16:4)  Jesus places his credibility on coming back to life 3 days after his death.

The tomb was empty.  Let’s consider four possibilities.

1.  His enemies stole the body. Why would they? 

If they stole the body why didn’t they produce it to stop the spread of Christianity?

2.  His friends stole the body. Why would they risk their lives by proclaiming something they knew wasn’t true? How did they get past the soldiers?  It was normal for soldiers to face the death penalty for allowing prisoners to escape.

3.  Jesus wasn't dead. He was just unconscious when they laid him in the tomb.

He eventually woke up, pushed the stone aside, overcame the soldiers and convinced them not to tell anyone he had escaped. Not a bad effort for a man who had been severely flogged, spent six hours nailed to a cross and was speared through his heart.

4. God raised Jesus from the dead.  This is what Jesus said would happen and it's what the disciples and at least 500 other people said happened. (1 Cor 15)

Is it really a problem for the creator of the universe to bring someone back to life?

The disciples were changed. After Jesus died the disciples were lost and frightened - ‘On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” . (John 20:19

From that moment they changed from people who were afraid to people who were brave and confident witnesses to the resurrection before the very people they were afraid of.

Then there was this man:  After persecuting the Christians for 2 years, he was travelling along the dusty road to Damascus to arrest Christians, Saul of Tarsus met  Jesus and was changed.  He became Paul the apostle, the most successful proclaimer of the resurrection of Jesus to the non-Jewish world.

The explanation for the changed attitude of all these people was that they had seen Jesus alive. Most of these men eventually lost their lives telling people about Jesus.

Paul’s words,  ‘For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (1Corinthians. 15:3-8)

The first century church .

A month after Jesus appeared the disciples are waiting in Jerusalem to receive the Holy Spirit - as directed by Jesus - Something powerful happens to them.  Then they fearlessly tell people to repent & believe in Jesus. 3,000 people put there faith in Jesus in one day and are unashamedly publicly baptised.

The growing Christian communities throughout Asia in the first century also support the fact of the resurrection.  How long would people put up with persecution to follow a dead man?  Not only a dead man but one they knew had deceived them while he was alive?

The message of the church was that Jesus died to bring people to God.  And God brought him back to life making him both Lord and Saviour of all who receive him.

(Acts 17:31) ‘God has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

The NT witnesses don’t appear to be deceivers or weirdo’s

How do Peter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul measure up?  They don't write like gullible, easily deceived or deceiving men.  They were level-headed sceptics before and after the resurrection. Their personal commitment to what they believe is sensible and carefully stated. Their teachings are clear and don't look like the invention of unstable or dishonest men. The moral and spiritual standard of their work is high. And their lives come through in their writings as totally devoted to truth and the honour of God.

 Paul once hated Christians so much he wanted them all in jail. Something, or was it someone changed their thinking about Jesus.

The resurrection of Jesus is well established as a fact of history. It 's also a fact that Jesus is alive and active in our world now.  He didn’t come back from death and then vanish into the other world.  He is with us now in the presence of the Holy Spirit. 

Why is he still here? Jesus is still here to be accessible to every true Christian as guide, counsellor, leader, saviour, friend and God.

Let’s consider again the question we asked at the start of this discussion: Can I be a Christian and not believe Jesus came back to life. No I can’t! 

If you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him  from the dead, you will be saved.  As the Scripture says  “every one who believes in him will never be put to shame  (Romans 8: 10)

To be a Christian is to receive Jesus as Lord and to believe he was crucified for you and that God brought him back to life, and he is alive today within every true believer.

What does the resurrection of Jesus mean for us today?

The New Testament speaks often about resurrection power. This is something coming from God to equip and empower every Christian to live new life in relationship with God.

‘If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from  the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you.’ (Romans 8:11)
Because Jesus lives we too, who have received him as a Lord will live also.  Now and forever more.    

There's Something About Coming back to Life

Easter tells a story about a man who lived 2000 years ago. He was crucified on a cruel Roman cross, pronounced dead then buried in a cave. It was Friday. His name is Jesus, and his story didn’t end with his death. People who knew him said he came back to life after three days in the tomb.

The first person to see Jesus alive was Mary Magdalene. Mary was a follower of Jesus––He had released her from seven demons who had tormented her for years. Mary saw him in the garden near his tomb. It was early Sunday morning. Mary talked with him, then went straight to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’

On Sunday evening the disciples were in a room together. The doors were locked because they were afraid the people who had arrested Jesus might come after them.

While they were in the room Jesus appeared out of thin air and stood among them. He spoke, saying: ‘Peace be with you.’ Then, he showed them his hands where the nails went in, and his side where a soldier had speared him.

They were overjoyed at having seen Jesus who was dead and now alive.

One of the disciples, Thomas wasn’t in the room, and when the others told him they had seen Jesus he wouldn’t believe them: ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.’

On the same day two of Jesus’ followers were heading home to Emmaus (7km). They were disillusioned and sad because the man they believed would set them free from Roman rule was dead.  But as they walked Jesus appeared. He walked with them and explained from the Scriptures everything God had planned concerning him.

Jesus traveled with them to the next town, and had a meal with them, then he disappeared. No longer sad and disillusioned, the two men joyfully hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the disciples they ‘had seen the Lord.’

A week after Jesus was first seen alive, the disciples were in the same house where Jesus had appeared. Thomas was with them and the doors were locked.  Jesus appeared and spoke directly to Thomas, he said: ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ He did, and he said to Jesus: ‘My Lord and my God.’

It was said: Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at the one time––that’s a lot of witnesses. Jesus appeared to many people on and off over forty days, then disappeared into heaven. Three years after all  this a man named Paul was on his way to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus–– Paul hated Jesus and those who followed him.  Suddenly, on the road Jesus appeared to him and he too became a follower. Twenty five years later Paul was still telling people Jesus is alive.

Why did Jesus appear?

Jesus appeared to declare that his work of opening the way to righteousness was finished. By the way, he also proved he had complete power over death.

Paul, once violently against Jesus  wrote: ‘Jesus was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.’ (Rom 4:25)

The appearance of Jesus shows that God accepted his death as the appropriate punishment for our sins: God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)  The mystery of Jesus is that in his death he was our substitute.

Scripture says: Jesus ‘was raised to life for our justification’.

Justification means to pronounce righteous or acquit. In our case it means to be made right with God. Forgiven and restored to fellowship.

We can truly become God’s friends––Jesus is alive to guarantee this.

People today talk about the death and resurrection of Jesus as myth or symbols of hope. They’re much more than that.  Through his death and resurrection Jesus brought true hope to a hopeless world. He opened the way to friendship with God and new and eternal life.

His word to our cynical world is the same as it was to Thomas: ‘Stop doubting and believe.’ The right response to Jesus is for each of us is to say to him: ‘My Lord and my God.’ Then live in his new and everlasting world.

How to overcome spiritual depression

Psalm 42 How to Overcome Spiritual Depression.

There are two forms of depression that work to prevent us from functioning as spiritually and morally healthy persons: Spiritual and psychological. It’s sometimes difficult to determine which form of depression has come upon us. Spiritual depression can cause psychological depression but not always. And psychological depression can cause spiritual depression but not always. These notes are about Spiritual depression.

Psychological depression can come from a number of causes. This includes Bio-chemical, spiritual––sinful responses to the pressures of life. Hereditary, or genetic. Depression can also come from demonic oppression (Satanic attack through the mind) And demonic possession (demon enters a person)––Much rarer than some people believe these days.

On the other hand: the cause of spiritual depression is to do with our relationship with God; as we face the issues of fear, faith, hope and life itself.

Psalm 42 reveals the fight against spiritual depression and how to overcome it.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (1-2)
The writer pursues a refreshed relationship with God––by talking to himself. We may not identify (or admit) it but there is a thirst for fellowship with God in every person.

In these first two verses we see desperation and deep longing: “my soul pants for you”
This is spiritual exhaustion. Notice that the writer doesn’t ask: “Where is God?” his problem’s with time, not place. He doesn’t believe God is hiding from him: When can I go and meet with God? He wants to make an appointment for a consultation. He’s got it right. The source of spiritual and moral health is time with God. Augustine said: “Our souls are restless until they find their rest in thee”

My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. (3-4)

This man has stopped meeting with other believers. Mark this: Spiritual depression can take us away from the very people who can build us up.
Do you ever find yourself reluctant to pray, read and discuss the Bible, serve God or be with other Christians? If you are depressed or away from God and his people do you ever ask yourself why you choose to live that way?

Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones: “At times of spiritual depression we should talk positively to ourselves” This is what the psalmist did: He went inside himself to identify the cause of his unhappiness and to urge himself to face his spiritual battle God’s way.

The question: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
The answer: Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savoir and my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. (5-6)

The cause of spiritual depression is misplaced hope:
Hope here isn’t wishing: “I hope things will work out.” Biblical hope is an expectation that God will fulfil his promises (all of them). For New testament believers hope is following and trusting Jesus (Our living hope Titus 2)

The writer lost sight of true hope by placing too much hope in himself and other people. That’s why he corrects himself saying: Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God. (5b-6)

There are times when true or perceived troubles or fears overwhelm us. It seems even God is out to do us harm: We are drowning in spiritual depression. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. (7)

At times like these we feel weighed down (depressed) by the struggle between faith and feelings. The question to consider is: Am I striving to live my way or God’s way?
Tough talking faith is on show here: By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. (8) He’s not letting go!

John White: “God loves you and plans for your highest good..but his love will bring you pain as intense as your joy. For the Christian life is a fight”
The psalmist says: “I will believe God is directing his love towards me even though circumstances tempt me to doubt it”.

Here’s the sort of relationship God wants with us: I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?" My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes (or thoughts) taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" (9-10) Now that’s an honest, courageous and robust relationship with God.

Reality: There are people and there are thoughts that tempt us to doubt God’s goodness towards us. These are real threats to our faith and well-being.

What do we do at such times? We consider the circumstances, then we remember God’s promises. And we ask questions. Then we advise ourselves. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savoir and my God. (11)

The writer hears the mocking voices of those who challenge him. And he identifies confusing thoughts that cause him to ask, what is God doing to me? Then he challenges himself with truth. His hope was moving to himself when it should have been to God. The result of this was spiritual depression (down cast)

When our hope is misdirected our soul is disturbed: Why so disturbed within me? The way to overcome spiritual depression is to talk to God and ourselves until our hope rests only on God: for I will yet praise him––the sun will shine again.

Some of us give in too easily in the quest to know God. Yet our knowledge of God’s word tell us God loves us––so much that he sent his Son who gladly gave up his life for us on the cross. (John 3:16) Jesus did this for us, so that we could be God’s friends.

We shouldn’t be afraid to question and talk to God in absolute truth. God welcomes the question: “When can I meet with God?” He invites us to ask: “Why is this happening to me?” These are questions God will answer.
So when we ask: Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? The answer and the remedy is the same as the one given to the psalmist long ago: Put your hope in God, The light will shine once again: for I will yet praise him, my Savoir and my God. (11) It all begins when we identify that our deep thirst of soul is a thirst for relationship with the living God.