To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Yesterday marked the death of Charles Spurgeon in church history, 1892. He is one of my heroes for his faithfulness to God in a generation that was struggling. He was a powerful preacher, and his influence was worldwide then, and now! I have in my office some of his original work as he sent his sermons around the world to help people stay faithful to God and His Word, the sermon manuscript in my office, Christ Precious To Believers. He understood the importance of unity and purity, and with courage and humility built the bride of Jesus!
What many people don’t know is that Spurgeon struggled with depression. Many reflect that it could have been tied to a horrible event in his ministry life (where some in his congregation lost their lives), others to his health, others his heart for people that ached for their holiness, but whatever caused it, it haunted him, and he fought to trust in God fully emotionally.
He is not the only one, in fact a recent poll showed that 1/3 of Canadians are struggling with their mental health. I think perhaps that is a little low, if we mean cognitive dissonance, or the inability to see things as they are. We live in a fallen world, that is filled with threats and pains, inconveniences and crisis. How do we stay healthy mentally in this kind of world? How do we see life
It is in fact the primary way we are taught to fight in this spiritual battle of the followers of Jesus in 2 Corinthians 10. The demonic realm loves to distract, the flesh to focus on self, and the world to delight in what is evil...may we be a people who live in light of God's Word, and submit all of our thoughts to Him!
So, if you are struggling in the midst of this broken world, how can you fight for the right thoughts, emotions, and actions. How can we show the beauty and reality of Jesus in the midst of a difficult season, in the midst of a fallen world?
While there is no clear three step process that will work for everyone, and there are sometimes medical issues that need help, for Christians there are principles that can help in the midst of dark times, and last Monday (in January) was what many see as the worst day for depression in the year…BLUE MONDAY.
So what are some principles that can help us to stay loyal to God in how we feel and think, joyful, in the midst of a broken world?
Here are three Principles:
- Be REAL:
Simply put, be honest…don’t deny what you are feeling, but be authentic, even if it is not how you think a Christian should feel. One of the key ways we can deal with reality is by acknowledging what we are feeling. Authenticity means being honest with yourself, and your situation and feelings!
Share those with someone you trust, so that you don’t go through this alone, and they can offer perspective. Don’t share broadly, but be aware, be honest, and be real with what you are feeling and thinking.
- Be RIGHT:
This is the taking captive of every thought and making it obedient to Jesus. It is identifying the lie that is causing you to feel sad, and applying God’s person and Word to it.
Often what we feel or think has removed the presence of God and the power of God from our situation and thus we need to forcefully set Him before us, and let the way He defines reality in His grace and power define our reality and bring us peace.
Reflect on Proverbs 3:5-6, and make sure to lean into His understandings and not your own!
The better we know and apply God’s Word to our lives, the more effective we can be at doing this in a healthy way.
This is the Psalm 42 preaching to the mirror, or the Bridges preaching the Gospel to ourselves every day. This is allowing others to speak into our lives so that we are not misled by the deceitfulness of sin. This is transformed thinking (Romans 12:1-2), or a life lived in the Word of God (Psalm 1).
It is making sure His reality defines ours, so that reality can define our feelings, not what is going on at a surface level. It is that willingness to Romans 12:1-2 things, and allow God’s Word to show us what is real, not our situation from an earthly perspective.
- Be Relational:
This is really the overarching and most important principle, and really the only way to true peace and joy, but the first two allow us to approach Him with confidence and bless others in selflessness.
This is the running to God in prayer of Philippians 4:4-6; the joy that is found in His presence (Psalm 16:8, 11), and the power to live a victorious life for His glory.
By being relational I mean living in intimacy with God, and with His people. I love what I heard in a sermon lately about what we should be passionate about, “Live life in His presence. My only goal is to cultivate a heart that lives in His presence”.
We do this best in community, so this relationship of intimacy with God, and priority of that relationship will yield a love for the local church and God's people.
Make sure your commitment to Jesus leads you to self-sacrificial love of others in the community He has led you to, and let your love for God and experience of His Gospel be more important than your work, or choice of team to cheer for, or political leanings (or anything else that is worldly).
If you take those three steps, it is a pathway to joy, peace, and missional fruitfulness in a broken world.
Yes, if we are honest, cognitive dissonance, and emotional fatigue are real, even in Christians, but we can and should do something about it, in the power of the Spirit, and peace of Christ, we can find victory over our emotions, even as we take captive every thought, and seek full obedience.
If you are still struggling, and overwhelmed, put these three simple steps in place, and call an elder, a medical doctor, and a friend…and don’t go through this alone!
Spurgeon struggled intensely with depression, and God used Him in amazing ways and continues in my own life.
Read a Spurgeon sermon (https://www.spurgeon.org/
I am thankful for you, and Spurgeon, because we can be found IN CHRIST!
Sunday is Coming
Title: Get A Life
Text: Ephesians 3:14-21
- Read and reflect on the text.
- Many think that this is the closest church to the Canadian church. Do you agree? Why or why not?
- How is this church to see Jesus?
- Why is our view of Jesus key to fighting against the worldliness of our situation?
- What disgusts Jesus in this church?
Sunday we will call for a commitment to live our lives for God’s glory, and to turn our backs on apathy towards Him.
You will be given a chance to do this in a public way, so please pray for a heart open to being aligned with Him and His Word, so that your life will be lived in a way that delights Jesus, not in a way that turns His stomach!
What do you think the Spirit is saying to CBC, and you, in this letter?
Honoured to serve you, because of His call,
Pastor Rob
Reminder
- Men’s Breakfast: Saturday @ 8:30 a.m.
- Prayer Night: Sunday @ 6:30 p.m.
- Ministry Opportunities
The Children’s Ministry is looking for volunteers to help in the discipleship of our CBC kids. We have openings in Nursery care, Preschool teachers and helpers, Grade School helpers, Welcome team and toy washing! Contact Robyn Dueck to learn how you can get involved in this important and fun ministry: robyn@