GOD’S ALL-SUFFICIENT RESOURCES FOR DEALING WITH STRESS

Lesson 8

The Sufficiency of the Holy Spirit – Part 3

Peace and Joy, Not Depression

TEXT:  John 14:1-6, 16-19, 26-31; John 16:1-22; Gal 5:22-23

 I. INTRODUCTION  

A. Bro Sam Davison tells a story of a man he knew who had emphysema.  The man said that one day he was doing pretty well until the doctors told him he had emphysema.  Since that time, he began to feel awful and if they hadn’t told him he had it, he thought he would still be feeling all right.  He was saying this tongue in cheek but there is some truth in this.

B. Depression has always been a concern but lately it is everywhere and it seems to be getting bigger

C. People oftentimes don’t know they have a problem until someone puts it in their ear

1. Look at the amount of kids on Ritalin

2. TV commercials for all kinds of drugs for all kinds of problems.  Why?

3. Not to say that nobody has problems but why advertise drugs to regular people?  Why not just to doctors?

4. I wonder how many people on antidepressant drugs really need it and how many are just emulating symptoms they have seen on TV commercials.

II. THE DISCIPLES HAD RECEIVED SOME DEPRESSING NEWS – John 16:6  

A. Jesus had just informed his disciples that

1. One would betray Him, they will all be scattered, the world hated Him and would therefore hate them, and in a little while they would see Him no more

2. Such depressing information tends to what?  Depress people.  

B. Now Jesus knows they will experience depression and sorrow and He tells them of the antidote

1. He informs them that God has taken measures to counter depression in depressing times

2. Consider the disciples’ lot

a. They left all to follow Jesus

b. They loved Him and committed their lives to Him

c. They had not only seen His mighty power, but had done much in His name and power

d. They had believed His kingdom was coming and they could have an integral part

i. These men had mostly been fishermen before this

ii. Now their lives had deep meaning and was part of God’s bigger plan

e. Now He tells them He is going to die.  Depressing!

III. BUT JESUS USES TERMS OPPOSITE OF A STATE OF DEPRESSION  

A. John 14:25-27 Jesus speaks to them of peace

1. Vs. 27 – Now that is peace

2. Peace is never a characteristic of depression

a. If you ask a person who is depressed if he feels peace he will not say yes—a lack of peace will cause depression

3. Jesus offers us a peace different from the world’s peace

4. The peace of the world depends upon favorable circumstances:  good news; no conflict; no opposition

5. Jesus offers peace with no regard to circumstances  

B. Vs. 26 – How can there be such peace?

1. The Comforter; the Holy Spirit

2. To be saved is to have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you

a. To be filled with the Spirit is to have His control

b. The fruit of His control is peace

c. To allow Him to be in control is to allow Him to handle all situations without worry or depression because you know He will care for you  

C. John 16:19-24 Jesus speaks of joy

1. Joy is never a characteristic of depression

a. In fact, it’s quite the opposite

2. He Who is hated will die and depart; they who love Him will be hated and endangered

a. But remember what verse 20 says about our sorrow being turned to joy

b. Remember that this life is only temporary and our joy is eternal  

D. How can there be such joy?

1. The Holy Ghost

2. The fruit of a Spirit-filled life is joy

3. Jesus had it Heb 12:1-2

a. It’s a joy that is set in front of us

b. It’s a joy that we can hope for

c. It’s a joy that has carried countless Christians through persecution

d. It’s a joy that can maintain us and carry us through depressing times

IV. SHOULD A SPIRIT-FILLED BELIEVER BE DEPRESSED DUE TO DEPRESSING CIRCUMSTANCES?  

A. 2 Cor 4:8-18 Depressing circumstances did not depress Paul

1. A Spirit-filled believer will keep his eyes on the goal and remember the depressing circumstances of this world are temporal

2. Surrender to God and ask His help and strength  

B. Gal 5:22-23 The only answer for Paul’s strength in the “depressing” adversity is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in his life

1. A believer who fills his life with the things of God and seeks to be filled with the Holy Spirit will see these fruits

2. Having these fruits in your life will prevent depressing circumstances from taking hold of you

3. Paul was persecuted greatly but he was filled with the Holy Spirit and even wrote the book of Philippians from jail

V. CONCLUSION  

A. This life is filled with depressing circumstances

1. If we take our focus away from the fact that this life is temporal then we will end up letting circumstances control us

2. We must keep our focus on God and the eternal things and be filled with the Spirit of God