Jesus and Your Mental Health (1 Thessalonians 4:2-9)
Gary McManus, 09/03/2023Part of the Life With Jesus is Better series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
September 3, 2023 1 Thessalonians 4:2-9
Yes, Satan. . .again. But then we talk about us.
The word Satan is a Hebrew word that means
“accuser or adversary.” –YOUR adversary.
See 2 Corinthians 2:11. Keep the advantage in
our court, not Satan’s.
Who does Satan accuse? Those who belong to Jesus.
See Zechariah 3:1 and Revelation 12:10.
The first answer to these verbal attacks are: “Jesus”;
repentance, . . .then walk in the victory--Christ crucified.
Jesus faced Satan and Satan tried to sow doubt, “If. . .”
Satan did the same thing with Job.
The exorcists tell us; the demons try bullying and
sowing doubt.
In Acts 19:15, the demon rightfully declares superiority.
They had no answer to the demon’s question.
To claim Jesus’ victory is easier said than done.
--Satan accuses us to God by saying that we aren’t WORTH saving.
Is that behind Satan’s rebellion? Could be.
Pastor is not suggesting that Satan causes mental illness,
just that the words are all familiar: unworthy, fatally
flawed, still messed up.
Every addict who goes into recovery knows what it is to slip..
Everyone who works hard to get where they are
. . .we all fall down. . .but we have to get up again. . .Why?
Because Jesus came to make it possible for us to get up.
Jesus believes that you are worth saving.
Kevin Hines, Cracked Not Broken
Kevin Hines heard voices in his head:
“You are a horrible person. . . You have to die.”
Kevin Hines doesn’t start or end with faith.
Kevin Hines speaks Biblical truths:
you and I are here for a reason and there is hope. .
“my life is not mine to take. . .life is a gift.”
Ten mental health steps to be mentally healthy.
They are not the Ten Commandments.
However, the WAY Americans practice our faith does not
maintain mental health.
Take literally 1 Thessalonians 4:4:
body / “vessel” ;the whole includes the brain.
What if our churches ENCOURAGED folks
in living mentally healthy? Pastor believes DCC does.
American Christians, the first step toward mental health
is admitting that not everyone who comes through the church
door and not everyone who is saved is mentally healthy.
Illness is illness. Shaming people for it doesn’t work.
Alcohol is worse for women than men (National Geographic).
Shorting ourselves on sleep is harmful to our brains.
If Satan is behind any mental illnesses,
shouldn’t the church be even more compassionate?
(See Mark 5:15, Luke 8:35)
wishtv.com: According to a legislative study that was released
in 2023, 80% of the inmates in county jails suffer from mental
health and substance abuse issues, AND getting the help they
need is difficult. Last week two incidents in Indianapolis.
From December 2021 to December 2022, suicide number calls
answered increased by 48%, chats answered went up by 263%,
and texts answered went up by 1,445%.
“Gerasene demoniac”; not a demon but a man who HAD a
demon. Then, demon removed = in his right mind.
See Matthew 12:43: “put in order”
American Church, we’re not doing well: Pastor’s suicide,
Bible Professor suicide
Some churches have tried to remind the faithful
that our Lord says that you are still worth dying for.
“Jesus died on the cross with you on his mind.”
“When He Was On the Cross (I Was On His Mind)”
Gaither’s song written by Ronald Michael Payne:
“Though his eyes were on the crowd that day,
He looked ahead in time. And when
he was on the cross, You and I were on his mind.”
Saint Augustine: “God loves each of us as if there
were only one of us.” Or Billy Graham or “Love Song” Amen.
Pastor’s Sermon Sources
Saint Mark, D.E. Nineham, Mark, Lamar Williamson, Jr.
Exorcism: The Battle Against Satan and His Demons
Lampert, Fr. Vincent P.,Diary of an American Exorcist
Rossetti, Stephen J.
--Silence the Voice of the Accuser: Charles, J. E.
--Pastor Bob Millsaps, Fountain of Life Christian Center in Houston, Texas.
http://folcc.org/how-god-defeats-satans-accusations-the-accuser-of-the-brethren/
https://preventsatan.com/read-the-book-for-free/the-accuser-of-gods-faithful/
https://www.openbible.info/topics/devil_accuses Gina Simmons Schneider Ph.D. , Psychology Today
https://www.verywellmind.com/things-to-do-if-you-are-feeling-worthless-5087740
--Kendra Cherry, MSEd
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