Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/Sermons/zz20021222.htm

JESUS CHRIST IN OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY
Part XIX: Overcoming Dreadful Depression By God's Word
(Isaiah 8:19-9:7 with Matthew 4:13-16)

Introduction: (To show the need . . . )

Though Christmas is culturally considered to be a happy time of the year, its expectations can be a subtle TRAP to where the failure to see our expectations of happiness MET can depress!

For several reasons, a number of people are finding THIS year a special challenge regarding their motivation to remain happy and not slide into fear and depression:

(1) Alan Alda, the star doctor, "Hawkeye" on the famous television series, "M*A*S*H*" has been running an ad lately for people who are suffering "post-9-11'-syndrome" problems. He said people just now may begin to start feeling a strange, suffocating kind of depression although the terrorist attacks occurred well over a year ago. The ad encourages people to call a certain number for help.

(2) Several believers in our Church have told me of the effects of our current economic crunch on the job market: not only are people in our communities experiencing layoffs, several of our own number are pressured with job furloughs or possible layoffs or forced early retirement scenarios! Others already in retirement are concerned about their financial welfare due to the stock market decline, or the difficult job market.

(3) Then there is the possibility of war with Iraq, and all that entails regarding the welfare of our servicemen. People not only in our nation, but in Europe and the Middle East are concerned about the possible effects of war and what it might do to unleash enhanced weaponry or additional terrorist attacks on others!

Because of terrorism, one believer I know has already moved to the far West to escape such attacks!



Fear, worry, depression -- is there an ADEQUATE and EFFECTIVE antidote for this need in the SPIRITUAL realm, and that ESPECIALLY in light of THIS year's Holiday Season special challenges?



(We turn to the sermon "Need" section . . . )



Need: "Especially since 9-11,' either I or a friend has faced a real struggle with depression! The economy, job status, possible war with Iraq and other similar matters don't help the problem much, either! Is there an EFFECTIVE way to SOLVE this need this Christmas?"
  1. The RISEN Jesus told His disciples on the road to Emmaus how He fulfilled Old Testament Messianic prophecies, Luke 24:25-27.
  2. As these men were edified by Christ's teaching of those passages (Luke 24:32), we also view them, following the list of prophecies named in the Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, s. v. "Messianic Prophecies."
  3. The Isaiah 8:19-9:7 prophecy and its Matthew 4:13-16 fulfillment regarding GALILEE being the place Messiah would START His ministry reveals God's work to OVERCOME our DEPRESSION:
    1. When Jesus moved from Nazareth to Capernaum near the borders of the ancient Jewish tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, Matthew wrote it fulfilled Isaiah 9:1-2, a prophecy of the people of a spiritually dark region seeing a great Light, Matthew 4:13-16.
    2. If we examine that Isaiah context, we learn from Isaiah 8:19-9:7 a wonderful ministry of the Messiah: He was sent to a region in Israel that suffered especially deep depression due to spiritual needs, and He came to dispel the gloom by His illuminating ministry (as follows):
      1. The Hebrews in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali in northern Israel in Old Testament times became especially insensitive to God's written WORD, Isaiah 8:20 with 8:18.
      2. Thus, to fill a vacuum for insight in living, these people turned for help from those who trafficked with demons, Isaiah 8:19.
      3. As a result, these Hebrews ordered their lives in spiritual darkness, and became upset and hurt in the process while not even coming to understand why they were so unfulfilled, Isaiah 8:21-22:
        1. As a result of turning from God's written Word to mediums, and in accord with the Mosaic Covenant (Deut. 28), the people sinned, and thus lacked God's agricultural blessing.
        2. Frustrated at their lack of food, they traveled throughout the land, fruitlessly looking for food, Isaiah 8:21a,b implied.
        3. Not finding food, the people became upset, Isaiah 8:21c.
        4. They then lashed out in anger against their king and God, blaming them for their lack of food, Isaiah 8:21d!
        5. Since such expressed frustration gained no results, the people tried looking anywhere else for help, even "down" to the "earth," or to subordinates, Isaiah 8:22a!
        6. When this search for answers and fulfillment totally failed, the people wasted away in anguished depression, Isaiah 8:22b!
      4. In GRACE, God promised to solve this need by sending a Great Light, a Person to Illuminate the Truth that the people of Zebulun and Naphtali had rejected in the written Word of God, Isa. 9:1-2.
      5. This PERSON was the Lord Jesus Christ Who would overcome the spiritual darkness, gloomy depression and anguish as follows:
        1. Opposite the destructive misguidance from evil spirits, Jesus, the Child born to Israel, would Himself be the Wonderful (supernatural) Counselor to give accurate, fulfilling guidance, Isaiah 9:6a; E. J. Young, Isaiah, volume I, p. 333-335.
        2. Opposite their hunger, Jesus, the Child born to Israel, would be the Mighty God to meet such needs, Ibid., p. 335-338; Isa. 9:6b
        3. Opposite their insecurity of not finding any adequate guidance, Jesus, the Child born to Israel, would be their Father of Eternity, Isaiah 9:6c; Ibid., Young, p. 338-339.
        4. Opposite their final anguish of hopelessness, Jesus, the Child born to Israel, would be their Prince, or Promise of coming rule of Peace, Isa. 9:6d. He would provide real hope of a future bliss in His coming KINGDOM; this reign is described briefly in Isaiah 9:7 with 9:6a; Ibid., Young, p. 339-340.
  4. In TODAY'S terms, these truths reveal God's work to overcome our OWN challenges of GLOOMY DEPRESSION (as follows):
    1. We first believe on Christ to be pronounced righteous by God and become a child of God in Christ Jesus, John 1:11-13; Romans 3:24.
    2. Then, since Jesus personifies God's written Word so the Bible is His "counsel" (cf. John 1:1, 14), we expose our minds and immerse our lifestyles in respectively heeding and applying written Scripture!
    3. In doing so, our insecurity is replaced by stability (Phil. 4:6-9), our unmet livelihood needs are met to the extent we can do God's will (Phil. 4:19), so we hope for and minister with motivation for Christ's reign in victory over anguished depression, Isa. 9:7; Rom. 12:1-8!
Lesson Application: Aside from PHYSICAL problems, deep and anguished depression is a SPIRITUALLY caused condition that rises from EXCHANGING the truth of God's Word for its LACK or ERROR! The solution is found by faith in Jesus Christ, Who produces a new HEART that SEEKS written Scripture's insight! Then, we apply that Word and find only edifying fulfillment!

Conclusion: (To illustrate the sermon lesson . . . )

 To illustrate this message of God's program over depression, I'd like to share what I saw at last Sunday's Caroling Ministry.

(1) When "Team I" led by Dave Slate arrived at the Charlie Noddin's home to carol, I heard Judy was especially moved by the presentation, and fought back tears of appreciation for this effort! It ministered to encourage the Noddins who bear the burden of physical illness with Christ's love from this body of believers at Nepaug.

(2) The larger "team" I had originally led to drive over to the County Motors bus parking lot turned out to be 25 to 30 people. So, instead of having the whole team sing just at Kellogg Road, I divided the group into two sections with Mike Brunetti taking half of the people to sing at Kellogg Road while I took the others to Lair Road.

Kristie Casciani who was in Mike's team reported the people who were home on Kellogg Road were very receptive and warm!

(3) As our "third team" walked toward Lair Road, we noticed some homes along South Road en route to the Lair Road intersection, so we stopped to sing at these homes. One such home houses a family that experienced a difficult tragedy a few years ago, and the family has needed encouragement ever since. As we sang there, the widow and a son came out, and we saw tears running down her face in appreciation!

Another home housed a young family, and the father was so moved by the presentation, he brought his children out and put them up on his truck's engine hood, and kept saying after the singing, "Awesome! That was just awesome! Awesome!"



Later, I realized how the Word of God has caused so many who SANG to have victory over depression in their OWN lives so that God's JOY could be produced in THEM to sing to OTHERS! We saw God's program for overcoming depression displayed last Sunday! (1) It starts by a personal expression of faith in Christ where we become sons of God. (2) Then, it continues with lives of dependence on the Word for victory over depressing challenges, and (3) bears fruit in a ministry such as caroling to give others a glimpse of this joyous victory over depression!