weekly sermon

12-9-07

Impressed or Depressed?

This past week we talked about the coming holiday, that of Christmas. This is the time of year that we find joy, we find family, we find friends, and we find giving. But what I really wanted to talk about is what some of us find that many of us are not even aware of or we just simply push it out of sight. I am talking here about the depressed.

For many of us this time of year that we call Christmas, is a time for love and giving. For many of us this time of year is a time that we find that we do not have enough money, we can not get gifts for our children, we have, not long ago, lost a loved one, we are away from our families, or maybe just simply separated. This is when we fall most vulnerable to the closing depression upon us.

The world has taken the 25th of December and turned it into a day that we feel pressured that we must beat each other to that great sale, purchase the best gift, and make sure that everyone has received exactly what they wanted for Christmas.

When we know that this month is approaching us, we feel that we are sucked into a keep up with the Jones's state, that we become depressed because we can not supply in the manner that we truly would like. Most of us are not depressed as much over the money, or lack thereof, as we are over the loneliness.

Loneliness pours over us in such a way that it can not be explained. We see the bustle in the street as shoppers pass by with their gifts, or children laughing, and we see that happiness they have, and miss ours terribly.

I have researched the Bible to discover that the words depressed nor depression are NOT in there in any verse anywhere. This does NOT mean that depression does not exist, because we all know that it does. We have all been depressed at one time or another. The depression that comes with this time of year seems to be a deeper depression than can be explained.

We that are happy during this season, tend to block out those that are depressed. We have the happiness that this season is all about and it puts blinders on us so that we can not see the lonely and depressed. This I find really sad. I find it sad any time of year, but find it more sad simply because there is a small moment we could take out of our time to get a hold of one person each and touch them in a way that would show them that depression, just like in the Bible, does not have to exist in their lives.

I am, in general, a very happy person, not only on Christmas, but every day of the year, so it is very hard for me to notice when someone is depressed, or even how to deal with those that are depressed. I have put myself in many depressed persons situations just so that I may be able to supply any words of wisdom, that I may have learned along the way, to them that they may be able to feel the comfort of a friend so that they can have at least one moment of happiness in a time they are so unhappy.

What I can tell you during this time of year is two things. First do NOT allow commercialized civilization to force you to believe that you must shop until you drop and spend your money on petty items that most will forget they received before the next Christmas has come to them. Secondly, we HAVE to remember the reason for this season. We must remember that the commercialized world has taken a day that was set aside to celebrate the birth of a child that would one day be crucified and raise again to become the saviour of man, His birthday, and turned it into a self centered time to get as much as you can by years end. We now need to take back this holiday and turn it back into the birthday of our Saviour. The day a child was born in Bethlehem to become the King and Saviour of our world. If we really keep in mind the first word in Christmas, "Christ", then we will be able to maintain our happiness, no matter the situation.

Instead of seeing this season as a time that we are alone or that we may not have the ability to give as we would like, we need to become impressed instead of depressed. Become impressed with the gift you have to give and the same gift you have to receive, the gift of love. Let us remember the most popular verse in the Bible when we think about gifts or love. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God gave the greatest gift He knew to give His children. That was the gift of His Son, and the gift of love, all in the same gift.

Look in 1 Peter 4:14, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy [are ye]; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." The word reproached means to blame or be blamed for, in this case. If we keep our minds on Christ then we are blamed for being Christians and Christ will show us happiness.

If you look back in the archives you will find a message from a while back that talks about keeping your mind set on Christ. If you keep your mind set on Christ as it says in 1 Peter, then you will find the happiness, no matter how rich, or poor, or even how lonely. This is the time of year to celebrate the birth of Christ, and NOT to try to out do each other giving gifts that we really do not need and most of us do not even deserve.

To truly break the chain of this depression, call up an old friend, or a member of the family you have not spoke to in a while, or even family that you are close to and look to the real reason for this season. The greatest gift we could give is the gift of an everlasting Father being that of Christ. The greatest gift we could ever receive was not wrapped in Christmas paper, but in swaddling clothes, and laid, not under a tree, but, in a manger.

Let us just think for a minute about the shepherds in the fields that were alone with their flocks, and how lonely they must have been out there all alone. But on that first Christmas night, it shows us how they acted when we look in Matthew 2:10, "When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." You see that even alone, they were excited. It shows here that they rejoiced when they saw the star. We need to focus solely on the fact that this season is NOT for our benefit but for the birth of a king, and not only a king, but THE King.

I pray that if you are slowly going into a state of depression or sadness, that you find someone close to you to spend this glorious time with, that you may feel the comfort of a friend, just as we do in our family. If you do not have anyone like this, then you can give me a call, and if nothing else, we can spend time on the phone, as friends, that you may at least feel the comfort of a friend.

Remember this time of year we are to give, but this is not the act of giving the gifts you find at the shops, but to give the gift of life, that you may also find that same happiness in the gift that you have given. Impress upon those you know or meet, that the gift from God, His Son, is the real reason we celebrate this season.

I know that to most of you this sounds like some kind of crazy talk, but I can guarantee that if you try this thinking for a short while, the Lord our God will show you that He is there for you and you will truly find the happiness that He so wants for you. I asked at the beginning of this message, impressed or depressed. I really wanted to know how many are depressed during this time of year, but I also wanted to know if you were impressed with your special gift of Christ. If you become impressed with your gift, then you will overcome being or becoming depressed.

I give you, on this happy holiday, the true gift of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Receive this gift in your heart and He will truly make you happy. If you know this small child that grew to become the great King, then you already have the greatest gift a Christmas can give. If you have not unwrapped this precious gift then all you need to do is say a simple pray with me.

Dear Lord, come into my life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.

If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.

 

With Love in Christ,

Pastor Stone