BROKEN: HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS, DEPRESSED AND DISCOURAGED
HUMOUR INTRO: When our lawn mower broke and wouldn't run, my wife kept hinting to me that I should get it fixed. But, somehow I always had something else to take care of first, the car, playing golf - always something more important to me. Finally she thought of a clever way to make her point. When I arrived home one day, I found her seated in the tall grass, busily snipping away with a tiny pair of scissors. I watched silently for a short time and then went into the house. I was gone only a minute, and when I came out again I handed her a toothbrush. I said, "When you finish cutting the grass, you might as well sweep the driveway." The doctors say I will walk again, but I will always have a limp.
OPENING TEXT:
“I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works. I think about what you have done. I reach out for you. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Come quickly, LORD, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don't turn away from me, or I will die.” (Psalm 143:4-7, NLT).
• How many of you can relate to those words?
• “Losing all hope, paralyzed with fear, my depression deepens, I will die.”
• These words were penned by King David, a man after God’s own heart!
• Job: “And now my heart is broken. Depression haunts my days.” (Job 30:16, NLT).
• Do you feel like you’ve lost all hope, fearful, depressed, and thoughts of dying?
• Do you rarely laugh anymore, feel exhausted, and lack joy in your life?
• There is hope for those who may be struggling with depression.
• If you feel this message isn’t for you: Even though you might not be struggling with depression or discouragement, you absolutely know someone who is!
PERSONAL TESTIMONY:
New Christian, faith church = “I’m on top and rising.” No doubts, fears, troubles or problems. But as I continued in my walk of faith, I experienced rejection, hurts and pain. I had bad days, dark days, depressing days, days I wanted to give up. How could that happen?
STRUGGLING SAINTS IN THE BIBLE:
God doesn’t candy-coat the stories and characters of the Bible.
They were real men and women with real problems and struggles. Look at these heroes of faith who struggled with depression: Abraham (Gen. 15); Jonah (Jonah 4); Job (Book of Job); Elijah (1 Kings 19); King Saul (I Sam. 16:14-23); Jeremiah (Jer. & Lam.); David (Psalms).
WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION? Abuse, conflict, death or loss, genetics, major events (life change), mental illness, substance abuse, being bullied, guilt over sin. Many different reasons!
THE STORY OF A WOMAN WHO WAS BROKEN:
“But Jesus needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.” (John 4:4-6, NKJV).
• Why did Jesus have to go through Samaria?
• He knew that there was a woman there who was broken.
• This woman had tried to find satisfaction in relationships with men – she had been married five times, and was living with a sixth guy – but she was still empty inside.
1. JESUS OFFERS TO US THE WATER OF LIFE:
“7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, "How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." 11 The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?" 13 Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (John 4:7-14).
• Was Jesus talking about well water? No! He was talking about something much deeper!
• He said: There is water you can drink that will never quench your thirst.
• In other words, there are things in life you can go to for fulfillment, but they will never satisfy: drugs, alcohol, relationships, sexuality (pornography), money, power, fame.
• But the water Jesus offers will quench your thirst: it is a fountain of living water!
2. WE HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE:
“15 “The woman said to Him, "Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw." 16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here." 17 The woman answered and said, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You have well said, 'I have no husband,' 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly." 19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” (John 4:15-19).
• Before we will hunger and thirst after God, we must come to a place where we realize that the other things in our lives haven’t really satisfied!
• This woman was broken but she had to make a choice: to ask Jesus for the water of life.
3. THE RESULT OF COMING TO JESUS:
“The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, "Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?" Then they went out of the city and came to Him.” (John 4:28-30).
• You will leave your water pot - the old sources where you used to find satisfaction.
• God wants to take us on a journey: from being hurt, to be healed, to helping others.
APPLICATION – WHAT TO DO WHEN DEPRESSED OR DISCOURAGED:
a) COME TO JESUS IN PRAYER:
“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7:37-39).
• Jesus wants to heal the broken hearted, and comfort those who mourn! (Isaiah 61:1-2).
• Remember – no matter what you’re going through: You are loved! By Jesus, and me!
b) CONNECT WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS.
“Share each other's troubles and problems, and in this way obey the law of Christ.” (Gal. 6:2, NLT).
• The church is a family, and we need to reach out to and help one another!
c) NEVER GIVE UP!
“Therefore, I will look to the Lord. I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice against me, O my enemy, when I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light unto me.” (Micah 7:7-8).
• Remember: “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!” (Yogi Bearra)
THE BIG IDEA: If you’re struggling with depression or discouragement, come to Jesus in prayer, connect with other Christians, and never give up.
SONG: Broken and Beautiful by Mark Schultz
There's a business man, there's a widowed wife, There's a smiling face with a shattered life,
A teenage girl with a choice to make. It's crowded here in church today.
And the preacher says as the sermon ends, "Close your eyes, bow your heads.
Is there anyone in need of prayer? Jesus wants to meet you here."
'Cause we all fall short, and we all have sinned,
But when you let God's grace break in…
It's beautiful, beautiful.
Come as you are. Surrender your heart.
Broken and beautiful.
CLOSING TEXT:
“Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NLT).
CLOSING PRAYER: We will pray for you, but choose to get connected with other Christians who can continue to pray for you, to help you in your troubles and problems, and never give up!
Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
