LIVING IN THE GLORY OF THE LORD
MENTAL WELL BEING
Revelation 3:20
We are complicated people with complicated lives.
Each of us is unique with unique issues. Our mental well-fare
is put to test every day.
It is not one issue, but a series of issues. It\’s not one problem, but a series of problems.
It is not one solution we need but many solutions. It is not one mountain, but a series of mountains.
Trying to handle all the issues and problems of our lives can weigh on us
down.
I know a man who is willing and able to keep us in mental stability
That man is Jesus.
Revelation 3:20-22
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.
NIV
Kathy Caprino of Forbes magazine surveyed 770 people
With the question;
\”If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be?\”
Eight of the most often answers are listed below
1: Happiness
2: Money
3: Freedom
4: Peace
5: Joy
6: Balance
7: Fulfillment
8: Confidence
All of these affect our mental well-being.
We eliminate the frustrations of life when we change our focus from what we want to what God wants.
Mental instability exists in our human desires. Mental well being exist in our holy desires
HOLY DESIRE
What is your desire this evening? Is it set upon heavenly things? Do you long to enjoy the high doctrine of eternal love? Do you desire liberty in very close communion with God? Do you aspire to know the heights, depths, lengths, and breadths? Then you must draw near to Jesus. Charles Spurgeon
1. You must get a clear sight of Jesus in His preciousness and completeness:
2. You must view Him in His work, in His offices, in His person.
His Works the Cross
His Office The Right Hand Of The Father
His person The Son Of God
His Power All Power
His Knowledge All Knowledge
His Presence Everywhere all the time
He who understands Christ receives an anointing from the Holy One, by which He knows all things. Christ is the great master-key of all the chambers of God:
Psalms 111:10-112:1
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have a good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.
Let\’s look at the desires of life from a Holy perspective.
No. 1: Happiness
Biggest challenge: “Not knowing what I want to do.”
What is the problem with happiness?
Is what you are happy with today, the same as tomorrow?
Happiness is situation controlled.
How many elements will it take to be happy?
To be happy, I have to continue adding to what I got.
God allows periods of happiness in your life but they are still base
On circumstances
The Old and New testaments have several words for happiness
Chairo cheerful
Euthumeo cheerful
Yatab make well favor
Tomb Cheerful
If your focus is happiness it will be short-lived.
You can renew your happiness each day.
Start the day with praise.
Psalms 22:3
Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.
The first thing in the morning, get your praise on
No. 2: Money
I once thought if I had enough money I could buy happiness.
The problem with money is it can leave your pocket as
Soon as it gets in.
As I look a movie stars and supersport stars, they never
Seem to have enough money.
Have you ever heard of a sports star being satisfied with
How much was in their contract when the contract ended?
The average movie star stays married 7 years. They have
money, but it is not enough.
The love of money is the root of all evil. Money is not evil.
Using money to build us up above others is evil
God equips us to store up treasures in heaven
2 Corinthians 9:7-9
7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God can make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
NIV
Since God said He loves a cheerful giver. Therefore he gives the giver
something to give.
Jesus said ever you ask the Father in my name will be given to you,
In Jesus\’ name means your asking is according to the will of the Father
There is no treasure-house of God that will not open and yield up all its wealth to the soul that lives near to Jesus. Are you saying, \”O that He would dwell in my bosom\”? \”Would that He would make my heart His dwelling-place forever\”?
Charles Spurgeon
Money is just a tool God has given us to glorify Him.
Our problem is we want money to be our glory.
The holy desire changes our focus from us to Jesus.
The money we have is limited to the bank account we put it
in.
Money in God’s bank account can grow 10, 50, and 100 fold.
We got access to all the money we need. We just need to
quit trying to count.
3. Biggest challenge: “Having the freedom to find my ‘true purpose’ or being lit up by the day-to-day at work.”
The problem with freedom as a goal is you will never be completely
Free.
You will never be free of the laws of government.
You will never be free of responsibility.
Responsibility ties you to other people.
If you work for yourself, you are a slave to your customers.
To approach freedom you have to work harder and work longer
Then anyone else.
Eventually, you become a slave to the idea of being free.
John 8:31-32
Jesus said, \”If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\”
It is the Word of God that sets us in a spiritual realm free from the
worries of the World. Freedom is in Jesus.
Open the door, beloved, and He will come into your souls. He has long been knocking, and all with this object, that He may sup with you, and you with Him. He sups with you because you find the house or the heart, and you with Him because He brings the provision. Charles Surgeon
Jesus is the only freedom you need
No. 4: Peace
Biggest challenge: “Lack of clarity about who I am and my purpose.”
If by peace you mean the absence of problems. It does not exist
If by peace you mean to be able to divorce yourself from the problems of
The world, It can’t be done
If by peace you mean total quietness. It will never happen.
The question is how do you define peace? What would you do if you
had peace?
1: a state of tranquility or quiet: such as · 2: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions I have been in perfect peace and contentment.
In the world, you can be peaceful today and in turmoil tomorrow.
Because man is involved, peace is unsustainable. You can be
loved today and hated tomorrow by the same person.
I am not sure anybody cares about your peace of mind.
Proverbs 14:30
30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
Peace originates in your heart.
Only the Lord can keep you in peace
Isaiah 26:3
3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.
It is in Jesus that we find peace.
John 14:27
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
It takes a conscious daily effort on your part to stay in the
peace of Jesus.
No. 5: Joy
Biggest challenge: “How to find the right role or position for me now that will bring joy in my work.”
If your definition of joy is based on a particular set of conditions or
Particular position, what happens when the conditions change or
The position changes or is eliminated
Definition of joy
1a: the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: DELIGHT
b: the expression or exhibition of such emotion: GAIETY
The joy that originates outside the heart is short-lived
Only complete joy is found in the Lord
John 15:11-12
11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
Joy is not based on circumstances, but on what Jesus has done in our lives.
No. 6: Balance
Biggest challenge: “Balancing my need/desire for flexibility while making enough money and having the benefits I want.”
What happens when needs and desires change? Are you still balanced?
The problem with balance is it is based on external conditions.
The world’s design for balance seeks to control future outcomes.
How can you control what you don’t know will happen?
Matthew 6:33-34
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
God has your back. Balance seeks to remove God from the equation.
7. Biggest challenge: “Utilizing my potential in the best possible way, for myself and others.”
Fulfillment can be defined as this: “Satisfaction or happiness as a result of fully developing one’s abilities or character.”
The question is, how do you know whether you are living up to
Your full potential? How do you define your full potential?
Will you be satisfied if your potential changes?
I believe that without God, you cannot live up to your full
potential.
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
We are limited in our thinking and our abilities.
Without God, we face our limitations. Without God, we cannot
span to the higher heights God has set for us.
Our satisfaction must be based on what we do for the Lord.
Colossians 3:23-25
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25
No. 8: Confidence
Biggest challenge: “Feeling like I have something to offer now, rather than feeling constantly as if I’m not ready and need more training.”
Do you ever get to the point where you never need any more training?
What if the requirements of the job changes?
Can current training meet new changes in the job?
You have to continue to work to be comfortable
The confidence we have should be in the Lord.
Philippians 1:4-6
I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus
Let\’s end this with our scripture
Revelation 3:20-22
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
The Lord is standing by ready to come into your heart and comfort you.
He is your mental stability
21 To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.\”
Jesus has overcome the world. In Him we are overcomers
In Summary, we are complicated people. Our Mental Welfare is
the business of the Lord.
Rev. M. Mitchell
