Overcoming in Christ

Quite a few people said they would like to have a few notes from the sermon I preached on Sunday put up on here to refer to, so here they are!

I began by saying we should be the Christmas People as much as the Easter People, because of the following quote from Meister Eckhart (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meister_Eckhart):

Here in time we make holiday because the eternal birthwhich the Father bore and bears unceasingly in eternity is now born in time, in human nature. St Augustine says his birth is always happening. But if it happen not in me what does it profit me? What matters is that it shall happen in me… In this gloom which is not his own the heavenly Father’s Son is not born alone: thou too art born there a child of the same heavely Father.

(p.32 Spirituality in Season Ross Thompson http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Spirituality+in+Season+Ross+Thompson&x=15&y=19)

There are opposites to notice of joy verses gloom; John 10.10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. No wonder “the thief” comes to steal and destroy your joy, it’s one of the most effective things to steal to make you an ineffectual Christian! Neh 8.10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

I then offered 4 really practical ways that we overcome “The Gloom” (for which, read Depression, Stress, being heavy or down, Despair etc) and be a strong, faith-and-joy-filled Christian:

1. Celebrate the Successes - notice how far you’ve come, rather than stressing about how far you have to go. Note progress! This undercuts the tendency to “catastrophise”, and revolutionises your point of view.

2. Decide not to let Despair take over - Rom 1.17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” And NOT by feelings! Psalm 42.5+11, 43.5 - THREE TIMES the Psalmist says Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Saviour and my God , so it’s something you have to keep working at!

3. Confess/Recite the Word of God outloud - the Joy vs Gloom opposition is mirrored in the way we use our words rejoicing&thanksgiving vs complaining. We always “eat our words” - they come out of our mouths, go into our ears and drop into our souls. Phil 4.4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And 4.11a-13 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

You need to fill yourself with the promises of God. A good bit for this is Eph 1.3-14 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory. And John 1.6 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (Phew - a reference to the actual lectionary reading!)

It’s also revolutionary to be reassured of your identity in Christ. Look at http://www.ficm.org/whoiam.htm for an example list (NB - I don’t know who these guys are, so don’t take it as an endorsement of this ministry!)

This section is summed up by Romans 12.2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

4. Remember the Battle is the Lord’s - We do our part by addressing possible roots of our “gloom”, like dwelling on terrible things in our past, or suppressing them, rest/sleep, nutrition, medication and “talking therapies”, guilt (real or imagined). But we have to leave it all at the foot of the cross. Regularly! 1 John 4.4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. You’ld better go over or you’ll go under. Whatever doesn’t make you bitter makes you better!

Basically, that’s it! There are those who wake up and bless the dawn. I am not one of them. I hate them. I’ve been through medication and therapy and would go again if necessary. In the meantime, I overcome in Christ.

No matter what you’ve been through, or are going through; no matter how you feel, you too can have a Happy New Year!