Overcoming Depression – Part 2 “Material World”
Romans 8:3-17
Back in 1984 the
singer Madonna released a song titled “Material Girl”
They can beg
and they can plead
But they can't
see the light, that's right
'Cause the boy
with the cold hard cash
Is always
Mister Right, 'cause we are
Living in a
material world
And I am a
material girl
You know that
we are living in a material world
And I am a
material girl
1.
Catchy tune, and it was a hit because it
resonated with the essence of our world:
a.
“Hey you’ve got to live this life to the
fullest, cause this is all there is!”
b.
It describes the deep human need for
fulfillment, to find happiness, and peace.
c.
The only problem is that they’re looking in the
wrong places.. (lookin for love in all the wrong places!)
2.
See, as Christians, those “in Christ,” we know
that this world isn't all there is.
a.
We know there’s an eternity waiting for us, it
is our blessed hope.
b.
But until that eternity comes, we’re stuck here
in this place… this material world.
3.
Now, last week we learned that there are three
prime culprits that get us feeling down and depressed:
a.
Haunted by something from our past
b.
Weighed down by something in our present
c.
Anxious about something in our future
4.
We learned that when you’re haunted by the past,
when those depression bombs start going off in your mind,
a.
You have an arsenal of your own, the powerful
truth that “in Christ,” there is NO condemnation! (none, zero, not one bit!)
5.
This week we’re going to learn how to respond
when we’re weighed down with something in our present…
a.
Today we’re going to look at one of the ways
Christians to lose their peace, and that’s when we “walk according to the
flesh”
Living According to
the Flesh
3 He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous
requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to
the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the
flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6
For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and
peace.
6.
Often when people talk about being “carnal” or
talk about being “in the flesh,” they're often talking about immorality, the
“bad stuff,”
a.
But that doesn't capture the full meaning of
what Paul is describing here.
b.
The Greek word “sarkos” gives the meaning of
“the natural, the material, or the physical body”
c.
So Paul isn't describing a person living an
immoral life, he's describing the person that lives in, and lives for, the
material world, which could include, but isn’t limited to, immoral pleasures.
7.
In other words, the people Paul is describing
aren’t necessarily “notorious sinners.”
a.
What Paul is describing is the person who is
walking according to the ways of the world, the natural thinking, the nature of
mankind.
8.
For example, Jesus described this in Matthew 6:
“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’
or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things
the Gentiles seek. Matthew 6:31-32
9.
In other words, setting your mind on the carnal
means setting your mind on this world, and this life.
a.
What am I going to eat? Where am I going to go tonight? What clothes will I wear?
b.
That doesn’t mean you never think about going
out to eat, or buying clothes, or enjoying some entertainment…
c.
It's more about priorities - what are you living
for? What are you chasing?
10. What
we set our minds to, what we chase, has an effect on our present condition of
peace and happiness.
a.
Because, the things of this world, while they
may bring temporary happiness, they will not fill that void in us that seeks
for true happiness and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is
not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in
the flesh cannot please God.
11. Paul
declares that the carnally minded, or natural minded, person cannot please God,
a.
Why? Because God exists in a spiritual realm
where the material things of this world are of no value!
b.
Like the man that took his gold to heaven with
him! The streets are paved with it
there!
12. Not
only that, but the natural nature of man cannot obey God, and is even against
God -
But the natural man does not receive the things of the
Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14
13. The
natural man sets his mind on the natural things, the things of this world, but
the problem is that the natural things of this world will not fill the need
that he has for peace and happiness.
a.
It’s been said we are born with a hole inside of
us, and we spend the rest of our lives trying to find the thing that will fill
that hole.
b.
A global marketing system has been developed
that exists for the sole purpose of convincing you that this product, or that
service, or this person, will fill that void…
14. There
is an answer to peace and happiness TODAY, but the answer is not found in this
material world,
a.
It comes from OUTSIDE of this world, the God of
the universe punched THROUGH the barrier between the physical and eternal
realm,
b.
and He gave us the one thing that can bring life
to you us - His Son Jesus Christ.
15. And
when a person receives Jesus Christ, His life becomes their life…
9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed
the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of
Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of
sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of
Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the
dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in
you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according
to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by
the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
16. We're
going to examine some terms Paul uses:
He uses two phrases “in the Spirit” and “in the flesh,” and “according
to” the flesh and “according to” the spirit.
a.
Meaning:
The Greek “EN” defines a “fixed position” – you are “in” the sanctuary
right now. You’re not IN your home.
i. You
can’t be in two places at the same time.
b.
Same here: There can only be one of two natures
that are IN you:
c.
The old nature (flesh, natural man) or the new
nature (the Spirit of God, in Christ)
17. Now,
if you’ve never accepted Christ, then you are IN the flesh; The natural nature,
and you are subject to sin nature.
a.
What this describes is the human nature that
guides you, what motivates you to do whatever you do,
b.
That doesn't mean that everything the natural
nature motivates you to do is BAD,
c.
However the natural nature cannot motivate you
towards GOD.
18. However
once you accept Christ, there is a new nature, the Spirit of God, that is
available to guide you, to motivate you. You are now IN the Spirit,
a.
Again, that doesn't mean that everything you do
will be GOOD, just that the new nature will always motivate you towards God.
19. Now,
this is an either/or situation: you
cannot “in” both the spirit and the flesh, just like you cannot be in the
sanctuary and in your house at the same time:
a.
you are either in the Spirit, in Christ; or in
the flesh, without Christ.
20. The
other phrase Paul uses, “according to,”
(Greek kata) is different, it describes living “in accordance with, or agreeing
with.”
a.
For instance, every human being lives in
accordance with a set of values.
b.
They may be good, they may be bad, they may
change, but the things that are important to them are what motivate them to do whatever
it is they do.
21. This
scenario is NOT either/or situation.
a.
A person can be IN the Spirit (in Christ), and choose
to walk according to the spirit, or choose to walk in the flesh, being
motivated by the natural nature.
b.
But the opposite is not true: You cannot be IN the flesh (without Christ),
but choose to walk according to the Spirit.
22. In
other words, Paul is telling us as Christians we have a choice whether to be
guided by the Spirit, or be guided by the flesh
a.
and that choice affects our peace and happiness.
6 For to be carnally
minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
23. If
we’re honest, we all have to admit that there have been times we’ve chosen to
allow our flesh to be what motivates and guides us.
a.
The outcome varies from utter devastation (I.E.
an extramarital affair),
b.
or simply robbing us of our peace - (I.E.
chasing after material things)
Example of walking according to flesh - Solomon
24. King
Solomon wanted to know the meaning of life, what’s it all about… he actually wrote
a book about his experience, it’s called “Ecclesiastes."
25. Summarize...
26. He
thought “maybe money is the secret to happiness” and so he began creating
wealth.
a.
The bible tells us (1 Kings 10) that Solomon
received an allotment of 666 talents of gold per year, which works out to about
1.1 Billion dollar a year, and that doesn’t include the other sources of income
he made through trade and investments, and gifts.
b.
But having more money than he could ever spend
didn’t bring peace and happiness…
27. So
he thought “maybe building an empire is the answer” so he went on a massive
building campaign –
a.
But having lots of incredible properties didn’t
bring him peace and happiness…
28. So
he thought “maybe beautiful women are the answer” - he amassed one thousand
wives and mistresses, the most beautiful women in the world,
a.
But beautiful women didn’t bring peace and
happiness…
29. So
then he thought, “maybe wine is the answer” - so he tried to gratify himself
with lots of wine, the best wine!
a.
But wine didn’t bring him peace and happiness…
30. “Maybe
parties are the answer!” so he imported exotic animals, the best singers,
dancers and performers, and threw the most lavish parties ever…
a.
But they didn’t bring him peace and happiness…
31. “Maybe
knowledge and philosophy is the answer” - So Soloman set out to learn all he
could, wrote hundreds of books, and leaders came from around the world to sit
and listen to his wisdom and proverbs.
a.
But knowledge didn’t bring peace and happiness
“Of making many books there is no end, and much study
is wearisome to the flesh.” Eccl 12:12
32. I
think you see where this is going…
a.
We sometimes think “If I only had _____ I’d be
happy."
b.
Some people spend their entire lives pursuing
things they believe will bring them peace and happiness,
c.
But in the end, the material things of this
world always come up short.
33. That's
not to say that material things are worthless, there may be fleeting moments of
happiness and pleasure, but it never lasts.
a.
You finally get the car you’ve always wanted,
but after the newness wears off, it’s just another car.
b.
You finally get the house, or the spouse, or the
bankroll…. but after the honeymoon
phase, the happiness fades.
c.
No wonder people get depressed, it is depressing!
No wonder Solomon said
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun;
and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. Eccl 12:14
34. Do
you ever wonder why some stars come unglued?
a.
Lindsey Lohan, Miley Cirus, Justin Beiber, these
are people that literally “have it all”
but we watch their lives unravel before our eyes,
b.
...and it’s clear that while they may have
money, houses, cars, fame, they have no peace, no happiness.
c.
Reading the account of Philip Seymore Hoffman,
who died from an overdose a few weeks ago…
35. These
people end up like this because the material things of this world may be
pleasurable for a time, but they do not bring lasting peace and happiness to
the human condition.
a.
TIP - they should read Solomon’s book, they’d
learn that nothing in this world will help!
b.
Solomon’s final conclusion:
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this
is man’s all. Eccl 12:13
What’s the secret?
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead
dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your
mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. (vs 11)
36. The
secret isn’t to try harder, or get more stuff, the secret is to submit yourself
to the Spirit of God that lives in you, who, according to scripture, will “give
life to your mortal body”
a.
See, Paul’s not referring to some future time in
heaven, he’s talking about NOW, your literal human body,
b.
Because you have a Heavenly Father!
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are
sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear,
but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”
(Daddy daddy!)
37. This
is a powerful truth that applies to our present state of life:
a.
We are literally adopted sons and daughters of
God!
b.
When you accepted Christ, you received what Paul
calls “the Spirit of adoption,”
38. This
was a significant illustration to the Roman to whom Paul was writing…
a.
When a young boy was adopted into a Roman
family, that child was legally declared to have the exact same position and
privileges as a natural born son.
b.
Family title, legal status, inheritance, all
became part of that child's reality,
c.
As well, the child’s relationship to their
previous family was considered dead.
39. As
well, their relationship to God was a radical break from the pagan gods that
they worshiped.
a.
Roman gods were capricious, unpredictable, and
generally uninterested in the affairs of men.
b.
They would pray to and sacrifice to their gods,
and perhaps the gods would answer, or not…
c.
But the gods would never be considered to be a
father figure – someone who actually cared for a human…
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we
are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint
heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified
together.
40. So
we not only have a God who is all powerful, all knowing, and ever present; We
have a God who LOVES us as His children!
a.
And because of that adoptive relationship, we
are now heirs, joint-heirs with Christ!
b.
I mean, imagine if tomorrow you received a call
from an attorney who informed you that you were an heir to the Rockefeller
estate?
c.
(You’d think “I’ve died and gone to heaven!)
d.
Well, I’m telling you today, if you are “in
Christ,” you are an heir to a family that is worth much, much more!
41. God
the Father, who alone created all things, and is all mighty
a.
And His Son Jesus the Christ, whom the Father
loved, the Father glorified, and who now shared all things with you and I:
22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them,
that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they
may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me,
and have loved them as You have loved Me.
John 17:22-23
Bottom Line - What is
the answer to peace in our present state?
42. First,
a relationship with Christ - “in Christ!” because He is the Prince of Peace!
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as
the world gives do I give to you. John 14:27
43. If
you are in Christ, then the next step is to choose to allow the Spirit of God
who dwells in you to be what guides you!
Copyright
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