Semon Notes: Overcoming Depression - 7:45, Dec. 14, 2008

The following highlights are from Bishop Johnson's 7:45 service. All members are encouraged to get the full context from the CDs.
Scripture context: Psalm 102:1-4, Romans 8:25-29, Hebrews 4:14-16

• The spirit of rejection leads to depression. Depression is anger surpressed. It comes from feelings of anger, guilt, hopelessness.
• [Depression] Leads to a place of cessation of activity.
• Depression is a deeper level of emotional turmoil. 1 person in 5 will experience levels of persistent depression. Depression is a major risk factor after heart attack and stroke.
• Depression not only affects you, but it affects those around you.
• Depression can be caused by a variety of factors:

--> Stress. God didn't create our bodies to handle much stress. God didn't give us the spirit of fear, but fear unrecognized can lead to stress.

--> Unconfessed sin. When sin in going on in your life unchecked, the enemy will lead you to a place of depression.

--> Other physical things. You may need to get a good check-up. Some things to check: overactive thyroid, female hormones, diabetes, vitamin B12. The Bible tells us to take care of our temples. These things can create a deficiency, a sadness.

--> Sometimes prescription drugs will cause you to be in a place of sadness and depression (overmedicated) ... may not always be possessed by a demon.

--> Recreational drugs: alcohol, cocaine. Depression comes later ... you keep crashing, it gets worse.

"I always want to have a clear mind so that I can make good decision, make wise choices, to deal with the matter at hand."

Feelings of depression are described in the Bible as: * Fallen countenance * Broken spirit * experiencing despair * being broken hearted * losing heart * becoming faint or weary.

(Be careful of depression right after you're on a great victorious high.)

No one is exempt. No one is completely immune. All are vulnerable. Remember to put on the whole armor of God - it protects you from depression. (Ref. Ephesians 6:10-18)

READ Psalm 143: 1-3.

Depression takes a person's spiritual freedom and power. Remember to pay attention to what has your attention. Remind yourself, "I am a child of God."

Don't let depression get you this year - you already have power - you're already free.

READ Romans 7, Romans 8: 1-2.

The joy of the Lord is my strength. He who the Son sets free is free indeed! All things work together for good ... [for those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose!] Remember the good times - remember how He brought you out. Weeping endures for a night ...[but joy comes in the morning.] Meditate, muse on how the Lord made a way out of no way. Think about all of the good things he has done.

To do:

1. PRAY (Get down to where the rubber meets the road, where you mean business with God. He will come to your rescue.)
2. PRAISE (Praise = Thanksgiving - which ushers you into worship. Remember Psalm 103: 1-5 --- "Bless the Lord, Oh my soul!" Tell my soul to get up out of that darkness. Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.) Remember: Psalm 127, Revelations 3:20.
3. WORSHIP (In God's face; behold the beauty of Him. Worship takes you into a place of supoernatural transfer.)
4. PRAISE Again (Thank Him for what took place in worship.)

Study the life of David: every place you look, he comes out of that despair and praises God. The end of the Psalms - he says "Let everything that has breath [praise the Lord.] (Psalm 150.)

During the holiday season. Don't concern yourself with who's not here, only with who is there. Set your sights on one who will never fail you.

Read Romans 8, Hebrews 4.

Bishop's assignment to us: Read Proverbs, Chapter 3

We've been given an assignment, read Proverbs 3. Here is a link:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%203&version=9
You can also click on "Comments" beneath this post for the full text.

Reading Assignment from Bishop Johnson, 7/13

Psalm 78

1Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.

2I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old:

3Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us.

4We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done.

5For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:

6That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:

7That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:

8And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

9The children of Ephraim, being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.

10They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

Bible Study Homework

Bishop Johnson has been leading a wonderful series in Bible Study called "How the Bible Came to Be."


Bishop showed a video from the Creation Evidence Museum. Here is more about the museum in Texas: http://www.creationevidence.org/

Our assignments are as follows:

Read and memorize the first 15 books of the Bible. We've already worked on the first 5, and then the 2nd five, now Bishop says to work on the 3rd five.

Read and memorize the following scriptures:

2 Tim: 3: 16-17
2 Peter: 1:19-21

Full length Scriptures are provided in the comments section of this post.

Sermon Highlights, Sunday, 3/16/08

Transformation and change do not occur because you try harder, it happens because you train wisely.

Scriptural texts: John 14:12-16, Phil 2:13, John 15:5-7, Luke 10:19

Rejoice in the fact that your name is written.
"The Staggering Promise" --> John 15:5, John 15:7
Words unlock access to the privilege and right to use His name: love, obey, abide.
Love obeys, then love abides. Proof that you love me (Christ) is when you obey.

A lot of people allow people to be their savior, but won't let HIM be their God.

Keep: Conform to habits of conduct, to stay in accord with, preserve, maintain.

Remain: Accept Jesus as your savior, continue or persevere in believing, believing/loving obedience.

Loving Jesus will cause you to abide, abiding will cause you to obey.

The union between Jesus and his disciples in intentional, it is personal.

He never sends us into the world to accomplish His mission unarmed, ill-equipped.

Sometimes I can't track Him, but I have to love and trust His heart.

He loves me, with all of my mess, He still loves me.

This love is not vague. He says "when you remain in me, I will give you MY joy." The closer you get to difficulty, the greater the joy. Joy will grow in power and in depth by their obedience. The obedience will magnify your power. More difficulty = opportunity to exercise faith, and train. There's POWER in the name of Jesus! The closer you get to Jesus, the more powerful you become.

How's your love live?
Strong enough to obey?
Love Him enough to abide?
Love Him enough to remain?

Assignment: Read: Phil, chapters 1 & 2;
Read: John, chapters 14 & 15.

Highlights: 7:45 service, Jan. 20, 2008. "The Luciferian Attitude"

All are encouraged to review with the official CD/DVD, avaiable in the Narthex after services.

Scriptures: Matt 7:21-29, Luke 10:17-20

"Lucifer was the first to try to dethrone God."

Isaiah 14-12:14 --- Lucifer fell into pride.

"Lucifer was so full of himself that he left no room for God."

"Lucifer's mistakes:

1. He thought that he was the source of his beauty.
2. He forgot that he was only beautiful when he was reflecting God's glory.
3. His own self-centeredness and pride blinded him to the fact that he could never be greater than God."

"You can't get saved until you dethrone yourself and enthrone God!

"There are billions and trillions of glaxies. Our God created them. If he can name billions of stars - galaxies, he can handle our little problem. Great is our God."

"Sadly, God must contend with our pride, greed, and thirst for personal power."

"The devil attacks you where you think you're strong because that's where you let your guard down."

"This attitude caused Lucifer to lose his place in heaven. this Luciferian attitude will challenge God's place in our lives."

"When 'I' becomes first in our lives, trouble will most likely follow."

"It is impossible for anyone or anything to replace God as first."

"He (God) has to be the foundation. Remember, you can't have walls or a ceiling without a foundation."

"Remember, your job is not your source, it's just a resource that the SOURCE (God) decided to use."

"God is able, but He's got to be first."

"Trust Him when you can't track Him. The wilderness experience is your character builder."

Notes Sun. Jan. 13, 2008. "Either He is Lord of All, or Not Lord at All", The Law of First Things, Pt. 2, Plus Min. Sherrin's msg

Please remember to refer to the CD/DVD for the full review.

"To worship the Lord with all your heart, it has to be intentional and purposeful, then if must be personal."

THE LAW OF FIRST THINGS

"A law is not moved by our opinion."

Remember Psalm 90 (See comments in previous post for the full scriptural text.)

"Before there was a 'was', there was God."

Scriptural references: Psalm 147: 1-5, Isaiah 40: 12-17, 18, 21-16, 29-30

"God has infinite wisdom - skill for living."

"Anything that has your attention and keeps it too long is your god."

"We have such a temporary life - think about that when you're about to sin."

"He made everything. When you think about molecular structure, ions and protons -- he made matter."

"I'm not here because I'm so good, I'm here because of His faithfulness."

----------------

NOTE: Min. Sherrin's message at 10:35
"Lest I Forget, Let's Get Busy"
Scriptural text: Ephesians 2:1-3, 4-10
Psalm 107:2 (Let the Redeemed of the Lord Say So."

"What is God getting out of the redemption on your life? God is still waiting for a return on His investment."

"How does God benefit from His investment? How do the lost benefit? How do those in the body benefit?"

"When your commitment is more to a person than it is to God, that's entrapment, that's slavery."

"Remember, your life should revolve around your relationship with God, not the other way around."

"Do not allow yourself to pattern after those who don't take ministry seriously."

January Sermon Notes: Highlights from 1/6/08, The Law of First Things

Occasionally, we will have an opportunity to post segments from Bishop Johnson's sermons. Notes in quotes ("") are Bishop Johnson's words. The notes posted here do not replace coming to service or getting the message from the CDs or DVDs. These notes are small snippets that are being provided to encourage us to continue studying the Word during the week and to apply the truths to our lives.

Notes from 7:45 and 10:45 Services, 1/6/08


The Law of First Things

Teach us to number our days.
Scriptures: Psalm 90, Luke 6: 46-49
[Full scriptural texts are found in the Comments section of this post.]

From Psalm 90: There are 3 Dimensions of Time
1) From Everlasting to Everlasting (v. 1-2), 2) Year to Year (v. 3-12), 3) Day to Day (v. 13-17)

"See your life on a 3-dimensional basis, Living for God today, next month, next year ... because I'm on my way to eternity."

"God is the 1st. He is infinite ... whether we give Him his due or not; whether we believe it or not. God is infinite, he is limitless."

Remember Genesis 1: In the beginning God ...
"This was not God's beginning. God started time."

Scriptures: Psalm 147:1-5; Isaiah 40: 1-3, 12-18; Isaiah 40:28-31

"People who could not grasp the infinitude of God worshiped the things that God made. "
"God is where our life is."

Note: Psalm 90:11 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
This is the timing that was used for the time in the desert. God designed us for 120 years!

Psalm 90:11: "We don't understand the risk we take with purposeful sin."

"Do we wake up and walk out the door with a reverential fear of God?"

Psalm 90:15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil.
"God gives us joy in the amount of our trouble."

"Jesus died for everyone in the world. You have to make a decision to agree with His choice. Then He'll give you eternal life."

"Why would God trust you with the big things when you don't trust Him with the little things?"

"No season comes with cloudless skies. Every season has its issue ... You can see challenges coming and see them as opportunities and potential."

"If you're not able to get lessons in the wilderness, you won't be able to operate in the promised land."

"If you made decisions and there are consequences, learn from those consequences quickly - there's a benefit on the other side."

"God is the teacher, let Him teach you. Take copious notes, do what He says so that you can move out of the wilderness faster."

"Many of us don't want to live a long life because we don't see this place as a place where the glory of God can work through us."

"Make up your mind today, that you are not going to go before its time. When it's time, die empty. Don't take any creativity, talent, potential to the grave yard."

"There's a principle about 1st things. God is first in everything."

"Anytime God can know every star by name, you know that He doesn't have a problem with your issue."

Additional scriptures: Psalm 91:1-2; Psalm 27:1-2
"Remember that the Lord is sovereign. Read this while you you remember that the Lord is infinite!"

"Remember, every one of your private victories makes you ready for your public giants."

Bishop Johnson reminds us that we don't come to church to feel better, we come to know better.

Sunday Recap 11/25/07, 7:45; Scriptures for the Day

Greetings 34/39,

Here are the scriptures that Bishop Johnson used at 7:45. Please be sure to get the CD or the DVD to get the entire message.

Topics: Pride & Defiance

Worldliness - Wisdom & Knowledge

Worldly thinking and man's knowledge
Isaiah 47:10

Worldly thinking and answers to life's questions through philosophy, astrology, and other occultic arts.
Isaiah 47:12-13

"For the natural man receiveth not the thins of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
I Cor. 2:14

Worldly thinking claims to be the search for truth.
II Tim 3:7, John 14:6

"And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"
Ephesians 5:18

You are complete in HIM.
Read Colossians 2:1-13.


Wisdom will crown your life with favor and with glory.
Proverbs 4


The full text for these scriptures will be posted in the COMMENTS section of this message this week.


On 11/25, Bishop Johnson said:

"We become obsessed with knowing things but we don't live it out .... we get full on knowledge but are not able to live in it."

"Real evidence of how much you love HIM is not in how you shout, how you run around the church, not in churchy phrases (e.g. "I blessed"), but in your obedience to God."

Psalm 103, Bless The Lord, O My Soul, and Forget Not (always remember) HIS Benefits

The text for the Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007 Thanksgiving service was Psalm 103. Bishop Johnson reminded us to "always remember" God's benefits. The full text for this Psalm is in the comment below. We are taught to especially remember the first five verses:

1Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not (always remember!) all his benefits:

3Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4Who redeemeth (rescues) thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

(Provides unusual favor, unprecedented honor!)

5Who satisfieth thy mouth (life) with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

NOTE: Words in parentheses reflect Bishop Johnson's emphasis.

Assignment: I Corinthians, Chapts. 1 & 2

Hello 34/39.

Bishop Johnson has asked us to read I Corinthians, Chapters 1 and 2. The full text is in the comment section for this post.

This Wednesday, we will be going with Bishop Johnson to service at Church of the Redeemed of the Lord in Baltimore. http://www.crlministries.com/welcome.htm

Bishop's Charge: Meditate on Isaiah 61

Good afternoon Mount Pleasant!

I'm writing this between the 10:45 and Baptismal worship services ... Greetings from the Grand Fellowship Hall! Today Bishop Johnson told us to say "This is a new day and this is my time!"
He also instructed us to meditate on Isaiah 61 every day this week! Here is the link to this scripture online: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+61

The full passage will be in the comment section so that you can see it directly.

Bishop went through the following scriptures:
Isaiah 65:24
Romans 6:6

He also reminded us to really use Romans 6:11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bishop's topic was "The Law of the Spirit as it connects to the Law of Faith." He said that the "Law of faith is spiritual power and action given to every child of God based on the Word of God."

There is much, much, much more! Like his points about your faith and the will of God, correct confession of faith, having what you believe, and corresponding actions! Get the CD to review.

This is by no means a substitution for the full message, but hopefully it will encourage you to go back through your notes and/or listen to the CD!

Remember all of the announcements for the month that are in the Ministry Update (newsletter) and on the website. God Bless You, it's time to get ready for the Baptismal Service!