God s Kingdom vs. Man s Culture: (Part 9) The Kingdoms Solution to Suicide, Hopelessness and Depression. Acts 17:6...These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also,
Satan Has Made A Culture of Sadness John 5:19 (BSB) 19 - We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
The problem with the culture and even religion is that it offers shallow, superficial and empty reward for chasing things that were never intended to make a person whole, happy and fulfilled. Romans 14:17 17 - for the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking [what one likes], but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 14 - I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind.
Often the most unsuspecting people are struggling the most.
Sampson was the strongest man in history. Judges 16:29-30 29 - Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other,
30 - Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines! Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived.
King Saul was the most powerful and wealthy person on the earth. 1 Samuel 31:4-5 4 - Saul said to his armor-bearer, Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me. But his armorbearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. 5 - When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.
Judas walked with Christ but never focused on Christ. Matthew 27:3-5 3 - When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 - He said, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. But they said, What is that to us? See to it yourself. 5 - Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself.
The Kingdom s view of pain and suffering... Romans 8:28 (KJV) 28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Proverbs 20:30 (GNT) 30 - Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.
3 Cultural Pain Promoters
1. Observing all the negativity and ignoring the positivity. Deuteronomy 30:19 19 - "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
2. Making decisions that pursue chaotic or stressful results I Peter 3:11 11 - They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.
3. Making soul-ties with wrong people. Proverbs 22: 24 & 25 24 - Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: 25 - Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
2 Corinthians 4:17 18 (ESV) 17 - For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 - as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Acts 14:22 (BLB) 22 - Strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith and that "through many tribulations it behooves us to enter into the kingdom of God."