Do You Want to Get Well? John 5:6

1. Do You Want to Get Well?John 5:6 The Biblical Roadmap to Spiritual and Mental Wholeness “Danger: The Fear of Sudden Trouble,” from chapter 7 of What Are You Afraid Of? by David Jeremiah, and “Guilt and Legalism,” from chapter 19 of Depression, by Edward Welch Calvary Gospel Church Adult Sunday School March 19, 2014

3. “Someone said, ‘We’re always in one of three places: heading into a storm, in a storm, or emerging from a storm.’ ” “We can find ourselves in the middle of God’s perfect will and in the middle of a perfect storm at the same time!” “We need a perspective on fear that takes into account the perfect storms of life but also reassures us that there’s a safe harbor within reach.” Words from David Jeremiah, What Are You Afraid Of? chapter 7, pages 169-173 How is the following statement a great paradox of Christianity? Trusting Christ doesn’t keep the storms away. Sometimes it pushes us into deep and turbulent waters.

4. The fate of the Andrea Gail demonstrates 2 kinds of fear we all experience: Beneficial fear Imagined fear

5. Mark 4:1, 35-41 gives us a detailed account of a perfect storm in the lives of Jesus’ disciples. How is it possible to trust a God who allows perfect storms to attack us? Multiple conditions converged to created this “perfect storm” Jesus was near exhaustion. The disciples were staggering from the rigorous training they had been receiving; they were emotionally confused by their astonishing experiences with Jesus. It was night - too late to be setting out across the Sea of Galilee. Eager followers were trailing them. The Sea of Galilee was the perfect geographical placement for a perfect storm. Fatigue Confusion Darkness Tempest We can find ourselves in the middle of God’s perfect will and in the middle of a perfect storm at the same time!

6. Trusting Christ doesn’t keep the storms away; sometimes it pushes us into deep and turbulent waters. What “perfect storm” did Jesus face when He rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey?

7. He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. - Mark 4:39 Some things must be seen to be believed. Do you sometimes see yourself in this picture? If Jesus has to use every storm that tears our sails, He will do so because He’s determined to bring us to maturity. The disciples believed because they were shown. Aren’t we sometimes like the disciples?

8. God’s Word assures us of a safe landing. He takes us to the other side. • There are 2 kinds of destinations: • temporary destinations • and • our ultimate destination The days ahead are uncertain. We don’t know what the days will bring us, or how many days we have left. BUT, we know our destination. John 14:1-3 gives us the promise that God assures us of an ultimate safe landing.

9. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus gives us the key to surviving storms. It is the story about two houses: one built on the sand, and the other on solid rock. Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

11. DEPRESSION Guilt and Legalism

12. Guilt and Legalism • What is Guilt? • Varieties of Guilt, or Why We Can Feel Guilty • We “should” feel guilty • We don’t confess our sin to God • Consequences to past sin • A sense of uncleanness because of victimization • We think we must do something to be forgiven • The Gospel • Ephesians 2:8-9 • Romans 1:16-17 • Isaiah 30:15 • The Anti-Gospel: Legalism • What legalism is • What legalism is not • Finding legalism • Turning Back 

13. What is Guilt? She has gained so much weight – she looks terrible! When you say this to someone other than the person you are gossiping about, you don’t feel guilty. But what if that person overhears? You will either never want to see the person you gossiped about again or apologize incessantly. Why is it that we can be obvious of our wrongdoing one moment and ashamed of it the next?

14. Varieties of Guilt, or Why We Can Feel Guilty • We “should” feel guilty • We don’t confess our sin to God “Not only was the sin itself pardoned, but the iniquity of it; the virus of its guilt was put away, and that at once, so soon as the acknowledgment was made. God's pardons are deep and thorough: the knife of mercy cuts at the roots of the ill weed of sin.” – Charles Spurgeon

15. Varieties of Guilt, or Why We Can Feel Guilty Consequences to past sin A sense of uncleanness because of victimization We think we must do something to be forgiven

16. The Gospel • Ephesians 2:8-9 • Romans 1:16-17 • Isaiah 30:15 If our lives are going to have any core or strong foundation, it will be our faith and trust in what God has done through Jesus.

17. The Anti-Gospel: Legalism • Ephesians 2:8-9 • Romans 1:16-17 • Isaiah 30:15 In legalism we give God our checklist and demand that He bless us because of our compliance with His law.

18. The Anti-Gospel: Legalism • What legalism is • What legalism is not Legalism is: Distorting the gospel by adding conditions to free grace: Acts 15:1, 7-11; Gal.1:6-7, 2:11-16, 4:8-11, Gal. 5:2-4; Col. 2:16-17. Substituting man-made regulations for the Word of God: Matthew 15:1-3. Focusing on minor issues and neglecting the more important issues of Scripture: Luke 11:42. Over concern with the external actions while disregarding internal heart change: Matthew 23:27. Regarding with contempt or “judging” a brother based on matters of personal conviction, in effect, adding to God’s word like Satan in the garden at the fall: Romans 14:1-5, Genesis 3. Trusting in our own performance: Luke 18:9-14. Hypocrisy: Luke 11:53-12:1.

19. The Anti-Gospel: Legalism • What legalism is • What legalism is not Legalism is not: A zeal for what the Bible commands: Matthew 5:19; 1 Corinthians 7:19. A ministry that teaches others to follow Christ in obedience because of His grace: Matthew 28:20; 1 Thes.4:1-2. Strong personal convictions (as long as they are not required of others): Romans 14:2, 5. Man-made restrictions for personal protection from sinful habits (again, as long as we do not view them as binding on others): Romans 13:14; 1 Corinthians 6:12. A passion for good works, making the best use of our personal gifting, or partaking in spiritual disciplines (such as prayer, study, preaching, etc): Eph.2:10; Titus 1:16, 2:7, 14, 3:8, 14. Limiting our liberty for the benefit of others: Romans 14:15, 21, 15:2; Acts 16:1-3. Obedience: John 14:15, 23, 15:10; 1 John 2:3-5, 5:2-4

20. The Anti-Gospel: Legalism • Finding Legalism Can you hear within these questions the conviction that your relationship with God rests more with you than with Him? Have you ever said, “I just can’t forgive myself?” Is your life one long, “If only…?” Have others called you driven? Are you burdened by past sins? Do you believe that God is chronically disappointed in you? Do you believe that God likes you more when you are really good? Do you make deals with God: “If you…I will…”? Now consider what you might add to the Gospel. Life is found in God + _______. Serving in church Reading my Bible Not being too mean Being relatively honest Not getting drunk Being sexually careful

21. Turning Back Grace does something that legalism could never do, it draws us back to heart of the Gospel and in to worship Him. It renews our hearts and affections, saving us to good works instead of by them. Galatians 5:3-6 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.