Titus 2 Men And Women

Dancing With Depression
by Teddi Neevel

I’d like to state that this outline was preached by Pastor Jeff at the church I attend. I had never thought of the apostle Paul as having faced and dealt with depression. Bro. Jeff began with the background information of I Corinthians when Paul had been slandered in the Church at Corinth and he had written the church and sent the letter with Titus. The main scriptures used are:

II Corinthians 2:12-13

Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.

And II Corinthians 7:5-7

For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.

I. Disappointment

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Paul arrived at Troas and expected Titus to meet him. Paul probably played the scene over in his mind. He wanted an answer. Paul wanted closure to the situation. Paul chose the time, place, person, and way of closure but it wasn't God's plan. When closure is your focus, you will hit a wall resulting in your be unavailable to be used by God.

Paul was so disappointed that Titus didn't meet him in Troas that he walked away from God's open door of service.

II. Discouragement

II Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

When Paul walked away from God's door of service he found no rest for his spirit. What Paul found instead was mental un-rest, bodily fatigue, fear, folly and frustration.

III. Dis-function

II Corinthians 7:5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.

Paul is referring back to his side trip from Troas to Macedonia in this passage. Fightings without indicates that life had become a continual conflict. Rather like walking around with a chip on your shoulder just waiting for someone to knock it off.

Fears within indicate imaginary battles and paranoid delusions. Reality had become un-recognizable.

IV. Depression

Proverbs 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Our hurts usually result in explosions of indignation, when the fuel of our anger is consumed implosion occurs. Implosion puts a person into ‘shut down’ mode. Where we crawl into a dark spot and close the lid.

(Are you following the progress in this outline? Unless there is a sudden trauma, no one just wakes up depressed one morning. Disappointment~Discouragement~Dis-function~Depression is the natural progression but we can get off that train anywhere along the line.)

Depression gives up. Brokeness gives in

V. Deliverance

II Corinthians 7:6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

 Nevertheless God. That certainly says it all. Our only source of deliverance is God.

Psalm 134:3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

The term "out of Zion" indicates without the use of human hands. God is the only true comforter. God can touch you from heaven without changing anything on earth.

God’s desire is for us is not a spirit of fear but of a sound mind. When we conform our will to God’s will He will give us the desires of our heart. When our will is in agreement with God’s will so are our desires.

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Psalm 37:1-4 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.

  For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.

  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

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