Breaking the Spirit of Heaviness

BREAKING THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS - PART I

Isaiah 61:1-3 NKJV

There is such a thing as a spirit of heaviness

ESV calls it a “faint spirit”

NASB 2020 calls it a “disheartened spirit”

The Message calls it a “languid spirit”

In the original Hebrew heaviness can mean a burning fire without

flame or despair that pertains to being in a state of anxiety and silent

hopelessness (that’s why the NLT uses “despair”)

Lets look at some current stats today regarding depression

Depression has been called the common cold of mental illness

In the U.S. each year 11,000,000 suffer from it

According to the Practical Encyclopedia of Christian Counseling, “A

person becomes depressed when he follows his feelings instead of

his responsibilities.”

It goes on that unfinished tasks pile up, the higher the stack the lower

the spirit

It (PECC) finishes by saying that this is avoided by following

responsibilities no matter how we feel

So where does praise fit in, in all of this?

Notice praise is like a garment (NKJV, ESV) cloak (NASB 2020)

Praise isn’t just something we do IT’S SOMETHING WE WEAR

Praise is put on, no matter how we feel or what we are facing

Garments are essential when it comes to facing the elements

How much more when facing spiritual opposition

What are some other things we put on like clothing?

We put on spiritual armor like military apparel (Ephesians 6:11)

We clothe ourselves with humility (I Peter 5:5)

We are to put on the new man (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10)

Look at Revelation 19:7-8 and the bride Jesus is returning for

Jesse Tracy has been teaching the men about redemptive realities,

what are our redemptive responsibilities?

With the spiritually depressed “can’t” is a favorite word

Common expressions according to the PECC are “I can’t go on”, “I

can’t take it anymore”, “I can’t do anything”

As Christians we must go on and we can do all things through Christ

who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)

Being a husband or wife, mother or father, remaining employed,

Continuing to go to church, reading your Bible, praying to God, loving

your neighbor, forgiving one another, etc… should not be optional for

the believer in Jesus Christ

Whenever quitting or stopping is a part of your language a spiritual

influence that is not from God is messing with you