Reading from Philippines 4:6-7, Bro Eli told us that as christians we are not supposed to suffer depression. He said that a christian is a faithful servant of God who is not supposed to suffer depression. To overcome depression, we are to live by faith. He had earlier warned that if we worry or are anxious, we will suffer depression.
According to Luke 16:20-23 and Hebrews 9:27, Bro Eli Soriano explained to us that everyone will die one day. Whether poor or rich; whether illiterate or educated; famous or not, death is the end of all humans. Ecclesiastes 9:5. There's no such thing as reincarnation. The will of God is that every man will die. That is God's will and nothing will make it fail to come to pass. So irrespective of the honour and prestige attached to our personalities, we will die one day.
Pastor Eli, also reminded us of eternal life to come. He brought to our awareness that after this short life, there is another life to come. In that life we will not die. We will live forever. Some will live in paradise like Lazarus while others will live in eternal torment like the rich man.
To overcome depression, don't worry about dying. Be prepared to accept death when it comes. Understand that some people will die very young and yet others will die very old. We should be prepared and desire, like the thief on the cross to enter paradise with Jesus, Matthew 23:42-43.
In Isaiah 57:1, Bro Eli told us that if one are righteous, God can take that person away. By this we should accept the will of God if we get to such points where we are told that we will die younger than expected.
God is good and loving. He knows everything. He understands what is coming in the future. If God sees that evil is coming, He could take the righteous away. Let us not forget that God didn't promise us that we will live forever in this earth. He promised us heaven where we will live in perfect peace and joy with our Creator.
Bro Eli speaking from Matthew 10:29, told us that our lives are valuable to God. Not even the small birds in the air can die without the will of God. How much more is our lives more valuable to God. He admonished us not to be preoccupied with death instead we should think on heaven.
Mark 8:36, what will be our profit if we die without salvation? What can we give in exchange for our souls? If we are saved we should not worry about dying. Dying should be with expectations like a student who is graduating with honors.
Job 2:9; 1:21; 1 Peter 5:7. In conclusion, we should not forget that God is a loving Father. He cares for us. Therefore let us throw away every anxiety. We should keep in mind that even the apostles who were performing miracles died too. We should learn from Job. Job wasn't depressed. The apostles and others might have suffered physical pains which is normal for all humans but they were not depressed. Death will certainly come because it's appointed unto men to die but if we die in Christ there shouldn't be any fears or worries.
May God bless Bro Eli Soriano, Bro Daniel Razor and the entire MCGI team for this teaching.
