10250 North Freeway @ West Road
Houston, Texas 77037
Tel: (281) 447-8484
Pastor: Dr. Lester Hutson

All of the material listed herein is the property of the Byron McCartney family, and may not be copied without express written authorization.

God does not want His children to be depressed or discouraged and if you are suffering from either condition and take the appropriate steps He can help you overcome these conditions. The first step, which we covered in the previous lesson, was to become a child of God. We learned that physical birth does not place one in the family of God. This is accomplished through our placing our belief and faith in Christ as the Son of God and what He did for us on Calvary. John said it this way, 'whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God' (I John 5:1).

Once you have determined your relationship with God you must then establish and maintain fellowship with Him. When you put your faith and trust in Christ your relationship with God as your father was permanently established. However, just because you are one of His children does not automatically put you in fellowship with Him. And if you are not in fellowship with God then you fall under His disciplinary hand.

God cannot bless a child who is disobedient, rebellious or otherwise in need of His discipline. God's Word tells us that, 'as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him' (Deuteronomy 8:5-6). And Paul reiterates the fact that God disciplines His wayward children: 'For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth' (Hebrews 12:6). Solomon put it this way, 'For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth' (Proverbs 3:12). If a child of God is not living in fellowship with God then he/she will suffer the consequences of God's loving but definite disciplinary measures which are designed to bring that child back onto the right track.

For instance, if a child of God is not putting Him first in their finances it should come as no surprise if they have money problems. I've known Christians who were discouraged over their strained financial situation. In every case they were not tithing. On the other hand I know several very wealthy Christians who have always put God first and given Him at the very least one tenth of their gross earnings. It isn't the money that God is primarily interested in, although tithing is a commandment (Malachi 3:10), it is the fact that the child is recognizing that God is the reason for the income and that without Him their would be no income. Tithing and giving is the outcome of a heart and mind devoted to and in fellowship with the Lord.

Then there are the Christians I've known that continually had problems with relationships. In every case these Christians were thinking primarily of themselves and what they wanted and could get out of the relationships. Then, I've known those who loved the Lord above all else and then considered the welfare and well-being of others before thinking of themselves. Their priority was God first, others second and themselves last. These had lasting and meaningful relationships while the former had nothing but disappointment after disappointment. Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was 'thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself' (Matthew 22:39).

I've also known Christians who did not attend one of the Lord's churches and always seemed to be plagued with problems of one sort or the other. Paul warns us in Hebrews 10:25 not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Christ instituted the church and it is His desire that all born again Christians be a part of one of His churches. If a child of God is not a member in good standing with one of the Lord's churches (not obeying Hebrews 10:25) then the disciplinary hand of God will be on that child.

The point is that if you are a child of God and are discouraged or depressed it could well be that the cause of your discouragement or depression is that you are under God's disciplinary hand. If you do not put God first in all your affairs you will invariably make wrong decisions and suffer the consequences. If you do not put God first in your finances you will not prosper and will most likely suffer financial woes. If you are selfish and think more of yourself than of others you will never have meaningful or lasting relationships. And the list could go on and on.

So how do you establish fellowship with God? Jesus put it this way, 'ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you' (John 15:14). If we are to be in fellowship with God we must do what His Word tells us to do.   The greatest commandment is that we love God above all else and put Him first in everything we do (Matthew 22:36-37, 1 Corinthians 10:31).

The first step to fellowship after salvation is baptism into the membership of one of the Lord's churches. Christ commanded His first church to win souls to Him and baptize them. In Acts we see that church obeying that command. Chapter 2 and verse 41 of Acts tells of 3000 souls being added to that first church through baptism. Acts 16:31-33 tells us that the first thing the Philippian jailer did after accepting Christ as his savior was to get baptized. Acts 8:36-38 shows the Ethiopian getting baptized right after his salvation. And there are other verses which show the importance of the convert to be baptized. If you have not been scripturally baptized you should do so at your earliest opportunity so that you can enjoy the benefits of being in fellowship with God.

The next step in establishing fellowship with God is to be a part of one of His churches. If you have been scripturally baptized but have drifted away from the membership of a scriptural church then God cannot bless your life the way He would like to and you might be under His discipline. God's Word tells us that we are not to forsake going to church (Hebrews 10:25). The church is were God meets with His people. It is where the truth is taught (1 Timothy 3:15). It is through one of His churches that God gets honor and glory (Ephesians 3:21). Christ established and died for the local church (Ephesians 5:25) and it is His desire that we be an active part of one of His churches.

Once you have joined one of the Lord's churches then the next step is to serve God through that church. The most important thing on God's heart is the winning of souls (2 Peter 3:9). Consequently He established the church to preach the gospel to all people. As members of one of His churches our duty is to support that institution's mission to reach the world for Christ with our time, money and talents. We are not to simply warm a pew but be active in church work.

To remain in fellowship with the Lord we must daily submit ourselves to His Word and remain in good standing with one of His churches. Matthew 18 records Christ's warning that any Christian who is outside the membership of one of His churches is to be considered a 'heathen and a publican' (v17). Paul tells us that a Christian who is not a member of one of the Lord's churches is outside the protection God gives church members and subject to the direct attacks of Satan (1 Corinthians 5:5).

Now if we fall out of fellowship with the Lord 1 John 1:9 tells us that all we need do is confess the sin which took us out of fellowship with Him and He will forgive us. Then we must take the necessary steps to get back in fellowship with Him. If we've left the membership of one of His churches, we must get back into one. If we are a member but have been inactive we must become active. If we've stopped giving we must resume giving. Whatever steps we took to remove ourselves from fellowship with Him we must reverse.

SUMMARY:

If a child of God is not living right with God then that child's life will be plagued with problems of one sort or another. Just like a human parent, God disciplines His children to get them to forsake their selfish and sinful ways and to put Him on the throne in their lives. He knows what is best for His children and His desire is to give them the very best.

NEXT LESSON:

Once you have established fellowship with God His blessings on your life will be available to you. He will help you overcome your discouragement or depression if you will accept His help. More on this topic in the next lesson.

"It Does Make a Difference What You Believe"