Jesus Loves You

Hello There,

I'm excited that you joined us on this great occasion to share the word of God. Today's message will be coming from John 10:10-11, And it reads:

"The thief cometh not, but for to still, kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

May God add a blessing to the readers, hearers, and doers of His holy word. Today, I believe it is necessary that I share with you a dream that God showed me about the saints of God being burdened and bound by the spirit of heaviness. I went to sleep November 10, 2020 on a Tuesday night. On that particular night, God showed me three people that were bound by the spirit of heaviness. Some people call it the spirit of despondency. Modern psychologists call it depression, and they say it's a mental illness, but in Isaiah 61:3 of the bible the prophet Isaiah identifies it as the spirit of heaviness. In fact Isaiah 61: 1-3 God guides the prophet Isaiah in giving Messianic prophecy concerning Jesus Christ in saying:

"The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

In this Messianic prophecy, Isaiah describes the despondency and the weight of depression that people experienced is caused by a spirit of heaviness. If the word of God describes it as a spirit of heaviness, it is indeed the spirit of heaviness. In John 1:1 the Apostle John, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The Word of God precedes and is superior to all of the wisdom of man. Before there was ever a psychologist or a life coach, there was the Word of God, and the Word of God identifies that there is a demon called the spirit of heaviness who brings about despondency and depression.

In this dream, I saw a number of three people who were bound by the spirit of heaviness. This reveals to me that in this season many people in the church are suffering from the attacks of the spirit of heaviness. In the dream, God showed me that even though you maybe bound by the spirit of heaviness, you can smile again. There was one command that I was given in this dream, and that is to tell people that "Jesus loves you." In this dream, God showed me preaching to the three people "Jesus loves you." When they heard the message, they all began to smile. Therefore, I know that I was given the commandment to preach the love of Christ. When I awoke from the dream, I saw in my phone that I had received a text message from my pastor Elder Michael Hickmon asking me to preach in the coming Sunday. So, I preached "Jesus Loves You" in the past Sunday service, and in this writing to you I also preach "Jesus Loves You."

Jesus Christ proclaims in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He also said in John 10:10-11 "The thief cometh not, but for to still kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

Firstly, in verse 10, we find where Jesus describes the mission of Satan, which is to still, kill, and destroy. It is imperative that we know that it is Satan's sole mission to still, kill, and destroy. Therefore, every demon under the leadership Satan has the same mission. The spirit of heaviness is a demon who is under the leadership whose mission is to still, kill, and destroy. The spirit of heaviness's job is to drain mankind of joy, and it oppresses mankind with heaviness, sorrow, and mourning. However, God declares through the prophet Isaiah that he would "...appoint to them (the saints) that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified."

God declared that He would give comfort to His saints that mourn. He promised that He would give the saints beauty for ashes. Ashes represent death, but God promised to give His saints beauty for ashes. He also promised to His saints that He would give them the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It is my firm belief that God has kept this promise in particular, by giving us Jesus Christ, and that is something to give God praise for. All glory to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit for the person and the work of Jesus Christ. God has given us the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61 KJV). This is why it is important to know that Jesus Loves You! Also, it is healing to your mind, body, and spirit when we praise God. It is healing to our minds, body, and spirit when we declare to Jesus Christ that we love Him. Praise is so important because it takes the believers' mind away from the death and dread that they have seen; and praise puts the believers' mind on the goodness of God. This is doctrine concerning praise is true biblically. In Isaiah 26:3 the prophet Isaiah declared, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

Jesus Christ proclaims the love of God so great that He, himself, was given so that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. In John 10, Jesus claims that He is the good shepherd who was willing to die in our place. In John 15:13 Christ proclaims that there is no greater love than this, that a man will lay down his life for his friends. Dare I say to you, that God Jehovah loved us with such a great love that He gave His only begotten Son. Dare I say unto you that there is no one that loves you more than Jesus Christ, because He gave his life to save us from our sins. Jesus declared that there is no greater love than this, that a man will lay down his life for his friends. By this we know that Jesus demonstrated the greatest love there is by giving his life to save us from our sins.

No one in the world loves you more than Jesus Christ. Jesus loves you with an immeasurable love. You don't have to live in fear. You don't have life in bondage. You don't have to live in depression. You don't have to be bound by the spirit of heaviness. Whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 3:17, "The Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." You can smile again, because the God of heaven loves you with an unfailing love.

Lastly, the Apostle John declares in Revelation 12:11, "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto death." Who is the "him" in this particular scripture? The "him" in this particular scripture is Satan. John is saying that the saints of God have and will overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. I submit to you today that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ is the perfect Lamb of God who sacrificed His own life for the sins of the world. It is for this cause, Jesus Christ is the only one who can save us. This is why the Apostle John declared that the saints overcame Satan by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony. It is for this cause that I believe it to be necessary to to tell you my testimony so that it can help some one overcome the spirit of heaviness.

My Testimony

I used to be a football player. I am known as a tunnel-vision type of person. I was not very good in school. I was a C student who made D's too often. Just like now, A students were considered to be the best. So, I decided that school was not for me. Although I was not a good student, I was very athletic. So, I decided to put all of my eggs in one basket, and that basket was football. Me being a tunnel-vision person put all of my hope in football, because I believed, at that time, that football would be the only way I could make something out of myself. I spent all of the time in my day and my night on football.

I watched football on the television. I played the football video games, and I worked my body out all for the cause of football. My parents would tell me every so often "Darryl you are spending too much time on that football." They would say that often, and I said with my mouth "The only thing I loved more than football was God." I tried to prove that to my parents and to God. I often prayed. I would pray to God all through the day, but the majority of my time went to football. I read the bible for hours in the bible to prove to God that I loved Him more than football. I was a good player in high school, and I was determined to play football in college. My high school coach became the head coach for Northwest Mississippi Community College. I called him, and wouldn't help me. Me being the tunnel-vision person I am could not realize that God was closing the door on football, but I forced the issue. I was determined to play football.

So, I called the football coach for Holmes Community College in Goodman, Mississippi. They allowed me to play. I was doing well, and the coaches had great plans for me. They redshirted me to have me for an extra year, and I was given a partial scholarship. There was only one problem, God seemed so far away from me. For those that know me, they know that I hate bugs. I especially hate bugs to be present when I am praying. I cleaned my room diligently trying to get the bugs out of my space so that I could pray. I would pray and pray and pray. Yet, God seemed so far away. Then, I knew that God was telling me to make a choice. I would have to choose whether I wanted football or God. God showed me that I would be successful in football, but he wasn't going to be there. God was not willing to share me with the sport of football. So, I went to the defensive coordinator, and told him "This year will be my last year playing football." The coach tried to get my dad to talk to me, but my mind was made up to stay with Jesus.

It is my advice to you that God does not want to share you with anything else. The bible teaches that God is a jealous God. In Exodus 34:14 Moses commanded, "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." God is a jealous God, and He is not going to allow anyone to play both sides of the fence. God wants you to choose Him, and He will not allow any idols to be beside Him. God stands alone. I am so glad that God caused me to realize the idolatry that I had in my heart. I am thankful to God that He gave me the mind to choose Him. God gave me a mind to follow Jesus Christ and to serve Jesus Christ. I still have the mind to serve the MOST HIGH God of the bible, and His name is JEHOVAH.

I decided to choose God, but I must let you know that sin has a penalty. For me, that penalty was a bout I had with the spirit of heaviness. I was severely depressed, because I had invested so much time and energy into football. When I gave up football, that is when the spirit of heaviness launched his attack. The spirit of heaviness told me that " I was nothing before football, and I'll be nothing after football." The spirit of heaviness told me that "I was good for nothing. " I had fallen so low in depression. I had fallen to the point of hating the day I was born. Finally, I realized that I had fallen in depression, and I prayed to God "Lord, if you deliver me from this, I will preach your word." For me the idol used to be football, but I want you to examine yourself to see if there are any idols in your life. Paul says in his second letter to the church in Corinth "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates." Examine yourself, and be sure that you are in the faith. Examine yourself, and determine within yourself that you will not allow anything to take the place of God.

I would like to pray with you, and one of the prayers that I believe is fitting for this context is the prayer of Psalm 51.

Let us pray:

Have mercy upon us, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, thou disirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop. Wash me clean with the blood of Jesus Christ, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Lord God Jehovah, help us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice that is holy and acceptable unto thee, the only wise God our Savior. These things we ask in Jesus Christ mighty name,

Amen,