REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

"Cheer Up!

 

ICEBREAKER: Tell us one thing that would cheer you up right now? ( a raise, candy, roses, a vacation, an ice cream cone, a good nights rest, a fun night out, if the Browns could win a game, etc...)

 

INTRODUCTION:  Our society even understands the need to be cheerful so much so that we have put products on the market named after the concept, such as Cheer detergent and Joy  dish washing soap. Everyone knows how much fun it is to do laundry and wash dishes! One of my favorite candies is Almond Joy, it will make your tongue so happy it will want to slap your brains out! McDonald's has developed the Happy Meal.

 

But truly sometimes, like David at Ziklag, you just have to cheer yourself up! It is true we live in a very sober and serious world but the Bible says let not our heart be troubled! With all that we have going for us in America, compared to the rest of the world, depression is still a serious issue! It's time for God's people to begin to cheer up our world. We will discuss a number of core values that should change how you deal with negatives in our society.

 

Remember, as a believer in Jesus, the worst day you will ever have on this earth is the only Hell you will ever know! Cheer up!  You are destined for an eternity of everlasting joy! In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy!

 

CONFESSION:

If Jesus could be an agent of change and good cheer to his generation...so can I

If Jesus laid down his life...so can I

If Jesus obeyed the will of his Father...so can I

If Jesus defeated satan...so can I

If Jesus knew his assignment, calling and destiny...so can I 

If Jesus spoke from wisdom and not just emotion...so can I 

If Jesus conquered depression...so can I

If Jesus could speak the truth in love...so can I 

If Jesus could be happy while he was enduring...so can I 

If Jesus overcame temptation...so can I 

If Jesus forgave his betrayers and his persecutors...so can I 

If Jesus loved the unloveable...so can I

If Jesus fed the hungry...so can I 

If Jesus could give cheerfully without resentment or strings attached...so can I 

If Jesus got angry but did not sin...so can I 

If Jesus changed the course of history...so can I 

If Jesus righted the wrongs of his generations...so can I 

If Jesus set captives free...so can I

If Jesus discipled others...so can I

If Jesus could live in this world but not be of this world...so can I 

If Jesus rejoiced in the face of adversity...so can I

If Jesus could let God be his defense...so can I

If Jesus grew in stature and favor with God and man...so can I 

If Jesus confronted the injustice of his day...so can I 

If Jesus wore the finest seamless robe of his day...so can I 

If Jesus broke through, cultural, gender, socioeconomic and racial barriers...so can I

 

DEFINITION: Cheer Up means...

·        Chin up, (Poppy Mefford, my great grandfather used to say "Get that Mefford  chin up!") 

·        Get your spirit up...

·        Encourage yourself and others

·        Praise

·        Rejoice

·        Comfort

·        Be glad

·        Be bright

·        Be Confident

 

SCIENTIFIC FACT: 

·        Smile: it biochemically signals the brain that everything is gonna be okay

·        Smile: it takes far less muscles than it does to frown

·        Smile: it may eliminate the need for a facelift 

 

STATISTICS:

·        It is estimated that 1 out of every 33 children suffer from some symptoms of depression.

·        Likewise, 1 out of 8, or 12.5% of teenagers suffer.

·        Among adults 18 and over there are approximately 14.8 million Americans suffering in any given year.

·         Although men and woman both suffer from depression, it is more common in woman. In fact, females were more likely to be diagnosed than men by 20.2% vs. 8.2%.

·        As far as ethnicity, non-Hispanic whites are the most common group to suffer from symptoms.

·        In adults ages 15-44, depression is the leading cause of disability.

·        The type of depression that occurs most often is a major depressive disorder.

·        Some estimates show that depression will be the second leading illness by the year 2020, those are some truly staggering numbers.

·        People between the ages of 10 and 24, should be watched especially close if they are suffering from depression because suicide is the third leading cause of death. This most likely happens from suffering from depression.

·        It is estimated that only about 10% of people suffering from depression ever seek treatment. This is significant because if left untreated depression can lead to serious physical damage.

·        Alcohol and depression have a close correlation. Estimates show that as much as 40% of people who abuse alcohol suffer from depressive symptoms. Likewise 5%-10% of people who suffer from depression abuse alcohol.

·        These numbers may be startling if you have never seen them before, but they show just how prevalent depression actually is. More importantly, it shows that if you or someone you know are suffering, you/they are not alone. It will be okay, as long as you realize the symptoms, and seek help. As the statistics show, only about 10% of people are seeking treatment; that is way too low.

*** Sources:

CDC Anxiety and Depression http://www.cdc.gov/Features/dsBRFSSDepressionAnxiety/

Livestrong.com Depression Facts and Figures http://www.livestrong.com/article/169031-depression-facts-figures/

WebMD What is Depression? http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/what-is-depression

 

OUTLINE: 13 Ways to Cheer Up Yourself When You Are Down in the Dumps

1.    Listen to upbeat, inspiring, energetic music

2.    Read and journal positive, uplifting, faith-filled Bible passages

3.    Call up your doctor and get a physical checkup 

4.    Exercise to shape up your body and get your stamina built up

5.    Eat up healthy foods and drink up plenty of clean alkaline  water

6.    Hang out with positive uplifting people

7.    See a trained professional Spirit-filled inner healing specialist to get your spirit up

8.    Get eight hours of sleep nightly so you can wake up rested

9.    Get a check up from the neck up to change your thinking because as a man thinks so is he

10. Give up what you cannot change and change up what you can 

11. Sow a seed of kindness and generosity and cheer up someone else

12. Look up to God as your source!

13. Straighten up! Stop filling up your life with destructive, temporal,

sinful ideas, desires and ways!

 

TEXT: John 16:33

 

CHEER UP WHEN YOU ARE IN A SEASON OF TEMPTATION

My brethren, count it all JOY when ye fall into divers temptations. (James 1:2 KJV)

 

CHEER UP IF YOURE COUNTED WORTHY TO BE PERSECUTED

And they departed from the presence of the council, REJOICING that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. (Acts 5:41 KJV)

 

CHEER UP IF YOU HAVE ENDURED HARDSHIP

Behold, we count them HAPPY which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. (James 5:11 KJV)

 

IF YOU ARE MARRIED, CHEER UP YOUR WIFE

When a man hath taken a new wife, he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business: but he shall be free at home one year, and shall CHEER UP his wife which he hath taken. (Deuteronomy 24:5 KJV) 

 

(I've read that shopping and helping your wife with chores leads to the possibility of getting to cheer up your wife!  A year seems like a lot of cheering up!)

 

CHEER UP FROM THE INSIDE OUT

Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart CHEER thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment. (Ecclesiastes 11:9 KJV)

 

A POSITIVE MINDSET BRINGS OUT A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION

A merry heart maketh a CHEERFUL countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. (Proverbs 15:13 KJV)

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression. (Proverbs 15:13 GWT)

 

IF YOU ARE A CHEERFUL GIVER,  GOD'S LOOKING FOR YOU

Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a CHEERFUL giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7 KJV)

 

IF YOUR GOING THROUGH A TRIBULATION WITH JESUS CHEER UP

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good CHEER; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 KJV)

 

IF YOU NEED FORGIVENESS CHEER UP

And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good CHEER, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Matthew 9:2 KJV)

 

IF YOU NEED A HEALING WITH JESUS ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, CHEER UP

When Jesus turned and saw her he said, Cheer up, daughter! Your faith has made you well. At that very moment the woman became well. (Matthew 9:22 GWT)

 

IF YOU ARE IN A STORM WITH JESUS CHEER UP

But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. (Mark 6:49, 50 KJV)

 

CHEER UP CORE BELIEFS! IT JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER FOR THE BELIEVER!

·        Cheer up, our God is always prepared. There are no surprises to our God; He's always got a  better plan

·        Cheer up, our God has better technology and better strategies than our enemy

·        Cheer up, our God has given us a better covenant with better promises

·        Cheer up, our God is a better war strategist and has better weapons

·        Cheer up, our God is better resourced, better equipped, and better qualified to lead and to model how to serve

·        Cheer up, our God is a redeemer, a healer, a savior, a provider, a protector, a creator, a blesser,  a teacher, a forgiver, a restorer and better yet,  he is so much more

·        Cheer up, our God is a better father, a better king, a better, a better general, a better  builder, a better friend and the list goes on and on

·        Cheer up, our God has better wisdom, better intelligence,  better knowledge, better understanding, better facts, better data, better statistics, better records and better information

·        Cheer up, our God is a better remunerator. He is a  rewarder of those who believe in him and diligently seek Him. The more I give, the more he gives!

·        Cheer up, our God has a better back up plan. He causes all things to work for the good of them that called according to his purpose and love Him

·        Cheer up, our God has a better life insurance policy, a better health insurance policy, better medical services, seriously better fire protection, a better service agreement, a better guarantee, a better warranty 

·        Cheer up, our God has a better retirement plan, a better pincheon plan,  better investment portfolio, better incentives, better promotions, better raises and better benefits

·        Cheer up, our God has better cash flow, better branding, better name awareness, a better reputation, a better balance sheet, better assets, a better staff, better forecasts ,a  better marketing plan, a better business strategy, and better quality assurance

 

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1.    Who do you call when you get depressed? Who is the most positive person you know?

2.    How do you deal with depression?

3.    Identify one thing in your life or in your world that you have had to cheer yourself up over.

4.    Which of the core beliefs listed above gives you the most comfort?

5.    Describe one thing Jesus did to cheer people up.

6.    Who in your life is God calling you to cheer up?

 

PRAISE REPORTS & PRAYER REQUESTS:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

 

ACTION POINT: This week I will make it my business to cheer up at least one person every day! This week, everyday, I will make at least one positive confession over my world, my country, my state, my family, my church, my pastor, my business, my employer or my school, and myself.  This week everyday I'm going to smile more!