Pastor Cho¡¯s Sermon of the Living Water

The Mentally Disabled Person

¡°Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life¡± (Proverbs 4:23 NIV).

Many people have obstacles in their lives and do not live up to their mental capacity. Why? They are mentally disabled. Who are the mentally disabled? They are people without dreams, those who are unthankful, and those who are negative.

Without dreams, people are mentally disabled because they cannot live up to their potential. Jesus was crucified because He had a dream to save people through His death on the Cross. His dream was for people to participate in His blessings of salvation, healing, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and have eternal life. Jesus wants us to use our dreams, to produce increasingly more than what we¡¯re producing now.

Unthankful people are also mentally disabled. When the Israelites complained, God could not use them. We need to give thanks to our parents, our teachers and especially to God in all circumstances - good or bad (Psalm 103:1-2). Then we will have the mental power to continually be more effective than we are now.

Negative people are mentally disabled. They destroy themselves as well as other people. We must not try to tear down someone who is better off than we are, but must determine to dispel negative thoughts and renew our minds. Negative thinking produces poison; positive thinking promotes good health. Joseph was sold and put in prison (Gen. 50:20-21), but positive thoughts gave him the power to solve problems. Positive thoughts of love and rejoicing will help develop our mental power.

Heavenly Father, am I mentally disabled? Or am I a thankful, positive person with dreams, having the mental capacity to be increasingly more effective than I am now?