This biblical teaching is a production of The Walk Ministries with Pastor Jeno Shaw. You can watch the video below, and then read the teaching notes that follow.
The Recent Passing
You all know of the recent passing of Naomi Judd, who was an iconic music singer who often sang with her daughters Wynonna and Ashley.
The reports are that, although she was older in age (76), she died by suicide. Now suicide can leave many Christians wondering what happens to that person’s spirit. Some Christians are even taught that suicide equals eternal damnation.
So let’s start to clear up a few things. The world calls it “mental illness” or “depression,” but the real root behind it is a spirit of “suicide” — a demonic entity that wants to take your life.
John 10:10 (KJV)
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Believe it or not, I struggled with depression earlier in my life. While in depression, it took a tremendous amount of effort just to do the simple things in life, such as getting out of bed, showering, walking, etc. While walking, at times it felt like I was walking through mud and my feet felt like these weights I had to lift out of the mud in order to take a step. It felt like I was eating dinner with the devil.
There is also this pain that is deep inside that just doesn’t go away but for only a few things and only temporarily. Things such as this is what many people turn to in order to take the pain away: drugs, alcohol, relationships, and shopping. Shopping ultimately became my thing at one point. It distracted me from my pain. Shopping and buying something new would put a Band-Aid over my invisible wound and I felt better. But this only lasted for a few days or a week and then the pain came back.
I can look back and laugh now because its my badge
Looking back, I can see how God was guiding me through this difficult time. It was because of this depression that I went on this search for something more. I searched in Buddha, Islam (religion of the Muslims), tarot cards, New Age, whatever. And then last was the Bible, a relationship with Jesus Christ, but that came much later.
Within the throws of depression
I just couldn’t take it anymore. At one time, the pain was so deep I decided to take my own life. I went into the bathroom and grabbed a razor blade. I began to cut my wrist in a north and south — up and down direction. Some say that’s how you know when someone is serious about suicide that they will cut up and down, whereas a person that’s just crying for help will cut across the wrist in a west to east motion. So I finally decided to do it. I began cutting my skin open, and wouldn’t you know, the blade was dull. I wasn’t going to let that stop me, so I pressed down harder into my skin. But it wasn’t how I thought it would be. Even suicide was causing me pain through the dull blade, and I thought the reason I wanted to commit suicide was because of the pain I was in, but then the very act of suicide WAS pain. I thought, “Oh man, I’m even a failure at suicide.” In school, I felt like a failure. In family life, I felt like a failure. Everywhere I looked, I saw failure and hopelessness. And then, in my final moments here on earth, I was a failure at suicide.
Then a thought came into my mind (Holy Spirit)
What if tomorrow was a better day? I highly doubted it but then I had another thought. “Okay, if it’s not better, then I can end my life at that point.” So then guess what? The next day was just a little better, not much, but it was a little better. So I took it day-by-day and slowly a day became a week, a week became a month and next thing I knew, I was living life again.
The nurse gasped
Years later, I had to have an operation on my hand. The nurse gave me a razor and told me that, although the operation would be on my hand, I needed to shave the hair off of my wrist prior to the operation. As I began to shave off my hair, it was like the scar on my wrist reared its ugly head. It was totally unexpected, and I was caught off guard because I was so separated from that dark time of depression that I had completely forgotten about the scar. As I was somewhat startled, I could tell the nurse was taken aback as well. She let out a faint gasp. I ignored it, and she began to roll me into the operation room.
Suicide is NOT the unforgiveable sin
There is an unforgivable sin. You cannot publicly deny Jesus Christ or deny the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 6:4-6 (KJV)
(4) “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (5) And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, (6) If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
During these days, you can see pastors, laymen, deacons, you name it — people of the faith, people that have tasted and have known the Holy Spirit — through deception or through open doors, now make the open choice to pull away and to even deny or doubt what they once believed, publicly denying God.
Matthew 10:33 (KJV)
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”
We must guard the treasure that our Lord Jesus Christ has put in us!
2 Timothy 1:14, NLT
“Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”
When you turn your back on God, when you speak against the Holy Spirit, there’s a hardening of the heart and you don’t feel the need to repent.
Mark 3:29 (KJV)
“But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:”
Now many of you may be concerned thinking, “Oh no, I may have done this!” Well the good news is, the fact that you are concerned is proof that you did not do this! Otherwise, if you did you wouldn’t care and you wouldn’t have that fear of the Lord — your heart would have hardened. So rest assured if you have a healthy fear/respect of the Lord then you didn’t blaspheme the Holy Spirit!
Back to suicide — there is a big difference between a person who is not in their right mind, someone who is in despair, in great pain who just wants to end it versus someone who wants to bomb themselves and take out as many people as possible (suicide bomber). One person doesn’t want to harm anyone, just end their life, and the other person wants to do what — kill, steal and destroy. Does that sound familiar?
So I believe it’s a case-by-case basis. God is a just judge and, yes, He loves His children, and mercy does triumph over judgment concerning his children who didn’t want to harm anyone but only wanted to end the pain in their lives.
Now this is NOT an endorsement for suicide. We are to finish our race. We are to be warriors until the end. I always tell people that as long as I have a breath, I will praise the Lord!
Please get help if you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide. Talk to someone; vent it out. There are many avenues at your fingertips. One of those avenues is this ministry. You can contact us HERE. If you have a prayer need, you can send it through our Prayer Request Form. We would love to hear from you and stand ready to pray and do battle WITH you!
I Love you all,
Pastor/Coach Jeno
