The Bibles teaching on Self harming

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The Bibles teaching on Self harming Suicide

• Northern Ireland 2006 - 300 people in NI took
  their own Lives
• ( source. QUB 2007 ) Dept. Mental Health

2
Recent statistics 2007

• Many suicides are hidden
• so number could be higher.
• 291 registered suicides here this year
• mostly teenage boys.
• Boys complete suicide Girls are attempters

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Causes of suicides

• Impulsivity Personality characteristics
• Lack of Belongingness
• Burdensomeness
• Biochemistry in the brain

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World suicide rates

• Wealthy countries Japan has rates twice those
  of USA
• Religion is a protective factor in Islamic
  countries Iran, Egypt, Kuwait Syria
• Strong sanctions against suicide
• China has high rates also, in rural areas.

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European Suicide rates

• Highest rates are in Soviet countries Eastern
  Bloc, also Baltic States.
• In mid 1990s Lithuania 40.2 in 2004
• men in particular very highly vulnerable
• Alcohol is a major factor but Changes in the
  country is a vital factor also.

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Now the Bible

• Popular in Greek Roman times.
• Fundamental part of our human self consciousness
• Early suicide by Ajax, Roman soldier a man of
  immense strength, fell on his own sword. Lost the
  battle to Achilles.

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Suicide Judeo Christian tradition

• Lets study Judges Ch 9 53
• Main person Abimalech
• Ruler of Northern Kingdom
• Self inflicted death, due to disgrace, didnt
  want to be killed by a woman
• First recorded suicide in Holy Scripture.

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Samson Suicide Judges Ch 16

• Focus on his emotional state
• Tortured by the Philistines
• Prays for strength pulls down the roof on himself
  the Philistines.
• Lets study verses 27 ff remember how 3,000 men
  were on the roof! What a death !

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Gods effective presence

• Remember God hears all our prayers, every single
  word.
• Samson CALLED on the name of the Lord.
• Remember me! How often do we call?
• on God or do we quietly pray when making a
  request to Almighty God?

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Sin

• Know that sin keeps us from feeling like praying
• See how Samson pulled two pillars together
• Despite his death by suicide, God still answered
  his prayer for strength.
• God will give you strength also to endure pain
  and suffering.

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Emotions and self harm

• The bible teaches us that we must not allow
  repressed sin to stop us from a full restoration
  by God.
• No matter how depressed we are God will RESTORE
  US
• WE must CALL upon Him - He is the Rock our hope
  refuge and strength.
• Samson was vulnerable like our youth of today

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Betrayal

• Samson was infatuated with Delilah
• He became vulnerable because of this
• He was motivated by greed, she wore him down
• She put immense psychological pressure on his
  mind.

13
Samsons betrayal

• He betrayed God by depending on his own strength.
• Samson wasted his life,he lacked God
• Many of our youth lack God, so do not feel they
  belong to God
• His death seen as a heroic act to liberate his
  people.

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King Sauls suicide

• Turn to Samuel Ch 31
• Wounded in battle facing humiliation by
  Philistines
• See verses 45 he asked his armour bearer to
  kill him
• Draw thy sword and thrust me through
  therewith he refused to kill him
• Saul took his own sword and fell over it.

15
2nd Samuel

• Here we read of another suicide
• AHITOPHEL joined Absaloms rebellion against
  King David
• Later lost his position and killed himself by
  hanging.
• Read Ch 17 v 23 where he hanged himself as he
  suffered low moods and low self esteem.

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Low Self Esteem

• Old Testament stories all tell of self inflicted
  harm
• Each has a common factor intense humiliation or
  a military defeat leading to embarrassment.
• God can raise your self esteem. You are
  important in Gods sight precious as more than
  any jewel.

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How to survive

• THE INERTIA PAST this is state of mind which
  says Why should I change?
• Think what would have happened if Abraham had
  refused to move on from the Ur of the Chaldees!
• Or refused to follow Gods leading into Canaan,
  the promised land.

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What about YOU?

• Ask if you are stuck in the past , past worries
  not forgiving others who hurt you.
• Repressing these anxieties is dangerous
• leads to stress and cancer states.
• What if Jesus had not died for you?
• Move on with God in your life.

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Resolving Painful memories

• Nostalgia Guilt and Inertia need to be dealt with
  in a sensitive loving manner
• Cast all your burdens on the Lord.
• See Philippians 3 v 13 14 One thing I do
  pressing on towards the goal
• Christians also can break free from past
  humiliations focus your attitudes on Him

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Exhaustion

• Study 1 Kings Ch. 18 -19 Lets look at Elijah
• He suffered burnout stress
• Greatest moment was Confronting the worshippers
  of pagan Baal on Mt Carmel
• Baal was a fertility god believed brought rains
  and bountiful harvests
• Introduced into Israel by Queen Jezebel
• This angered God.

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Elijah drought

• He announced the drought for three years
• King Ahab blamed the prophet Elijah for the
  nations catastrophe
• Confrontation was dramatic 450 prophets before
  the false gods
• Who would answer first Baal or God?
• Answer was our God. See 1 Kings 19 v 4-5.

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Self cutting Baal worship

• Baal prophets tried to get their god to answer
  first so began self cutting
• Se 1 Kings Ch 18 19
• The blood flowing freely was symbolic of self
  suffering pain
• God showed His power over the false prophet of
  Baal, down came the flames on the altar Elijah
  had built Elijah ran a 17 mile marathon to
  Jezreel.

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Finally

• Elijah was mentally physically emotionally
  tired
• He was in a conflict situation- like you and me,
  his life under threat by Jezebel
• A big spiritual turnaround, he was caught
  offguard. Relied on his physical energy alone to
  cope with threat, becomes exhausted
• Becomes full of self pity despair

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Finally

• God healed him God allowed him to deepen his
  reliance on HIM
• God whispers to him- Our God deals gently with
  those who fail and are suffering
• GOD CARES ABOUT YOU