THE C S O D SYNDROME

In the 21st century, there is more medical knowledge, identified diseases, cures and treatments than at any time in history.  Even then, a condition will suddenly materialize that baffles the best minds in the medical world.  Every test comes back negative, yet the symptoms persist and we have what has become known as a “SYNDROME.”  According to the dictionary a “syndrome” is a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease, psychological disorder, or other abnormal condition; a concurrence of symptoms.  I have noticed lately, such a malady beginning to infect the Church.  In talking with other Pastors and Christians, it is not just a localized problem but is so widespread; it could almost be called an epidemic.  There is no reason for the church to be suffering, the tests are coming back negative, we still meet regularly, still believe in God, still preach out of the Bible but collectively, the symptoms indicate a condition I am calling C S O D SYNDROME!  COMPLACENCY, SUPPRESSION, OPPRESSION, & DEPRESSION!!!

To understand this condition better, we will take a journey way back in time to the land of Egypt.  Every Sunday School child has heard the story of Joseph, how his jealous brothers sold him into slavery and how God elevated him to second in command in Egypt.  We know the story of Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph’s interpretation of the 7 years of plenty and 7 lean years that would come upon the land.  Joseph was given the command to set up a plan for the 7 lean years, so that there would be plenty of food in Egypt.  The famine spread to Canaan where Joseph’s father and brothers still lived and they decided to journey to Egypt to buy food, not knowing that their brother, Joseph was not only alive but the overseer of all the “storehouse” of Egypt.  Eventually, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and moved their families and his father to Goshen in Egypt.  That is when the “Syndrome” began.

The Bible records that Jacob lived in the land of Goshen for 17 years, yet Pharaoh’s dream contained only 7 Lean Years.  For at least 10 years there was no need to stay in a foreign country but it seems that Jacob, his sons and their families had settled in; they become comfortable with their situation and began to prosper.  Realizing that his life was coming to an end, Jacob did not want to be buried in a strange land and made his sons promise to take him back to Canaan to be buried with his people.  Joseph approached the Pharaoh for permission to make the journey and he promised to come back.  WHY???  There is no record that Pharaoh had made a return part of the condition for allowing Joseph to leave; that was voluntary on Joseph’s part.  Perhaps it was because he had position or a wife in Egypt, but why did his brothers also return?  Genesis 50 records that they left their little ones, flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. Joseph’s family returned because they had left their most precious possessions in a foreign country; they had become satisfied and COMPLACENT.

Fast forward a few years, Joseph dies and Exodus 1:8-10, tells us, Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ⁹ And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; ¹⁰ come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”  The Bible does not tell us that the Egyptians ever “conquered” the Israelites during this time.  In fact, the Egyptians were frightened that the Israelites were becoming so mighty that they would be conquered.  Because of their complacency, the Israelites allowed the enemy to move in and take over; SUPPRESSION began.  Once the enemy gained an advantage, SUPPRESSION quickly moved to OPPRESSION and the Israelites found themselves in bondage without a fight or even a skirmish.

Exodus 1:11-14 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. ¹² But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. ¹³ So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. ¹⁴ And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.

Here we begin to see evidence of the last symptom of our syndrome, DEPRESSION.  Depression is a state of feeling sad, dejection; a loss of hope.  In their depressed state, the Israelites could not see what the Egyptians had noticed; they were multiplying and becoming a mighty nation.  The bible tells us that “the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.”  The Children of Israel had a full blown case of  C S O D SNYDROME.  They had become COMPLACENT which allowed the enemy to SUPPRESS AND OPPRESS them, leading to such a deep DEPRESSION, they had forgotten that they were the Chosen People of Jehovah.

Satan has no right to SUPPRESS AND OPPRESS the Church AND he cannot unless in a state of COMPLACENCY, we allow him to set up camp in our midst.  We have become SATISFIED,  TOLERANT and ACCEPTING; content to live in a foreign land because we are prosperous.  It is time for the Church to arise; to realize she IS the Bride of Christ.  We are His Chosen People; People of the Name; purchased with His precious blood.  We have no reason to become DEPRESSED for “Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.”  We have a Deliverer who is greater than Moses and He has equipped us to fight and conquer the enemy.  Daniel 11 reminds us, “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” 

REFUSE to become a victim of C S O D!!!!  Romans 8:37, Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.