Sunday, May 29, 2016

The Biblical Truth of Depression -- It Will Shock You!


This morning I was led to post this. It stemmed from a discussion I had with a man who is struggling with Depression. Here is something that I came across about this very touchy subject which I know will cause a stir so to speak.

There are numerous biblical references to depression, one of the human race's most common and distressing afflictions. It is likely that the first humans to experience depression were Adam and Eve, after they sinned against God.  Examples of people in the Bible who suffered bouts of depression are:

Abraham (Genesis 15)
Jonah (Jonah 4)
Job (Book of Job)
Elijah (1 Kings 19)
King Saul (I Samuel 16:14-23, etc.)
Jeremiah (Book of Jeremiah)
King David (Psalms 6, 13, 18, 23, 25, 27, 31, 32, 34, 37-40, 42-43, 46, 51, 55, 62-63, 69, 71, 73, 77, 84, 86, 90-91, 94-95, 103-104, 107, 110, 116, 118, 121, 123-124, 130, 138, 139, 141-143, 146-147)

The Bible Teaches That Sorrow Is A Natural Cure For Depression!

That's right, you read that correctly! We learn in Ecclesiastes 7:3 that being sad is a natural part of human life, which makes the “HEART BETTER.” A “countenance” is a person's face. Grieving is a natural part of the human healing process. When you are sad and down emotionally, it is ok and don't ever allow anyone to convince you that something is wrong with you.  Ecclesiastes 7:3, “Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better”.

The Bible Commands Every Believer To Be Depressed!

That's right you read that correctly! In fact, God commands every believer in the Bible to “Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:9-10). The Bible teaches us HUMBLE YOURSELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD through humility, mourning and afflicting yourself (realize one's misery), and then He lifts you up.

Whereas God commands us as Christian believers to weep, afflict ourselves and have a heavy heart; the wicked world tells us the exact opposite. The world tells us that we're supposed to be happy, confident and cheerful all the time or else there's something wrong with us. The world is insane and wrong!

The Bible plainly teaches that if you're not depressed, you're not right with God! The word “afflicted” in James 4:9 is the Greek word talaipōreō and means “to be wretched, that is, realize one’s own misery.” The dictionary defines “wretched” as “very unhappy, full of misery!” There is a huge difference between Godly depression verses unhealthy depression.

Unhealthy depression is when we condemn ourselves over past sins which have already been confessed and forsaken (Hebrews 10:22). Satan tries to discourage believers by continually accusing them day-and-night the Bible says before the throne of God (Revelation 12:10). The Devil's crowd behave just like their father the Devil. We must realize as King David that God is the ONLY one that we have to answer to see Psalms 51:4

Any believer can have peace and complete joy in the Lord Jesus Christ, if we realize the scriptural truth that God is the only one that we will ever have to give account to in eternity. It doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. The Bible strictly warns all mankind against condemning anyone else, because WE ARE ALL SINNERS (Romans 2:1, James 5:9).  So we are Biblically commanded to realize our own wretchedness, which is what the song AMAZING GRACE is all about.

Godly depression is continually realizing that I am a sinner by birth and nature, and saying along with the Apostle Paul, “O wretched man that I am… (see Romans 7:24-25). Godly affliction is thinking about the awful sinful condition of our society, and praying about it, for God to deliver me from evil (Luke 11:4), and praying for my brethren in the Lord (2nd Corinthians 13:7).

Notice that Christ Jesus didn't say “deliver us from sin” in His example of how to pray; but rather, “deliver us from EVIL.” Evil is planned sin. No Christian can live above committing sin, but Christians can all abstain from committing evil (premeditated sin). We are commanded to ask God to deliver us from evil, that is, deliberate sinning.  2nd Thes. 3:1, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.”

I'm not making this stuff up, the Bible teaches that God wants us depressed, that is, (as defined in the dictionary), “to lower someone's spirits; make downhearted.”  Why in the world would God want us to be depressed? Once again go read Ecc. 7:3.

We grow from pain in our soul, if we trust upon the Lord God Almighty and don't commit suicide or turn to sin to cope which becomes demonic. It is often stated that adversity makes men, but prosperity destroys them. UNSHAKABLE FAITH COMES FROM HAVING YOUR FAITH SHAKEN!!!

This doesn't mean that Christians should walk around looking miserable. It simply means that we should continually HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST IN US, which Philippians 2:4-5 instructs and teaches, thinking upon the needs, burdens and things of others instead of ourselves.

Every Christian ought to be sorrowful concerning the gross wickedness of this evil generation. I am saddened daily over abortion, same-sex marriage, public nudity, “sin cities” Las Vegas and New Orleans, drug abuse, blatant government crimes, counterfeit Bibles, lukewarm Christians who support evil, etc., etc., etc.

God have mercy on this spiritually sick generation of fun-seekers! God have pity on this shallow, spineless, TV generation. Unless something is “FUN,” people won't get involved and have no interest, and this especially includes spiritual areas. This is today's lukewarm church scene (U.S.A.) —using Rock 'N' Roll, worldliness, things that are “FUN” to sell a product that supposedly will reignite a dead church and draw everyone to God! Yeah, right! God never intended for church to be “FUN” or entertaining. If your entertainment is God, then God must become entertaining to be worshiped.

Psalms:126:5- 6: “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

John:11:35: Jesus wept.

Lastly people - There Is No Such Thing As A “Chemical Imbalance”

This is one of the biggest frauds in our country and society. Doctors commonly diagnose patients with a Chemical Imbalance. There is NO SUCH THING. It is not a scientific diagnosis. There is no test to determine chemical imbalance. There is no way to test or know for certain if someone has a chemical imbalance in their brain. This is why doctors call it a syndrome or disorder. There is a global view that moves from one generation to the next. Each new school of thought is replaced with the next popular trend.  Go LEARN IT!

Therefore, when this period of depression goes longer than it should, we need to then understand it has now become a demonic problem which must be addressed properly with God.

Rev. Bradley Luoma


Fear & Torment Are NOT from God

As I've pointed out in many blogs that our mind is the devils playground. It's his major tool and weapon to utilize as a way to torment us. Even so far as to cause people to commit suicide. One of the biggest door openers to attract demonic spirits is the spirit of fear. This spirit can take on many forms, but its intentions are clear, no matter what kind of spirit of fear it may be, It intends to keep you from living a joyful, peaceful, spirit filled life where you give to others. It will keep you awake with nightmares. It will keep you in bondage unable to overcome past emotional and physical wounds. For example, the fear of throwing something away, it could be anything from collectibles, clothes or simply trash. These people have been labeled “hoarders”. You have to understand for them tossing away even trash is deeply traumatic and overwhelmingly scary for them. I feel this often comes from a major trauma, most often the loss of a loved one, but it could be any trauma that can bring this particular spirit of fear into a persons life.

Satan is the master of the mind and that's the first thing he and his demons attack, you're mind. They can manipulate thinking patterns by taking something minor put it in your head creating a Sandcastle out of a piece of sand. Fear is not of God. Many people who have an unhealthy fears need to know this. Don't let the enemy rob you of happiness and peace. No one has to be perfect and without sin in order to love Jesus Christ and follow his teachings. I'd be a liar if I even began to say I sin very little or I'm sin free. There's nothing in the bible that stipulates a sinner can't love and choose to worship God and move past mistakes and repent then move forward. That doesn't make someone a fraud. If one says otherwise, Christ died on the Cross Of Calvary for nothing then. Easter is all for nothing. I do feel people in leadership need to really pay more attention to their actions but no one is without sin or never makes mistakes or poor choices in life. Don't let this lie make you feel God won't love you or you are not allowed to worship and love him.

One way Satan gains control of the mind is when we place our trust in what many Christians mistakenly call the Holy Spirit. What I mean is  "God told me to do this. . ." However, what God told them to do is completely contrary to God’s word. Jesus said in John 8:47 "He who is of God hears the words of God." God never, ever, ever leads us contrary to the Word of God. So when we receive anything we think is the Holy Spirit, the first question we must ask is "Does God’s word agree with what I believe is the Holy Spirit speaking to me?" Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 11:14 "And no wonder for Satan transforms himself into an angel of light."

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you. I believe God works gently with us to bring us out of bondage and into liberty. If you've been afraid of something and desire to be free, the time will eventually come when you'll have to face your fear and not run away from it. Just take Jesus' hand, acknowledge that He is with you, and do it. If you're afraid of people with authority, the time will come when you'll have to confront an authority figure and not cower in fear. God will have arranged the time. He'll be there, but you'll have to choose whether to go through or run away.

I found the following paragraph of information I obtained at deeptruths.com
Fear is today's No.1 killer! Believe it or not, fear causes more sickness and more mental illness and more premature deaths than anything else on Earth! Doctors have discovered that heart muscle is actually DESTROYED when people are subject to great fear. Dr. Marilyn Cebelin, writing in the General Practitioner's newspaper, "Pulse," says the hormone, adrenalin, literally DESTROYS heart muscles when people are subjected to intense stress and fear. Canadian medical circles also report that WORRY increases chances of infectious disease, in that it weakens the body's ability to fight off germs. A recent study of cases of streptococcal infection, according to Dr. Robert Haggerty, revealed that one out of four cases of such infections occurred after prolonged trauma and anxiety. Heart trouble, high blood pressure, arthritis and stomach ulcers are all basically caused by worry, tension, stress and fear!

If you're at one of these crossroads in your life, let me encourage you to go forward. Don't stand still in terror, but take His hand and go forward. Remember, fear torments and God wants to deliver you from all of your fears. Perfect love casts out fear. Remember this my friends. God does not being you torment, only the enemy.

1 John 4:1-3 - Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

If you feel the Devil is attacking you with fears, worries, anxiety etc., you can pray in the Name of Jesus and resist and overcome him!--Jesus said, "Behold, I give you power over all the power of the Enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you."-Luke 10:19. This power is YOURS if you believe His Word, claim His promises and pray in the Name of Jesus! In fact, if you are filled with faith and His Holy Spirit, you have the authority to resist the Devil directly, just like Jesus and His early disciples did.

Written By Jennifer L Auld