Saved and Depression (2009)

One of the main issues with Church dealing with depression is self denial. How many has been told when dealing with a problem, “Just Praise Your Way Out Of It”, or When Praises Go Up, Blessings Come Down”. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I am not knocking the act of praises unto our God, during difficult times, as David said, I will bless the Lord at ALL times, but are we putting the cart before the horse, due to lack of knowledge. Through much prayer and experience, here is what I have found out as one who has and still deal with depression at times. And most of it  has been based upon knowledge of knowing some things, while living in the reality of the situation.

• KNOW THE ENEMY

Since it is not God’s will for is to worry, or to be stressed, even to the point of suicide, then it must be a demonic state from Hell. As Satan mission has always been the same, and we as believers must know his game plan.

1. The father of lies
2. Lion, Seeking to devour
3. Steal, Kill, and Destroy (St. John 10:10)
4. The Accuser of the Brethren (Revelation 12:10)
5. Tempter (1^st Thessalonians 3:5)
6. Walking the earth (Job 1:7)
7. Adversary

 Again, know your enemy, know his motive; it is his job to destroy your life, your children, and your relationship with God.

• ADMIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM

This is a hard one in the Body of Christ, as so much of us live in a world of self denial, all because we don’t want it to look as it we do not have faith in God. Thus we deny our problems in order to look saved, and live in this fantasy world that is not smart, nor biblical. We teach that as man speaketh, so is he, thus it is wrong to say that I am sick, or I am broke, or whatever the case might be. I hear so many “church folks” say, don’t claim it, Well! Don’t claim it, and it will claim it you. If I am sick, no amount of denying my sickness will change my sickness. Instead of not calming your sickness, spend more time on calming your healing. As I believe that is no need to know Jesus as healer, if I am saying that I am not sick, no need to know Him as a way maker, if my way is not difficult, and so on.  So if I am sick, or broke, depressed, or whatever, I don’t think myself as defeated, I think my heal, I think myself delivered, I think myself victorious. But it is no sin to admit we have a problem. Here are some cases of those who admitted to their problems and the Lord asking us to bring to Him our problems.

1. David (Psalms 34:4)
2. Daniel (Daniel 9:3-4)
3. Hezekiah (2^nd Chronicles 31:21)
4. Paul (2^ND Corinthians 12:7-10)
5. Woman with Demonic Child (Mark 7:24-30)
6. Woman with Issue of Blood (Mark 5:25-34; Matt 9:18-26; Luke 8:40-56)

•  God asking us to bring Him our problems

Have you ever known a person that every time you see them, they come with a problem. Not that you are not compassionate to others problems, but we have our own problems, and do not want to hear others woes all the time. But listen to this, God wants you to bring to Him ALL; again, I say ALL of our problems.

1. Psalms 55:22
2. 1^st Peter 5:7
3. Matthew 11:28

• GOD LOVES ME

But In the midst of every problem that we come in our life, one the most comforting thought that I can cherish is that GOD LOVES ME. No matter how it seems, no matter what I am going through, no matter who has come or gone, the ALMIGHTY GOD loves me. It’s not based upon how you feel about me, but He who is creator of all mankind, He who cannot lie nor fail, LOVES ME.

1. John 3:16
2. Romans 5:8
3. Ephesians 2:4-5
4. 1^st John 3:1
5.  1^st John 4:19
6.  Matthew 6:26
7. Matthew 6:32
8. 1^st Peter 5:7

Know The Ability Of The God That Loves me And His promises, and not only do I take comfort that He loves me, but I also take comfort the ability of the One that loves me.

1. Psalms 89:33
2. Job 42: 2
3. Matthew 19:36
4. Luke 1:37
5. Jude 24
6. 2^nd Peter

Now let us look at what we’ve have learned so far, we know who is trying to destroy us, and because we do not live in a world of denial, we know that we need God, and it’s OK to admit we have a need of Him. Matter of fact, the Lord wants us to bring our problems and cares to Him. Why! Because God loves me, He loves me, He loves me…and he loves you too. And He who loves me cannot fail, cannot lie, He is all powerful, all knowing, and all loving.

But one of the main reason that we should not worry to the point of depression or even worse, suicide, not only because He loves me, but also who I am in Christ Jesus, my Lord, My God, and My Savior.

Once we learned that we are more than a conquer in Christ, we are the Head and not the tail, that we shall lend and not borrow, you can tell problems and sorrows, and the demons of DEPRESSION and SUCICIDE, in the Name of Jesus, I rebuke. For those who are born again have a right to used the Name that is above all other names, above the name of depression, above the name of suicide, above the name of saddens, above the name of loneliness, and all other names. And when we called upon the NAME OF JESUS, those demons that have told me that I will failed, that have told me to kill myself, that told me that no one loves me, well they gotta go. Because daemons tremble at the sound of that name, what name you might ask, the NAME OF JESUS.

SPEAK THE WORD

1. Proverbs 18:2
2. Mark 11:22-23
3. Romans 14:7
4. Psalm 107:20

Now we know who we are and we know the ability of whom we are, we know scriptures to back it up, but yet the problems that cause the depression still exist, so what do we do next. Did not you know that in your mouth, you can speak life or death, speak those things that are not as though they are? And so what we’ve learn, speak the word.

Dismissal or and pink slip on the desk, speak to it, ‘HE WILL SUPPLY MY NEEDS ACCRODING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY. Sickness in your body, speak to it, I SERVE THE GOD THAT HEALTHE THEE. Sin in your past that has you held in bondage; speak to it, HE IS FAITHFUL AND JUST TO FORVIVE ME OF ALL OF MY SINS AND UNRIGHTOUSNESS. Whatever your mountain in your life is, I declare unto you by the word God and through the authority of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to speak to it, and according to the Word of God, not Byron, it shall be done away with. Speak into your life words of healing, prosperity, words of life, tell the Devil, I shall live and not die. Christ came to give me life and life more abundantly, and from this day forth, (whatever day you are reading this) I won’t accept anything less.

CLOSING (IT’S SHOUTING TIME)

In opening of the lesson, I have told you that there have been times I have fought the battle of depression, even thought of killing myself. Church folks weren’t no help, they told me saved folks don’t feel that way, thus it made me feel less than saved. But when I read my bible, I saw that many of the things that I was feeling, many heroes of faith, went through the same thing. Don’t you think that not that for one moment that the opening struggles of Agape Way of the Cross Church, when many of those who started their church along with me are succeeding, the devil have whispered to me, I am going to fail. Friends, love ones, and family members who I thought would be there, have walked away, choose to help others. Does it hurt, yes! I cannot lie, does it makes me sad, sure do, I live in the real world. It gets me down and makes me sad. I hurt, I cry, I feel pain just like everyone else, salvation has not remove the human emotions that we all have.

But in the midst of my tears, I  can go before the Lord with all my cares, knowing all the time what I am going through is nothing more the trick of the enemy. I go before the Lord knowing that He loves me and He cares, and that He will do what He says. So in the midst of every problem I have learned, even while the problem is there, while the pain is there, while the saddens is there, to give Him glory and thank Him in advance. Shout while they are walking away, shout while the pink slip in my hand, shout when my money is short, and all the time I have not lied or deny that the problems exist. But He, who lives in me, is bigger than the problem. And yes! It’s a struggle, and up and down emotional roller coaster, but in the end, I know that I shall win. And you shall also. Tell the devil, I SHALL LIVE AND NOT DIE. For my mind is on Jesus and I have perfect peace, a peace that passes all understanding. For what I have learn that depression is nothing but a state of mind, so just keep your mind on the Lord and think of His goodness. So watch your thought patterns, keep your mind on the things of the Lord and the blessings that He has for those who serve him. Remember speak to your problems; you have the Holy Ghost and the Word inside of you. Speak those things which abides. Stay in the perfect peace of the Lord Jesus and again remember…

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)