DEPRESSION
GENERAL FACTS ABOUT DEPRESSION. FIRST, DEPRESSION
IS WIDESPREAD AND AFFECTS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE EVERYWHERE INCLUDING BELIEVERS IN JESUS CHRIST. FOR EXAMPLES, 1
in 12 teenagers deal with depression.
CHRISTIANS ARE INCLUDED IN THESE STATISTICS. MANY
CHRISTIANS, LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE, DEAL WITH THE EMOTIONAL PAIN OF DEPRESSION.
EMOTIONAL PAIN INCLUDE: SADNESS, ANGER,
GUILT, HOPELESSNESS, LONELINESS, AND SOMETIMES SUICIDAL THOUGHTS.
PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION, OFTEN THINK
THEY WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT FOREVER AND THEREFORE IT FEELS LIKE A DEATH SENTENCE
THAT WILL NEVER END. TO BELIEVE DEPRESSION WILL NEVER GO AWAY MAKES IT A DAILY AND CONSTANT HEARTACHE.
FOR OTHERS
DEPRESSION COMES AND GOES OR IT IS SOMETHING THEY’VE DEALT WITH IN THE PAST.
MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING CHRISTIANS, HIDE THEIR PAIN. VERY
FEW WILL BE BOLD ENOUGH TO ADMIT IT AND TELL SOMEBODY, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH
COMMUNITY.
Unfortunately, less than half of depressed people actually seek
treatment. According to the NMHA (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MENTAL HEALTH),
people resist treatment "because they believe depression isn't
serious OR that they can
treat it themselves, or that it is a personal weakness rather
than a serious medical illness."
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
IT IS THE EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO ADVERSE SITUATIONS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT
TRIGGER THE CHEMICAL IMBALANCE OF SEROTONIN.
WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?
1. DEPRESSION
IS OFTEN TRIGGERED BY LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES OR A LIFE CRISES. IT COULD BE TRIGGERED THE STRESS OF JOB
LOSS, A SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUE, DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, A BREAKUP OF A
RELATIONSHIP, ABUSE, LOW SELF ESTEEM, ETC.
2. HORMONES, SUCH AS SERATONIN EFFECT DEPRESSION.
SERATON IS THE BIOLOGICAL IMPACT ON DEPRESSION WITHIN THE BRAIN. SERATONIN HORMONES BECOME INSUFFICIENT AND IMBALANCED. THIS IMBALANCE
INFLUENCES DEPRESSION, WHICH SHOW UP IN YOUR MOODS.
IN A
NUTSHELL: IT IS THE THOUGHTS OR, THE IMBALANCE OF SERATONIN
OR BOTH THE THOUGHTS AND IMBALANCE OF SERATONIN.
3. IT IS
ALSO GENETIC.
ROLE OF THE CHURCH:
CHURCHES USUALLY DON”T
address it or speak about It. so most people
HIDE it behind SMILES and the phoniness of well-being.
One reason CHURCES may not deal with depression is
because they don’t have the appropriate training
or the pastoral staff to deal with mental health.
FURTHER, church leaders were being accused of ill-treating CHURCH members on the world’s stage. Some, not all,
churches were making psychological and medical Mistakes IN THEIR DIAGNOSIS OF A MEMBER'S MENTAL CONCERNS.
Unfortunately, Some CHURCH MEMBERS were made to feel their depression was a FAITH or SPIRITUAL issues
that simply requireD pray, bible study, or praise in order for it to GO AWAY.
The role of the church IS STILL NEEDED, BECAUSE PRAY, BIBLE STUDY, AND PRAISE ARE VERY, VERY, HELPFUL AND HEALING, IN ADDITION, THE CHURCH can pray THEMSELVES, listen, encourage, care for, comfort,
guide, or just be there to help brothers and sister, IN ANY WAY THEY CAN, TO deal with depression.
Most importantly, if THE CHURCH RECOGNIZES ONE OF THEIR MEMBER'S IS DEALING WITH DEPRESSION THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND IT is serious AND, out of love, they can REFER OR SUGGEST THEY SEEK medical and professional heLP.
GETTING RID OF THE STIGMA OF DEPRESSION
DEPRESSION IS NOT SIMPLY
A “BAD” ATTITUDE, OR “LACK” OF FAITH, or a “NEGATIVE” MINDSET, or
ADVERSE spiritual condition or a sin or demonic influence, it’s not a character
flaw or a question of one’s intellect, and it is not usually a personal choice.
The CAUSES of depression are MANIFOLD, COMPLEX, and
too MUCH to cover in one BLOG.
Some depression emanates from past
treatment such as physical or sexual abuses or neglect EXPERIENCED as a child. these
experiences CAN HEAVILY impact depression.
Some people are embarrassed by past
experiences or are in denial about them. And thus will, avoid seeking help
or treatment for mental health issues
HOWEVER, IF you would
seek help for physical conditions such as high blood pressure, cholesterol,
diabetes, or arthritis. Mental health issues, such as depression, is just as serious.
People
don’t OPEN up about mental health issues in the church or anywhere else because
there is such a STIGMA about it, which includes shame and denial, and pride.
This stigma is
so strong that most people try to dealt with depression on their own. People, who do
this often develop bad habits by self-medicating
to numb the emotional pain through drugs, food, sex, exercise, overworking, etc;
If MEMBERS of the CHURCH can “NOT” find
HELP or GUIDANCE in the CHRISTIAN community. they WILL also look elsewhere OR THEY TOO can
develop these type of BAD habits .
THEY MAY WONDER WHERE else do they
have to turn.
Prayer helps TREMENDOUSLY, but Prayer alone doesn’t help
those who are dealing with clinical depression especially without
anti-depressants OR NATURAL REMEMDIES and counseling.
The
reason is: that WITHOUT ANTI-DEPRESSANTS OR SOME KIND OF NATURAL REMEMDY Some can’t work during certain periods of depression and maNy
need time off work. Eventually, HOWEVER, with meds OR NATURAL SOLUTIONS, counseling, watching their diet, and
exercising a person can experience adequate levels of normalcy.
In
order to help brothers and sisters in Christ, we must become informed
ourselves, let go of judgement, remove the stigma, and encourage them to seek
help.
If
they decide to get help, the church can assist them by helping them avoid things that may trigger
their depression again.
The good news is that DEPRESSION is a manageable
condition and like other medical conditions should be viewed and treated with
godly compassion. We need to remove the stigma by letting go of our judgement
about depression.
HOW IS
IT DIAGNOSED OR DETERMINED?
depression whether IT IS clinical
depression or situational depressive episodes are
recognized by most professionals and DEFINED in the following way; according to
the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual
of Mental Disorders,
Definition: “the essential feature of a Major Depressive Episode is a
period of at least 2 weeks during which there is either depressed mood or the
loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities" APA,
DSM-IV-TR, pg. 349, 2005). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders,
Professionals are taught that a person must
experience at least five or more of the following symptoms for at least two
weeks to meet
the criteria for a Major Depressive Episode. They are:
1.
Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day,
as indicated by either subjective
report (e.g., feels sad or empty), or observation made by others (e.g., appears
tearful). Note: In children and adolescents, can be irritable mood.
2.
Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all,
or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day (as indicated by either subjective
account or observation made by others).
3.
Significant
weight loss when not dieting or weight gain
(e.g., a change of more than 5 percent of body weight in a month), or decrease
or increase in appetite nearly every day. Note: In children, consider
failure to make expected weight gains.
4.
Insomnia
or hypersomnia (can’t get out
of bed) nearly every day.
5.
Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every
day (observable
by others, not subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
6.
Fatigue
or loss of energy nearly every day.
7.
Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or
inappropriate guilt
(which may be delusional) nearly every day
(not merely self-reproach or guilt about being sick).
8.
Diminished
ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly every day (either by subjective account or as
observed by others).
9.
Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a
specific plan, or suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
(ibid., 356).
Note: Many professionals are trained that if a person has only two or
three of these characteristics
for an extended period of time, they are still at risk
for becoming seriously depressed and should seek help.
TWO BASIC TYPES OF DEPRESSION: CLINICAL OR
SITUATIONAL DEPRESSION
CLINICAL DEPRESSION IS One type of
depression that is caused by serotonin deficiency in the brain and usually
people are given anti-depressions (OR NATURAL REMEMDIES) and possible put on medical disability.
Mental illness usually runs in the family.
SITUATIONAL OR EPISODIC DEPRESSION: is TRIGGERED BY LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES OR A
LIFE CRISES which causes stress. It can be a JOB LOSS, DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, A
BREAKUP OF A RELATIONSHIP, ABUSE, LOW SELF ESTEEM, ETC.
WHAT
PEOPLE SAY THEY FEEL:
People
with depression generally say they
often can’t get out of bed, feel chest pressure, feel
anxious, on edge, feel extremely emotional, or experience shortness of breath.
They feel constant fatigue and don’t want to be around people. If it’s gray, cloudy, rainy, or gloomy outside it often
mirrors exactly how they feel. Some say they feel NUMB. Some feel like
they are dying on the inside. They feel as if they are engulfed in darkness and
all alone. They easily lose their temper, their
patience, and experience bouts of moodiness.
people dealing with clinical depression say in addition to the ABOVE feelings, they also feel
apathetic, uncaring, and utterly
hopeless. They get noticeably
NEGATIVE, and feel overly GUILTY about their new behaviors, but can’t seem to
control them or keep from repeating themSELVES over and over again.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN?
Situational
depression requires help from the medical and professional cOMMUNITY,
family, friends, and the Christian community.
Clinical
depression is harder to diagnose, since it may not be
present in childhood. the person could have had passion and joy in their
earlier years. The melancholic personality of clinical depression was NOT
present. They could have ONCE loved life and fOUNd many reasons to be
celebratory about it. But NOW all the COLOR and vivaciousness of LIFE is gone
into an oblivion of BLACK and WHITE.
People
CAN NOT fix clinical depression with simple WILL POWER or the things other
people do to deal with temporary or situational depression. Clinical
depression floods the MOODS and ATTITUDES with DARKNESS and plunges the person
into a NIGHTMARE. The FEELINGS of HOPELESSNESS often lead to SUICIDal thoughts.
The persons THOUGHTS have been altered
by pervading darkness and negativity.
PEOPLE, with clinical depression, NEED HELP:
ANTI-DEPRESSIONS (MEDICATIONS) OR NATURAL REMEMDIES ARE NOT ALWAYS THE
FIRST SOLUTION, BUT SEEING A PROFESSIONAL WILL DETERMINE HOW YOU SHOULD GO
FORWARD AND MANAGE YOUR DEPRESSION.
ISSUES ABOUT MEDICATIONS: PEOPLE ARE ALL
DIFFERENT AND REACT DIFFERENT TO ANTI-DEPRESSIONS. It may take time to find the
right one that works. BE PATIENT. WHEN THE RIGHT MEDICATIONS ARE FOUND IT TAKES
TIME; SOMETIMES WEEKS, TO GLEAN RESULTS. LIKE WITH ANY MEDICATIONS THERE ARE
SIDE EFFECTS, WHICH WILL NEVER SHOW UP OR WILL HOPEFULLY GO AWAY.
Anti-depressants
DO “NOT’ make you HAPPY. There are NOT “HAPPY PILLS.” But they DO
balance the hormones in your brain and lift the depressive clouds.
They
enable you to talk about your feelings, study the bible, pray,
praise and learn healthy coping methods with the constant dark thoughts
invading your efforts.
NATURAL REMEMDIES COME IN THE FORM OF HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS. WHEN NATURAL REMEMDIES ARE PREFERRED, THERE ARE DOCTORS WHO CAN PROFESSIONALLY RECOMMEND SUPPLEMENTS FOR DEPRESSION SUCH AS ST JOHN'S WORT, FOLATE, SAFFRON, OMEGA 3 FATTY ACIDS AND OTHER DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS.
ACCEPTING AND FACING YOUR NEED HELP
IT TAKES
HUMILITY FOR A PERSON TO ADMIT THEY NEED HELP AND GO GET IT. THAT HELP WILL MOST LIKELY INCLUDE A MEDICAL
OR MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.
REMEMBER GOD CREATED PROFESSIONALS AND IF THEY ARE CHRISIANS HE CAN WORK "IN" AND "THROUGH" THEM TO HELP YOU. I AM A PROFESSIONAL FOR THAT REASON. “…God who does the
work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. The HOLY SPIRIT [still] DISPLAYS God’s power THROUGH each of
us … It
is the …Holy Spirit who gives all these gifts and POWERS… (1
Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…
IT IS “NOT” A SIN TO GET PROFESSIONAL HELP OR TAKE
MEDICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTS. "...It is God who works in y[THEM]…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).
LOVE, MEDICAL HELP, COUNSELING, and TIME (days,
weeks, months, years) can gradually bring those dealing with clinical OR
SITUATIONAL depression back to a state of health. With God’s help, “…The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves
them, and they find shelter in him…” (Psalms 37:40 NLT). “…Blessed are those who wait for his help…”
(Isaiah 30:18 NLT). “…The Lord who made
you and helps you says: Do not be afraid …my servant …my chosen one…”
(Isaiah 44:2 NLT). “… The Sovereign Lord helps me…” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT). “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…You are my helper and my savior…” (Psalms 40:17 NLT).
the love and
support of family and friends, anti-depressants OR SUPPLEMENTS, and your cooperation can ALL
HELP in managing, lifting, and controlling depression
DEPRESSION is hard to FACE and even HARDER
for the individual to personally COPE AND deal with depression alone. Getting help IS NOT MEANT TO MAKE YOU FEEL
JUDGED OR AS IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE AND ARE BEING PUNISHED. SOME THINGS ARE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD. NO matter the
EFFORT, WILL POWER, or the SACRIFICES YOU MAKe to maintain some kind of
normalcy, clinical
depression WILL not GO AWAY
without professional help. EVEN Bible study, prayer, meditation and spiritual fellowship
WON’T HELP BY THEMSELVES, BECAUSE DEPRESSION EFFECTS FOCUS and CONCENTRATION.
Depression is
usually treatable with a combination of medicine OR SUPPLEMENTS and counseling.
WHAT TO DO
1. If
you're experiencing situational depression, take
comfort in knowing that it will likely pass in a relatively short time.
In the meantime, keep going to church, praying and reading your Bible (the
Psalms can be especially helpful). Do fun things with friends and family; don't
spend too much time brooding alone in your bedroom. And talk to someone you
trust—a parent, a teacher, a coach, a youth leader, a pastor, OR A TRAINED CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR.
2. if you're experiencing "clinical depression,
you should seek a MEDICAL professional. It is a very
real illness, just as real as cancer or the common cold.
3. If you’re think you are clinically depressed, tell someone. Tell a doctor, friend, family member or
counselor. Please do not suffer alone, especially if you feel suicidal.
4. FIND A PROFESSIONAL TO HELP
YOU. PREFERABLE ONE WHO SPECIALIZES IN
DEPRESSION OR CAN RECOMMEND SOMEONE WHO DOES. ASK
WHETHER THEY ARE CHRISTIAN AND HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT MEDICATION OVER SUPPLEMENTS. LOOK AT
WEBSITES. ASK AROUND TO SEE HOW OTHERS HAVE DEALT WITH THE SAME CONCERNS. LOOK AT THE AMERICAN
ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN COUSELORS (AACC) FOR MORE RESEARCH AND INFORMATION.
5. ONCE YOU FIND A PROFESSIONAL YOU
ARE COMFORTABLE WITH: BE HONEST. HONESTY IS
HEALING AND IS IMPORTANT FOR LIFTING THE DEPRESSION.
6. ALLOW YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO SHARE IN YOUR JOURNEY IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM A CORRECT
PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF DEPRESSION YOU SUFFER.
7. REMEMBER, GOD CAN HEAL ANYTHING AND CURE ANY ILLNESS. HOWEVER, HE MAY USE A MEDICAL OR
MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TO DO IT IN THE SAME WAY HE USES A PHYSICIAN AND
MEDICATIONS TO HEAL PHYSICAL AILMENTS.
“…Who will free
me from this life that is dominated by [DEPRESSION] sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord…”
(Romans 7:14-25 NLT).
WHAT OTHERS CAN DO: BE UNDERSTANDING:
TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE SUFFERING OF CLINICAL DEPRESSION IT IS REAL AND STARTS WITH WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BRAIN
CHEMICALLY.
NEXT UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THAT
“only” THE “RIGHT” MEDICATION AND PROFESSIONAL
COUNSELING CAN HELP with clinical depression.
THIRD, A CHEMICALLY IMBALANCE HAS
ABSOLUTELY “NOTHING” TO DO WITH A
PERSON’S CHARACTER, THEIR INTELLECT, OR WHETHER THEY ARE GOOD ENOUGH OR NOT OR SAVED OR NOT. SOME PEOPLE ARE SIMPLY
VULNERABLE TO DEPRESSION.
What happened?
Eve’s thoughts were originally created
to be influenced by God’S TRUTH and not Satan’s lies.
God’s
Word to Eve was this: “…of every tree of
the garden thou mayest freely eat...in
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die…”
(Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). Satan lies
interfered and he said this to Eve: “…ye shall not surely die.…” (Genesis 3:4-5 KJV).
The scripture says, Eve replied in this
manner “…but of the fruit of the tree
which is in the midst of the garden,
God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest ye die” (Genesis 3:3 KJV). Eve called it the “tree in the midst of the garden…” AND
said God said not to “…touch it…”
(Genesis 3:3 KJV).
What God actually said was, “….of every tree of the garden thou mayest
freely eat: But of the tree of the
knowledge of good and evil, thou
shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17
KJV).
What do we see? 1. God revealed his will
to eve through the Holy Spirit. “…THE WORDS
THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT, and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). 2. Her human mind was informed of God’s
will. Her human mind was supposed to submit to the truth by understanding it
and applying it. 3. She chooses to engage, through the empowering holy spirit,
to do God’s will.
Eve didn’t have a good understanding of
what God actually said. “….apply thine heart to understanding…” (Proverbs 2:2 KJV). “…When anyone hears the word …and does not understand it …the evil one comes and snatches away …” (Matthew
13:18-23 NASB).
Eve’s thoughts
were darkened and murder by Satan’s lies. her human THOUGHTs were drawn away
from the truth. Immediately it began to affect her senses, affections or
emotions as well as her behavior. “When
… [Eve]… saw (senses) that the fruit
of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye (affections), and
also desirable for gaining wisdom (emotions) she took some and ate it…”
(Genesis 3:6 NIV).
eve now has
THOUGHTS within her mind, outside of God’s truth that haS drawn her to lies
which are now influencing her emotions and behaviors. “…BE YE transformed by the
renewing of your mind, …”
(Romans 12:2 KJV). Only THEN CAN YOU BE FREE FROM THE LIES OF SATAN.
“…..God
created man in his own image…..male and female created he them…” (Genesis
1:27 KJV).
Two things: 1. God “…does
whatever pleases him” (Psalms 115:3
NIV).
“… [God]… does as he pleases… No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you
done?” (Daniel 4 NLT).
“…Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish…” (Isaiah 46:
9-10 NLT). “….let
us make man … after
our likeness…” (Genesis 1:26 KJV). You always have free will and
god bestows upon you the freedom to make your own choices.
2. “….God formed
man of the dust of the ground (BODY), and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (SPIRIT);
and man became a living soul (SOUL)…”
(Genesis 2:7 KJV).. The spirit helps us to know his will and to
know him.
The spirit enables us to
have communication with God AND HE WITH US. ALSO THE SPIRIT REVEALS HIS
PRESENCE and EMPOWERS US TO be intimate with him. “…the HOLY SPIRIT “GIVES” birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
The
body is given to us by God to
communicate with the NATURAL world. through the body we can feel, ENGAGE, AND INTERACT
WITH everything in the world.
THE
SOUL /HEART, gives us
self-AWARENESS and is where the authentic self dwells. THE HEART/SOUL HOUSES
OUR SENSES, EMOTIONS, AFFECTIONS, conscience, personality, and THOUGHTS. The
thoughts are the command center. The heart/soul listens and teams up with
either the spirit or the flesh TO INFLUENCE YOUR BEHAVIOR OR ACTIONS.
the
HEART/SOUL WILL BE INFLUENCED BY the
spirit OR the body, WHICHEVER ONE WE CHOOSE TO FOLLOW. WhoEVER we are influenced to become OR how we behave will be heavily impacted by either the spirit or body,
Originally the heart/soul was the PLACE OF INTIMATE CONNECTION with the HOLY spirit, tHE HOLY SPIRIT SPOKE AND INTERACTED WITH THE SOUL THROUGH THE HEART.
All deeds or behaviors that A man or woman
displays outwardly originates from
the heart. It is“… from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts…these …
come from within, and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).
The heart “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked:…who
can know it…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV). "…Offspring
of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaks. The good man, out of his good treasure, brings forth good
things, and the evil man, out of his evil treasure, brings forth evil things."
(Matthew 12:34-35 ).
“…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…”
(1 John 5:6-8 KJV). “….THE LORD IS OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE…” (Deuteronomy 6:4 KJV). “…THERE IS NO GOD,
BUT ONE…”
(1 Corinthians 8:4 KJV). God commands. Jesus speaks. The Holy Spirit does. In other
words, God commands; Jesus “IS” God’s word and thus SPEAKS what God commands;
the Holy Spirit “IS” god’s power and does what Jesus SAYS God commanded.
God is the
father. Jesus is the Word of the father. The Holy Spirit is the Power of the
father. “…THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
The FATHER’s
(God) WORD (Jesus) is POWER (Holy Spirit) and they are ONE. “…THERE ARE THREE that bear record in heaven, the Father (GOD), the Word (JESUS), and the Holy Ghost
(POWER): and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…” (1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV).
EXAMPLE: “…Then God SAID, “Let there be
light”; AND THERE WAS LIGHT…” (Genesis 1:3 NASB). “…Then God SAID (God commanded with faith in his OWN
word), “Let there be light” (Jesus, the Word
spoke his command); AND THERE WAS LIGHT (The
Holy Spirit did what was spoken and commanded)…” (Genesis 1:3 NASB). “
thoughts are so POWERFUL they
influence behavior.
Eve’s new thoughts were powerful enough
to INFLUENCE HER TO BEHAVE IN A WAY THAT drEw her away from god’s truth.
Once you are drawn away from the truth,
the heart/soul disconnects with God’s spirit IN THAT AREA and you are now being led by the
flesh OR OTHER INFLUENCES. God instructed MAN by SAYING: “…of every tree of the garden thou mayest
freely eat: BUT of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil THOU SHALT NOT
EAT OF IT …[or]
… thou shalt surely die…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV). The serpent OR OTHER INFLUENCE said “…ye shall not surely die.…” (Genesis 3:4-5 KJV). “…The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit
looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some
of the fruit and ate it.
…”
(Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
The heart/soul works Best with the spirit, but it is dead without it. “…the body without (apart from) the [Holy] spirit
is dead…”
(James 2:26 KJV).
WITHOUT THE INFLUENCE OF GOD HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUST. THE MIND BECOMES INFLUENCED BY CARNALITY.
To be carnally minded is death, DARKNESS, AND ALL THAT IS NEGATIVE. “…At
that moment their eyes were opened…” (Genesis 3:1-7
NLT). “…they suddenly felt shame at their
nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. When the cool
evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from
the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where
are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the
garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not
to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me
the fruit, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied.
“That’s why I ate it...” (Genesis
3:7-13 NLT). “…When lust hath conceived, it BRINGETH FORTH SIN:
and SIN when it is finished, BRINGETH FORTH DEATH…”
(James 1:13-15 NLT).
Adam and Eve experienced the death of innocence OR WHOLENESS. They
became conscious of guilt from breaking God’s commandment.
Whatever lie draws YOU away FROM God’s TRUTH it is a result of your “own” desires OR CHOICES. “…Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his
own lust, and enticed. Then when
lust hath conceived, it BRINGETH FORTH SIN: and sin, when it is finished,
BRINGETH FORTH DEATH…” (James 1:13-15
NLT).
DRAWN
AWAY: DRAWN AWAY FROM gOD'S HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH. The origin of evil and
temptation is in our own hearts; IT IS where the beginnings of sin takes
place, all the evils that follow must be wholly charged
to you and your choices. 1. The heart has a command center: our thoughts. 2. The
command center has a commander: you. 3. The commander has a commander: god 4.
You receive the commands from God and have the authority to speak the command
or not. 5. God commands. You choose to speak the command and the will carries
is out. 6. If you do not speak God’s command, it causes THE HEART to go in
another direction and it will start the process of HARDENing ITSELF AGAINST THE TRUTH. 2. Immediately
THE HEART begins to die and become ALIENATED FROM GOD.
What brings forth death?
“…Those who are dominated by the sinful
nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about
things that please the Spirit. So letting
your sinful nature control your [thoughtS]…leads
to death.
But letting the
Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to
God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature
can never please God. But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are
controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you….
Therefore, dear
brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature
urges you to do. For if you live by its
dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit
you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are
children of God…”
(Romans 8:1-14 NLT).
Satan perverted this process by
perverting the human THOUGHTs with lies since Adam and Eve. “…He was a murderer from the
beginning, and does not stand in
the truth because there is no truth in him.
Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies…”
(John 8:44 NASB). “…through one man SIN entered into the world, and
death through sin, and so death passed to all men—“(Romans 5:12 KJV). “… one sinner destroy[ed]… much good…” (Ecclesiastes 9:18 NASB).
This means that your thoughts have been “unnaturally” influenced by
lies and is the reason you are in bondage, or imprisoned, or in a stronghold,
or addicted to unnatural objects OR THOUGHTS that you can’t seem to control. “We know … that the whole world lies under the power
of the evil one” (1 John 5:19
RSV). “…Who will free me from this life that is
dominated by [bad appetites] sin? Thank God! The answer is in
Jesus Christ our Lord…” (Romans 7:14-25
NLT).
The earlier and the longer Satan influences the thoughts with lies the harder
it becomes to redirect the heart/soul and behaviors back to God. “…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good,
but I don’t….I don’t want
to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. …” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT).“…the
evil one comes and snatches
away what has been sown in his heart. ….” (Matthew
13:18-23 NASB).
“…So I
say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The
sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit
wants. And the Spirit
gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires.
These TWO FORCES are constantly fighting
each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. …
…” (Galatians 5 NLT).
GOD CAN HELP YOU OVERCOME DEPRESSION. HE IS YOUR HEALER. God TAKES FULL responsibility for PROVIDING HELP FOR YOU, BUT YOU MUST CHOOSE TO RECEIVE THAT HELP. GOD SENDS HELP THROUGH HIS PEOPLE. IT IS HIS WILL THAT HIS PEOPLE LOVE ONE ANOTHER. “…The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked. He saves
them, and they find shelter in him…” (Psalms 37:40 NLT). “…Blessed are those who wait for his help…”
(Isaiah 30:18 NLT). “…The Lord who made
you and helps you says: Do not be afraid …my servant …my chosen one…”
(Isaiah 44:2 NLT). “… The Sovereign Lord helps me…” (Isaiah 50:7 NLT). “… The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness…” (Romans 8:26 NLT). “…You are my helper and my savior…” (Psalms 40:17 NLT). “….Then you
will know that I am the Lord
your God…’” (Exodus 16:12 NLT). “…BY THE WORD of the Lord the heavens were made…” (Psalms 33:6
NASB). “…BY THE WORD of the Lord ...[GOD HEALS HIS PEOPLE OF DEPRESSION] …” (Psalms 33:6 NASB). “… I,
the Lord, am your healer…” (Exodus 15:26).
GOD WORKS "IN" AND "THROUGH" PEOPLE TO DISPLAY HIS POWER TO HEAL, BUT HE IS THE ONE DOING THE HEALING. “…The …HOLY SPIRIT …is
the SOURCE of [signs, wonders, and miracles]. …it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who
are his. The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (supernatural WORKS and
PERFORMANCES) THROUGH each of us … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “… I,
the Lord, am your healer…” (Exodus 15:26).
IF YOU ARE DEPRESSED: GET HELP. GOD HAS ASSIGNED PEOPLE TO HELP YOU ALONG THE WAY. THEY WILL HELP YOU, BUT IT IS GOD WHO WILL HEAL YOU. STOP SUFFERING ALONE, REACH OUT AND RECEIVE THE HELP GOD HAS IN PLACE FOR YOU. THEY WILL HELP YOU IN THE PROCESS, BUT ONLY GOD CAN HEAL.
FOR QUESTIONS: EMAIL ME AT DRPHJEFFERSON@YAHOO.COM
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