I GET DEPRESSED
*****************************
It has been suggested that one
in five Australians will suffer from major depression
over the next few years.
What’s happened?
Twenty or thirty years ago
depression
was treated with the “Snap
out of it!” remedy,
but it seems that this
prescription isn’t
acceptable in these
days of modern counselling
methods
and psychology.
Is this just a modern
phenomenon?
What do we need to know
about man in order to rid us of
this condition?
IS THERE ANY HOPE OR ARE WE ALL
JUST SUBJECT TO THE “ENGULFING WAVES” OF DEPRESSION AS THEY CHOOSE TO
HIT US OR NOT?
*************************************************************************************
We’ll look at-
What the Bible says about man
and his nature.
What is depression?
Where does it come from?
How it can be cured.
***************************
“Giving
thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20).
WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Depression is the result of thinking about yourself.
WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?
Thinking about yourself.
HOW CAN I GET RID OF DEPRESSION?
Stop thinking about yourself.
WHAT’S THE WORLD’S REMEDY?
More thinking about yourself by not trying to think about yourself or
the opposite - thinking very highly of yourself.
.WHAT’S THE
BIBLE SAY ABOUT DEPRESSION?
Depression is a sin. You see the
Bible says, “Giving thanks always for all things
unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20).
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Beloved, think It not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” 1Peter
4:12
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for
you.” 1 Peter 5:7
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall Into
divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh
patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing.” James
1:2-4
“...in thy presence is fullness of joy...” Ps16:11
“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but
God meant it unto good...” Genesis
50:20
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings.” Philippians 2:14
“God left him, to try him, that he might know all
that was in his heart.” 2 Chronicles 32:31
Rejoice In the Lord always: and again I say,
Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4
“Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I
have kept thy word.” Psalm
119:67
“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that
I might learn thy statutes.” Psalm
119:71
“... the Lord thy God led thee these forty years In
the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was In thine
heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Deuteronomy 8:2
“ But with many of them God was not well pleased.
for they were overthrown In the wilderness. Now these things were our examples,
to the Intent we should not lust ...neither be ye idolators.... neither
let us commit fornication ...neither let us tempt Christ ...
neither murmur ye ...Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and
they are written for our admonition ...” 1 Corinthians 10:5-11
“And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Romans
8:28
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are
your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah
55:8
When we don’t obey the above Scriptures we are sinning by disobeying God
and we say to Him that we know better!
HOW DOES THE BIBLE DESCRIBE MAN?
“As it is written, …There is none righteous,
no, not one:… There Is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together
become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their
tongues they have used deceit the poison of asps is under their lips:
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are In their ways:
And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their
eyes. (Romans 3:10-18)
You might be thinking, “Man, this sounds a bit rough. I wonder who God
is referring to here - these must be dreadful criminals of the highest order?”
No my friend, this is God’s description of you and me. But wait, there’s
more,
“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed
evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness,
wickedness, deceit
lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride,
foolishness:” (Mark
7:21-22)
“The heart Is deceitful above all things, and
desperately wicked. who can know it?” (Jer
17:9)
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest which are
these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft
hatred,… Galatians 5:19
Now don’t get upset, this is what the Bible says that you and I are like
- and it gets worse!
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our
righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf and our
Iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah
64:6)
“There is not a just man upon earth that doeth
good, and sinneth not” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
“The fool hath said in his heart There Is no God.
They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth
good.
The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children
of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.
They are all gone aside, they are all together
became filthy there is none that doeth good, no, not one.” (Psalm
14:1-3)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God.” (Romans 3:23)
“Every man at his best state Is altogether
vanity.’’ (Psalm 39:5)
Now you have something to be depressed about! This is the real you and
what the Bible says about you and me and who we are.
WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF DEPRESSION?
Depression is inbuilt into our nature. Your depression is the outworking of a life-time of sin and sinful
responses. 60%-70% of people in mental institutions are there as a result
of unforgiveness and depression. Until you see that depression is a sin and
that there is no known cure of man that can help, you’ll only be spinning your
wheels trying to get rid of it.
BUT I DON’T REALLY BELIEVE THE BIBLE
Well I suppose that’s a choice we make. It’s neither here nor
there what you or I really think, it’s what God says on the matter that counts.
God created us, so He knows how we tick and that’s why the Bible gives
us direction.
If you like, go to the New Idea and popular help magazines and believe
what they tell you about problems – “it’s really not anybody’s fault” and
“we’re all victims of circumstance”.
If you’ve probably been “dieting” on this for years, it’s no wonder you
may be depressed.
The reason why people don’t like the Bible or won’t believe it, is
because it tells us exactly who we are - filthy, rotten, putrid, contemptible
sinners. Unless you believe this, you’ll be running around for years looking
for a solution, a guru, some self-help plan or some technique from the “new
age” and in 5 years time you’ll be worse.
NOTE: A reason people believe in evolution is that they won’t have to
believe in a Creator who made them and thereby hope to avoid accountability to
Him.
BUT CAN’T PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELLING HELP ME?
Absolutely not! You see, modern psychology, New Age techniques and
psychiatry all start from the basis that man is good, was born good and with a
bit of will power and perhaps some drugs, he will soon get better and have a happy
life.
CAN’T WE IMPROVE PEOPLE’S SELF ESTEEM IN ORDER TO OVERCOME DEPRESSION?
NO! The most depressed person has far too much self esteem already. If
people really hated themselves they should be glad that they’re being punished
by depression. But they’re not - in fact it’s just the opposite. They’re very
upset that they’re depressed and it shouldn’t be happening to them – they’re
far too good to be suffering. People should not be surprised that depression is
one of the things that comes out of man and out of his very nature. When man
takes His eyes off Jesus and His work on the cross, man will think about
himself, his needs and wants, desires and how much their not being fulfilled.
JESUS CHRIST IS YOUR ONLY HOPE
When a man turns to Jesus Christ, everything that then happens is
God working in that person’s life for His glory and that person’s reward. Until
then, anything that man will do is doomed, society is a failure and there is
nothing good that man has ever done, will do or can do, and he is subject to
the complete wrath of God for all his efforts.
We’re not born good, never were good, and till the day you die, we’ll
never improve. Upon death you will be judged for all your actions and If you
don’t measure up to the perfect standard of Jesus Christ - who knew no sin,
then you will be cast into the fires of hell for eternal torment and
unspeakable horrors.
Now many people are going to stand before God on Judgment Day and plead
their innocence, or their good works, or their “doing their best”, or their own
self righteousness, but God’s not going to have a bar of it.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Get saved! The Bible says, “Neither is there
salvation in any other. For there is none other name under heaven whereby we
must be saved.” (Acts
4:12)
Baptism, confessionals, sacraments, good works, penances, being good,
church membership, religion, last rites, Saturday worship or church rules CANNOT
SAVE YOU. Stop trusting in your “self-righteousness” and put your trust in
Jesus Christ alone and “His righteousness”.
ETERNAL LIFE IS A FREE GIFT!
YOU CAN’T EARN IT, WORK FOR IT OR BUY IT! The Bible says, “...the GIFT of God is eternal life THROUGH JESUS CHRIST
OUR LORD.” (Rom
6:23).
The Bible says “...Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners...” (1 Timothy 1:15)
and it also says, “For whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord SHALL BE SAVED.” (Romans
10:13)
Eternity is forever and hell is real, but if you want to be saved, trust alone in Jesus and pray from your heart: “DEAR GOD, I’m a sinner and deserve Your everlasting wrath in hell. I believe Jesus died for all my sins and His shed blood was payment. I completely trust Him alone to save me. Please forgive me. AMEN”
Harley Hitchcock
BULLSEYE!
ACCURATE
BIBLE
KNOWLEDGE!
QUESTION: “I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD IS DOING IN
MY LIFE?”
www.AustralianBibleMinistries.com
