Depression from a spirit filled & bible truth perspective

[Alithis]

i speak in this post from the perspective of being "spirit filled " as one who knows as well as believes that we are in a war and tat war has angels and demons the power of the lords presence and the presence of all manner of wickedness at work in the children of disobedience .

Depression from a spirit filled & bible truth perspective
NO WORLD allowed .

I have noticed a phenomenon over the last 2 decades that has saturated even into the fabric of the church .and saturated it deeply .

it involves this odd thing the "world "calls depression .
and now the churches too often seem to accept it as "a medical issue "
one which millions (even from the church ) go to "worldly councilors for .
a condition that is imprinted upon peoples minds by the world and then profited from by the selling of untold millions of dollars for drugs which have "never " healed any one but only numbed the symptom and increased the likelihood of a dependency on those drugs (which leads to more profits $$)and ...

the odd thing is .. when we look at the worlds definition of "depression" we see everything opposite to what the lord JESUS offers us .and thus we must realize that to deal with this the worlds way .., is to get it absolutely wrong .

ie - depression
dɪˈprɛʃ(&#601n/Submit
noun
1.
feelings of severe despondency and dejection.
"self-doubt creeps in and that swiftly turns to depression"
synonyms: melancholy, misery, sadness, unhappiness, sorrow, woe, gloom, gloominess, dejection, downheartedness, despondency, dispiritedness, low spirits, heavy-heartedness, moroseness, discouragement, despair, desolation, dolefulness, moodiness, pessimism, hopelessness;

All of the above describes a person without the LORD JESUS as lord in their life and without the active present power of the Holy Spirit .

Now, some, may leap in a defensive manner at such a bold statement .but i find zero scriptures where we are told having the power of the promised holy Spirit will cause us the symptoms described above in the "worlds" definition fo depression .

We need to look at the situation of depression from the aspect of Truth .,being , the lord JESUS, as lord of our lives hearts and minds .

His word is true
His word is faithful .
if we act on it ,according to it ,we will have the end result of what is promised in it .
if it is not so ..then none of us are saved and we are all in great woe . but we are NOT in great woe ..for his word IS true and in him we ARE saved .

thus i conclude that depression has no place or part with me ,for i am IN Christ Jesus.
And greater is he that is in me then he that is in the world .

no one becomes a state of what the "world " calls depression suddenly .. there is always a process that leads to it overtaking inundating overwhelming a person .for a Christian to get into such a state ,sadly they must follow a sorrowful path of ignoring the word of god and choosing to not plant their faith firmly IN God .

look again at that worldly definition ..
"self doubt " -this in itself is erroneous, as the believer must have "faith in God via belief.. ,to fall into doubting is simply falling into unbelief .

if that sounds harsh , and it does ,then take another look at the the definitions of depression and you will see i put one word in bold .
"Despair" - this is defined as "a complete lose of hope .
Now ,align that to the word of god and you will find NO one who has their faith in the lord Jesus can be without hope ..,to lose all hope one must become blinded to true faith in the lord Jesus .
so how does one become so blinded to faith that they fall into despair within the blinds of what the world calls depression?
that- is a demonic work of oppressive evil spirits and time to cast off unbelief and realize that it is JESUS that people need to return to and that HE is the deliverer .
How do such mischievous spirits grasp hold of the minds of even the redeemed? one way is through our complacency , we allow our mood to rule us ,even entertain it .we cant be bothered searching the bible and knowing it , that we might apply what is written there in .so the enemy has a field day , we become as a soldier naked in a battle field - had we applied the armor of god ,we would not find ourselves so vulnerable to what amounts to school yard spiritual bullies around our feet .

And worse ..had we applied the armor of god we would not be so disarmed as to watch our fellow believers fall prey to such attacks .. because while most people are busy reading about the Armour in relation to "SELF" they miss the truth that he goes on to say ..we get clothed in the Armour ..that we may be -Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;..it not about "YOU" .

it is sometimes unpleasant to be a person who makes the absolute statements . but there are times ...,sometimes after some wonderful prayer meetings .., that i wake and for no obvious reason i begin to feel despondent and "down" as we call it . but its written that we are not unaware of the wiles of the enemy ... so i recognize such a state of mind is not in agreement with the word of god and i tell that devil in no uncertain terms the truth of the mater as written in the world of God and within moments that "feeling " (which in truth is that evil spirit) flees from me .

any believer in the lord Jesus ,so doing ,as an act of faith ,will in no wise fall victim to the wiles of the enemy and find themselves in slough of despondency (a loose reference to "A pilgrims progress" by John Bunyan)

To get there we must follow a path that is not the path of faith and belief.
But the lord is gracious and ever merciful and desires that no one remain in such a state .., for any who call upon the lord believing in their heart shall be saved .. and there is no demon that can resist his true word .
Jesus is ,was and always will be ,the sure answer and the certain deliverer from demonic oppression .
though he may reveal its means of grip upon us , be it an unforgiving heart or ,pride (which is the source of self pity AND an unforgiving heart) or a myriad of other things from pains to fears to SIN which poisons and works death in our body and so calls us to relinquish those things to the power of the cross and thus remove the devils Jugs,Incuts,Slopers,Pinches,Crimps and Chips*, by which he maintains a grip upon our lives ..and with these removed he falls from us as a snake from a marbled wall .

in truth a return to belief .. a repentance from unbelief and a reestablishing of faith in Gods immeasurable power and truth in his word ..is the way out of depression for it is the way into CHRIST and HE is the door to life promising the believer that he has come that we might have LIFE and that ,ABUNDANTLY .
--------------------------------------



* a reference to the names of the differing holds and grips in indoor rockclimbing

 

[rdclmn72]

Bi-polar, on good medicine, the demons are both silly and gone.
The situational depression that most people go through is temporary, the real thing isn't.
The challenge is then to accept that part of the end-time scenario is the increase of knowledge that helps those that were previously out of reach.
The absolute truth is that if theologians have no business speculating on issues not related to their very-limited specialty, ...must I say the words?
Isaiah applied a poultice of figs to heal Hezekiah, Elisha was sick of the disease from which he died, the bible should be clear that sickness does indeed exist and we are subject to whatever process he will put us through.

 

[Alithis]

the lords methods remain his own . but his word remains truth .
it is to him we must look for deliverance.

drugs are the enemies prison ,as long as we are dependent upon them , devils need do no more , they are cutting off our dependency on God .they then lay dormant ,their mischief done ..until the drugs are cast off, then back to mischief and harm .

you say "The situational depression that most people go through is temporary, the real thing isn't." yet the situational (as you put it )that is not cast down in light of the truth of the word of god .. is not "believed " is not abided in" is not grasped hold of and stood upon in faith .. is what leads to the imprisonment of the soul and the sorrowful states of despair . which is my point .
as for the words "the real thing " -that is merely a glorification of fact over truth .. God is greater and more real ..for he is TRUTH .
He is the specialist on al matters pertaining to HIS creation .. not man

 

[ByTheSpirit]

When I suffered from depression, meds did nothing for me. Now when I find myself sinking into depression again, I sing and pray with all I can muster and joy floods my soul. Doesn't make my reality any different but my outlook and mood shifts.

 

[Alithis]

When I suffered from depression, meds did nothing for me. Now when I find myself sinking into depression again, I sing and pray with all I can muster and joy floods my soul. Doesn't make my reality any different but my outlook and mood shifts.

but you see ..it does make your real-ality different .it causes it to align with the truth ... your applying the word of god .. by agreeing with it and acting according to the truth in it .

what we "see" is fact .. but the word of God is truth .. and when truth is applied .. fact changes .

"To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, 3To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, "

liken these things to the spiritual realm of our hearts and see .. no matter the mess we got into .. God can and wills to , get us out and restore us

 

[ServantJohn]

I am not a psychiatrist or even in the medical field, so keep that in mind. There seems to me to be different types of depression. There is the situational type where you are down because you lost your job or lost a loved one. This seems to be a normal part of the process to dealing with hardship. This process would end with deeper understanding of God's love and provision. Another type comes from what some might call a stronghold. Improper thoughts such as doubt or negativity that need to be overcome by accepting the truth. Someone more versed in dealing with strongholds can chime in here. Another type of depression is that where something is broken in our bodies where the chemicals related to happiness are not produced or those creating sadness are produced. This type is where I don't have any objection with someone taking an antidepressant. This is a medical condition. Our response is to pray for healing and when God provides it, we see his miracle working power. I've never seen anyone condemned for going to a doctor in the Bible.

 

[Frogster]

I am not a psychiatrist or even in the medical field, so keep that in mind. There seems to me to be different types of depression. There is the situational type where you are down because you lost your job or lost a loved one. This seems to be a normal part of the process to dealing with hardship. This process would end with deeper understanding of God's love and provision. Another type comes from what some might call a stronghold. Improper thoughts such as doubt or negativity that need to be overcome by accepting the truth. Someone more versed in dealing with strongholds can chime in here. Another type of depression is that where something is broken in our bodies where the chemicals related to happiness are not produced or those creating sadness are produced. This type is where I don't have any objection with someone taking an antidepressant. This is a medical condition. Our response is to pray for healing and when God provides it, we see his miracle working power. I've never seen anyone condemned for going to a doctor in the Bible.

this is a well balanced Post.

Paul had the daily anxiety of the churches in 2 Cor 11:28, and he came into macedonia in fear, and depression, 2 Cor 7.


28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.


In Asia he was despairing of life, as recorded in 2 Cor 1.

He was even motivated out of fear sometimes, fear is connected with anxiety, as you know.

 

[Alithis]

I am not a psychiatrist or even in the medical field, so keep that in mind. There seems to me to be different types of depression. There is the situational type where you are down because you lost your job or lost a loved one. This seems to be a normal part of the process to dealing with hardship. This process would end with deeper understanding of God's love and provision. Another type comes from what some might call a stronghold. Improper thoughts such as doubt or negativity that need to be overcome by accepting the truth. Someone more versed in dealing with strongholds can chime in here. Another type of depression is that where something is broken in our bodies where the chemicals related to happiness are not produced or those creating sadness are produced. This type is where I don't have any objection with someone taking an antidepressant. This is a medical condition. Our response is to pray for healing and when God provides it, we see his miracle working power. I've never seen anyone condemned for going to a doctor in the Bible.

this is where it gets interesting-
what happens when there is no doctor one can go to .. after all in the Philippines my wife's distant relatives would come to ask money to buy two tablets of panadol ..yes 2 . not packets ..2 tablets . a doctor for depression is like asking them to buy a Ferrari.. it is simply beyond their reach -but GOD is not .
And GOD is able and willing and gives us all we need to over come .

after all there are as iv pointed out .. facts ... and then there is TRUTH one of these will remain one will change .

 

[ToBeBlessed]

this is where it gets interesting-
what happens when there is no doctor one can go to .. after all in the Philippines my wife's distant relatives would come to ask money to buy two tablets of panadol ..yes 2 . not packets ..2 tablets . a doctor for depression is like asking them to buy a Ferrari.. it is simply beyond their reach -but GOD is not .
And GOD is able and willing and gives us all we need to over come .

after all there are as iv pointed out .. facts ... and then there is TRUTH one of these will remain one will change .

Were your wife's distant relatives diagnosed with acute depression or depression in general that gave them a perscription or some other authorization from a physician or psychologist that made it legal for them to seek this medication?

There is a medical diagnosis between being diagnosed by a PHD doctor with acute depression and a person that feels depressed. The two cannot be put together in the same bucket.

It seems that since they were able to get the medication that it was not out of their reach, the question is was their getting the medication legal or illegal?

As you brought the topic of medicine, doctor's and medication into this discussion it cannot be off limits.

 

[ServantJohn]

this is where it gets interesting-
what happens when there is no doctor one can go to .. after all in the Philippines my wife's distant relatives would come to ask money to buy two tablets of panadol ..yes 2 . not packets ..2 tablets . a doctor for depression is like asking them to buy a Ferrari.. it is simply beyond their reach -but GOD is not .
And GOD is able and willing and gives us all we need to over come .

after all there are as iv pointed out .. facts ... and then there is TRUTH one of these will remain one will change .

It's sad that there are places in the world with substandard health care. There are amazing ministries that have risen up to meet those needs and spread the Gospel. My sister used to take medicines into countries when she was in the mission field. I'm not saying you do, but I don't see medicine as competing with God nor do I think it a sign of a lack of faith to go to a doctor. It's like if my car broke down miles away from the nearest help. I could stay there praying that God will send me help. I could pray that God will fix my car - and He has. Or I could start walking and pray until He sends help or gives me the strength to make it to help.

 

[Boidae]

Were your wife's distant relatives diagnosed with acute depression or depression in general that gave them a perscription or some other authorization from a physician or psychologist that made it legal for them to seek this medication?

There is a medical diagnosis between being diagnosed by a PHD doctor with acute depression and a person that feels depressed. The two cannot be put together in the same bucket.

It seems that since they were able to get the medication that it was not out of their reach, the question is was their getting the medication legal or illegal?

As you brought the topic of medicine, doctor's and medication into this discussion it cannot be off limits.

Exactly.

I was diagnosed with acute major depression to which I am still being treated for.

The medication that I take is called Wellbutrin and it has really helped me out. So much so that my mother-in-law has noticed the difference in how I would argue with my wife. I used to blow up at her, which in turn would cause her to blow up at me. Now, I am much calmer when going into an argument and many times I will not raise my voice at all. Our last argument I even told her that if you are going to yell at me from the start we're not going to talk right now.

Before the medication I would have matched her tit for tat.

I prayed for help when I realized that I was suffering from depression. What I received was go to a counselor and let them know about your depression and you will get the help you need. That was straight from God.

No one will ever convince me that God disapproves of doctors and medicines.

 

[Messy]

It's sad that there are places in the world with substandard health care. There are amazing ministries that have risen up to meet those needs and spread the Gospel. My sister used to take medicines into countries when she was in the mission field. I'm not saying you do, but I don't see medicine as competing with God nor do I think it a sign of a lack of faith to go to a doctor. It's like if my car broke down miles away from the nearest help. I could stay there praying that God will send me help. I could pray that God will fix my car - and He has. Or I could start walking and pray until He sends help or gives me the strength to make it to help.

Antidepressants aren't just harmless medicines. They told me that. I never wanted to go to a psychiater. They forced me and it ruined my life, marriage, suïcide attempt and because of that a depression, lol and I only had a postnatal depression. I got addicted to benzo's. Heard Hal Lindsay about witchcraft and scorceries and threw it all away. You had to temper it down. I just quit at once, no problem. Repented of the anger and hate and unforgiveness and started confessing I was totally happy lol. Even when I was depressed I was like: What? me? I'm joking all the time. When I just lost my ex and kids I couldn't see and felt horrible I just watched Louis de Funes that French stupid comedian day in day out day in day out.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

Messy,
I really don't think what happened in your case is anything to laugh about.

If you did not need the medication I understand that is your testimony, but to others who have depression it is probably not a laughing matter.

 

[Messy]

A Testimony of Deliverance, Derek Prince - Spiritual Housecleaning

 

[Messy]

Messy,
I really don't think what happened in your case is anything to laugh about.

If you did not need the medication I understand that is your testimony, but to others who have depression it is probably not a laughing matter.

For me that was the only way to deal with it and still is. I can whine all day, better just make fun of it. I needed it but I just threw it away. Still took years before I was really healed.

 

[ToBeBlessed]

For me that was the only way to deal with it and still is. I can whine all day, better just make fun of it. I needed it but I just threw it away. Still took years before I was really healed.

So do you take other people's problem with depression as a laughing matter also? That's how it seems. That's why I asked for clarification.

 

[Messy]

So do you take other people's problem with depression as a laughing matter also? That's how it seems. That's why I asked for clarification.

No sorry if it came over that way. Of course not. Just wanted to say the medicine doesn't work so great for everyone.

 

[hislegacy]

Below is a great OP!

Well thought out, well explained and balanced. Props to you!

Are you sure that you are not Word of Faith? Your message would fit in well.

i speak in this post from the perspective of being "spirit filled " as one who knows as well as believes that we are in a war and tat war has angels and demons the power of the lords presence and the presence of all manner of wickedness at work in the children of disobedience .

Depression from a spirit filled & bible truth perspective
NO WORLD allowed .

I have noticed a phenomenon over the last 2 decades that has saturated even into the fabric of the church .and saturated it deeply .

it involves this odd thing the "world "calls depression .
and now the churches too often seem to accept it as "a medical issue "
one which millions (even from the church ) go to "worldly councilors for .
a condition that is imprinted upon peoples minds by the world and then profited from by the selling of untold millions of dollars for drugs which have "never " healed any one but only numbed the symptom and increased the likelihood of a dependency on those drugs (which leads to more profits $$)and ...

the odd thing is .. when we look at the worlds definition of "depression" we see everything opposite to what the lord JESUS offers us .and thus we must realize that to deal with this the worlds way .., is to get it absolutely wrong .

ie - depression
dɪˈprɛʃ(&#601n/Submit
noun
1.
feelings of severe despondency and dejection.
"self-doubt creeps in and that swiftly turns to depression"
synonyms: melancholy, misery, sadness, unhappiness, sorrow, woe, gloom, gloominess, dejection, downheartedness, despondency, dispiritedness, low spirits, heavy-heartedness, moroseness, discouragement, despair, desolation, dolefulness, moodiness, pessimism, hopelessness;

All of the above describes a person without the LORD JESUS as lord in their life and without the active present power of the Holy Spirit .

Now, some, may leap in a defensive manner at such a bold statement .but i find zero scriptures where we are told having the power of the promised holy Spirit will cause us the symptoms described above in the "worlds" definition fo depression .

We need to look at the situation of depression from the aspect of Truth .,being , the lord JESUS, as lord of our lives hearts and minds .

His word is true
His word is faithful .
if we act on it ,according to it ,we will have the end result of what is promised in it .
if it is not so ..then none of us are saved and we are all in great woe . but we are NOT in great woe ..for his word IS true and in him we ARE saved .

thus i conclude that depression has no place or part with me ,for i am IN Christ Jesus.
And greater is he that is in me then he that is in the world .

no one becomes a state of what the "world " calls depression suddenly .. there is always a process that leads to it overtaking inundating overwhelming a person .for a Christian to get into such a state ,sadly they must follow a sorrowful path of ignoring the word of god and choosing to not plant their faith firmly IN God .

look again at that worldly definition ..
"self doubt " -this in itself is erroneous, as the believer must have "faith in God via belief.. ,to fall into doubting is simply falling into unbelief .

if that sounds harsh , and it does ,then take another look at the the definitions of depression and you will see i put one word in bold .
"Despair" - this is defined as "a complete lose of hope .
Now ,align that to the word of god and you will find NO one who has their faith in the lord Jesus can be without hope ..,to lose all hope one must become blinded to true faith in the lord Jesus .
so how does one become so blinded to faith that they fall into despair within the blinds of what the world calls depression?
that- is a demonic work of oppressive evil spirits and time to cast off unbelief and realize that it is JESUS that people need to return to and that HE is the deliverer .
How do such mischievous spirits grasp hold of the minds of even the redeemed? one way is through our complacency , we allow our mood to rule us ,even entertain it .we cant be bothered searching the bible and knowing it , that we might apply what is written there in .so the enemy has a field day , we become as a soldier naked in a battle field - had we applied the armor of god ,we would not find ourselves so vulnerable to what amounts to school yard spiritual bullies around our feet .

And worse ..had we applied the armor of god we would not be so disarmed as to watch our fellow believers fall prey to such attacks .. because while most people are busy reading about the Armour in relation to "SELF" they miss the truth that he goes on to say ..we get clothed in the Armour ..that we may be -Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;..it not about "YOU" .

it is sometimes unpleasant to be a person who makes the absolute statements . but there are times ...,sometimes after some wonderful prayer meetings .., that i wake and for no obvious reason i begin to feel despondent and "down" as we call it . but its written that we are not unaware of the wiles of the enemy ... so i recognize such a state of mind is not in agreement with the word of god and i tell that devil in no uncertain terms the truth of the mater as written in the world of God and within moments that "feeling " (which in truth is that evil spirit) flees from me .

any believer in the lord Jesus ,so doing ,as an act of faith ,will in no wise fall victim to the wiles of the enemy and find themselves in slough of despondency (a loose reference to "A pilgrims progress" by John Bunyan)

To get there we must follow a path that is not the path of faith and belief.
But the lord is gracious and ever merciful and desires that no one remain in such a state .., for any who call upon the lord believing in their heart shall be saved .. and there is no demon that can resist his true word .
Jesus is ,was and always will be ,the sure answer and the certain deliverer from demonic oppression .
though he may reveal its means of grip upon us , be it an unforgiving heart or ,pride (which is the source of self pity AND an unforgiving heart) or a myriad of other things from pains to fears to SIN which poisons and works death in our body and so calls us to relinquish those things to the power of the cross and thus remove the devils Jugs,Incuts,Slopers,Pinches,Crimps and Chips*, by which he maintains a grip upon our lives ..and with these removed he falls from us as a snake from a marbled wall .

in truth a return to belief .. a repentance from unbelief and a reestablishing of faith in Gods immeasurable power and truth in his word ..is the way out of depression for it is the way into CHRIST and HE is the door to life promising the believer that he has come that we might have LIFE and that ,ABUNDANTLY .
--------------------------------------



* a reference to the names of the differing holds and grips in indoor rockclimbing

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I definitely see an element here of faith involved. God only works in us as our faith allows. Some need doctors and medicine to cope with stuff and God permits that on basis of his will and their faith. Others may well say, Lord my life is in your hands come what may and never once see a doctor and God allows that as well.

It was said Smith Wigglesworth never visited the doctor nor took even an OTC medicine for a headache and that man lived a very good life health wise. I mean medicine is only going to do so much.

Not saying it is bad, don't misunderstand me. Only that if your faith goes only so far, God will match you and meet you there but not go farther.

 

[Messy]

I definitely see an element here of faith involved. God only works in us as our faith allows. Some need doctors and medicine to cope with stuff and God permits that on basis of his will and their faith. Others may well say, Lord my life is in your hands come what may and never once see a doctor and God allows that as well.

It was said Smith Wigglesworth never visited the doctor nor took even an OTC medicine for a headache and that man lived a very good life health wise. I mean medicine is only going to do so much.

Not saying it is bad, don't misunderstand me. Only that if your faith goes only so far, God will match you and meet you there but not go farther.

Yes but sometimes it is bad and it can destroy you. They never say that.