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DEFEATING DEPRESSION PART 2
Low spirits, gloominess, dejection, sadness, a decrease in force, activity, amount, and a decrease in functional activity. An emotional condition either normal or pathological characterized by discouragement, a feeling of inadequacy, the act of humbling abasement as a depression of pride. Abasement, reduction, sinking, fall, humiliation, dejection, melancholy FEAR AND DEPRESSION “For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Timothy 1:7 Shabbat Shalom dearly beloved: As I write this series on Defeating Depression, I am basing my approach on the assumption that Elohim-God is the Creator of Man and therefore His Word has the final say about His creation. The Bible or the Word of God as manifested through The Hebrew Holy Scriptures known as TANACH or by some as the “Old Covenant” and through The Apostolic Writings or also called the New Covenant, is the Manufacturer’s Manual of Instruction. It contains all the information for man’s right functioning and wellbeing. In the same way that if we violate the instructions given in the manual of any expensive machine, we could cause the malfunctioning of that machine and eventually its total breakdown and loss, if we violate God’s instructions it can cause the total breakdown of Man. Man is a much more intricate creation than man made cars and other machines. Man is a unique creation and ONLY the Creator knows all about the Crown of His Creation- ADAM. Fortunately for us He left us the manual of instruction- The Bible. “He sent His word and healed them and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalms 107:20 I am fully aware that conventional Psychiatry’s approach is different than mine. Psychiatry sees as the root cause of most mental illness a factor called “chemical imbalance”. I see “chemical imbalance” not as root cause per se but as an outcome of a deeper root cause. Psychiatry would prescribe medication to solve the situation and I see medication as a possible “life boat” when people do not respond to reason, prayer and spiritual treatment. But even so it needs to be followed by a retraining of the mind that would prevent such occurrences in the future. I see a mind transformation as the KEY for most if not all mental diseases. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 Fear and all its derivatives such as stress and anxiety are one of the major causes for depression. “Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad” Proverbs 12:25 Fear and all its derivatives causes torment, There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18
1. Fear is a demonic spirit that makes people crazy- This is a very tormenting fear based upon tormenting lies inspired by spirits of darkness that plague the mind with “scary scenarios”. This demonic spirit can come in through watching horror movies, involvement in witchcraft activities and especially traumas. 2. Fear is also a “fight or flight” reflex when in danger- this is a normal or even a “healthy fear” that can keep you from trouble, for example it will make you function quickly if a car is about to run you over and thus save your life! 3. The healthy “fight or flight” reaction activates the adrenal gland to secrete a large quantity of adrenalin and in some cases due to trauma, it does not “shut off” and it keeps working over time, thus causing terrible distress and a constant state of ANXIETY. Some times it is triggered by “push buttons” related to the trauma in completely unrelated situations. For example a person that suffered financial collapse might become anxious in subsequent years whenever there is even a minor financial challenge that poses no real danger. 4. Fear is also an emotion that can be caused by a real situation or by demonic spirits. Demonic spirits can work through trauma and past experience in order to create a vicious circle of negative thoughts. The more that the person thinks negatively, the more that the fear and the anxiety grow, thus affecting the chemical balance of the brain and causing a psychiatric disorder termed “Psychosis” which is characterized by terrible dread and by taking things out of proportion, imagining some devastating scenarios that do not exist or even feeling physical discomforts with no evidence of disease at all. Depression can very often be accompanied with symptoms of Psychosis 5. The Fear of God is the healthy spirit, emotion and attitude that heals people from all other unhealthy fears. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear Yahveh and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones. Proverbs 3:7,8, The fear of Yahveh leads to life, And he who has it will abide in satisfaction; He will not be visited with evil. Proverbs 19:23 HOW TO TREAT DEPRESSION CAUSED BY FEAR?
Y’shua warned us about that in Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. So the best antidote against anxiety is faith and trust in God’s provision, His perfect plan for our future and of course obedience to God and to His commandments- “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (His right way of doing things) and all these things shall be added unto you.” Miraculous healings of depression and all mental healing still needs to be followed by a complete program for mind Transformation! Mind Transformation begins with salvation: PLEASE PRAY THE FOLLOWING PRAYER Dear Father in Heaven, I choose to put all my trust in You and in Your Word and Plan for me. Thank you for sending your Son Y’shua the Messiah to take my place as a sinner. Thank you Y’shua for dying for me that I may live! I believe in you and that you rose from the dead on the 3rd day, and I invite you to be my Master, Savior and Healer, please forgive me of all my disobedience and rebellion and teach me to walk with you. Thank you for making me free and whole to serve you all the days of my life. Amen Congratulations! This is the first step to come out of depression, put your trust in God’s provision of salvation for you, salvation includes healing and deliverance from depression, it is all “in the package”! Practical Steps to Follow: 1. Build yourself up in faith-Since faith and trust in God’s provision is essential in order to maintain a healthy emotional life it is necessary to build yourself up in faith.
It is necessary that you constantly hear the Word, which is the truth about God’s faithfulness to provide for you in every way. Begin with making for yourself “Word Prayers” of at least 5-7 scriptures that talk about YAH’S (God’s) unfailing provision for your situation. Read, meditate, melodize, think and declare those scriptures day and night until you believe them. You will experience anxiety leaving you and your faith will be built up! If you suffer from depression due to the fear of death or of sickness, then make sure that you have given your life to God through Y’shua and begin to meditate on scriptures concerning healing and/or eternal life. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8 Since during depression your mind goes in vicious circles of negative thoughts, then changing the meditation of your mind will eventually turn around your situation! Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Y’shua the Messiah. Philippians 4:6-7 This kind of prayer has the element of, Petition b) Supplication c) Thanksgiving When you have “prayed through” you will experience a great relief and His peace, shalom, wellbeing will flood your soul! The best way to make a petition prayer is by quoting His word and promises to Him and then pleading with Him to manifest His promises (that apply to your situation) in your life, finishing with thanksgiving and praise for His Grace and Mercy! Remember, He does not ‘owe” us anything but He is committed to keep His word. We are in constant need of His mercy. This kind of prayer should be prayed as often as you feel anxiety creeping back, after you have “prayed through” leave everything in YAH’S (God’s) able hands! 3. Prayer in Tongues or in the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit Jude 20 This is one of the main reasons of why it is essential to receive the Baptism in The Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, because it builds us up in our most holy faith. This is a SURE ANTIDOTE against depression! 4. Repentance from any selfishness, self-centeredness and any known sin in your life. Remember that He said that if you put Him and His Kingdom FIRST everything else that you need will be added unto you with no stress, nor striving. 5. Contentment and thankfulness, Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 Selfish ambition, covetousness and jealousy can cause terrible distress and unnecessary stress to run after things because “others have them”. Of course the end result of this would be depression. A life of praise to YAH (God) and thanksgiving is essential for mental health.
And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” Matthew 18:34,35 A lot of the fears and torments are connected with bitterness and unforgiveness. Forgive EVERYONE at ALL TIMES and for EVERY REASON and you will have a very healthy soul! When we forgive, we humble ourselves to be like Y’shua who forgave us when we did not deserve it. Unforgiveness is a form of pride and He said that He resists the proud, But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 When you walk in forgiveness
you walk in love and when you walk in love, fear flees and so does depression! There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 1 John 4:18 7. Vitamins and nutrition: Fear and stress cause the body to be depleted of vital nutrients such as vitamin B, vitamin C and Calcium. I strongly suggest taking a higher quantity of those during stressful times and to improve you nutrition with healthy foods, again ask your nutrition expert about these. WHEN FEAR IS CAUSED DUE TO DEMON SPIRITS Though all unhealthy fears are connected with the operation of evil spirits as well as the coping with some realistic problems, there are some situations of fear that are plainly demonic, such as fears caused due to the watching of horror movies and/or due to idolatry or witchcraft activities such as Ouija board séances, the contacting of the dead and other spirits of deceased people and of course all satanic worship. In these cases it is imperative that you go through a proper prayer of DELIVERANCE from demons by a qualified and trusted minister. When a person is an unbeliever or is in a non receptive state, the only treatment available against this kind of depression will be psychiatric treatment with some tranquilizing drugs, and even anti-psychotic dugs, accompanied with psychological treatment. As I said in my previous issue, I do not discard this kind of treatment, when it is needed and nothing else works. This is a necessary “life boat” in some instances. However I believe that most of the fear related depressions can be overcome with the spiritual instructions given in this chapter. In the next issue, we will talk about Depression due to Lies that cause soul pain.
In order to finish I would like to bless you with the prayer of 3 John 2, Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. In Y’shua’s Love that casts out ALL fear! We care for you! Bishop Dominiquae and Rabbi Baruch Bierman Your friends in Israel© Bishop Dr Dominiquae Bierman 2006 - Permission is granted (and we encourage you) to distribute these writings. You may reprint in hard copy form, send to your e-mail lists and post them on your website. You must not alter any writings and you must keep all the author information on the writings, including the following: Kad-Esh MAP Ministries, www.kad-esh.org. This copyright notice must also remain. For all other permissions and enquires including publishing, please contact karenmap@netvision.net.il Web Hosting by Messianic Web Hosting, Israel |
