VICTORY OVER THE SPIRIT OF DEPRESSION

VICTORY OVER THE SPIRIT OF DEPRESSION

Today more than any other time that I know, more and more people are depressed, many are taking meds for depression. If you talk to someone who’s life is all sunshine and pretty clouds, they would just say you need to just be happy, get a life.

That is not what I say. I say, there has to be a reason why people are so depressed. No one wakes up in the morning and says, “today I think I will be depressed”.

Sometimes depression comes from family circumstances, or financial situations. Sometimes by a love one that has hurt you.

This state of depression needs to be dealt with, before it overrides the wisdom of daily certainty. 

If you don’t deal with it every decision you make will become uncertain. With uncertain decisions it can lead you deeper into discouragement and depression.

Sometimes, often as not, it will lead to an emotional condition or a feeling of failure. Depression is our enemy and becomes a disorder that effects our behavior in a negative way. We lose our positive thinking.

Being depresses is not a sin in itself, but could and sometimes does end up in sin. Jesus was depressed in Gethsemane and Job in the old testament was depressed. So the Lord knows how depression feels.

Being depresses is a sign or result of something in your life that is not right and you must respond. Depression is a common cold of the mind. If not treated properly a common cold can lead to worse illnesses.

If depression is not dealt with it can eventually lead to anger, and anger will take you a lot farther than you want to go and can be a hard road to get back from.

Proverbs 29:22   ²² An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

Don’t let your feelings stir up anger in your daily life. That anger can lead you into strife.

So, depression leads to wrong feelings: feelings of low self-esteem, which lead to feelings of inadequacy, then leads to wrong decisions, which can lead you back into anger. All of this then can lead to strife which can cause bitterness. It all becomes a vicious cycle.

If not dealt with depression can lead you into hopelessness. At this point you really must try to make a logical decision, before you start giving up.

If a depressed person gets to the point of giving up it can lead to alcohol and or drug abuse, or something much worse, suicide.

If you are depressed seek help. You will need to talk to someone who can help lead you out of your depression. Your minister, or more importantly talk to God, he can help you. He wants to help you. He waits with open arms hoping you will turn to Him.

Hebrews 13:5-6   ⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

⁶ So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

God will bless you and you don’t have to go through life alone. You don’t have to go through depression. Jesus will set you free. Ask him, He is ready to help you.

Take the time every day to talk to the Father and to Jesus. Let them know that you are seeking their help with your daily life. You will find your new relationship with them very rewarding.

Stay in the word. 

Brother Andy.

LIVING RIGHTEOUS IN PERILOUS TIMES

LIVING RIGHTEOUS IN PERILOUS TIMES

Matthew 6: 14-15   ¹⁴ For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

¹⁵ But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

When we stop loving people, family and friends, or anyone because of some petty thing they might have said of done, that is called aught or trespasses.

Mark 11:25-26   ²⁵ And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

²⁶ But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

In both places Jesus calls them trespasses which means you have a grudge against them.

Jesus is saying, if you refuse to forgive them, He (meaning the Father), will not forgive you

But if you forgive the failures of others, your heavenly Father will forgive you.

We need to stop holding grudges and hard feelings against people. Especially a Christian Brother or Sister.

The reason God can’t forgive you for doing that is it is a sin not to forgive. God has forgiven you many times.

We need to stay righteous and love one another as Christ loves us.

Roman 6:23   ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The wages of sin is death. Sin will take you farther away from God than you ever want to go. It is a long way back.

You can get so caught up in sin until you will completely loose your spiritual vision.

Proverbs 29:18   ¹⁸ Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Vision creates hope. Your spiritual life will only go as far as your vision leads you.

If you lose your vision, you lose your hope.

With the world situation as it is today, it looks like people are starting to lose hope.

Biblical hope is the foundation that faith is built on.

Romans 10:17   ¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

If you give up on hope, you’re not going to be hearing, and if we stop hearing, God will stop hearing. Faith only comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Hebrews 11:6   ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Without faith it is impossible to please God.

If you give up on hope, you are not going to hear.

If you don’t hear, you will start losing faith.

If you loose faith it will be impossible to please God.

If you go this far then you won’t trust God, you will give up on hope and faith then depression comes in.

Now you are in trouble. You have just been inducted into the world’s way of thinking.

If you are on the bottom and the only way left is up. Now is the time to stop and think. How did I ever get to this point in my life? Don’t quit and throw in the towel.

This is Satan’s deception. He gets you into the worlds system of thinking, he will steal your vision and it will hinder your faith walk.

1 Peter 5 :8   ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

It is saying, stay alert and keep your mind clear. Why? Because it’s the battle field of your mind is where he tries to devour you.

Now is the time to get back in the word and get tough.

Say, Devil I am a child of God and I am a Kings kid. I have the authority and the blood on my side

Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

If you are sick, it is a Job for El Shadi, the God of Abraham, Isack and Jacob.

If you are down, it is a job for El Shadi

If you are depressed, it is a job for El Shadi

If you are tired of being tired, it is a job for El Shadi.

Is there a mountain in your life, speak to it.

We have been blood bought by Jesus Christ.

We have that perfect Blood covenant.

We are not of this world, we are here temporarily.

We are heirs to the Kingdom of God.

We are brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.

We are sons and daughters of God.

We have to forgive people and hold no grudge

Love one another as Christ loves us

Stay righteous before our Heavenly Father, thru Christ Jesus his son.

Speak to that mountain in your life.

Speak to the snake that is trying to confuse you.

Tell that snake he will have to come thru the Blood of Jesus to reach you.

When you accepted Jesus as savior you gained favor with God.

The devil will never give up…Don’t you give up either.

Gods’ desire for you is for you to be on the top, not the bottom.

IS AMERICA FALLING APART?

IS AMERICA FALLING APART?

Or is America falling in line?

Things are looking bad with a new crisis almost every week in America. Killing, stealing and destruction going on all over our country. It doesn’t mean America is falling apart. It is quite the contrary, America is falling into place.

Romans 8:28-32   ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

The word destination means the purpose for which something or someone is intended or appointed to.

The word predestinate means God did actually know us before we were born physically. For whom he did foreknow he also did predestinate

When it comes to a kingdom like America, these latter days have been confusing to most Americans. Many are asking what is going on with America.

I can tell you what is happening in America, there is a devil called Satan still killing, stealing and destroying like he always has, and he will continue until you learn how to use your God given power and authority to resist him. 

James 4:7   ⁷ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The problem today is that most people won’t submit to God or anyone else. They demand their rights. Since God created us, gave us life, where are these so called rebellious rights coming from?

I will lay it out for you, right out of the pit of hell. Satan is enjoying every minute of it. One day possibly very soon your rights, your wicked ways, sexual bad habits and your what-ever will stand before the true God to be judged.

If you have not made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, you are in a lot of trouble without even knowing it. When you stand before Him you will be ashamed without excuse.

Start now to build a righteous foundation for your life. Hope is and always will be the foundation for faith to build on, in knowing God’s word we build on this foundation.

Psalms 11:3   ³ If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?

If and when the foundations are shaky and you wish you could hide, remember that Go is still in control. His power is not diminished by any turn of events. 

Nothing happens without His knowledge and permission. When you feel like running away, run to God, he will restore justice and goodness on the earth in His good time.

So never give up, hope and faith builds a very good foundation.

God has had a plan since the beginning of time, and no leader, no president, no man or event can change Gods plans. It is going to be as he planned and just exactly as he planned.

You should know that God does not preserve the believers from difficult circumstances. He tests both the righteous and the wicked.

For some, Gods tests become a refining fire, while for others it becomes an incinerator for destruction.

Don’t ignore Gods tests and challenges. Use them as opportunities for growth. Sometimes for Christians these are unpredictable days. Living for God in a hostile and deceitful world can be full of difficulty and loneliness. 

At one time the great prophet Elijah felt so lonely he wanted to die. We need to remember that we are never alone in our battle against evil. When you feel alone seek out other believers for strength and support.

We have one constant hope, the word of God. So, listen carefully when he speaks. God will not only expect us to obey his guidelines, but He wants us to love him with all our heart.

Our standard of living this life as believers should not come from our evil society, but from Gods word.

We all, believers and non-believers experience pain and trouble as well as failures in our lifetime. But for us that know God, know that God will help you from straying off the path he has chosen for you.

One might think America is falling apart… no not falling apart, falling in place just like God said it would. God knew how people would respond in these latter days, that they would be led by the world system instead of His plan.

America knows the truth, but rebellion is bringing her down. If you have made Jesus Christ the lord of your life, be not troubled. Victory for you is assured by His word.

Matthew 24:4-14   ⁴ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

⁵ For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

⁶ And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

⁷ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.

⁹ Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

¹⁰ And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

¹¹ And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

¹³ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

TOUCHING THE HEM

TOUCHING THE HEM

Mark 5:21   ²¹ And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

Jesus had just cast demonic spirits out of a man living in the tombs and mountains into 2000 pigs.

Mark 5:22-24   ²² And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

²³ And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

²⁴ And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

Thronged means to surround, a crowd of people.

Mark 5: 25-29   ²⁵ And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

²⁶ And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

²⁷ When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

²⁸ For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

²⁹ And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

First the woman had to believe that if she touched his garment she would be healed. She had heard about his healing power, and had faith that if she but touched his garment she would be healed.

What faith this woman had, she could have easily been stoned for being in public with an issue of blood. It wasn’t allowed for a woman to even touch a man when she had her time of bleeding.

The garment or cloak that she wanted to touch was a prayer shawl. It had four tassels, each tied with five double knots, which represent the 613 commandments in the Tora. She saw these tassels on Jesus’ garment.

She understood what it meant. She knew the Hebrew tradition.

The Hebrew word for hem is wings, the hem of Jesus’ garment was representing the 613 laws or commandments that Jesus was to fulfill at the cross.

This woman knew if she touched the hem of his garment she would be healed, or made whole.

When she saws the tassels or wings on his garment, she said to herself, there is healing in his wings. I must touch this garment.

At this period of time it was before Jesus went to the cross. This was a covenant God made with the Hebrews. Jesus was wearing that covenant, he was passing by with that covenant.

Mark 5:30-34   ³⁰ And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

³¹ And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

³² And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

³³ But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

³⁴ And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

It puts us to the question; how many would reach out to touch the hem of his garment with such faith.

Because Jesus did fulfill the 613 laws or commandments under the old law, you had to do good to get good.

Under the new covenant of grace, we have to accept what Jesus did to receive the blessings he has made available to us. It’s never going to be under the law again, it will always be under grace, because of what you believe in God’s word, under the new covenant.

It is all about faith, and how you use faith. All the promises that have been provided in God’s word, rest upon your faith in what Jesus provided at the cross.

You cannot get what grace has provided without faith, faith has to be involved. Your faith is going to start working as soon as you start acknowledging and admitting that you have already gotten what you ask for.

Hebrews 11:1   11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

The substance that has been provided by grace will take the kind of faith that the woman with the blood issue had to get her healing. If you are a believer, everything is in your spirit. Whatever you need Jesus has already deposited it in you.

You need to know what faith is and how it operates, and our part in it in order to take possession of what grace has already made available.

This is not a case of us trying to get God to do something, God has already done it. Now all we have to do is possess it.

Faith is not something we do to get God to respond, that is under the law, with faith it is our response to what God has already done for us.

Faith is not God response. Faith is our response to what Jesus has already done, faith moves us. God has already moved through his beloved Son, Christ Jesus.

If God had not provided it independent of your effort and prior to your need, then faith can’t make it happen. It’s not about God manufacturing it when you have need of it.

The last words Jesus spoke on the cross, “it is finished”. It has all been done. We can’t get it done in the natural, you can’t receive from the supernatural by responding in the natural.

Faith does not cause a positive response to move God, why?

Because faith is a positive response from us not from God. God has already responded positively.

Hebrews 11:6   ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This is why we must respond by faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Having faith also means believing He is…