The Secret to Overcoming
Depression
Romans 8:1-7
1.
Don’t raise your hands, but has anyone ever
struggled with depression, or you’ve known someone who has?
a.
NIH reports 2% of the population suffers from severe
depression, and 16.5% some depression related disorder.
b.
It has touched almost every family in our
country.
2.
In this chapter not only will we learn the final
piece of Gods plan to walking in victory, we’re also going to learn the secret
to overcoming depression!
3.
See, depression stems from one of three areas:
a.
1 - We’re haunted by something from our past,
something we've done, or something that was done to us.
b.
2 - We’re weighed down by something in our
present, some heavy situation, a trial, or some sin we're dealing with
c.
3 - We’re anxious about something in our future
4.
In this chapter we’re going to learn that God is
sovereign over ALL of these areas of our life: past, present, future!
Our Past
There is therefore
now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
(Underline or highlight - powerful truth to
overcoming our past!)
5.
It’s amazing how many Christians I come across
that struggle with feelings of condemnation
a.
Feeling condemned by parents, or spouse, or
others, and many times, we condemn ourselves!
b.
Many times this stems from a sense that we've
let God down…
c.
Maybe we did something that was really bad, or
there is some sin that we can’t seem to overcome,
d.
or something we should have done and didn’t and
there was a bad outcome.
e.
Some people I talk to even have heard voices of
condemnation in their mind - it’s more common than you think; I’ve even heard
them.
6.
One thing you really need to know: If you
are in Christ, that condemnation is NOT from God!
a.
Now there is one who does condemn us:
Now
salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His
Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our
God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of
the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, Rev 12:10-11
7.
The word "condemnation" means
"unfit for use," Like when the city condemns a building, it is
declared unfit for use and must be destroyed.
a.
Satan condemns us the same way, he tries make us
feel unfit for use and needing to be destroyed.
b.
How? He condemns us by proclaiming, "he
broke the law!"
8.
REMEMBER: Since we as Christians are no longer
under the Law, we can’t be condemned,
a.
So we should never feel unfit for use, because
we’ve been accepted by the Father through Jesus
Blessed be
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him
before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame
before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus
Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of
the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved
Ephesians 1:3-6
9.
The Greek word that was translated
"no" in this verse is "OUDEIS."
a.
This is an emphatic term meaning "not even
one...i.e. none".
b.
Not “less condemnation,” but “NO CONDEMNATION!”
ZERO!
10. Why?
Remember what we’ve learned: The moment you become a follower of Christ,
what is Christ’s becomes YOURS.
a.
Since God the Father does not condemn Jesus,
neither will the Father condemn those who are in Jesus.
11. As
well, the bible teaches us that we’re joint heirs with Christ - a little later
in this chapter Paul will tell us:
The Spirit
Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, Romans
8:16-17
12. This
verse is one of the most powerful verses in the bible that can deliver you from
self-condemnation - you can completely shut down Satan by simply declaring
God's word.
a.
Jesus was tempted - "it is written"
There is therefore
now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,
(Say
it together!)
13. Now,
it is true that this truth is applicable only to those are “in Christ.”
a.
In other words, if you’re NOT in Christ, then
there IS condemnation for you.
b.
Not based on what or how many sins you’ve
committed, but based on the fact that the penalty for your sin has not been
paid, even if you’ve only committed one in your entire life.
c.
When you accept Christ you are forgiven, then
penalty of your sin has been paid, and therefore no charge can be brought
against you!
14. Feelings
of shame and condemnation are the cause for much of the depression people have,
because the person without Christ doesn’t have anything to do with their guilt
a.
Which is why so many people have to take mood
altering substances, both illegal and prescription, they need to mask their
guilt and shame.
15. caveat:
I’m not saying that no one should ever see a doctor about depression, or that
antidepressants should never be taken.
a.
FACT: The human brain is a complex organ
that uses bio-electrical signals and chemicals to function, and just like any
other organ, the brain can malfunction (we are, after all, fallen!).
b.
And it’s a fact that a chemical imbalance can
have an emotional effect.
c.
And there are times when it’s warranted to take
a medication to help balance out the emotions of a person who is experiencing
problems.
16. But
that being said, it is also true that we do not yet posses the medical
technology to measure the amount of chemicals in a persons brain,
a.
we cannot fully duplicate them, nor can we
administer them in such a way to bring the brain’s chemical balance to its
normal state.
b.
This is why doctors will often try several
different drugs until they find the one that brings the desired response to the
condition - sort of like psychotropic version of Russian Roulette.
17. It
is also true that our mental health system is based on rules: A person
tells the doctor they feel sad, the doctor looks it up in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM),
a.
they have to fit the disorder into one of the
categories outlined in the DSM, which tells them which drug to prescribe,
b.
which ensures that the insurance company will
reimburse the doctor for the visit.
c.
What this has led to is the mass prescribing of
medications, to the point that we’re now finding traces of antidepressants in
the food chain. (that could be an indicator!)
Two things I’m saying:
18. #1
- Be careful with these drugs, as they only mask the symptom.
a.
Our emotions, like sadness, even feeling
depressed, are the warning lights that God designed into our bodies that tell
us something is going on that we need to deal with.
b.
If we mask the feelings, we’ll never deal with
the underlying cause.
19. #2
- If you’re feeling sad or down or depressed, first take it the Lord, ask Him
to help you get to the root cause.
a.
Spent time in the word of God, allow it to renew
your mind, learn and meditate on the promises of God.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain
you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22
20. Bottom
line, the person without Christ is handicapped,
a.
1 - They only have the world and themselves to
draw on when things are going badly.
b.
2 - They haven't experienced forgiveness
21. But
for the person “in Christ,” we’re now empowered:
a.
1 - we have the Spirit of the Living God in us
b.
2 - we're forgiven!
Empowered by the Spirit (jump to vs 26)
26 Likewise the
Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for
as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings
which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind
of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the
will of God.
22. This
is important, as it teaches us that we have a supernatural power that is made
available to the believer that will help us when we’re in a weak spot.
a.
“Weakness” translates into mental or moral
weakness.
b.
We don’t even have to know how to pray, He’ll
pray for us!
23. “He
who searches the hearts” haven’t you ever experienced a time in your life when
things are blowing up, our thoughts are confused,
a.
You’re not only unsure of what to do, you don’t
even know what’s going on!
b.
THAT is enough to make someone depressed!
24. Well,
in those situations, the Spirit of God that is in the believer can search out
your heart, know exactly what the root is, and will interceded to the Father on
your behalf!
a.
The Holy Spirit is never at a loss as to how to
convey our needs to the Father.
b.
That's the reason this ministry of the Holy
Spirit is so important. There is oneness between the Father and the Holy
Spirit!
25. So
when the believer becomes swept up in one of life’s firestorms, instead of
turning to the doctor for a pill,
a.
We can turn to the Spirit of God that lives in
us, and He will help us in our weakness!
Forgiven
26. I’m
going to put something out there that might rattle a few cages, but I believe
it needs to be said:
a.
The world will tell you “you have to forgive
yourself.” Sounds nice, but its not true.
b.
It’s worse for a Christian to think this because
its not in the bible anywhere.
c.
Just out of curiosity, I googled it, and I
couldn’t believe the doctrinal acrobatics that some pastors went through trying
to make forgiving yourself a biblical concept!
27. Not
only does the bible not teach it, it doesn't make sense!
a.
Think about it this way: If I do something
wrong against you, came over to your house and stole something, and you call me
up “hey, you stole my golf clubs…”
b.
and I responded “It’s OK, I’ve forgiven myself”
- that’s just not gonna fly!
28. Not
only are you not OK, I’m not OK either - because I know I’ve done you wrong,
and I haven’t made it right,
a.
And every time I play a round of golf, I’m
reminded that I’m playing with your favorite set of clubs that I stole from
you!
b.
(I’d better take an antidepressant so I'll feel
better!)
2 For the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and
death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh,
God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of
sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law
might be fulfilled in us
29. Get
this picture: The law is perfect, it states clearly what is right, and
what is wrong.
a.
If the law is violated, the requirement of the
law is the penalty must be paid.
b.
So the law condemned my for stealing your golf
clubs, and you called the cops, and they came and arrested me for stealing.
c.
Now I’ve got to go to court, and face the judge
for my crime.
d.
Apparently it doesn’t matter that I’ve forgiven
myself! It doesn’t change anything!
30. But
you make a decision - even though I did wrong, you decide “I really love Clay,
and I’m going to forgive him.
a.
So you say “your honor, I know Clay stole from
me, but I’ve decided to forgive him, matter of fact, I’m going to pay the fine
for him, and buy him a brand new set of golf clubs
b.
NOW things have changed, because I’ve been
forgiven, and the penalty has been paid! I no longer have to walk around in
shame, or avoid your calls!
c.
And I can't be recharged with that crime!
31. And
that’s what the Christian needs to know, this truth that Paul is communicating,
a.
This truth that will set you free from the
feelings of shame and guilt of the past…
b.
YOU’VE BEEN FORGIVEN! You can NO LONGER BE
CONDEMNED!
c.
Your past has no longer has any power over you!
d.
The enemy has no grounds to condemn you!
e.
He may do it, but just like if the police were
to come to my door, drag me to court for stealing your golf clubs, I can say
f.
“Your Honor, the price has been paid for this
crime!”
32. Jesus
became the sacrifice, taking on Himself the penalty that the law required
because of our sin.
a.
Therefore when we receive Christ, the
requirement has been satisfied for us, forever!
As far as the
east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12
33. So
when those voices or feelings of condemnation come, you answer them with Romans
8:1
Copyright
© 2014 Clay Ritter. This data file is the sole property of Clay Ritter. It may
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NC, 28412.
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