The Bible and Depression Bible Study
Week 12 - Carry Message to Others.
The Lord has a Plan for each and every one of us. Part of that plan is being His Witness. Our experiences, our struggles, our successes are all part of His Plan for us, to get us ready to be his disciples.
What Lies does Satan use in his never ending effort to lead us astray?
God Could Never Use Me! Look at my past, I am too ashamed. In our study of Depression, this feeling of not being worthy was the most common symptom of depression. But each person was Restored by the Lord and went on to do mighty things for the Lord.
SO CAN WE!
To confront and defeat this effort of Satan is part of the Mission Statement of Recovery For The Appalachians.
Mission Statement: Recovery For The Appalachians’ exists to make disciples and prepare you for works of service by practicing the Biblical 12 Steps in safe, small group settings.
When you are fulfilling the Lord’s Plan for you of carrying His message to others, Satan’s lie listed above and other lies have lost their power on you.
Let’s look at some key concepts and honestly rate yourself on how you are doing and where you need to improve. Be joyful and happy where you have made progress – that proves Satan is wrong. On areas you need to improve – ask for help from your Brothers and Sisters and the Lord.
How many of the Biblical men and women that we have studied the last 11 weeks were Restored and used by the Lord and went on to do great things for the Lord? Is that your goal?
CONVERTED – I have been saved and can explain the basic concepts of conversion to others.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus died for the sins of everyone.
CHURCHED – I attend church regularly and contribute systematically as part of my recovery and growth as a disciple.
Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
COMMITTED – I read the Bible, the Lord’s Word daily and seek to practice the Biblical Steps:
In our life we will receive thoughts, inspirations and distractions from two sources: 1) The Lord, these will bring peace, happiness and joy; and 2) Satan, these will bring sadness, depression and ultimately destruction if followed.
Acts 17:11
11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
We must test our daily decisions and action against Scripture. It is only when we test daily actions and thoughts against Scripture that the wonderful promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 becomes available to us.
1 Corinthians 10:13
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
This should be a wondrous message to each one of us. When we become the Lord’s, He will give us the ability to resist temptation. This means Satan no longer has power over us, unless we choose to let him.
COMPASSIONATE: I feel compassion for others who are less fortunate.
Luke 10:33-35
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
In our study on the Depression of Jonah, we were given a warning. Jonah was Restored from his depression but refused to have a compassionate heart about the people of Ninevah. He was returned to depression and the Bible does not tell us that he was restored a second time.
COMMISSIONED: I am ready to take the message of salvation and recovery to others. Telling HIS story to everyone I can.
To carry the message of good news wherever we can is not a suggestion. It is a command of the Lord. As we have studied, the only true source of peace and joy is from the Lord. The cure for Spiritual Depression is the Lord. Our hedge of protection from the lies and destruction of Satan is the Lord. To place the Lord FIRST and receive these benefits, we have to be Obedient.
Here is our commission, known as the Great Commission from the Lord.
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Go ye therefore means as we go or as we are going. It is simple, it is a command to tell all, what the Lord has done for us.
When we have placed the Lord first, we will have a glorious story to tell. When we have placed the Lord first, we have a story to tell that is not dominated by Satan.
Another command from the Lord:
Acts 1:8
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
We are to be the Lord’s witness. The only way we can be the Lord’s witness is to be His, not Satan’s. Place the Lord First. Matthew 6:33.
