Living Grace Foursquare Church

What if deep sorrow, hopelessness, guilt, and the numerous other vexations of soul are all features of normalcy instead of indications of abnormality if we are all burdened with the reality of this fallen world and the subsequent impairments and distress. Rethinking Depression, Not a Sickness Not a Sin. Daniel R Berger II

Humanist Society of Western New York describes this common position;

“Humanism is: a joyous alternative to religions that believe in a supernatural god and life in a hereafter. Humanists believe that this is the only life of which we have certain knowledge and that we owe it to ourselves and others to make it the best life possible for ourselves and all with whom we share this fragile planet. A belief that when people are free to think for themselves using reason and knowledge as their tools, they are best able to solve the world's problems.

The Bible presents the normal human condition after the fall to be sorrowful, hopeless, and full of guilt. Those whom secularists consider to be depressed are simply responding in a normal manner to the fallen condition of both humanity and the world in which they live. These are honest people who have come to realize the emptiness of false hopes, the sorrowful condition of life, their hopelessness apart from Christ, and the need to assuage their guilt. The world's system and our own human depravity are both bent toward creating false hopes that leave people unaware of their true despair and fatal condition apart from Christ. Rethinking Depression, Not a Sickness Not a Sin. Daniel R Berger II

You are not abnormal for experiencing sorrow, guilt or hopelessness.

Make sure you know the worldview of a counsellor/therapy center--before you meet.

Christians face 3 enemies, all of which want to lead us into sin:

a. The world
b. The flesh
c. The devil and his demons

The World:
a. 1 John 5:19 We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts]. AMP

b. John 14:30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of the world (Satan) is coming.

The Flesh
a. The old nature within that we were born out of and is still with us

b. 2 Corinthians 5: Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].

Satan and his demons
a. Satan has many ways of leading a believer into sin.

1. He tells lies as he did to Eve in Genesis 3 and 2nd Corinthians 11:1-3.
2. Satan may inflict physical suffering as he did with Job and Paul 2nd Corinthians 12:9-7
3. Satan is a deceiver, Rev 12:9
4. A lion who devours, 1 Peter 5:8-9

Have you ever wondered where a thought came from?

Heard someone say, “Satan keeps putting evil or lustful thoughts into my mind”.
Can he do that?

Satan is not omnipresent. He is not everywhere at the same time.

a. So he cannot be planting thoughts into everyone’s minds.
b. However, his demonic forces are busy at work.

People sometimes mess with demonic things (the occult, mediums, fortunetellers, Ouija boards, even drugs, etc.) and through these avenues come more and more under Satan’s influence and control even to the point of demon possession.

a. By choice.

b. When people fail to respond to God’s grace, they open themselves up to greater and greater control by the devil.

c. The greater that control, the more likely is his ability to control one’s mind or thinking processes.

What to do?

1. James 4: 7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you.

2. 1 John 5:18 We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts].

a. Jesus keeps the believer so that the enemy cannot touch him.

b. “It means to lay hold of or to grasp rather than a mere superficial touch.” (Robertson)

3. THE BATTLE GROUND; THE MINDS OF MANKIND

As I’m training my mind to think Biblically, the Lord will use me to war on behalf of others whose minds have been taken captive by Satan.


a. Pray: Our prayers against the enemy’s tactics, along with our obedience to Christ, can create opportunities for more people to hear and understand the truth of the gospel.

b. 2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons.4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)

c. Matthew 9:37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is [indeed] plentiful, but the workers are few.38 So pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.”

a. Pray for God to prepare their heart for the seed of the Word
b. Pray against the enemy, the adversary, Satan and his minions, that he would not continue to blind their minds
c. Pray for opportunities and boldness for ourselves and others to
share the gospel with them
d. Pray for conviction of sin to stir their hearts