Depression Defeated With a don t come back road block. Mark 9:25 I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Albert Friend 1
Depression Defeated Scripture quotations are taken from The King James Version unless otherwise listed. Some scripture quotations are the author s Paraphrase. Copyright 2007 by Albert Friend Published in the United States of America by Friend Family Ministries Publications 1590 Hamilton-Richmond Road Hamilton, Ohio 45013 Printed by InstantPublisher.com Collierville TN 38027 Editorial Consultant: Jean Friend All rights reserved under international copyright Law. Contents and/or cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without express written consent of the Publisher. ISBN 9780976752462 Library of Congress Control Number 2007905197 2
CH Depression Defeated Depression Defeated With a don t come back road block Mark 9:25 I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. Table of Contents All Photos are Mood Changers The Authority of this book. How I get the Victory 3 PG Something s Wrong 1 1 What is depression? 7 2 Depression is a mental war 15 3 Depression is a spirit 23 4 The depressed need the Peace of God 27 5 Jesus said I wanted to but you would not 31 6 First we must perceive the love of God 35 7 All living goes on in the mind 43 8 No Soldier pays his own way 47 9 What Releases 57 10 Obey it clear 63 11 The cure-the Mind and the Bible 71 12 Depression Healing Faith 75 13 How we control Satan 81 14 How to live in Peace 89 15 Why Depression? 97 16 Brave Boldness is the Key 101
The Authority of this book. The need for this book starts with God s Need. God needs a person He can call into His special ministry to the depressed. He has provided the tools needed in both Word and Spirit - You speak the Word and the picture of the inspiration of love energizes the one in need. God needs a person who, with strong love, will skillfully use these tools. Will you consider this? You can be a fearless person called by God into His special ministry to the depressed. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us. There is no fear in love. You do have the authority to love. No one can stop you from loving a person. And - there is no fear in love - so love is a place of liberty and safety. Begin right now to build a faith in yourself that works by love. Look at another person and say within yourself - I have a God given right and authority to love you and I am going to until you love yourself better. Depression you must go because the love of God is here. Think about it. See where your authority lies. Only love people. 4
My friend the author: Depression Defeated He has always found a place in my heart and life since the first time we met. First of all he is real. His Christianity out shines his sterling character because they are connected. Christ is the center of his being. I have all of his books and a file where I keep his monthly writings, Apostolic Cutting Edge. I have found solace in his writings as well as hundreds of other pastors and friends too. His style is unique and down to earth. No one has to wonder what he is talking about because he makes it so understandable. During the last few years of my life I have dealt with some major issues To mention only a couple of them, a major stroke and the next year open heart surgery. I have come through them with no lasting scars that you are able to see on the out side. However, the mornings have proven to be a test of my faith in God. Nearly every morning I would wake up and the marks of severe depression were present. After an hour or more of praying in the spirit I could then face the day and go about my pastoral responsibilities. It occurred to me that my friend could share something with me. Knowing that hundreds of other people had the same problem 5
and that there was a good possibility he may have had the same thing all of us battle. So I asked him to write an article for the Apostolic Cutting Edge. He did, and it was so helpful. Very soon, the book Depression Defeated was in the offing. When I read the manuscript I was elated at the information that was given. They were not just words but words filled with purpose and anointing. Then I knew that he had tasted of the torment and struggle that so many of us had endured. Now we have answers and facts that will carry us into the arms of a loving Christ who is in deed the master of all spirits, there we can find peace and victory. Albert Friend has indeed dissected the mannerisms of a spirit that has gone from the work place to the high echelons of government to the inner workings and sacred places of the Church. Depression has cost employers billons of dollars, caused divorces and has been the sad commentary to many funerals. As you read this anointed book think of your friends and acquaintances who would benefit greatly by reading it. Then do them a favor, buy one for them and let them be set free. W.L. Sciscoe 6
How I get victory over my hang ups. This one is for me. The Scriptures thrill me. Depression is cured by inspiration from Bible Pictures. Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. Face up Al Friend. Identify. We are not of them who draw back I must face up to depression. Look it right in the eye. Deal with the thing bothering me. Depression causes me to withdraw. I will make a come back. My big problem is I draw back when I should believe. There is a place in God for me to correct my withdrawing. I need recall to start the process. I have a recall database inside me. Keep the word in your mind. 2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (OUR AUTHORITY IS IN THE WORD. WE SPEAK THE WORD!) Trying to do too many things can be depressing. 7
Nothing gets done. I get side tracked by things that - annoy, bother, harass, trouble, make me anxious and uneasy. I need to forgive and release the thing that is depressing me. Beware! Some that Jesus had compassion on didn t make it. They drew back from Him. Depression is a deadly thing. Some of the children of Israel wandered and died in the wilderness. I make my own decisions. I will make a choice. I will choose this day to serve the Lord. His word thrills me. It inspires away my depressing thoughts. I must see the pictures in the scriptures to give God what He wants. He does His work on earth through my body. To make my body available to Him I must understand how He works. He has given me--in the Bible--wisdom in small enough parts that I can understand. God wants to show Himself strong. To be just I must live by faith and let Him perform His word through me. The devil tempts us using these same pictures we see in the scriptures. The difference is he wants us to be proud in ourselves for what we do. Notice how the devil used the scripture to tempt with pride. Luke 4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto 8
him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written, (the devil quoted scripture) He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. The devil quotes scripture to misuse it. He will quote it to me as he did with Jesus. He will tempt me to use it for my own foolish pride. But I have the advantage over Satan. I am not ignorant of his devices. Faith is stronger than Depression. If I will just show up and do the Word JESUS will appear. Albert L. Friend 1601 Hamilton Richmond Rd. Hamilton, OH 45013 al_friend@fuse.net 513-868-6224 Visit our web site. www.almhamilton.org/pub/books.html 9
Make a mental picture of this. Mood Changer No. 1 May I have your attention please? Your thoughts are scattered. I can help you. My strategy for life is to take a good thought into captivity. This will bring me success. It is an inspiring, mood changing, defeat destroying power. I will memorize it, visit it often, practice doing it and bless others with it. I will stand for the truth. A good thought of truth will keep me from being scattered. The truth sets me free from confusion. I walk by faith in the light of truth without fear of failure. God s Word is truth. 10
Preamble Something is Wrong Something is wrong. Why do I feel cast down? My answer to that question is this. What would you expect? You were made to take dominion and bring forth. You have not. Repent. Re-Focus. Work your way out. You are responsible for your own life. God s medicine is the Bible. The Bible cannot help a person whose mind is against it. They are lost in the wilderness and have no starting place. They do not know which way to go. They are at that place where the saying is true - you can not get there from here. You must have a place to start. You need a reason for living or you feel like a waste. And rightly so. Life is too precious to waste. Yet there are millions who do it. There is so much to be done, so few people to do it and you can t see that. The part you are not doing gets left undone and it s your fault. This is why you are depressed. Here is where to start. You must believe in something bigger than you 1
and strong enough to motivate you. I have had a time in my life when I was lazy. Nothing motivated me except when I was hungry. That motivated me until my belly was full. Then I got sleepy and lazy again. Sincerely ask yourself these questions. Who am I? Why am I here? What should I be doing? To be able to answer these questions correctly you need some knowledge about your Maker. The real question is Who did God make me to be? Why did He put me on earth? What is it I need to learn to do? When God gives you the answer to these questions then you must get going. Your drive feeds on the excitement of your dream. Let God speak these words to you. Genesis 11:6-and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. Lamintations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not 2
consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. I am sharing this because I am working on myself. I want to fine tune my emotions. How I handle a problem in my mind is the key to my attitude. Make the Bible your Picture Album. View it often. I know how to reverse being depressed and that is the reason for this article. It is a work of faith. If I do not believe the Bible no one can help me! I must be a doer of the work found in James 1:25. Then I will be a man blessed in my deed rather than depressed. There are many things that can depress. It takes awhile to reach the deepest. The deepest is worldly sorrow and it works death. God, through His inspiration, can reverse depression. He inspires it out of you. The Bible is a picture book. I must picture the scriptures. If I can not read the pictures I can not win. I must have Bible Picture 3
Recall to have the advantage over Satan. I must make the Bible my picture album and study the pictures of the man I can be. James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: James 1:23 is a full length mirror. It includes the whole armor of God. All living goes on in the mind. The armor of God protects my mind. Being depressed is all down time. It is a big waste and I know it. I also know I am doing it to myself by not believing God. That makes it worse. I do it with the negative pictures I put into my mind about my situation. The cure for depression is a work of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost inspires depression out of me. The scriptures thrill me. I will tarry in the Word until I am endued with power from on High. Identify Yourself. This means you! How did I know you were here? You are reading this. 1. Some people look in the mirror, do not recognize what they see and it is soon forgotten. 2. Some people look in the mirror, do not like what they see and do not want to improve it. 3. Some people look in the mirror, do not like 4
what they see but do not know what to do. 4. Some people look in the mirror, do not like what they see and study how to improve it. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. I have found my trouble is not with the word of truth. My trouble is I am drawing unclear and dishonest inferences from the word of truth. What a shame. I am depressing myself unnecessarily. God gave us dominion. We have the advantage. Operating from the advantage position we can take dominion over Satan and our emotions. We were not born to lose. We can win in a losing situation by accepting the loss as the perfect will of God and not become depressed. That is a winning attitude approved unto God. I will produce in my soul faith in God. I will bless Him at all times by obeying His word. I will be compatible with God. I will give God what He wants. 5
Make a mental picture of this. Psalms 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and w h y a r t t h o u disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the h e l p o f h i s countenance. 6
Chapter 1 What is Depression? It depends on who you ask. 1. depression -- (a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity) 2. depression -- (sad feelings of gloom and inadequacy) out of control of their life. 3. depressive disorder, clinical depression, depression -- (a state of depression so severe as to call for clinical intervention) Something will correct depression. Do you want it? What are you holding on to? It could be depression itself. Depression is a hiding place of fear. Just step out into the open. Face whatever is there. One thing for sure - God is there. Take hold of His hand. Let happen whatever. When I am feeling sorry for myself I am hiding inside me. Depression is a hiding place of fear and fear has torment. There is no fear in Love. The word depression means you are dissatisfied about something and everybody has experienced that. It can be a good thing when it mobilizes you 7
to change for the better. All progress in life issues out of dissatisfaction. Depression is simply being dissatisfied about something. You can be depressed when it rains. What we all need is a way to combat depression. Combat is the correct word because it is a battle. A child is depressed because another took their toy. They scream and cry until they either get the toy back or forget about it. A forgotten depressing thought has no power outside you mind. It is gone. Forget about it is good advise when you are ready for it. Jesus said we should become as a little child. You are depressed when you do not feel good about something. Loss of money, health, loved one and the like. You can feel good again with all your loss. I know-_-been there-_- done that. Read my book, The Peace of God. When depression leaves you feel good again. The key is to feel good again and handle your loss of money, health, loved one, and so on, with peace. To start this process you must tell yourself these feelings must go, my purpose remains. I will overcome this Psalms 42:5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in 8
God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Depression is a strong, self centered, force. The longer it lasts the deeper it gets. It is caused by what you are thinking. To be depressed you must be depressed about something. Something is depressing you-pushing you down. What are you thinking about? Depression has many faces but it is always an individual s face. No two people are alike. The individual is the one we have to work with to find what is depressing him. Is it boredom? The thing most needed by the depressed person is the wish to want help. Then the question becomes why? Why depression? Why is this individual depressed? What are they thinking? Depression can become a habit and the person forgets how they got there. Why is no longer the question? It has become a lifestyle. The man with authority loves much. Unending love is the Authority of the God called care provider. Guard yourself against getting depressed because your (patient) does not seem to respond at first. God s Word is and will continue doing it s part. Be not weary in well doing for in 9
due season you will reap if you faint not. Work till Jesus comes. Depression and the Bible. We wrestle against depression. Depression is not of God. Learn the scriptures ahead of time so when it happens you are ready. Know this: We wrestle not against flesh and blood. We wrestle against deceit in our minds. God will give us truth to combat this deceitful image in our mind. When we resist with the truth we finally win and are set free from depression. Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, (either side of the backbone between the hipbone and the ribs)and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith 10