DISCOURAGEMENT, DEPRESSION AND DEMONS

--- SOMETIMES THE TRIAL OF ONE CAN LEAD TO THE EDIFICATION OF MANY ---

A word up front.

This article has its roots in KwaZulu-Natal, scene of the most violent and destructive civil unrest in the history of modern South Africa. To be precise: The theme originates from a Saint of the Almighty living down the road from the prison in which former president Jacob Zuma awaited trial on corruption charges. This blog is written on Sunday evening 22 August 2021, on the eve of the threatened insurrection against the ANC government. What happens tomorrow will surely affect millions of people locally and internationally. However, the issues addressed here is a matter which have for millennia affected the lives of millions of people globally without any understanding the origin or nature or reason for what they experienced. You, dear reader, have a wonderful opportunity presented to you from the word of the Almighty to comprehend one of the greatest concealed mysteries in the Bible. Read. Understand. Get wisdom. And be victorious!

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Modern Man is plagued by a miserable mental malady – and, to be banal about it, it isn’t a pleasant melody.

The malaise of this morose mentational melancholy pervades contemporary society. This mental disease is depression. And, humanity has suffered from it in various forms, in various places, in various societies throughout the ages. Only recently have scientists probed the mind of man to determine the causes of this malady, seeking to discover a solution to this mental “black plague”.

The medical fraternity treat the human species as an animal, the product of evolution. The mind of man is treated as simply an advanced form of animal mind---a superior primate. Being limited in their understanding and perceptions about the true nature of the mind of man, researchers test their imperfectly conceived theories of mental diseases and ailments on rats, rabbits, apes, mandrills and monkeys -- assuming that the mind of man is simply a similarly functional biochemical mass – or mess!

When treating people for depression the medical professionals treat “chemical imbalances” in the brain – matters which, by their own acknowledgement, they do not fully understand yet and about which there is not universal consensus. In other words, they still experiment and man is the guinea pig!

Some chemical compounds seem to bring relief from anxiety and its intensifying natural progression, depression. But, that provides only temporary reprieve. As is normally the case in the treatment of human illnesses the effect and not the cause of the problem is treated.

Upon examining some of the research findings it seems that chemicals like, inter alia, serotonin, dopamine, glutamate, etc. affect the neurotransmitters. If there’s a lack of these and other necessary substances, these are supplied chemically – the usual “pill and potion” treatment.

The causes of anxiety, discouragement, and its sick sister depression, are many, complex, and interrelated.

Stress and worry can result in discouragement and depression. We worry about survival, money matters, aging and its associated disorders, weaknesses, and infirmities. We experience fear, rejection, pessimistic genetic predisposition, the loss of precious things, or precious loved ones. [Research demonstrated that losses and emotional trauma in early stages of life may leave people vulnerable to depression in later life.] Oddly, some blood pressure medicines have proven contributory to depression. AND, strange as it may sound, perfectionism can also cause depression! In our latter years, especially, a deep unhappiness may overwhelm us when we can’t achieve what we used to or cannot reach our self-established standards of perfection set in earlier years. Selah.

And all this array of interwoven complexities, hang-ups, fixations, psychoses, neuroses, phobias and obsessions battering the battered psyche of man must be resolved by means of some pink or purple pill!?

What evolutionary oriented scientists do not know, and possibly willfully IGNORE, is that man is IMBUED WITH an additional METAPHYSICAL MENTAL COMPONENT which no other EARTHLY creature possess – SPIRIT.

As chemicals can interact and affect the chemical functionality of the synapsis [nerve ends] to TEMPORARILY RELIEVE depression, so spirit entities – real but unseen living beings! – can interact with human spirits and affect the sound and logical functionality of the human mind. The human spirit, serving as the “monitor” of the mind, will, if negatively affected, affect the body. Man is a psychosomatic or psycho-physic [mind-body, or soul-body] being and thus the mind affects the body as the body affects the mind. The integration is as inseparable as it is complete.

Thus, man being a psycho-spirit-soulish being, it is clear that negativity can lead to discouragement. Deep pessimism and depression may be caused within the spirit-mind of man by invading spirits -- forces, or powers, or spirit beings -- biblically called demons.

How do we know that evil spirits affect the mind of man? Rev 16:1 states clearly: “For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

If the kings of the nations decide to ‘GO FORTH’ then we ask: What impacts THEIR MINDS -- their individual and separate spirits -- so powerfully that they march up as ONE FORCE TO WAGE WAR AGAINST CHRIST? What affects them MENTALLY? WHAT CAUSED THEM TO GIVE THEIR MINDS OVER TO Satan’s cause?

It states PLAINLY they were influenced by “the spirits of devils”. Devils, or spirits OR DEMONS, influence minds.

In the next chapter we read of ten kings which have ONE MIND [Rev 17:12-14]. Political-military unity on such a worldwide scale by the ten most powerful socio-economic entities on earth can only be achieved by their minds being co-opted by supernatural forces – DEMONIC spirits – working in harmony to destroy Christ’s emerging kingdom. These ten kings “receive power” [they did not have it until then] and they “have one mind, and shall give their power and strength [all their military, economic resources] unto the beast... [to] make war with the Lamb...”

Demons affect and influence whole nations and their rulers – always to engage in negative and destructive activities. But, even God’s own people are affected by demons. And the results are the same – negativity, depression, and ensuing destruction.

David, whose mind was saturated with the Holy Spirit, was seduced by Satan in 1Chronicles 21:1. “And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked [Heb. sooth: to seduce, entice, persuade, stir up] David to number Israel.”

Similarly Peter was influenced and used by Satan in an attempt to veer Christ from his messianic purpose. In Matthew 16:23 we read: “But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence [a trap stick used in a snare to trap birds] unto me: for you [think] not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Peter in his brashness was used by Satan to mentally ensnare Christ to fail in His Messianic mission.

This does not imply that David or Peter became demon possessed. They were only temporarily influenced and misdirected to accomplish a temporary purpose. We note that in both cases the influence was negative with destruction as the end goal!

These examples demonstrate from scripture that the human mind, the human spirit [the spirit in man, Job 32:8 and 1 Cor 2:10-11], is easily influenced by spirit, either good or bad; either by the Holy Spirit or an evil spirit. We therefore conclude that if an individual is comfortable with the negative [as the sayings go, “They are only happy when they are miserable!”, or "Misery begets misery!"] then an oppressing evil spirit will find comfort in that mind of misery to engage it in more negative thoughts, words and deeds. The extreme of such cohabitation is ultimate control, and possession of the individual to do the bidding of the evil spirit -- unless it is fiercely opposed! We are to resist the devil and he will flee from us! [James 4:7.]

It must not be thought that an evil spirit is always involved in throwing people down on the ground causing them to foam at the mouth or jerk uncontrollably and writhe snake-like in the dirt. Some demons are subtle. Quiet. Soft. Syrupy. Sanctimonious. And even “righteous”. That is, self-righteous.

The scribes and the Pharisees – and their spiritual progeny which still function powerfully with miracles and great “learning” from an imagined divined source – operated within the mind-set of spiritual superiority. They knew the Torah and much more. They also exorcised demons. Yet Christ said they were the spiritual offspring of vipers [snakes, symbol of demons]. They were destined for hell. They mislead people about the truth. They ply their trade smartly and with demonic deception to this day over the internet and social media. They oppressed people by their false burdensome teachings and works based “moral” demands rooted in vain "tradition” by which, Christ said, they made the law of God of “none effect” [Mt 15:6].

A spiritually based oppression, generated by a demonic person or demonic teachings, can totally dislodge the sane functionality of the mind. If bombarded with negative teachings about hell, purgatory, reincarnations into rocks or rabbits, sexually vile mesmerizing thoughts, unpleasant memories, unnecessary worries, dreadful anticipations, anxiety, distress, pervasive panic, nervousness, forebodings of all kinds, incessant uncertainties and the like, the soul [the mind, the heart], becomes an “open house” for demon invasion.

Christ alluded to the occupation of a “house” – the mind – by demons in Luke 11:24: "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man [having been cast out previously], he walks through dry places, seeking rest [a comfort zone]; and finding none, he says, I will return unto my house whence I came out." [Note: in this illustration Christ depicts the demon as regarding the human mind in which it dwelt previously, as its personal possession, “my house”!]

This “HOUSE” – the MIND — being empty [vacuous, unoccupied with anything constructive, creative, positive or, above all, Godly] is a pleasant place to the demon for there is nothing to resist its indwelling in the mind. The demon, being oppressive, suppressive, and depressive will, by its rebellious anti-God predisposition, turn the neutral human mind into a pessimistic, depressing, moribund mind which turns an individual into a demotivated, unhappy, despondent, and dejected soul.

Christ understood the operational tactic of demons. He created the spirits and understood their nature. His mission on earth was to demonstrate his supremacy over the evil spirits, the fallen angelic spirits, or demons.

Paul encapsulates this dimension of Christ’s ministry when he stated: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil...” [Acts 10:38].

The Greek word Katadunasteuo refers to a potentate who exercises dominion over people and suppresses them. By pressing down on them their spirits are crushed and they become depressed in the process. Satan and his cohorts are cruel potentates. They rule with rigor. They suppress and oppress. They cause deep depression.

Remember, Satan is the god of this world. He pursues Christ’s elect [1 Pet 5:8]. And at the end time he – whether directly through his demon cohorts or cooperating earthly powers – makes war on the Eternal’s elect [Rev 13:7 and Dan 7:21].

An outstanding feature of Christ’s ministry was the casting out of demons. It was a foretaste to the demons of the future that awaits them – total defeat!

In Mat 4:24 we read: “… and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments [depression is a mental torment], and those which were possessed with [exercised by] devils, and those which were lunatic [crazy or insane, another form of demonism]…and he healed them.”

At Mat 8:16 it is recorded: “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with His word...”

Clearly evil spirits or demons deal with the mind of man. They can affect mentally sane, logically thinking, level-headed, functionally sound minds--if granted the opportunity by engaging in spiritism, magic, demon board games, etc.. Demons blur clear thinking. They confuse and create mental miasma.

Casting out evil spirits was a specific gift Christ imparted to his ministry. When He commissioned his apostles at Mat 10:8 he said: “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils...”

Apart from being directly troubled, opposed, or attacked by evil spirits, by various situations in life, by negative news like the current horror in Kabul, by internal and international troubles, by civil chaos, by wars, by pandemics [real or artificial], by economic collapse, by failed political leadership, or by a host of other [d]evils , our minds may be seriously impacted and deeply scourged by evil spirits to undermine our spiritual equilibrium.

However, the Eternal has a word for us through Habakkuk. “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls [that is drought, famine and pestilence is raging everywhere] Yet I will rejoice in YEHOVAH, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Yehovah... will make me to walk upon my high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments. [Hab. 3:17-19].

Habakkuk states he will sing and rejoice. This sentiment – nay, this TRUTH! – IS ITERATED BY Isaiah. He says that in the millennium Messiah will remove the spirit of depression –“THE SPIRIT OF HEAVINESS”. [The Hebrew root of heaviness means DARK, BLACKISH. Dit IS mos vasgevat in ons taal –Swart-galligheid!]

How is it removed? BY REJOICING and PRAISE. Isaiah confirms Habakkuk’s REVELATION that the depression, the black negativity, the oppressive down-in-the-dumps feeling, will be removed by “… the garment of praise [A HYMN with which we wrap around our mind as protection against evil onslaughts]. The joyful hymns will replace “the spirit of heaviness…” [See Isa 61:3.]

Depression disappears through the onslaught of beauty, the power of music, the edification of song and praise, and thanksgiving.

In these scriptures we discovered an arsenal of the powerful spiritual weapons by which the dark evil spirits of depression can be vanquished -– SING! Rejoice! Praise!

The next blog will provide extensive scriptural insights into the conquest of the evil attacks of depression and how to vanquish the spirits of oppression who rob us of our joy in Christ, our Savior and Deliverer, the coming King who conquered all forces, powers, and dominions. To him be glory for ever!

Disclaimer: This is a theological article not a medical opinion. This blog in no way attempts to or propose to suggest to any person suffering from depression what action to take. The opinions expressed herein are simply commentary on biblical text and not designed to be interpreted as treatment for depression.