Call-In Classic Christianity Radio – Bob George P554 (07-17-20)
Synopsis
Many people experience depression. It seems it comes upon people because of injury, insult or rejection. There is often fear and anger associated with that. You do not want to experience that again. There is fear that you will. You have experienced those same patterns again and again. The truth to that matter, that is part of what Jesus said, that in this world you shall have tribulation. The key to overcoming depression is not by trying to alleviate the problem but by getting to know the perfect, unconditional love of God. For God Himself said that since He has overcome the world, and He lives in you and will never leave you or forsake you, that in Him, you too can overcome the world. He said that perfect love casts out fear.
This renewing of your mind will not happen overnight, but as you listen to the Lord and let Him speak to you through His word, you will begin to see your life transformed in your thinking. Your circumstances may not change, but inner attitudes in your heart will change. You will find that in the midst of tribulation, you can experience peace and joy that surpasses understanding. And, we are told to present our requests to God, with thanksgiving, and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.
Do not be hard on yourself if you do not experience this right way. Realize too that in Adam, whom we inherited this sinful nature from, we too have insulted, injured or rejected someone. We, too, at times, need to ask someone to forgive us. That is all a part of us living in this sin-indwelling flesh in a fallen world. So, you forgive the person you hurt, for that is where the problem of forgiveness is, between you and another person. This is all a part of learning how to overcome by the Spirit who lives in us.
The good news is that Jesus has already forgiven us of all our sins, and indeed the sins of the whole world. That is why, in Him, there is no condemnation. The problem of sin between you and God has already been solved. Not by anything you or I did, by what Jesus alone did. We do not need to ask God for forgiveness, for if you are in Him, you are already a forgiven person. He will not shed His blood again.
We are under His pure grace and as a child of God, being in Christ Jesus. As a child of God, we can boldly go to His throne of grace in time of need. I cannot think of a better time to go to His throne of grace than when you just stumbled in sin, said something you know you should not have said or did something you know you should not have done. So you go to Him. He is your loving Father, and He wants to see you walking in truth. That is why He lives in you, to set you free to be who you were called and created to be. The truth is what sets you free. Error is what binds you.
In this world there is so much error, passed down from generation to generation, originating from Adam since the fall in the garden of Eden. Without the Spirit of God, you do not have truth. But when you are born again, you can discern or understand the things of God because the Spirit lives in you to guide you into all truth. Before then, you just picked up whatever religion or parent told you. That error tends to be passed down from generation to generation. That error does not immediately go away all by itself. That is why we are told in scripture to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so you may know the good and perfect will of God. That is also why we are called a child of God. We learn from Him. By understanding these things, it so much easier to extend grace to others by the same grace that is extended to us.
Transcript
Aaron
Aaron: I got your book Classic Christianity and I read where it says the truth shall set you free from error. Then I started thinking about all that I have gone through in my life that was caused by lies, lies that you are told as a child by your parents. You hold onto that because you do not know. Plus the lies I told with good intentions. When I got married, my husband lied to me about a certain lifestyle that he was not honest about, that caused a certain pain in my life. Applying truth to scripture to a lot of that, how do I work through it? I find that I have a lot of anger and resentment over all the things that have happened. I feel kind of like a hypocrite because I know I still like this but it is there.
Bob: Aaron, I think as you are going through life, what you have to realize is that because of what, as an example, you have been taught, you have also passed onto other people that information, in many instances have also told a lie, whether intentional or not, but you passed it on. The people who passed it onto you passed it on for the same reason. They passed it on because that was passed on to them. So when you get back to it, you have to go back to the garden of Eden, where it all began. That is where it started. That is what Satan used to tempt Eve, a lie. In the final analysis, we have to get beyond that and be able to say that I was lied to. Our deal is why did they do that? The assumption is it was intentional. But in the fact of the matter, it was passed on because that was passed on to us. We have a tendency to do that. As you go back and you say, “Lord, I certainly hope people forgive me for passing onto them what I now know not to be true. I certainly want to be in a situation to forgive those who passed onto me as well, to be able to put that to bed, and now just allow truth out of the word of God to begin to dispel and replace that error”. That is what renewing of your mind is all about.
Romans 12:1-2
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Bob: It is in the renewing of our mind, Aaron, that we begin to know the truth. The Holy Spirit of God living in us, Jesus said, would lead you into all truth. Quite frankly, if you had not been programmed by who you were programmed by, you would have programmed yourself down the line, because until we have truth in us, we have no place to go except the world. That is where we are going to find the error. Now, we are looking back and not allowing bitterness to creep in there. That is just what life is all about. Thank God I have come to a source now, of truth, and I can have that error that is in my mind dispelled. All of us have to go through that. It does not matter where you got your error or where I got it. Our heads were full of error. The only thing you need to do with error is to get it dispelled with truth.
Aaron: Last night, you told me that when I was searching, I did not understand why all these things happened to me. I listened again to what you said, and I heard it differently. That was all true. Is this how the Spirit of God works to reveal things to you? All of a sudden I had felt so self righteous. I had been thinking I had done so much more sins as compared to other people. Somehow I was thinking I was supposed to not have suffered that same way or I should have been blessed. I realized how self righteous I had been. Until last night, I had not seen myself that way. Is that how the process works? I thought I had been a Christian, it seemed I hadn’t been because I didn’t have a complete concept of what Christ was about or being in Christ.
Bob: I think so, Aaron. When I got home, my wife told me I could have given a little better advice. When the Holy Spirit misses something, she will always pick up on it. So, I am never without instruction. Seriously, I think that finally when that sincere search comes that I really want to know God. I do not want to know God for a false motive. I really want to know God that He will lead you into a knowledge of Christ. That is really what has happened to you. That is what happened to you. Your progress and your journey was a little different than someone else’s and it really does not make much difference. The end result is you got there. When you enter the promised land or the Sabbath rest, it does not make any difference what path you took in the desert as long as you end up where you need to be. That is when you can look back and say, “praise God”
Bob: I took a different path than you, but it was still a desert experience. He certainly sees the heart of a person and will lead you to that knowledge of his Son Jesus Christ. Aaron, do you feel that you have come to that point now of accepting Christ or have you done that now in your own heart?
Aaron: Well, the first time I heard you talking to someone, I went through the same thing you were saying to her. I asked Jesus to come into my life. I do not know if that is all that is. But that is what I did. But I have been crying ever since. I do not know what is going on.
Bob: As you were listening to the gospel, God was honoring the very thing he said. He has seen your heart. You have been through all kinds of different things. You finally acknowledged Him for who he is, as God. You accepted his subtitionary death for you and his life in you. When you think about what Christ has done for us, it is hard not to be emotional.
Aaron: It seems like every scripture is jumping out at me. I do not know how to define it. It is like he is talking to me. It is really getting to me.
Bob: You know, when I was lost, my heart was hard as a brick. I just got it that way. It was my only defense mechanism against the world, I guess. My wife, like many women, cries a lot. What are you doing blubbering all the time? Now, I am worse than she is. God takes that hard heart and softens it and gives you a new heart, it says. That new heart becomes very receptive to the tender things of God. When you stop to think of the fullness of his love and mercy to come to do for you and me to what we could never do for ourselves, I do not see how you cannot tear up when you realize the unbelievable love he has for you.
Aaron: The tears are different too. They are cleansing tears. Before, I could never really cry, and when I did I was not relieved by it. Now, it is different. I am in awe. I thought I was before and I wasn’t. Now, I have lots of questions. What do all these scriptures mean that I was told before?
Bob: One thing you know about that is absent from the body and present with the Lord. That is about as good as it is for me.
Aaron: Yes, like nothing else.
Bob:To think I am absent from the body and immediately present with the Lord, that is good enough for me.
Aaron:That is what I was thinking too. Whatever we suffer will take care of itself.
Bob: That is exactly right. That is for sure. The one neat thing is to know you have now come to rest in His love and in His arms, and the one who said, “I will never leave you or forsake you”. The very moment you have the Son, you have eternal life, the only life he can give. That life began with the Son and remains with the Son. He is not going to leave you, so you cannot leave Him.
Aaron: Wherever you go, He is always there. You take Him with you wherever you go.
Bob: Yes. People ask, “What if somebody walks away from me? He will just follow me. What if he was in your heart?”
Aaron: I like the illustration. It really hits home.
Bob: I am thrilled about what has happened to you. Incidentally, we just mailed off to you Victory over Depression today. You will be getting those in the next couple of days. That will be a big help to you to continue to solidly place these truths in your heart. You will be growing like a weed. We are just thrilled to be a part of that.
Aaron: I really appreciate it. When I listened to your show, I had just about given up hope on myself. I was one of those who came out of it. What you said. I really appreciate it.
Many times, it is not the people you are talking about, but it is the doctrine that is taught that is extremely damaging. You have to face it head on like I said, I am glad I am not running for Sheriff, trying to win a popularity contest. In the final analysis, the greatest love I could ever express to somebody is to express truth. That is what we are here to do. It does exactly what God said it does. It sets people free.
Aaron: It does that for my husband. I told him to tune in too. He was wanted for 17 years. I never thought I would ever see him. It is really awesome.
Bob: Listen, I appreciate your call. I hope you will stay in touch. After you listen to the tapes, get back in touch with us.
Aaron: Thanks a lot.
Elizabeth from Vernon Hills, IL
Elizabeth: I picked up your book, Anger: Fear in Disguise. I was reading through it, so I thought I would give you a call. It says underneath the anger is fear. I have had a lot of depression over the last 15 years. About a week ago, some more problems with people and talking with the Lord. He told me I had a lot of anger. I was quite surprised because I have been a Christian for 12 years. I thought I had forgiven everybody. So, what came out was, “you are mad at God. You are angry with mankind, in general, all of man because of all of the rejection you had over the years”. So, therefore, when I read your book, well, that is maybe why I am angry because I am afraid people are going to reject me because I have been rejected all my life. Now, I am working on what to do with that.
Bob: Elizabeth, there is no question about it. Anger will normally follow fear. I say normally. I think there is nothing in human behavior that is a hundred percent consistent. The percentages are extremely high in regard to a fact that you will find fear always following anger. I personally know of no exceptions to that, but I am sure someone will come up with some. But your fear of rejection creates anger. It has to. If I am living in fear that you are going to reject me, then whether overt or covert, there is nothing in me that is not going to be angry at you. If I am fearful that you are going to reject me, it is because I certainly think you are capable of rejecting me. And if you are capable of rejecting me, then I am going to assume you are probably going to, especially, if I had a pattern of that. So I am mad at you before you even got a chance to even love me or reject me. That anger is going to be there. I will tell you, a lot of rejection does create a terrific fear of rejection, which makes you angry toward mankind. There is no question about that. In our flesh, that is exactly what can take place. You experience enough rejection from people, you will get to a point you get disappointed that you want nothing to do with people. Because you are fearful of getting too close to them because of your fear of rejection. There is no question about that is what you have gone through.
Elizabeth: I have gone into some isolation.
Bob: That is another thing you do. If you are going to be rejected, it is easier to go hibernate than go out and experience rejection from people. That is another tendency you have. Rather than expose yourself to that, get away from it. I suppose every time you walked out of the house, someone was out shooting guns at you, you would probably stay in your house. Same thing. When get get fired upon by bullets of rejection from people, then you have a tendency to go hibernate.
Bob: In all depression, is a rejection or an insult or injury that has taken place. The cure to that is not in the alleviation, which is what you try to do when hibernating or getting mad. Some people get to the point that they are nerve points out there, that they get to you before you get to them. They will let you know in a hurry that you better not touch me because if you do I will get you. That is another defense mechanism. There are all kinds of things we do to protect ourselves.
Bob: The solution to this depression and this fear of rejection is not in the alleviation of rejection. In this world, Jesus said, you are going to have tribulation. That tribulation is normally going to come from people that comes in the form of insults, injuries and rejection. Not only have we been injured, and insulted and rejected, but in our lives we also insulted and injured and rejected other people as well. In this world you are going to have tribulation, but fear not, I have overcome the world. So what is the solution to that? Christ Jesus.
John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Bob: That is where we have to come to grips with the fact that even though the whole world will turn his back on you, God never will. God is not rejecting you. God loves you. God accepts you just the way you are. When men get down to the point when they are able to ask in love and acceptance that comes from God, that is when that need and that is a spiritual need, that need is met through your relationship with Christ. That is why the teaching of the grace of God, Elizabeth, is so unbelievably important. God came to extend mercy to people that do not deserve it. He came to extend forgiveness to those who do not deserve it, to give his love. He doesn ’ t love us because we earn it or deserve it. He loves us because He wants to love us. That love is what fills that need that enables you and me to, therefore, to get out of our closet and go back into a world, knowing full well that they can reject you, but that is okay because in the midst of that, I am accepted by God. If I had my choice, would I rather be accepted by you or accepted by God? I do not think I have to flip a coin to make that determination. I would rather know that I am accepted by God even if the whole world rejected me. The only solution to that is not in trying to overcome your fear or your anger. The bible tells us that perfect love casts away all fear. Fear has to do with punishment. So you are fearing punishment, and rejection is a form of that punishment. The man who fears is not perfected in love. To us to be perfected in love, we have to alleviate fear. But the only way fear is alleviated is drawing upon the love of God, that is yours abundantly in full provision in Christ Jesus.
Bob: Now, Elizabeth, have you come to the point in life where you know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?
Elizabeth: Yes, I have. I just finished your book, Classic Christianity. I am working on the book, Growing in Grace.
Bob: Well, Elizabeth, in that, again, I would keep going over that, because it is a help to you in being able to see that love that has been extended to you in Christ. You will find the more that you are concentrating, not on who is rejecting you, but who is accepting you, and that is Christ, that you are going to find that you are not so deeply concerned about rejection from man, because you realize that is going to occur. At some point in time, I am going to let you down. But Christ will never let you down. That is the concentration that has to come, upon him and what He is doing in the midst of people in what they are doing. It is a process isn’t it?
Elizabeth: Yes, it is.
Bob: I thought I was through it, so I was a little surprised that it came back. I thought I had worked through it and forgiven everybody.
Bob: That very well could be, Elizabeth, that you have. But again, there is a dual situation. There is a big emphasis people have placed on going to forgive everybody but there is no emphasis on asking people to forgive you when you have insulted them.
Bob: My life is not consisting of just being insulted, injured or rejected. Most of what I have experienced along that line has come since I was a Christian. I do not remember experiencing rejection as a non-Christian and by my Christian brothers and sisters. It is an amazing thing but it is the truth. I had to learn to deal with that as an adult. I dealt with none of that as a child or in my growing up years. Very little rejection that I ever had to deal with. The first major rejection I experienced in my life was from other Christians. On the other hand, I also have insulted and injured and rejected other people. Instead of just concentrating on, I forgave all those people who abused me. I have to realize that there may be a time I need to seek forgiveness from those I abused. Or to come to the point this is what life is. God said there is going to be tribulation. This is a part of it. I have been hurt. I also have hurt others. “Thank you, that at the cross, you forgave all of that. You forgave them who hurt and you have forgiven men who hurt me”. That is what true forgiveness is, to come to the point of understanding His forgiveness of you.
Elizabeth: I have gone to my children and different people, and asked them to forgive me. I have no problem with that. This came up a week ago. I am pretty sure I did what you said. “Lord, I am just going to depend upon you and you only. If you want to bring a friend in my life, it is up to you. But I am not going to try any more”.
Bob: That is the best way in the world to come to in your life, this is your deal. If I am going to have a friend I am going to depend on you, to lead me to them or them to me, but I am through trying. You are on the right path, Elizabeth.
Bob: Elizabeth, what I would like to do, if you like, I would like to send you a tape serios on depression. Whether you are depressed or not, this book can be life saving. But if you would like, I will send that to you. Listen to it and see if it provides help to you, and then you can pass it on to others. Would you like to do that?
Elizabeth: Okay.
Bob: We will get your name and address and put you on hold. We will get that to you. After you listen to it, get back with us.
Elizabeth: Okay. Thank you very much.
