The Peace Of God That Passes All Understanding

This is going to take some time, but please hear me out.

In his celebrated passage on "the peace of God that passes all understanding" Paul made some statements that are often overlooked when dealing with the subjects of peace and depression.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatosever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue if there be any praise, think on these things.

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard and seen in me, DO; and the God of peace shall be with you."

1. Considering that the average Christian fills his mind with the wicked filth on TV and in pop music every single day, and or.....hears the lurid details of every evil deed in the daily newspaper or on the news, and or......listens to the rantings of arrogant and foul mouthed radio talk show hosts........

....and the few who decide to turn from these things often tune in to some bogus TV or radio preacher....

.....what could possibly make us think, in light of the above passage of Scripture, which says that we must meditate on lovely, good, pure, and holy things, that any great number of Christians qualify to receive the peace of God?

2. How many preachers do you know who have anything like followed the example of Paul's commitment to the cause of Christ?

How many pastors do you know who boldly call the churches they pastor to excommunicate impenitent sinners from the church?

How many pastors do you know who issue a categorical anathema against all denominations or persons who don't hold exclusively to the one absolute gospel of Christ as defined by the Bible?

In other words, how many pastors do you know who qualify to have "the God of peace" be with them as He was with Paul?

Paul said to "DO" the things he had done if you would expect to have that peace of God.

3. In II Corinthians 6 Paul said that if we expect to be in fellowship with God we must be separate from infidels and unbelievers. And yet how many Baptist churches do you know which partipate in ecumenical services with Campbellites, Catholics, and modernist Protestant churches?

All who do such things are out of fellowship with God and therefore unfit to receive His peace.

4. My point is that having peace with God is not just a matter of asking God for some peace nor even just believing that he is able to give it. It is a matter of DOING the things that God requires of us to receive His peace.

5. No one can read the Psalms and fail to comprehend that David was often depressed for long periods of time. Nor can anyone fail to comprehend that David attributed His depression to his own sin against God!

6. No one can read the book of Job and fail to comprehend that Job was depressed. But remember that Job had a streak of pride in him that caused Him to challenge God and in the end Job said,

"I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes."

7. I speak as one who has, at times, been as depressed as a person could be - and I can assure you that it was a direct result of my sins and my lack of faith in God that caused me get that way.

And let me explain what I mean by "lack of faith in God." I DON'T mean that I ever questioned in my mind whether God was trustworthy or that His word was true.

I mean I have often failed as a pastor to do what I knew needed to be done because I was afraid of the consequences.....and that led to the problem continuing....and that led to more mental and emotional turmoil....which eventually leads to depression.

Faith in God means a letting go and doing what He requires and letting Him take care of the results.

8. Obviously, depression has a physical aspect to it - causing all manner of ailments. If people can find some medicine to help with those ailments that all may be well and good.

The Scripture says to give wine to those who are heavy of heart and David played the harp to help relieve Saul of his depression.

But treating the symptom is not the same thing as treating the cause and the underlying cause of depression is lack of faith and the resulting disobedience, which must be dealt with if we want to have the "peace of God which passes all understanding."

9. The Lord knows everything there is to know about depression. As a matter of fact, He is the one who sends depression. As He said in Isaiah,

"There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."

The only solution God gave to the problem is to trust and obey.

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

Mark Osgatharp

[ February 23, 2003, 10:39 AM: Message edited by: Mark Osgatharp ]

 

Compassion Flower,

I don't think taking medication for depression is necessarily wrong. The Bible says to, "give wine to him that is heavy of heart."

But medication will not cure the underlying cause of depression which is lack of faith in God. It doesn't matter what issues one is depressed over, the fact still remains that the depression comes from trouble in the mind.

When we fully believe that God has the answer to any problem we have, and when we are willing to implement His answer in our life, we will not be troubled in mind. That is exactly what Paul meant when he said,

"Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Mark Osgatharp

 

RSR,

What I am saying is that depression is always a state of mind brought on by unbelief and the resultant disobedience to God.

I do not know for certain what means God uses to bring on this affliction. If he does use organic means to effect depression, it still does not change the fact that He did it.

In the Scripture we find God using all sort of physical means to punish and correct men for their sin. We have one example, at least, where it is explicitly stated that a man's depression was caused by an,

"evil spirit from the Lord."

That example was King Saul. When Saul was afflicted with this depression David played the harp for him and it relieved him. The Scripture says,

"And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him."

I know depression has organic effects on the body, because I have experienced them myself. But in light of the Scriptures I am more inclined to believe that the biological problems are the result of, not the cause of, the depression.

Mark Osgatharp

 

Thankful,

I am NOT saying that all illness is punishment from God. I AM saying it is POSSIBLE that any given illness may be a punishment, as is evidenced by abundant Scriptures.

Whether as a punishment, as with the Corinthians who perverted the Lord's supper, or as a refinement, as with Job, all illnesses, as with all things, are from the hand of God.

As for depression, it must always come as a result of disbelief and disobedience, because we have the absolute promise (Philippians 4) that if we trust and thank God for all things and are obedient to His word, our minds will be kept by,

"the peace of God that passes all understanding."

Personally, I can't say I've experienced that on any consistent scale. But all that proves is that I haven't trusted and obeyed the Lord as I should.

Mark Osgatharp

 

Compassion Flower,

Just remember, "stepping out on faith" does not simply mean believing God is capable of giving you peace. It means living in obedience to the things commanded in the Scriptures.

That might mean making some monumental changes in your life. I heartily suggest you do a detailed study of John chapter 14 and you will find what I mean.

Mark Osgatharp

 

Compassionate Flower,

By not associating with false religions I don't mean having nothing to do with the people. I mean not doing anything to condone or participate in their false religion.

If you are married to a JW you should stay married to him and be a faithful wife to him. But you should not in any way participate in his religion. That is what I mean by having fellowship with false religion.

Mark Osgatharp