(Depressed Disciples) Victory Over Depression — Willie Mullan

And twenty-eight please, six, two, eight abiding all so wondrous sweet and resting at the Saviour's feet I trust in Him unsatisfied and resting in the crucified six hundred and twenty-eight please matter of depression's most low precision for the past twelve weeks and tonight as you can see number thirteen we have been looking at this matter of depression.

We have been looking along all the avenues that the devil uses to confuse and to detest and oppress and torment the minds of the believing children of God. We have looked along all these avenues. We have looked at the fear of death because the devil brings this subject up to fighting with some of the saints of God.

And we have looked at evil speaking sometimes on the grapevine you hear about the ugly things they might be saying about you behind your back and it keeps you awake all night. And we have been looking at that one thing because this is a big wide sort of highway that the devil uses some thing that you committed somewhere sometime in the past he brings it back again and again and again.

And there are people who walk the floor at night. Just because of this we have been dealing with all these avenues with forms of life and permanence of fiction and manifold testings and false teaching.

Victory Over Depression Through Contentment

Now we are going to look tonight at how we can have victory over depression no matter what avenue the devil uses. We are going to look at how you get contentment of mind this evening. Mind you this word contentment is a great word.

In fact the spirit of contentment is the great spirit. In fact this thing it is not only a word. You know this feeling of contentment is great. This continual contentment of mind is a great blessing. Now don't let me lead you up a garden path just to think that there will be no opposition that there is some sort of secret formula.

Let me tell you this is what the Lord wants for you contentment of mind. Oh but we are living in a world where the devil is going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And we have an old nature within us.

Don't forget there is an old nature within you that can really upset you at times. And don't forget that the attractions of the world are still calling you. And while God wants to give you contentment of mind the world and the flesh and the devil dare to upset your contentment continually.

You know this word content to be content. Or this word contentment it's a very mighty word. It's a greek word. It's r-k-e-o a-r-k-e-o find it in any greek lexicon. And there are many times that that greek word is rendered content in our new testament rendered contentment when it's needed.

But sometimes it's rendered sufficient. And it's very difficult at the first glance to see now how contentment and sufficiency is the same thing. That's very difficult at first glance. And yet if you think the Lord Jesus said my grace is sufficient for you you know if you think it can be transmitted like this my grace is contentment for you.

And it could be because you see if his grace is sufficient at all times and under all circumstances and in all things. Then if we grasp that that should provide for us where this word joins with sufficiency because I believe that contentment of mind in the believer is just the knowledge all the time reigning supreme of the all-sufficiency of God.

Contentment and Sufficiency in Christ's Crucifixion

Look let me show you this word. Let's go to Mark's gospel chapter 15. The gospel by Mark. And we're at chapter 15. And of course if you know this gospel very well there are only 16 chapters. You're bound to know that chapter 15 brings you to Pilate's home where Pilate was questioning our Lord Jesus.

And there he was going to surrender to the cows and hand Christ over to them for crucifixion. Here's what Pilate said. Verse 14. Mark's gospel chapter 15. Verse 14. Then Pilate said unto them why. What evil hath he done speaking to them about Christ.

And they cried out the Lord exceedingly crucify him. You can hear the whole rubble crowd crying crucify him and saw Pilate willing to content the people. Did you get that? The only thing that would bring them contentment at that time was to hand him over to the Savior.

The only thing that would suffice this crowd. Did you get that now? Cause you're beginning to see that contentment and sufficiency and crucifixion is all running on the one level. It's all the one root word.

And that's what we have to watch this evening. And so I'm going to talk to you about victory over all kinds of depression this evening and how God can give us contentment of mind. And if you're looking at your notes just now you will find there are three ways that God works through to give us contentment and I call it the basis of contentment.

The Strength of the Savior

Firstly this is the spiritual part the strength of the Savior. I think if we can just grasp some of the mighty failings of the Savior I think you'll begin to see that this is absolutely sufficient. And of course it goes a little bit further than that because the basis of contentment secondly and that's the doctrine part are the teachings of truth.

You know there are some doctrines in this book that we believers would need to grasp and hold and know if we're going to have contentment of mind. And then of course there is not only this spiritual basis and this doctrinal basis there must be a practical basis.

If we're going to talk about contentment then we must know this spiritual thing must be a practical thing in our own minds. You see this is the scholar in the school and he has to learn some things and he has to know some things and he must be instructed.

And Paul had passed through this class he could say I have learned I know I am instructed I can do all things. But we'll get round to that just in a moment. But let's look at some of the failings of the Savior for a moment or two.

And with the Hebrews the very last chapter and it is chapter 13 Hebrews 13 and Paul is writing to these Hebrews and Hebrews and he's saying this to them in response let your conversation be without covetousness.

And you know the word conversation there's a great old word actually it's translated in some of the translations. Maybe some of you have the translation there. Let your behavior now this old word conversation doesn't stop in the English language and it's an old Greek word for behavior.

Let your behavior be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have now. It's not easy to just do that. You know you're just a human being and there is an old nature within you and the devil's not far away and just look into yourself and say be content with such things as you have.

I don't think that you'll succeed at all. I mean there has to be a better basis. You see we have to get one of the sayings of the Savior be content with such things as you have. For he hath said I will never need thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say the Lord is my helper.

And I will not feel what man shall do unto me. You see this is a declaration the Lord makes you know when you get saved and some of you are not very long saved. Mrs. McGlover is with us this evening. And when I was preaching at the Tower Hall one evening she was gloriously saved.

And there's one or two of you saved since that you know. But the day you were saved you know the Lord Jesus just stood on the road of life before you. And this is what he said to you. He hath said I will never need thee nor forsake thee.

Is that sufficient? Maybe not for you but I assured you it is for me. You see I can see this declaration in all its glorious clumsiness. I can see that this is a non-conditional promise. When my Lord makes a promise he will keep it.

Sometimes there are conditions to be met but resist when there is no condition he just comes out into. The Lord doesn't care whether you go to the Presbyterians or the Methodists or no matter where you go no matter who you are tonight no matter what flag you're flying at this moment if you're the Lord Jesus Christ he's standing in the road and he's saying listen to me.

I will never need thee nor forsake thee. Think you. That's not it? You know if your faith takes this in and you believe that the Lord has gone to walk with you step by step to the glory land that at this very moment he's at your elbow.

That's what I believe. I ought to ask mom about this. You know God pity me as I was I'd never be out of trouble. No no I'm walking home with the Lord. I haven't just a text you know. Or a church or an assembly.

I have a saying. It rings in me more real to me than anybody else in this world. I will say unto Michael at the fire of the night the Lord's more real to me than you are. He thought he gets annoyed about that.

It doesn't matter whether he does or not it's about the truth. What would I do without the Lord? It rings to you. Or you just go to church and carry a bible and settle around. It rings to me. And as he said I will never need you nor forsake you.

I'm here at your side and I want to help you to always do so that I can answer that the Lord is my helper. Surely that's sufficient. I don't need to get too excited about anything. I'm not particular whether I have an election or not.

Because the next election the half-out labour goes for good. They're not worrying me whether they get out or not. You know they're going to have it one of these days. Oh it doesn't matter sure the Lord will be there to stick him for another year.

Yes this is the mighty statement. Isn't it. This isn't one of the things. This is where you get contentment. You see be content with such things as you have. For he hath said I will never need you. You can just be content.

The old woman in the London garret had got at lunch. She was lying in the straw when the minister came in and he said why God is this where you are? She says you're in need. He said so I have what want I more.

And we don't believe it. So that's our problem is that we're drubbing for so much that we get upset. And this is the world getting in on us. Have a look at this. You remember when we were preaching the other Sunday morning it goes to Matthew's Gospel.

Christ's Care for His Disciples

And in chapter 10 the Lord Jesus is sending out the disciples here Matthew chapter 10. And he's sending them out two by two. And he's telling them that they'll be put out of the synagogues and some will try to take their lives.

And then he said verse 20 fear not them which kill the body. That's the IRA. You know that's just as far as they can go with their crookedness. They can only kill the body. And they think it's a mighty thing.

Fear not them which kill the body. And as my Lord says fear not. Why should I be afraid? I have no notion of being afraid. Fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. And the rest of us can't see the difference between body and soul.

Yet if you can't see the difference between body and soul then that's it. I can't help you because you're dumb somewhere my the Lord's making a difference between body and soul here. If you fear not them which are able to kill the body but cannot kill the soul surely you can see the difference between body and soul.

But rather fear him which is able to destroy both. They try to tell me that body and soul is one. And I want to know what the word both means. Oh I tell you they amuse me really amuse me prophesying themselves to be wise stand at our door like fools.

I'll tell you this thing if you read the book for yourself you wouldn't need to preach. It's all there. Yes. Rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body and hell. And he said this very quietly.

Are not two stars sold for a party. And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. And there's an old translation says one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father knowing.

And put aside that this little text it's in Luke's gospel chapter 12. Luke's gospel chapter 12 it is almost the same thing. But it's not exactly the same he says in verse 6. Luke 12 verse 6 are not five stars sold for two fatherings.

And not one of them is forgotten before God. But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not. Therefore ye are of more value than many stars. Old fella challenged me once about this. It is a contradiction here because over there it says two stars are sold for a father.

Over here it says that five stars are sold for two fathers should only be four. I said you were never in the market in your life. I said you think that you're worthless that if you're only buying two it costs you a father.

If you're going to buy four it costs you two fathers. But they'll throw one in just five. That's all. When I was a boy and we we were not getting a whole lot of things to eat. At times we used to have the baker come and run and the baker's here this evening.

And there were five buns in those days if I'm remembering right you could get twelve for three pennies. And if John Stonestone got a penny and Jim Stonestone got a penny and I got a penny and we put them together you see we would get the baker's dozen.

We would ask for twelve but he would always get us thirteen. Of course that's old fella that I was arguing that had never been lacking of anything in his life. But that is where I am. He would not. But the thing is this that the Lord Jesus is bringing out the insignificance of sorrow and of more violence.

Remember people in those days who were poor and down the mountain and starving were bound to sorrow. They were you know wouldn't make much of a feast you know. And if you could go a bit further and get the four they would get one four.

And then there was five or two fives. And the Lord is only bringing out the insignificance and the low value of sorrow. And yet on one place he said not one of them falls to the ground without your father knowing.

And in the other place where we are at now he said not one of them is forgotten before God. And if you put the two things together Dr. Ironside said to me once isn't it wonderful about the spouse. Not one of them falls to the ground without God in heaven knowing all about it.

Wonderful God he said you know he's at the funeral of I think it's funny. And I said sir I think it's closer than that. I think he's at the ghost bed of every spouse. Just when the sorrows fall into the ground the car must hit it on the road.

There's no God there. It's really too big for us now. Isn't it. Your little finite mind doesn't take it in that God who is ordinary beings with little angels around and who is the boss of all this gigantic universe and who controls the spouse and brings planets in their orbits that they never miss a second yet.

It's so wonderful that not a spouse falls to the ground. And yet you know when you think of all the spouse somebody told me this once there are spouse in every country of the world. You go to the far east.

The spouse are there. I was preaching in Iceland and as the boat was coming in I can see the spouse sitting on the front of the wheel of the boat. And I said no. I'm going to look at the spouse. He said.

What's funny about that. He says he has seen. He has seen. Every country of the world has spouse. A fellow told me if we gathered them all from every country there would be so many millions of them that they would block out the sun.

See all the spouse. Try and get them in your mind. Billions and billions and trillions all climbing together blocking out the sun like a mighty gigantic cloud from east to west. Not one of them is forgotten.

What he is trying to say to his disciples. Look, look two spouse are only worth a thousand. Five are only worth two. Look, God will never protect them. And God will never forget them. What he is trying to say to you.

What are you worried about. You are of more value than many spouses are. You are marked with precious blood. The Lord will never forget you and the Lord will never forget you. Not one of them is forgotten before God.

Is it sufficient or is it not. You see we shall take it in when we see it and we eat our lips over it. And then the next minute we forget it. Let's have a look at this now which is something that I rejoice in more than anything else.

The Revelation of Christ's Sovereignty Over Death

This is Revelation chapter 1. You see the Lord speaks to us by procreation. And then the Lord speaks to us by illustration. That was the spouse. The Lord speaks to us by revelation. And we find John on the Isle of Patmos.

And we find our Lord came. What a wonderful day it was when John turned round and saw one like unto the Son of Man. Sure John had travelled with them for three and a half years. Sure John had laid his head upon his bushes.

Oh John knew the law. And now in his season so many years later it must have been sixty years after Calvary because the book of Revelation is somewhere about 1893. Well you see John was thrilled that the Lord Jesus is clad in robes of glory now and John sailed on before him.

John says verse 17. When I saw him I fell at his feet at death. And he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me fear not. I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and of dead. And behold I am alive forevermore.

Amen. And have the keys of hell and of death. And this this fills me. This is Revelation. You see the kings of death are at his devil now. Oh Lord have the keys. I'm going down the corridor of time and down there somewhere never not too far away there's a jail called death.

If Jesus dies I must be put. Mr. Carson is the treasurer of life. I think it will be him. But never mind. Don't tell him. Yes we're got to go through this door of death and the Lord will choose what sort of death it will be to shall see the boss over all the kinds of death.

But I won't go through it. And David Carson won't go through it until the Lord puts the key in the door. Oh don't get too scared now all devil would scare you. I was coming over the mountains from Kilkenny one night when three lanes came out the top of old Mark's farm.

And you don't know what side they're on now. And a big fellow looked in over the mask. He says where are you going? To heaven. I said that took my stance over home. He says we'll just go on so you'll know what to do when you're stopped.

Won't you. I won't get shot or anything until the Lord puts the key in the door and the devil hears what I believe. Is it fantastic. Is this enough. I believe that we've got the sufficiency of these things that the Lord will be there at every step and that I'm of more value to him than all the flowers round about that he's got the key of the door.

I think if we got the sufficiency of these things it would take a lot of the stress out of life. Wouldn't it. Yes now I'll cut it short a bit because we're running behind time that will do. For that you can pick these other ones up on your own.

If he speaks to us by declaration and if he speaks to us by illustration he speaks to us by revelation. But you know that's just the spiritual part. It's the sayings of the saints. There's a great many of them but I want to get round to the teachings of the truth.

No Condemnation for Those in Christ

I want to get round to the doctrinal part. Now let's come to the letter to the Romans. And we're at chapter 8. Please this letter to the Romans. You know you should almost get this in chapter printed and keep it in your pocket.

Because I can tell you there are doctrines here almost in every verse. And I believe that what is needed more than anything else today for the believers is for somebody to take the time to teach from the doctrines.

And I'm sure that's what's lacking. And let me do one or two for you here see verse 1. Paul said a lot of things through chapter 5 and 6 and 7 and then he concludes with all he says there is therefore just because of all that Christ did on the cross.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ's evils. And let me tell you in the original scriptures there is not a comma there. Then it's a full stop there. There's a mistake here in this but you just get one or two good old fashioned translations.

You'll find that out. You see the place who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit has got nothing to do with the person there. Our condemnation doesn't be based on our walk. If you want to know you see down there at verse 4 he's talking to them that the rights of flesh of the law may be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.

That's where that phrase belongs to. And in some sort of a muddle of a translation it got clipped up into the first verse. But it doesn't belong there. First verse speaks it very clearly. There is therefore now at this moment no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.

Full stop. Anyway I shall admit this. If Jesus Christ bare my sins away in his own body on the tree. If he was wounded for my transgressions if he has curbed my sins if he has finished the work how would you condemn him.

Give him way to go all out and start on me. What I say to the world is reach my blessed Savior. Take him from God's esteem. Prove he bears one spot of sin. And tell me I'm on fleek. The statement is there is therefore now no condemnation.

Is it enough. You've got to answer it. Haven't you. I'm satisfied with. I'm perfectly content to go on from the early gifts. There's no condemnation from God to fear. Let's go down the chapter. Here's another doctrine.

This is a deep one. But I think we can do it quickly. Verse 28. And everybody should know Romans 8 and 28. And we know that is we the neighbors know that all things work together for good to them that love God to them who are recalled according to his purpose.

You see God has a purpose for all them that love him. For all them whom he hath called for whom he did foreknow for the way back before the world began and God foreknew everything. And I get people who would almost come to argue with me that the way back there that God didn't know.

Well he did foreknow God out there before the world began. That he didn't know the end from the beginning. I don't think he would be God at all. No he knew. Now he foreknew. And it says what did my father say.

For whom he did foreknow. He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son. He's standing away out there any. Secondly before the world began and he foreknows he'll make the world, there'll be a planet called earth, there'll be people on it, he can see a character like me born in the back street in Utah.

Now, he knew I would be a drunkard but he knew that there would come a day when he would call me and that I would respond don't tell me he didn't know and he called me foreknew then away back there he.

Predestinated he settled my destiny.

Before I even began what is predestination mean by that predestination. Let me tell you what God did back there in case you missed it. He predestined me to be conformed to the image of his son, do you think he will fail because it's God you're dealing with this time, yes all the forms of life, all the things I have to go through every little bit of suffering and pain and all the rest of it and there hasn't been too much.

My way I'll tell you this is God shaping me out one day I shall be like her and there's nobody can stop it. If you can come around and meet me tonight and tell me who can stop this purpose of God if you think God's purpose is something.

Tell me who can stop it because I'll tell you I must be bigger than God.

I don't know anything bigger than God. Satan can't do it, he's dealt with that. Satan can't do it. Who will deal with him. Do you know anything can do it. I'll tell you this no alteration of purpose to threaten us.

You see if there's no combination from God to save you and there's no alteration of purpose to threaten us then you know you would need to be sort of content with this. Wouldn't you see this one. Look at verse 31 this I like how we then say to these things God the Father how can be against us.

You see there is no humiliation from the enemy today. I don't care how bad Satan gets or how wicked men get or how horrible the world gets. And it's better. No better isn't it God the Father. You just look at the question.

God's Provision and the Believer's Security

God the Father how can be against mind. You want to go back to the day I was saved. You see me standing on my chair seat with a coat peg, with a safety peg the biggest scoundrel in the earth drunk every night, everybody in the world fed up looking at me.

People believed you were past the danger. Nobody could do nothing with you and I never went to school. I never did a thing, I stood with a book in my hand and I refused to learn. I never learned anything before the sleep of the teacher.

Some of you don't know what a sleep is. You know it's a pity you were there but here I am. I shall cope it again if God the Father who can be against God and King Simon and Corinth has given me a gift to teach this book.

Who can do that. I would like to know I've been 25 years behind this desk now and here you are tonight, bless you. And you wouldn't put up with a fool. But there is this God full God, none to do with me.

I'm stupid. It's God the Father. Let's get the hold of it now. You see, I want you to get this with no condemnation. And there can be no alteration of the perfect God. And there can be no humiliation from the enemy to bread.

I want you to get this. See verse 32. He that hath spared not his own son but delivered him up for us all. How shall he not return all things to the good of all things. You know there'll be no hesitation or giving whatever I need I'll get.

This book declares in another text. My God shall supply all your needs. I believe that not all my needs all my needs whatever I need I'll give. Heaven will supply. It doesn't make a matter about making or chariton or anybody else.

Not any man at all. Of course I'm concerned. Do you believe this? Is this enough for you? Is this sufficient? Oh yes, you see we must keep everything down, that's what we want to do. Fellow said to me once.

You know if you go on teaching the way you're doing and the things you're saying you know there'll be no counting because at the end of the day. Oh God bless you. What's your name? And he called this in.

I said my dear for a minute of this up you're gone. I'll have the Lord at the end of the day. Won't worry about the baptism of anybody else. Can't you ever think that I'm leaning on you not on your life.

Never once and never will my Christ in you God. That's where it is. And that's where it'll stay. And He won't keep anything back from me that I need. He will free me give me all things wanted. God pity me if I was leaning on no one.

See this first certain thing who can lay any claim to the charge of God's elect. It is God that justifies. Who is He that condemns. You know there is no accusation from I'm to terrorise. And you know the last two verses.

Don't you, I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor prince of parties nor cause nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God.

Did you get all these thick things that he is. No condemnation from God. Does he is. Now the judgments fell on Christ. So there's no condemnation for me. There'll be no alteration of his purpose. There will be no humiliation from the enemy if God before us who can be against us.

There will be no hesitation of getting in freely give us all things. There will be no accusation from any who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect. There will be no separation of love to alarm us.

You got these doctrines in your heart. You know you know it's only gone down the page. That's all. You have a whole book of them after that all I want to know from you is are they sufficient. You see I'm absolutely sure that if we get the sound news of the saviour and the thick news of truth and this is the basis that we stand on by faith then I think that we'll have contentment of mind just a little bit more to do.

Learning Contentment in Every Circumstance

You know you've got to go to school here. You see the basis of contentment is not only of spiritual bits and the doctrinal bits but it's a question of it. Let's go to ask the Philippines chapter 4 please Paul's letter to the Philippines chapter 4.

And I suppose if I had to take some chapter out of this great book of chapters and that's speaking of Genesis 49 and Isaiah 53 and all the other wonderful chapters I think I would have to take Philippines chapter 4 as mine.

I think I've had more joy and peace and blessing and health and comfort out of Philippines more than anywhere else. But that's just me talking. And after Paul had said some things to the believers at Philippi he said this to them in verse 10.

But I'll rejoice in the Lord greatly. Something really giving thought of overflowing joy. The cup is running over here that now at the last you have cared of me have flourished again. You see these things that Philippi never forgot this man of God and he's saying to them.

But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at the last you have cared of me have flourished again. Well you were also careful but you lost opportunity. They would have longed to do this long before this but they lost opportunity.

Any thought of take the second verse and say not that I speak in respect of want. Oh the apostle would never do that. For I have land. Oh we'll have to get that bit. I wonder have you learned in all the years that you've walked with the Lord.

Tell me what you've learned. Have you learned that Christ is proficient. Have you. Because I'll tell you this. If you have learned that Christ is proficient there'll be no more fault as I have learned.

Thank God I can say I have learned. You see he's saying this. I have learned in whatsoever state I am there is to be content. That's what we're about to see. Let's take it a bit by bit. I have learned in whatsoever state I am this state, this good state I teach.

This is a big convention in America and I talked about for I have learned in whatsoever state I am. I thought I was going to talk about some of the states and I talked about financial states. In whatsoever financial state I am in in whatsoever physical state I am in to be content.