PEACE IN YOUR SOUL or How To Be Free From Fear and Anxiety of Problems You See When the problems seen in life's situations cause fear and anxiety, that person is experiencing a result of the fear of death. You will see examples of various fears to help you define any fear. Then you will see how knowing the truth sets you free. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness (John 3:14, Numbers 21:7-9), and all that recognized the serpent that bit them were healed, so we will point out the sin so the righteousness of God can be separated from sin in your understanding. God has promised, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free! You shall know the truth of situations that they are reconciled to God, and confidence in His having reconciled it to Himself sets you free from fear of it. For you know it is now in His love, according to His eternal purpose. Working together for good, even for your edification. Free from the fear of death which would keep people in bondage all their life is overcome by knowing the truth of God. And as you know the truth of God, you gain peace and experience peace in your life. The fear of death is the root cause of all unhealthy fears. The fear of death has many branches and leaves and fruits. You will see how the truth of God applied to your life sets you free. These are the scriptures we will use: God has reconciled all things unto Himself in Christ Jesus. Accept one another as God has accepted you in Christ. In all things give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you. God works all things according to His plan. All things work together for good according to His purpose to them that love Him and are the called. You are one with God in Christ. All things are done for your edification. A major idea to understand is you can only know the truth about something as you accept it. You cannot know the truth if you deny or reject it. How can your faith exist for God to work with a situation if you deny it. If you refuse to receive a situation in Christ, how can God bless it and work it together for good? If you isolate a thing from God, how can God be in it for you? If you deny God has reconciled all things unto Himself by denying that one particular problem that has you so troubled, then you have denied Him access in your life to fix it, to work good with it. Accept and believe God has reconciled all things unto Himself in Christ Jesus! THE FEAR OF DEATH Some examples of the fear of death and its branches could include The fear of loss: of life of material things, money, house, food, things you have acquired of emotional things, fulfillment, love, appreciation, respect, esteem, recognition, pride of life of perceived things, reputation, how others consider you of goals, dreams, results you had expected for your children, or expected for yourself. This could include group goals in which you have participated such as politics, school, church, or any other group. THE TORMENT OF FEAR VARIES ACCORDING TO HOW CLOSE TO YOUR HEART IT IS. It's easier to read about someone else's child having a problem than your own. It's easier to see someone else's loss than your own. It's easier to lose a distant cousin than your own child. Whatever you place the most importance highest up on the ladder of importance in your life will be the most troublesome to you when it is threatened. Many parents can be more rational trying to help someone else's child than with their own children Seeing your own child in a hurtful situation requires a lot more presence of God than seeing a distant neighbor child across the city. THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN You can understand this from the carnal question "What is the worst thing that can happen to you?" You could die, is the answer. To the carnal mind, dying is the worst thing that could happen. Fear and Anxiety is a result of fear of death. The Bible says the truth sets you free. "You shall know the truth, and the truth sets you free." Jesus is the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. As we know Him, we know Peace. He is the Prince of Peace. According to Isaiah 9:6-9 as His rule increases in our heart so does the peace of God. For where God reigns there is peace. He is God of Peace. ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN RECONCILED UNTO GOD Accept the truth. Accept that all things have been reconciled unto God. All things does not mean just the chocolate cake and ice cream. It means the peas and carrots and the roses and the thorns. He works it all together for good! His ways are not our ways. He sees the big picture and He knows what He's doing. You cannot know the truth of a thing until you accept it as part of God's divine plan for the shaping of your soul. Like the potter and the clay. You are the clay. He is the potter. You must accept the touch of the Master's hand on your life. He knows what edges need to be smoothed and where to fill the holes. If you deny the situation you are denying the truth. If you deny it is part of God's plan, you are denying God is in that for you. If God is not in it according to your faith, God cannot work in it for your good. You shall know the truth of a matter as you accept it as reconciled to God. If you believe Christ is All and All, then you accept All and All. Once you have accepted it, regardless how it appears, if you accept it in Christ then you can deal with it in Christ. God has reconciled all things unto Himself. Believe this and let all things be healed. Deny this and the things you deny will deny you. You can be set free as you know the truth of the matter is reconciled to God. Freedom from fear and torment comes with the truth. The truth is, all things are reconciled unto God. Therefore Accept all things as reconciled to God. That will give you peace that God is in the situation working it together for good. ACCEPT ALL THINGS AS RECONCILED UNTO GOD And you will be free from fear and torment in all things. And you will have faith for God working in it for good. MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS AND GIVE YOURSELF WHOLLY TO THEM THAT YOUR GROWTH MAY APPEAR SCRIPTURES ON PEACE AND TRUTH Esther 9:30 And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth, THOUGHT: Write letters to your situations in life describing them in words of God's peace and truth. You can write it down if it's a major thing and you want to refer back to your notes. Read the words aloud for your own heart and mind to hear concerning those situations. Psalms 85:10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]. Thought: Be in agreement with God that His mercy and His truth have met together concerning your situation. His righteousness in Christ has brought peace to the matter. Isaiah 39:8 Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good [is] the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days. Thought: There shall be peace and truth of God in my daily routine, in my lifetime, in all my affairs. Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth. Thought: God will heal this situation. Even through this He shall reveal more of His peace and truth to me. Zechariah 8:16 These [are] the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: Thought: Speak the truth of God aloud. Speak it to your situation. With your lips proclaim His goodness and righteousness. Execute the judgment according to truth in all you allow to enter through the gates of your life. Zechariah 8:19 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth [month], and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace. Thought: I do obey God. I do love His truth and peace. Malachi 2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. Thought: The law of truth is spoken by my lips. I walk with God in peace and equity. Situations are turned from the appearance of evil to the blessedness of God's eternal plan. II John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, [and] peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. Thought: God is with me. I love His truth. Christ is the truth. His truth concerning this situation is all I shall know in my heart. It is all I shall speak with my mouth. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. Thought: God is working to reveal His truth to me in this matter. By faith I know it is already reconciled to God. I am free from torment knowing God is ALL and ALL. Psalms 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Thought: God saves me from all terrors. He saves me from all situations. His truth leads my soul. I can wait patiently expecting confidently to see His salvation revealed; for I know He is present in this situation. He is omnipresent. Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it [shall be] for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err [therein]. Thought: It is holy for me to believe all things are reconciled unto God. He works all things together for good to those that believe. According to His eternal plan they are worked together for good. In drastic serious matters it requires an understanding that even death camps of Nazi Germany work the good of showing us again man's hatred so we can repent and be healed. Sometimes we need serious lessons and we must be willing to learn. He works all things so we can learn what we need to understand. Isaiah 54:13 And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children. Thought: My children shall have great peace as they learn God's ways. Isaiah 61:1 The spirit of the Lord GOD [is] upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to [them that are] bound; Thought: God works in me to preach good news to myself as I am obedient (meek means instantly responsive to obey). God heals my heart as I look to see His goodness in the situation. He sets me free from the prison of pain as I see His goodness and mercy working through the situation for my greater glory. REST FOR YOUR SOUL COMES FROM SEEING THINGS GOD'S WAY Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk [therein]. Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Thought: As I see things God's way, I have rest for my soul. I will always confess with my tongue and heart that God is in all situations working them together as a blessing to conform me to Christ. Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. Thought: As I am faithful to obey Him, His mysteries are revealed to me. After I do what He says I shall understand. Faith is to do what He says. Then understanding comes. Matthew 13:12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Thought: If I say that I do not understand enough to do what He says then even the little understanding I had shall be lost. For by faith in Him, I can always do what He has revealed for me to be doing. As I am faithful to do I shall come to understand even more. John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself. Thought: I am willing to do the will of my heavenly Father. I delight myself in doing the will of Almighty God concerning me in Christ. Therefore I always agree with Him that He has reconciled all things unto Himself. Therefore I accept all things as being in God's plan. And He works them together for good towards me. John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. Thought: As I accept Christ and His truth in every situation, I am set free from fear and death in those situations. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Thought: I come to realize God in every situation by accepting Christ as All and All. John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. Thought: The Spirit of God shows me to understand His truth in every situation of my life. John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. Thought: I am sanctified (set apart from) my problems and my sin as I believe the truth of God. SUMMARY John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: Numbers 21:7-9 Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. Sometimes the serpent we must behold is our own ignorance. "My people, says the Lord, are destroyed for their lack of knowledge." Ignorance of the instruments of peace. These are the instruments of peace. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you and shall make you free. The truth of any situation is God has reconciled it to Himself. Having forgiven all sin by the blood of the cross, we too must always forgive. As we are justified by faith, we must justify all things by faith that God is in the matter. As we receive glory by faith, we must impart glory by faith believing that God is not only in the matter, but that He is working them together for good to us that believe according to His eternal purpose. How He works things together for our good may be briefly though incompletely summarized by these: 1. working for an obvious blessing that any one can see (material worldly blessings) 2. working for the burning out of dross (James 3. working for our edification 4. working according to His eternal plan and purpose which part we do not yet understand except that by faith we know it is in His love. 5. working to give us wisdom, especially through seeing pain and suffering 6. working to conform us to the death of Christ 7. working to make us not count our own lives dear that we may finish our course with joy 8. working to make us know He is All and All, even all our salvation Necessary and helpful attitudes for peace: Not counting our own life dear Philippians 4:4-9 Knowing the truth of each matter that it is reconciled to God Desiring to obediently seek peace and rule out turmoil, distress, anxiety Meditate on these things and give yourself wholly to them that your profiting may appear. Control your spirit, let go the tension, breath in peace. Receive the peace of God by faith. SEEK PEACE AND HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD All who have believed on Jesus have received peace with God. To the extent we have peace in our soul, we see the image of God. As troubled waters cannot reflect a true image, neither can a troubled soul see the image of God, nor His will, nor anything of Him. For now we see as through a glass darkly, but then face to face; when that which is perfect is come, when we have been transformed in the twinkling of an eye, then we will know Him even as we are known of Him. Until that time comes when we have received our glorified bodies we only catch glimpses of His perfection through the distortions of our soul. As oil on troubled waters smoothes the surface so a clear picture can be reflected, so His peace allows our soul to know His will and to see His Hand in the affairs of our life. Some would misunderstand because they admit not that we are spirit soul and body. The spirit is perfect because it is from Him and of Him, but the soul is still being purified as we obey the truth (1 Peter 1:22); and the body will not be glorified until the resurrection. He leads us down from the troubled mountain top where tempests blow and storms are near. Down from the rocky craigs through the dark forests till finally we reach the pleasant meadows where no precipitant fall looms near and no forest of problems overshadow. Through the tender lush grass of familiar comforts from God extending to the clear still waters wherein I see at last who I am in Christ. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for I know God is with me, and all my situation is subservient to His power. In His love and tender mercies He watches over my soul, to preserve me and make me steadfastly blameless till the end. He gives me strength, and handles that which is too big for me. Always in all things, giving me the desire of my heart, for my Father who loves me is God Eternal King. The "Withouts" of the Bible Without peace and holiness no man shall see the Lord Except you be born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom Except you become as a little child, you shall not enter in Except you repent, you shall not be forgiven Except you believe, you shall not enter in