The Love that Conquers
FEAR AND DEPRESSION
by Donald D. Schroeder
Here is the love, the faith, the power that will conquer every anxiety and fear you now have!
THIS is good news! There is a right and happy solution to human fears, to anxieties and mental depression!
False Solutions
Yet, why do so many, depend upon temporary or false solutions to their problems?
The right way of
dealing with problems and fears-is not denying they exist. It is not
drowning them in alcohol or drugs. It is not assuaging conscience or
feelings of guilt with human invented personal philosophies.
Nor is the solution to fears, worries and problems, as some religious people emphasize, just "accepting Christ" without facing the causes of depression and anxieties.
The cause of
fear and depression is the breaking of God's spiritual laws. The
solution is to teach humans how to obey God's spiritual laws, how to
develop spiritual-mindedness, the attitudes and power of God, which is
the Love of God that conquers' fear and worry. That love Jesus Christ
"promised, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free"
(John 8:32).
He meant that
truth, the truth taught in God's Word, the Bible, would open up to
human understanding the real cause of human problems. He meant truth
would set you free from the consequences of wrong knowledge and ways of
thinking. He meant truth would set you free from hopelessness and
depression, free from sin.
What, then, is the priceless truth the good news that will set one free?
The True Gospel
Jesus came with
a message about government-God's government. . It is a message about
how that government and the laws upon which that government, is based,
will be set up on earth. It is a message about how humans, may qualify
for rule in that government. It is a message about a way of Life ! The
laws of God's government are The laws of true love-the Way of giving
instead of getting. They generate the love that conquers fear and
depression, the love that. would, if obeyed, eliminate every evil
afflicting mankind today.
God's love is
revealed, in broad principles, in the Ten Commandments. Fear and mental
depression are, caused by breaking God's immutable spiritual and
possibly, physical laws.
Fear and
depression are caused, by wrong values, desires and attitudes. They are
caused by wrong ways of thinking and living the "get" way. The only
true solution is to quit breaking God's spiritual and physical laws and
start living God's way in all our thoughts and.actions.
"There is no fear in [godly] love; but perfect love, casteth out fear.... He that feareth is not made perfect in love" (1 John 4:18).
Many wonder why
they don't have that love, even if they want it. Here is why:
This love is a product of growing out of wrong ways of -living and
thinking. NO human called from sinful ways
develops perfect love all at once.It takes time. But as we grow in
God's love, fear and hopelessness diminish.
But there is a
new more critical reason why many don't have perfect love. The
reason is that God's love is a spiritual love ruled by
spiritual law (Romans 7:14). It can only be fully fulfilled by
spiritual, not human, love. You weren't born with that love. It must be
given to you and developed by supernatural power.
There is
something missing in the natural mind of man, Man was born incomplete.
He was made to need a vital missing element. What is missing is the
Spirit of God. It empowers the human mind to understand and obey God's
laws. The natural mind of man, until worked with by the Spirit of God,
does not understand that most of its mental and emotional problems are
spiritual in nature. The natural mind, by itself, does not understand
it is breaking spiritual laws.
The natural
human mind is attuned only to physical causes and relationships, to
things it can see or feel with the five senses. From this incomplete
knowledge humans speculate about the causes of their or others'
problems. Many blame their problems and fears totally on others, never
on their own weaknesses or wrong habits of living or thinking which, in
turn, are caused by a wrong spirit or attitude of mind.
The Bible
reveals the source of that wrong spirit and attitude. Though, some may
not believe it, every human mind has been influenced by Satan's evil
attitudes. Scripture reveals Satan as "the prince of the power of the air"
(Ephesians 2:2-3). His influence permeates the earth. The results of
his bombardment of evil moods upon the minds of human beings, moods
that fuse into human nature, are listed in Galatians 5:19-21.
Notice these
damaging actions and attitudes: fornication, adultery, idolatry,
hatred, lust, sorcery, strife, wrath, envying, murders, drunkenness,
uncontrolled living and thinking. From these attitudes and ways of
living spring fear and depression. This state of the human called in
Scripture the carnal or natural mind, is antagonistic to God's laws and
ways (Romans 8:7). It refuses to totally yield and obey God in all
things. It reasons around what God says to do in areas it doesn't want
to change. Even true Christians have to work to root out these
attitudes from their minds.
What, in
contrast, are the fruits of God's Spirit? Scripture again clearly
explains: love, joy, peace (including peace of mind), patience,
kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, humility (Galatians
5:22-23).
Some totally
unconverted, persons have, through proper child rearing, developed some
attitudes that are in harmony with some-of God's laws, whether they
recognize God's laws or not. They reap the automatic blessings in their
lives as a result. (See Romans 2:14.)
Love that Conquers Fear
The Bible
reveals how mankind ought daily to be living in every sphere of life:
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth
out Of the mouth of God" said Jesus (Matthew4:4). Jesus was quoting
from Deuteronomy, chapter 8 verse 3.
Jesus quoted Leviticus (chapter 19, verse 18) when He said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself".
You can't love
someone unless you know how God's written words, in Old Testament and
New, teach right marital, child-rearing and human relationships. God's
Word also gives examples of wrong human relationships, examples of how
not to live. Scriptures also teach basic health, financial and
agricultural laws for human prosperity and success.
Most important-
of all, the Scriptures reveal God's awesome purpose for human life;
that of developing holy righteous character. The Gospel of the
kingdom of God that Jesus preached (Mark 1:14) is the good news about
how that character is developed.
The way to
achieve that purpose is by having God's Spirit or love in our mind.
God's Spirit operates only in accordance with God's laws It leads to a
constructive, positive and up building state of mind. A human with this
mind respects, not degrades, his physical, mental and spiritual
potential. He, also respects the potential of all other human beings,
whether or not they yet understand God's purposes and laws.
God's love has a
two-fold thrust. Love first means loving and trusting God. This is
summarized in the first four commandments: it means having no
other persons or things, as gods, in place of the true God. It means
not serving false gods
and ideologies. It means not defaming God's
name in word or by the way we live. It means respecting the things that
are holy to God. The second thrust of God's law of love is love
toward other humans, your neighbors. This is summarized in the last six
commandments. It is honoring our parents, doing no
murder (that includes hatred, which is the spirit of
murder), no adultery, no stealing, no lying (or slander or
false witness), no coveting things of others. Jesus explained this
two-fold thrust of God's law of love in Matthew 22:37.40.
True love,
explained the apostle Paul, "works no ill to his neighbor."
Of course not, because God's love "is the fulfilling of the law"
(Romans 13:10).
God's love is
not the way of hate, competition, lust, envy, jealousy,
covetousness, selfishness or getting to exalt the
self over others or to put others down. These
ways are Satan's ways and attitudes, subtly placed in human minds by a
clever devil. They produce the bitter fruits of strife,
animosity, fear, guilt, walls of separation and loss of hope.
Obedience
to God's laws of love produces the opposite
results. Humans with this love have feelings of neither superiority nor
inferiority toward others. We obey God's law of love
and we no longer try to get the best of others and put them down. We no
longer hate or fear those who set themselves up as our enemies, or
those that don't agree with our values or the way we live. We
understand why they think and do what they do. They have
been,influenced, though they don't know it, by wrong attitudes or moods
from Satan's workings upon their mind, or by wrong cultural values, or
wrong experiences derived, from this devil-led world.
We recognize we
couldn't see God's ways either except for God's mercy to us. And we
realize if we had others circumstances or experiences, our attitudes
and problems would be similar or worse. Instead we have hope for all
who sin in ignorance. We understand all humanity will eventually be
corrected in God's own time and plan. Until then, we are instructed to
do good to all men, not evil.
But true love
commands us to go beyond this. We are to pray for those who hate or
abuse us. We understand we can't argue anyone into conversion. That
calling can only come from God I (John
6:44). We pray that God will work
with an antagonist's mind according to his will and wisdom
because we can't always fully understand how to do that ourselves in
the most effective or best way.
We also pray we
Won't setup stumbling blocks about God's Way by wrong actions,
attitudes or ' words on our part. These instructions in living are
taught in Matthew 5:43-48, Romans 12:17-21 and Galatians 6:10.
When we
understand Gods love, we realize we also are imperfect. We, too, have
wrong ideas, feelings, attitudes and habits to overcome. We don't exalt
ourselves as great persons. We realize any true good or ability in us
has come from God.
But we know
God's love is also powerful toward us. Though we fall short in many
areas of life; yes, even succumb to fear and depression on occasion, we
have God and his mighty spiritual resources-faith, hope and love-to
help us overcome.
Why don't more
experience that mighty power and help? The answer is sin, the
transgression of God's law (I John 3:4). Sin cuts us off from
understanding God and utilizing his help. Sin against God
and fellowman hinders our prayers from being heard, unless and until we
repent (Isaiah 59:1-2).
Incredible Relationship
Most humans have been blinded to the incredible relationship totally yielded persons could have with God.
That awesome
relationship is a loving father-son or father-daughter relationship.
"Wherefore come out from among them (sinful ways) .. and I will
receive you, and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (II Corinthians 6:17-18; see-also I
John 3:1).
God can be a
person's literal spiritual father. This begettal and sonship comes
after God's calling, our true repentance and baptism. "No. man can come
unto me except the Father', . . draw him . . ." said Jesus (John 6:44).
These called and
yielded persons are then in a covenant relationship, which is also a
family relationship with God. They are potential members of the God
Family!
God's part
of the covenant is to be helper, provider, corrector and
deliverer. That is what his name means-the Almighty, the All-Bountiful,
The One who leads and guides! The One who delivers from evil!
". . my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory,"
amplified the apostle Paul (Philippians 4:19). God supplies true needs,
not wrong wants or desires-things we shouldn't have or should wait for.
The converted
human's part is to be obedient to all of God's ways, living by faith
and strengthening that faith by asking God for physical and spiritual
needs daily (Matthew 6:7-15).
But we must have our priorities straight. ".
. . seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness: and all
these things [food, clothing, shelter, etc. shall be added unto you."..
for your heavenly Father knowcth that ye-have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:33. 32).
Millions don't
receive answers to their prayers because they don't put their spiritual
needs FIRST! They are only concerned with their own selfish physical
wants and desires, not in preparing for God's kingdom or serving,
others.
"Have
no" anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known .to God.
And the peace of God, which passes all [natural human] understanding,
will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus," instructed the apostle Paul (Philippians 4:6-7, RSV).
Many fail to
receive the help they need because they are not thankful for the
blessings they have. Others fail to solve their problems and needs
because of lack of a positive attitude and diligent effort.
Jesus taught those who would oyield to God, "Ask, and it shall be. given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7).
When one applies
the laws of success--among them drive, resourcefulness and
perseverance- he will succeed in what really counts. These laws are
explained in our free booklet The Seven Laws of Success, written by Herbert W. Armstrong.
God has.
immense spiritual resources to help you solve your problems and fears,
God will work through his Spirit and his Word; the
Bible, to encourage, correct and empower you to live rightly and solve
your problems-if you repent of breaking his law and
totally yield to Him. "..this is
the man to whom I will look, he that is humble and
contrite in spirit, and trembles at
my word" (Isaiah 66:2, RSV).
God promises he will liberally give wisdom and "upbraid not"- but we must ask in faith, believing God's promise (Proverbs 2:6, James 1:5).
God knows no one
can grow out of fear and with unforgiven guilt hanging over their head.
God promises to forgive every sin, if we repent truly and turn from sin
(I John 2:1-2).
Once we have done this, we must go on "…forgetting
those things [sins and mistakes] which are behind, and reaching forth
unto the things [spiritual goals and godly character] that are before" (Philippians 3:13).
You may feel you
made some big mistakes in
life. What's wrong with admitting you're not perfect?
No one else is either! You can repent. God will forgive you. Life
is a learning matter. Learn by your mistakes. Don't let them destroy
you.
Right now maybe
you or a loved one is sick with a serious illness. God. can intervene
and heal. But if God doesn't choose at this moment to intervene, to
restore, full recovery, is this life all there is? No, thank God there
is a resurrection of hope for all who have been called and faithful-("Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints"- Psalm 116:15).
But there is
more good news. There is also hope for those who never had their minds
opened to understand God's ways, You
don't have to endlessly grieve over the
death of a young person cut off early in life, or that of a loved one
who never had God's calling to comprehend God's laws and ways.
If you really
understand God's great Master Plan, you know all WILL be resurrected
and given an opportunity to repent, overcome themselves and enter God's
kingdom.
Our free reprint "Is This the Only Day of Salvation?" explains this great hope.
Tap God's spiritual Power
"Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help..." said King David (Psalm 146:5).
God reveals his
hand is not shortened that he cannot intervene in our lives to help us
with our problems; It is our sins, our lack of faith and willingness to
obey his ways-it is our wrong priorities that cut us off from God and
his powerful help and intervention--until we repent (Isaiah 59:1-2)
God wants those he calls now to start livings by his spiritual laws of love to solve their present problems and fears in life.
The apostle Peter taught Christians to cast "all your care upon him [God], for he careth for you" (I Peter 5:7).
The Bible
reveals God is the God of peace, the One who leads and guides and heals
his people. He is the God of wisdom and understanding, the God of mercy
and forgiveness, the God who gives victory over death, who offers hope
to those who have never known hope."I [God] dwell with him who is of a humble spirit, to revive the heart of the contrite" (Isaiah 57.15, RSV).
These are the
spiritual resources and power that the god of this world-Satan (II
Corinthians 4:4) has blinded most of humanity from understanding or
believing. And why? So they won't grasp the great purpose of their
lives. So they can't experience the power of God to change their lives
according to God's will. So they won't have real hope and faith in this
world of failing hopes and immense difficulties.
We have our part to do. "Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." "A sound heart [or mind] is the life of the flesh…" He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls" (Proverbs 4:23, 14:30, 25:28). We must build and strengthen right character.
But the Bible gives us another warning. "...try
the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets
(influenced by spirits from Satan] are gone out into the world" (I John 4:1).
How can you tell
God's Spirit and teaching from, a false spirit or teaching? God's
Spirit leads one to obey God's laws. It leads one to live the kind of
life Jesus Christ lived!
We start
to conquer fear and worry by turning from the thinkng and living
that causes our fears and worries. We then ask God for forgiveness and
mercy for our sins and weaknesses, asking him to "put a new and right spirit within me"
(Psalm 51:10, RSV). We then exercise that spirit, develop that
attitude- which is the right way we should be thinking and living-even
in the face of difficulties or wrong attitudes of others.
We build confidence and faith in God by drawing close to God . in daily prayer and study of God's Word. "Draw near to God and he will draw near to you . . ."
admonishes James 4:8 (RSV). We must act on what we know God wants
us to do, having faith that God will work out what we need in our lives.
This growth process is summed up in II Peter 1:5-7. God inspired , the apostle Paul to write to remind true Christian's, "For God hath not given Us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7).
Ahead for You-Growing Faith?
We are nearing
the end of this age of human misrule. Satan knows the end
of his 6,000 years of sway and deception is close at hand. Great
difficulties and trials, are prophesied to try all humans that dwell on
the earth.
God has chosen
to allow this suffering to show rebellious mankind the horrendous end
results of breaking his laws. But the good news is, God reveals a way
for the world ultimately to escape, these afflictions and fears.
Before humanity would destroy itself from the earth, Jesus Christ
will return to
restore God's government on earth and usher, in world peace. A
shattered earth and broken -humanity will need healing of body, mind
and spirit.
God will then fulfill the prophecy: "The Lord builds up Jerusalem He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds". (Psalm 147:2-3, RSV).
Christ, then, as he does now, will offer to yielded humans the ultimate solution for fear and depression "…ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free" (John. 8:32), and "… men ought always to pray, and not to faint" (Luke l8:1).
Reprinted from the August 1958 Issue of the Plain Truth Magazine
