I John 4:18 (NLT)
Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
Love has no fear. How can that be possible? We all have fears and trepidations right? If you have never known true love, it is safe to say that you may not even truly understand what it is to be fearless. Love expels fear. What are you afraid of? There may be a list as long as your arm but they all equal one thing – everyone is afraid to die. Everyone prolongs life as long as they can because of the uncertainty of death and whether or not there is anything else to this thing called forever. I am not a fearless person. I am absolutely petrified of the dentist. I had a bad experience once about twenty years ago that kept me from the dentist for many years. With my last pregnancy, I lost a filling and over time the tooth became very sore. I had no choice. I had to go to a dentist. A friend who happened to be a hygienist encouraged me to use her dentist. She described him as kind and gentle. Yeah right I thought, he’s a dentist. But I finally went when the pain became unbearable. When I got to the office, they did not make me wait but ushered me right back. Once in the chair they immediately began the examination and cleaning that I so desperately needed. Throughout all of my visit, the dentist was very encouraging and sympathetic. He told me if it hurts let me know and I will try to eliminate your discomfort. If you need a minute, just let me know. Over the course of several visits, the new dentist began to relieve my anxiety and fear concerning dental care that was created by a lack of trust. When the first dentist did not listen to my concerns, access my need, or alleviate the pain, he lost my trust. I think we maintain fear in our life when we do not take the time to try to get to the true love and devotion that God has for us. He demonstrated in giving His Son – Jesus Christ to settle our sin debt. Once we accept the free gift of salvation, fear should be a thing of the past. We are not going to die. Knowing and believing this truth requires trust. It means that by faith we have to continually set out to live in His Presence, seek His Face, know His Blessings and become convinced that His Love is more than enough.
Perfect love “expels” fear. I looked up the word “expel”. It is a violent word that means to drive out or force away. It is not a passive but aggressive term. To expel means to discharge and cut off relations. Fear is nothing more than false evidence appearing real. The best way to end a lie is to discover the truth. If we are afraid it shows that we have more to learn about the unfailing love of God and more room to fit it in our life. Today is the day that you will expel fear from your life – if you learn to love Him more.
John 3:19-21 (NLT)
“And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”
Sin is the one thing that will always separate us from God’s Love. His Justice does not allow it in His Presence. It keeps us bound to the darkness in fear of exposure by the Light. We have grace that is sufficient for those things that unknowingly and unwillingly trip us up, but until we discover the true potential of God’s Love for us and trust Him, we will always have some degree of fear in our life no matter what. It is unavoidable because we are close to death. As we strive to separate from sin and consecrate our life to the Lord, suddenly that barrier is lifted and His Grace flows back and forth like a wading pool that leads us into the secret place that is His Presence. You will never trust a god (or anyone else for that matter) who you do not know. There was a young lady on the campus of the school that I work for who had gotten tangled up in a scam of sorts. She had been misled by another young person that if she gave him her license and social security number that he would send in applications for different grants and such. She did it once and received a small check. Excited about her good fortune, at the urging of the con artist she began getting the same information from other students and providing it to the other party. When a man grew suspicious, he came to complain in the Student Services department which I am over. Now this man was older than myself at least his mid-fifties, one would assume that he was experienced enough to know about fraudulent activity and the importance of never sharing your personal information with someone you do not know. When I asked him why he would give in-depth personal information to a perfect stranger, he corrected me. He said, “I knew her. She hangs out in the parking lot with us after school.” Truth is he did not know this woman at all. The sad reality is that most people will spend more time involving near strangers with pertinent and relevant information about their life, then spend ten minutes praying to God and listening for His Voice. Living in constant stress and worry, we give our life to much lesser things rather than designating at least a portion to the God of the Universe. What keeps you from stepping into the Light of His Love today? What are you afraid of? Is there something that you are afraid to give up? Are you concerned that He may require you to change? Are you worried you won’t “like” the life that He planned for you? The Truth is you will love it. Problem is that you will never experience it until you decide to come a little closer to your God.
Romans 8:14-16 (NLT)
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
God has given us His Spirit. It is what identifies us as His Children. The Spirit is our guarantee that everything that God has promised us will happened if we believe. God didn’t save you to enslave you. The things that He reminds to do and not do are all things that bring goodness into our life and prosper us from the inside out. Not one thing you “do” in God’s Word will be worthless. Servanthood will always produce good things in our life. You are His Adopted Child. He guides, instructs and disciplines us not to harm us but for our good. I want the very best for each one of my children. The Holy Spirit joins our human spirit to “affirm” that we are God’s Children. Not just to the world, other people or even the enemy – He affirms us! To affirm means to “to express agreement with or commitment to; uphold; and support.” This power partner takes the small measure of faith that we are born with and begins to work it through our being to make us into a new creation. This work is quite productive when we choose to bury our old man and all its selfish desires and sinful nature with Christ and allow His Spirit to resurrect the person God created us to be before time began. When we are weak, He is strong in us reminding us that we are a Child of God fortifying our stand for the rights of the Kingdom by faith in Jesus Christ. Now if we could only be convinced that fear is not a natural feeling for us anymore but power and victory in Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 1:6-8 (NLT)
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don’t be ashamed of me, either, even though I’m in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the sake of the Good News.
You have not been given the spirit of fear so stop accepting it in your life. You can overcome every situation by the Blood of the Lamb and Your Testimony. Does your testimony affirm that your dad is bigger than every other dad in this world because He is! There is none like Him. Jesus Christ paid the death penalty on your life. Forever belongs to you. Confident hope banishes fear from your life. You will never accept hope by faith to believe unless you decide that God’s Love is real and for you. It is unfailing and never ending. You must decide that His Grace is sufficient for you always and never give up. When you accept the power, love and self-discipline offered by the Holy Spirit as you walk with Jesus Christ, you will experience every single benefit offered as a Child of the Living God. You will have nothing to fear. As you develop a passion for Jesus Christ fanning the flame of His Spirit and feeding the fire with His Word, you will be fearless. Then you won’t be afraid to tell all your problems just how big your God is. You will elaborate on His Goodness on your worst day. You will praise through every kind of pain. Your worship will pour forth right along with your tears. Cares and burdens will not keep you from His Presence but you will run there to lighten the load. All this is possible when you believe. When you discover the Love of God designated for you as His Child accepting the Precious Gift of Life offered to you by Jesus Christ and decide to live by His Spirit – you will never fear anything again.
Hebrews 13:6 (NLT)
So we can say with confidence, “The LORD is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
Pure Devotion 