“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
Fear is what happens in our minds when we imagine something will happen because of what we think we know, and therefore believe about our future. We don’t fear for someone else. Fear is personal. Just like love is personal. No one can love for you. Love is your emotion, your feeling, your unique experience. It is your thought and imagination. It is your decision.
Likewise, fear is a choice just like love is a choice. Fear is almost always associated with the unknown. But it can also be the fruit of some memory of past experiences that left an indelible mark on our minds. It’s the feeling we get when we are about to face a situation or person that we perceive to be a potential threat to our sense of safety and security. Once burned we learn to fear fire.
All fear is not bad, however. It can be our ally to help us avoid pitfalls and traps, that we can’t immediately see. God gives us a sense of caution or a check in our spirit to say, to do or to act in a way that allows us to respond to potential danger, rather than have it come upon us suddenly unawares. That awareness and the action we take to protect ourselves turn fear into discernment so that we are not acting out of a sense of helplessness, but we are acting fully aware of the danger, so we take the wise and necessary precautions needed to keep ourselves from harm.
Perfect love is the force that protects and defends us against fear. Perfect love is the force of life that the Holy Spirit prompts in us in every situation to keep us more aware of God’s power and presence working in our lives than anything else working against us .
Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world.
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”1John 4:4
Fear of the things of this world brings torment and it comes to steal our peace, to rob us of joy and ultimately to render us bound and helpless. But the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and that fear comes to bring us life, purpose, meaning, and fulfillment. . When we fear God, we acknowledge Him as the final authority in our lives. All questions of “Well what about this or that…?”, cease at, “God has said…”
Jesus proved this and acted on it when tempted in the wilderness forty days. The devil tempted Him with everything he thought would cause Him to crumble under the threat of losing. First to save His life — “Turn the stones to bread to save your life. If you don’t eat you will die.” Jesus answered, “It is written, life is not sustained by food alone.” Then the devil tempted Him with doubt that the Word of God is true — “You better test that angel promise. Wil they really protect you from stumbling and falling? “ Jesus answered, again, “It is written, ‘Do not tempt the Lord Your God.’” Then he tempted Him with earthly riches and power, and a short cut to salvation of the world that would not require His death. “You want to save all these people? I can give all of them to you to rule over as you please. Just bow down and worship me.” This time Jesus spoke with the authority of God.
“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew 4:8-10
Get away from me, devil!!!! IT IS WRITTEN!!!!... Whatever follows that phrase of the Word of God is final and absolute authority over any and every situation. That is the certainty by which Jesus spoke. In doing so, He gave us an example to follow His manner of dealing with temptations and fear. As a man, It was His faith in action to speak what God had said, and know without doubt that it is true.
Now we have that same right and authority to speak His Word over whatever the situation, circumstance, relationship, physical, financial, material, mental or relational trouble we may find ourselves facing.
God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of love, of power, and of a sound mind.
Fear has no claim on us and, therefore, it must not occupy even the slightest part of our lives. Only the fear of God is ours to embrace. All other fear must flee far from us. And perfect love will cast it out every time.
Living the life of faith in God is exciting and rewarding on its own, but it is also pleasing to God and that makes all the difference.