18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. ~ 1 John 4:18
Fear is a spirit that feeds off of our own imaginations. It’s a spirit that cripples its victims with just a single thought or image. It was the third spirit that seemed to awaken after Adam ate of the forbidden fruit. First came Death. Then Shame. And then Fear. Fear isn’t a spirit from God. It’s not a spirit that is easily overcome. It’s a spirit that often goes unnoticed in the Church because we don’t see giving into the spirit of fear as a sin. But according to John, those who fear aren’t perfected in love. Why? Because fear has to do with punishment. We are no longer bound to the chains of punishment, we were freed by Christ Jesus. Therefore, if we willingly give into fear, we willingly return to the punishment we were just freed from.
John, in the book of Revelation, wrote that the cowardly, or those who fear, would join the adulterers, murderers, sorcerers, and all other evil people in the Lake of Fire. The only way to escape the Lake of Fire is to be perfected in love. You can’t be perfected in love if you are afraid, for perfect love casts out fear. To be afraid means that you don’t know your God. If you don’t know your God, then Jesus will be right in telling you that He never knew you on that final day when we all stand before the LORD and give an account. There is no fear in love. It’s not going to be easy, but you have to always remember one thing, fear only works if you are afraid.
Fear is a spirit of intimidation and deception because fear preys on your imaginations, not reality. Reality is that you are in the hands of God, and no one, neither seen nor unseen, can remove you from the hands of God. You are held in the hands of the creator of the entire universe. So, don’t believe the deception and lies of fear. For fear is a liar. Stand firm in the love of God and allow Him to grow your faith like never before. Allow Him to take that gain of a Mustard Seed and plant it so that your faith might grow into a great and strong tree.
Oh LORD, as the disciples once asked, so do I ask now that You help my unbelief. LORD, with all that happens around me in this world, it’s hard to find You. So, often You feel far off God. Help me to feel Your presence because I know You are here with me in my mind. Help me to believe in my heart that You are with me and will never leave me. Please, LORD, help my unbelief. Perfect me in Your perfect love. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
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