Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1John 4:18
My sister Faith and I were studying through 1 John the other week and came to this verse. It's one I've quoted before, but I never really understood it. How does perfect love cast out fear? I have a lot of fear in my life. I fear the unknown at times, I fear snakes (though I kind of feel this is slightly biblical Genesis 3:15), I fear getting sick (though who really likes to be sick)... No matter how I justify each fear they're still there, they still hinder me, and according to this verse they should be cast out. This leaves the question of how?
As my sister and I were reading and discussing each verse this came to mind: I really don't like snakes, I have a big fear of them, spiders no problem anything but a snake. Snake skin, dead snakes, live snakes, toy snakes all of it sends shivers up my spine. However if my son Isaac was sitting on the sidewalk and I saw a big snake slithering up to him my love for him would override my fear of snakes. I would in an instant swoop in to grab him away from harm, because my love for him in a sense is perfect at least perfect enough to cast out any kind of fear if it means he is saved.
Taking it a step farther we talked about how God's love is perfect toward us and toward the world. 'For God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.' Romans 5:8. When we become his children, born again of the Spirit we have access to his heart, to this kind of love. A big fear for many people is speaking to people, begin rejected, that's why we find it hard to tell others of Jesus; even though Paul said it was the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16.
Even today before I go out witnessing, whether it be handing out tracks (which is a great tool to lead to one on one evangelism), or going door to door, or standing on a street corner, my hands get sweaty and my heart races, but perfect love casts out fear. So just as I would rescue Isaac from a snake so should I desire to rescue those who are blinded and headed to hell. Imagine if we could see the very fires of hell about their feet would that encourage us more to speak?
More promises for our arsenal in dealing with fear:
For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
Other great tools for conquering fear in witnessing:
Read or listen to Jonathan Edward's sermon Sinners in the hands of an Angry God. This will open your eyes to the reality that faces all who do not repent from sin and turn to Jesus allowing him to be Lord over their life. Here's a link to the text version and here's a link to an audio version.
Also check out this great video from The Way of the Master- Battle for the Lost (their videos have been very encouraging to me in overcoming fear in witnessing).
My sister Faith and I were studying through 1 John the other week and came to this verse. It's one I've quoted before, but I never really understood it. How does perfect love cast out fear? I have a lot of fear in my life. I fear the unknown at times, I fear snakes (though I kind of feel this is slightly biblical Genesis 3:15), I fear getting sick (though who really likes to be sick)... No matter how I justify each fear they're still there, they still hinder me, and according to this verse they should be cast out. This leaves the question of how?
As my sister and I were reading and discussing each verse this came to mind: I really don't like snakes, I have a big fear of them, spiders no problem anything but a snake. Snake skin, dead snakes, live snakes, toy snakes all of it sends shivers up my spine. However if my son Isaac was sitting on the sidewalk and I saw a big snake slithering up to him my love for him would override my fear of snakes. I would in an instant swoop in to grab him away from harm, because my love for him in a sense is perfect at least perfect enough to cast out any kind of fear if it means he is saved.
Taking it a step farther we talked about how God's love is perfect toward us and toward the world. 'For God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.' Romans 5:8. When we become his children, born again of the Spirit we have access to his heart, to this kind of love. A big fear for many people is speaking to people, begin rejected, that's why we find it hard to tell others of Jesus; even though Paul said it was the power of God unto salvation. Romans 1:16.
Even today before I go out witnessing, whether it be handing out tracks (which is a great tool to lead to one on one evangelism), or going door to door, or standing on a street corner, my hands get sweaty and my heart races, but perfect love casts out fear. So just as I would rescue Isaac from a snake so should I desire to rescue those who are blinded and headed to hell. Imagine if we could see the very fires of hell about their feet would that encourage us more to speak?
More promises for our arsenal in dealing with fear:
For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:28
Other great tools for conquering fear in witnessing:
Read or listen to Jonathan Edward's sermon Sinners in the hands of an Angry God. This will open your eyes to the reality that faces all who do not repent from sin and turn to Jesus allowing him to be Lord over their life. Here's a link to the text version and here's a link to an audio version.
Also check out this great video from The Way of the Master- Battle for the Lost (their videos have been very encouraging to me in overcoming fear in witnessing).
