1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts our fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
As stated yesterday, we could spend every day for a year discussing the subject of fear. John put it in a nutshell when he wrote: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts our fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
In this single Verse of Scripture, we learn that perfect love trumps fear every time. The only source of perfect love is the Love of God toward us and that Love is made manifest through the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the Cross. God loves us so much that He sent His only Son to die for us. Jesus loves us so much, that He did it. He completed the Work His Father put before Him because they both love us enough to die for us. That, my friends, is perfect love.
We learned yesterday that God does not give us the evil spirit of fear. God has nothing evil in Him at all. Everything that is evil is from Satan. Therefore, all fear is from the enemy. God allows Satan to tempt us with fear because He wants us to respond in faith.
In the next phrase, John wrote: because fear involves torment. This means that fear is a tormenting spirit from the Devil. A tormenting spirit is one that will not let your mind rest. It is ever-present picking at your thoughts. No matter how hard you try, you simply can’t seem to shake it.
In most cases, this type of fear stems from guilt. We are afraid that God has not forgiven us because our sin was too big. This is the thought that Satan plants in our minds to cause fear to rise up. The fact is that there is nothing we can do that is too big for God to forgive. It doesn’t matter what it is. If we ask God to forgive us and sincerely repent (turn from that sin) God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
That, my friends, is the Promise of the Perfect Love of God toward us and that Promise will overcome any and all fear in our lives. There is one condition to this Promise. The single condition is that we believe it. This belief is called faith; faith to believe that the Word of God is TRUE. Faith to believe that God really does love you. Faith to believe that Jesus nailed that sin that has tormented you for all these years to the Cross of Calvary. You must believe this to receive the release and deliverance from that tormenting spirit. The moment you believe it, you will feel that spirit of fear lifted off you like a blanket.
With this understanding, perhaps you will read this Verse of Scripture differently. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts our fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (1 John 4:18)
No matter what you have done in the past, God loves you. He is simply asking you to sincerely repent of those sins. That’s all it takes to be forgiven and set free from the tormenting spirit of fear. Jesus said, You shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)
Give God a chance to set you free from the bondage of the spirit of fear. Go to Him in Prayer and tell Him you are sorry for what you did. Thank Him for sending Jesus to the Cross so you can be forgiven. Tell Him that you love Him with all your heart and you now accept Jesus as the Savior of your soul. His Work on the Cross has saved your soul from spending eternity in Hell. That is the display of Perfect Love and God has Perfect Love for you.
He will hear your prayer and He WILL answer with supernatural Forgiveness and Deliverance. Go ahead, trust Him; love Him because He first loved you.
The Truth will set you free and…...….turn the tide……….in your life.
Free from all guilt, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
