1 John 4:17-18 ( NKJV )
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
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.
(I am back from a month in Indonesia and have decided to use this space once again to reinforce my Sunday morning messages. I would appreciate a note to info@livingwordgreene.com if you are reading.)
This scripture has always been fascinating to me. Consider what it is saying. We are as Jesus is now. For years I preached on this verse from the standpoint that if Jesus is not sick now, I don’t have to be sick now. If He is not poor, I should not be poor. If He is not depressed I am not depressed. If we believe that we are as He is in this world than we would begin to see changes in our lives. I still believe this to be true.
As I have been looking at this scripture recently, two things became evident. First, after 32 years of pastoring I have not seen this come to pass in many people’s lives. Second, I saw that there were two conditions to this scripture. If we would meet those two conditions, we could begin to see the reality of this scripture in our lives.
The first condition involves fear. More precisely it involves removing fear. The specific fear involved in this verse seems to involve the day of judgment. If we are assured of our place in eternity, we do not have to fear the present. I believe that this fear of the judgment reflects all other fear as well. Consider Hebrews 2:14-15.
Hebrews 2:14-15 ( NKJV )
Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Jesus destroyed the devil. This is most certainly a fact. Verse 15 gives us an insight into how the devil works today. When Jesus destroyed the devil he took away his power to hold us in bondage. What was the source of this power? The fear of death. You see all fear is in some way a fear of death. In many ways this is an abstract connection, but all fear flows from that basic primal fear.
I believe if we look at our lives today and identify the areas where we are still in bondage we will find some kind of fear. It may be fear of the past, or the present and it will certainly involve the future. If we can get rid of fear we will walk free of bondage.
Jesus was never afraid. If we can be as free of fear as He was on earth, we will be like He is now. Free from bondage. Free to believe God. Free to walk in victory. I want to share a key to overcoming fear this week.
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