“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).

Yesterday we explored how fear can open a door, for the enemy to operate in the lives of people. Today we will look at the antidotes of fear, which is the perfect love of God and the truth of his word. John stated clearly that there is no fear in love and when we are perfected in love, it drives our fear. We fear when we do not fully understand the love of God and his love has not been perfected in us. Fear stems from the idea that God wants to punish us. Some major anxieties stem from the fear that may be God will not answer our prayers. The devil will whisper to someone who is depressed and say that God has forgotten them or does not love them. The spirit and the voice of condemnation comes from the devil and not from God.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). The understanding that God does not condemn us brings us freedom. “For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). What Paul is saying is that a relationship with Christ and our understanding of who we are in him, sets us free from the fear of death. We have to know and understand the truth of the word in order to be set free from fear.

“and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). No one who spends enough time reading and understanding the truth of God’s word can be continuously bound by fear. When we read the word, understand the word and allow the truth of the word to sink into our hearts, then it will be hard for the devil to keep us bound by fear. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130). It is the darkness of misunderstanding that keeps people in fear. We cannot allow the devil to keep us in the darkness of fear.

Let us study the word to understand the love of Jesus Christ. If God did not spare his only son, but sent him into the world to die for us, this shows his everlasting love for us. No mistakes that we have made can keep us from the love of God. We don’t have to earn the love of God and if we understand just how much the father loves us, then we know that we have absolutely nothing to fear. “and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans‬ ‭5:5‬).

A.P.-Y.

Published by Anneta Pinto-Young

I am a trained Social Worker who currently provides professional leadership on a programme to support Social Work students and Newly Qualified Social Workers entering the Social Work Profession. Born and raised in Jamaica in a Christian family where my father is an ordained Pastor and Deacon who has served for over 50 years in the ministry. My father is also a trained musician and our family can be described as a musical family. I grew up in a small farming community in St. Peter’s, St. Andrew and my parents also have a small farm. I credit my gift of writing to my father who I watched and listened to over the years as he wrote sermons, poems and other recitals in his capacity in ministry. English has always been an easy subject for me and over the years I have developed an increased interest in writing. I am a Trainer, I sing and have a passion for worship, the spoken word and the free flow of the prophetic anointing. I am married to my best friend Andrew Christopher Young who is an advanced Musician and whose music you can find on YouTube and Facebook. I am a trained Coach and Mentor and I love experimenting with food so I love cooking. I enjoy trying cultural dishes from across the world and I view food as an entry into cultures and languages.

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