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Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Pastor Chris Morrison
June, 2006


Bishop Rogers spoke recently at our church in Fond du Lac, WI, and asked that an article on one of the three subjects be written and sent to One Million Voices. The three subjects come from a dream that Pastor Rogers had in which the Lord showed him the enemy injecting a church full of people with one of three shots, fear, slumber and weariness. The reason this article speaks to fear is that is the attack my family has been facing for the last several months, even years.

My wife suffered and anxiety attack a few years ago. The attack was we were told a side effect of prescription medicine she had been given to stop her dehydration from vomiting due to the flu. The cure was in many ways worse than the sickness.
After the episode with the flu and then the side effects of the medicine were over my wife found that she was still easily worried, fearful and unable to stop obsessing over things throughout the day. Finally she saw her doctor and was prescribed a medicine for depression and anxiety. This helped greatly but my wife felt almost sinful because she couldn’t cope with day-to-day life without the medicine. Looking back we see that was silly. We never complain when people with cancer take advantage of every medical option available to them and yet when someone suffers depression or anxiety we think if they would only trust God more they wouldn’t have that problem.
 

 

 

However at the time my wife felt like she should slowly attempt to wean herself from the medicine. She did so and everything was fine, for about a year. We were returning home from a vacation when she started to feel flu like symptoms.
We stopped around noon and got a room in a small town in Kentucky. Ordinarily we would have driven about half way home before stopping. My wife went to the room to lie down while the kids and I hit the pool.
My wife called about an hour later and said she was vomiting and would I get her something to drink and some crackers? Of course I did. The kids went to the room and I was off to save the day. When I returned my wife was shaking and scared. She had begun to worry, “How can we go home now? I can’t travel like this. We can’t stay here in the room for a week, after all it will take me a week to feel better, or wait what if I don’t feel better, what will we eat? How much gas is in the car? My head hurts.” A string of thoughts, fears and worries were bombarding her and the family as she spoke them out one after another.
I tried to calm her, “Please stop, it’s okay, your sick, rest and if you don’t feel better tomorrow we’ll go the next day. Calm down your going to make yourself sicker, relax, let’s pray.” Nothing, I mean nothing, not calming, soothing words, rational talk, or even prayer could slow down the course she was on and within the hour we were in an Emergency Room waiting for treatment. It took an hour or so but they medicated her, calmed her down and we drove home the next day.

After we got back she went to see her doctor and started a mild anti-depressant again. The kind of fear she experienced that night is irrational and debilitating. In her case a great deal of the nerves and worries are actually hereditary, not sinful.
Now we are in the process of dealing with my youngest daughter who has a terrible time sleeping. Her reason, “I’m afraid.” There is a list of things that she fears that we will not go into. We as a family have recognized the attack of the enemy and are engaged in spiritual warfare to defeat fear in our home.

This kind of emotional, physical fear relates to the injection of the enemy we spoke of earlier. Fear can shut you down physically, emotionally and spiritually. Fear has to be understood to be defeated.
Now to understand fear we need to realize the healthy and unhealthy sides of it. Fear can be a good thing. I do not run across a four-lane highway in rush hour because I fear the collision of a car and my body. Fear is unhealthy when it completely stops us from functioning.

 

 

 

In his book, Will, G. Gordon Liddy tells of his early years. Mr. Liddy recounts the story of how his fears grew and grew. He was afraid of moths, the great blimps that flew over his home. He feared fire and pain. One day while thinking of what he had heard in mass he realized that God had made him in His image and God was not fearful. Then he thought perhaps God has made a mistake with me. Of course he knew that was wrong because God did not make mistakes. He states, “The answer was obvious; the error was mine, the fault was mine. Since the error was mine, if I were to change, the changing would have to be mine. Alone. I could not be changed; there was no one to do it for me. I knew what I had to do and I dreaded it. To change myself from a puny, fearful boy to a strong fearless man, I would have to face my fears, one by one and overcome them.” …”It was 1936 and I was almost Six years old.”
The next several pages relate the story of Liddy facing his fears. Some are very humorous, others border on insanity. For example he realizes he has a fear of thunderstorms. The next time one blows through, Gordon goes out to the backyard, climbs a tree and ties him to it! His father comes and rescues him but Gordon never feared thunder again. Again some fear is healthy too much is not.

How does all this relate to fear in a spiritual sense? Fear is a part of what keeps us from being the people God has called us to be and doing the things God calls us to do. Fear like the irrational ones that cause anxiety attacks or paralyzing ones that freeze us in place are part of he daily life of many Christians.

Some do not share their faith because of fear of rejection, ridicule, and even fear that they don’t know enough scripture to be effective. Fear often does more to run our churches than faith! Pastors don’t stand up to rebellious people for fear. Many leave programs and people in place far too long because they fear the fallout. Many Christians pray for God’s direction and discover when it comes, they are afraid to implement the changes in themselves that God has required. Fear wins again and again.

The scripture says in:

1 John 4:18
But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love NIV.

Perfect love, what is that anyhow? I have thought about this scripture a great deal over the past few days and weeks as I prepared to write. I think the Lord has given me some insight. First let me say what I am not going to do.
I am not going to tell you that if you would just love God more you wouldn’t be fearful. I believe this kind of thinking creates some of the biggest problems we have, “If I could just make everything the Bible says a law to myself I would be ok.” As if by reading this verse you could say, “Oh I see my love isn’t perfect I’ll get better at it and fear won’t be a problem.”
Have you ever tried to be perfect at anything? Here is a newsflash, you are an imperfect person and you will never be perfect this side of heaven. You won’t be able to achieve perfect love. Only Christ is perfect and only He has perfect love.
Then what do we do with this verse? Let’s look closely at the verse and those immediately preceding it.

1 John 4:11-19
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17 In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
NIV

 

The entire chapter deals with love, the love of God, towards us and our love reciprocating, it ends in a few more verse with more about love. John is talking about fear in the sense of not being afraid of God. We are told in many places that the fear of the Lord, that reverential respect of Him is a good thing. That is far different from being afraid of Him

So when we look at the phrase “prefect love casts out fear,” in the context of the chapter we see we don’t have to be afraid of God, because of His awesome love for us. Well if we don’t have to be afraid of the king of the universe punishing us (verse 18) what is there to fear?
The key for me came when I looked at the verses in context and came away impressed with the understanding that John has spent a great deal of time talking about God’s love for me. As we said earlier we are not ever going to hit perfection in these bodies, but Jesus was, is and always will be perfect.

Now ask yourself, if I can’t be perfect why did John say perfect love drives out fear? Does God truly want me to aim for something as impossible as perfection? I for one don’t believe that God intentionally gives me an impossible goal to reach as a standard in my life. Here is why: I get frustrated when I cannot succeed. I’ll play a game, I’ll practice a skill, I’ll hone my abilities and get better and better, but perfection? It can’t be done.
Well if that’s true then could it be that instead of dangling a carrot on a stick we have no way of reaching, perhaps God has already provided?
What I am saying is that I believe the perfect love spoken of here is not something to be attained, but rather something to be accepted. Perfection is God’s domain. Perfect love is His to give. When I begin to accept that He loves me perfectly, totally, unconditionally it hits me I don’t have anything to fear, the one who loves me perfectly will get me through any difficulty, adversity, trouble or trial perfectly.

Now I am moving in the right direction. I don’t have to fear not being perfect in my love He is, and He accepts me failures and all as I am. However because it is perfect love He has for me, He won’t let me stay the way I am, He grows and stretches me.

If fear is truly an injection of the enemy as in Pastor Rogers’ dream, then what is God’s antidote? I think it’s threefold, a course of counter injections if you will.

Course 1:
Accept the unconditional, perfect, perfecting love of God. When I truly believe He loves me perfectly I come to a place of intimate trust in his will. This doesn’t mean I will always enjoy His will.

Tonight in a small group one man from my church spoke about the story in Acts where Herod kills James. The king, Herod seeing that this pleased the Jews arrested Peter. Peter doesn’t have to wonder what Herod’s plan is; he’s out to please the Jews some more! Peter’s time is short, Acts 12:4 says Herod was going to put him on trial after Passover. What is Peter doing as 16 soldiers guarded him? He was sleeping. His fate is sealed as far as man can see. James blood has stained the streets and as soon as the Passover is done Herod plans to add Peter’s blood to it. So Peter goes to sleep! How? An understanding that God’s love for Peter is perfect and if God saves him from death, perfect, if not he dies and goes to be with the Lord, perfect!

 

Course 2:
Perhaps we can learn from G. Gordon Liddy’s example. Ask yourself what things your fears are. Then go face them. Confront the fear and overcome it.

I am not recommending that you climb a tree in a thunderstorm. However what if we looked at the things we fear in light of the promises of scripture? Do we truly believe that He will never leave us or forsake us? Do we trust the scripture that says, I once was young and now am old yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed out begging for bread? There are thousands of promises in God’s word for us to cling to in the face of fear. Perhaps after accepting His perfect love for me and trusting that even though He may or may not work out a given situation according to my preference, I can trust Him to get me through whatever the turmoil. As I stated earlier I believe that is why Peter slept when he was destined for death.
To truly confront and conquer fear takes a passion. Too many Christians move in a passive faith. A kind of whatever will be will be approach to God. In Mark 9 we are told the story of a father and son. The father had presented his son to the Disciples of Christ to see if they could cast out the demonic spirit that tormented him. Jesus enters the scene in the midst of an argument and asks, “Why are you arguing with them?”
The father says. “Teacher…” He goes on to explain the situation at home. As you read you get the feeling that he is just talking. There is no passion; never once does the Bible say he cried. He is talking about his son who is being tormented, thrown into water and fire, repeatedly facing seizures and death, yet no tears from his father!
The father has grown accustomed to the demonic presence in his son’s life. There really is no hope in his voice, “I spoke to your disciples that they should cast him out but they could not.”
Jesus says bring him to me. Here the demon begins to convulse the boy. Most demons, in close proximity to Jesus just cried out and begged mercy. This one begins to show his power. Why was this one different? Look to his father who has basically accepted the fate of his son and family. He would like to see him delivered but does he really believe the situation can change?
Now Jesus asks, “How long has he been this way?” The father says “Since his childhood. But if you can do anything please have mercy on us.” Jesus says if you can believe all things are possible.” The father’s reply, “Lord I believe help my unbelief!”
Finally passion erupts from his heart. Why do I say that? When the father started talking to Jesus he called Him “teacher” now when Jesus says in effect, you have to believe, the father calls Him “Lord.” It is a title yes but also a realization, I have to get involved, I must stop accepting this thing, I need His help now!
Take your fears to the Lord and passionately request His help. Get engaged in the situation. Stop believing it will always be this way. Then the stronghold can be broken.



Course 3:
This one may sound strange; enjoy yourself! How in the world can someone enjoy fear? Next time you visit an amusement park look at the faces of the people who have paid to be scared and thrilled by a roller coaster ride. I love roller coasters. I am a front seat, hands in the air, roller coaster maniac. I get scared but I am having so much fun I don’t have time to give in to fear. I love these verses:

Hebrews:12:1-3
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
NIV

Fix your eyes on Jesus. He scorned the shame of the cross, knowing the pain He would face. In the garden He prayed let this cup pass, yet not as I will but as you will. (Mt 26:39 NIV) Here again we see the example of trusting God to be perfect in every situation. Why did Jesus do it? The answer in Hebrews is “for the joy set before Him.” That joy is you. Look now to His example and trust God in every situation, for the joy that is set before you, namely to glorify God as His overcoming child.

Before you get an injection at the doctor’s office they always swab the area with a little alcohol. When I was a child I thought it was to make the shot hurt less. Now I realize this cleans the area where the injection is to be made. Consider this closing statement the alcohol swab. The perfect love John spoke of? That is not a requirement God placed on us. It is rather a promise God delivers to us. His perfect love when received drives out fear.
Nothing can happen that He has not foreseen and does not understand. I may not like it but I can trust like Peter and like my Lord that His will for my life and His love for me are perfect.

 

-Submitted By: Pastor Morrison, June 2006

 

Copyright 2006 - One Million Voices, Oak Crest Church of God, Muskegon Michigan"