Fear vs. Love

Love versus Fear Several times this statement was sent in with a corresponding questionIt feels that we live at a time when people are becoming more divided than ever.

How do we deal with this? Racial division, bigotry, bullying, etc. It seems that many are only happy when they are angry.

In fact a recent poll where they asked questions relating to this feeling that the world seems more divided than ever revealed that overwhelmingly we believe it is. 84% of Americans believe that this country is the most divided it has been in decade and many feeling it’s the most divided since the Civil War.

The country that believes it is the most divided? Serbia.

The country that believes it is the least divided? Saudi Arabia

Internet allows bullies to attack continuously and anonymously

And there is a fear that breeds hatred and divisiveness. Today we are going to talk about fear versus love. You aren’t like me so you must be bad. You look different, you act different, you have different values, you care about things I don’t, you speak a language I don’t.

You must be against me cause you’re saying something I don’t understand! We all have a tendency of falling back on fear. And when we do, it often leads to other wrong mentalities and actions. There is a command that God makes in the Bible more than any otherDo not be afraid. The fact that God tells His people several times in the Bible not to be afraid makes it clear that they were regularly afraid. God does NOT come and say “I told you to not be afraid- so why are you still afraid?” He comes to them over and over and says don’t be afraid. Every situation was unique. Jesus said don’t be afraid to His disciples many time and in many different contexts. It is not wrong to be afraid. It’s normal and God knows this.

fear can protect you. I remember when I was first learning how to drive and I would have nightmares of causing a car accident. The next day at least for the first 10 minutes I drove a bit more cautious than normal. WHY? Because of fear. And there are so many examples we could use where having a bit of fear is protective. But there’s a downside to that too and we’ll talk about it in a moment.

The answer to dealing with fear is NOT simply “stop being afraid.”

Have you ever tried telling that to a little kid who was crying. Stop crying, it’s gonna be okay! Do they stop? Not normally- they cry more.

What are you afraid of? (ask audience)

Can you just stop?

Rollercoasters?

snakes?

Death?

I’m afraid of rats- you can tell me all day long that I don’t need to be afraid of them. You can tell me that they are more scared of me than I am of them. You can play logic all you want but I don’t care. Your words won’t change my fear. Some of you are afraid of snakes, heights, small spaces, spiders, germs, clowns and so on. For many of us are greatest fears are the loss of a loved one. Parents- it is almost crazy if you aren’t afraid for your kids. We all fear for our kids. When they are babies- we are afraid. “Are they breathing, let’s wake them up and check! Are they healthy? And as they grow we are afraid they’ll get hurt, we’re afraid they’ll make the wrong friends, we’re afraid they’ll marry the wrong person, they’ll get in a car accident, they’ll do something that could alter the course of their life forever, oh man I could go on and on and on! I’ll admit it- I’m afraid. I’m afraid of not having a good relationship with my kids. I mean nobody told us when we were giving birth to a child we were also giving birth to fear on an unimaginable level. And we can all tell each other- don’t be afraid but the words seem hollow. So why does God come and say don’t be afraid. I think a part of the answer is this: just because something is true does NOT mean it is the truth. You can be diagnosed with cancer. To be afraid is normal and true but that cancer is not your truth. The truth is- by His stripes you have been healed and if cancer takes this body it CANNOT take your heavenly body. You can lose a loved one. And it’s true that it’s terrible and heart wrenching and it creates all kinds of fears- how will I even be able to continue? But it isn’t your truth. Your truth is this: God will never leave you. Yes you are in the valley today but God is there too and He loves you and you will see your loved one again. There is a difference between what is true and what is truth. Fear will hold you to what is true; love will bind you to what is truth. And what I’d like to do is show you how this is true from Scripture. But let me go back to something I mentioned earlier. I said that fear can help us at times in our lives but here’s the problem with that. The help fear gives cannot be sustained long term. It’s a temporary help that if utilized too long will have a major downside. We know that fear is terrible on the body. Doctors and scientists say that chronic fear affects your immune system, affects your long term memory, and can damage your mental health. Fear wreaks havoc on your body and mind. Fear holds you back which might be what you need in the moment but it won’t sustain you. For instance if you struggle with pornography- the fear that someone might catch you probably helps sometimes. Fear works in your favor. But long term you will push past your fears. The anxiety and depression your fears create in you will get the better of you- and you’ll give in. And then if you are a Christian that cycle continues- you give in and feel even worse than before. Fear alone is unable to provide the motivation to keep you. And God never intended for you to be motivated by fear. Fear creates division. Fear promotes depression. It might protect and help in a moment which is great but it is not a long term solution. Here’s what we read in God’s Word.

The truth is- by His stripes you have been healed and if cancer takes this body it CANNOT take your heavenly body. You can lose a loved one. And it’s true that it’s terrible and heart wrenching and it creates all kinds of fears- how will I even be able to continue?

But it isn’t your truth. Your truth is this: God will never leave you.

Yes you are in the valley today but God is there too and He loves you and you will see your loved one again. There is a difference between what is true and what is truth.

Fear will hold you to what is true; love will bind you to what is truth. And what I’d like to do is show you how this is true from Scripture.

The problem with fear:

I said that fear can help us at times in our lives but here’s the problem with that.

The help fear gives cannot be sustained long term.

It’s a temporary help that if utilized too long will have a major downside.

We know that fear is terrible on the body.

Doctors and scientists say that chronic fear affects your immune system, affects your long term memory, and can damage your mental health.

Fear wreaks havoc on your body and mind. Fear holds you back which might be what you need in the moment but it won’t sustain you.

For instance if you struggle with pornography- the fear that someone might catch you probably helps sometimes. Fear works in your favor.

But long term you will push past your fears.

The anxiety and depression your fears create in you will get the better of you- and you’ll give in.

And then if you are a Christian that cycle continues- you give in and feel even worse than before. Fear alone is unable to provide the motivation to keep you.

And God never intended for you to be motivated by fear. Fear creates division. Fear promotes depression. It might protect and help in a moment which is great but it is not a long term solution.

Here’s what we read in God’s Word.

1 John 4:17–19 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. We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:17 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.

In these verses the writer, John, is highlighting that bGod never intended for people to fear judgment.

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. 18 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. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. In these verses the writer, John, is highlighting that God never intended for His people to fear judgement. This is why John says that fear involves torment. The Bible says that there is a coming judgement. God will judge the world as to whether or not they will go to heaven or hell. His judgment is not arbitrary- it’s based on a very clear set of guidelines. Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ or NOT? This is the question that will determine the fate of every single person. There’s a reason this question is the only one that matters. In order to go to heaven you must live a perfect life; a sinless life. If you could live a sinless life then you could go to heaven. But and here’s the problem- the Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short. This means that living a perfect, sinless life is NOT an option. Thank God that Jesus became a Man and died for our sins on the Cross. Because of what Jesus has done for you and me we have a way to get to heaven. If we will accept Jesus into our lives- acknowledge our sin and repent and welcome God, He will give us His righteousness. So that when we die- we will be judged on the basis of Jesus rather than our sin. So one day everyone will stand before God and the only issue that will matter is what have you done with Jesus??? If you have put your faith in Jesus today you have no reason at all to fear judgement. If you have not put your faith in Jesus then it makes sense to fear that day. But I want you to notice what John tells us here. He says that perfect love casts out fear. It is NOT knowledge alone that casts out fear and we all know this to be true. Knowing something doesn’t mean you won’t be afraid! There has to be more than just knowledge and there is- it’s love. Love drives out fear. Love can bind me to the truth. Love heals while fear works a whole bunch of terrible things in me. Perfect love pushes out fear. HOW? First off- don’t get confused by the word perfect. Most of us hear that word and we think to ourselves that I’m excluded then because I don’t have perfect love. The word means mature. Mature love casts out fear. Now some of you are thinking- I don’t have mature love either and I want to talk about this. Because this is where so many are wrestling with God and life. Love is supposed to grow and mature. And John uses this area of judgement to help us see the bigger picture. You don’t need to fear judgment if you have received God’s love into your life. And the more you let God’s love mature in you the less and less you would ever fear judgement. The more you let love fill you the less room there will be for fear.

This is why John says that fear involves torment. The Bible says that there is a coming judgement. God will judge the world as to whether or not they will go to heaven or hell.

His judgment is not arbitrary- it’s based on a very clear set of guidelines.

Gospel message:

Have you put your faith in Jesus Christ or NOT?

This is the question that will determine the fate of every single person. There’s a reason this question is the only one that matters. In order to go to heaven you must live a perfect life; a sinless life. If you could live a sinless life then you could go to heaven. But and here’s the problem- the Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short. This means that living a perfect, sinless life is NOT an option. Thank God that Jesus became a Man and died for our sins on the Cross. Because of what Jesus has done for you and me we have a way to get to heaven. If we will accept Jesus into our lives- acknowledge our sin and repent and welcome God, He will give us His righteousness. So that when we die- we will be judged on the basis of Jesus rather than our sin. So one day everyone will stand before God and the only issue that will matter is what have you done with Jesus??? If you have put your faith in Jesus today you have no reason at all to fear judgement. If you have not put your faith in Jesus then it makes sense to fear that day.

What is Perfect love?

But I want you to notice what John tells us here. He says that perfect love casts out fear. It is NOT knowledge alone that casts out fear and we all know this to be true. Knowing something doesn’t mean you won’t be afraid!

Love, not knowledge casts out fear.

There has to be more than just knowledge and there is- it’s love. Love drives out fear. Love can bind me to the truth. Love heals while fear works a whole bunch of terrible things in me. Perfect love pushes out fear.

HOW?

First off- don’t get confused by the word perfect. Most of us hear that word and we think to ourselves that I’m excluded then because I don’t have perfect love. The word means mature.

Mature love casts out fear. Now some of you are thinking- I don’t have mature love either and I want to talk about this. Because this is where so many are wrestling with God and life.

Love is supposed to grow and mature. And John uses this area of judgement to help us see the bigger picture. You don’t need to fear judgment if you have received God’s love into your life. And the more you let God’s love mature in you the less and less you would ever fear judgement. The more you let love fill you the less room there will be for fear.

Paul says in...

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

As His love matures in us fear is diminished.

(NKJV)

So what is it that can take a person full of fear, full of anxiety and doubt and transform them into a confident person?

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

It’s the love of God.

Paul says this ​For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. The work that God is doing in us is not producing fear. As His love matures in us fear is diminished. So what is it that can take a person full of fear, full of anxiety and doubt and transform them into a confident person? It’s the love of God. Paul goes further in Romans when he wrote this.

Paul goes further in Romans when he wrote this.

Romans 8:38–39 NKJV

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul puts together this list of things that have tremendous potential to create fear and yet he concludes that nothing can separate us from the love of God. He starts with the big one- the one that most fear the more than anything else: DEATH. Paul says that death cannot separate you from the love of God. Life won’t separate you from God’s love. And the longer I live the more I am aware of how i probably deserve to be separated from God’s love. But because of Jesus and His love i will never be apart from God’s love. The spiritual world around us of angels and demons will not separate you from God’s love. Your present will not keep God from loving you and your future will not deter His love. There is NO one and NO thing that will separate you from God’s love. Are there reasons to be afraid? Sure. But as you and I mature in God’s love fear will be pushed out! You want to push out fear? Let God love you more and more. Surrender to love. It’s amazing what love can do in us. The confidence it gives, the sense of belonging and purpose- I am loved. Are you afraid of being alone? No because I am loved. It is true that I feel alone but that’s not my truth- I am loved. Are you afraid of God’s judgment? No way because I’m loved by God. It is true that judgement is a real thing but it’s not my truth- I am loved. So Phil are you still afraid for your kids? YES! I’m afraid- the world is not a nice place and I want them to do well and this is very true BUT it’s not my truth- God loves my family more than I ever can. God sees their future, God knows all and they belong to Him. What is true and what is my truth are not the same. It is God’s love that drives me back to what is truth rather than being fixated on what is true. If you want to find what is the truth then look for the love of God. Maybe you have been controlled lately by what is true but not by what is truth and today is an opportunity to surrender that again. I want to encourage you to see the love of God for you today- for your situationfor your pain- for you. Draw in to God’s love. Let His love grow in you!

Paul puts together this list of things that have tremendous potential to create fear and yet he concludes that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

He starts with the big one- the one that most fear the more than anything else: DEATH. Paul says that death cannot separate you from the love of God. Life won’t separate you from God’s love.

And the longer I live the more I am aware of how i probably deserve to be separated from God’s love.

But because of Jesus and His love i will never be apart from God’s love. The spiritual world around us of angels and demons will not separate you from God’s love. Your present will not keep God from loving you and your future will not deter His love.

There is NO one and NO thing that will separate you from God’s love.

There is NO one and NO thing that will separate you from God’s love. Are there reasons to be afraid? Sure. But as you and I mature in God’s love fear will be pushed out! You want to push out fear? Let God love you more and more. Surrender to love. It’s amazing what love can do in us. The confidence it gives, the sense of belonging and purpose- I am loved. Are you afraid of being alone? No because I am loved. It is true that I feel alone but that’s not my truth- I am loved. Are you afraid of God’s judgment? No way because I’m loved by God. It is true that judgement is a real thing but it’s not my truth- I am loved. So Phil are you still afraid for your kids? YES! I’m afraid- the world is not a nice place and I want them to do well and this is very true BUT it’s not my truth- God loves my family more than I ever can. God sees their future, God knows all and they belong to Him. What is true and what is my truth are not the same. It is God’s love that drives me back to what is truth rather than being fixated on what is true. If you want to find what is the truth then look for the love of God. Maybe you have been controlled lately by what is true but not by what is truth and today is an opportunity to surrender that again. I want to encourage you to see the love of God for you today- for your situationfor your pain- for you. Draw in to God’s love. Let His love grow in you!

Are there reasons to be afraid? Sure. But as you and I mature in God’s love fear will be pushed out!

You want to push out fear?

Let God love you more and more. Surrender to love.

It’s amazing what love can do in us. The confidence it gives, the sense of belonging and purpose- I am loved. Are you afraid of being alone? No because I am loved. It is true that I feel alone but that’s not my truth- I am loved. Are you afraid of God’s judgment? No way because I’m loved by God. It is true that judgement is a real thing but it’s not my truth- I am loved. Maybe you have been controlled lately by what is true but not by what is truth and today is an opportunity to surrender that again.

I want to encourage you to see the love of God for you today- for your situation, for your pain- for you.

Draw in to God’s love. Let His love grow in you!