God is Love: No Fear in Love

“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.” (I John 4:17-19)

We are going to be filled with something. But in order to get rid of darkness, the answer is not to try to cast out the darkness, but to turn on the light. What is the antidote to fear? Love. Perfect love casts out all Fear. God is Love and He is perfect, and His love toward us is perfect. How can we be filled with more of His Love and be free of fear? We need to “behold” (look, think deeply, meditate, chew on in thought) His Love for us.

I John 3: 1-3 says, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

In this passage, John actually says, “Behold” or look, gaze, meditate on, chew on, think deeply about -- God’s love. And specifically, in this passage, it says to think deeply about His love as a Father, and our position or identity as His children. In the last lesson, we looked at God’s love through the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, and in this lesson, we are looking at the Love of God as a Father to His children.

When we want to get the Love of God deep into us, or know an attribrute or characteristic of God more, we need to study those passages of Scripture about Him, but also, we need to look at various ways those Scriptures can get deep into our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits, so that we can love God with all of our being (Matt. 22:33-40).

And right now, we are focusing on God’s love as a Father that fills us and casts out fear. Romans 8:15-16 further develops this thought, “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God…”

Again, here we see that our identity as children of God frees us from every fear. But how can we be filled with God’s love and be freed from fear? The key to this is in I John 4:19, “We love Him because He first loved us” – which means that the love that we have for God, and God’s love that we can feel does not originate with us, but it originates with God. But does that mean that we are helpless to do anything about receiving the Love of God? The answer is no, of course not.

God is Love, which means that His love is ALWAYS there, whether we feel it or not, whether we experience or see it manifesting as a reality in our lives. It is there and exists and is moving constantly. But we need to receive it, and how we do it goes back to this idea of “Beholding” (look, meditate, think deeply, chew on, etc). 

2 Corinthians 3:18 says that, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

This means that in order to transform (change) our thoughts, emotions, and will (choices, decisions, desires) that we need to behold (look, meditate, chew on, etc) the Glory of God – or His attributes, characteristics. This is why growing in the knowledge of God is so important – not only in head knowledge, but heart knowledge, and relational experience with Him. And we do that through praying, singing, and interacting with Scripture until it becomes a part of us and changes us.

So, let’s try that today with beholding the Love of God. Try these interactive methods of praying Scripture, and adapt them to how you see fit. You can even try this as a family with your kids, or your spouse, or with a group of friends, as well as alone in your quiet time with Jesus.

Scripture:

“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.” (I John 4:17-19)

Prayer Points:

• Jesus, I just declare who You are. You are Love. I worship You, and behold You as Love today. I want to behold and ponder Your Love as a Father toward me and How great Your Love is toward me!

• Your love is GREAT toward me, Lord! I thank You and Praise You for it.

• Show me how much You love me today, and let me feel Your Love and know it personally deep inside.

• I give you all of my fears. You said those who are in fear have not been made perfect in love. So, I give you my fear today – my fear of …….. and I ask that You would make me perfect in Love. And you would cast all fear out of my mind, will, and emotions.

• Holy Spirit, you said that those led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God, and we have not been given a bondage of fear, but a spirit of adoption. And so I cry out to you, “Abba! Father!” Come and touch me. Come and hold me. Come and give me peace. Fill me with Your love today.

• Give me boldness. Give me boldness to speak your Word to my friends and neighbors. Give me boldness to live without fear in an unstable environment.

• Make me perfect in love, Father.

• I just set my eyes on Your love today. I behold it. I receive it. It is wonderful and it is perfect. I love You, because You first loved me. You are the beginning of love and your love is eternal. Thank you, Father. I love you!

Sing: You can do this a Capello or turn on a little instrumental music or grab an instrument, and sing these phrases and prayers, and allow them to go even deeper into your heart. Allow your own words and thoughts to come out of your spirit. Allow yourself to take more or less time as you need it, and open your heart to God.

Listen: Ask Jesus to talk to You about His love for you, and just take a few minutes to pause in silence and see if He shows You anything. You might feel certain fears come up inside of you. Tell Jesus about them and ask Him to take those fears out of your life. Declare His Love and truth over yourself. Pause to see if you feel or sense anything that He might be saying to you. See if He brings anyone to your mind to pray for and pray for Him to show His love to them.

Write: Write down your thoughts or impressions in a journal, and write the different Scriptures that touched you the most, and maybe some of the reasons why they impacted you so much in this season. In times when you need encouragement, go back and read them and speak them over yourself again.

Draw or color: This is especially great for kids, or creative types. Close your eyes, and ask Jesus to give you a picture of His love for you, or have your kids do this. And then have them draw or color what they saw.

Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places

So many evil circumstances can befall us in life, but we must always be rooted in the identity of who we are in Christ. No matter what happens, we are seated with Christ in Heavenly places through the blood of the Lamb (Eph. 2, Heb. 4).

We must realize that Satan has already been defeated, & even though bad circumstances can still happen for now, nothing can touch our eternal destiny in Christ Jesus. He has already conquered sin, death, & the grave.

To live in this reality, we must constantly stay in touch with our identity in Christ, & His awesome splendor on that throne. No matter what happens, we can sit there with Him far above the circumstances. That is the eternal reality. The circumstances of this life are temporal & add pressures that push us into our eternal destiny (II Cor. 4:17).

Just like Paul & Silas in prison, we can set our eyes on the Beauty of Jesus in every circumstance & watch prison doors fly open & the kingdom of heaven being made manifest on earth (Acts 16).

Devo 63: The Kingdom like a Child

“Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 18:3-4

Jesus said that for us to enter into the kingdom, we must become like children. He is not only speaking of salvation here, but also of living the kingdom life. The things of God are foolishness to the wise, but they are powerful and they put to shame the things which are mighty (I Cor. 1:27).

Most of the attributes of the kingdom of God are completely contrary to the way we think. God said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways…” (Is. 55:8-9). The way He does things are so contrary to the way we do things. He who is humbled will be exalted, and he who exalts himself will be humbled.

The God of all creation came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died for the sins of all mankind. Even though he was God, he did not consider equality with God as something to be grasped, made Himself of no reputation and took up the cross. Therefore, God highly exalted Him and now He sits at the right hand of the Father (Phil. 2:6-7).

Stop for a second. Think about that. Everything seems so upside-down there. This is the kingdom of God.

Many times on the road of being transformed into the image of Christ, we come across a blockade in our mind. Our mind must be renewed because the things of God are not natural things that can be understood by a natural mind, but they are spiritual things that must be understood by a spiritual mind (Rom. 8; I Cor. 2).

This is why we must become like a child. Before a child begins to do something, they do not think about the process it takes to do it. They just do it. Children do not reason through something and talk themselves out of it. When icecream is sat in front of them, they do not wonder how many calories are in it, how many miles they have to run, or if it will cause Type II diabetes. They just eat it.

If they go out to play in brand new clothes, they do not worry about whether or not grass stains come out with a certain stain remover, or if they will come out at all. They just play.

Jesus said for us to enter the kingdom of heaven like a little child. So when we lay hands on the sick, we do not need to think about the scientific improbability of something happening, or whether that person will think we are dumb, or whether God heals today, or why He hasn’t healed before, or if we are saying the right formula or not. We just need to lay hands on the sick.

If the Lord whispers a word to us, we don’t need to go through the mental gymnastics of whether that was God, or if God really speaks that way, or what those people will think of us. We just give the word. Just like a little child would. They do not think about what other people think of them. They just say it like it is. That is why parents cannot gossip around little kids because they just repeat what they hear, and they will say it right to the person.

The problem is that many of us do not know what it is like to be a child. Many of us had our childhoods stolen because of tragedy, trauma, abuse, or false responsibility. Some never had parents or their parents treated them badly. Some were abandoned or sick or never saw what it was like to have fun.

Many people believe that they are stuck with the childhood they had and they can never get it back. However, this is not true. You are adopted now. You have come under a different family and you can start your childhood all over again—and it’s not a bad thing this time.

You have been adopted by a heavenly Father, and no matter how good or bad your earthly father was—every single believer must learn what it is like to be adopted as a child of God.

It is no wonder that one of the names of the Holy Spirit is the “spirit of adoption” (Gal. 4; Rom. 8). That is His actual name. He is the one who cries out from within us and bears witness that we are sons and daughters of God (Rom. 8; Gal. 4; Eph. 1).

The only way we can know what it is like to be a child is to have a genuine revelation of the Father. We have to focus on who the heavenly Father is—not who we think He is, or why we do not know who He is, or if we will ever know who He is—but actually who He is. We must focus on scripture that tells our mind who God really is, and then pray and ask God to make that revelation real to us.

God is a Good Father who loves to give good gifts to His children (Lk 11). He is delighted in us (Ps. 16, 18). He delights in giving us the kingdom (Lk 12). He is forgiving (Lk. 7).

Jesus came to show us the Father (Jn 14). Everything Jesus did was a revelation of the Father. He only did what He saw the Father doing (Jn 5:19).

When we realize the joy and delight our Daddy God has over us, then we will be able to become like children and fully enter into the kingdom, which is our inheritance as sons and daughters.

Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you as Father. Ask Him to pour the love of the Father into your heart. Ask Him to help you become like a child. Ask Him to give you the faith of a child. Ask Him to let you see the kingdom of heaven come to earth and let you be a part of it happening.

Grace and Peace to you in Jesus Name!

Love,

Amanda

Copyright © 2010, Amanda Rich, All Rights Reserved

Devo 62: Spirit, Soul, & Body

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will…”

Romans 12:1-3

When we first get saved, we are buried with Christ unto death, and raised into newness of life (Rom. 6:4). At that point, we are justified by faith, and we are a new creation (Gal. 2:16; II Cor. 5:17). This is called “justification by faith.”

From that point on, however, we go through the process of “being transformed from glory to glory” to be conformed into the image of Christ (II Cor. 3:18). This process is called “sanctification by grace.”

Every human being has a body, a soul, and a spirit. Before salvation, they are led primarily by bodily (fleshly) desires and appetites. The body usually leads first and whatever they want to do, they do it. Then, the soul follows.

The soul is made up of the mind, will, and emotions (heart). Some people are more led by their intellect (mind). Others are very strong-willed and led more by stubbornness and whatever they will themselves to do. Still others are primarily led by their emotions--depression, anger, happiness, sorrow, etc. We all know people in each of these categories.

No one who is unsaved is led by the spirit—even those in the occult, because their spirit is dead. Even those in the occult or in other religions are led by the body, soul, and demonic influences, but the bible makes it clear that their spirits are dead (I Cor. 2, Gal. 5, Rom. 8, II Cor. 10, etc).

However, upon salvation, the resurrection life of Christ enters that human spirit and then brings life to their mortal body (Rom. 8:11). The Holy Spirit then dwells in that person and begins the work of sanctification.

The first thing that person begins to do is to bring their body into subjection of the Spirit. They lay down drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, etc, but many stop there and never know how to proceed further into sanctification.

It is important that we learn to walk in the Spirit and be led by the Spirit. Galatians 5:16 says, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Many of us go from “Body=>Soul=>Spirit” to “Soul=>Body=>Spirit” or “Soul=>Spirit=>Body,” but if we stay in any of those places, we will never get victory and we will never walk in the fullness of what God calls us to. We must be led by the Spirit.

This passage in Romans 12 gives us a pattern for transformation/sanctification.

1) In view of God’s mercy

2) Present your body as a living sacrifice

3) Do not be conformed to the world (righteousness, holiness)

4) Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

5) That you will be able to test and approve God’s will

This passage hits three of the four elements of body and soul (mind, will, emotions). It begins with a right view of God—His mercy. He is the one who brings about sanctification, through His grace, but that is the agent of transformation, not an excuse to stay the same. It is not a false grace, but a grace that leads us to be conformed into His image (II Cor. 3:18).

So, in obedience and as an act of worship, we must present our bodies as living sacrifices. Romans 6:11-13 speaks of “presenting our members [body parts] as instruments of righteousness” and being dead to sin but alive to God. In Galatians 5, Paul encourages us not to live unto our fleshly, bodily desires, but to live according to the Spirit.

The next step according to Romans 12:1-3 is to not be conformed to the world. This means that we separate ourselves from the ways of the world and set our focus on walking in holiness and righteousness. We are to be set apart in every area.

Instead of being conformed to the world, we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. The renewal of our mind is the only option to not being conformed to the world. If we do not win the battle in our mind, then we are still living in sin—even if we do not act on it outwardly. Jesus spoke of this in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. He said if you even think lustfully toward a woman, you have committed adultery; or if you have hateful thoughts toward your brother, you have committed murder.

In II Corinthians 10, Paul tells us that we do not have fleshly weapons of war, but that we have spiritual weapons that are used to pull down strongholds. He says that we must hold every thought captive and tear down everything in our minds that deems itself higher than the things of God—every sin, every lie, every wrong view of God, etc…Our mind must be transformed.

Thus, when our mind is transformed, it impacts our will. When our mind is submitted to the Spirit and transformed by the Word and power of God, it then leads the soul into transformation. Then, we are able to discern the good and pleasing will of God. At this point, we must surrender our will over to His, which is what Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane. However, because we are undergoing a complete transformation, we are able to willingly take up our cross and follow Him. We not only can discern His will, but we can say yes to it and do it.

So, the acceptable pattern of God according to Romans 12:1-3 is:

Body Submitted to=>Spirit=>Renews Mind=>Tranforms Will. Then the transformed will lead the emotions. Transformed will does not suppress emotions like an untransformed will might, but a transformed mind and will leads the emotions. Emotions are terrible leaders, but wonderful followers.

The point of all of this is to be led by the Spirit. However, sometimes when we break it down, it is easier to pin-point where we are on the journey when we cannot see a foot a head of us because of the storm. Once we realize that this is the process of transformation, we can seek to submit every area to the Spirit at every point in our lives—and we can recognize when an area is not submitted to the Spirit.

I would encourage you to ask God every morning when you wake up to give you strength to be led by the Spirit and not by the flesh. Actually speak to your spirit and bless it to lead. Ask the Holy Spirit to take charge and transform your mind, will, emotions and body. Actually present your members as instruments of righteousness. Say out loud, “Lord, I present my mouth to you as an instrument of righteousness. I present my eyes to you…etc,” and go down through the different areas that you need to present those parts to Him in. (i.e. “I present my eyes to only look on what you would have me look on. I present my ears to only listen to what you want me to hear. I bless my ears to hear in the Spirit, and my eyes to see in the Spirit. I bless them to have discernment and only listen to truth. I bless my mouth not to speak gossip of slander, but only truth…).

Come up with your own version too. I recommend doing it everyday. You will find yourself living differently.

Grace and Peace to you in the name of Jesus!

Love,

Amanda

Copyright © 2010, Amanda Rich, All Rights Reserved