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.

Know God: God is Love

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (I John 4:14-16)

God is Love. It is the very nature of who He is. Even if he punishes, corrects, or carries out justice – It is done in Love, because that is His very nature. He is like a loving father who corrects his children so that they become good adults (Hebrews 12).

Romans 5:8 says that “God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly.” It means that love is not based on a feeling. It is not based on a circumstance or what is happening around us. It is not based on whether we have money this month or we lost it. It is not based on whether the healing came or did not come. The Love of God is based on this: That Jesus Christ came into the world to die for us while we were yet sinners, and He gave His own life for us.

“Greater Love has no man than this, that a man would lay down His life for His friends.” (John 15:13).

God already showed His love to us by His completed work on the Cross and that should be our anchor in the midst of chaos when we feel that God does not love us. It is at exactly that time when we need to believe.

Here are some prayer points to pray this Scripture into you, so that it becomes not just head knowledge, but heart knowledge. Pray these out loud to yourself, adding things as you feel in your heart.

Scripture: “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (I John 4:14-16)

Prayer Points:

• Jesus, help Your Word come alive in my thoughts and in my heart.

• Jesus, I testify and believe that You are the Savior of the world.

• I confess that You are the Son of God.

• Help me to abide (live, dwell) in You, and in Your Presence. Help me to live in Your Love. Help me to receive Your Love.

• I know Your Love, and I believe in Your Love, but help me know Your Love more and believe Your Love more. Help me to feel it and experience it, even when outside circumstances are telling me differently.

• God, You are Love. Jesus, You are Love. Help me to know you more as Love. Unconditional. Pure. Help me know True Love that has no end. Help me to know You and experience You as Love in Person.

• I love you, Jesus. Help me to love You more. Help me to live in Your love today and show Your love to others.

Sing: Also, feel free to turn on a little instrumental music or grab your 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.

Listen: Ask Jesus to talk to You about His love for you, and just take a few minutes to pause and see if He shows You anything. Ask Him to talk to you about His love for others. And pause to see if you feel or sense anything.

Write: Write down your thoughts, or impressions in a journal, and write different Scriptures that touch you. In times when you need encouragement, go back and read them.

Repentance & Revival

Repentance and revival are directly connected. Repentance leads to revival and revival causes repentance.

Acts 3:19 says, “Repent therefore and be converted, that the times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…”

“Times of refreshing from the Presence of the Lord” sounds like something we all would want. Times of refreshing means revival.

Repentance is to turn from our wicked ways. It means to stop willingly doing the things that God has asked us to stop, and to earnestly turn to Him with all our heart. This happens both corporately and individually.

When Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal, and the fire fell on the altar of the Lord, all the people fell on their faces and said, “The Lord He is God!” At that moment, they turned from following other Gods, and began to follow the Lord. Then, the rain came to the land after a three-year drought.

This “rain after repentance” was connected to Solomon’s prayer in II Chronicles 6 and I Kings 8, and God’s answer in II Chronicles 7 & I Kings 9. God said if the people repented and turned back to Him. He would release the rain.

Rain and refreshing will come in a time when the people of God turn back to Him in repentance.

Changing of National Boundary Lines - “That they might grope for Him”

Solomon prayed in II Chronicles 6 and I Kings 8 that if God released war on the people because of their sin, that when they repented, He would hear and answer. Throughout the Bible, wars and judgments were released on a people who were walking in disobedience against God and not turning to Him.

Acts 15:26-27 says that God “has determined the pre-appointed times and boundaries of their dwellings, that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”

What does it mean when the boundary lines of a nation are changed? The changing of boundary lines of nations typically means war. And changing boundary lines means that God is giving an opportunity for men to grope for Him and find Him.

God answered Solomon’s prayer in II Chronicles and said, “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray, turn from the wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, and heal their land…”

The answer to war and the changing of boundary lines is not a political solution or a solution derived from man. The answer is for men to grope for God and find Him. The answer is for men to call on His name and He will answer them, and heal their land.

Solomon's Prayer - Lord, Hear from Heaven

As Solomon dedicated the temple of the Lord that he had built in I Kings 8, he prayed that God would hear His people when they were caught in various circumstances because of sin (see parallel account of the prayer in II Chron. 6). These circumstances would be hardships that had come about because of the sin of the people. However, Solomon petitioned the Lord to hear the prayers of the people when they cried out in repentance and turned their hearts back to Him.

There were several types of circumstances that would come upon the people because of their sin—wrongs done against a neighbor, war/slavery/bondage, drought, plague, captivity (I Kgs. 8:30-46). Solomon’s request for every one of these types of judgments, was that God would “hear in heaven” the prayers of the people who repent (I Kgs. 8:32, 34, 36, 39, 43, 45, 49).

God answers Solomon’s prayer in I Kings chapter 9 with a personal promise to Solomon concerning the kingdom. Also, there is further insight into God’s answer to the prayer in II Chron. 7:12-14, where God says, “If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will HEAR from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Solomon petitioned God to hear the prayers of repentant people, and God answered that He would hear the prayers of the people of God who cry out to Him in the midst of war, famine, pestilence, plague, drought, captivity, etc. He will HEAR and He will HEAL.

David & Ministry to the Lord: Songs of Revelation

David began his ministry to the Lord on the back-hills of Bethlehem with a harp and some sheep. No one saw his ministry at that point, except the Lord, and the lambs. He sang little songs and became a skillful player on the harp--so skillful, in fact, that he was called into the service of the king for his music. Not only was his music good, but it was anointed to drive away evil spirits (I Sam. 16:18-23).

But God saw the heart of David, and raised him up to be king. However, David never lost his heart to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, and dwell in His temple (Ps. 27:4).

David wrote hundreds of songs, as recorded in the book of Psalms. Many of these songs express David’s own emotions and struggles, and many express the emotions and heart of God. Reading the Psalms, one feels as though God was David’s best friend. David left us an example of how to pour out our emotions to God in worship, and receive God’s emotions in their place.

Furthermore, it is amazing the revelations of God David received in the place of worship to our Lord. He saw the beauty of the Lord (Ps. 24, 27); the Crucifixion of Christ (Ps 22), the revelation of the Shepherd (Ps. 23), the Second Coming (Ps. 2, 24, 110), and the restoration of Israel (Ps. 45-48).

Even as in David’s day, it is amazing what can happen when you place an instrument into the hands of a young worshipper and have them sing about truths of God. Revelation will come. The emotions of God will come. The young person will be transformed, and others will be brought into the presence of the Lord.

God, give us young worshippers with a heart like David in this generation!

Samuel & Ministry to the Lord: Revelation in the Land

Desperate for a son, a woman named Hannah made a vow to God that she would give her first-born to the Lord. When he was born, she called his name, “Samuel,” which means, “heard by God," because God answered her prayer. She said that Samuel would be “lent to the Lord” all the days of his life (I Sam. 2:11). All the days of his life, Samuel “ministered to the Lord” (I Sam. 2:11, 18; 3:1).

In those days, ministry to the Lord meant service in the temple, and Samuel served before the Lord even before he actually knew the Lord (I Sam. 3:7). But there was one night, when God called Samuel (I Sam. 3:1), and from that time on Samuel knew the voice of the Lord.

During that time period, there had been no revelation in the land of Israel (I Sam. 3:1). However, God raised up Samuel to hear the voice of the Lord, and release the Word of the Lord in the land (I Sam. 3:19-21; I Sam. 4:1). God let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground (I Sam. 3:19).

In a time where there was no revelation in the land, God raised up a prophetic voice from one who ministered before Him. Does God need someone to minister to Him? No. Does God want someone to minister to Him? Yes. Why? Because God desires partnership with His people.

Does God need someone to speak for Him? No. Does God want someone to speak for Him? Yes. Why? Because God desires partnership with His people.

God raised up Samuel who name was “heard by God” to become someone who “heard God” and spoke His Word. And God will do the same thing even now—with us.