By Warren David Horak

Only perfect love can overcome fear

One of our all-time greatest enemies is fear. On every side fear is attacking, indoctrinating and controlling humanity.

Jesus came to set the captives free, by showing us how to love.

Anyone who has any form of fear is in captivity and bondage.

Fear manifests in our daily lives in the form of worry, anxiety, stress, fear, terror and many different phobias that attach themselves to us even from childhood.

When we walk in perfect love it casts out fear, fear is a spirit and only perfect love can cast it out.

1 John 4:18 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.

Watch the video below

Introduction

In this fourth part of our series on the 16 facets of love, we delve into how perfect love casts out fear and why understanding God's love is crucial for overcoming the challenges we face in these turbulent times.

As we navigate through economic uncertainties, global conflicts, and personal struggles, only by maturing in love can we find true freedom from fear and anxiety.

The Power of Love Over Fear

God's main weapon is love and truth, and the enemy's main weapon is fear and deception, which is lies.

Fear is deception.

It's important to recognize that fear is not just an emotion, but a spirit - a demonic force that seeks to control and manipulate.

The Bible warns us repeatedly not to fear, with over 365 instances of "fear not" or similar phrases.

This repetition underscores how critical it is for us as believers to resist and overcome fear through the power of God's love.

Only perfect love can cast out fear.

Only perfect love can overcome the fear that is in the Earth.

The 16 Facets of Love as a Shield Against Fear

The concept of the 16 facets of love, drawn from 1 Corinthians 13, provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and applying God's love in our lives.

By focusing on these facets of love, we can build a strong defense against the onslaught of fear that permeates our world.

We need to understand that it's only perfect love that casts out fear.

So we need to understand that it is only His perfect love that is able to overcome fear in our lives.

It's crucial to recognize that worry, anxiety, and stress are all manifestations of fear, and therefore sins that we as Christians must actively repent of and resist.

The Deception of Acceptable Fears

We must challenge the notion of "acceptable" fears that many of us have adopted:

We accept these things we're not supposed to accept, and that's a doctrine of demons.

That demon has been conditioning you and training your whole life to accept it, and God's saying no, don't accept these things.

Society has normalized certain fears, like phobias, while condemning others.

This inconsistency has allowed fear to maintain a stronghold in many believers' lives.

Love as the Ultimate Stronghold

Love is God's territorial claim on our lives:

God is a territorial spirit that wants to take over your entire being.

But if you allow demons to traffic in and out of your mind, in and out of your soul, in and out of your emotions, you're like a ship on an unsteady sea.

We must surrender our thoughts, opinions, and doctrines to God, allowing His love to transform and renew our minds.

Scriptures on Love and Fear

Let's focus on 1 John 4:12-18 as a key passage for understanding the relationship between love and fear:

"No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 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. 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."

Let's break down this passage and emphasize several key points:

1. God's love is perfected (matured) in us as we love one another.

2. Abiding in love means abiding in God.

3. Mature love gives us boldness in the day of judgment.

4. Perfect love casts out all fear.

The Facets of Love as a Path to Maturity

Focusing on the 16 facets of love is essential for our spiritual growth and overcoming fear:

We need to study the 16 facets of love. By the way, like I said, we haven't even started.

We haven't even started really talking about love. We're just talking about why you should be loving.

Let's make love our primary focus.

Today I walk in Love. Today I become Love.

Today I walk as love, as Love Walks.

As He is love, so am I on this Earth.

Love as the Answer to Disappointment

Disappointment is another manifestation of fear and lack of trust in God.

Let's look to Romans 5:5 as a source of encouragement:

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

 Love is the antidote to disappointment because "love hopes all things, love believes all things." 

By maturing in love, we can overcome the discouragement and trauma of disappointment

The Facets of Love in Action

As we explore the 16 facets of love, let's consider how each one can help us combat specific fears:

1. Patience: Counters fear of waiting or delayed promises.

2. Kindness: Overcomes fear of rejection or harsh treatment.

3. Contentment: Defeats fear of lack or missing out.

4. Humility: Conquers fear of insignificance or failure.

5. Honor: Dispels fear of disrespect or mistreatment.

6. Selflessness: Eliminates fear of loss or sacrifice.

7. Even-tempered: Calms fear of losing control.

8. Forgiveness: Releases fear of being hurt again.

9. Righteousness: Overcomes fear of judgment or condemnation.

10. Truthfulness: Dispels fear of deception or betrayal.

11. Perseverance: Defeats fear of giving up or falling short.

12. Faith: Conquers fear of the unknown or uncertain future.

13. Hope: Eliminates fear of disappointment or unfulfilled dreams.

14. Endurance: Overcomes fear of suffering or hardship.

By focusing on these facets of love, we can build a robust defense against the various forms of fear that assault us daily.

Practicing Perfect Love

To grow in perfect love and overcome fear, let's commit to these practical steps:

1. Daily meditation on the 16 facets of love from 1 Corinthians 13.

2. Actively choosing to love in challenging situations, especially when fear tries to take hold.

3. Repenting quickly when we catch ourselves worrying or giving in to fear.

4. Regularly declaring God's love over our lives and circumstances.

5. Seeking opportunities to demonstrate love to others, even our enemies.

6. Studying the life of Jesus as the perfect example of love in action.

7. Praying for an increased capacity to receive and give God's love.

Remember, as we mature in love, we become more like Christ and less susceptible to the attacks of fear.

The Revival of Love

The revival that's coming is a love revival.

When we see love starting to change people and people suddenly repenting and reconciling, that's the beginning of revival.

Love is the revival.

We can't have revival without love.

I don't care how many signs there are – if you raise the dead, cast out demons, God says if you do that and don't have love, you're just making noise.

We don't want a big noise revival; it's a love revival.

Jesus said:

"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, NKJV)

This is the true mark of revival – when the world sees the love of Christ manifested in and through His church.

Conclusion

As we continue our exploration of the 16 facets of love, let's remember that this journey is about more than just understanding concepts.

It's about allowing God's perfect love to transform us from the inside out, casting out every form of fear and anxiety that has held us captive.

In these challenging times, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the power of God's love to a world gripped by fear. By focusing on love – not fear – as our strongest weapon and surest defense, we can navigate through any storm with confidence and peace.

Let's make love our primary project.

Wake up each day with the intention to walk in love and become love incarnate.

As we do so, we'll not only experience personal transformation but also become powerful witnesses to the world of God's unfailing love and the peace that surpasses all understanding.

As we press deeper into God's love, allowing it to cast out all fear and perfect us in His image, we'll find ourselves standing with increasing boldness in the face of life's challenges.

We can look forward with confidence to the day when we will stand before our loving Creator, knowing that we have lived lives shaped by the 16 facets of His perfect love.

May the love of God fill you, transform you, and overflow from you to a world in desperate need of His perfect love.

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