Perfect love casts out fear

 Mark 4:39-40 - When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Silence! Be still!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm.  Then he asked them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?"

The disciples were absolutely terrified. "Who is this man?" they asked each other. "Even the wind and waves obey him!"

Looking at the plain English, the fear is mentioned as they talk about the wind and waves obeying Him.  Demonstration of power without the trust that He loved them deeply, could be very frightening indeed.  How would I feel meeting a person who had power?  Would I be worried about what they would do to me?  Was their doubt in His power or was it more a worry about what He could do to them with that power?

If they had faith in Him, the miracle would not have taken them by surprise.  If they truly understood who Jesus was, then a demonstration of His power would not frighten them. They were afraid of His power because they had not yet grasped His love. 

“Who is this man?  He is their friend and the one who loves them deeply. Now as I think, perfect love casts out fear, I see deeper dimension.  Knowing we are loved by the God of the universe helps us to not fear His great power. 

Religion scares us into submission to a powerful deity. Grace woos us into trust because we are loved by our Dad.

An answer for every fear

 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Every fiery dart can be extinguished with the water of God’s promises

Fear of missing God’s will: - Exodus 15:13 NLT - "With your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed.

Fear of judgement – 1 John 4:19, Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 

Fear of lack– Philippians 4:19 NLT - And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Find the triggers of fear in your life and treat them with the truth of the love of Father God. In other words, go to the promises of God rooted in His perfect and unfailing love to extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one. There are 3 examples outlined above but there are many more.

What is it that makes you most afraid?  Find out from God’s word that He has provided an answer.  If you do not know the bible so well, ask a mature Christian friend.

Keeping a cool head

 Ephesians 6:16-18 NLT - In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet

Why do you think we are told to, ‘Put on salvation as your helmet’?  This is because most of our battles are fought in the mind. Fear happens right where we live, in our minds.  The enemy seeks to influence our lives by throwing things at us that make us afraid.  But if we get the message that God really loves us, the fire of his attacks can be extinguished.

God’s love revealed in His word is like water to extinguish the fire of fear.The Holy Spirit is the fireman who has been sent to wield the hose.  Think of it, He is our comforter, the one who comes along side to help and to give us courage.  He is the one who applies the bible to our hearts.  As He does so, he reveals to us that every one of our fears can be met with a promise from the bible.

That puts new meaning on keeping a cool head.

LOVE’S FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Ephesians 6:16-18 NLT - In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Nine years ago, I had just embarked on a project for UCB to try and get schools to receive the book of hope magazine as a text for RE.  I was walking home from the shop when I felt God speak to my heart; “Get people to pray, for you will be under attack.”  I knew it was because I was stepping out in this endeavour.  So I asked for prayer.

Guess what, the attacks came from all sides; but I knew it would be alright, for God’s people were praying for me.  I had been prepared to meet the fiery darts of the enemy with the weapon of prayer.  The work was not stopped and a local ministry took on the role of supplying the magazines to schools.

The enemy may attack, but He has already been defeated on the cross.  So whatever fiery dart he throws your way, remember that God has it covered.  He has provided you with weapons to protect you from the fire.

This week we will look at the specific attack of fear.

What do you see?

 “Go away for the girl is not dead, she is sleeping. And they laughed at him.” Matthew 9 24-25

With what eyes do you look at your life today? If you approach every situation today with your natural eyes you are going to be disappointed - You are going to see decay, lack, failure and limitations.

Our world is a fallen place and the consequences are evident wherever we look.
But Jesus already has the victory. Death has been defeated. When we see obstacles and impossible situations we are called to approach them with eyes of faith. We are to look at what appears to be dead and command God life. Whenever we do this those around us will think that we are crazy. They will say we're deceived. They will mock and laugh just as they did when Jesus declared that the girl was sleeping. But did the people continue to mock when the girl got up?

Don't let others’ unbelief stop you from pursuing your breakthrough. When you stand you will see the breakthrough and you will see that blessing does not just flow to you but all those around you too.

Rest to bear fruit

 “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” John 15:4 NASB

When a branch is cut off a tree it begins to die.  At first it looks healthy enough as there may still be some fruit on it, but soon this will wither and die as the branch has been removed from the fruit producing life of the tree.

Our performance-based society can affect our approach to work.  Thinking that success is based on how hard we work, can lead us to live a life ‘flat to the mat’, missing out on quality time spent with God.  This hard work and effort yields only mediocre results.

Success is a by-product of spending quality time in the presence of God.  When we spend regular time in His presence, being filled with His Spirit and Word, we effortlessly bear fruit.

Today you can rest from your works, spend time with Him and watch Him work through you – He gets better results!

Looking outside ourselves

 "Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]” Philippians 2:4-5 AMP

The world we live in is consumed with greed; many people I meet are more interested in "me, myself and I” than other people. Promotion means competing against someone else for that position; it’s "dog eat dog!" The problem is, when life becomes self-seeking and self-serving, then you become the only person who matters. 

Thankfully I learned there is another way to live; when I got married I soon realised that I had to think about another person's needs and interests. It certainly did take a few years to get used too, especially sharing my bank account! Then the kids came along and after 4 wonderful beauties, I have known so much blessing in giving all that I have to make sure they have everything. 

When I read this verse, I get really excited as living like this helps move me towards being more like Jesus. He is the perfect example of never once thinking of self. Jesus totally gave of himself to others, which ultimately led to his death on the cross! 

Take time this week look for ways to encourage others, ways to give your time or help in some way. I once read a saying that has stuck with me, "By helping others get to where they want to be, you'll automatically get where you want to be!"

A saying that symbolises the very heart of Jesus! Amen to that!

You are complete

 “So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:10

We can often forget the huge scale of Christ’s act of redemption. The cross was a completed work; it was finished, not a stone unturned, not a speck of sin left owing on your account! It is done! So much so that the bible actually tells us we are “completed”. The Greek word for completed here is “pleroo”(Strong’s G4137) meaning filled, well supplied, furnished or literally crammed! You are overflowing with Gods goodness, love, peace and rest!

Look to him today and be thankful that you can go through anything knowing he has provided for you already! He has gone before you and prepared success for you no matter what your giant may look like. God is good, His work is complete, and you are fully provided for!

Hold on

 “When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’” Luke 7:19 (NIV)

There are times when those things that once seemed so clear become a source of despair. John had baptized Jesus; he had declared, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world!” John had seen the dove descend from heaven and heard the voice of the Father affirm His love for Jesus. But now as he sat in prison separated from the world, doubts crept in.

When we find ourselves in dry places and nothing seems to be happening, it is so easy to doubt the calling of God on our lives. I love Jesus’ response - He didn’t launch into a detailed argument of why He was the Messiah nor did He try to convince them with words – He acted: “At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard”. (Luke 7:21-22).

Jesus recognised that sometimes words aren’t enough, sometimes all the arguments in the world can’t provide the clarity that action can. Jesus knew how John was feeling and He immediately responded by practically demonstrating His love and power. He knew where John was and He knew exactly what John needed to bring him confidence and comfort.

Wherever you are today – Do not let go in the darkness those things that you were so sure of in the light. God sees you and He knows exactly what you need – He will act.

He is faithful

 "Only fear the Lord and serve Him fatefully with all your heart…" 1 Samuel 12:24a

In modern society faithfulness and constancy are often thought to have been downgraded to being mere aspirations. Commentators talk about the ‘throwaway society’ where nothing lasts longer than the time it takes someone to get bored and move to the next thing.

Samuel encouraged God’s people to remain constant and faithful to the God who had never let them down through all the years in the wilderness and as they took possession of the Promised Land.  The fear he spoke of was about respecting God’s power and authority, the same power and authority that could give them the freedom to trust and serve Him for whatever lay ahead.

Many of you reading this will have been committed Christians for many years, some for only a few weeks and some of you are still wondering if this is all really true.  Today God wants to remind you that He’s not going anywhere.  He is faithful and constant – you can rely on Him completely to be the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Take a moment to reaffirm your commitment to Him and be recharged for the week, months and years ahead or take that first step into a deeper relationship with Him.  You’ll not regret it.

Enlightened eyes

 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” Eph 1:18-19a

God has a plan for your life. You have been called to a hope that is sure and certain. Sometimes it may not seem so clear and for some you can’t see it at all.

Paul here prays that the believers in Ephesus would have their eyes flooded with the light of the truth of who they are in Christ and the hope that this brings.

God has chosen you, He lavishes His grace upon you and He has prepared a glorious inheritance for you. His incomparable power is at work in you and He lives in us. Sometimes this world can fog our vision; life gets in the way and the eyes of our heart become darkened.

There is hope, not because you want to be an optimist, or you will it to be so, but because the perfect unchanging all powerful God has placed His love upon you and you can be confident that He has a plan for your life.

Pray today that God would flood the eyes of your heart with light – that your vision would be unhindered to see the hope to which He has called you. You are His child!

Our great quest

 “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ” Phil 3:8

Paul’s passion was for his life to be all about Jesus. His life’s goal was to get to know Jesus better – this he placed above everything else. Everything he had achieved, everything he had done he viewed as worthless – he considered them garbage compared to knowing Jesus better.

Make knowing Jesus the focus of your life. Let this be your greatest quest, to place knowing Jesus above all the ‘stuff’ that will clutter your week. Spend time looking at Him, linger in His presence.

Look at Jesus and see God’s love for you. Look at Him on the cross and see the lengths to which God has gone to make you His.

Knowing the reality of God’s love changes the perspective of everything you will face today. Whatever you are going through, whatever lies ahead - first look at Jesus. Look at Jesus and see His heart for your life. Look at Jesus and be reminded that you are precious to Him. Look and see that no matter what you do or where you are – His love will reach you there.

The gift of joy

 “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”1 Peter1:8-9

Last week Candice Payne went viral with her Chewbacca mask! It would have been hard for anyone to watch her video without feeling a huge sense of Joy and laughter!

For anyone who hasn't seen it- Candice treated herself to a Chewbacca mask that made noises as you moved its mouth. She wanted to enjoy the mask before her children saw it and so videoed herself in the parking lot! Whenever Candice saw her reflection she couldn't contain herself and had so much fun!

It made me think of how much our Father desires to see us full of Joy. That ridiculous joy, and uncontrollable laughter...as a mother, I know there is no better thing than to see our children in fits of giggles. And yet when we ask ourselves, there are probably few people we allow ourselves to be silly on front of. We all have inhibitions, I know that at home in my living room with my kids I would act different to how I would on front of others and so I loved watching Candice as she embraced the joy she was feeling. Our Father wants us to be joyful. He wants our Joy to be infectious and make others curious. Candice called this video "it's the simple things" and so it is.

The news that we have in Jesus' death and resurrection for us should make us happy...joyful. And yet so many people's experiences of Christianity are miserable.

I later went on to watch an interview of Candice and discovered she was a worship leader and that she had always known God has given her a call. And I couldn't help but feel that maybe this Chewbacca mask was part of it! Giving those watching a taste of Joy, a gift from the Father. The "normal" and the spiritual colliding.

Abundant life

 “...I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10,

Are you living the abundant life Jesus came to give you? You may not have the biggest house or newest car, but God promises abundant life for you. His abundance goes way beyond the things we can see in the natural. It means that you can have peace in the midst of a storm.

You can have joy when things are uncertain. You can have hope when circumstances seem hopeless. You can live and enjoy life to the fullest every single day because you have the Creator of life on the inside of you.

Sometimes it is easy to look at this verse and think, “God is going to give me abundant life some day.” But the truth is, God wants you to have abundant life TODAY. Ask Him to show you His abundant favour, blessing and peace. Focus on Him and let Him show you His abundant life — today!

Father, I know that You want the best for me. Thank You for Your promise of abundant life on this earth. Show me your ways so that I can be a blessing every where I go.