Fearless. It’s a word that seems to be floating around quite a bit lately. Maybe it’s because we live in such fearful times, that people are determined to not fear. All of the cool people—doing fantastic, crazy stunts—seem to be fearless.
I wish I was cool. I’m not. But I am a Christian.
And for a Christian, being fearless means a lot more than jumping out of airplanes, and whizzing past ridiculously close mountains with one of those flying suits. For a Christian, being fearless is not only expected—it’s essential.
Fear hinders your ability to walk by faith, because it keeps your sight upon yourself—and your own flaws, weaknesses and past failures. Fear keeps your focus on your problems—the challenges and obstacles ahead on your road.
Fear affects your decisions. What could have been your opportunity to walk on water, becomes a hull-gripping boat ride in a storm.
Fear is one of the enemy’s most used tools, and it’s a doozy. Because not only does fear hold you back—it holds you. Keeping you in its chains, it prevents you from becoming all you were meant to be, in Christ Jesus.
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” (Isaiah 61:1)
Jesus came to break every chain—and as born-again Christians, we are already fearless. We just need to know how to operate in that freedom.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes that’s really hard for me. I pray, declare scripture over myself, and give my fears to God—only to take them back the second I find myself in another fearful situation or thought process.
I completely understand why Peter looked at the waves, and began to sink into the sea, as he walked on the water with Jesus. I’m right there with him. I would love to be able to fearlessly ignore those waves during my storms.
And I think that I may have figured it out. I discovered something in the Bible a few weeks ago.
It’s a method that enables a Christian to actually displace fear from their life. Fear never has the opportunity to rise up, because it won’t be there in the first place.
The method doesn’t involve armor or swords. There is no fight or battle. There are times to fight, and there are other times to step aside. This is one of them.
Through Christ Jesus, the battle is already won, but I can claim victory only to the degree that I am willing to drop the pride and the expectations I have for myself.
It’s cool to be a warrior. And I think there’s something in me that wants to proudly declare the victory—giving glory to the Lord Jesus, but also acknowledging my own spiritual strength at the same time. This works out really well for my prideful flesh—if I happen to be spiritually strong that week. But if I don’t have the gumption to fight, I remain stuck with fear.
Thankfully, this method of dispelling fear requires no spiritual or natural strength on our parts whatsoever. Yet it wields unsurpassed, limitless, absolute and infinite power.
The method is love.
Yes. Love has the power to actually dispel fear, and displace it from our lives—if we use the method.
I discovered the method in 1 John Chapter 4.
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1 John 4:18)
Now, in the intended context of these verses, the “fear” described is the fear of God’s judgment on a person who is not dwelling (staying) in love. On judgment day, as born-again Christians—we have no reason to fear, because we dwell in God—through Jesus Christ.
But as I contemplated these verses, I thought, “Why couldn’t this also apply to all fear—not just of judgment, but of anything? Why couldn’t God’s love “cast out” all fear of the enemy?” As I read correlating scripture and contemplated further, I realized it can—and it does.
You may be thinking right now, “Well, duh! Of course God’s love drives out fear!” After all, we already know that fear simply does not exist in God.
We love to quote this verse:
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)
It is a fact that it’s impossible for fear to occupy the same space as God. So why then—knowing what we know, and having what we have—do we still struggle with fear?
In order for the method to work, it has to be the right kind of love, in the right direction.
Let’s look at the verses in 1 John again:
“…There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear…”
What exactly is this “perfect love?” How do we know what it is?
The kind of love referred to here is not one of emotion or feelings. And it’s not a response to someone who deserves love.
The love referred to here is a special kind of love—in the Greek, the word for love here is “Agape.” Agape love is the highest and most perfect form of love, because it is the love of God. This kind of love—not measured by emotion—can only be known when it is expressed by its actions.
The ultimate expression of God’s Agape love for us came to earth in the form of Jesus Christ, who—operating from the highest possible height of love—gave His life for the whole world.
Jesus Christ lived perfectly, loved perfectly, and died perfectly.
“…because as he is, so are we in this world.”
He became Agape love bodily—so that His Agape love may live, rule and reign within each one of us, who place His perfect heart on the throne of our own heart.
Agape love is the attitude of God toward us. And He expects Agape love to be the attitude of all believers toward their fellow man.
“…fear hath torment.”
In the Greek, the word, “torment” here essentially means a process of punishment. Without God’s love in operation, what is left is the flesh—which is selfish and all about self-fulfillment.
The flesh experiences the weight of its sin, and is guiltily unable to enjoy the love of God—which keeps a person from approaching God. This becomes a vicious cycle, because approaching God is exactly what a person must do if they hope to be able to walk in the attitude of God’s Agape love.
“He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
How do we become “made perfect,” in this perfect Agape love?
We’ve heard many times that “God is Love,” but it’s usually a misunderstood concept as to how that love manifests in the life of a Christian. To those who have no desire to walk in Holiness, it is often implied, since “God is Love,” that God loves everyone unconditionally.
The fact is, that God did love the world so immensely, that He gave His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. But Jesus Christ was sent to the world to bear the torturous death that He suffered, because—as much as God loves us so immensely—God also hates Sin equally immensely.
“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.”
This verse states that “God is love,” and then goes on to clarify that he who dwells (stays) in love, dwells (stays) in God, and God dwells (stays) in Him.
There is only one way to stay in God—and stay in His love—as He stays in you:
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth (stays) in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5, parenthesis mine.)
God does love us unconditionally, if the one condition for receiving His unconditional love is met. That one condition is Jesus Christ—staying in Him, and His staying within a welcoming, willing and repentant heart.
Let’s go back to what I mentioned earlier—that the Agape love of God can only be known when it is expressed through action. How does this apply to the method?
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Jesus summed up all of God’s commandments into just two. But it’s not a matter of loving the Lord God first, and then following up with loving others.
Likewise, we can’t decide to love our neighbor first, and then get around to loving God later.
Both laws are inseparable—one is unable to operate without the other.
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)
If I’m not loving my neighbor—with Agape love—I don’t know God, and He doesn’t dwell in me. His love is not perfected in me. Without dwelling (staying) in the Agape love of God—through Christ Jesus—it’s impossible to love God in return, and to love others with His Agape love.
This is how God’s Agape love works: it originates with Him—it is Him. We receive it by Him and through Him. We return it to Him, and we distribute it to others through Him—through His life within us.
Every time we choose to express Agape love—just as Jesus chose to express His love to us—His perfect love is perfected within us.
“And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.” (John 12:23-26)
Every time we choose Agape love, we esteem others more than ourselves. And our flesh—with its selfishness and self-fulfilling carnal nature—falls into Holy ground. It is there that our flesh dies, so that the true Vine can flourish and grow from us—bringing forth fruit of righteousness.
And the flesh—no longer alive—is no longer subject to the enemy’s whims. It can no longer fear.
So to me, its evident: perfect love does cast out fear. All fear.
And there is no reason in existence that we are not able to walk in that freedom.
I have decided to try an experiment. I’m going to make a list of my fears and worries, and rate each of them on a “fear level” scale of 1—10. “1” would be just slightly anxious; “5” would be fearful enough that it affects my decisions; “10” would be a full-on panic attack.
For thirty days, I am going to make a point of expressing Agape love to whomever God brings to mind (deserving or not), through actions—my words, my deeds, and my prayers. At the end of thirty days, I will rate the fear levels again. My prediction is that not only will the numbers go down, but some (or all) will be crossed out.
Do you want to live your life “fearless?” Pray about this experiment, and consider trying it with me.
Let’s kick fear to the curb! Are you in?