Tag: 1 John 4:18
Day 2–No Fear!
Scripture reading for June 9: 2 Timothy 1:6-7 “For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the Gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” Romans 8:15-17 “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by Whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, . . “
Fear is a spiritual force that comes to torment us with doubt and unbelief. An acronym that I have borrowed from others is ‘False Expectations Appearing Real’ and our enemy Satan likes to draw our minds away from trusting in God and His Word. Satan uses thoughts and our senses to steal our peace, make us react in haste, and lose self control. He paralyses us with tormenting fears of failure, punishment and rejection by man and God.
Tormenting fear is not from God. The Holy Spirit produces in us the qualities of God which are power, love, and a sound mind. The apostle John stated that God’s perfect love has cast out all fear. He stated that fear has torment because of fear of punishment for sin and Christ Jesus lovingly gave His body and blood to pay for our sins. (1 John 4:18) Since we have His Spirit in us, we can fan into flames the Gift of God which is given to us by the Father to empower us for His service. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit of adoption that affirms our true identity as sons and daughters of God. This identity brings freedom from guilt and fear of rejection.
First responders, especially, need regular reminders of their identity and worth. Those in law enforcement regularly face attacks on their identity and even attacks on their lives. Those in the fire and medical service also face derision from hurting people under influences of drugs, alcohol, anger or fear. The Holy Spirit in us affirms us and gives us a sound mind to work from.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for affirming us regularly as Your children and helping us to rest in all that Jesus Christ has done and is doing for us daily. Help me to live in the Spirit of power and love and a sound mind today as I serve You and others. Amen.
Confidence in Christ
Scripture reading for November 25: 1 John 5
“And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:11-15
John’s readers struggled to really know if they had received eternal life. Satan loves to use doubt and deception to keep people in fear and darkness. Nothing has really changed in our culture today. But God is light and in Him is no darkness. God has revealed through His Word that He has provided eternal life for all who will receive His Son, Jesus Christ. If you have the Son, you have eternal life. If you reject the Son, you are without eternal life and God’s wrath rests on you. (John 3:36)
John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to bring clarity to believers in Jesus. God the Father wants His children to know that they are a part of His forever family. The Holy Spirit indwelling us testifies that we are God’s children by crying “Abba, Father”. (Galatians 4:6) Jesus gave His followers the promise of asking in His Name for anything we have need of and it would be granted. (John 16:23-24) By faith this means that if we asked for forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life, God has heard us and granted us what we asked. Faith in God’s Word brings confidence and deliverance from all fears of future punishment. (1 John 4:18) Eternal life is found only in a relationship with God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Have you struggled with fear or uncertainty about your future after leaving this earth? How does John’s letter help you to regain confidence and begin to live by faith? Have you asked God for His forgiveness in Jesus’ Name?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for this assurance of eternal life found in Jesus Christ, Your Son. Thank You for the privilege of prayer in the Name of Jesus and the assurance of my needs being taken care of because You hear and answer. Use me to share these truths with those You place in my path. Amen.