“Our Daily Bread”
http://odb.org/2012/10/02/be-content/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
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. (NKJV)
There was one of Jesus’ disciples, who was described as the “disciple whom Jesus loved”… This disciple was the Apostle John…John 20:2… Who better to write about the love of Christ in the Christian’s life… I counted 38 scripture verses in the Book of John; and 25 verses in the Book of 1 John, with the word “love” in them (NKJV)… We see the word “love” 3 times in the opening scripture…
Fear and love are exact opposites… This is because “fear involves torment”, which comes from Satan (2 Corinthians 12:7 – NASB)… But love is the basis of Christianity… To become a Christian to begin with, we have to love the Lord with all of our heart, all our soul, and all our mind (Jesus’ most important commandment…Matthew 22:36-40); as we turn from our sinful way of life with a repentant heart; and seek Jesus Christ to become our personal Lord, our Master, and our Savior…
At the moment God graces the sinner with the free gift of salvation through faith alone in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), they are filled with the Holy Spirit (John 14:26)… We see the other 2 parts of the trinity living with-in the Christian, in this scripture, in…
Ephesians 3:17-19… that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (NKJV)
When the Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit, they are filled with the “love of Christ”, and are “made perfect in love”… The Christian is as perfect as they will ever be, when they are walking with the Lord, and righteous in His sight… But the moment the Christian sins, they become unrighteous in God’s eyes; and must confess and repent of any and all sins, to again become righteous in His sight…
1 John 1:9… If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NKJV)
So if the Christian has fear, or anxiety, or any of the other sins that are caused by Satan or their own flesh, to keep them from being filled with the love of Christ…God promises that if the Christian resists the devil, and submits to Him (God)…the devil will flee…James 4:7… Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (NKJV)
The Spirit filled Christian should not only be free of their fears, because they have “been made perfect in love”…they should also find the supernatural God given peace I so often write about…which goes beyond our mortal understanding…Philippians 4:7… and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (NKJV)
Heavenly Father, I pray anyone living in fear or anxiety that is a Christian in Your eyes, will see the promises You make to those that submit all of their lives to You… I pray for all Christians Lord…that their hearts may be filled with the love of Christ, and “made perfect in love”… And if they submit their lives to Your will and Your ways, that Your peace will settle their restless souls like never before… I pray for this state of spiritual perfection for all of us, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
written by bruce r mills
P.S. To Become a Christian, the gospel of Christ must be understood and obeyed (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)… The gospel of Christ is presented in the link below, to plant the seed toward salvation for those who want to become part of God’s family; to be sure they are Christian’s in God’s eyes, and filled with the awesome power and supernatural peace of the Holy Spirit…
God's group 