Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

[given to and shared under inspiration of Ha Ruach Kodesh)

 

(NOTE: This is a devotional from YHWH's Word Of Faith Ministries.  To receive the daily devotionals, you may sign up at YHWH's Word Of Faith Ministries website)

 

Shalom,

Sorry for getting this out so late tonight!  We were blessed with over 20lbs of peaches so, I've been up to my elbows in peach peels, chopped peaches....and jam :)   Praise YHWH for that blessing!  Then we lost internet connection as heavy rain moved over us.

 Today many of you wrote back about the devotion last night, and interestingly many shared about the fear of the "end times".   It's so easy to get caught up reading article upon article thinking we are doing it to be wise and be prepared, but after a year or two goes by, we realize that we've been feeding more into a "fear of the unknown".   I'd like to share with you something that took place in our home not that long ago. 

Tonight after our family meeting, the topic came up about the reference in Scriptures about:

Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Yahushua, and for the word of Elohim, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Ha Moshiach a thousand years.

The conversation turned to, what happens if it is "me" who is going to be beheaded.  And we shared openly about human "fears" of torment and dying.  We have grown up with movies and books that explicitly describe pain and torment and we begin to fear, fear itself.  So how do we gain comfort from the Word of YHWH in this?  Do we need to fear death, even torment?   History is filled with martyrs, who had horrific deaths!   How was it that many sang praises during their highest torment? Where did they get this peace?

1Jo 4:18  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.

What the "world" in it's quest to deprogram us, desensitize us, deliberately left out is something of great importance for believers.   When our flesh dies, our spirit does NOT!   Just as when we go to sleep, we don't wake ourselves up over and over again, to see if we are still alive, so in the putting off of flesh there need be no worries.  As Job confessed:

Job 19:25  For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:26  And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see Elohim:
Job 19:27  Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.

We shall see YHWH face to face! 

Joh 11:25  Yahushua said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

With all my heart I believe we need to believe ourselves, and teach to all our loved ones, not to fear death!   Sha'ul said:

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Ha Moshiach? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of Elohim, which is in Ha Moshiach Yahushua our Master.

When we focus on each item listed:

Tribulation
Distress
Persecution
Famine
Nakedness
Peril
Sword

We see a bigger picture of things that we could permit to come between us and YHWH's love.  But can they really?  Do any of those circumstances, have power over us to separate us from the love of our Moshiach?  The list didn't stop there, it went on to encourage us that :

death
life
angels (or any messengers)
principalities
powers
thing of the present
things that are to come
height
depth
ANY creature

None of those items listed have any power to separate us from the love of our Moshiach either! 
We must confront ourselves on something.   Have we seen tribulation, distress, persecution, with famine, nakedness or peril and sword full blown in our lives?  How often have we cried out to YHWH to ask "why" we were in certain trials, and how many of us were so easily deceived by the wicked one to think that YHWH had somehow removed HIS hand from us?  That HE was being silent and afar off? That we "felt" unloved??   How many of us stopped, reviewed the situation and circumstance to rejoice that even IN the trial, that NOTHING could separate us from HIS love?  The painful, but truthful fact is, it is US who have allowed our love to wax cold when faced by trials.  We need to be refocused!  If we can be tricked so easily in "little" things...what will take place when real tribulation is upon us?  Will our joyful singing voices of victory still be heard then?  Will we in delight cry out that NOTHING can separate us from the love of YHWH?   

One of my sweet sisters reminded me of this verse:

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Yahushua said:

Luk 12:4  And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luk 12:5  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Did you notice that?  Be NOT afraid of them who might kill a body...but after that...have NO MORE they can do? 

I leave off with more words of comfort:

Rev 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
Rev 3:11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

And:

Jam 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Master hath promised to them that love him.

What a comfort, that the perfect love of Ha Moshiach,....casts out fear!   Thank YOU YHWH!!  Help us that "we" never separate ourselves from this truth and live again in bondage to unwarranted fear.

Mat 10:28  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell

In the times in which we live, it is important to remember:

Rev 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Those who overcome, do so because of the blood of the Lamb, our testimony will be of HIM alone, and we will NOT fear death, for we understand, that all who are YHWH's children, and believe HIS Word alone  as their testimony, know, they will never die! There is no fear in death, for perfect love, yes, HE who lives in us...casts out all fear!  Torment is for those who reject HIS love.  May the peace of YHWH fill you, may this word shared comfort you even as I am comforted.  Love not your lives unto death, for those who believe on HIM, eternity has already begun :)

Believest thou this?

Ahavah v'barchot b'YHWH