Perfect Love Versus Anxiety God Wins!

1John 4: 16-18 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

The enemy has many weapons in his arsenal against the children of God. Pride, vanity, and greed are probably the most talked about and written about. The one that flies a little under the radar but might do as much, if not more damage, is fear. The statistics are staggering. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States; affecting over 40 million adults over the age of 18 daily. That is over 18% of the entire population diagnosed with some form of fear costing the US 42 billion dollars per year; which is one third of the entire annual cost for mental health in this country. More than 22 billion of those dollars are for the repeated use of health care services by people with anxiety disorders who are trying to treat the physical symptoms that manifest from the anxiety. The devil is a liar.

Think about the damage wreaked by the enemy by using fear and anxiety. Keeping people bound instead of working to their fullest potential God has for them. How many people have been called by God to preach only to fear the public pulpit? How many have been called to missions only to fear flying? Fear divides. It separates us from others. It fits into the design of the enemy; who wants us alone. Remember God's design is for us to be with each other:

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12

And what is the answer the world gives us? Take a pill. The pill of course will not solve the problem. It will only mask the symptoms. That is the philosophy of the world. Problems remain unsolved and symptoms are covered up. Of course there may be side effects from the medications and the long term effect is dependence on the medication. You go from being bound by fear to being bound by medication and fear. That is what the world wants; dependence on the trappings of the world. Instead of trading in the bondage of fear and anxiety, the world will add addiction to it as a solution. The pill is designed to make you survive, not conquer.

But God! God did not place us here merely to survive. The design of God promises far more than that:

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 37-39

Most of the time we read these verses separately. Verse 37 dealing with the fact that we are more than conquerors and verses 38-39 about nothing being able to separate us from God. But together, look at the beautiful picture being painted for us. The world wants you crawling through life, needing to rely upon a pill that could be more harmful to you than the fear that grips you. You never conquer the fear that way; you only mask it. You become a slave to it by taking the pill. The fear conquers you. But God says we are even more than conquerors! But how are we more than conquerors? Through God, who loved us! And as if that promise was not enough, verses 38 and 39 really reinforce that on top of the fact that we are more than conquerors through God who loved us, we also have the reassurance that absolutely nothing can separate us from that love! Not death and life your physical existence has nothing to do with it! Not angels and demons the enemy cannot separate you! Not the present or the future time is irrelevant to the love of God! No powers, height, nor depth. Nor anything in all of creation! Hallelujah! Nothing will separate us from the love of God and through the God that loves us, we are more than conquerors! And guess what? That includes anxiety and fear.

Our key verses from John confirm this for us as well and add to it. When John speaks about God he speaks about perfect love. That is the love of God. That is how God loves us. Mortal love is far from perfect. We can contaminate love with pressures, demands, and expectations. God is far above that. Working backwards in the key verses we see that there is no fear in love. God is love beloved so there is no fear in God. Lesson number one is that our fears and anxieties are NOT from God. How can we be so sure? Because as John says, perfect love drives out fear. The love of God drives fear out of us; it does not encourage it to stay within us. John even tells us why because fear has to do with punishment. How appropriate a definition of anxiety and fear is that? The person experiencing the fear and anxiety certainly feel as if they are being punished over and over again but remember, it is not of God. The punishment becomes self-inflicting. The King James Version actually uses the word "torment" here and anyone who has ever suffered from fear and anxiety know that torment is an even more appropriate word than punishment. The person feels tormented day and night by the fear and anxiety. Again, remember that we are seeing in these verses that this is not of God. If it is not of God, then it must be from the enemy. The best part for the enemy is that once the seed of fear and anxiety have been planted, it takes little work from him to perpetuate it. The victim allows the fear to feed off of itself, as it grows and slowly infects the spirit. But this is not from God beloved:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2Timothy 1: 7 (NKJV)

Look at the three things the Spirit from God represents, power, love and a sound mind. These are the three things directly attacked by the fear and anxiety the enemy wants to keep us bound in. When you are suffering from the torment of fear and anxiety, you feel powerless over it. The Spirit of power that God has given you is muted by the fear. It is crushed by the anxiety. Instead you feel weaker; as if you cannot control it. The Spirit of love God has given us is also muted. People can often blame God. They can cry out to Him to take away what He has not given them. Remember the key verses, perfect love, God's love casts out fear. Lastly here, the person tormented by anxiety does not feel the Spirit of a sound mind. If anything, it is the opposite feeling. The person's mind feels unsound. As if they are not in control anymore. The fear is in control. Remember, our fears and anxieties are not from God; they are from the enemy.

The second point being made in the key verses is to keep our focus on what truly matters. The verses give the purpose for making the love complete amongst us so that we might have confidence on the Day of Judgment. What is God saying? Remember, we are merely passing through this life. The 80-90 years we get on this earth will pale in comparison to the eternity spent with Christ. Sometimes we can forget this and become enamored with the things of this world. Similarly, we can become afraid of the things of this world. But Jesus had several teachings on this very subject:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life Matthew 6: 25-27

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6: 31-34

"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Luke 12: 4-5

Looking at the teachings of Jesus collectively on the subject of fear (worry) we see the truths that need to apply in our lives today. The very things Jesus speaks about in these three snippets of Scripture are some of the very things the enemy uses to inject fear into the believer. The first teaching is dealing with material needs. The enemy will often speak into our lives to try and get us to worry about the economy, our jobs, our healthcare, and money. Where will I find a new job? How can I afford to get my children new clothes? How can I find affordable healthcare? Jesus is comparing us to birds that are taken care of by God, so why should we be anxious about material needs? Note the end who can add a single hour to their life by worrying? Once again, it is life that is the focus. The second teaching is similar but ends up teaching about another topic the enemy uses to strike fear into our hearts, the future. Where will I be in five years? Who will take care of my children when I am gone? I think my job is going nowhere? We often are crippled by fears of the future, which is always unknown by definition. Jesus is clearly teaching here that tomorrow will worry about tomorrow. It is today you need to focus on and what God wants for you today! His Word is a lamp unto our feet (Psalm 119: 105) for a reason beloved! We do not need to see more than the next step God wants us to take, period. We are people called to live by faith. The last teaching here is another favorite of the enemy, physical safety. People are afraid of crowds, or heights, or cramped places and the driving fear is one of physical safety. We may look for ways out, always stand by exits, or refuse to travel in rush hour. Once again here, Jesus takes us back to the real issue LIFE. He is teaching here that we fear the wrong thing. There is only one thing we should fear and that is who has the power to throw us into hell after we die. The people in the elevator or on the subway do not have any real power over you. There is no real reason to fear because they cannot throw you into hell. The only one with that power is God! The only thing we should be fearful of then, is God!

This brings us full circle back to the second point from the key verses above. God's love is made perfect in us so that we might have confidence on the Day of Judgment. We know on that day beloved that we are continuing in the eternal life we enjoy today. That is the second point. When we keep focusing on the things of this world the enemy will show us something we can fear. Maybe it is concern for physical needs or physical safety; or maybe it is anxiety about the future. And we allow it into our lives, forgetting that we already are living the eternal life now. The battle is over and the devil already lost. Jesus is teaching us that next time the enemy wants to make you fearful of your future, you just remind him of his! Your future is already set beloved! God's perfect love has guaranteed that your future is secure on the Day of Judgment. Your present is also secure. God knows your needs and will meet all of them according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19). Your past has been paid for by the blood of Christ and your present and future are secured in His perfect love! Hallelujah!

Lastly, point three in the key verses is that we need to do more than merely know these truths. It takes more than merely repeating these truths. A lot of times for Christians, knowing the right verses is not the problem. Applying them is. The beginning of the key verses from 1John teach us that we need to do more than just know the love God has for us; we need to rely on it. The dictionary defines rely as:

To depend confidently; put trust in

I know it is a hard lesson to absorb but if the anxiety and fear continues to permeate the life of the believer than somewhere, there is a reliance problem. Maybe we can depend on God but not so confidently, when fear is introduced into our minds and hearts. Our confidence might falter in the face of our anxiety. If it was not faltering, then God's perfect love would drive the fear out the Bible says so. Continuing in the key verses we see that reliance is more than saying the right thing and it is more than knowing Scripture. It is about whoever living in love will live in God and God in him. When we allow the fear and anxiety to even gain a foothold in our lives then we are no longer living in Him. Remember, if we were then His perfect love would cast the fear out. Heed the words of the Psalmist:

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." Psalm 91: 1-2

It does not say he who knows the Word or he who goes to church. It says he who dwells in the shelter of God. He who lives in Him. And what is the promise? We will rest in the shadow of the Almighty, hallelujah! That is all the anxious want. They want to rest. That rest will not be found in a bottle of medication. It will not be found in merely quoting Scripture. That rest will be found only in abiding in God, as He abides in you. It will only be found through true reliance upon Him. Reliance means depending confidently in God. When the enemy shows you the anxious future, you show Him God in you. God in you is bigger than your future because He has already guaranteed it. When the enemy shows you fear of your needs for today, you show him God in you. God in you is bigger than your needs today and He has already promised to provide for them. When the enemy shows you fear for your physical safety, you show him God in you. God is the only one we have fear of, because only He has the true control over life.

It is not coincidence that God speaks about His perfect peace during a discussion on anxiety:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 4-7

Do not be anxious about anything beloved! But in everything you do, with thankful prayer, present your requests to God. What is the promise if you do this? God's peace which you cannot even understand will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus! What is your heart and mind being guarded from? From that which would upset your peace! The answer is given away in the previous line anxiety!

And perhaps the most overlooked line in this entire set from Philippians is the most important to remember whenever we come under attack by the enemy and remember that is what it is. It is an attack upon you when the enemy shows you what you can be fearful of. The most important verse to remember is The Lord is near. If the Lord is near then so is His perfect peace. David said that because the Lord is always before him he will not be shaken. You too, should not be shaken beloved. Anxiety is of the enemy. You are of God. God already won. Stop fighting and living in torment. Just truly rely upon the Lord because the Lord is near.

Reverend Anthony Wade May 8, 2009.