Finding Freedom From FearSample

Perfect Love Drives out Fear 

1 John 4:18

Fear causes anxiety, dread, alarm, fright, panic, and terror. It causes all kinds of unpleasant emotions, phobias, neuroses, and even the more serious psychotic disorders. The torment of fear is one of the worst problems we humans face. God’s Word teaches that being a slave to fear indicates that we have not been made perfect in love. We are not fully grasping (perfecting) God’s love and care of God for us. As a result, we are not loving other people like we should; we are not growing more and more in love. 

In addition, being gripped by fear indicates when we are inward-focused. Our eyes are on ourselves, not on God and others like they should be.

In summary, we can only be set free from fear by the perfect love of God. The more we know of God’s love and care and the more we love other people, the more fear is conquered in our lives. The reason is clearly seen in the promises of God. God loves us so much that He will take care of us through all the trials and temptations of life, no matter what they are.

Study Questions:

• Are you grasping the love and care God has for you?
• What does it look like for you to love other people?
• Do you believe that if you loved other people more and more, that your fears could be conquered?
• Take time to pray for the Lord’s love to flow out of you; that you would grow more and more in love. Pray for the strength to love even the most unlovable of people.