Do we live in love or fear? What is the opposite of love? It’s not hate. It’s fear and hate is only one by-product of fear. Scripture says that God is love and perfect love casts out fear. Fear cannot exist in True love, it must flee. In any area in our lives where we have fear, love has not conquered. Meditate on this for a while and think of all the places in your life where fear has a hold. Then think of all the areas where love abounds. Now how would you feel if all of these places of fear became places filled with love? LOVE OR FEAR…
I believe that if we can understand why someone does a particular act, we might have more compassion for them. If we have compassion for them we might be able to help them. If we love them, we are compelled to see them restored. Restoration is touching God’s heart. His desire is for everyone to be saved, (restored) to Him and not lost. It is through a hardened heart that we become indifferent to those around us and it is out of fear that we really don’t want to reach out.
So what do I fear? What do children fear? Children who are loved don’t experience as much fear as those who aren’t loved. They also don’t hurt others as much either. Someone who is loved feels safe and secure. The deeper your relationship with the Lord, the less you fear in your life. You know that He is able to keep you safe in all situations. Someone who only knows about Him but doesn’t have this relationship, doesn’t have this security. Relationships take time and must be developed through various trials and experiences as we journey day by day through our lives.
If we can overcome fear, there is nothing else that can hurt us. One scripture that has always amazed me was the one about the stoning of Stephen. It says,
The Stoning of Stephen
Acts 7:54-60, “When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,†he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.†57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.†60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.†When he had said this, he fell asleep.” NIV
Stephen was so full of the Holy Spirit at the moment that he didn’t feel any fear. In fact, he was able to see into heaven and see Jesus. Even while they were stoning him he prayed for them. NOTICE: They didn’t kill him, he fell asleep like Jesus did on the cross. I don’t think he felt one stone hit him at all and even if he did the glory of the Lord was greater. He was in God’s awesome presence. Fear had no grip to prevent him from fulfilling his destiny. I have been in the awesome presence of the Lord even to the point of being totally weak and yet I believe it was only a small portion to what Stephen must have felt.
It is also interesting to note that this passage points out Saul who became Paul was at this event. I wonder if this had anything to do with Paul’s conversion, his meeting face to face with Jesus and the life he would eventually lead spreading the gospel to the degree he did.
Why did Stephen have to die? Whose life did he touch and how many? Did it make a difference? Later on Paul would say these words, “Who are you, Lord?†I wonder if he related this experience about Stephen to the one he was having as the Lord met him on the road to Damascus. We don’t know how our lives are going to effect someone else. Who are they and what will they become? Only the Lord knows. We must journey down the path He has for us without fear. He will cover and protect us even if it is in the midst of a vicious crowd.
Let go of fear by letting True Love into your heart. The only places that His Love can’t go are the areas you won’t let Him in. Let Him in, walk with Him daily and experience a life of awesome grandeur. People have their idols and famous heroes, but you have the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Ancient of Days, the Rose of Sharon, the Great I Am, the Prince of Peace, and Emmanuel. Do a search for His names and find out what they mean. Hide in Him and walk with Him every step of the way in victory. My prayer for you is that you become all you were created to be, that you experience the fullness of His glory and the riches He has for you, and that you walk in His blessings all the days of your life. I want to hear about your life here if possible and for sure in heaven. Stand up, take courage and make a difference with your life.
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Joseph James
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Janiece and I travel and minister as doors open for us to go. We are now in the process of writing her story into a movie. We share His love to those who haven’t heard of their Father’s love for them and also minister in song. Please use our contact page to contact us for more info. I have written 4 books now to help encourage people and to help them get to know Him. They are: “Destiny Path Of Life: The Journey Begins,” “Sentenced To Death, Destined For Life – The Janiece Turner-Hartmann Story – Tell My People I Love Them!“, “Islands In The Sea – The Day The King Walks In!“ Book 1, and “Islands In The Sea: The Lion Roars” Book 2. I also have recorded some of my music for encouragement. Listen to some of these songs on our site, YouTube in video, and they are also available to purchase and download here. I have some artwork that we have for wallpapers and prints. If you need help or prayer, please write to us and let us know. The proceeds from all of our products help us to minister to those in need.
Our main ministry site is ShaftOfLight.com, my books, art, music site and blog is DestinyPathOfLife.com, Janiece’s site, for her biography is SentencedToDeathDestinedForLife.com, and our online store is BeneficialZone.com. We hope this information and our prayers help you to overcome and get the victory in your life that is yours. Psalm 139.