Perfect Love casts out all fear! I love the Amplified version of this passage. “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].” 1 John 4:18 AMP
A sufficient understanding of God’s love! Selah! Pause and think about that for a moment. So many folks, including Christians fear so many things. They even fear missing God’s plan for them and getting off into sin and other things, yet, His Perfect Love. (Ephesians 1:16-23 Prayer!) In our travels, this is the one thing we deal with the most, so I thought I’d write this post to help some.
[Alaska Kenai Mountain Range, Homer, AK, June 24, 2017 | Follow Your Dreams Tour | Joseph James]
Scripture also says that His sheep will hear His voice. John 10:14-16 Sometimes the problem is that we hear other voices as well, and we can’t always seem to distinguish between them. There are all kinds of voices in our generation, and it can sometimes be noise pollution. We have our own thoughts and imaginations, thoughts from the past, our parents, instructors, entertainment, media, demons, angels, and the Lord. So how do we know which voice is His. Well, first off, we need to trust Him, that He is more than able to make His voice heard by us. Secondly, we need to pursue His love and lay down at the cross, all of the fears we have as they come up, and then ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with His love in that area.
How do we know which church/fellowship to go to? That is the multi-million dollar question and it truly is. Some churches/fellowships exist because it’s a job, a salary, and for fame. There are so many false teachers and doctrines out there, but there are many that are true. The early church faced this right off the bat. Folks went out from among them and started teaching their own doctrines mixed with portions of the truth.
The answer is found in ! 1 John 2:26,27, “These things I have written to you with reference to those who are trying to deceive you [seducing you and leading you away from the truth and sound doctrine]. 27Â As for you, the anointing [the special gift, the preparation] which you received from Him remains [permanently] in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you. But just as His anointing teaches you [giving you insight through the presence of the Holy Spirit] about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as His anointing has taught you, you must remain in Him [being rooted in Him, knit to Him]. AMP
John was writing this to a group he called children, new believers, because there were many false teachers around and he wanted to help them. When we are born again, the Holy Spirit comes inside of us and he guides us into all of the truth. There is a tendency, and many preach this, that we need to follow others, however, John is saying here, no, first off, we need to trust in the Holy Spirit. He will lead us into all truth and as we read the scriptures, He will make them plain to us. It’s not saying we shouldn’t listen to what others preach and tell us, rather, we need to test every spirit and doctrine, holding fast to that which is truth.
This is the basis/foundation of our walk with Christ. We will be held accountable for our own actions and choices, not someone else. If we ask the Lord to help us find those who can help us and where we can also be of help, He will. We need to keep in mind that all of us are fallible and subject to error. Even Paul said, “to pattern yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).” 1 Corinthians 11:1 AMP. In other words, test the spirits, the fruit and the word/revelation.
There is only One Body of Christ and it’s connected by the Holy Spirit worldwide. If we are born again, we are connected through Him. The challenge is letting Him connect us to those He wants so that His work can be done in each community, region, state, and country, bringing His peace and rule to the earth.
We are here to connect to one another as the Holy Spirit directs to build His Kingdom in our generation and then pass it on to the next. If, in everything, the Lord gets the glory, man can be held in his own place. Humble before Him! I hope this helps.
Blessings,
Joseph James
Please remember to keep us in prayer as we pursue producing Janiece’s Miraculous Story into the movie. Target Film Date: Summer 2019 Target Film Release: Summer 2020
Check Out The Movie Project and How You Can Help | https://www.sentencedtodeathdestinedforlife.com/wp/sddl-movie/
Check Out Our FYD Tour Site and Itinerary, Bookings | http://www.joseph-james.net/JJ10/index.php/itinerary/
Let’s restore the word DREAM to our country again! Please share about the book, tour and movie so others can be encouraged.
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