Conclusion
Thus far, we have defined fear as the emotional aspect of the stress response, highlighted its two pathways, linked fear with an identity problem, highlighted the importance of fearing or reverencing God, and addressed the solution: coming into awareness of God’s Presence, Provision, and Power. In this concluding lesson, we will add a few key points. Let us start with a scripture verse commonly associated with fear.
17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love [1 John 4:18 - King James Version].
17So now, with us awakening to our full inclusion in this love union, everything is perfect! Its completeness is not compromised in contradiction. Our confident conversation echoes this fellowship even in the face of crisis; because, as he is, so are we in this world - our lives are mirrored in him. We are as blameless in this life as Jesus is! This perfect love union is the source of our confidence whenever we face the scrutiny of contradiction. 18Fear cannot co-exist in this love realm. The perfect love union that we are talking about expels fear. Fear holds on to an expectation of crisis and judgment [which brings separation] and interprets it as due punishment [a form of karma!] It echoes torment and only registers in someone who does not yet realize the completeness of their love union. [With the Father, Son and Spirit and with one another]. [1 John 4: 17-18 - Mirror Study Bible]. (See also Heb 2:15).
Here are important facts that are revealed in these two scriptural passages:
In His earthly sojourning, Jesus had no advantage over us. He became who we were, human, but had the Spirit of God indwelling Him in all its fullness. He was fully surrendered to perfect love union with the Father. In fact, because of the Cross, we are in an even better place. Adam is now dead, and all that remains is the post-resurrection Christ (who is no longer human) indwelling us as the person of the Holy Spirit. As He is, so are we in this world. It does not say, “As He was, so are we.” Because He left and went to the Cross to destroy Adam (humanity); because He transitioned from being physically on the earth to indwelling us in the realm of the Spirit, greater works than those done by the human Jesus are now possible (John 14:12). We have to believe. The truth of who we are must saturate our subconscious minds (where our belief system lives) so that the low road default is one of calm assurance and peace amid the storm. We are included in the perfect love union with the Trinity and all the rest of humanity.
Our understanding of God’s love for humanity, demonstrated by everything He has done for us thus far, including giving us the power of choice, the incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection, and His patience, should eliminate all fear. We have His Presence, Provision, and Power because of His love. I do not think I could have said it better than Paul did, as rendered in The Message Bible:
31-39So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us [Romans 8: 31-39 - Message Bible].
God loves us? Yes! So why is there so much evil in the world? Why do I experience so much heartache? Note that there is no heartache that humanity experiences that does not touch God’s heart. Remember, “Jesus wept” (John 11:35). Those of us who are familiar with the account of Jesus’ conviction under false pretenses and His being wrongly condemned to death in the most tortuous way possible know that God did not insulate or exempt Himself from the full range of the human experience.
14-16Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help [Hebrews 4:14-16 - The Message].
One scripture says that Jesus learned to remain obedient to God amid the circumstances of life (Hebrews 5:8). The Apostle Peter makes a similar point in the following passage:
This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step. He never did one thing wrong, Not once said anything amiss. They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls [1 Peter 2:21-25 - The Message].
Ultimately,
..... we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose [Romans 8:28 - King James Version].
The writer of the Mirror Study Bible, Francois du Toit, who studied Hebrew and Greek, asserts that this was a mistranslation and that it should have been: “to them that God loves.” I agree with him. Humanity needs to know the truth that it will all work out in the end, for God will be all in all (1 Corinthians 15:28).
The high road sees as God sees. It is because He loves us that He is always present with us, has already provided for us, and has given us access to His limitless power, though filtered through our belief in Him, agreement with Him, and maturity..
20God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us [Ephesians 3:20 -The Message].
20Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us [Ephesians 3:20 - King James Version].
Limitless power is available to us, but it operates “according to the power that works in us.” Elijah tapped into God’s unlimited power until he did not. In fact, he tapped out of the fight. And because he was healthy and vital and was not about to die soon, God took him. His ministry gave way to Elisha’s, who did twice as many miracles as He did. Was Elijah’s assignment complete? Was his “ceiling” indicative of the limitations of the Old Covenant as Moses’ was? Note that both appeared to Jesus on the mount of transfiguration as if to say we are passing on the baton. That is a discussion for another course.
Living By Faith
Paul in Romans quoting from Habakkuk 2:4 said something that is relevant to this discussion.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith [Romans 1:17 -King James Version].
The translated text in Habakkuk says: “live by his faith.” Romans 12:3 makes reference to “the measure of faith” that God has given to every man. God gives to every man a measure of “His faith.” One can then ask the questions,
- What does God’s faith see and believe in every situation and circumstance?
- What evidence does faith have of things not yet seen in the natural realm?
The truth that He has declared in the realm of Spirit. His word never returns to Him void, regardless of how long it takes to play out in the physical realm. It is our “job” then to see, agree, and believe what God sees in the spiritual realms. That is one of the functions of the indwelling Holy Spirit. That is how Jesus operated on the earth (John 5:19; 5:30), and that is how we are supposed to operate in union with the Godhead.
On a more personal note, I created this course while negotiating crises in my own life. This message is, first and foremost, for yours truly. I must always elevate God’s Presence, Provision, and Power above my circumstances. They bring me peace amid the storm. I must walk by faith, magnifying God’s word or promises above what my physical senses discern. I must not PANIC. As I hinted earlier and am highlighting now, it is because of the person and work of Christ that we are free from a false identity, made a new creation in seamless union with God, and are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus where we have access to all spiritual blessings.
| P | Presumptive | Presumptive |
| A | Analysis | Actions |
| N | Not | Negating |
| I | Including/Involving | Indwelling |
| C | Christ/Cross | Comforter (Holy Spirit) |
Growing up in Tobago we had family devotions every night. We would end these devotions with personalized scriptural confessions. I end this course with two of them from Isaiah 41: 10 and 43:1b-2.
We will not fear for God is with us.
We will not be dismayed for He is our God.
He will strengthen us.
He will help us.
He will uphold us with the right hand of His righteousness.
We will not fear for God has redeemed us.
He has called us by His name.
We are His.
When we pass through the waters, He will be with us; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow us.
When we walk through the fire, we shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon us.
For He is the Lord our God, the Holy One of Israel, our Saviour!