Fear Replacement

(1John 4:18 KJV)  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Fear is one of the most crippling things known to man because it paralyzes his confidence. For example, bullies like to intimidate other people because it weakens them and gives the bully an unfair advantage.

The strategy behind intimidation is to cause doubt, and doubt was what caused Adam and Eve to sin when they doubted what God said was true. As a result of their sin, they lost their place in the Garden of Eden and their lives were changed forever. Doubt caused by intimidation will usually guarantee that one will have a head-on collision with disaster, as was the case with Adam and Eve.

Intimidation has always been an extremely effective weapon of war. It is used in military efforts as well as in all sports competition because it causes fear in one’s opponent and fear causes weakness.

We see this whole thing played out when Goliath faced Saul’s army in 1 Samuel 17. Because of the size of Goliath and his threats, he completely weakened Saul’s well-trained army and basically rendered them helpless.

However, little David was not intimidated by the threats of this loud-mouthed giant and therefore was able to defeat him with a single rock. David’s action proved to Saul’s army that size is not a factor when one operates in faith that is based on knowing the covenant of God.

There are many things that can be intimidating. One may be intimidated by heights, crowds, cliffs, important people or even people in authority. The reason these things can be intimidating is because of uncertainty, which has the same effect as facing the bully on the playground.

Fear and intimidation are such a part of our society today that it is almost as if they are in the air. We may say that we are not afraid of what other people think, but that has not proven to be true when it comes to witnessing for the Lord.

I was walking down the street in Queensberry, New York a few months ago and decided to call my wife who was back in Texas. She was taking care of our little great niece who was less than a year old at the time. Her name is Raleigh and my wife and I are absolutely goofy over that baby.

My wife, Karen, told me that she would hold the phone up to Raleigh’s ear and I could talk to her. For the next couple of minutes as I (a six foot two inch man) walked down the street in Queensberry, New York, I talked baby-talk to little Raleigh without any fear or intimidation. I am sure the other people on the street who heard me thought I was off my rocker, but I did not care.

Night before last I woke up at one o-clock in the morning and the Lord brought back to my mind the time I talked baby-talk to Raleigh as I walked down the street in Queensberry, New York. That morning the Lord taught me something about that experience that I shall never forget. I learned at one o-clock in the morning lying in my bed that the only defense for intimidation and fear is true love. My love for baby Raleigh consumed intimidation and it had to yield to the greater force which is true love.

Father,

Thank You for showing me early that morning that the only antidote for fear and intimidation is true love. True love is what caused David to defeat Goliath and the same true love is what caused me to walk down the streets in Queensberry, New York talking baby-talk to little Raleigh. The same true love will also help me to have no intimidation as I blow the trumpet for You, Lord.

Amen