If we could reach into your heart and remove all your fears, how different would things be in your life?
Fear-driven conclusions are enemies to your destiny. Feeding your fears will starve your faith. Feeding your faith will starve your fears.
Having a faith and living by faith are two different things. You were never designed to live a life you could live without God’s help.
1 John 4:15-21 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. NIV
Have you loved others well through this challenging time of the pandemic? It’s easy to love ourselves well but we’re told to love others, as we love ourselves.
Perfect love casts out fear. Imagine two young women having a picnic when suddenly a snake slithers up on the blanket beside them. What is their response? Now add an infant to this equation lying on the blanket with these two ladies. Why is the response so different? Perfect love casts out fear.
The impact fear has on our quality of life is far more than we realize. As people who walk with God, we are capable of a spiritual response rather than an emotional reaction. Especially if we are listening to what God is saying as he’s preparing us for what’s ahead.
On Wednesday, December 4th, 2019 we gathered in this room for our serve team appreciation banquet. We celebrated the 2020 New Year’s Revelation with those who serve before announcing it to everybody.
That night we announced what we’d been sensing about the year 2020 as well as the decade of the 2020’s. We’ve entered into the roaring 20s. Not like the 1920s. Like the 2020s where the roaring Lion of the Tribe of Judah is awakening the roar of God in the body of Christ.
Amos 3:7-8 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared-- who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken-- who can but prophesy?
When the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars, we can’t help but prophesy!
The Roaring 20's is a decade where the enemy is trying to roar and bring destruction but this will be overtaken by the prophetic roar of God awakened within God’s people.
Nov 10th, 2019 We started what we called a “3D Class” where we wanted to Discover, Develop and Deploy the dreams of God in our hearts. Dreams were awakened and many of them born as a result. We introduced a specific direction of the Holy Spirit to begin praying during these six weeks just prior to 2020 known as, “The 7 points of prayer.” From my notes: “We will start each session praying 7 points of prayer and I’m asking everybody to do this daily during this 6 week focus.” The first point of prayer was to declare a prayer from Ps 112 over family and friends! “God’s constant care for us will make a deep impression on all who see it. We will have no fear of bad news because we’ve settled in our minds Jehovah God will take care of us.”
As a church, many of us began praying these 7 points of prayer not realizing what was just ahead:
Less than two months later on January 9th, 2020 a mysterious Coronavirus-related Pneumonia was reported by World Health Organization. The next day U.S. airports began screening for Covid. January 21st of 2020 the CDC confirmed the first Covid case in the U.S.
What has been the response of Christians to our modern-day plague and how has this compared to how Christians have responded to pandemics in generations past?
Historians point to a terrible Plague in the 2nd century, which wiped out 25% of the Roman Empire. Christians were so central to caring for the sick that it led to the spread of Christianity. People were convinced of the love of Jesus by how the followers of Jesus served others so well.
Next week I want to look at some of these pandemics in history very specifically.
GP2RL: Begin praying for people within your 5’ circle as you watch for grace and follow favor in any conversations God may be blessing.
Rehearse what God has revealed to find strength and faith in the face of chaos and fear. We’ve entered into the roaring 20s. Not like the 1920s. Like the 2020s where the roaring Lion of the Tribe of Judah is awakening the roar of God in the body of Christ.
Amos 3:7-8 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. The lion has roared-- who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken-- who can but prophesy?
When the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars, we can’t help but prophesy! The Roaring 20's is a decade where the enemy is trying to roar and bring destruction but this will be overtaken by the prophetic roar of God awakened within God’s people.
Psalm 112:6-8 God’s constant care of him will make a deep impression on all who see it. 7 He does not fear bad news, nor live in dread of what may happen. For he is settled in his mind that Jehovah will take care of him. 8 That is why he is not afraid but can calmly face his foes. TLB
LOVE, FEAR, & LIFE
DISCUSSION GUIDE
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
UNDERSTANDING THE SEASON: As a church family we want to be OUTRAGEOUSLY LOVING people who PASSIONATELY PURSUE the Lord with IRRATIONALLY GIVING lifestyles as we CONSISTENTLY SUBMIT to God’s desires and EFFECTIVELY DISCIPLE others to do the same.
Our 2022 New Year’s Revelation as a church family is EVERYONE IS CREATED FOR ABUNDANT LIFE!
Much will flow from heaven into our hearts and homes this year!
The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy but realize the aim of death is not to kill you but to keep you from the fulness of life until you die. Distraction is destruction of what could have been in your life.
John 10:10b “...I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” Amplified
Jesus came demonstrating that true life is discovered in a willing death. When we die to ourselves we learn what it means to be alive in Christ.
God’s plan is for us to hear his voice together as a family. This is why we start each group with the first question:
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. Where are you reading in your Bible and what are you sensing from God?
Ask each person in your group to answer the discussion questions below after reading the verses. Don’t move on to the next question until everybody who is willing to share has had the opportunity to give their perspective.
1 JOHN 4:15-21 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. NIV
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
2. Have each person give a 60 second summary of what these verses are saying, in their own words.
3. What do these verses teach us about God?
4. What do these verses teach us about people?
5. What should you do this week in response to what we are reading and what God is revealing?
6. Who comes to mind when considering a person you might share this with this week?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Begin praying for people within your 5’ circle as you watch for grace and follow favor in any conversations God may be blessing. Consider sharing an invitation card when appropriate.