Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

Elder Dr Khoo Kay Hup

31-03-2019

Joshua 1:1-9 New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Commission to Joshua

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: 2 “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. 5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall [a]divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may [b]prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[c] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Be bold and courageous (v. 6, 7, 9)

What does it mean to be bold and courageous? 

To be fearless

1 John 4:18 New King James Version (NKJV)

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Joshua is given discipline necessary to be bold and courageous.

How can we be bold and courageous?

Joshua 1:7a-8b New King James Version 

that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may [b]prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[c] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

Why did God place such great emphasis on His Word?

Romans 10:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Faith:

When the Word grows in you, you will develop faith.

Hebrews 11 New King James Version (NKJV)

By Faith We Understand

11 Now faith is the [a]substance of things hoped for, the [b]evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

3 By faith we understand that the [c]worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Prior to faith, you need the Word of God.

Thus kind of faith cannot come by impartation. Supernatural anointing comes solely from reading and obeying His Word.

Hope:

Once faith is built, you reach the tangible hope stage.

Perfect love:

The devil can imitate all the fruit of the Spirit but he cannot imitate the love of God. His corrupted form is lust.

1 Corinthians 13:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

To be fearless, you need the perfect love of God.

When you read the Word of God, God wants you to eavesdrop into the conversation between God and His people to weather the storms of life.

Philippians 4:13 New King James Version (NKJV)

13 I can do all things through [a]Christ who strengthens me.

Our part is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit and to saturate in God's Word.