The Fear Factor

Just today a new book that we are publishing arrived in our warehouse here in Alachua, Florida. It is entitled The Fear Factor. The author is Akeem Shomade, a pastor in London who was born in Nigeria to a Muslim family. He met Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his personal Savior and Lord. Not surprisingly, he had to work his way through his personal fear of deserting and betraying his Muslim roots.

So many people today grapple with "the fear factor" on a daily basis. Fear comes to people in a variety of forms: fear of death, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of people, fear of illness, fear of terrorism, fear of public speaking, fear of snakes, fear of change, and on and on. Are you full of fear, or are you full of love? Love, as Shomade points out, cancels out the power of fear in a person's life.

He writes, "The Bible says, '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' (1 John 4:18).

"This tells us that godly love is the antidote to fear. When we fight each other, leading to stress, migraines, and loss of joy, it is because we are not walking in forgiveness; and pride has taken root in our hearts. Light and darkness cannot co-habit, so when pride and discord move into the very place where the Spirit of God lives, love disappears.

"The spiritual prescription for living abundantly and flowing fully in the fruit of the Spirit is mentioned in Galatians 5:22--to specialize in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we do this, fear evaporates and takes a permanent leave of absence. Jesus also encourages us to specialize in love (Mark 12:30). The Bible tells us that God is love. Our heavenly Father demonstrated His unconditional love for mankind by giving His only Son to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.

"Love will position us for the indwelling and inflowing of the Holy Spirit because love is the nature of God. As we operate in God's nature, we have access to His supernatural power."

Yes, Akeem Shomade has found the secret of spiritual power--walking in love. This is what gives us power over fear. Actually, there are only two emotions in the human condition--love and fear. All other feelings stem from one or the other of those two.

Guilt, for example, stems from fear. Joy, on the other hand, stems from love. Let's learn to walk in love toward God, others, and ourselves. As we do so, all fear will leave us. This is a wonderful truth to ponder and a vital power to tap into.

So, walk in love and share it with all you meet.