Message from Pastor Leo
August 12, 2010

Peace~
One of the most powerful statements I've ever heard is, "Fear tolerated is faith contaminated." Soak that in for a minute. Fear will contaminate and interfere with our ability to walk in faith. Why is that? It is because fear is having faith in something other than God.

Fear comes in many costumes and one is often worry. We worry about how we are going to pay the mortgage this month. We worry about which job to take. We worry about our family’s safety. We worry what others might think of us. We worry about a bad doctor's report. Worry is a thought focused on something other than what God promised. It can even be considered wasted time because it is thinking spent on something that may never even happen.

II Corinthians 10:5 tells us that we are to take captive every thought and bring it into obedience of Christ. We are supposed to push away every argument; theory or reasoning that would try to exalt itself over God. We are to instead think of things which are pure, honorable, just, lovely and of good report, praise and virtuous. (Philippians 4:8) We are to replace thoughts of worry and fear with thoughts that line up with God because we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians
2:16)

Another key component to peace is love. I John 4:15-18 tells us that there is absolutely no fear in love because love casts out all fear. The Amplified Bible goes on to say that it "expels every trace of terror." How powerful is that? The fact is that fear cannot exist when love is present. That's why it's so important to get revelation knowledge that God is love and that He has shed abroad His love in hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5) When we live completely absorbed in God’s love, there is no room for fear. Fear and worry are not from God. He gave us peace.

II Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control. If you struggle with fear and worry, spend time studying the below verses and ask God to reveal to your spirit a deeper understanding of His love for you and the power of His love. This will bring peace that passes all understanding.

Psalm 18:30, Psalm 32:8, Psalm 37:4-5, Psalm 94:12-13, Psalm 138:8,
Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 41:10, John 14:21, 27, John 16:33, Romans 5:5,
Romans 8:37, I Corinthians 2:16, I Corinthians 13:13, II Corinthians
10:5, Philippians 4:6-8, Hebrews 13:5-6, Colossians 3:15, II Timothy
1:7, I Peter 5:7, I John 2:4-5, I John 4:7-19

May The Lord Jesus Christ Be Magnified!
Pastor Leo A. Giovinetti