Love That Evicts Fear

Speaker: Pastor Kerry O’Neill
Date: October 12, 2025

Central Theme

God’s perfect love drives out all fear. When believers truly rest in the Father’s love through Christ, anxiety, shame, and insecurity lose their grip. Fear cannot coexist with perfect love because love has already secured our belonging and victory in Christ.

Why It Matters

  • Fear keeps us from trusting God fully and stepping into His calling.
  • Understanding divine love renews our confidence and peace.
  • Living from love instead of fear transforms how we relate to others.

Key Points

1. Fear and Love Cannot Rule Together

  • Fear enslaves; love liberates.
  • When we dwell in fear, we forget God’s character and promises.

2. God’s Love Is Proactive, Not Reactive

  • He loved us first—before our obedience, success, or perfection.
  • The cross is the final proof that love triumphs over fear.

3. Fear Evicted Through Presence

  • The more we know God personally, the less room fear has to stay.
  • Worship and prayer aren’t about earning love but reminding our hearts who holds us.

4. Love Expressed in Action

  • Courage grows when we act in love—serving, forgiving, giving generously.
  • Each act of love reinforces trust that God’s love is greater than fear’s lies.

Scripture Anchors

  • 1 John 4:18 — “Perfect love casts out fear.”
  • Romans 8:15 — “You did not receive a spirit of fear, but of adoption.”
  • Psalm 27:1 — “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?” (inferred)
  • 2 Timothy 1:7 — “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power, love, and self-control.”
  • John 14:27 — “My peace I give you… let not your hearts be troubled.” (inferred)

Applications

  • Start each day by declaring God’s love before facing your fears.
  • Replace anxious thoughts with Scripture about God’s character.
  • Choose one fear-driven area of life and surrender it in prayer this week.
  • Practice an act of love toward someone who intimidates or frustrates you.
  • Keep a journal of moments when God’s love replaced fear with peace.

Reflection Questions

  • What fear keeps resurfacing, and how can God’s love speak to it?
  • How does remembering God loved you first reshape your confidence?
  • What would your week look like if love, not fear, guided every decision?

Closing Note

Let God’s perfect love settle every anxious thought—He’s not waiting for you to be fearless; He’s teaching you to be fully loved.