Fear No Fear

Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today. Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.”
Genesis 50:19-21 (emphasis added)

God is over us. All of the time. Sometimes it looks like someone else is over us, but God has the power.

That doesn’t sound right, does it? Yeah, we hear it and know it in a ‘church’ way, but we do have bosses, right? Government agencies. We have sickness and disease. Taxes. Rules. Problems. Did you know that none of those things have power over us? What they do have is temporary authority, though that authority grants them a certain amount of power as we think of the word. From 9-5 (or whatever your shift is) you have to listen to that boss. Do what they say. Obey them. But when you’re NOT at work, you don’t need to – outside of any contractual behaviour (like presenting what they feel is an appropriate social media presence). When you’re not driving a vehicle, you are not subject to the rules of operation of that vehicle. You don’t have a speed limit anymore. If you move from a country or territory, you’re no longer subject to the authority of the old country or territory. As for our problems, they have exactly as much authority in your life as you give them. If you don’t see them as problems, they won’t be problems. If you see them as circumstances that currently exist, that is all they will be. Buffeting you, but not affecting you on the inside.

How do we know this? Let’s look at just one way: names. Those things I mentioned all have names. In fact, almost everything that exists and encounters us has a name. Boss. Finance. Cancer. Tim. Even atmospheric phenomena have names. Funny thing about names. They all – EVERY SINGLE ONE – have a name above them.

“And what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:19-21, emphasis added).

“Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11, emphasis added).

I’m not going to get into all the particulars, nuance, and how-does-it-work here. This is foundation. I could talk for hours giving all the opinions, theology, and revelation that we have available to us across the broad spectrum of denominations and branches of the Church. What I AM going to do is point out bold and plain facts. Every single thing that has a name is under the authority of Jesus, the Christ or Anointed One. Period. Black and white. No grey. That’s written in Philippians like we just read. It is also in Acts 4:12, Matthew 28:18, and Revelation 19:16. So if you are in a situation, the power over that situation is Christ. Because HE has ultimate, reigning authority. As a lower court can appeal to a supreme court, so to with the rest of creation. Jesus is the HIGHEST authority. All other authority is under Him whether they know it or acknowledge it or not. Since Jesus has ultimate authority over creation, He therefore has ultimate power over all creation.

Think about that. No matter WHAT else is going on, if you’re dealing with something that has a name then ultimate authority over that thing lies in the Name of Jesus. It may SEEM like nature, or legality, or another human (or group of humans) has the power, but THEY DO NOT. They have TEMPORAL authority. Jesus has ETERNAL authority. In His name is power. They may be a CEO or President, but He is Almighty God (Romans 14:11). God is over us. God has us. Believe that. Always believe that. It IS the truth. Not my truth or your truth. THE truth.

No matter what’s happening, God is over it all. He has the power. His Word is our communication centre. Within it is the answer to every problem you might face. Find it. Search out verses that speak to your situation. Think on them. Read and re-read them. And then adjust yourself to be in line with what they say. In line with the will of the Lord. And then pray them. Claim them. Let Holy Spirit guide your praying. Then loose it into the Lord’s hands. Not into the universe. You are NOT sending your energy, effort, will, or power into ANYTHING. You are NOT sending light or feelings or psychic ANYTHING. You are REQUESTING (John 14:13). You are not manifesting ANYTHING. You’re SEEKING the Father (John 16:23). Do not fear, but praise Him instead (Psalm 148:13). You don’t have to ‘feel it’. Just DO it. Choose to rejoice. It will shift your viewpoint, your emotions, and it WILL bring you peace because in the presence of the Lord IS peace (Isaiah 26:3).

Hebrews 4:15-16 reminds us about Jesus. About the uniqueness of Jesus: “For we don’t have a high priest who can’t be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but one who has been in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need.” Jesus became fully man (John 1:14). He lived just like we did. The same restrictions. The same problems. The same emotions. The same feelings coming at Him. The same flesh kicking up the same issues. Anything that comes up or at us in this life Jesus can sympathise with. He has a plan formulated for us not just because He is God and Above All, but because He is also resurrected man and lived as mortal man and knows what is what. Jesus is BOTH things. Living man, Living God. He is THE Living One (Revelation 1:17-18).

When you add together an individual who has experienced all that we experience (Hebrews 4:13; 1 Peter 4:1), faced all that we have faced, and combine it with an individual who created everything that ever was and ever will be (John 1:1-5), and finally give that individual authority (Matthew 11:27), you have something that is UNIQUE. You can’t find another individual like Jesus. Not in any person on earth who us, ever was, or ever will be. You can’t find another individual in all the mystical texts, religious writings, or supernatural belief systems that mankind ever invented or invested in.

In Jesus, we have the ultimate confidant. He was tempted, frustrated, disappointed, rejected, sad, ridiculed, lonely, pressured, without a (humanly) guaranteed source of income, scorned, mocked, falsely followed, fair-weather friended, and betrayed. That list is SOME of the negative. He was also loved, happy, joyful, songful, worshipful, attended (sometimes boring) church services, exercised, worked, laughed, spent money, gave to the poor, and dined at parties. That’s a scratch at the surface of the good.

We truly have in Jesus, someone who can understand everything we go through. We also have in Jesus, a God who is capable in power and authority to address each and everything we come across. He has a plan for us despite our circumstances (Jeremiah 29:11). He prepared our way if we’ll trust Him with our steps (Proverbs 3:5-6). He also has plans for when we don’t trust Him and get ourselves into sticky situations (Romans 8:28). If we will do it WITH HIM then everything is possible (Matthew 19:26). With that kind of confidant, friend, Saviour, and Lord God, how can we NOT rejoice and worship Him?

Rejoice is a verb. It’s an action. A choice. CHOOSE to act in faith and praise God. Rejoice in Jesus. Because He is over us and He has in His hands all authority and therefore the power. The Name above ALL names lives within you. That life-giving power crackles through every cell of your redeemed body, soul, and spirit. Nothing can stand against you when you stand within Jesus (Isaiah 54:17). So praise the Lord and rejoice in Him today! You are off the world’s grid and plugged into the Lord God Almighty. Think about that too. The authority and power of the Name of Jesus LIVES INSIDE YOU. It rests within you. Who can come against you with ANY kind of success when THAT NAME is within you? They’re going to fail. Why fear when THAT NAME lives within you? There’s no point! Rejoice and be glad. Devour the Word with intent and rest in His peace.

He is Lord. And He’s GOT you.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Isaiah 54:8

I love my kids. But some days… I lose my temper, or I need a time out, or I need a few moments alone, or whatever it is because they’re being far below what I know they can be and I’m not keeping my eyes on Jesus. When I lose that Jesus focus, I cannot see them as He sees them. God is also a parent. He sees us being far below what He knows we can be. Do we drive Him nuts? We must. That isn’t revelation, but extrapolation from this verse. The difference between us and God is that God is never mad at US. He is mad at SIN. He is mad at SINFUL BEHAVIOUR. And He HATES sinners – those who are sinning with intent to sin – because He is RIGHTEOUS (Psalm 5:5; 11:5). Sin has always been the issue separating God and man. It was sin and sinful behaviour that formed and brought onto humanity the wrath of God. But Jesus paid the price for sin. Sin is no more – through and in Jesus. That period of time where we were forced to be separate from God is over. A moment only. In Christ, because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we can be NEW creatures. Given HIS righteousness and wiped CLEAN by His blood. Peace to humanity from the Lord God Almighty. Everlasting kindness in place of wrath toward those who are obeying with intent to be obedient. Mercy that endures forever flowing out of heaven straight to us. Now THAT is love. Our bill, but He covered it. All we need to do is put our wallets away and accept that He paid the bill. If we reach out and choose Jesus, then all we experience is mercy and love. Now that IS Good News!

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.