Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

And when he stopped speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

Luke 5:4

This was fished-out water. There was nothing left. Peter tells Jesus this. Tells him they were out all night fishing (there were two families and a minimum of two boats involved in the enterprise – Matthew 4:20-22; Luke 5:2). But they had been listening to Jesus teach. They’d heard the Word, and it strengthened their trust. They obeyed. And they got a catch that strained their nets, barely got to shore, and we can assume it made them a lot of money.  When they were tired and depleted in their own efforts, God showed up to give them resources out of the very place they thought they had none. Ruach HaKodesh is willing to give us what we need in the moments we need it. It is all dependent on us and our attitude.

“Now to the one who is able to do beyond all measure more than all that we ask or think, according to the power that is at work in us” (Ephesians 3:20). God can DO anything (Luke 1:37, Genesis 18:14). But He has chosen to give humanity dominion here on earth (Genesis 1:26). He looks to partner with humanity (Ezekiel 22:30, Isaiah 6:8, Matthew 19:26) to bring about His will on Earth (Matthew 6:10). Our knowledge of and submission to His Will determines how much power is flowing through us. It’s like a faucet in our home. The potential is there to flood the house. But nothing happens if we don’t turn the faucet. In the case of Adonai saying ‘Yes, Lord, I will obey’. Peter and his partners NEEDED a catch. They’d been working for one all night. But it wasn’t until they heard Jesus’ words that they were opened to the possibility of the supernatural. Jesus saw their trust and gave a command. There was doubt, but Peter pushed it aside and obeyed. It doesn’t appear to be perfect obedience, but Elohim’s blessing is NOT determined by OUR performance. Ruach HaKodesh doesn’t respond to obedience, words, deeds, or thoughts. He responds to TRUST in Jesus. When Peter chose to trust, He responded and there was an abundance released.

Moses was told he and Aaron needed to speak things and perform actions to bring into physical arrival in Egypt the plagues that would change Pharaoh’s heart and prove to the Israelites the gods of Egypt were nothing. You see Moses petitioning Elohim for the things he spoke out. There is a PARTNERSHIP there. When Israel forgot the idea of partnership they got into real trouble (Hosea 4:6). We work WITH Elohim, but it is not to get what WE want (James 4:3). We work with Elohim in humble submission to His will (Luke 22:42; Matthew 4:7). We can have all kinds of ideas from our point of view. But we cannot see everything. We can barely see what’s in front of us, and NOTHING truthful in the spiritual world unless we’re focused on Adonai (1 Corinthians 2:14). What we need is to see things from His point of view OR obey because we trust Him. He isn’t looking for blind obedience. He’s looking for informed trust. There is a HUGE difference between those two things.

There is a vast storehouse of resources available to us in Jesus (Malachi 3:10, Galatians 5:22-23). If we’ll get on Elohim’s frequency, there is nothing that we won’t have access to through Ruach HaKodesh (John 14:14). The thing is, we have to be on HIS frequency. We need to be aligned with Him. Ruach HaKodesh is willing to respond to our trust in Jesus,  but we HAVE to have trust. This isn’t winging it. This is us seeking the Father, finding out His will in scripture, and conforming ourselves to match. Choosing to make ourselves – whether it is in our behaviour, our thinking, our words, our imaginings, or our relationships – more like Him because we love Him and want to emulate Him. This isn’t slavery. This is love.

What is available to us and what we take are two very different things. We aren’t in trouble if we take what’s offered. We’re not in trouble if we don’t. It is up to us. But throughout scripture it is VERY clear that God has a will and He has also given US a will. Ruach HaKodesh is willing to work through you, in you, and around you. Will you activate Him by trusting Jesus? Will you rely on Adonai and let the supernatural become a regular occurrence? He is willing if you are.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Song of Solomon 6:3

“I belong to my beloved and he belongs to me; he pastures his flock among the lilies.” Elohim isn’t a dictator. We love Him and He loves us. He gave Himself so that we could give ourselves. He taught us by walking it out. Right from the beginning (1 John 4:19). But He doesn’t stop there. The intimate relationship between Elohim and humanity keeps going. He takes that beautiful partnership and places it in a fragrant and nutritious place (lilies have anti-inflammatory, hepato-protective, anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipidaemic, and anticancer properties). He takes an almost unbelievable connection and then pours more blessing over it (Luke 6:38). He is a GOOD God.

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8