Fear No Fear

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

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to him.

Romans 8:9

Ruach HaKodesh wants to dwell in a home. That’s clear from the beginning of Creation onward. It is also clear that human-made receptacles (like buildings, shrines, and statues) are both not worthy and not adequate. So what to do? What’s the plan that Adonai Elohim had? To the wonder of angels (Psalm 8:4) and the pouting of the devil who thinks himself the best of the best (Ezekiel 28:12-16; John 3:20), Elohim chose humanity. The ones He had created to be in His image, after His likeness, and carbon-copies (on a reduced scale) of Himself (Genesis 1:26-27; Psalm 8:5; Galatians 2:20).

We did not evolve. We did not ‘happen’. We were created. With intent and on purpose. Once Creation fell we underwent and undergo physiological changes, that is an observable fact. But the reality of our triune selves (spirit, soul, and body) remain in His image and unaltered. Because He knitted us together and put His breath inside of us (Psalm 139:13-14; Genesis 2:7), we are *almost* acceptable vessels. The thing is, we fell. Broken vessels aren’t acceptable. But IN JESUS, we are renewed. In JESUS we become what He is, because He took on Himself what we were (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we are on JESUS, we become worthy NOT because WE are worthy, but because HE is worthy. This was the plan right from Genesis 1:1. The restoration of humanity by Jesus’ sacrifice so that we can be restored to where we should have never left.

Worthy in Mercy by Grace, Righteous in Jesus, accomplished through our trust in Jesus, we become acceptable temples to house Ruach HaKodesh, giving Him the dwelling He has always desired. It was prophesied in the Old Covenant: “And I will give a new heart to you, and a new spirit I will give into your inner parts, and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh, and I will give to you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). It is the reality for the New Covenant believer: “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God with your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Our bodies are His dwelling, so we should always be seeking to be good stewards of our bodies – doing wholesome things with them and stewarding them well as it comes to exercise and nutrition. The benefits of having Ruach HaKodesh living within us are incalculable (especially as revelation of the love of Jesus opens our minds to accept His moving in our lives – Ephesians 3:20): “And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also make alive your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

There is benefit from having Ruach HaKodesh dwelling inside us, but really the emotion we should choose to feel is GRATITUDE. We should be thankful that because of Elohim’s Mercy and through His Grace, we are able to experience this outpouring of His Spirit (Isaiah 44:3; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:1-4). We were given a spirit of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). This is not because of OUR merits, but because He loves us (John 3:16-18) and wants to have a relationship with us (Genesis 3:8).

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you—not as the world gives, I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” We are not given what we deserve. We are not given according to our ways. We’re given peace that comes from beyond us according to ways that are superior to ours. It is freely given to us – we don’t PAY anything – and it is given part and parcel with His presence when we BELIEVE (Romans 15:13). That is INCREDIBLE! It is a true gift. A wonderful gift. A real blessing. How can we doubt the goodness of Elohim when He gives us the thing that shows anxiety and depression to be the total lies that they are? Things which can be rejected AT WILL by accepting His Peace and engaging His Joy through praise. We have 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