Fear No Fear

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

But Peter said, “Ananias, for what reason has Satan filled your heart, that you lied to the Holy Spirit and kept back for yourself some of the proceeds of the piece of land?

Acts 5:3

If Ruach HaKodesh wasn’t a personality, a person, we could not lie to Him. I have serious doubts about the WISDOM of trying to lie to Him, but you can speak lies to Him. Why would ANYONE do that? Why did Ananias and his wife do it? First, they could not conceive of Ruach HaKodesh as a PERSON. Second, oh the kudos. They wanted the kudos.

One of the first things a hostage negotiator does is to get the abductor to use the abductees name. Because once someone has a name, it humanises them. They aren’t a commodity anymore. They aren’t a THING. They are a person with a Mother and a partner and children. Makes them harder to hurt and harder to kill. Ruach HaKodesh has a NAME. It isn’t THE Ruach HaKodesh or THE Holy Spirit, but Ruach HaKodesh and Holy Spirit. It isn’t about the grammar, it’s about the mental shift toward personage. After all we don’t say The Jesus of Nazareth. We need to use His name AS a name to keep our mindset on His personage as God. Not a whispy spirit with no real personality.

It is easy to see a manifestation of Ruach HaKodesh or to hear of one and start thinking of Him AS that manifestation. AS a flame. AS a dove. But He isn’t a bird. He isn’t a flame. He has characteristics of them, or maybe a better way to phrase it is that we can understand HIS characteristics because we understand the characteristics of flame and of a dove. What WAS He to this couple? A flame that showed up, didn’t burn you, and made you feel happy? Was He experiential to them, or was He revelational?

Just before this someone had sold a field and made money from it. They turned around and gave the money to the early church and got praised for it. These two liked that praise. They wanted it. So THEY sold something. Now, it was their right to sell it. God was not commanding that. Once they had the money, they could do whatever they wanted. No commandments here. They could have given it all, given nothing, or given a portion AND no one would have thought anything bad about them – and be grateful for anything they gave.

What they determined to do was to keep back part (their right) and then lie to the church and say the money they gave was all they got from the sale. In order to be praised for their generosity and sense of community. Like the other guy. They weren’t lying to a person. They were lying to the CHURCH as a body. Elohim is a God of Truth and lies have no place in the Kingdom. They paid the price for lying to Elohim and His representatives.

Ruach HaKodesh can see into our hearts (Romans 8:27). Ruach HaKodesh is ALWAYS with us (John 14:16). You CAN’T pull one over on Him. But you CAN harden your heart to Him and choose to lie. How sad. If you do it with NO ONE ELSE, stay in the step of truth with Ruach HaKodesh. He’s right there. He’s gonna see what’s inside. Don’t keep it FROM Him, take it TO Him, and watch Him hand it over to Jesus. That’s one of the GREAT things about Ruach HaKodesh. Sooner or later, it’s all about Jesus.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Isaiah 26:3

“You will protect a firm inclination in peace, in peace because he trusts in you.” Want to get rid of anxiety forever? Think – seriously – about Adonai. Seriously. That’s it. When we SEEK Him, that’s asking His opinion about something or looking up the subject in the Word, our focus is on HIM and not whatever situation we’ve decided is a problem. Elohim has an answer before you’ve even chosen to have a problem. He has it. And the next one. And all the ones. Praise Him and ask Him to chat. Look at what He shows you. Ask questions. Do some thinking. Be willing to give up a cherished stance or position. I mean, if He can prove He’s right with the Word, who am I to argue? It’s RIGHT THERE. When we do this, it takes up a lot of mental space. Space we no longer have for anxiety or worry or stress as the world portrays it. We’re too filled with Him to have anything but His peace flowing through us. And THAT means bye-bye anxiety. Don’t take my word for it. Take His. Find out for yourself. It says it. It is true. And I have experiential proof. His peace goes wherever He is. Always.

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