Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave.
Luke 7:3 (emphasis added)

The centurion HEARD about Jesus. He hadn’t WITNESSED Jesus. He hadn’t LISTENED TO Jesus. He heard ABOUT Jesus. Someone TOLD HIM about Jesus. He thought about what he had heard. Then he took action. This is the instruction of Jesus in action. “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). What happened with the centurion was not an isolated incident.

“Now a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for 12 years. She had endured a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet instead of getting better, she grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she kept saying, “If only I touch his clothes, I will be healed”” (Mark 5:25-28). This woman HEARD about Jesus’ healing and His teaching. She heard about it and thought about it so much she was CONVINCED it only took a TOUCH to release it. I have never thought anything like that. I have never looked at someone who Adonai worked miracles through and said ‘if only they touch me I’ll be healed’. That shows us the POWER of Jesus’ words – even second hand.

This wasn’t isolated to healing OR to the New Covenant. The residents of Canaan HEARD about what the Lord did in Egypt and were terrified of the Israelites (Joshua 2:11). It happened with King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20:29 “All the kingdoms of the surrounding lands were afraid of God when they heard how the Lord had fought against Israel’s enemies.” When people HEAR about Yahweh and His works, something happens to them. Is it any wonder why we are exhorted to not only hear the Word (Romans 12:2) but to CONTINUALLY hear the Word (Proverbs 4:20-22)?

It isn’t enough for us to hear and believe the Lord. What good does that do ANYONE other than US? We’re not supposed to be selfish. We’re supposed to be servants. “So when Jesus had washed their feet and put his outer clothing back on, he took his place at the table again and said to them, “Do you understand what I have done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and do so correctly, for that is what I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you too ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example—you should do just as I have done for you” (John 13:12-15). As Jesus did, WE are to do.

That can be abstract though. Looking at the accounts of Jesus on paper and emulate that behaviour. It’s hard to see it as BEHAVIOUR and not just words. The early church had the SAME problem. “I encourage you, then, be imitators of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16). Paul told these people that knew him and had seen him and witnessed his lifestyle to be like him. Why? Because he was like Jesus. In case that wasn’t enough, Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 4:17 – “For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.” Paul sent a physical, natural witness to take the place of ANOTHER physical, natural witness, who spoke about the unseen witness of Jesus, the Christ. We’re called to do that too.

““I give you a new commandment—to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another”” (John 13:34-35). It is by our love for one another – the saved AND the unsaved – that people will realise that something special is going on. If people realise something special is going on, they will head over to figure it out. They’ll start to LISTEN to what we say. If we’re saying the right things (the WORD), they’ll be able to apply their belief in what we say. Not because the words themselves are so convincing, but because they will be witnesses of how those words change lives. Because they will see the evidence of OUR lives CHANGED in Jesus. It is the greatest WITNESS we can have. Signs and wonders can draw attention like flames in the night. But it is the WITNESS of a life changed – the coals of that fire if you will – that provide the greatest HEAT.

Without faith, we have no works to do because we are not motivated to DO anything (Romans 3:28). But if we have REAL faith, then we will DO everything Jesus says we will (James 2:17-18). What is the witness people are hearing about YOU? Is there evidence to convict you as a believing, walking in Jesus, Christian? Will they see you or will they see the Jesus IN you? Jesus modelled the Father and revealed who Yahweh really was (John 5:31-47). We are to do the same. Model Jesus and reveal who Jesus really is.

Will they be knocking on YOUR door asking you to come and heal their family and friends? Will you be able to answer, heading off at the push of Holy Spirit without a doubt, hitch, or hesitation? Do YOU have confidence that the Jesus in YOU will show up and do the work He laid before you? By putting our love of the Lord God first and foremost in our lives – in every aspect – we can be sure that what He SAYS He can do, He CAN and WILL do (Isaiah 38:7). Abide in Jesus. Trust in Jesus. And let His light shine so that all will see, hear, think, and then come find out what the real deal is.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Leviticus 16:27

“The bull of the sin offering and the goat of the sin offering, whose blood was brought to make atonement in the Holy Place, must be brought outside the camp and their hide, their flesh, and their dung must be burned up,” Jesus was crucified, but He was not crucified INSIDE Jerusalem. No, He was taken OUTSIDE the city (Matthew 27:33). For the bodies of those animals whose blood the high priest brings into the sanctuary as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore, to sanctify the people by his own blood, Jesus also suffered outside the camp (Hebrews 13:11-12). Jesus IS Messiah.

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b