Fear No Fear

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

For this reason I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven! And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him either in this age or in the coming one!

Matthew 12:31-32

What is this blaspheming of Ruach HaKodesh? It isn’t cursing using Elohim’s names (and there are a LOT of names describing His character). It isn’t taking a vow using Adonai’s name or Jesus’ specific name, and then failing to perform it. And it isn’t treating Adonai dishonourably or dishonestly (saying one thing, but doing another OR saying one thing, but not meaning it on your heart – lip service). It isn’t even ascribing to yourself divine attributes as if they were yours in your own strength (like saying in your heart ‘I am god’ or saying your own personal nature is divinely righteous in and of your own merit). It is – in the context of the verse – this: ascribing to others the work of Ruach HaKodesh. The pharisees said a demonic power did this thing, but it was Ruach HaKodesh. They were blaspheming Ruach by saying He (the work of His hands) was demonic.

It’s really easy to stand on the sidelines of something and comment on it. We do it almost automatically. We’re backseat drivers, armchair quarterbacks, bar experts, hindsight critics, and mansplainers. Historically, our best helmsmen stand on the shore. When it comes to moves of Adonai and the physical arrival of His promises in and by the power of Ruach HaKodesh, it is easy to stand on the sidelines and say ‘that isn’t real’. It’s made easier by people out there who try and fake it, for a variety of reasons – usually power, influence, or finances. When you see or experience a fake, you tend to paint everything else with that same brush. It’s how a lot of relationships fail. We see warning signs of behaviours in our partners that we’ve been burnt by, hurt by, or seen others hurt by and think ‘whoa, there. Not me. Not again. No thanks’. And we bail. We do it with relationships – romantic and platonic; we do it with employment; and we do it with things of the Elohim.

It’s one thing to hear of a move of Adonai and think ‘that can’t be real’. It’s another to hear of a move of Adonai and think ‘that’s the devil’. One is caution, or perhaps being jaded. The other could be blasphemy (Acts 5:38-39). Are we to test everything? Yes! But we are not called to judge. We’re called to test, examine, and ask Ruach HaKodesh. We might be told it isn’t Him. We might be told it is Him and still feel we’re not comfortable with it – but that would an US problem. We might not be in a place where we’re ready to experience something that Adonai is doing through Ruach HaKodesh. We might be ready – as long as we know it’s Him. It’s all about us and Ruach HaKodesh, us and Jesus.

The important thing is not to call what IS Ruach HaKodesh demonic. Of the devil. Or evil. That is blasphemy. Can we do it accidentally? Yes, but we’re not held responsible for what we do in ignorance. We are protected in our ignorance (that isn’t an excuse to go against common sense and basic love-your-neighbour good conduct). BUT it CAN be done by mature christian who knows Jesus’ voice and should know better. The blasphemy Jesus was warning against was willfully reviling Ruach HaKodesh with knowledge of what is being done. Hebrews 6:4-6 shows qualifications that are placed on who can fall away from grace. Only a knowing believer can commit this blasphemy. We’re protected in ignorance, but with knowledge comes responsibility. Take ahold of your tongue and speak from a heart full of the Word, guided by Ruach HaKodesh in ALL things. If we’re led, we know we cannot harm. It is when we let SELF run the show that we have problems.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: 2 Corinthians 5:21

“He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him.” We are not righteous. We cannot make something pure from impurity. We cannot clean things with dirty water. But Adonai knew that. He knew it and went ahead to make a Way for us. To cleanse us with HIS water. To purify us with HIS sacrifice. To enable us to walk His Way, in His way. To be what we cannot be, through His LOVE for us. By Grace, not by our efforts. His offer, our acceptance – engaging what He appropriated for us. What mercy! What 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