Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

Now, little children, remain in him, that when he appears, we have boldness and not be ashamed before him at his coming.*
^{{* See also Luke 16:3; 2 Corinthians 10:8; Philemon 1:20, 1 Peter 4:16.}}

1 John 2:28 (emphasis added)

Not be ashamed. That would be nice wouldn’t it? Being ashamed was the first thing that happened with God the minute we rebelled. “The man said, “I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid myself.”” (Genesis 3:10). It is what will happen for many people when Jesus returns. “The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains” (Revelation 6:15, Isaiah 2:21). The Lord is Righteous. We as people, not so much. But as believers, we are told “Let’s therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace for help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). I talk a lot about abiding in the Lord and getting into the Word. Abiding is seeking Him and the only way to do that effectively is to get into the Word and discover what it says, how it says it, and WHY it says it. It’s a 100% need for any believer. It is the most important thing there is. It is the basis on which everything else comes. Our spirits were transformed when we were saved. Altered into new creations in Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). But how to get the spirit-being into operation in our flesh-person? The Word. We read the Word. Is it that simple? Yes and no. Yes, all we need to do is read it. And No, because you can’t just read it.

The no first. This is not a book. This is the Living Word of God. “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). This — every letter, phrase, and implication — is Jesus. In the beginning was the Word, which was with God, and was God. Everything happened through Him. And then He came into the world, in the flesh, to die for us. The Word was Jesus and Jesus is the Word (John 1:1-18). Everything in the Bible is the inspired Word of God. All of it is Jesus and Jesus encompasses all of it. Jesus is alive. He breathes and walks and moves and lives and talks. So does this book, because it is not a book. As such, we do not read it. We experience it. It is the voice of Jesus speaking to us everything we need to know.

Every day that you look inside it, before you look inside it, pray. Pray for God to open your eyes and your ears. Physical and spiritual. Tell the Lord that you will listen, receive, and believe. And then do just that. If you are intentionally consuming this book (reading it with your eyes or listening to it with your ears), you are ‘hearing’ it. Faith is strengthened by hearing the Word of God (2 Corinthians 5:17). It will build you up. The Spirit will show you nuance. The Spirit will speak to you through the Word. The Spirit can give you revelation knowledge of what you read (Ephesians 1:17-23). It only works with intentional consumption. With action and purpose and will.

If you just read the words to be words, you will miss out on most of what this book can do. People can have a lot of problems with the Bible. They decide that it is misogynistic – it isn’t. That it is full of contradictions – there aren’t any. That it’s old fashioned – it’s always up to date. Or that it is a book of rules, regulations, wrath, and unknowable wonder – it isn’t. People read it, but with that attitude there will be a love-hate relationship. But if you hear with your spirit, those so-called problems melt away. God can do the impossible, but He partners with us. His ways are so far above our ways as to be indescribable, but He renews our minds and brings us into understanding. And God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Bible has no contradictions, only contradictions of human understanding. I don’t understand all of it (who can in an earthly lifetime?), but it lives in me and gives me a confidence in life that nothing else can. Every day in every way I have more and more revealed to me. Isn’t that better than just reading words?

“So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). We strengthen our faith from hearing. That isn’t listening. That is truly HEARING. That’s an intentional listen. That’s an active listen. That is truly getting words into ourselves on purpose. We only hear by the Word. It’s a closed circle. Faith strengthened from hearing, hearing only happens by the Word enabling us to hear, the Word heard strengthens faith, and strengthened faith enables us to hear more. By reading it. That simple. Read it on purpose, strengthen faith. Just read it, don’t strengthen faith. If you strengthen your faith, you’ll itch to use it. Faith isn’t stored up like a battery. It’s strengthened like a muscle. Use it, you’ll keep it. Stop using it, it atrophies. But the great thing about faith is that it is a growth medium. You’ll look for areas to use it. You won’t be able to help but to try and follow the Lord’s ways. Because His yoke is light and easy to follow (Matthew 11:28-30). Why? He gives us Faith, Grace, and the Holy Spirit of Righteousness (Titus 3:5 and James 4:6). How can you NOT obey with all that inside of you??

“This is how we know that we know him: if we keep his commandments. One who says, “I know him,” and doesn’t keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him. But God’s love has most certainly been perfected in whoever keeps his word. This is how we know that we are in him: he who says he remains in him ought himself also to walk just like he walked” (1 John 2:3-6).

It’s that simple. Consciously, actively, hear the Word as you read it (John 16:13; Romans 10:17). Be open to change and correction as you read the Word (John 17:17, 1 John 3:3). Do what He says (Mark 16:15-18; 1 John 3:23-24). That easy. That simple. It doesn’t mean the world won’t try and shout and distract you. It doesn’t mean the enemy won’t try to stop you getting close to God. But you know what? Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (John 16:33; 1 John 4:4). Jesus says we can do it because He does it through and in us.

We are to be bold. BOLD. To walk right into the throne, look at the Lord, and worship Him. To praise Him. To bring our requests. You want healing? You want the manifestation of a promise God made? Take it. He’s offering it (Psalm 2:8, Romans 8:16-17). Be Bold. Seize total persuasion from His outstretched hand and walk in ALL that He did through death and resurrection. To commune with the Living God. “Therefore don’t throw away your boldness, which has a great reward. For you need endurance so that, having done the will of God, you may receive the promise. “In a very little while, he who comes will come and will not wait. But the righteous one will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the saving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:35-39, Habakkuk 2:3-4). Be bold. Don’t lose it, build it. In the Word. Every day.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: 1 John

It’s not long, but it’s all about love. Of what love God has for us and with what love we can do things. Remember, love is a decision. Read and believe. Read and decide. It is easy because God makes it easy. We can do everything and anything in Him. We’re to do all things in Jesus. We do that by being Word focused in all that we do. It isn’t difficult, but it is something we need to mindfully do all the time. It’s too easy to take our eyes off Him. Remember, we don’t have to earn salvation, we don’t have to be perfect, we don’t have to hit any milestones or achievements. Jesus did it all, forgives all, and carries all. Don’t believe me? Read the Word and you will!

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.