Fear No Fear

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

Isaiah said to them, “Tell your master, ‘Yahweh says, “Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.
Isaiah 37:6 (emphasis added)

We live in the Age of Information. Very little of it seems good. But there is a lot of it out there, so it’s hard to tell. Social media can help us create bubbles to keep us safe. I mean it. You play your cards right and all you’ll have on your timeline is cute cats and babies eating pickles. But if you are more enthusiastic with your clicks, there is no telling what will flash before your eyes and ears. What news story, disaster, war, movie, opinion, event, celebration, or fad will be next is anyone’s guess.

Words are even worse. We get told so much. There is a narrative out there for everything. How we should dress, how we should do our hair, how much make-up is good, how short a skirt should be, what pictures we should send, whether we should drive under the speed limit or just keep it reasonable, what we should eat, how we should eat, what our performance was like at work, how close is too close to stand, what shows are nice, what people are nice, and on and on and on and… (sigh) … on.

Where does it stop? Where should it stop? At the doorposts of heaven. When you get saved, you walk through the door of heaven. All heaven is open to you (John 14:1-7). Jesus said He was the way, the truth, and the life (vs 6-7). That you cannot get to the Father, except through Him. That if you know Jesus, you know the Father. Heaven is our home. We are part of the Kingdom. We are part of the family of God Himself. Nothing can take that from you. You are the child of God (1 John 3:1-3). As such, we have some privileges. We have an inheritance. Part of it is the authority of Jesus because we have been remade into the righteousness of Jesus (Ephesians 4:22-24). We are pure, holy, whole, and His.

Do not let yourself accept anyone’s words unless they are in accordance with the Word of God itself. Why? Because we have been remade into Jesus and Jesus IS the Word (John 1:1&14) and the Word IS God (Revelation 19:11-13). The Word must not be contradicted. If the Word says it, it is TRUTH. If the Word promises it, you can trust that you WILL RECEIVE. God CANNOT lie. God says you are healthy because He is a healing God (Exodus 15:26, Psalm 103:2-3, Malachi 4:2). We were healed by the stripes and bruises that were laid upon Him at the cross (1 Peter 2:24). How DARE a doctor tell you you’re sick! You aren’t sick. You are healthy. The devil is trying to steal that health. Don’t let him. How DARE someone diagnose you with anxiety, depression, or mental illness! You don’t struggle with those thoughts. That is a totally incorrect diagnosis. You are whole. You are joyful. Those thoughts are coming from outside you, not you. I know because you were made NEW (2 Corinthians 5:17 & 21). You can inhabit Jesus’ nature. You can inhabit perfect health. You can inhabit a space with no black clouds. It exists in the praise of God. It exists in the Lord’s mercy. Jesus destroyed everything else at the cross. Everything. Two thousand years ago. You already have victory! You only need to claim it. To take it. To receive it.

How do we live it? Words. We live it with words. We need to saturate our environment with words. Not empty, human words. God’s words. In His Word. There are promises for every aspect of the human experience in the Word. Stand on them (2 Peter 1:4). What affects your situation? What are you facing? Read up on it. Read it out. Again and again. Words are activated by speaking them (John 6:63). We need to speak them (Proverbs 18:20). We praise God and bring Him His Word (James 5:13). We build up walls around us of thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15). Not for the problems. But for His solutions. For His presence and comfort and love. Then we stand on it (2 Timothy 3:16-17). We stand and stand and stand. We are NOT moved (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22).

We have the power to choose (Deuteronomy 30:15-19). God advises, but He won’t force. He cannot assume. That might violate our will. The will He gave us on purpose. We have to voice things. Life and death are in the power of our tongue (Proverbs 18:21). But our words do not have power. It is the Word of God that has power. God is the source of our power and we’ve been given the Word so that we can actualise it. “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). “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18). “He sends his word, and heals them, and delivers them from their graves” (Psalm 107:20). “Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). “It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life” (John 6:63). That is power right there. His Word is power. And that power can change us (John 17:17).

We stand on the Word, we claim its promises, and we stand when we’ve stood. We stand as long as it takes. We stand if it happens right away. We stand if it takes decades. We stand if it never happens on this earth. Remember that we are eternal beings. What we say echoes beyond time. What we say has importance not just here in the world, but in the world to come. This isn’t a joke. Every word is a seed. Seed lies dormant until it grows and gives harvest. Our seeds may lie dormant until forever happens. We can only stand and make it to our harvest — whenever it comes due — by praise. Only by praise can we stand. The early church praised while in prison (Acts 16:22-35). They called to God while being martyred (Acts 7:59). We’re told again and again to praise, rejoice, and pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Colossians 2:6-7, and Hebrews 12:28). Our experience isn’t about the NOW, it’s about the LORD (James 1:2-4). We get all things (from healing to perseverance) in and through the love of the Lord (1 John 4:16).

Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). These words thrown at you do not have to stick. You do not need to bring them into your heart. I’m not denying that issues can exist. Of course they can. That is the work of the devil to steal your health, your peace, your joy. We don’t have to let him. You can in all honesty not deny that a thing exists (cancer, depression, sickness, Covid, etc) while denying it the right to affect you. Fear and oppression are far from you and fear cannot come near you (Isaiah 54:14). No weapon formed against you will prosper, but what you do will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). Boldly declare that you walk in supernatural health, joy, and prosperity (1 John 5:14-15). Declare that you will take joy in the Lord (John 16:22) and that Jesus is Lord of your life (particularly over the part that you’re struggling with). Job 22:28 says “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established unto you. Light will shine on your ways.” Believe it. Find your promises in the Word. As led by the Spirit, find what you’ll stand on. Speak it. Decree that it is for you today. Receive it. Walk in it. Praise through it, in it, and around it. Jesus is the Way. Jesus is the Truth. Accept no lies.

God’s Word is the TRUTH and the Father will sanctify you in that TRUTH (John 17:17). Believe it.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

The Lord’s mercy endures forever. It started before the world. It will extend far beyond the world. His Grace extended it to us because He loves us. He loved the idea of you. He loved all the many sides of you. He loved the goofy things you like. He loves your sense of humour. He loves how you look at the world. He loves what you do. He loves your bravery — even in the minuscule things. He didn’t want to miss out on YOU. On your smiles. Your laugh. On anything. He extended His mercy to you even when you were a sinner. Because He loves you. Thank the Lord for His Grace, Mercy, Faith, and Steadfast Love. They endure FOREVER. Amen.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.