Fear No Fear

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

In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.”
Zephaniah 3:16 (emphasis added)

We have a tendency as people to look at what there is before us and say ‘that’s it’. The institutions of this world will tell us that things tend to be a certain way. Science will investigate the human mind and human behaviour and say we do this or do that, think this, act that way; all because of how we developed or where we sit on some chart. And I am not saying any of that is false. It is there. They do believe that. Their work has proven their points. But I am saying that it isn’t all there is. There are other factors within the scope of life that supersede all of that. That doesn’t even include God — and He isn’t to be left out of anything in the human experience. I do mean ANYTHING. We are spiritual beings, not physical beings. We’re housed in a physical shell, but that isn’t the end of who we are. It’s like riding in a car. You operate on the road as a sports car, mini-van, SUV, or truck; but in reality you are a person running a vehicle. You are a spirit running a physical body. The world rejects that and looks only at the physical body. The Lord challenges us to see reality as it is, and not as it is experienced. When you do that, a lot of things change.

I want to be very clear. I am NOT talking about the power of positive thinking. That is a worldly philosophy that’s a pale imitation of the truth. Does it often work? Yes. It is based on a Law of God and the laws that the Lord set up always work — that’s why they’re laws. Remember that the enemy is unable to create anything. Zip. All he’s got is copying. He copies the laws that exist, the principles that exist, the things of the Lord that work. He copies them and sets up his own version that benefits him, but still functions. And the world takes it. We’ve taken it at times, haven’t we? It’s seductive because it works. Same thing as a lie. The best lies have an element of truth. The best philosophies have an element of truth. Go into the world and randomly talk to people. Talk to them about Jesus, they shut down. Talk to them about spirituality, they think it’s interesting. Talk to them about prophecy, they walk away. Talk to them about astrology, they’re open to possibilities. If there is anything ‘spiritual’ out there. Anything supernatural at all, I guarantee that there is a principal at work. And that principal will have its roots in the Kingdom of Heaven and the laws that God has set up for the spiritual world.

Natural world vs spiritual world. They’re totally different kinds of thinking. I recently heard someone explaining that we don’t really understand what happened in the Garden around the Fall. That someone who has never heard a lie doesn’t know what a lie is. That psychology will prove to you the truth that we only know what a lie is when we are exposed to it. So Adam and Eve were unprepared with what was coming against them and if we understand that. If we understand that these were the very first people and were just beginning to emerge into their thinking, it changes everything. That’s a fine theory and it would change everything wouldn’t it? Except… It’s totally false. We’re taking natural truths about fallen people and applying them to un-fallen people. Adam and Eve were fully spiritual as well as fully physical. Clothed in the Glory of God and infilled with His Spirit. They knew in their spirit that what was being said to them was wrong. But they ignored the spiritual. They focused on the physical. They chose to operate in the natural and they then chose to rebel. In the flesh. Against the spirit. The opposite to what they should have done.

I am talking about operating in the natural through the spirit as designed by the Lord God of Heaven. How do you know the difference? Everything of the Kingdom is 100% Word Based. It works because as a believer you’ve been made a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus died for us so that our sins were paid for. By paying for them — if we accept His sacrifice and that He rose again to life — He enabled us to be born again to live to righteousness (so we could be morally right and justifiable to the Father). He healed our Spirit, giving us His own (Titus 3:4-6). Because of that we can renew our minds (Colossians 3:9-10, Romans 12:2), our spirits (Ephesians 4:22-24), and our whole inner person (2 Corinthians 4:16). We can see that we are not thinking positively, but using the authority Jesus gave us to align our bodies with our new spirit. To use that spirit to inform our soul/mind/emotions. To use our soul to control our flesh. This is Kingdom Thinking. It is a process. Salvation is instantaneous. Sanctification is a process. It is the process of turning our minds from carnal thinking to Kingdom Thinking.

Kingdom Thinking is wielding the authority we have in Jesus who is the Christ – the Anointed One, by the will of the Spirit, in line with the Word. Basically, if we’re praying according to the Spirit we will be praying and declaring according to the Word, and we shouldn’t step out of line with that (John 16:23-28). There is a lot of seeking the Lord and listening to Him. We need to work to be like Jesus. We need to seek to say only what the Father says and do only what we see the Father doing (John 5:19-23). God is the one with the power. He has given us authority to wield it through Jesus’ name, but it is His power and He is doing the work. It isn’t us deciding we want to change something, do something, or see something come to pass. In nothing — be it a stress in our life, healing, finances, living situation, or our business — in nothing is it our will, our desire, or our wants. It’s Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. It’s seeing what the Word says and wanting to both step into that and live in it. His way. His timing. His dream. His plan. His will.

We renew our minds according to the Word, abide in the Lord, and seek to do His will. In that authority, we can command our bodies. How? As we saw in scripture, Jesus has by his sacrifice and being raised from the dead to life again, renewed our spirit (Ephesians 4:22-24). Our spirit is perfect and whole. Nothing missing, nothing broken. We can command our bodies to align with that through Jesus’ name. This does NOT mean pounds will miraculously melt away, it isn’t a golden ticket for bad living or unhealthy conduct. It does NOT mean we can decide whatever we like and demand that it happen. Much like Grace isn’t a ticket to sin more, declarations aren’t a ticket to free living. We have to be in accord with the Word and the Word says we can be healthy (Proverbs 4:20-22). We can be whole. Sometimes it takes more than words (nowhere does it say doctors are evil and medicine should be shunned), but words are always part of it.

That is clearly implied with the Word. It again and again says ‘Don’t let’. That implies choice. That implies our words can make a difference. Because the enemy has no discernment. No ability to speak, see, or understand the spirit. He can only go by the words we say. He can only attack what we say because it is all he ‘gets’. If in the face of physical infirmity we declare health by standing on and speaking the Word on health and healing, he gets confused fast. We align ourselves with the Word, because there is nothing but good there for us (Psalm 103). Words are always part of the equation. Confession is a powerful tool. As is belief. If you don’t believe, it won’t happen. Belief is the fuel that opens the value of faith that enables the power to flow into us as He planned.

So when the Word says ‘don’t let your hands be weak’, you need to choose strength. Not your own strength, but His. Intentionally. On purpose. Deciding to. The Lord says in the Word: “Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him” (Exodus 15:2). “Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more” (1 Chronicles 16:11). “Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared, for today is holy to our Lord. Don’t be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1). “Even the youths faint and get weary, and the young men utterly fall; but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31).

We need to not lose our strength. By choice. How? By choosing to turn to the Lord. By praising Him and seeking His face through worship and meditation on the Word. Remembering that we are strong in the Lord and the strength of HIS might (Ephesians 6:10-20). By making Him our refuge on which we put all our cares. By resting in Him. And all this strength is important because Jesus told us the greatest commandment in all of scripture in Mark 12:29-30: “Jesus answered, “The greatest is: ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’* This is the first commandment {*Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Hear, Israel: Yahweh is our God. Yahweh is one. You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart;}.” If we choose to take our eyes off the Lord, if we choose to stop praising Him, if we choose to stop taking in the Word; we risk failing in our commandment to love the Lord our God. If we go to Him, we get strength (Psalm 119:28), and purpose (1 Peter 2:9), and a glorious promise: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

That is a great promise. Let Christ do everything and everything can be done in Christ through His strength. We can have what we say. But we MUST say according to the Word. We don’t cheer and start speaking about cars, homes, and money. God doesn’t see possessions. The Father sees Jesus. We cannot get into His presence on our own or in our name. We aren’t righteous. Only righteousness can stand in His presence. In Jesus and by His name we can approach the throne. If we speak His words, we are heard. If we inhabit His praises, we are heard. If we live by His word, we are heard. If our purpose is His presence, we’ll receive. If we ask ANYTHING according to His name and His will, we receive (John 14:14). That means asking according to the Word. Relying on the Word. Being in Jesus, for Jesus, and about Jesus. In Him we have Joy. In Him we have Peace. In Him we have riches. In Him we have health. In Him we have it all.

Look at Jesus’ life from His baptism to the Triumphant Entry. This is the period of His ministry before the path to the cross starts in earnest. What is Jesus’ life like in this time? He does the will of the Father. He lives in perfect health. The bible tells us when Peter’s mother-in-law was sick. It would tell us if Jesus had sniffles. He was a homeowner. He had access to resources. He ate well. He wanted for nothing. That’s a pretty good life. It was Father Focused. We’re called to live like that. Nothing missing. Nothing wanting. Having things, but willing to give them all up. Living well, but not pursuing fine living. Wanting nothing, but not living for wants. Being strong, but strong in the Lord God Almighty. Being wise, but wise in the Word. Doing what the Father wants, saying what the Father wants, and living the way the Father wants. Having everything about the Word and nothing about the flesh. Being willing to carry a cross. Being willing to sacrifice. Being willing to suffer, if that suffering is for the Word.

Not being weak. Not being afraid. Not because of us, our works, our deeds, our thoughts, our desires, or our accomplishments. Because of Jesus. Because of Holy Spirit. Because of the Father. Because of God. Living for Him. Living in Him. Enjoying His strength and His peace. “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20). What a great reason not to fear!

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Joel 2:11-13

I am grateful that Jesus paid the price for our sin. I am grateful that nothing I do can separate me from the Love of the Lord God Almighty. I don’t have to fear His judgement. I don’t have to fear His punishment. As long as I am standing in Jesus, I am in His righteousness. I am able to be before the Throne. But it is so easy to turn away from Jesus. Not to deny Him, but to spend time elsewhere. Not to say that He is not Lord, but to deny Him place by putting something else there. A show we like. A book we like. A hobby we like. It can be worse. We can put immoral living there, but it can be as innocuous as reading the latest christian bestseller instead of reading the Word. Looking to another when we should be looking at Jesus. Does this mean that there is no place for those bestsellers? Those shows? No. There is no reason not to enjoy anything that is upstanding material. But are you enjoying morally upright material IN PLACE OF the Word? Instead of prayer time? Spending mental energy wondering what happens next instead of listening to the words the speaker is saying at church? It is with our whole heart that we are to turn to the Lord. It is with our whole heart that we are to seek Him. That at any moment we will drop everything to answer any prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is in Jesus we find such satisfaction and joy that it begins to take over our whole life. And that every time we turn away, we immediately drop to our knees and seek Him to help us turn back. With a grateful heart accepting His correction. Doing what He says. Turning around, and stepping back into Jesus. Into the Word. Back to where we are called to be. Knowing that again we can walk into the Throne Room, smile at the Father, and see His smile on me. Knowing that because we truly repented, He was Faithful and Just. He forgave our sin. He restored to us our righteousness in Jesus. It is glorious beyond my imagination! What a great love God has for us!

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.