Fear No Fear

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

So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.
James 5:16 (emphasis added)

We openly acknowledge our sins to each other, not hide them in the shadows. We ALL sin (Romans 3:23). There is no shame in stumbling. We were warned that we would (James 3:2) and told what to do next (today’s verse). We pray for each other in our repentance in order to be healed spiritually (if we confess He is just). Spiritual healing allows physical healing to flow since it is part of the Blessing we walk in when we are right with Adonai. Again, sin isn’t ALWAYS the cause of sickness (John 9:1-5). But it CAN be (John 5:14).

As a group, humanity doesn’t like the idea that their actions have consequences. This is especially true in the West where we have taken the message of personal freedom and perverted it to mean no responsibility. That we can do whatever we want, mind your own business, I have rights, etc etc. Democracy doesn’t mean freedom with no thought of others. It doesn’t mean we can be individuals without responsibility to the group. At the same time, we can’t do whatever the group says without thinking of our own values. This then becomes the problem. MY feelings aren’t the same as YOUR feelings which aren’t the same as a given POLITICIAN’s feelings which aren’t the same as a given GROUP’s feelings. So what do we do? We need a common ground.

Adonai’s point of view. THAT is our common ground. It doesn’t matter your culture, your race, your economic or social status, your country of origin or residence, your feelings, your education, or your opinion. Adonai’s point of view is steady, dependable, clearly spelled out in the Word, and constantly communicated to us by Holy Spirit without ceasing. No matter how WE view something, we can ALWAYS find out what Adonai’s point of view is. This is a HUGE benefit and completely eliminates all guessing games in life. We are empowered and equipped to live according to Adonai’s point of view, which means we are equipped and empowered to live RIGHTEOUSLY.

Living righteously on our OWN steam is impossible. We cannot do it. We can perform the actions, but we’ll miss it in our hearts or minds. Our flesh is not renewed like it will be in Heaven. It will default to ITS standard of living – selfishness. Our minds have been trained to default to that evil inclination. Not demonic evil, but sinful intention because LOVE is always an outward expression. Love is NEVER selfish. Since our minds and flesh are selfish, we will never be able to perfectly keep to righteousness. If you fail even once, in any way big or small, you have failed and are not righteous (James 2:10). If we want to live righteously, we need Messiah Jesus.

In Jesus we are perfect. In Jesus we are righteous. In Jesus we are everything that Jesus is. Co-heirs in Him (Romans 8:17) and new creations (2 Corinthians 5:16–17). While we are perfect in our spirits and sealed against corruption (Ephesians 1:13-14), our minds must CHOOSE to listen to our spirits. We must choose to humbly submit to what we hear from OUR spirit and HOLY Spirit. ANY time we do not listen, the chance that we will choose NOT to obey increases. It is only by perfect obedience that we can be perfectly righteous, because it is only by staying perfectly in Jesus that we can maintain our perfect identity in Him. That, of course, is impossible. While we no longer HAVE to sin (1 John 3:5-7), we will all chose to at some point (1 John 1:8-10). THAT is where today’s verse hits.

This verse does not mean we HAVE to confess to each other. That is not what it is teaching. It is talking to people who either WANT or NEED accountability outside of their own conscience and relationship with Adonai. It is talking to people who do NOT have the personal trust (faith) to accept what Adonai is offering. Why would it teach that? We don’t live in a vacuum! We are created to have relationships. We are created to support each other. “Two people are better than one because they can reap more benefit from their labor. For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself? Although an assailant may overpower one person, two can withstand him. Moreover, a three-stranded cord is not quickly broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).

When one of us lacks something, another can step in. If you have weak trust or are burdened by unbelief, other believers can help you deal with the unbelief while seeking Adonai and interacting with the Word to strengthen your trust (Romans 10:17). We are to be helpful to each other. Each with our own place but working together (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). It isn’t all me or all you or all anyone. It takes the whole body working together to walk in the Kingdom. That isn’t to say you can’t go it alone, but it is easier with others because Adonai made us that way. That’s how He set up dominion through the Word on this planet to work (Matthew 18:20).

We are meant to help each other understand and get to the place of Blessing. We can only do that in Jesus. We can only do that being obedient. We can only do that recognising Adonai’s rightful place both over our lives and as the standard of morality. We can only do that when we are encouraging one another, not speaking harmful words or judging (Matthew 7:1-6). We do that loving one another. We do that praying for one another. We do that confessing our trials to one another. To those who are helpful fellow warriors of trust, always seeking to move each other closer to the Father whom we worship in spirit and truth.

The fervent – exhibiting or marked by great intensity of feeling – prayer of a righteous believer is powerfully effective because the prayer that the Lord hears is the prayer of trust (1 Peter 3:12). May we stand together, helping the weak, supporting the strong, all of us helping each other to engage the healing that is ours by the Grace and Mercy of Adonai.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Psalm 40:2-5

“He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing. He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord. How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord and does not seek help from the proud or from liars. O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things; you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us. No one can thwart you. I want to declare your deeds and talk about them, but they are too numerous to recount.” Messiah would be resurrected. This would be an occurrence of GREAT joy. Death stopped in its tracks. The Curse of the Law broken. Messiah overcoming the world and all that is in it. “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20). Jesus was crucified. Hung on a tree. They laid His dead body in a grave. He did NOT stay there. Jesus was raised by the Father through Holy Spirit. Jesus’ resurrection was FULL of joy. Jesus IS the Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

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

Matthew 16:16b