Fear No Fear

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

An unreliable messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
Proverbs 13:17 (emphasis added)

The best messengers are reliable. They listen, they communicate, and they never ‘forget’ to do their job. Rain, sleet, wind, and snow don’t stop them. Neither do the latest streaming show, drinking party, social gathering, media offering, or riveting book. They take their job seriously and make sure that they get the information they have been entrusted with to the places where they have been tasked to take them. “How delightful it is to see approaching over the mountains the feet of a messenger who announces peace, a messenger who brings good news, who announces deliverance, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”” (Isaiah 52:7).

We have ALL been given a task. A purpose. A message. It is GOOD news. It isn’t the weather. It isn’t the latest office or church gossip. It isn’t the latest celebrity happenings. The most recent Royal Watchdog report. It isn’t a rundown of the latest shows. It isn’t political. It isn’t religious. It isn’t doctrinal or denominational. It is simply the good news that Hashem isn’t angry at us. Sin has been taken care off. Jesus took the price for us. He exonerated the guilty. Hashem relieved us of the responsibility, obligation, and hardship of sin. In Jesus, we are cleared from accusation and/or blame. That’s GOOD news. We do NOT have to go to the place reserved for those who are in sin (Matthew 25:41).

We have been tasked with spreading this news. With being messengers to the world. “Then Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” (Matthew 29:18-20). “First the gospel must be preached to all nations” (Mark 13:10). There are other passages that have the same message. We are to go and tell EVERYONE this news. Politely (1 Peter 3:15). When danger looms and you have a way of escape, the best thing is to let others know about it – especially since there is room for all.

Sadly, we cannot always truthfully say that we have been faithful messengers. We have at times been guilty of pedalling guilt, not spreading hope. We have made sure to have ‘saved’ people in order to put a notch on our belt. Or to perform a duty. Then we bind them up more than they were when they were lost. Demanding behaviours and strictures that are nowhere in the Word. Jesus told the Pharisees and scribes the same thing. “They tie up heavy loads, hard to carry, and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing even to lift a finger to move them” (Matthew 23:4).

We are called to love, not to imprison. We get so caught up in HOW someone was saved and HOW they were baptised and HOW they were spoken to and HOW they reacted and HOW they are living now, we forget it must ALL be in love. Everyone is on the journey to completed sanctification. None of us can do it alone. We’re all in the same boat. We often swap up our seating like some Mad Hatter tea party. None of us are perfect. How DARE we hold someone to a standard they and we cannot keep! We’re not stuck in the give and take, action and punishment, fail in one aspect fail in all Law. We’re FREE from the CURSE of the Law (Galatians 3:13). If we LOVE, we will obey the Law because the Law is about LIFE. The curse was death. We’re free of that in Jesus. Why would we WANT to be in death? Or put anyone else in it? We should be preaching LOVE. That includes respect and reverence for Yahweh.

If we love Adonai, we will be obedient. We will be that way because we will acknowledge His position above us. He has ultimate authority, not us. His point of view is correct, not ours. His ways are the right way, not ours. This is why we have access to the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). So that when we get into the Word and Adonai starts using it to renew our thinking, we will understand what we are being shown. Holy Spirit is with us to lead, correct, and give commentary on what we read as well. Mysteries are kept FROM us, they are revealed TO us. They have been protected FOR us. They are ours in Jesus because Hashem wants us to walk in them. We walk in love, which begins with humble submission to Him.

When we love Him we want to see Him smile. When we love Him we start seeing His beauty in those around us. When we love Him we can’t wait to share that love with everyone who doesn’t have it and praise Him with those that do. When we love Him we are always looking for ways to bless and serve those we meet. When we love Him we shine with opportunity to bring His light to the world’s darkness. When we love Him we hold the good close to us. When we love Him, we take what is evil and put it far away from us and push it off a cliff to keep it from coming back on us. When we love Him, we are messengers of Peace. Of Joy. Of Mercy. Of Grace. Of Renewal. Of GOOD news.

We need to be faithful messengers because if for no other reason, the world around us needs Jesus’ healing. The healing of spirit. The healing of soul. The healing of body. How can they believe for the healing? By believing that Hashem rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). “How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ” (Romans 10:14-17).

This is our message. You can be healed in Jesus. Of all that you need healing from. Supernatural and natural. Cleansed and whole. In Jesus, restored. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we may cease from sinning and live for righteousness. By his wounds you were healed. For you were going astray like sheep but now you have turned back to the shepherd and guardian of your souls” (1 Peter 2:24-25). I pray we are faithful with our message. Spreading it near. Spreading it far. Always being a light to shine to Jesus who is the FINISHER of our trust (Hebrews 12:2). It is GOOD news. And who doesn’t like hearing that?

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Psalm 45:2

“You are the most handsome of all men. You speak in an impressive and fitting manner. For this reason God grants you continual blessings.” Messiah would speak words of Grace. It would be part of His nature and it would come out of His mouth directly from His heart. “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). “All were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They said, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”” (Luke 4:22). Jesus’ whole manner was full of Grace. He thought Grace. Words of Grace came continually from His lips. His manner and speech spoke of who Jesus is. 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