Fear No Fear

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

Then your light will shine like the sunrise; your restoration will quickly arrive; your godly behavior will go before you, and the Lord’s splendor will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 58:8 (emphasis added)

There is a definite link between the spiritual and the natural. It cannot be denied. It can also not be avoided. We cannot do things however we want. We MUST do things Adonai’s way. Period. What He says goes. Whether we like it or not. Adonai has laid down a pattern for these things. “Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul” (3 John 1:2). As it is in the spiritual, so will it be in the natural. Jesus said in Matthew 6:10 “may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We seek to align with Adonai’s will, not ours. To bring what HE wants to pass here. It CANNOT be thwarted (Job 42:2). It can ONLY be cooperated with (Romans 12:2).

Today’s verse has two AWESOME promises. The kind that only Adonai can give. First, that we will shine like the sunrise. And second, that our restoration will quickly arrive. These are great things. In context, they are a reverence to fasting. They also COULD refer to many things. Spiritual things. Physical things. Perhaps both. Maybe political or a nation’s borders. The promises themselves don’t matter as much as the principle that follows: “your godly behavior will go before you“. This means that the ones to whom the promises have been made behave righteously. In order to HAVE the Blessing, you need to be submitted to staying in the Blessing Zone. That is how the Kingdom works. You can see it throughout the Word. We can’t change it. It is the way Adonai works. What we MUST do is comply. It is no good kicking against the goads (Acts 26:14).

This verse comes from a section about fasting. Restricting the flesh in order to get closer to Adonai. Spending the time you would spend preparing and eating meals getting into the Word and prayer. Spending time with Yahweh and listening to Him instead of to our flesh that is – let’s face it – the ultimate consumer. It is when we fast that we forcibly re-align ourselves to Adonai. To HIS ways, HIS desires, HIS instructions, HIS corrections, and HIS commands. It is a way for us to follow the instructions of John 15 and abide in Jesus. Abiding in HIM is where we get our righteousness in the first place. “He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Trust is built up during fasting. Spiritual strength is built up. It builds up because of our dependence on Adonai. It is a way to apply eating the Word for our sustenance. It is a way to make your body comply with the biblical principle that Adonai can be and provide our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). And YES we can declare ourselves joyful, praise Him in joy, and gain strength in SPITE of what we FEEL. It is a decision, not a feeling. It is a choice to rely on the Word and what Adonai has told us. Do we trust Him? We can. He doesn’t lie (Numbers 23:19). As we rely on Him and obey what He says, He responds to that. He acts as our rearguard and lets nothing sneak up on us. In fact, His glory keeps the enemy from even seeing us. When we abide in Jesus, all they see is the Blood. All they catch a glimpse of is the cross. Jesus’ sacrifice gives us new life as new creations in Him (Hebrews 9:11-12). That is all the enemy sees. That’s protection!

If we want to walk in the health, protection, and Blessing of Adonai, we need to pay attention to our SPIRITUAL health. Remember, in the Word Adonai does not always specify if a healing is physical or spiritual. Both apply in many cases. But the spiritual comes FIRST. “But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6:33). We can’t put down the negative impulse if we aren’t equipped with the Word (James 4:7). We have no victory if we aren’t walking in Jesus (John 16:33). It’s the way things are, the way things are meant to be, and the way Jesus provided our sacrifice.

From before the beginning everything was accomplished spiritually FIRST and then walked out or manifested naturally SECOND. Jesus was slain spiritually (Revelation 13:8) and THEN physically (John 1:29 & 18:12). The seed is always spiritual. We need to plant the spiritual deep within us. Adonai will water it. Adonai will shine on it. Adonai will take care of it. Only Adonai knows what the harvest will be. It could be spiritual, or physical, or both. The importance isn’t the harvest, but our willingness to plant the seed and WAIT.

Righteous behaviour is putting Adonai first. Obeying what He shows us in the Word. Testing everything and thinking on it. Relying on Holy Spirit to correct and guide us. Doing – promptly and with the best of our ability – what the Father shows us to do. Forging a relationship with Him through regular fasting and consistent prayer. “With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18). Seek Him. Put Him first. The rest? It will spring forth and the glory of the Lord will guard us in Messiah Jesus.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Psalm 45:6

“Your throne, O God, is permanent. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of justice.” Messiah would be more than just a man. He would be Elohim. He would be a scepter of justice. He would be Righteousness itself. “but of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and a righteous scepter is the scepter of your kingdom” (Hebrews 1:8). “He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). Jesus IS righteousness. Jesus will rule with an iron sceptre (Revelation 2:27). Jesus is the Name above ALL names (Philippians 2:9-11). 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