Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Romans 8:15

Abba can mean ‘father’ in Aramaic. It can be an endearment like Daddy. But it is also a term that leans toward acknowledgement of authoritative stature. The word ‘Abba’ means ‘Daddy, I will obey.’ It is the intimacy of Daddy combined with the acknowledgement of the authority Daddy has. This is discipleship language recognizing the Father as THE source of ALL you need, and reacting to that recognition with humble submission in obedience. ‘Father, my Source, I will obey you’ then is the fullest translation capturing the whole meaning of the phrase. Ruach HaKodesh is the certificate of our adoption where we get the RIGHT to call Yahweh Father, our Source. Ruach HaKodesh is also the certificate of our adoption where we get the RESPONSIBILITY to humbly submit to the authority that Father embodies. Why is this important? Because we fell and became visual people, not spiritual people, and our adoption certificate is something we can encourage ourselves in daily. It can be a source of true Joy as we recognize and walk in who we are in Jesus – the identity and the calling, the image and the likeness.

When you adopt a child, you get an adoption certificate. It’s a legal form that shows the governmental acceptance of that child as your own child, giving you rights as the adopted child’s parent, and giving the adopted child rights as your legal offspring. It forms the legal bridge between both parties so that full responsibility of the relationship can be enforced. That’s important because the adoptive parents now have the burden of the rights and responsibilities of a parent as recognized and enforced by the law. It is also useful when accused of kidnapping said adopted child.

The devil kidnapped us. Took us from the garden and got us put in the world for our own protection (otherwise we might have gained eternal death, not eternal life – Genesis 3:22-24). He ruled the world because he stole our right to rule from us. He kidnapped us into his sin: rebellion. He got no certificate for it. In fact, what he got was the declaration that Adonai was going to fight it in the courts and get the legal rights to His children back again (Genesis 3:14). Which He did through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Then through Jesus’ resurrection to life, He enabled us to rejoin the family. When we do, we have the certificate of our adoption given to us in full. He is now responsible to us as a parent to a birth child. We are now subject to Him as our parent and the source of everything we have available to us. Ruach HaKodesh is that certificate. It is a PERMANENT adoption (unless we choose to run away in full knowledge of what we have and who He is). “in whom also you, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, in whom also when you believed you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13).

Unbelievers say ‘god are you there?’ not knowing if there is something or someone listening. Believers say ‘God, are you there?’ in the same way a child calls out wondering if Mom or Dad are home. They call, expecting an answer because they always get one when the parents are home. We know Ruach HaKodesh dwells within us (Acts 2:38). So when WE call, we KNOW we will get an answer. We’re confident because we KNOW we are His children (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26). We know He’s going to answer. We KNOW He is going to talk to us. To reason together with us (Isaiah 1:18). To fellowship (Revelation 3:20). We can encourage ourselves in this connection on those days where our attention has wandered. When we’ve over-talked Him. When we’ve ignored or turned away from what He’s asked. When we have had a day where we have stayed away from His bread and His water, making us famished and dehydrated.

We are not perfect. No one is and no one ever has been – except Jesus. We have had and are going to have days where our focus is off. When we have decided not to trust Jesus in something. When we have taken our eyes off of His perfect example and gone our own way. But we can encourage ourselves in who we are. Who we are in Him. Whose children we are. How Adonai loves us. And fights for us. That encouragement is what makes it easy to repent. To choose His point of view over our point of view. To choose His light instead of our blindness. Who wants a tangled wad of light strings when we could have pristine, organised, no-tangle, and simple-to-use light strings? Why would we want ANYTHING else when we so clearly see and can encourage ourselves with the joy-inducing GOODNESS of Adonai? Remember to tell yourself every day. Open the Word and show yourself your certificate of Adoption. Say ‘hi’ to your Source and submit to His position in your life. There is NOTHING easier OR lighter (Matthew 11:30). It’s good to be part of a family.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: 2 Chronicles 26:5

“And he began to seek God in the days of Zechariah who was teaching in visions of God. And whenever he sought Yahweh God made him have success.” We have a need to seek Adonai. Not only because He is our creator (Genesis 1:26-27). Not just because He is Above Us (Isaiah 55:8-9). Not just because He is wise (Isaiah 28:29). Not just because He is Timeless (Psalm 102:25-27). It is because He is so GOOD, so MERCIFUL, and so LOVING that being around Him brings Blessing. When we seek Him from LOVE, there is a reward because He IS blessing. “Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and is a rewarder of those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). We’re not seeking the REWARD, but in seeking HIM we cannot help but be rewarded. He can’t help Himself. He loves us SO MUCH. What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8