Fear No Fear

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

As a result, the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing, and they praised the God of Israel.
Matthew 15:31 (emphasis added)

In the preceding verse (vs 30) we see that people from all over this region brought their sick to Jesus. They weren’t doing it on a whim, but with expectation. Much like when Jesus had the disciples sit the crowds on the ground when He fed them (John 6:1-14 & Matthew 15:32–39), these people were trusting that something would happen. They had faith that Jesus would be giving them something. Jesus had demonstrated His willingness to let the Father work through Him before (Matthew 8:16-17). These people were expecting. The Father did not disappoint their faith.

The result of their faith was that Jesus was able to work. There does not need to be much faith present (Matthew 17:20-21). In the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples did not have faith to do anything themselves (Matthew 8:23-27). But they had faith that JESUS could save them. He did. And He did it the way the Father wanted Him too, and the disciples marvelled at it. Even when Jesus encountered the demoniac of Gerasenes (Mark 5:1–5:13), the demons had full expectation and faith in the ability of Jesus to cast them out. Don’t be surprised at demons having belief. They have belief, but it causes them to fear (James 2:19). What are we to DO with our belief? First, trust in Elohim (Jesus, the Father, and the Ruach HaKodesh) to perform what they they they can perform. Second, glorify Elohim for what He does, can do, and will do. THAT is something demons do NOT do. THAT is what we should do as a natural reaction to Adonai’s works. It is what the people in today’s verse did.

They regarded the healings with wonder. Amazement. They marvelled at them. They were WOW’d. In reaction they praised Adonai Elohim of Israel. The Greek word is doxazó (dox-ad’-zo). It means to render or esteem glorious (in a wide application). In other words they glorified, honoured, and spoke out Glory to Adonai and called Him wonderful. It is a proper response to the works of Adonai. But you will notice as you continue throughout the Gospels that it was a surface reaction. It wasn’t a HEART reaction. They expected Jesus to work, they trusted they would not be disappointed as they brought their sick friends and family, they wondered and marvelled as He healed them (look at that! Wow!), and then they praised Adonai that He was healing them. That He WAS the God who healed (Exodus 15:26). But that was it.

I find it interesting that it does not explicitly mention Jesus teaching the crowds. I am sure that He did, because that was His mission. Jesus came to teach. There are other places where He taught them and then healed (Luke 9:11). But here, even though they were with Him three days (Matthew 15:32), the people’s focus was on the healings and not the teachings. Luke 6:18 shows us another time they came to HEAR Him and healings followed. These people though were not focused on His Words. They remind me of the people of Mark 4:5 “Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.” These people marvelled and praised, but they did not let the Words sink deep. They did not have deep soil. Jesus healed them. He would have taught them. He fed them. He ministered to them, and then Jesus left (Matthew 15:39). We don’t find a huge impact in this area. It is to me, a sad portion of scripture.

If all we do is WOW at the works of Adonai and praise Him FOR THOSE WORKS then we aren’t getting out of things the Blessing that Adonai intends. The works of healing are to get our attention and show us that what He says is true. Healings are NOT natural. They aren’t medication that slowly works in us over long periods of time. Adonai’s best is instantaneous healings or at most healings within the hour – but He is merciful and meets us where we are. But they are not things in and of themselves. They are meant to point us to the deeper things of Adonai. To see that He speaks truth, that the unseen does not rely on the seen, and that we can take what He says and get close to Him. If we seek, we WILL find (Matthew 7:7-8).

Healings are also not for our glory. They are not meant to be WOW shows where a given personality can gain fame and fortune. You will find again and again the ministers who are praying for people’s healings IMMEDIATELY give Elohim the glory as soon as there is manifestation of the healing Jesus enabled through Calvary. You don’t see them saying look what I did. No, they teach that Adonai does the work. They call on the Name of Jesus. They praise the Father for what has been accomplished. They ALSO use it as a springboard to speak more and more of Adonai’s Word into the hearts of those who witnessed the healing. Healing is a signpost, not a destination.

We need to make sure we are not looking for showmanship from Adonai. That we are not seeking entertainment. That we are not simply praising Adonai for the action we are witnessing in the same way we clap for a good band, sleight of hand artist, or dance troupe. It is meant for so much more than that. It is meant to help the roots of your trust. It is meant as a signpost we can look to saying this happened, so the rest will happen too. It may not have arrived, but ANY DAY NOW it will. We praise for what was witnessed because His Glory deserves that. We ALSO praise for what hasn’t been witnessed yet AS IF IT HAS because we can TRUST Him. This is what Abraham did. “Against hope Abraham believed in hope with the result that he became the father of many nations according to the pronouncement, “so will your descendants be.” Without being weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about one hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God. He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. So indeed it was credited to Abraham as righteousness” (Romans 4:18-22).

Abraham didn’t let unbelief of the thing he could not see OR understand waver his belief. We’re told in scripture not to let unbelief and belief share our mind (Ephesians 4:14; James 1:6-8). Abraham took note of a single thing. Not the promise on its own. He took hold of the idea that Adonai could do what Adonai said He could do. That was the foundation of Abraham’s trust. It was through THAT belief that Abraham viewed the promise. He believed it so strongly that he let Adonai do what He wanted. First with the actual birth of a child. Second with the willingness to sacrifice the child. Abraham didn’t waver in belief on either account. If Adonai said Abraham would have a natural-born child, he would. If Adonai said that the promise of many children would be through that child, then that child (if sacrificed) would be raised from the dead, even though no one had EVER been raised from the dead. Abraham believed and hung onto what Adonai said. Period. Nothing made Him change His mind. He was NEVER sorrowful or moaning about it because be believed Adonai was TRUSTWORTHY.

Just as Abraham was given a natural child in his advanced years, so too are we given healing. It is not natural. It reverses the natural damage this world inflicts. It goes against nature. It shows that what Adonai says He can bring to pass can be brought to pass. It is the second evidence we have of Adonai’s trustworthiness. The first is the Word (which is why we teach before we heal) and the second is healing. When those two things are grasped and held onto in our hearts, signs and wonders naturally follow because people are trusting Adonai and letting Him do as He wills no matter WHAT anyone says, anything shows, or past experience advises (Hebrews 2:3-4; John 2:11; Acts 3:6-10; 4:4).

Don’t just praise Adonai because He deserves it. Let that praise soak deeper into your heart. Let it work with the Word to nurture great growth of trust. Let it become more and more a reality. “Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3). Let Him work as He wills, submit to Him, and stand in His strong tower and fortress (Psalms 18:2). Let the Kingdom of God become more real than what you see. Let it root deep in your heart and then nothing will seem impossible, because hand in hand with Adonai, nothing is (Matthew 19:26).

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Psalm 89:26

“He will call out to me, ‘You are my father, my God, and the protector who delivers me.’” The Messiah was to be FIRSTBORN, but not lastborn. He would the FIRST and would be the vehicle by which WE too could become considered children of the Most High. Co-heirs in Messiah, fellow children, and given the right to call Yahweh Father (Romans 8:15-17). “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, … He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things” (Colossians 1:15 & 18). Jesus was made in the image of Elohim just like us all (Genesis 1:26). And just like Adam when he was created, Jesus had a righteous spirit. But Jesus never failed to obey. He never rebelled. He never chose anyone or anything above Elohim (Matthew 4:10). Jesus was the Son of the Most High and called Him Father (John 5:17). 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