Fear No Fear

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

Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; every one was realized.
Joshua 21:45 (emphasis added)

Can we trust Adonai? It is SUCH a simple question. Everything hangs on it. From breathing to salvation to blessing to receiving. EVERYTHING is about trust and who we put it on. Nothing else can happen without it. It MUST be figured out in our minds and then placed into our hearts. If we EVER lose sight of it we will be in danger of repeating the mistake of Adam and Eve. It is THAT important. It is THAT foundational. And it is THAT simple.

“He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?”” (Genesis 3:1b). “The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, for God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”” (Genesis 3:4-5). That is all the record we have of what the devil said when he borrowed the serpent’s anointing. Two simple questions that blended truth and lie together. One challenged whether or not what Adonai SAID was really what He SAID – interpretation. The other challenged the motivation behind the words that were said – trustfulness. That’s all the devil had to work with. He had to get the serpent’s permission to use its gift (which is why the serpent was punished – Genesis 3:14). He used words and ONLY words. Since Jesus made a Way for us, the devil is back to that. He cannot get at our spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). He cannot stand up to the Word (James 4:7). He has no standing whatsoever in the realms of power (Revelation 1:18). He has no ability to stand against the authority of Jesus’ Name (Matthew 28:18). He is back to just words.

Those words are ALWAYS aimed at our trust in Adonai. In every instance of our lives we have an opportunity to trust in Adonai. Think about that. From blowing your nose to bathing to chores to employment to bills to money to home situation to food to relationships to salvation. In EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE of our lives we have a chance to trust Adonai in some way. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil” (Proverbs 3:5-7). The Hebrew word for ‘all’ is ‘kol’ (kole) and it means ‘the whole’ or ‘all’. It does not mean part. It does not mean the important bits. It means all of the whole of YOU. Period. Black and white. No room for grey or a varied interpretation. This is as serious, plain, and simple as it gets.

“You lead me in the path of life. I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight” (Psalm 16:11). The Hebrew word for ‘always’ is actually ‘netsach’ (neh’-tsakh) which means eminence, enduring, everlastingness, perpetuity, and forevermore. It is so much richer than ‘always’. It also has overtones of FULLNESS. Not just ONE piece of our lives, but all the pieces. The Jews are constantly reciting the psalms and praying in order to keep their minds focused and re-focused on Adonai. They don’t let more than four hours pass without starting to think of Him. They bring everything back under the banner of His Eye. That can become very religious and regimented, which is the opposite of what it should be. Instead of thinking of it as obligation or ritual, we should be thinking relationship.

Whenever we find someone we want relationship with, we get into a headspace of connecting. We want to know their hobbies and interests. We pay attention to the food they buy and drinks they drink. We notice the stickers they put on things. The things that make them smile. The items in stores that they stop and look at frequently. We want to know them. Know about them. Know what they are into. We want them to know the same things about us. We want to merge into a unit that enjoys both people’s things as much as possible.

Psychology says that there are four basic stages to relationships. The first is the non-judgment phase where we may see the other person’s faults, but we overlook them or avoid them in favour of the positive lovey feelings. Attraction has more of a factor in this stage. It’s like we think about them all the time and have trouble focusing on the other things in our life. The second is a phase where we develop more ‘attachment’ factors. We know them better. We focus on them better. We focus on US better as well and can expand out of our thoughts of them only into the rest of our lives. There are combined memories – positive and negative – that give deeper, more mature feelings.

Next is a drifting apart phase. A place where complacency has taken up some kind of home. Where there is a little taking each other – and what you each bring to the table – for granted. The psychologist assumption is that once you start drifting you need a conflict where you can both come together in order to halt the process. Some people even have children and have them be the focus point they both can rally around in order to solidify the relationship again. And that only be overcoming the conflict can the couple maintain their couple-ness.

The final stage is where they have gone over that crises and entered the stage of calm. Where they know that the inevitable ups and downs can be dealt with as they come up. A warmth that means they can plan for future upsets and crisis knowing they can achieve it. It’s a security that becomes the foundation of their shared experience of life.

We can build the same kind of relationship with Adonai. The Word has our foundation in it. First stage is that attraction love. That cheery, happy, joyful love. “May I hear about your loyal love in the morning, for I trust in you. Show me the way I should go, because I long for you” (Psalm 143:8). “The Beloved to Her Lover: Oh, how I wish you would kiss me passionately! For your lovemaking is more delightful than wine. The fragrance of your colognes is delightful; your name is like the finest perfume. No wonder the young women adore you! Draw me after you; let us hurry! May the king bring me into his bedroom chambers!” (Song of Songs 1:2-4).

He is right there as we deepen our relationship focus. “Who among you fears the Lord? Who obeys his servant? Whoever walks in deep darkness, without light, should trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God” (Isaiah 50:10). “Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are?” (Matthew 6:26). We are able to go along into a third stage through the crisis that world tends to throw at us. “The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!” (Lamentations 3:22-23). “The Lord is my high ridge, my stronghold, my deliverer. My God is my rocky summit where I take shelter, my shield, the horn that saves me, and my refuge” (Psalm 18:2).

When we realise the truth of today’s verse – that ALL of Adonai’s promises come to pass – we can rest in Him. Rest in the security of our obedience to the Father of Eternity, the Lord of Creation, our Saviour and Lord, our Good Father, the Merciful Adonai Elohim. “You keep completely safe the people who maintain their faith, for they trust in you. Trust in the Lord from this time forward, even in Yah, the Lord, an enduring protector!” (Isaiah 26:3-4). “Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never send away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. Now this is the will of the one who sent me—that I should not lose one person of every one he has given me, but raise them all up at the last day” (John 6:37-39).

We can totally and absolutely trust in Adonai. Completely and perfectly. In every way. With every thing. In all of our everything. It is the basis of our TRUST (faith). And without trust, we cannot approach Him (Hebrews 11:6). Because EVERYTHING is about our trust in Him (Romans 14:23). But if we truly learn to trust Him by relationshipping with Him, then there is nothing that we will not have access to. We need to realise that we have to learn to receive from Him what He wants us to have. When we are firm and secure in our relationship with Adonai, it is easier to understand what He wants. Because the lines of communication are open. We are open to hearing from Him because we are letting Him renew our minds and retrain them into thinking like He thinks. If we are in true relationship with Adonai, we will find it so much easier to walk in love because HE is love (1 John 4:8). WITH Adonai, ALL things are possible (Matthew 19:26).

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Psalm 102:25-27

“In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork. They will perish, but you will endure. They will wear out like a garment; like clothes you will remove them and they will disappear. But you remain; your years do not come to an end.” The Messiah is the Pre-existent Son. Does God (Yahweh) HAVE a son at all? Scroll 4Q246 of the Qumran Scrolls (Dead Sea Scrolls) describes the expectation in Judaism during their era: the Messiah will be “Son of God”. Proverbs 30 describes the Son of God (verse 4 especially). Daniel 7:9 describes the Son of God. Isaiah 9:6 describes Him. Micah 5:2 describes Him. Even the Jewish Book of Zohar talks of the Son of God as a specific individual sitting beside the Throne of God on His OWN throne. Psalm 2 speaks of Messiah. In verse 7, it specifically names Messiah as THE Son of God – an idea that the Jewish sages Rashi AND Radak agreed on, referring to Him as King Messiah. The term ‘Son of God’ is a biblical and scriptural term, intended to represent the way God reveals Himself to us human beings, in the personage of Messiah. Because Messiah IS the Son of God, to worship and praise the Son is the same as to worship and praise Yahweh. This is a totally different teaching than pagan religions where a male and female god/dess couple and produce an offspring. “And, “You founded the earth in the beginning, Lord, and the heavens are the works of your hands. They will perish, but you continue. And they will all grow old like a garment, and like a robe you will fold them up and like a garment they will be changed, but you are the same and your years will never run out.”” (Hebrews 1:10-12). The Word was the Son of God and was active from the beginning (John 1:1-4). Jesus was the Word and became human flesh for us (John 1:14-15). Jesus acknowledged this during His trial. “But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him, “You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”” (Matthew 26:63-64). There IS a Messiah. The Messiah IS the Son of God spoken of throughout scripture. The Messiah came and fulfilled the prophesies of a sacrificial lamb slain for our salvation and renewal into a New Covenant – fulfilling the Old Covenant. 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