Fear No Fear

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

But the loyal love of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to their children’s children,

Psalm 103:17

This is a promise that acknowledges our fleetingness on this Earth based on the eternal character of Adonai. The last three verses have touched on the passing nature of our physical existence in fallen bodies – the result of our rebellion against Adonai (Genesis 3). As long as death exists, our meat suit is going to perish. It wasn’t meant to be like this, but it temporarily is like this. Since it is, we live briefly and then pass. What good then, would our praise to Adonai be if it is all so fleeting? Flickers of match flames in the night? No. Adonai’s eternal nature enables so much more. Our praises to Him, our genuine gratitude of thanksgiving, produces a harvest reaching beyond our own brief lives – no matter how long they are – into the lives of our grandchildren. THAT is something to be grateful for!

“He who is good will leave an inheritance to his grandchildren, and stored up for the righteous is the wealth of a sinner” (Proverbs 13:22). We often look at this as good people leaving a physical inheritance for their grandchildren, and that IS a good thing to do. But is ALSO speaks to the principle of thanksgiving and gratitude toward Adonai – which is a GOOD attitude to have. When we have a good attitude of gratitude to Adonai, it AUTOMATICALLY leaves an inheritance for our grandchildren. It is not a carrot on a stick, a bribe to get you to be thankful. It is a proof of the Kingdom. Because EVERYTHING in the Kingdom is about other people. The Kingdom is SELFLESS and not SELFISH. This is THE thing that the devil got wrong. He thought ME and when he did, he lost his place. As soon as we put ourselves in the foreground, we lose. When we put others first – especially Adonai – we gain. “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). When we do it the Kingdom Way, we can’t lose for winning.

Adonai does NOT forget our relationship with Him. Adonai does NOT forget the sacrifices of praise that we bring to Him. Instead, He HONOURS it and us. “But I will not take all of the kingdom from his hand, but I will make him a leader all the days of his life for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my ordinances” (1 Kings 11:34). This statement that He was acting toward them for the sake of what David did (versus what THEY did), is NOT a standalone statement. You see it all throughout the records of the Kings of Israel and Judah. Again and again, Adonai shows mercy because David loved Him. Because David worshipped Him. Because David repented before Him. David’s godly behaviour – and he was far from perfect – made a difference in the lives of not only his children and grandchildren, but in his nation for CENTURIES to come. THIS is the eternal nature of Adonai’s favour. In fact, because of David, we got Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of the covenant with David which was an extension of the covenant with Abraham. And Adonai treats believers in Jesus according to what JESUS did, not what THEY do (Psalm 103:10).

Ruach HaKodesh reminds us of this principle. He helps us to stir it up within us. Realising WHO WE ARE IN JESUS: “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin on our behalf, in order that we could become the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We don’t simply get to make it into Heaven. We get to enter into the KINGDOM. That means living, working, resting, and existing INSIDE THE BLESSING, not just being BLESSED. Adonai loves ALL His creation. Adonai blesses ALL humanity (Matthew 5:45). We get to be SO MUCH MORE in Jesus. We get to be SONS and DAUGHTERS of Adonai (John 1:12-13). It’s so easy to forget this. That’s why we hear about it constantly from Ruach HaKodesh. That’s why He is always showing us what we could be. Always asking us why we’re not trusting Jesus in the circumstance that we are in. He is ALWAYS pointing to Jesus, because it is IN JESUS that we have victory. That we overcome. That we get to become MORE THAN WE ARE – John 15:5.

Knowing that we can be transformed in and through Jesus should be a source of thanksgiving in our lives. A foundation of gratefulness. But KNOWING that because of the eternal nature of Adonai, the BLESSING He extends to us He will extend to our children and our children’s children AT A MINIMUM should make us shout for joy EVERY time we think about them. We’re not only preparing ourselves, but all those who come after us. We are working at a spiritual homestead interconnected with all the other believer’s spiritual homesteads to create a spiritual megalopolis of BLESSINGS and FAVOUR all from the simple act of treating Adonai the way He deserves to be treated. Nothing special. Nothing extra. Just interacting with Him the way He has asked us to. The way He has showed us to. Giving Him honour and glory because He is Yahweh Elohim Almighty. THAT is the reason we worship Him. And that is the reason He honours it. Heartfelt gratitude ALWAYS attracts BLESSING. Love creating in us love which draws more love which makes for an abundant life for us and those after us (3 John 2).

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Deuteronomy 28:4

“Blessed will be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your livestock, the calf of your cattle and the lambs of your flock.” This world is built on a foundation of fear of loss. Anyone connected to it worries. What will happen to me? What will happen to my kids? What will happen to my possessions? It is inevitable. It is the reality of life outside of covenant with Adonai – no matter how godly your behaviour (Job 3:25). Which is why Adonai established a covenant with Abraham. He KNEW that Abraham would teach his children about the proper way to worship, follow, and obey Adonai. “For I have chosen him, that he will command his children and his household after him that they will keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham that which he said to him” (Genesis 18:19). That was important because if Abraham’s children and grandchildren didn’t worship and follow Adonai, it would have been a WASTE of BLESSING. Adonai knew he would bless Abraham’s kids and grandkids. But if they didn’t know HIM, it would be wasted. They wouldn’t walk in the fullness of it. How could they listen and obey in order to have a successful life if they didn’t know Him? Abraham’s faithfulness in teaching Adonai’s ways to his kids and grandkids paved the way for the BLESSING to be an ACTIVE part in their lives, not a PASSIVE anointing. It paved the Way for them NOT to worry. Not about their families. Not about their possessions. It paved the Way for them to not have worry about their lives. Instead, they would be able to TRUST their Shepherd. FOLLOW their Shepherd. BELIEVE their Shepherd. And live lives far exceeding the circumstances they found themselves in. Adonai is forward-thinking and wants us to be as well. If we will trust and believe Him, putting Him first and humbly submitting to Him, He WILL take care of not only ourselves, but our children, our grandchildren, our possessions, and our property. 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