Fear No Fear

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

“And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces patient endurance, and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

Romans 5:3-5

Paul has given us a list here. Paul liked lists. He uses them a lot. They fall into two categories. First, this IS our stuff. Second, this is NOT our stuff. All of his lists show us what we should be avoiding because it is not compatible with life in Jesus, or what we should be engaging because it is a very real part of life in Jesus. We’re to be opening our eyes to godly possibilities or closing them to worldly realities. To be wise in the things of Adonai, and ignorant about ungodly things (Romans 16:19). And it all comes down to love. His love.

Adonai calls us to tasks, places, and people (Ephesians 2:10). When He calls us, He empowers us and gives us the tools to ensure that we can do what we are called to do (Hebrews 13:21). He trains us in the tools and educates us about the power through His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17). There is time between the call and the sent out on the call to make sure we are prepared and ready. This is because He loves us and doesn’t want to see us fail. It is also because we need time to recognise and realise His love. Because THAT is where the equipment is. And it is equipment good for EVERY situation and EVERYTHING that comes before us. It is ALL PURPOSE because love is His purpose.

“For God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). Why did He give us self-discipline? Because we have free will and need to make CHOICES. Among those choices is whether or not we will be using what He has given us, or whether we will be rebelling. We are called to obedience, not to what WE want. This is something to be GRATEFUL for (it doesn’t always feel like it), because what HE has given us is MORE THAN ENOUGH for EVERYTHING we meet in life from ants to AK-47s. Whenever ANYTHING happens, approaches, arrives, or LOOKS like it MIGHT arrive, we need to engage our self-discipline and use what He has given us. Specifically: His LOVE.

Ruach HaKodesh poured it into us, right? We have it. Adonai IS love, so it is the very character of Adonai that has been given to us and is currently filling us up. What is the CHARACTER of love? 1 Corinthians 13, especially verses 4-7: “Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, it does not boast, it does not become conceited, it does not behave dishonorably, it is not selfish, it does not become angry, it does not keep a record of wrongs, it does not rejoice at unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” What is PRODUCED by the character of love? “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). His Fruit. This is what is in us. Like 1 Corinthians 13 says, if we are not operating in His love, we’re just flailing around operating. It’s the difference between making noise with your mouth and singing. One is productive. The other simply is.

The issue we often face is when we put ‘I’ into it. OUR efforts. OUR patience. OUR love. Because those feelings aren’t always there, right? We pray for patience and religious thought says that Adonai then grants us the opportunity to be patient. That’s garbage thinking. We pray for patience because we don’t realise that we have HIS. We haven’t gotten that revelation. We don’t need new opportunities to practise or develop patience. We don’t need difficulties to make us strong. We don’t need problems to solve to be wise. We don’t need dangers to overcome to have courage. We don’t need troubled people to help to get love. This is ridiculous religious thinking. One of the tips that is true is that the world loves this kind of thing. Celebrates that thinking. You want wisdom? Ask for it (James 1:5). We have commands to be courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6, for example) and the instruction to take it from His hand (Psalm 31:24). Patience is a Fruit of Ruach that we have access to. We have His love POURED into us. We already HAVE all these things OR the ability and directives to engage them. We MUST stop thinking we have to work at it or develop it in and of ourselves. We don’t. We’ve been GIVEN everything we need. We only need to engage it.

When we have a situation, we don’t need patience. We need to use HIS patience. We don’t need to be kind, we need to use HIS kindness. HIS gentleness. HIS wisdom. HIS joy. HIS strength. His EVERYTHING! We need to USE what we have been given and stop looking for our own junior mint version of it. Why focus on getting what we have? Why try and make our own version of it? Why try? We can ENGAGE. We can use what HE put into us. He put it there for us to use. Imaging being given a car that is in your name, fully insured, top of the line, full of gas, you have the keys, you’ve been placed into the driver’s seat, you have a license and the ability to drive. The vehicle has been turned on, your safety belt is securely fastened, all the mirrors and seats adjusted. And you sit there asking Adonai for a way to get to work. Doesn’t make sense, does it? But we do that on a DAILY basis. We need to learn to not only TRUST Adonai, but to BELIEVE what Ruach HaKodesh is telling us. We can rely on HIS strength, HIS joy, HIS wisdom, HIS power, HIS kindness, HIS faithfulness, HIS sword, HIS armour, HIS shield, HIS strong tower, etc etc etc

Ruach HaKodesh is ALWAYS speaking to us about what we can do and what we can engage. He points us to the Word and explains how we can engage it. This is CONSTANT teaching, CONSTANT corrections, CONSTANT guidance, and CONSTANT leadership. We need to LISTEN. We need to OBEY. We need to SUBMIT and we need to DO IT. The hard part is in our minds, NOT in the things themselves. That is EASY. But taking our eyes off of our FEELINGS long enough to LISTEN TO HIM and then OBEY – whether the feels ever show up or not – THAT is the difficulty. THAT is the battle. We get to take heart, though, because we have the most awesome general, the best instructor, and a commander that has already won the war for us! Start practicing using HIS equipment instead of trying to develop your own. Use what He has given you the ability and authority to use. Start today and spend every day practising. This is the walk we’re called to. This is the journey we’re empowered to complete. This is OUR inheritance in Jesus.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Mark 5:36

“But Jesus, ignoring what was said, told the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid—only believe!”” When we listen to Jesus, we build trust in Him. But we have to BELIEVE Him. It isn’t enough to trust, we MUST believe. We can be grateful that He has given us HIS trust and the ability to believe in Him. It is the greatest gift. We can trust. We can believe. We can ignore what other people are saying and focus ONLY on what Jesus is saying. He is TRUTH. We should be listening to Him. We can ALSO be grateful because He NEVER leaves, ALWAYS stays, and CONSTANTLY talks to us through Ruach HaKodesh and His own voice. He doesn’t wait until we discover things on our own. He teaches us. He talks to us. He is in CONSTANT communication with us! 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