Fear No Fear

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

Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you through an empty, deceitful philosophy that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Colossians 2:8 (emphasis added)

Kings maintain the peace of the realm, oversee the administration of justice, and to uphold the rule of law in the land. In the ancient world they were absolute monarchs, which means a government in which the will of the monarch is positive law–which means they were the ones setting the law of the land. Their authority was vested in the monarch, an individual ruler who functions as the head of state. In this world, humanity was given dominion (Genesis 1:26-28), but we gave up our dominion by passing responsibility (Genesis 3:8-19) and the devil inherited it–stole it–from our choice to NOT trust in Elohim and VIOLATE His direct command (Genesis 2:15-17). The devil became the ruler of this world (Matthew 4:8-9; John 12:31-33) and started immediately to make it run according to his ideas, his rules, and his nature (John 10:10). We–all the descendants of Fallen Adam–have been born into that system and learned it. “And although you were dead in your offences and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the domain of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energising the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

What have we learned? Selfishness. Disobedience. Hate. Strife. Fear. Lies. And the worst: what we see is all that is, while at the same time acknowledging what we think we see cannot be trusted. This is how the world runs. It is designed to be a reflection of the Kingdom. Not a clear one, but a funhouse mirror. Dirty. Twisted. One meant to torment, drain, and kill. Knowing that he will never get our worship because of who he is (he is NOT worthy of worship); he trades for it, threatens for it, cajoles for it, lies for it, begs for it, and kills for it. He takes the principles of life , reverses them, and promotes them as inexorable laws of ‘life’–meaning death. All the very best that he has set up, promoted, or dangled as carrots in this world is designed to hurt and kill us. Everything. There is NOTHING he has his hands in that isn’t meant to destroy us. ANYTHING good that exists is because Elohim isn’t standing idle (James 1:17) – and I don’t mean subjectively good because of how it feels (for example, there are foods out there that are delicious, but every bite gets you closer to the grave). This world’s systems are corrupt, not good for you, and STEEPED in lies. Musicians are compromised in order to make it to the top. So are most entertainers. Anyone you see the world promoting is–knowingly or not–compromised and selling their message. Sometimes, we don’t even know it’s a message.

Take teenagers. Why is it they are supposed to be unruly and surly and anti-parent? Because the world tells us that. THEY are told that. Entertainment, fashion, psychology, parenting magazines, teen magazines, schools, etc etc. Passively or actively the terrible teens message is pushed. What do we hear a lot? ‘Adolescence comes with the mandate to strike out on your own, form your own identity, and detach from your parents.’ But biblically that full detachment shouldn’t happen before marriage (Genesis 2:24). The teen time with parents is training wheel adulting. They get to stretch out, learn, and grow, yes. But with a loving parental safety net where they are assisted and encouraged, not told how to do it or have it done for them. That extra time strengthens the identity of the child who is getting to explore themselves and ideas of life from a Word-based safety net, a full-term identity as it were instead of premature attempts to cobble something together–dooming them to ‘find themselves’ in their twenties. Supported in the home they get stronger training, a better and more complex sense of self, a sense of responsibility, a sense of family life, etc, all BEFORE they have to totally support the whole unit of adulthood on their own. If we followed the model instead of agreeing with the world’s idea of adolescence, there would be very little ‘I don’t know how to adult’ or ‘adulting is hard’ out there. We would have more confident adults running around (even should they choose not to marry and still leave the home later). We’d have a more capable group of people out there. But that isn’t the message that is pushed.

It’s the same with the terrible twos. I’ve had five kids go through the period with zero evidence of these twos. I didn’t expect them. We didn’t experience them. No, every day wasn’t a party. But there was nothing like what we were told to expect. I’m not getting standard teenagers either. They don’t accept the message of the world at its face value. They hear it, but they investigate it. They ask questions. They’re told honest answers. We work through things. It’s the same with sexuality. Why are we accepting the message that you have to do it? That it’s a part of dating/being in a relationship? That all teens are huge bundles of hormones? That you need to experiment and check things out and… it’s exhausting and foolish. Our society thinks that way because we’re taught to BE that way. I’m not saying be repressed, don’t properly educate, etc. But why are we saying we’re animals with no control? Without even using the word ‘sin’ you can find DOZENS of passages in the Word showing how there is a better way to handle ALL these aspects of our lives in a way that DOESN’T hurt us long or short term. But the world doesn’t want us thinking that. The devil doesn’t want us thinking that.

Lies. For every bit of truth, there are a dozen lies. Political ideology is trumping even the science the world does. If they research and discover that the facts don’t line up with the agenda or talking points? The research is buried and the researchers paid off. That’s the devil’s playbook. Don’t tell the truth. Bend the facts. Ignore what doesn’t fit. Stick to what SOUNDS or FEELS good. “Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He isn’t playing around. But the devil has no power we don’t give him. “I will not speak with you much longer, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me” (John 14:30). Jesus broke that hold. Jesus took the authority the devil usurped. We do not need to walk in ignorance of what the truth is (John 17:17). And we are NOT to walk alone. “Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering” (1 Peter 5:9). So why are so many believers walking in hurt? Why are so many believers not victorious over sickness? Disease? Anxiety? Depression? Mental problems? Physical problems? Emotional problems? Identity problems? ANY problems (real OR imagined)? I’m not talking about us rushing around to ‘fix’ anyone with a program, retreat or style/type of therapy. I’m talking about believers believing what Jesus said and letting Adonai do what He wants to do.

Jesus suffered and died to release healing for all of time. For all things not whole. For anything missing something. For anything not completely functioning exactly as intended. These are demonstrable truths of the Word and have been for almost two thousand years. Why are we buying the lies? Why are we letting the devil or the world convince us that Elohim isn’t who He says He is. That the Word doesn’t say what it says it does. Why are we swallowing the lies that things in the world as we find them are more real than Adonai? More real than what Adonai says is true? It should be the absolute opposite. “What then? If some were unfaithful, their unfaithfulness will not nullify God’s faithfulness, will it? Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”” (Romans 3:3-4). Adonai is absolutely faithful. Adonai is absolutely truthful. He isn’t here to judge, but to show mercy. He is offering Grace to you. He has defeated the king of this world. The world’s sovereign is powerless and helpless. “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). Jesus came to bring us TRUTH. Don’t settle for a lie. Not from the system the devil nurtured. Not from the devil. Not from our friends. Not from our enemies. Not from anyone.

It is not our job to fix people. It is the Word’s job to fix people. It’s our job to bring that message of love to the world so the world can see it, hear it, and embrace it (whether they do or not is above our pay grade). But if WE don’t believe it, why would they? Stop listening to the lies of who you are not, and stop listening to the reports that agree with his philosophy. Start listening to what Adonai says that you are. Start paying attention to what Adonai says you can be. Do that. Say that. Agree with Adonai. Speak HIS words. We get so caught up with what the world says and thinks. We need to pay attention to Messiah Jesus. To HIS doctrine. To HIS point of view. To make sure that all we say, do, and believe about ourselves is not based on something our bestie told us in grade 7. Or the bully from grade 10. Or any empty Talking Heads belabouring points that have ceased to hold any meaning for anyone in any significant way. Everything about us should be based on Messiah Jesus. In EVERY SINGLE WAY. Anything else is foolishness and a trap to keep you from receiving everything Adonai Elohim is offering to you (John 10:10). Trust Him starting now, and work on that trust consistently.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Isaiah 53:10

“Though the Lord desired to crush him and make him ill, once restitution is made, he will see descendants and enjoy long life, and the Lord’s purpose will be accomplished through him.” Messiah would prosper. He would fail in nothing. He would glorify Elohim. He would do and be and say everything that was given to Him. He would lose no one and nothing. Messiah would be prosperous. “When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you—just as you have given him authority over all humanity, so that he may give eternal life to everyone you have given him. Now this is eternal life—that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you sent. I glorified you on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me at your side with the glory I had with you before the world was created” (John 17:1-5). Jesus failed in nothing. Jesus modelled the Father every day of His ministry. He came to show us the Father, and He did. He made the way for relationship. Jesus prospered in everything He put His hand to. Jesus IS Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b