Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

What fell amongst the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.
Luke 8:14 (emphasis added)

Growth is slow. Ask any child who has planted seeds. They’re out there everyday checking. Anything yet? Anything yet? Anything yet? Sometimes they dig them up to check, and then are doubly disappointed when you tell them they killed the plant by checking it. It takes a long time. It’s a patient game. Or a game where you learn patience. Our spiritual lives are like that too. Success means to race slowly. When we move slowly enough to stop ourselves from stepping wrong, we remain in the most important relationship of our lives — Yahweh God Almighty. Even when we are racing around, we can achieve slowness. It simply means examination. Sprinters go as fast as they can, but they are trained to be paying attention to their steps and their form so that they can achieve the greatest speeds they can. In the Lord, by the Holy Spirit, we can do — and should do — the same.

“Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5-6). “How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my disobedience and my sin” (Job 13:23). “I considered my ways, and turned my steps to your statutes” (Psalm 119:59). “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to Yahweh” (Lamentations 3:40). We are made and called to examine ourselves to make sure that we are walking where and when we should. But we alone are a TERRIBLE metric on what we are to be doing (Isaiah 55:8-9). Under the Old Covenant, we had the Law as our metric. Under the New Covenant, we fulfil the old in Jesus as we are led by the Spirit (Galatians 5:18). It is ONLY the Holy Spirit and the Word that the Spirit proclaims that should be our guide. It was how Jesus operated (Luke 4:1) and we are called to be like Jesus in our walk.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the children of God. For you didn’t receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”” (Romans 8:14-15). We are to listen to the Spirit. The Spirit proclaims the words of Jesus, which is the Word. And Jesus only says what the Father gives Him to say. So Jesus speaks the Will of the Father, the Word IS the Will of the Father, and the Spirit aligns with the Word and proclaims the Will of the Father. They will ALL agree and the Word will NEVER be contradicted. We KNOW the voice of the Lord (John 10:27). We hear it, and it is not always easy for us (Genesis 22). Sometimes we are asked for action without explanation, but we KNOW that it is the Lord asking. It can be uncomfortable, but it is NOT a time for fear.

When we are obedient, we don’t always understand. That’s all right when we are plugged into the Word and in tune with the Will of the Father. The Lord is righteous. Righteousness implies integrity and objectivity — only Yahweh God Most High has that! We can seek clarity when aspects of a situation confuse us – but never to argue. Or delay. Or doubt. We should only seek enough clarity to proceed with obedience. We should be ever ready for the supernatural to occur, instead of being confused when things don’t happen the way our rational, natural minds say they should.

Confusion isn’t an act, but a condition brought about by ambiguity. Of not quite knowing what to do. We’re empowered and enabled to take risks and at the leading of the Holy Spirit, step outside our comfort zones at His direction, and grow under His watchful gaze. Negativity always delays divine destiny. It’s that freewill thing again. We can choose to allow Him to act or we can bind His hands (Matthew 18:18-20) with our refusal — and He WILL go somewhere else (2 Chronicles 16:9).

We need to be ready to obey before He asks. To be fully present and at His command. We need to be saying, ‘Here I am, Lord!’ as soon as He calls our name – not when the task is laid out or explained to us (that can come later). Complete obedience from the get go. Not unmindful or slavish. Purposeful with intent. Chosen with open eyes, open hearts, and a mind bent on Him (Romans 8:5). It can be an issue for us because of our humanity. Because of our rational minds that operate from a place of fear – only what we can understand and observe and prove and rely on. We need to move in faith. But when we let fear cloud our ears, that message or assignment or revelation gets choked out. Fear loves to choke. It is the way it prefers to operate. Like a blanket that fits your form, clogs your mouth and mind, and prevents you from breathing in the faith that you should.

Ever tried eating something that is too much for you? Or wolfing something down because you’re in a hurry? When we take our eyes off the slow meal of the Lord’s Supper and start to eat whatever is around us, sooner or later we are going to choke. Too much food, too much input that isn’t good, too much greed, too much, too much, too much. When we get into that rut it is very hard to get out. It’s like informational gluttony. Excess in eating and drinking that which does NOT feed our minds or spirits. “Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness. Turn your year, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:2-3).

Jesus knew about food that was more than physical. “Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work” (John 4:34). Without abiding in Jesus, we can’t get from the Father directly – His Righteousness would burn us up. Instead, we feed on the Word and on the Holy Spirit through which we spiritually consume the bread and water that IS Jesus. “I will give you shepherds according to my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah 3:15). “Most certainly, I tell you, he who believes in me has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and they died. This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, that anyone may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Yes, the bread which I will give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:47-51). “When he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “Take, eat. This is my body, which is broken for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way he also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink, in memory of me”” (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).

We need to feed. We need to test what we feed on (1 Thessalonians 5:21). We need to trust that what we hear from the Lord IS the Lord (Ephesians 1:13-14). We do that by submitting in total obedience. “Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones” (Proverbs 3:5-8). The Word in our heart is the cornerstone of it all (Ephesians 2:19-22). We know that if we will seek the Lord, He will seek us (Psalm 34:4). But are we ready for that? Are we ready to listen? Are we ready to obey? Or have we been feeding ourselves the wrong things, choking down food that is of no benefit to us (1 Corinthians 6:12, 10:23).

It is living in and through fear to NOT be ready. It is living in and through fear to NOT be listening. It is living in and through fear to NOT be feeding on what is good from the Lord. We need it in our ears, before our eyes, in our mouths, and stored up in our hearts. When we do, we are ready. Ready to listen to that voice that we KNOW is the Lord. To walk where He leads, do what He asks, regardless of our understanding. That’s part of faith. Following where He leads. Many of the most startling moves of the Lord in the Word start with someone taking a radical chance, doing something far from their norm at His leading. But when we are obedient and willing to let Him do what He wants, when He wants, how He wants, and where He wants there is literally NOTHING that cannot be accomplished (Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26, Philippians 4:13).

When we move where He wants, His patience can help us as the seed grows. We won’t be chomping at the bit or chomping on the wrong food. “Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:7-8). Grounded in the Word, we have all that we need to persevere in Jesus (James 1:12, Hebrews 10:36). Eat the Word, take Communion, rest in Jesus, obey His directions. Ask for clarity when needed, but only as much as needed to move forward in obedience, having tested the direction against the Word, which will always agree with the Father. We that love the Lord, will obey the commands of the Lord (John 14:15). The Spirit of Truth will help us as we walk in His ways (John 14:16-18). Always. Don’t fear, don’t be choked, trust and obey the Lord.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: 1 Corinthians 14:32-33

No one likes being confused. It can be embarrassing. It can be awkward. It doesn’t feel good. It keeps us from being productive. When we are confused, it opens us up to error. We almost LEAP at the chance to have peace of mind. Like it was hard-wired into us. We want to know that it is so. Whatever the thing is. But God loves us. He does not WANT us confused. He wants us to be certain. Not about all the details, but about HIM. If we are certain about HIM then we KNOW that He will not lead us astray (Proverbs 3:5-7, John 14:26, 1 John 3:7). In the tumultuous times that are upon this earth, it is EASY to be confused. We’re running at such a rapid pace that things are changing even before they’re finished being changed. Do not be confused. Do not pick up flopsy doctrine. Do not pick up untested words. Test everything — the Spirit of the Lord will shine through everything that is good and TRUE. Don’t be confused but rely on the spirit that the Lord gave you when you were saved (2 Timothy 1:7). The Spirit of TRUTH lives within us (John 16:13). Utilise the gift that is to us. Talk to Him, LISTEN to Him, and be guided by Him. Approach Him ready to be visited by the supernatural. It will always align with the Word, for the Spirit of Truth speaks nothing BUT truth and the Word IS truth (John 17:17). Get guidance from Him, instructions from Him, actions from Him, news from Him, and everything else you need. It is how we will navigate this world. It is how we will remain obedient, faithful, and undeceived (1 John 4:6).

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.