Fear No Fear

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

“Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence for the entrance into the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus,“

Hebrews 10:19

When we’re kids and we’re going to take a beating, it is helpful to have a big brother to run to for help. If we don’t go running for help, it’s nice to have a big brother to help scrape us off the pavement. Siblings are a blessing because they can be there for us in so many different ways. Not everyone shares a great relationship with their siblings, that’s true. But generally speaking a sibling will help you out if you’re in trouble because family is important. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:8-9), we gain a big brother above all big brothers. We gain JESUS as our sibling. That should be a HUGE boost of confidence for all of us.

According to psychological studies, siblings (regardless of age) can bring emotional, real-life, and educational support. We can learn from them, get help from them, and be supported by them. It has been reported that siblings have a greater sense of well-being over all because they have better quality relationships with non-siblings because of their relationships with their siblings. The general take is that having a close relationship with a sibling (even if it is only in childhood) has life-long benefits for all parties concerned. That is a great advertisement for the family unit, at least in respect to siblings. Based on this we should instill conflict resolution skills in our kids very early on so that they can manage to develop good sibling relationships instead of letting petty conflicts drive them apart.

Jesus provides us with this kind of support. He is there for us to give us emotional support (Hebrews 4:15). He is there to educate us through Ruach HaKodesh (John 14:26). He is there to give us true real-life support (Hebrews 4:16). He gives us peace and a better state of our mental health (John 14:27). And He is right there, connected to us to feed us what we need so that we can flourish in our calling (John 15:1-5). Jesus is EVERYTHING we need and is there to help and support us as we walk hand in hand with Him (Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:6). Remember that WITH GOD everything is possible (Mathew 19:26). And since we are SUPPOSED to cast all of our concerns, issues, cares, anxieties, problems, and situations on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7), we KNOW we have a big brother who is not going to abandon us. He has ALREADY brought His A-game (John 16:33).

Our confidence, then, doesn’t come from what He is GOING to do. Our confidence comes from what Jesus has ALREADY done and ALREADY put into place. He planned all this before the foundation of the world. Before creation was created, we had our solutions (Ephesians 1:3-4). We aren’t trying to figure anything out. We’re not trying to make a good thing happen. We aren’t trying to wrestle the devil or the world or anyone. Our fight is in the mind. Our fight is against the strongholds WE put up and that WE gave permission for other people to put up (Ephesians 6:10-12). And we don’t fight them with OUR strength, but with Jesus’ strength. Everything we need to succeed has either already been accomplished in full, so all we need to do is engage it; OR has already been provided to us so that we can engage it. All that is for US is to trust that our big brother is on the case. That He has it. That He has done it. That it IS in fact FINISHED. All of our problems are defeated foes. They just don’t always know it.

It can be hard to see a thing blocking our way or feel a thing coming on us and not agree with it. For the vast majority of our lives we rely on our physical organs to bring us the signals that we use to make sense of the world around us. To suddenly decide to agree with God that something we cannot see, feel, taste, touch, or hear is the predominant reality goes against that experience. But an experience, even a life-long experience, can be wrong. I’ve seen videos of cows who were kept in pens (in order to produce milk) who are suddenly let free (after they’ve lost the ability to give milk) onto a different type of farm. At first they can’t believe it. And then they go on to be the cowiest cows you’ve ever seen. Prior to being put into a place of near-total freedom, they only knew totally restricted freedom. Now they know something completely different. And they ACT totally different once they get the message. We’re the same way. Total restriction of defeat and darkness. Then we accept Jesus’ salvation. Now freedom. Once we get the message, we’ll walk in it perfectly. Until then, it’s His Word against ours. Freedom is coming. Will you accept it? Or will you insist on bondage?

We need to engage what Jesus has provided for us. But we can be confident about it because of who is providing it. Because of who is offering it. Because of who is making the promise. Do you KNOW Jesus? The more you know Him the more you’ll trust Him. The more cares and diversions you will send His way. The more garbage you’ll leave at the cross. The less you’ll be tempted to go back and pick up a piece of it. The less nostalgia you’ll have for the old and broken ways you were trained up in. The more you’ll enjoy seeing the strongholds come tumbling down. Jesus’ blood shed for us was the passkey that gets us through the door. Through the door and right up to the Throne. We get there by Jesus. Hand in hand, our big brother takes us there. Protecting us all the way. And when we think He’s gone. When we think we’re all alone with the bullies approaching. That’s when Ruach HaKodesh speaks up. That’s when He points to Jesus. That’s when we KNOW that we KNOW that Jesus went nowhere. That Jesus is right there with us. And He came in total and absolute victory.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in all affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” Sometimes I have bad dreams. I wake up and I don’t like what’s been going through my head (I dream in 3D technicolor and it is as real as real life to me). And I need comfort. When it happens – which is not often – I usually feel the need to reach out and make sure my covenant partner is there. A simple touch. Holding a hand. Knowing I am not physically alone wafts away the wisps of dreamland. Other times I wake up quoting scripture. Coming against the thing I didn’t like with the Word. And I can feel silly when I catch myself, but since my dreams are so real I don’t let a real response embarrass me. Waking with the Word aloud on my lips standing against darkness is comforting too. It’s proof that Ruach HaKodesh really IS reminding me of everything Jesus has said to me (John 14:26). I never feel alone when I hear the Word rising. I feel complete. I feel full. I feel like I can FEEL the shine of Ruach HaKodesh rumbling out of me. I feel changed, charged, and cared for. He really IS a comfort. So is the Word. So is knowing that I am never alone and always have Jesus beside me. It is HIS Ruach that lives within me. What a GOOD God He is!

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