Fear No Fear

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

You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived. You shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. You shall not follow their statutes.
Leviticus 18:3 (emphasis added)

Sometimes we are told directly to not be in fear. Sometimes we are told to choose not to dwell in fear. Other times we’re told directly to rest in peace. Or to walk in perfect love (where there is no fear). In today’s verse we are given a simple entreaty: don’t do what they do. It can be said in various ways. A command. A stern warning. Or a loving parent asking simply for their children to see the big picture. One of the great principles of this world is that like calls to like. We gravitate to those who are the same as us. When we like something, we tend to like other things that are the same. The focus then becomes on what we decide to like.

Most of us have very firm likes and dislikes when it comes to food. There are things we think are the greatest and things we think were grown in the mud at low tide. Scientifically, the only thing our bodies are truly attuned to is the milk of our mother. Beyond that, everything is something we learned to like. Which means that everything is something we could end up liking. Our tastes are always changing. Research has shown that it takes eight to fifteen tries before we will accept a particular food – and we often give up well before that. It’s a process called habituation. It works with behaviour too. It can take anything from eighteen to two hundred and fifty-four times before something becomes a habit (with the ideal being at least once a day) and the average sixty-six times (or days).

It comes down to pleasure. When our brains get a pleasurable sensation, they latch onto it faster. When we deal with something that has delayed gratification, it’s harder to develop. When it comes to spiritual things, this does not change. The world is full of sensations. Feelings, sights, sounds, tastes, and more. Everything that is solid and here interacts with us on every conceivable level. We see a thing and we can get that thing. Sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes we have to purchase it. Sometimes it has to be worked for. But there is always a way to get it.

But the things of faith are unseen because faith isn’t visible. “By faith we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of God, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible” (Hebrews 11:3). Faith is how we interact with the Kingdom of God. It is necessary because we cannot reach the Lord without it (Hebrews 11:16). That is the reason the Lord GAVE us faith. “for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The Lord wants us to be with Him and in order for us to do that, we need faith. He gives us faith. But having weak faith is like having weak eyes. Weak eyes can’t see well. Weak faith can’t either. So the Lord gave us the Word. Hearing the Word builds or strengthens our faith (Romans 10:17).

God ALWAYS gives us what we need. But it is a gift. It isn’t forced upon us. We EITHER accept what He gives on HIS terms (which are light – Matthew 11:28-30), or we don’t. If we don’t, then we’re on our own. And on our own.. well.. we’re not very impressive at all. “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:5-6). We are nothing without the Lord God Almighty and end up apart from Him (Ecclesiastes 6:6). Not an auspicious future.

Now a lot of people seem to have an issue with the Book of Joshua. They have a problem reconciling the Law of Moses (first five books of the Bible) with the conquest of the Promised Land. A lot of people got killed. Whole cities and nations were wiped out to the last person and in some cases, animals. Why is that okay, they ask. How could a loving God permit that? Well, He tried. He brought the Philistines from Caphtor (Jeremiah 47:4). The Arameans from Kir (Amos 9:7-10). God has never hidden from any person in the history of the world. He keeps people in His sights. He tries to get them to choose to do what is right. To follow Him in all their ways. But the residents of the Promised Land did the opposite. They practised the killing of children. They were immoral. They worshipped things of nature and idols shaped like many creatures. They worshipped and looked to the stars and planets for guidance about their lives. They practised witchcraft, magic, sorcery, and other arts – communing with evil spirits. He tried to get them to turn back to Him for hundreds of years. Finally, their wickedness was so great the land itself rejected them (Leviticus 18:25).

What the Lord told His people entering the Promised Land was to not do what the previous tenants had. Not worship other gods. Not turn away from the Lord. Not to forget about what He says is right and wrong. Not to defile themselves with wicked ideas, wicked actions, and wicked words. To treat each other at a certain standard of behaviour which gives every person value. Everything the Lord told them to do was a benefit to them. Everything the Lord told them not to do was a benefit to them. They did not always see it that way, but it didn’t change the truth of it. ALL the problems of the children of God came because individually and as a group they would violate what the Lord said to do. When they did, the natural consequences of their actions caught up with them. If you’re not in the will of the Lord, you’re where the Blessing doesn’t hit you. It isn’t that the Lord doesn’t want to give it to you. It is the simple fact that you’re refusing it by your behaviour.

We have the SAME ADMONISHMENT from the Lord. Don’t do what they do. The world believes in themselves and relies on their own strength for everything – a major issue if there is something out of whack like a mental, emotional, or physical disorder. The world says whatever it wants. The world lives however it wants. The world looks to their feelings to complete themselves – often putting serious burdens on their significant others. The world says follow your heart, even as it changes, in order to have happiness. It is a shallow and dark path fraught with difficulty, heartache, and dependency on things other than ourselves – people. substances, or stimuli. As you can probably tell from the medical industry, the addiction control industry, the gambling industry, the junk food industry, the diet industry, the psychiatry industry, the self-help industry, the inspirational/motivational speaker industry, and the many, many programs of counselling or group lets-get-through-this-together classes, the world isn’t a great deal.

The Word takes a different road. Believe and trust in the LORD and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6). Have joy in the Lord, and He will be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Follow the Lord and you will prosper where you are (Deuteronomy 5:33). Follow the Lord and you will never be in darkness (John 8:12). We are to speak what the Lord speaks, not giving in to idle words (1 Peter 4:11). We are to speak what the Lord wants us to speak (Exodus 4:12). Words of encouragement are to be on our lips (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We are to run from lies and even the APPEARANCE of a lie, because untruth and dishonesty are the antithesis of the Lord (Exodus 20:16; Proverbs 6:12-13). Jesus completes us. Us AND our marital partners with Him as well as us alone with Him – even us and the church together with us (Colossians 2:9-10). Jesus is the all in all that completes all of us in every way one to another and with each other and through each other (Ephesians 1:22-23). Our feelings are treacherous and cannot be trusted to be reliable sources of information (Proverbs 14:12-13). Yes, they exist and are giving us information, but it is not a good way to run our lives. Instead we look to Jesus who is the finisher of our faith to advise us as to what to take on and what to give to Him (Hebrews 12:2). When we yoke to Jesus and let the Father take charge (Matthew 11:29), our path is easy. Our burdens are light. We walk in the light. We have the Holy Spirit with us (1 Corinthians 6:19). Jesus is always with us (Acts 1:4-5). It IS the way of Blessing. It IS freedom. It IS the way things were meant to be (Romans 5:10; 6:4-11).

Since this is TRUTH, what then is the problem? Why aren’t there millions upon millions of people flocking daily to the banner of the Lord to kneel at the altar and confess Him Lord? Well, because of the flesh. Because of the reality of this world to us. Sure, it may not be as real as we think — both science and the Word hint at that — but to US it IS real. Prick us and we bleed and all that. Faith is the unseen – 4D as Bill Winston calls it. Flesh is 3D: what we can see and feel and touch. It is easier to be affected by what we can see, than to choose to be affected by what is invisible to all but our spirits. Faith is a CHOICE. We are enabled to make it by the Lord who provides it, by His Grace which delivers it in spite of what we deserve and His Mercy which lets us keep us through Jesus’ resurrection. Yahweh God takes the heart of stone which Adam’s fall birthed in us, and replaces it with a heart of flesh – His (Ezekiel 36:26-27). He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us in His ways (Romans 8:14, Galatians 5:25).

It is by this Spirit that we are able to walk His path. The Spirit reveals to us the things of the Lord. He helps us understand them because He renews us with the Word when we get it into our heart with intent and on purpose. “But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except God’s Spirit. But we received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God. We also speak these things, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things. Now the natural man doesn’t receive the things of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to him; and he can’t know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is to be judged by no one. “For who has known the mind of the Lord that he should instruct him?” But we have Christ’s mind” (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).

We have – should we choose to seek the Lord for it – Christ’s mind. We will be able to – in JESUS – speak what Jesus speaks, think what Jesus thinks, do what Jesus does, and believe what Jesus believes. We will be Spirit-led believers, Spirit-fed believers, Spirit-talking believers, and Spirit-filled believers. There will be nothing impossible because God will be doing it and WITH Him nothing is impossible. We will know the Will of the Father and IF WE ARE CAREFUL AND DETERMINED we will stay within the centre of it. Not turning to the right or the left (Proverbs 4:27). Asking Him about every move, every word, and every deed. Leaving HIM to guide us, teach us, correct us, and instruct us in His Righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

It is the Word (Christ Jesus our foundation – 1 Corinthians 3:11) as expanded to our minds by the Spirit (Matthew 7:24-27) which will enable us to see the true differences between the world of men and the world of the Lord. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another builds on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it” (1 Corinthians 3:10). What will you set your eyes on? The things of God or the things of the world? On His media, or on social media? On His words or the world’s words? On politics and music and entertainment, or on the Word and teaching and exhortation by the saints He has sent to instruct us? What is it that you will do? What is it that you will look at? What is it that you will build? What thoughts? What words? What actions?

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks that he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He has taken the wise in their craftiness.” And again, “The Lord knows the reasoning of the wise, that it is worthless.” Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours,” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21). Do not be deceived. Seek the Lord FIRST AND FOREMOST (Matthew 6:33). Do not do as the other peoples of the world have done. Do not follow their guidance. Do not follow their wisdom. It is ashes. It is nothing. Invest your time and build your faith on things of the Lord God Almighty. It will NOT be a disappointment. It will NOT be a waste. It will NOT be ashes. It will be the Rainbow of His Covenant (Genesis 9:13).

What is this all saying? The ones who are in the world, the ones OUTSIDE of the Lord’s yard. They are walking in something that is not of the Lord. They are walking in fear. They live in the presence of agitation, sometimes painful, when facing the circumstances of this world. There is a reluctance, sometimes a dread, to face or meet a person or situation – sometimes going as far as developing strategies of anxiety. Their courage is based on doing what you do not want to do in order to prevent the harm you are assuming is coming. It can be timidity, trembling, and trepidation in minor and major ways. It can be unreasoning and overmastering panic causing hysterical activity or irrational reactions. It can be as simple as assuming the worst always happens because it’s Monday or flu season or it always happens anyway. It can be packaged as karma. It can be packaged as Murphy’s Law. It can be packaged as evolution – social or physical. It can be packaged as vulnerability. It can be packaged and experienced in a million different ways. But it is ALL fear. Fear of loss, fear of hurt, fear of acceptance, fear of benefits, fear of bad, fear of good, fear of things going where you’re not prepared, fear of things going where they have gone before. Fear, fear, fear, fear.

God does FAITH. Faith in Him. Faith in the promise. Faith in His guidance. Faith in His gifts. He ONLY does good. He ONLY does love. He ONLY does peace. He ONLY does kindness. He ONLY does gentleness. He ONLY does forbearance. He ONLY does faithfulness. He ONLY does self-control. These are the things that He IS. When we connect to HIM this fruit can also be in our lives. And it destroys fear because we are in JESUS, Jesus is the WORD, and the devil flees from the WORD (James 4:7). Submit to the Lord Jesus, abide in Him, rest in Him, live in His love, and you will find yourself well able to resist the devil with the Word. The enemy will ALWAYS flee from the Word wielded in FAITH. Do you feel fear when the enemy shows up? You’re feeling HIS FEAR NOT YOURS (2 Timothy 1:7). Don’t go down to his level, force him to deal with you on yours: the Resurrection Anointing of Jesus Christ who Lives in You (Romans 6:10-11). We do NOT have to experience fear in ANY of its forms. NEVER EVER. We have been set FREE from fear (Isaiah 12:2-3).

Do not walk in the world. Walk in the Word. Do not do what the world’s wisdom dictates. Do what the wisdom of the Lord says is right. Do not do what those before you have done just because it is a well-trod path. Follow the Lord in all things, be guided in all things, turn from fear in all things, embrace faith in all things, and let the Lord set the path, the pace, and the destination. You will NEVER regret it. You WILL live a life of victory and overcoming in Jesus the overcomer who came to give us LIFE and free us from death (John 10:10). Life in HIM is ALWAYS abundant and free from fear.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Lamentations 1:16

This is the Old Covenant. This is the devil who used the snake to trick Eve who laid an option before Adam that he chose to take. This is the devil taking the authority of this world and the right to bring death with every step to everyone he can. This is an affirmation of God’s love because God had no intention of letting the situation stand (Genesis 3:15). Jesus came to show us the Father and introduce us to His Spirit (John 14:26). The comforter who would be with us always (Romans 15:12, 1 Corinthians 6:19). The Spirit of power, love, and self-control (1 Timothy 1:7). The Spirit of truth (John 16:13). The Spirit who refreshes our soul (Psalm 23:3, 2 Corinthians 5:17). Since the Holy Spirit teaches us and instructs us in God’s Righteousness, we have a teacher. A teacher who does NOT reject us or refuse us or ignore us or leave us on our own. The Holy Spirit deals with us and ALL OUR CHILDREN – physical & natural as well as spiritual – (Isaiah 54:13-17). The Lord Jesus has prevailed against the enemy (Colossians 2:15). He is the end of things, He is the beginning of things, He is in all things everywhere (Colossians 3:9-11). He gives us compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance. The ability to rest in Him and forgive others around us. to have His HEART dwelling in us richly (Colossians 3:14-17). Whenever our flesh gets up to lament our oh-so-sad feelings or our oh-so-terrible circumstances, get out the Word and remind it with praise and thanksgiving to the Father that you are the HEAD not the TAIL in JESUS YOUR LORD (Deuteronomy 28:13). Remind it that in JESUS, you are an overcomer because Jesus overcame EVERYTHING (John 16:33). Put those feelings down, those circumstances down, and lift up the Father who by His Spirit and through Jesus His Son, will guide you and lead you and get you where He wants you doing what He wants and when He wants. Praise the Lord, He is MORE THAN ENOUGH for ANYTHING that comes your way.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.