Fear No Fear

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

You were wearied with the length of your ways; yet you didn’t say, ‘It is in vain.’ You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren’t faint.
Isaiah 57:10 (emphasis added)

That is abiding in Jesus in a nutshell. We get weary because our flesh gets tired. Physically tired, tired of the process, tired of waiting for the gimmie-it-now. But we choose not to give up. We do not let those words come out as a declaration. Instead, we lean into Jesus. We find a revival of our strength. And because of that, we are not faint of heart. Because of our willingness to stay faithful to the idea that God will provide, we do NOT fear.

The question is whether or not we can continue to choose to trust the Lord or whether we will decide not to trust the Lord in a given way. Every single temptation that we come across — or that comes across us — is that question. Will you continue to trust the Lord? In Eden, Eve and then Adam were tasked with continuing to trust the Lord or step out on their own. They stepped (Genesis 3). In the desert, Jesus was tasked with continuing to trust that the Lord would provide for His physical needs or step out on His own and meet His need (Matthew 4:2–4). Jesus was tasked with continuing to trust that the Lord would protect Him or step on His own and let angels catch Him (Matthew 4:5–7). Jesus was tasked with continuing to trust that the Lord had a plan or step out on His own and take the earth back from the devil Himself (Matthew 4:8–10). Jesus did NOT step. He used the Word to stand on the truth that physical needs were less important than spiritual needs. He used the Word to stand on the truth that just because God is ABLE to do a thing, you should not try and force Him to PROVE it. He used the Word to stand on the truth that putting the Lord in ALL THINGS is the only proper worship and the only proper way to operate. Jesus submitted to God, used the Word to resist the devil, and “then the devil left him” (Matthew 4:11a).

James 4:7 says “Be subject therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This was James the full blood brother of Jesus. He didn’t believe that Jesus was the Messiah until the cross. But looking back, how much did he learn looking at how Jesus lived his life? In how Jesus walked out his beliefs? How many examples of following a godly principle from the Word did he have? Is that where he got this lesson? Because all throughout His recorded life, Jesus used the Word when confronted with the devil or any aspect of the Kingdom of Darkness. He said again and again that ‘it is written’. He consistently went apart to fast and pray. He sought the Father’s face on a daily basis. He subjected Himself to the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Word. Because He did, His faith was always ready (Matthew 17:21). Always strong. Always prepared for whatever the Father wanted. Jesus TRUSTED that the Father had His best interests in heart. That He would NEVER ask for something that wasn’t good, right, just, and proper (Matthew 7:11). It was always a struggle, but Jesus also always trusted that the Father would sustain Him throughout the struggle (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The struggle is real and hard. “Did then that which is good become death to me? May it never be! But sin, that it might be shown to be sin, was producing death in me through that which is good; that through the commandment sin might become exceedingly sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am fleshly, sold under sin. For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I don’t practice what I desire to do; but what I hate, that I do. But if what I don’t desire, that I do, I consent to the law that it is good. So now it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing. For desire is present with me, but I don’t find it doing that which is good. For the good which I desire, I don’t do; but the evil which I don’t desire, that I practice. But if what I don’t desire, that I do, it is no more I that do it, but sin which dwells in me. I find then the law that, while I desire to do good, evil is present. For I delight in God’s law after the inward person, but I see a different law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity under the law of sin which is in my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! So then with the mind, I myself serve God’s law, but with the flesh, sin’s law” (Romans 7:13–25).

Our flesh NEVER wants to rest. NEVER wants to wait. NEVER wants to do anything that doesn’t lead to immediate gratification. It learns no lessons. It thinks feelings are the most important things. If it can’t see it, touch it, and taste it, it doesn’t exist. Which includes things across town, across the country, or across the world. Why do we litter? We can’t see the impact and it’s easier. Why do we pollute? We can’t see the impact and it’s easier. Why do we sin? We can’t see the impact and it’s easier. But just like pollution and litter, there IS an impact. Oh, maybe we can’t see it, but it is there all the same. Unfortunately, unlike litter and pollution, sin is always fatal. “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Our flesh doesn’t see it. Our flesh is blind. It relies on our spirit to tell our mind what to do. How to protect it. It is like a little child. Doesn’t know things. Doesn’t understand how things work. Doesn’t realise the consequences of its actions. And without a parent to teach them, guide them, educate them, and correct them, a child doesn’t stand a chance. We are the same way.

Without the Holy Spirit and the Word (and one other VITAL thing) to guide us, educate us, correct us, and teach us, we don’t stand a chance. What is the other thing? Jesus. Because without Jesus to be grafted to, we are nothing. The flesh counts for nothing and does nothing for us (John 6:63). “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” (John 15:5). In JESUS, we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). “Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20–21). Jesus is the source of our authority because it is HIS authority. He lets us wield it according to the Will of the Lord, which is the Word of God. He does the work, not us. His is the glory and honour and power. We’re just servants. Beloved children. We are not the boss. It is not OUR will, but HIS will that should be sought after, followed, and not deviated from (Mark 14:36 and Luke 22:42). “For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

This is how we find rest. This is how we stand. At every opportunity we remind ourselves that we are not in charge. We’re not the driver, we’re the engine. We need fuel. Not body fuel. Spiritual fuel. “For the life of the flesh is in the blood. I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life” (Leviticus 17:11). “It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life” (John 6:63). Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35). Jesus is the water of life (John 7:38–39). We cannot live by physical food. We can get by. But we cannot live. “The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” (John 10:10). Jesus gives us life. Abundant life that is greater than anything that we warrant, deserve, or expect. A life of rest, not a life of toil. Rest in the SPIRIT, not from work — work is a good thing and good things come from the Lord God Almighty.

When we rest in Jesus, we are renewed in mind and spirit. When we rest in Jesus, our strength becomes His and His becomes ours. When this happens, we do not faint. We declare that we are doing fine. We declare that any day now the Lord will be doing the things the Lord said He would do. We find our rest in Jesus because Jesus IS our rest. Ever-renewed. Never faint. Running our race with full ability, energy, and enthusiasm. In Jesus, by Jesus, for Jesus, and through Jesus. That is faith. And in faith we find His peace. We find His love. And no fear. Not even a whisper of a memory. Rest in Him and be ever-renewed, ever-ready, and ever-worshipful of the One True God.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: John 10:10

Abundant life is not a life of things. It is not a life of possessions, money, vacations, a healthy body, stature, or the respect of your peers. It can include any and all those things, but that is not what it is. Abundant life is a life that we did not deserve. A life beyond our expectations. Sometimes, that isn’t too hard. We do not always have high expectations. Or any expectations that aren’t negative. It is staggering how much negativity masquerading as ‘observation’, ‘reality’, and habit we participate in. Abundant life is beyond all that. First thing we need to do is seek the Lord first and foremost so that we are content with what He gives us. As we look to a better life, we need to be one hundred percent content with our current life. Not looking at what anyone else has. Not looking to commercials to set our happiness levels. Or our acquisition levels. Not looking to anyone or anything beyond the Lord God and His Word to set our standards. When we do that, everything else follows. When we are spiritually rich, well-fed, and active, the rest of the world settles into its proper place. Everything else ends up where it belongs. Our life begins to be different. Abundant. And BLESSED. THAT is the Love our Father has for us. Living life on His level, not the level of the world.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.