Fear No Fear

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

“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,“

Acts 26:19

Paul was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-19; 22:6-16; 26:12-18). He immediately submitted to Jesus as Lord and was given instructions. He wasn’t told everything yet. He was barely even given a glimpse. But what he was told to do there in that road and during the three days he fasted and prayed in Damascus, he did. Once he had a heavenly vision in front of him, he walked it out. And he didn’t stop walking no matter what got onto the path in front of him until he had completed the entire course that had been set before him – detours, stumblings, and all. He was counted faithful because he moved ever forward. He walked.

We have a tendency to focus on Paul’s struggles and persecutions (2 Corinthians 11:16-33) because he had a lot of them. Some were quite severe (being stoned), some were less severe (being imprisoned), and the rest were in between – but everyone’s hands were against him. At least, it SEEMS that way. It’s because Acts is a highlight reel. We are seeing all the important things. All the events that led to other events. In Corinthians Paul is listing everything he went through in order to refute some slander that had been brought against him. Paul himself never focused on ANY of the trials or tribulations. They were nothing compared to the message of the Kingdom (2 Corinthians 4:17). Paul’s ministry (from conversion to death) covers around thirty-three years. We have a couple of months in scripture. It’s the same with Jesus. Jesus ministered actively for three years and we have about 52-59 days of material. We’re getting highlights and not every single day or experience (John 21:25). Paul went through a LOT of hardship, but Paul ALSO had a LOT of good times.

Paul’s focus is NEVER on the negative. Paul ALWAYS point to two things: the message of the gospel and the vision Adonai puts before him. That’s the important stuff to Paul. Jesus and the journey. He points to Jesus as the source of all that is needed to complete the journey. The journey is all about Jesus and spreading the hope of Jesus everywhere the journey takes you. THAT is the life of the believer. Study Jesus and share Jesus. If you aren’t given a specific mission field, everyone in your life you come into contact with is your mission field. You can do the job of the Kingdom while mending tents. You can do the job of the Kingdom attending church and fellowshipping with believers. You can do the job of the Kingdom speaking to those you meet. You can do the job of the Kingdom speaking to great crowds. Whatever has been set before you is how you can do the job of the Kingdom. Jesus has called EVERYONE to SOMETHING. We tell each other about good deals on groceries or gas, how much more should we tell each other about the ULTIMATE deal of Jesus?

Ruach HaKodesh is not the keeper of our vision. But Ruach HaKodesh shows it to us. He shares it with us. He reveals it and explains it. Whenever we get ‘stuck’ we can check back in with Him. He can be trusted because He spends ALL of His time listening to Jesus and telling us what Jesus said (John 14:15-31). He’ll tell us about the good things (Acts 23:11). He’ll tell us about the bad things (Acts 9:16). Jesus doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but Jesus is all about HOPE. The hope of glory that He represents for us. Jesus is an OVERCOMER (John 16:33). He puts us ABOVE our problems. He turns them into SITUATIONS where the Father’s glory can be shown. If it isn’t about giving Adonai glory, Jesus isn’t that interested in talking about it. He only mentions other things in order to get our focus back on bringing glory to the Father (John 14:13). Ruach HaKodesh is ALSO all about bringing glory to the Father, which is why He points us to Jesus.

If you are not sure what your vision in the Kingdom is, ask (James 1:5). Ruach HaKodesh WANTS to share Adonai’s vision for you with you. He wants to help guide you into it and lead you along that path. He wants to show you the scriptures that will encourage you and help you engage what you’ve been equipped to do. When we have His vision for us before our eyes, it can get us through those times that we don’t see it happening. If we hold onto the vision for our lives – here and in Heaven – we get perspective on what real riches and reward are all about. If we hold onto the vision He has for us, we’ll see Jesus at every turn and in every circumstance. Ruach HaKodesh is the vision holder. The vision shower. He is the visionary showing us how Jesus is in us and we are in Him and exactly what that means for our lives. Ruach HaKodesh shows us the transformation that Jesus made in us. Holding onto that, and checking in when we turn our eyes, will keep us in the race, motivated, and moving ever forward (1 Corinthians 9:24). Check in with Ruach HaKodesh and really SEE what He is saying about you and about where your feet should be planted.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Proverbs 29:18

“When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his” If you listen, you’ll hear a lot about vision boards and meditating on your future and in some places ‘sending it out into the universe’. Most of it is garbage because it’s based on the devil’s playbook. Anything to get your eyes off of Jesus. But in the Kingdom, Adonai is clear about the purpose of vision (or prophecy). Adonai SPEAKS and we are to agree with what He said. What is a godly vision board? A board filled with the vision Adonai has spoken into your heart. What is godly meditation? Meditation on the promises of Adonai and His Word (Jesus). We don’t send ANYTHING to the ‘universe’ because it is inanimate and cannot help you anymore than a brick wall can get you a job. In fact, we don’t SEND anything. We RECEIVE. We hard from Adonai and we cooperate with Him to engage what He has given us. In the end, it isn’t about OUR wants and desires. It’s about the desires and wants that He has placed on our hearts. It’s about what He has spoken over our lives – even when the armies of the world are attacking (Jeremiah 29:11). If we will submit to the One who has THE plan and cooperate with Him in humble obedience, then the vision that He places before our eyes will come to pass. He wants better things for us that we can envision. He wants BLESSING in our lives and spilling into the lives of all those around us as a witness to His goodness, His grace, His mercy, His glory, and His Lordship. If we will look HIS way, we will NEVER be disappointed in what we’re being shown. What a GOOD God!

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