Fear No Fear

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

For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you. For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says Yahweh who has mercy on you.
Isaiah 54:9–10 (emphasis added)

One of the best things is to be excused from being in trouble. I know a true way to walk in life is by this proverb: If you don’t want people to know, don’t do it. There are times though, that we stray. When we do, there is a dread that hangs over us. A fear. An anxiety that can cause physical symptoms. Waiting for the sword to fall. For judgment to hit. To get IN TROUBLE. But when that is lifted? When will we get a reprieve? It feels too light. So great. So… FREE.

There was a time that the world was NOT free. Not even as not-free as they are now. It was more than bondage. On the whole, bondage is being restrained by compulsion (as of law) such as in slavery, serfdom, servitude, or subjugation to a controlling person or force. You KNOW that it isn’t of God when you see people in the world taking what everyone else sees as a negative and making a sexual practice of it. That’s one of the quickest markers to know if something is wrong: the devil makes it sexual. But this isn’t about that—exactly. It is about the world choosing to be bound. Not being bound by an outside force, but going out of their way to bind themselves up. Breaking into the hardware store of perversion, iniquity, and idolatry, grabbing all the chains and ropes they could, and wrapping themselves up until they could hardly move. It was a spiritual cancer that spread like a wildfire on a prairie. Those children they didn’t murder as sacrifices, they trained and brainwashed into their perversions. Even animals were brought into the act. There was almost NOTHING on the earth that wasn’t lost, twisted, and full of disobedience.

This isn’t low-key stuff. This was hardcore evil. It’s hard to imagine even children being evil, but if you spend some time on social media or listen to stories from teachers and children about the schools today and you think you can imagine what it was like. Today is grade school compared to the way it is — but sadly, we’re catching up fast. We just call them by different names or approach them in a slightly different way. There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). We know that the Lord does NOT tempt us EVER (James 1:13). Well, “No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). We only experience COMMON temptations. There aren’t any new ones. The devil can’t even create a new temptation. It’s the same bag of tricks he always has had packaged and re-packaged throughout the ages to match the age we find ourselves in.

The devil worked overtime to get his message around, but people accepted it. They welcomed him in. They welcomed anyone affiliated with him. They revelled in his ways and his ideas. Why is that? Because the devil ALWAYS caters to our feelings. Our feelings are NEVER faith. They are ALWAYS fleshly. They are always about now and pleasure and what your feelings tell you about yourself. If you keep your eyes on your flesh and keep on listening to your feelings, you will never get a hold on true faith. If you do not have true faith, you will inevitably choose to walk in total flesh. Walking in total flesh is something we don’t often see today. But there are those who do it. More will follow. It is a total perversion, total twisting, and total rejection of everything in the Word. It’s been going on a long time and gets more intense every year. Things people would have been arrested for just twenty years ago are being done in public, put on the news, and being congratulated for. It’s sobering.

The time of Noah was a time of total flesh. Anything you COULD do, you tried to do — and kept trying until you accomplished it. Not the thing you want to do when it’s the flesh you’re dealing with. Especially when you’re dealing with sin. The Lord HATES unrighteousness. “There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16–19). That was what the days of Noah were all about. Pursuing their pleasures, living life without a thought of tomorrow or of spiritual things — beyond whatever they felt could get them what they wanted. Right up until the Lord’s cup was full (Matthew 24:37–39). But when it was time for judgment, then judgment came. It was serious. It was final. And it was all-encompassing.

Noah came out of the Ark and saw… Well, it’s hard to imagine. All those dead bodies. The ruined crops. The broken cities that had never been built to withstand such forces. A year before it had been a lush, thriving world. Now it was a soggy graveyard. Noah looked all around, accepted the reality of the cost of riotous disobedience the world had paid, built an altar, and worshipped the Lord God Almighty. That worship, that entreaty not to destroy the world again, was sweet in His nostrils (Genesis 8:20–21). For Noah’s sake, the Lord entered into a covenant with him — and with all flesh on the earth — NOT to destroy the world with water again (Genesis 8:20–9:17). Yahweh is a God of covenant. He makes covenants with us and those covenants are the path of the redemption He provides to us. Covenants are serious business.

You can’t look around the world through world history from the flood to today and say that there weren’t times that humanity didn’t deserve it. The wars we have fought. The death we’ve dealt out. The terrible things we’ve done not just to individuals, but whole peoples. Why didn’t He wipe us out? Why didn’t He wash us away and start again? Covenant. His covenant with us. That’s why. That is possibly in some cases the ONLY reason why. “Know therefore that Yahweh your God himself is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenant and loving kindness to a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deuteronomy 7:9). God covenanted loving kindness to us. Especially to His children Israel. We all benefit from it because we have been grafted into the Jewish family. It is a far-reaching covenant that meets us where we are, wherever we are.

“Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for this loving kindness endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who made the great lights, for his loving kindness endures forever; the sun to rule by day, for his loving kindness endures forever; the moon and stars to rule by night, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn, for his loving kindness endures forever; and brought out Israel from among them, for his loving kindness endures forever; with a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, for his living kindness endures forever; to him who divided the Red Sea apart, for his loving kindness endures forever; and made Israel to pass through the middle of it, for his loving kindness endures forever; but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his loving kindness endures forever; to him who struck great kings, for his loving kindness endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his loving kindness endures forever; Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving kindness endures forever; Og king of Bashan, for his loving kindness endures forever; and gave their land as an inheritance, for his loving kindness endures forever; even a heritage to Israel his servant, for his living kindness endures forever; who remembered us in our low estate, for his loving kindness endures forever; and has delivered us from our adversaries, for his loving kindness endures forever; who gives food to every creature, for his loving kindness endures forever. Oh give thanks to the God of heaven, for his loving kindness endures” (Psalm 136).

Deliverance. Redemption. Guidance. Trust. Health. Abundant life. THIS is what Loving Kindness has for us. ALL BLESSING. But it comes at a cost. NOT A PRICE, a cost. It means that we aren’t on ‘easy street’. We aren’t picking all the things about this world we like and telling God to give it to us. It means we take up our cross and follow Jesus on the path He lays out for us (Luke 9:36). It means we walk forward and don’t look back at what was behind us (Luke 9:62). We crucify our SELVES and live to Christ (Galatians 2:20). In Jesus, by Jesus, through Jesus, and for Jesus. It’s not about what WE want, what WE need, or how WE feel. The Father meets ALL of our NEEDS (Philippians 4:19). If we have Him first, seeking His face, at all times, in all ways, we will also get some of what we want because He will BLESS us (3 John 1:2). When we walk in righteousness, we will be persecuted because of Jesus and our faith in Him (John 15:19–20, Matthew 5:10–12, Mark 10:29–30).

The world wants us to fear. The devil wants us to fear. Everyone wants us to be worried about what’s happening. Worried about what might happen. Worried about the blowback of preaching Jesus, the Slain Lamb of God. But we won’t be. Not if we’re holding to the Lord. Not moving to the left or right. Not looking back. Holding our course and trusting in the promises of His Word. “Don’t be afraid of the things which you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested; and you will have oppression for ten days. Be faithful to death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies. He who overcomes won’t be harmed by the second death” (Revelation 2:10–11). Hold to this promise. Do NOT forsake the Lord and the peace that He gives us. You CANNOT fear if you are walking, talking, thinking, and meditating FAITH. That’s why He gave it to us (Acts 3:16). Stick with faith. Kick fear far from you (Psalm 91:5–10). Reject it. Dwell with Peace IN JESUS (John 15). It is how we were meant to live. Abundantly (John 10:10).

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: 2 Corinthians 9:8

This is a POWERFUL verse. Look at the TOTAL LACK OF RESTRICTION for the obedient children of the Father. Think about it. ALL grace. ALL sufficiency. In EVERYTHING. Abounding to EVERY good work. Do you need something? You have the grace for it. You have sufficiency. Satisfaction. Totality in that thing. Is it material? He meets those needs. It is spiritual? He meets those needs. Is it mental? He meets those needs. Is it emotional? He meets those needs. It is anything that exists? He meets those needs. ALL GRACE abounding to us ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY. Our part is simple. Not easy, simple. Humble yourself before Him. Be obedient. Speak the Word He gives you. Do the actions He shows you. Stick to His path. Don’t turn right or left. Don’t pick up nonsense by worrying or being overly concerned about anything in the world. Simple. Not always easy. But simple. Isn’t it worth it to walk in that in order to have ALL grace, ALL need met, ALL sufficiency, in ALL things, in ABUNDANCE? You’d do well to believe it. With all your heart. Because the last thing is the most exciting. Always having all sufficiency in everything, abounding to us how? To EVERY GOOD WORK. Notice He does not limit this to OUR good works. No. EVERY GOOD WORK. That includes GOD’S GOOD WORKS. Isn’t that incredible? The uncompromisingly righteous child of God (Psalm 92:12–15), being the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), gets GOOD things from their GOOD Father in heaven who KNOWS how to BLESS His children (Matthew 7:11, James 1:17). Live your life with FAITH. Strive to discipline yourself. If you love Him, you’ll be obedient to Him. If you have love for Him, you’ll have Faith in Him. Obedience is manifested love. Faith is manifested obedience. Live by faith. Don’t be moved. Don’t be shaken. You’ll abound in ALL GOOD WORKS — the ones He has you do, and the ones HE does. And that is something very special!

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.