Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:9 (emphasis added)

A partner is a person with whom one shares an intimate relationship. We often think of it as one member of a couple or team. It can be a member of a partnership, especially in a business. A partner is also someone associated with another especially in an action. That is all as a noun. A thing that is. But in the Kingdom, things are almost always actions. Movement in the forward direction. As a verb (an action), partner is to join something (business, team, etc) as an equal member. It is also the action of joining or associating with another AS a partner. “When Paul had greeted them, he began to explain in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry” (Acts 21:19). “For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them” (Ephesians 2:10). “I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Whom will I send? Who will go on our behalf?” I answered, “Here I am, send me!”” (Isaiah 6:8). Adonai Elohim has chosen to work WITH us.

On the whole, our partners (whether in relationships, education, or in business) are people we want to succeed with. We want to add their skills to our skills so that we have a greater chance of accomplishing the thing we have set our minds on. If we DON’T think they have something to add to the endeavour, we have a habit of NOT partnering with them – at least in partnerships that we have a choice in. Once we have chosen a partner with skills to bring the whole team up and forward, the rest of the partnership becomes the dance of both teamwork and communication. On those two things hinge the whole endeavour. I believe this is one of the reasons why Adonai references His relationship to us in terms of a marriage. It is a state (a multifaceted intimate relationship) that we are familiar with. We can see the need for communication. The need for intimacy. The need for each of you to bring out the best in the other for the good of the whole. The need for daily (or near-daily) communication for the healthiest environment. The need for active listening and the kindest, gentlest speaking. A relationship that never stops growing, needs constant attention (but not constant struggle, work, or strife), and when operated from a place of love is a smooth sailing blessing (though not to say there aren’t a few high waves to navigate). This is the kind of relationship we can have with Adonai Elohim. This is the kind of relationship He wants. A partnership.

We can tend to take a step back from talk like that. After all, this is Elohim we’re talking about and He is ANYTHING but equal to us. He is GOD. His ways are higher than ours. His perspective is purer than ours. He is Righteous. His power is vast beyond imagining. And He is Sovereign and Lord above All. How can we be equal to Him? We can’t. There is no possible way. Not on our side. “Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Jesus makes a way for us. In Jesus, we have the mind of Messiah (1 Corinthians 2:16). In Jesus, we can become the Righteousness that Messiah is (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Jesus, we have forgiveness for the sins we repent of whenever we miss the mark (1 John 1:9-10). In Jesus, we can participate in the New Covenant between the Son and the Father (1 Corinthians 11:24-30). We have access to all of this because we have – through Jesus – been given the right to be called the children of Elohim (1 John 3:2). This is given to us by Grace, because of His Mercy, through the Trust we have in Him and His Word. “And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)–if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17). If we are fellow heirs, we are definitely partners together with Jesus. We are partners in doing the Father’s will. This is what Jesus was getting at when He said “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry.”” (Matthew 11:28-30). The Father is the driver. He has the reigns. Jesus is yoked to us. Partners together. The Father drives. This is how Jesus operated. “So Jesus answered them, “I tell you the solemn truth, the Son can do nothing on his own initiative, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise” (John 5:19). We are to operate the same way. Being led by Elohim. Doing what He says, when He says, and how He says. Adonai has the power. We need to be in place. Then He moves. He works through us. This is our partnership.

Knowing that, we should evaluate our state of being in light of being partners with Jesus. Would you want a partner who drags you down by being unable to do the required work? One who always has to take sick days? One who struggles to be on time because they’re weary. One who fails again and again to do what you know they can do because they’re too anxious, depressed, or stressed? One who can’t be productive because they can’t focus? No. Sometimes we need to deal with partners with those – and other – issues, but it isn’t our first choice. And yes, people with those problems can learn to adapt and cope. They can provide their share of the work. They certainly are capable of doing the work – although sometimes in untraditional ways. But it isn’t the IDEAL. It isn’t the BEST. Well, why would Adonai want anything less? Why wouldn’t He want the best? The best of the best? We do. He isn’t any different. What is great is that He GIVES us what we need to be the best of the best of the best of the best.

First of all, every tool we need to accomplish what Adonai calls us to is ours. When we are given the command, we are given the authority and the tools to accomplish the command. Ruach HaKodesh is there to teach us, remind us, talk to us, correct us, and encourage us. The fruit of His spirit is ours to use. We have Jesus’ authority to operate in. We have the Word to stand on and commands to follow. When these conditions exist – and they do EVERY time we are commanded to do something – the only time we can fail is when we aren’t obeying, miss something, or try and do it our way (just like the people in the bible whose lives were given as examples to learn from). In Jesus everything succeeds. Outside of Jesus? Not so much.

Second, and most importantly, the Father sees us as we can be in Jesus. He sees us healed. He sees us whole. He sees us mentally a-okay. He sees strong marriages. He sees restored relationships. He sees functioning churches. He sees joyful people. He sees peaceful people. He sees capable, talented, fully functioning people. He does not see us coping. He does not see us making do. He does not see us sick, diseased, or or in any way suffering. He sees the people He meant us to be when we were an idea in His head before creation. He sees us in our pre-fall possibility. He sees us in our abiding-in-Jesus reality. He sees us in our perfect walking with and in Him potentiality. His sight – like His being – includes the past, present, and future; and all of them through the lens of Jesus. “He did this by predestining us to adoption as his legal heirs through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will—to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son” (Ephesians 1:5-6). We have the LEGAL RIGHT to be like Jesus was (and is). We have the LEGAL RIGHT to be well. We have the LEGAL RIGHT to be whole. We have the LEGAL RIGHT to be restored. We have the LEGAL RIGHT to these things. These are OURS.

Jesus is our co-heir and partner. We yoke to Him and obey what the Father directs us to. He will carry us. He will support us. He DOES do the heavy lifting. But He wants the BEST for us, not just the basics. The BEST is healed, whole, healthy, and fully functional in all ways (spirit, soul, and body). If you really think about it, who would want to settle for anything less? We are brought up to Jesus’ level piece by piece, day by day in Him (2 Corinthians 3:18). As that process goes on, we can enjoy the best health, the best mindset, the best functionality here on this Earth. It is His WILL for us to be healed (Matthew 8:2-3). Remember whose partner you are and remember we can be like Him. Don’t settle for any less. He’s offering you the very BEST.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Zechariah 10:4

“From him will come the cornerstone, the wall peg, the battle bow, and every ruler” Messiah would be the cornerstone. It would hold the foundation, which would be the revelation of who He really is. No one else can take that spot. It is uniquely His. “because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone” (Ephesians 2:20). “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “You are blessed, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven! And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it”” (Matthew 16:16-18). Jesus was recognised as the Son of the Living God. That revelation is the foundation of the Church. Jesus IS the cornerstone that everything is built on and on whom all relies. Jesus IS the Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b