Fear No Fear

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

Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
2 Corinthians 13:11 (emphasis added)

There is a LOT in this world that can cause many different feelings. What are the things the world wants us to feel and take into our emotions? Fear. Also fear’s babies: anxiety, worry, strife, and vulnerability. Those are the biggies. The heavy hitters. The ones that so much else is built on. The crumbling foundation that everyone wants to be on. Mostly because they think that is all we have. That we are at the mercy of nature. That we are at the mercy of our DNA or upbringing or culture. That we are just another animal in this world, struggling to achieve survival or dominance in order to continue our species and evolve into something better than we have been in the past.

We are NOT animals. We share many characteristics with them, but that isn’t surprising. We all have the same base material. “Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature became its name” (Genesis 2:19. Man was also formed from the dirt of the ground, but with one VERY significant difference. “Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7). We have the base material of all else in this world, but we have the breath of life that made us living souls. It does not say that anything else in all creation has what we have. We have been given spirit (Job 32:8; 2 Timothy 1:7). We are spirit, soul, and body (Ecclesiastes 12:7; Ezekiel 37:5, 1 Corinthians 15:35–50). We are unique. “Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is” (1 John 3:2). “God said, “Let’s make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26–27).

We are not the same as the other creations. We are a cut above them. We were MEANT to be just a single step below the Lord God Himself (Psalm 8:5; Hebrews 2:7), but we muffed it. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took some of its fruit, and ate. Then she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate it, too” (Genesis 3:6). Now don’t put it all on the woman’s shoulders. First, the man was right there listening as well and saying NOTHING. Second, it was the man who had been told not to eat directly by God (Genesis 2:16–17). Humanity didn’t Fall until the MAN ate in direct disobedience to Yahweh God. We died spiritually in an instant. We lost that thing that made us as different from creation as night is from day. Since that time, the adversary has been working to get us to identify with animals and the rest of creation on an equal level. Animals, you see, were not given any authority. If we chose not to use it, the enemy was more than happy to. He still is.

That is the state the world is in. Trying to shoehorn us into something that we were never meant to be part of. We were meant to master it. To bring it to heel. To subdue it. To be fruitful in our work and fruitful in reproducing in order to spread out and make the entire earth as perfect and verdant as the Garden in Eden. We would have been able to use our words as the Lord did and re-make the world the way we wanted to. To use our faith to make the unseen seen. Operating in perfect fellowship with the Lord God Almighty. But we lost all that. Jesus came to pay for our sin. To correct our error. To reclaim the authority that man lost so that He can give it back to us (Matthew 28:18–19; 2 Timothy 1:7). To allow us to use His authority (Luke 10:19; James 4:7), in His name (Mark 16:17), in the service of whatever the Father commands us to do (2 Corinthians 10:4–5; John 14:31; Matthew 11:28–30). The adversary will do all he can and the world will do all that it can to keep us from this. “This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed” (John 3:19–20).

We are different from the world. We are different from anything else. We are BELIEVERS. In Jesus, we are completely and totally made new. “Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:16–19). It is IN JESUS that we are able to stand. It is IN JESUS that we find we are on a solid rock (Psalm 62:6), a high tower (Proverbs 18:10), and a refuge from all trouble (Psalm 91). It is IN JESUS that we have been given the tools to defeat the world’s big guns.

There is always a lot of talk about vulnerability. We’re not called to be vulnerable. Who wants to be that? Being vulnerable is to be in a position to be hurt. No thanks. I can be open and loving without risking injury. How? In Jesus. I stick to Him, and He can guide me in how I act and how I should act. If I am in tune with the Holy Spirit and focusing on the Lord before all, then I will have access to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control anytime that I need them. The Holy Spirit is ALWAYS with me (1 Corinthians 3:16). I am to seek the Lord above all right from when I first open my eyes (Psalm 63:1). I’m to submit to the Lord in ALL THINGS throughout my day (James 4:7). And the Lord should be the last thing that I think of at night (Isaiah 26:9). If the Lord is first and foremost, if I am using His Spirit to function and guide all my words and actions, then how can I be ‘vulnerable’? “Yahweh is on my side. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). This doesn’t mean being hard-hearted, emotionally unavailable, or putting a wall between yourself and others. Jesus never did that. It means being armoured against the enemy and the attacks of the world so that we can focus on being guided by the Lord and operating in unselfish love at all times (Ephesians 6:10–11).

The world seems to run on anxiety these days. Everyone and their neighbour seems to have an anxiety disorder — some real and some imagined. Uneasy and nervous about what the future holds. It doesn’t matter if it is the far future, a phone call, an in-person talk, the next work shift, or what faces you in the kitchen if you roll out of bed and grab a pair of socks. ‘I can’t do it’ ‘I can’t face it’ ‘There are people there’ are common things to hear. Some people get so gripped by anxiety that they cease to function — which can be tragic when they are pet owners or parents of small children. It is NEVER a good thing. NEVER a good feeling. And can often be combined with depression and other mental struggles. Anxiety is a horrible thing. But I do not serve a God of anxiety. I do not serve a God that fails me. I do not serve a God that won’t tell me things. If I need wisdom, I only need to ask (James 1:5). Jesus tells us EVERYTHING He hears from the Father (John 15:15). Jesus remains where we can see Him ALWAYS (John 16:16). This is such a comfort because Jesus knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:9–10). NOTHING is secret, a surprise, or a shock to Him. Because of that, I can trust that He has my back and front and every which way. I don’t have to be anxious because I can ask where I should go, what I should do, what I should say, and He can get me there without any negative surprises, twists, or turns. “In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6).

The world worries. The world wants all the individuals in it to worry as well. Worry about money. Worry about work. Worry about what is going to happen. Worry about politics. Worry about war. Worry about weather. Worry about school. Worry about bills. Worry about things wearing out. Worry about the technology that’s coming. Worry about vehicles. Worry about getting around. Worry about sickness. Etc etc etc. It NEVER stops. But why should we settle for persistent agitation or distress? Why should I let myself worry? Or be troubled? Or choose any kind of path that leads to a negative mental state? God meets ALL MY NEEDS. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. ALL OF THEM!!!! “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). “For the nations of the world seek after all of these things, but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek God’s Kingdom, and all these things will be added to you” (Luke 12:30–31). I eagerly expect (hope) for my needs met. I don’t think about them. I don’t worry about them. Sometimes I have re-evaluate what I think is a ‘need’. But all my needs are met. I am never overdue for bills. I am never out of food. I am never out of gas. I am never out of clothes. I always have a place to sleep. I always have a place to live. I am NOT a worrier because I have NO REASON TO WORRY. The Lord takes care of me. He is my GOOD FATHER and I am His BELOVED CHILD. “For I hope in you, Yahweh. You will answer, Lord my God” (Psalm 38:15).

Strife is the favourite activity in this world. They will tell you that you cannot have an interesting book, television program, or a movie without strife. Without conflict. It can’t be about life. It HAS to be about you versus something. But why? Why do I need to set myself up to exist in bitter dissension or contention with anyone, anything, or nature itself? Why does it have to be strife? Humanity was made to have dominion. That’s not imposing our will on the rest of the world. That is us tending and keeping the world for HIS pleasure. We are meant to make the earth submit to us. The EARTH. That is the planet, the vegetation, and the animals. It is NOT other people. People are meant to be united and working together to make this world a paradise. This was the plan. This is the goal. This will be eternity: fulfilling our purpose in worshipful work to glorify the Lord God Almighty forever. And we can start now. RIGHT NOW. Jesus got us back the authority we threw away (Matthew 28:18–20). We should fulfil our purpose. We can. Using all our resources to praise the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4–9). Not setting ourselves against another human being. Not for the last piece of pie. Not for a country. Not for anything. To not strife, even when we don’t agree. To CHOOSE TO LOVE each other. In spirit, in truth, and in the love of God. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34–35). Through HIS Holy Spirit, we can accomplish this (Ezekiel 36:26–27). We can embody this. We can live like this. “I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. Then I will place you in your own land; and you will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken it and performed it,” says Yahweh’”“ (Ezekiel 37:14).

Because these things are true, we SHOULD rejoice! We are not bound to this world. We are not bound to an animal nature. We are not bound to what humans think humans can, should, and must do. We are free from feelings dominating us. We are free from fear and all fear’s babies. We are FREE! In JESUS we can be perfected. We can be comforted. If we have the mind of Jesus, we WILL have PEACE. Total peace. No fear, just peace. We will NOT BE MOVED by what happens in this world, but will sit right in the centre of the Lord’s will because that is where He wants us and we want to make Him smile. With humble obedience, we can do what He says, how He says, and when He says. It is the best way to live. It is the ONLY way to have freedom from fear. It is the ONLY way to rest in His PEACE. “I have said these things to you while still living with you. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, I give to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful” (John 14:25–27).

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Hebrews 2:14–15

We have no fear in us. None. It is NOT a ‘human’ thing. It is NOT a natural thing. It is NOT a mechanism by which we can either fight or flee. It has BECOME a mechanism because we lost our living spirits when humanity Fell in the Garden (Genesis 3). Our flesh then learned and passed down means to stay alive in this world in which we no longer had dominion (Genesis 1:26–27). But Jesus came and through our salvation renews us (2 Corinthians 5:17). We once again have access to our dominion that comes to us in Jesus’ authority (2 Corinthians 10:4–5) which we are allowed to wield in accordance with the Word (Romans 13:1). We have a NEW spirit (Philippians 1:19). HIS spirit (John 7:39). We have NOT been given a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Should the devil choose to personally attack you in person, there’s not a lot he can do. Sure, he might be physically different — being a spirit that can be solid vs us who are spirits inside flesh. He was an angel and will be impressive. But he is a being of fear. THAT is the fear you would feel, because WE have NO FEAR. The ‘contest’ will come down to faith. His faith in the authority people have given him. Our faith in the authority Jesus has given us. It will be NO CONTEST. Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). If we are submitted to God and standing on the Word, the devil will run (James 4:7). Period. Jesus defeated the devil in every way possible. He’s got NOTHING. We have EVERYTHING when we are IN JESUS. There is no sickness, no disease, no infirmity, no issue, no problem, no boss, no neighbour, no country, no terrorist, no child, no friend, no partner, no NOTHING that is bigger than that which Jesus gives us by Grace through the Faith the Father gives us. We are OVERCOMERS. We are BELIEVERS. Because WE are the righteousness of God IN CHRIST JESUS (2 Corinthians 5:21). When we don’t forget that. When we operate in that. There is nothing that cannot be accomplished because nothing is impossible when we do it WITH God (Matthew 19:26).

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.