Fear No Fear

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

“I am able to do all things by the one who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13

I am a private person. I like quiet. I like family. I like my immediate family. And I like having my immediate family undisturbed. Which means when holiday times arrive, I have to force myself to switch gears. I have to make my heart open. Otherwise, it tries to set itself into Mr. Grumpypants mode and keep everyone and everything from ‘encroaching’ on whatever uber private time it has its sights on. Which is a complete bunch of nonsense, if you really think about it. I’ve never regretted opening my home to extended family or even friends. Yes, it can be a hassle because ANYTHING out of the routine is always a hassle in our minds, isn’t it? But the joy of seeing their happiness in fellowship and the knowledge of the blessing you can be always vastly outweighs whatever whining my mind does before the event. I don’t want to do the thing, but when I look past that to the end result? I always can.

Jesus had this attitude about us. “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). Jesus didn’t WANT to suffer. Jesus didn’t WANT to become sin. Jesus didn’t WANT that horror visited upon His soul, spirit, or body. He was so much not wanting it He went through agonies leading up to it (Matthew 26:38; Luke 22:44). He even needed supernatural comfort to make it through (Luke 22:43) – and that was AFTER His supernatural pep-talk (Luke 9:30-31). Jesus didn’t wanna. But Jesus was strengthened by the JOY that would be available to you and me on the other side. Jesus was strengthened and empowered and able to walk through what He had decided to walk through before anything was created (Revelation 13:8). Jesus took supernatural strength to walk through something physical.

Jesus is our example. Ruach HaKodesh is our conduit. The Father is our Source. We too can take supernatural strength to walk through something physical – be it in our physical bodies, or emotionally, or mentally. “And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also make alive your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11). We can be made alive in MANY ways. Health. Emotional health. Mental health. Physical health. Situational health. We can take strength from Adonai who is offering it to us through Ruach HaKodesh just the same way it was offered to Jesus, so that we can walk through ANYTHING that we need to walk through – whether that is persecution or a family gathering.

Deep down everyone likes being a blessing. But not everyone likes going through what we need to go through to BE a blessing. It isn’t always easy. Sometimes it is. Other times it means effort, work, and sacrifice. No one likes to sacrifice. It goes against the fallen human nature that we trained ourselves on. As believers in Jesus, we have submitted to Him. Joined Jesus in death, and been resurrected to new life. That’s salvation. That means a new nature. We are no longer selfish. But we have to take charge of our flesh, which was trained under the old leadership, and renew our minds to Jesus’ way of thinking (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:16). It’s simple, but not easy. We’ve convinced ourselves of so much that isn’t true, it takes real effort to turn around and walk according to our nature (Matthew 16:24-26). Because that’s what we have. A nature of BLESSING.

Ruach HaKodesh is more than a joint cheerleader with Jesus. He is our power source. He is what we can draw on, in Jesus, to get done what we are being called to do by the Father. He will coach us. He will guide us. If we’ll listen He’ll tell us where we’re getting it wrong. And He’ll even give us the words to say, the way to say it, and the WHEN to say it in order to get us through it all. He is an ACTIVE participant in our lives if we’ll let Him be. He is our PARTNER in getting done what Jesus is telling us the Father is asking us to do. It’s one of the reasons He’s WITH us. Whenever we don’t think we can do it. Whenever we start to feel overwhelmed. We need to stop and listen to Him. We need to humble ourselves and get in line with what He says. To align ourselves to Him. When we do, we will be able to draw on Him for strength. Jesus was exhausted and unable to walk another step – not even to go into the town to get food Himself. But when the woman came to the well and He had the calling to speak into her life, Jesus drew on Ruach HaKodesh’s power for strength and transformed from exhausted man to powerful witness (John 4).

It might seem like a family dinner or a get together with friends is no where near as important as Jesus talking the gospel message to a town of people. But that isn’t true. Jesus shared Adonai’s message of love, grace, and mercy to everyone He met. Sometimes by preaching or teaching. Sometimes by signs and wonders. Sometimes by miracles. And sometimes by His behaviour. We’re called to be like Him. Our behaviour can be a POWERFUL witness. When we are exhausted or overwhelmed, we can draw on the strength of Ruach HaKodesh who lives inside us in order to get done what we’ve been asked to do. To complete the transaction, complete the meal, complete the visit, complete the fellowship, or complete whatever encounter and task that we are facing. We might not wanna, but in Jesus, drawing on Ruach HaKodesh’s strength, we CAN do what we have been given to do. We CAN, because HE is the one who really does the work. We do the obeying. He does the anointing. And the Father reaps the harvest. Amen.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: 1 Corinthians 12:6

“and there are varieties of activities, but the same God, who works all things in all people.” Adonai does the work. Jesus completed the New Covenant so that He could live in us and we could live in Him. So that we were back to where we were (spiritually) in the Garden. Which means we have a job to do (Genesis 2:15). Jesus does the work. We do the cooperating. But the truth is that Adonai doesn’t do anything unless He does it through us. We are the tools He has chosen. Tools need to be useful. They need to be strong enough to last through the job. They need to be a lot of things. But the real strength and the real work – no matter how much wear the tool takes on – is done by the one wielding the tool. We are His workmanship. We’ve been set to His tasks. He is the one doing the work. According to His plan, His way, in His time. There’s a lot of relief in letting the worker be in charge. There’s a lot of peace in knowing that He has the plan and we don’t need to make one. There’s rest in that He provides all that is needed to get the job done. It’s also a joy to know we don’t have to be special. We don’t have to be the only one doing all the work. He works through ALL believers. ALL people who seek His face. He has strength and guidance and Fruit and Armour for us ALL. No one needs to miss out, no one needs to stand alone, and no one needs to do without. He has us ALL provided for, cared for, and BLESSED. 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