Tag: freedom
Day 5–Not One Word Failed!
Scripture reading for April 24: 1 Kings 8:56 “Blessed be the Lord Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all He promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He spoke by Moses His servant.” 1 Corinthians 3:17-18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”
Solomon spoke this Word of Truth to the congregation as they dedicated the temple that his father David had planned and provided for and he had been allowed to build. He reminded God’s people of His faithfulness to His Word. God’s Word would stand any test of time and is not dependent on our faithfulness but on God’s Holy character. He is a God of Truth. He is not a man that He should lie. (Numbers 23:19) Heaven and earth would pass away, but His Word would never perish. (Matthew 24:35)
In my nearly eighty years of my journey through earth’s wilderness, I have learned and continue to learn God’s Word is gold! What He has said, He will do. What He promises, He will deliver. This includes all blessings coming by faith as well as the curses brought on through disobedience and unbelief. God watches over His Word to perform it. (Jeremiah 1:12)
Worship is our response to His goodness and promises and the fulfilment of them through His faithfulness. “Blessed be the Lord” was Solomon’s cry before God’s people. God’s presence had filled the temple with His Glory, causing the priest to not be able to even stand up outside the holy place. But now, we who believe in Jesus Christ, are being transformed by the Holy Spirit into greater degrees of glory into the image of Christ Jesus.
Prayer: Father God, thank You for Your amazing Word and Your faithfulness to fulfill it. Help me to walk in rest and peace and freedom as I respond to those in need. Thank You for supplying all my needs according to Your riches in Glory in Christ Jesus. Amen.
False Teachers are Dangerous!
Scripture reading for November 17: 2 Peter 2
“They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”” 2 Peter 2:19-22
Peter was concerned for the spiritual welfare of the church. False teachers and teaching had spread that advocated a new ‘freedom’ to live in sensuality while still claiming to love Jesus. These teachers were themselves now ‘slaves of corruption’ after once having a salvation experience and being delivered and washed from sins. True freedom comes from repentance and washing clean from sin and it’s shame.
Peter stated that it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and then turn away from following Him. Peter did not believe in the ‘once saved, always saved’ false teaching that these teachers promoted. He plainly stated that what overcomes a person and enslaves him brings bondage that can lead to great loss. He used two examples of the current culture to illustrate the danger. The first was a dog returning to his own vomit. That is really a disgusting picture! The second was a female hog that was washed but then returns to the mud wallow to roll around in the filth again! Peter’s illustrated letter was God breathed to get our attention!
Have you ever been enticed or taken in by a false teacher or an enticing teaching? Why would it be worse to have known the way of righteousness and then turn back? Does it shock you that God would use such graphic and worldly illustrations to describe those turning back to the world?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that Your love for us sent Your Son to identify with all our weaknesses and yet live free from sin. Thank You for Your mercy that brings understanding and correction through illustrations we can understand and see with our mind’s eye. Correct me vividly! Amen.
Set free!
Scripture reading for June 20: Romans 6
“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and , having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.” Romans 6:15-18
Paul was ministering and teaching in the Roman culture where human slavery was part. Paul used the example of slavery to teach about the transformation of our souls from slavery to sin in our fallen state to slavery to righteousness when we repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Paul reasoned that we are slaves to the one we obey. If we are under ‘sin’ as our master, we choose to obey our appetites and partake of whatever they demand. The ‘wages’ of sin is death and eternal separation from God and His mercy. But if we repent of this slavery to sin, and choose to cast ourselves on the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, we are given grace and forgiveness of those sins. The reward of repentance and obedience to Jesus is eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
Some were saying, that since grace was freely available, those who obtained grace should be free to go on sinning so that God could offer more grace. (Romans 6:1-2) “By no means” was Paul’s reply to these who were justifying their disobedience because of grace. When we have been set free from sin, we ‘die’ to our old slave nature and we now choose to become “slaves of righteousness” and live by the power of the Spirit in obedience to God’s Word. Whom the Son sets free, is free indeed to live in righteousness!
Have you ever realized that you were in slavery to sin in some aspect of your life? What form did this slavery take? Have you been set free from the slavery to sin? How did this freedom affect your daily life and world view?
Prayer: Father God, thank You for the Good News of Jesus Christ and the freedom from slavery to sin found in Him. I joyfully choose to give myself fully to love and serve Jesus and obey His Spirit leading me to obedience of God’s Word. I pray daily to be used to share this message of freedom with others. Amen.
Transformation by the Holy Spirit!
Scripture reading for August 25th: 2nd Corinthians 3, Psalm 20, Proverbs 15
2nd Corinthians 3:16-18 “But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit.”
Paul used Moses and the Law as an example for the believers. The Law was written on tablets of stone and was received by Moses to give to the people. Moses wore a veil over his face when he left God’s presence, because the glow of God’s presence and glory was fading from him. This veil remains over all who try and keep the law. But in Christ God has given man something better! The Holy Spirit comes to indwell us and write God’s law on hearts of human flesh. He pours in God’s agape love and we begin to love God unselfishly and to love others, thus fulfilling God’s law. God Himself is Love! This brings freedom from the condemnation of broken law and transformation by the Spirit indwelling us into the likeness of God’s Son! The need for a veil is over! The glory is now increasing day by day! Amen!
Psalm 20:4-5 “May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the Name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions! Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand.”
Prayer: Father God, I shout for joy over Your gift of the Holy Spirit living in me! From Your Word, I understand that I am being transformed into Your image day by day, with ever-increasing glory! My cheerful heart has a continual feast! I love You with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself! Open doors that I may share this glory transformation with all in my community!
Proverbs 15:15 “All the days of the afflicted are evil, but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.”
True freedom from slavery!
Scripture reading for November 2nd: John 8
Key Scriptures: John 8:34-38 “Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham, yet you seek to kill me because My Word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
Slavery is a hot topic in our world today. There is human trafficking of sex slaves, boys and girls, who are being traded in most nations of the world. In Jesus’ day, the Jews prided themselves as a free people, but Jesus told them that anyone who practiced sin was a slave of sin. They would not receive His Word or believe that they were slaves of sin, even though they were plotting to kill Jesus and falsely accused Him of having a demon. Without repentance, these “sin-slaves” would be lost and remain under their father, the devil. Their murderous and lying nature was hidden from them because of their religious pride in their association with Abraham, the father of faith instead of humbly confessing their sin in repentance. Jesus wanted to set them free!
John 8:43-44 “Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear My Word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father God, Thank You for setting me free from slavery to sin through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! I am free! Lord grant me grace to declare Jesus Christ as the only way to freedom from sin’s power to those under the deception of the devil.
John 8:58-59 “Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” So they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.”
Called to Freedom!
Scripture reading for May 20th: Galatians 5
Key Scriptures: Galatians 5:13-15 “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but though love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.”
There was conflict in the Galatian church between the Jewish false teachers and the believers. Both sides were conceited and judgmental of one another and lacked love, a basic fruit of the Holy Spirit. Paul instructed them on those attributes that were not of God, warning them that those who practiced the works of the flesh would not inherit the kingdom of God. He encouraged them to keep in step with the Holy Spirit Who lived inside them. The Spirit’s fruit would effectively deal with the flesh and those still trying to earn righteousness through law. In fact, loving your neighbor as yourself fulfils the whole law of God! The Spirit of the Lord brings God’s love and true freedom!
Galatians 5:22-26 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control; Against such things as this there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Fill me again today with Your Spirit and let love for my neighbor and for You flow out of my life in every relationship and contact, to Your glory! I want to keep step with the Spirit today and walk in the freedom of fulfilled law.
Galatians 5:1 “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
Repentance removes the veil!
Scripture reading for September 18th: 2nd Kings 21, 2nd Chronicles 33, Psalm 71, 2nd Corinthians 3
Key Scriptures: 2nd Corinthians 3:15-18 “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord Who is Spirit.”
Paul explained that the Old Covenant Law came with a fading glory. Moses had to put a veil over his face so that the fading glory would not be visible to the Israelites. Their hearts were hard and the Law brought death. But now the New Covenant of eternal life through the Holy Spirit brings life and access for each believer into the Holy of Holies to behold Jesus. We have freedom to enter through the Spirit and Jesus’ blood covering our sins. The veil was torn from top to bottom when Jesus cried: “It is finished!” We are all being transformed by Jesus’ glory into His image by the Holy Spirit. Hallelujah!
Psalm 71:19 “Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You Who have done great things, O God, Who is like You?”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for purchasing my freedom to enter Your presence and behold Your glory. Transform me today by the Holy Spirit into Your image. Let the glory increase to Your eternal glory!
2nd Chronicles 33:12-13 “And when he (Manasseh) was in distress, he entreated the favor of the Lord his God and he humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. He prayed to Him and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord was God.”
That I might save some!
Scripture reading for September 4th: 2nd Kings 18-19, 2nd Chronicles 32, Psalm 67, 1st Corinthians 9
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 9:19-22 “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but being under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
Paul carefully explained his heart of serving others who were different than himself. He identified with them in their unsaved state so as to be able to share with them the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ that they might be saved. He had great freedom in Christ, but limited his own freedom to reach those lost in sin and cultural idolatry. Paul sought to imitate his Master, Jesus Christ, who came to seek and save the lost.
Psalm 67:1-2 “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His Face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.”
Faith confession and prayer: Thank You Lord for the freedom from condemnation and judgment I experience in Jesus Christ. Help me to limit my liberty as You direct to reach those still in bondage and see them saved.
2nd Chronicles 32:8 “”. . . . .with him (the king of Assyria) is the an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.”
Loving others at all times!
Scripture reading for July 16th: 1st Corinthians 8, Psalm 141, Proverbs 17
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 8:9-13 “But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food offered to idols? And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother for whom Christ died. Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.”
Christ Jesus delivers us from bondage to the Law and gives us His law of love. We are to love God fully and love our neighbor as our very self. Paul taught what this looked life for him in the culture of idolatry he lived in. He was free in Christ to eat anything, but did not want to cause any new believer or potential believer to stumble and return to idolatry. He limited his ‘rights’ and ‘freedoms’ in Christ for the sake of the salvation of others. This is love in action as the Holy Spirit leads.
Faith Confession: I can limit my liberty in Christ as the Holy Spirit directs in order to help weaker believers or potential converts. Help me today to love others as You do in this time and culture.
Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times and a brother is born for adversity.”
Bought with a price!
Scripture reading for July 15th: 1st Corinthians 7, Psalm 140, Proverbs 16
Key Scriptures: 1st Corinthians 7: 20-24 “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bond servant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bond servant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bond servant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bond servants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.”
Paul was teaching the Church concerning the culture of the society in which they lived. Slavery was common and Christ Jesus does set each person free from the bondage of sin. But Christ does not demand that we immediately change the culture we live in. He works from the inside out, freeing each person as they repent and respond to His Word and grace. Each person should remain where they are in the culture and allow God to use them to bring light and truth, always walking in the liberty Christ provides.
Faith Confession: Lord Jesus, thank You for paying the price for the true freedom given me through the sacrifice of Jesus. Help me to live in the culture of this world as salt and light to the lost and sharing the Gospel of freedom.
Psalm 140:13 “Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your Presence.”