After we receive the gift of salvation why would anyone ever want to go back to living like a slave to sin? Jesus promised us absolute freedom in salvation:
“Most assuredly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
John 8:34-36
Can you imagine being freed after 23 years in a dark hole in the ground with no sunlight and then…voluntarily going back to that hell hole??? [That is what I did for many years after I was born again at age 23.] You see, when we are born again, Jesus frees us from the dark slavery of sin. He makes our spirit man (soul and spirit) ALIVE and His HOLY Spirit indwells us. But our enemy is constantly on the prowl looking for ways to re-enslave us. Thus, the Bible instructs us to:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
I Peter 5:8
Our enemy is subtle. He infiltrates in ways we do not suspect—mostly from inside the camp. For example: Do you find yourself being overwhelmed by anxiety? Is your predominant thought right now “I can’t wait for Christmas to be over?” Are you fighting depression? Do you sometimes wonder if your life even matters? These are the kinds of thoughts that can drive us back into the slavery of sin. Ah, but God has a much better plan for us!!!!
We were created to live for a meaningful and important purpose—to glorify Almighty God!!!
When we take the focus off ourselves and put it on God—He frees our mind. God is not anxious. He IS hope. He is not depressed. He IS joy. In fact, He IS love and He loves us more than you love ourselves. (1 John 4:7-8) He offers us an amazing FUTURE and great HOPE—not just after death, but also here and now:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward YOU, says the Lord, thoughts of PEACE and not of evil, to give you a FUTURE and a HOPE.”
(Jeremiah 29:11)
But HOW do we train ourselves to live in the freedom of this great hope instead of the slavery of sin? Jeremiah goes on to explain:
“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.”
Jeremiah 29:12-14
To live in freedom, we must be PASSIONATE about our pursuit of God!
The Israelites chose to pursue the gods of pleasure and prosperity; and thus, they became the slaves of their enemies. We often do the same exact thing. When we choose to make anything—our job, family, entertainment, possession—more important than our relationship with God; we also become enslaved by the enemies of fear, worry, doubt, despair, depression, dissatisfaction, etc. But—after we are born again, we have the power to choose who we worship. The battle begins every day with—what we put in our mind. The Bible tells us EXACTLY how to remain free:
“Be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2
We must begin each day by filling our mind with God’s Word and His TRUTHS for living. Each of His children have been endowed with the power to live according to His Word and thus—LIVE IN FREEDOM!
“There is therefore now NO condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me FREE from the law of sin and death.”
Romans 8:1-2
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.“
~Galatians 5:1
To learn more about Kimberly Faith and the mission of Faith Strong, click HERE.
Out Now – Essential Faith, Volume II. Find it on Amazon by clicking HERE.
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