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Hello my “Walking with Jesus” friends around the world.
Where were you when you first heard the news or saw the images of that Tuesday, September 11, 2001? That day changed our world didn’t it? New words entered our vocabulary. A new type of fear swept America and the world. I wonder how your life changed that day? How do you evaluate the differences and similarities that you see in our world between that day and today?
As 9.11 changed the world, in some ways Coronavirus has done the same 19 years later, hasn’t it? How has your life changed in recent months?
Evil schemes planned deep in the caves of Afghanistan seem similar to evil schemes planned today in riot torn cities across America or drug cartel cities in Mexico. Freedom turned evil can be a very powerful, destructive force!
I propose to you that the most VALUABLE people on our planet right now may well be Followers of Jesus Christ! This week we’re considering the wonder of our FREEDOM in Jesus Christ, as we try to live FREE making a difference in our crazy world. We looked at Galatians 5:1,16 “It is for Freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery…You were called to be FREE. But do not use your FREEDOM to indulge the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love.”
It’s a battle isn’t it my friends? Our deliverance by Jesus was a battle as He defeated Satan, sin, and death through His incarnation, His atonement death, His victorious resurrection and now His ascension to reign supremely in heaven until His soon return.
Our personal deliverance was a battle since Satan blinds the minds of every person from the time of their infancy, “…so that they cannot see the light of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God…”. (2 Cor. 4:4) Therefore our salvation is a remarkable victory as Jesus defeats that blinding stronghold of Satan’s schemes to keep our minds from understanding and our hearts from responding to the Gospel love reach of God to all of us!
And from the moment of our salvation, our deliverance by Jesus, the battle continues to rage, even with more intensity with Satan now scheming to tempt us to sin and shame our Savior, and draw us into spiritual drift. Please note 1 Corinthians 10:12,13 “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall. No temptation has seized you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful: He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out, so you can stand firm under it.” Has that been your experience my friends?
Now notice please, Paul twice calls us to recognize this FREEDOM battle with these words: “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial…” That’s true with EVERY Freedom, isn’t it? My friends, you’ll find these words in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 and 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1.
For the genuine Christian who is free from their sin bondage and sin condemnation, and has the Holy Spirit living in them to teach and guide them, the schemes of the devil and his demons must be to try and take advantage of our Jesus purchased freedom. Now knowing yourself as you do… what scheme might the devil use to try and draw you to use your freedom in a way which backfires and shames you and causes you to sin in such a way that you mock or blaspheme Jesus? Please think about that a moment. We all have vulnerabilities.
Look closely with me at 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. May I ask you… what devil’s scheme do you see in these verses and how do you see this battle raging all around your city, your part of the world, maybe even your extended family or church family? Do you see the target is the heart, and the scheme is trying to awaken lust?
Is lust, and sexual immorality a problem where you live? Are TV programs or movies or the internet used where you live, to try and draw good people into very destructive immoral pursuits? Is pornography a dangerous scheme in your town? Is sex trafficking or prostitution or adult stores or partial or full nude bars a problem in your region of our world?
This my friends has been a primary scheme of the devil and his demons in every place in our world, with almost every person, since ancient times. Do you see God’s caution and God’s provision to help us “Stand firm and not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature.”? (Gal. 5:17)
First it’s a call to UNDERSTAND that in our new Christian Freedom our bodies are intended to be used for God’s glory, (Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 6:13) never for sexually immoral behavior.
Second, it’s a call to recognize sexual immorality strikes at the very core of the greatest and most sacred human privilege, partnering with God in the miracle of procreation!
Third, our Freedom was bought at the price of the blood of Jesus, thus sexual immorality profanes His sacred atonement death!
Fourth, our Freedom from our sin bondage has now enabled the Holy Spirit to live within us, so if we engage in any type of sexual immorality we are actually drawing GOD Himself into that sinful act!
Do you see all that in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 my friends…look closely! You may want to review this paragraph again!!
Now what defensive response do you see Paul is urging us to develop? By the way, remember Paul was a single man, so I suspect this was a scheme the devil worked on him often! In addition to all the important understanding in the above paragraph, do you see this simple but powerful instruction: “Flee from sexual immorality…” (vs 18) “…honor God with your body.” (vs. 20) Now if you speak English, what is confusing about those words? What don’t we understand?
My “Walking with Jesus” friends this issue is for every living human being from about age 10 till old age! Have you noticed “flee” is not only putting one foot in front of another and going from one place to another? “Flee” is an attitude of the heart, a REFUSAL to allow your eyes to be drawn to look at another person lustfully. “Flee” is a REFUSAL to allow yourself to be in any conversation which is turning inappropriate or sexually suggestive. “Flee” is a REFUSAL to allow any person, other than your spouse, to believe you have any interest in them other than holy, God honoring interest.
“Flee” is a work of the mind. Like sonar in a submarine, or radar at an airport, we must be alert to any early indication of a demonic scheme involving us.
We must fill our minds with God’s truth, so we can discern any devil’s scheme long before it’s an attack upon us. With our minds & hearts filled with memorized Scripture we can focus on Jesus’ power and refute the scheme.
Finally, “flee” means just what it says… get out, fast! “Fleeing” is not cowardly, it is wise, courageous and may provide the leadership others desperately need. Do you see this as a great need in the society where you live? Do you see moral failure, especially leadership moral failure, all around you?
My friends, you’ll notice Paul uses the same phrase “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is constructive. No one should seek his own good but the good of others.” in 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1. This time his focus is not sexual immorality, but rather it’s a call to caution that ANYTHING in our lives…our vocabulary, our tone of voice when we speak, our body language, our attitudes, our choices, our values, our priorities. . .ALL of it should be engaged for the glory of God as Jesus calls us to serve people in His name. May I invite you to read those verses very carefully and simply ask yourself these questions:
* What reputation do I have with the people my life touches? How much like Jesus or different from Jesus am I in their eyes?
* Would ANYONE be surprised to discover I am a follower of Jesus?
* If I moved away from where I live or even died this week, what difference would that make in the lives of everyone I know here?
Oh my friends, I hope this week has been helpful and challenging to all of us as we consider how our FREEDOM in Christ should be propelling us into our world to make a big difference! As always, I’m anxious to hear from you and hear how God is using “Walking with Jesus” in your life.
Lord Jesus may I ask for your special touch in the life of every person who hears my voice today, touching them please Lord, right at the point of their need, whatever that may be.
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Click to read today’s chapter: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 1 Corinthians 10:23-11:1. (At the top you can choose a different translation.)
Have a comment or question about today’s chapter? I’m ready to hear from you, contact me here.
Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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