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Good Wednesday to you my “Walking with Jesus” friends,
We are together, this week, seeking to understand what God wants us to learn about the value of TESTing as His Holy Spirit TEACHes us so that we actually grow and develop our character and spiritual maturity as followers of Jesus, through times of TESTing.
Today, let’s consider the TEST of FREEDOM. This is an important topic no matter where you live in the world. Of all the freedoms you desire or expect in life, which are the most valuable to you? Some freedoms, are God given, no human being can take them away from you. Freedom to think and reason is a God given freedom. Freedom to desire as you hope or dream of what you’d like. Freedom to love, even if the one you love is unaware of your love or unresponsive to your love. Freedom to pray, to talk with God at any time. Freedom to trust, especially the glorious ability to trust in God and His promises! Freedom to memorize. Oh my friends, have you discovered the wonderful power of memorizing God’s Word and then reflecting on the verses you’ve memorized, especially in stressful or chaotic times like we are living in right now? I urge you my friends to try memorizing ONE verse of Scripture every week, and keep them fresh in your heart and mind.
Sadly, we can actually use freedom very destructively, have you experienced that? The freedom to drink alcohol has resulted in millions of self-enslaved alcoholics. People who cannot stop themselves from drinking alcohol, and the damage it does to their bodies, their minds, their relationships and their reputations is almost incalculable. Alcoholism is not forced upon someone, it is a self-inflicted slavery resulting from mis-used freedom. The same can be said of almost any addiction. . .drugs, pornography, gambling, shopping, eating etc. All of these and more are enslavements resulting from misuse of freedom.
But there is also emotional bondage, isn’t there. Do you know anyone enslaved to unforgiveness? They choose NOT to forgive and they live in deep resentment or bitterness. Or enslavement to jealousy or enslavement to shame or anger or fear. All of these are emotions we are free to pursue OR free to find deliverance from.
Paul wrote to the Christians in Galatia “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…” (Gal. 5:1) Jesus had promised that if we follow Him and hold to His teachings we will know the TRUTH, and by His power, His truth will set us free. (John 8:31,32). Do you believe it friends, have you experienced the deliverance the Holy Spirit of God can bring in your life when you trust in Jesus and invite Him to apply His truth into your heart and mind, and by His power breaking the hold of things you have enslaved yourself to, in the exercise of your freedom?
Paul was also led by the Holy Spirit to write to the Christians in Corinth these powerful words about freedom: “Everything is permissible for me, but not everything in beneficial…I will not be mastered (enslaved) by anything… The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord… Flee from sexual immorality… Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you are bought at a price, therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
It is so clear it really needs no explanation, does it my friends? And yet sadly, I’ve had so many people, both men and women, tell me they are careful to honor these verses by not following through physically with what they are thinking in their minds sexually. Pornography addictions start right here my friends! Listen to these important words Jesus said “You have heard it said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart…” (Matt.5:27,28)
So the TEST of FREEDOM is really quite simple. . . what are we doing with our thoughts, our attitudes, our words, our choices/decisions and our actions, as we live in our freedom? For the person who has not trusted Jesus Christ to save them from their sin bondage, they live under the control of their sinful nature and thus their freedom will lead them to think, say and do those things which are harmful to others; self-advancing even to the disregard of how it affects others; self-enslaving and often a mockery or rejection of God. That is Galatians 5:19-21 and it is behavior which is an abomination to God.
But the person who has found freedom in Christ, and is a Holy Spirit filled follower of Jesus, they live in their freedoms entirely differently as they live under the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Paul summarizes it this way: “Live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit was is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other…” (Gal. 5:16,17)
As we return one last time to Deuteronomy 8 this week, look at the verse 19. Moses said: “If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed…” Do you see how it works my friends? We choose to set God aside, to minimize God, to replace Him with other things in our lives. We then soon forget all the great things God has done in our lives and we focus our freedoms on pursuing our happiness far away from God. Satan does not stand by innocently, he and his demons will quickly surround us with enticements drawing us rapidly away from God and into lifestyles that will enslave us. Paul then describes this dark place of freedom activated enslavement with these words: “Having lost all sensitivity they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity with a continual lust for more.” (Eph. 4:19)
Oh my dear “Walking with Jesus” friends, it can happen so quickly, so deceptively. And here’s the antidote from Paul: “Offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” (Romans 12:1,2)
So may I give you this summary statement for today… ponder it my friends:
Danger: Freedom abused can self-enslave, live recklessly and be destructive.
OR my Freedom in “FOLLOWERSHIP” can keep me close to Jesus and position me to be greatly used by God for His glory.
You remember “FOLLOWERSHIP” means I choose to live my life in a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, worshiping Him with every aspect of my life, as I follow Him with every step of my life. That my friends, is my best use of all my Freedoms!
Oh Lord Jesus, please help us understand the battle ground of our God given freedoms as Satan seeks to lead us to abuse them, but You Jesus, desire to lead us to use them for our growth and God’s glory!
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
Click to read today’s chapter: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20. (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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