Today, Monday, May 28, 2018, the USA observes Memorial Day. Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the USA on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Originally it was known as Decoration Day and was established after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. Eventually, Memorial Day became a day to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. Although we remember the fallen from wars fought in the natural realm, the reality is, all wars begins in the spiritual realm and manifest in the natural realm. Warring in the spiritual realm, began before the creation of man where Lucifer, rebelled against God in an attempt to be equal with God. (Isaiah 14:12-15) Unfortunately, this war did not stop there. Lucifer, now Satan, in his hatred towards God and towards man, created in the image and likeness of God, wages war on earth pitting man against man through his lies and deceptions.
In short, the war against humanity started in the Garden of Eden where Adam chose to surrender to Satan, transforming him from a child of God to a child of Satan. For thousands of years countless human lives have been lost through the lies and deceptions of the one whose sole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. (John 10:10) Satan is known as destroyer, murderer, liar, deceiver, accuser, and especially the enemy of the human soul. He is the epitome of all that is evil and there is no good or truth in him. (John 8:44) He also is the one behind all sickness, disease, poverty, pestilence, death and every evil action known to man. Although, we see the evil and destructive nature of war in the natural realm, the Apostle Paul tells us the reality of war, "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." (Ephesians 6:12)
History reveals the greatest war that was ever fought. This war was also fought in the natural and spiritual realms. This was the greatest war ever fought because not one person from the creation of man had ever been
able to fight against Satan and rise the victor. All humanity was
helpless and hopeless in this world, until the greatest warrior that
ever walked on this planet emerged. His name, Jesus, the Son of God.
Unfortunately, there are billions of people that have not recognized
the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus paid to set humanity free. Many of
them may have heard the story of Jesus, "For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16), but, "the god of this age
has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the
glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them." (2
Corinthians 4:4)
The night before Jesus would face this most horrendous battle, which meant it would cost Him His life, He sat with His disciples and in a sense, set up a Memorial Day for all
generations to come to all who would call upon His Name to be saved. "When the hour had come,
Jesus sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, with fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before
I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is
fulfilled in the kingdom of God. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks,
and said, take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I
will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God
comes. And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to
them, saying, this is My body which is given for you; do this in
remembrance of Me. Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you." (Luke
22:14-20)
The Apostle Paul tells us, "For I received from the
Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same
night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given
thanks, He broke it and said, take, eat; this is My body which is
broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He
also took the cup after supper, saying, this cup is the new covenant in
My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me." (1 Corinthians 11:23-25) As we can see,
believers are to participate in "Holy Communion" as a deep, intimate
connection with the One, Jesus Christ, who has given humanity more
freedom than any nation(s) or army(s) could possible provide.
Through faith in Jesus Christ people no longer have to live under the
tyrannical rule of Satan because Jesus Christ took the punishment for
every sin of every man, woman and child in His own body on the cross.
Satan and sin, which are synonymous, has been defeated and humanity can
now be free.
When we consider what Jesus did for us and all mankind,
the mind can hardly comprehend it. The apostle Paul tells us,
"Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men,
resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the
free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by
one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's
obedience many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:18-19)
This means
that not one person in all of humanity had the ability to provide
redemption. God Himself became a man and provided man’s redemption.
(John 1:14) It was God who redeemed man from the dominion of Satan. (1
John 3:8) It was God who destroyed death. (Hebrews 2:14) It was God who
restored man’s authority over the Satan (Luke 10:19) It was God who
adopted and made us His children (Romans
8:15-16) It is God who gives us all things that pertain to life and
godliness. (2 Peter 2:3) It is God who gives us exceedingly great and
precious promises. (2 Peter 1:4) It is God who gives us the victory at
all times (1 Corinthians 15:57) and it is God who gave us eternal life
(1 John 2:25) all through Jesus Christ.
Finally, Paul
instructs us, "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup,
you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26) Believers are encouraged
to celebrate our Memorial Day every day in remembrance of Jesus Christ. In doing so, we bring to remembrance the war that He fought and the life He gave to bring freedom to humanity. Although, Jesus
had become a fallen warrior in the battle for freedom, He rose
victoriously from the dead, completely liberating humanity, never to
fall again. This has given hope to all, especially those who we honor on
Memorial Day who have lost their lives protecting the freedoms we have
in the USA. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and
believes in Me shall never die." (John 11:25-26) So, let us take time
every day and give the highest honor to Jesus Christ, the One who has
given all humanity the greatest of all freedoms, abundant life! PTL...
Showing posts with label free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label free. Show all posts
Monday, May 28, 2018
Monday, November 28, 2016
Free Indeed
When we look at or listen to the news we find that the present human condition affirms that the world at large is not "free indeed." Human history records an unbroken trail of bondage. Secular wisdom cannot unshackle the heart no matter how hard a person tries, how educated a person may be, the changing of or improvement of living conditions, or equal rights'. These things are good, but they cannot (in and of themselves) set a person free with any lasting results. Only the Creator of humanity can do that. God alone has provided the emancipation of human suffering and captivity through Jesus Christ His Son, our great Savior and Liberator. Jesus said, "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." (John 8:36) The Apostle Paul tells us, "It was for this freedom that Christ set us
free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep standing firm and do not
be subject again to a yoke of slavery [which you once removed]." (Galatians 5:1 AMP)
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born of a virgin by means of a miraculous conception through the power of the Holy Spirit, became like one of us to completely set humanity free from the tyrannical power of Satan. Luke records the ministry of Jesus to the world, which was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19) The gospel of John also records the many claims that Jesus made regarding himself and his relationship to all of mankind. Those claims are extraordinary; absolutely amazing! One of the things He said of Himself was, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6) What He was proclaiming was that He alone was mankind's great Liberator, that He could and would set man free.
The gospel is the Good News about Jesus Christ and the freedom that He gives. It is the Holy Spirit inspired presentation of that Good News that sets man free. Although the true gospel of Christ can be distorted or perverted, Jesus and his apostles preached a lifesaving, mind and heart freeing message from God. Numerous times and in different ways Jesus said, "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak." (John 12:49) The Apostle Paul tells us of his ministry in the gospel, "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:18-19)
It is the cross, that is, the cross of Christ the presents the Good News. The cross of Christ focuses on God's answer to man's need: life and freedom. The death of Jesus, the Son of God, is revealed in that historical event at Calvary. He died, according to God's Word, as a sin offering for man. This is the one and only way that mankind can be set free. It is an act of God's grace alone with absolutely nothing to do with mans efforts. Although freedom is by grace through faith, many believers have created a doctrine, legalism, as an attempt to earn one's salvation by works rather than relying upon God's grace through Christ to save. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works]." (Romans 11:6) Paul dealt with this very thing with the church at Galatia. (See Galatians 3)
Although there are numerous barriers to freedom that rob people, even believers, from God's gracious
and abundant provision of life that we have in Christ, (John 10:10), I believe that these three stand out, ignorance, pride and fear. Ignorance of the will, nature, character, purpose and plan of God through Jesus can keep us in darkness. The very darkness that Jesus came to set us free from is what keeps us from God's freedom and love. Jesus is the wisdom from God that dispels ignorance. He is the truth that sets men free. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Pride can keep us enslaved to our selfish egos and erroneous ideologies. Pride can cause people to
presume that they have need of nothing outside themselves. This is the very issue that was the fall of Lucifer, "For you (Lucifer) have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14) God's Word tells us several time, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Pride is a self-righteous attitude that robs one of his freedom in Christ because it is void of grace. Ignorance and pride are two deadly foes of the freedom that God's grace brings to those who would follow Jesus
Christ. The final foe of freedom that I want to mention is fear.
Fear is the root of anxiety and worry. According to the Apostle John, "fear involves torment." (1 John 4:18) Fear can keep us in bondage, robbing us of the life that Jesus brought to humanity. Fear is not from God but and evil spirit. The Apostle Paul tells us, "God has not given us a spirit of fear." (2 Timothy 1:7) These three, ignorance, pride and fear are thieves that cheat us out of the joy of God's freedom through Jesus Christ.
Freedom is a gift we possess only when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior and walk in it. A free person is not afraid to make up his own mind to settle for himself the basic issue of life. A person who desires reality must fearlessly pursue truth and be responsible for making decisions regarding that truth, that is, God's Word. Long ago, Joshua, a great man of courage and faith said, "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)
When one submits to the truth of the gospel and obediently trusts in God's abundant grace to save, then, that person will know what it means to be "free indeed." They will be free from ignorance; free from pride; and free from fear. The saving grace of a loving God as realized in Christ Jesus is the most liberating power known to man. However, a prisoner is not a free man if he refuses to leave his cell after the door is opened. God, through Christ has opened the prison door for all. So, as Joshua said, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" let us make the same declaration, believing and receiving the complete freedom the was freely given through the Lord Jesus Christ. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born of a virgin by means of a miraculous conception through the power of the Holy Spirit, became like one of us to completely set humanity free from the tyrannical power of Satan. Luke records the ministry of Jesus to the world, which was foretold by the prophet Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." (Luke 4:18-19) The gospel of John also records the many claims that Jesus made regarding himself and his relationship to all of mankind. Those claims are extraordinary; absolutely amazing! One of the things He said of Himself was, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6) What He was proclaiming was that He alone was mankind's great Liberator, that He could and would set man free.
The gospel is the Good News about Jesus Christ and the freedom that He gives. It is the Holy Spirit inspired presentation of that Good News that sets man free. Although the true gospel of Christ can be distorted or perverted, Jesus and his apostles preached a lifesaving, mind and heart freeing message from God. Numerous times and in different ways Jesus said, "For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak." (John 12:49) The Apostle Paul tells us of his ministry in the gospel, "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ." (Romans 15:18-19)
It is the cross, that is, the cross of Christ the presents the Good News. The cross of Christ focuses on God's answer to man's need: life and freedom. The death of Jesus, the Son of God, is revealed in that historical event at Calvary. He died, according to God's Word, as a sin offering for man. This is the one and only way that mankind can be set free. It is an act of God's grace alone with absolutely nothing to do with mans efforts. Although freedom is by grace through faith, many believers have created a doctrine, legalism, as an attempt to earn one's salvation by works rather than relying upon God's grace through Christ to save. The Apostle Paul tells us, "But if it is by grace [God’s unmerited favor], it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace [it would not be a gift but a reward for works]." (Romans 11:6) Paul dealt with this very thing with the church at Galatia. (See Galatians 3)
Although there are numerous barriers to freedom that rob people, even believers, from God's gracious
and abundant provision of life that we have in Christ, (John 10:10), I believe that these three stand out, ignorance, pride and fear. Ignorance of the will, nature, character, purpose and plan of God through Jesus can keep us in darkness. The very darkness that Jesus came to set us free from is what keeps us from God's freedom and love. Jesus is the wisdom from God that dispels ignorance. He is the truth that sets men free. "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Pride can keep us enslaved to our selfish egos and erroneous ideologies. Pride can cause people to
presume that they have need of nothing outside themselves. This is the very issue that was the fall of Lucifer, "For you (Lucifer) have said in your heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High." (Isaiah 14:13-14) God's Word tells us several time, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Pride is a self-righteous attitude that robs one of his freedom in Christ because it is void of grace. Ignorance and pride are two deadly foes of the freedom that God's grace brings to those who would follow Jesus
Christ. The final foe of freedom that I want to mention is fear.
Fear is the root of anxiety and worry. According to the Apostle John, "fear involves torment." (1 John 4:18) Fear can keep us in bondage, robbing us of the life that Jesus brought to humanity. Fear is not from God but and evil spirit. The Apostle Paul tells us, "God has not given us a spirit of fear." (2 Timothy 1:7) These three, ignorance, pride and fear are thieves that cheat us out of the joy of God's freedom through Jesus Christ.
Freedom is a gift we possess only when we receive Christ as Lord and Savior and walk in it. A free person is not afraid to make up his own mind to settle for himself the basic issue of life. A person who desires reality must fearlessly pursue truth and be responsible for making decisions regarding that truth, that is, God's Word. Long ago, Joshua, a great man of courage and faith said, "Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord! And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15)
When one submits to the truth of the gospel and obediently trusts in God's abundant grace to save, then, that person will know what it means to be "free indeed." They will be free from ignorance; free from pride; and free from fear. The saving grace of a loving God as realized in Christ Jesus is the most liberating power known to man. However, a prisoner is not a free man if he refuses to leave his cell after the door is opened. God, through Christ has opened the prison door for all. So, as Joshua said, "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" let us make the same declaration, believing and receiving the complete freedom the was freely given through the Lord Jesus Christ. "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10)
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