Skip to main content

Freedom!

Thoughts of Freedom… I grew up “Free”. Freedom has always been a part of my life. Like other things, I grew accustomed to being free. It’s easy, at least to me. I am now a missionary in a “Free country”. I can freely preach, teach, and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ without thoughts of harassment.

Last night as we shared in a preaching service where over 80 heard the message, never once did I think about being arrested, persecuted, or harmed in any way. Freedom is a tremendous blessing that brings great responsibility. Freedom allows me to make my own way in life, it allows me to make my own mistakes and win my own battles; thus the conflict with Christianity. I as a Christian am, in reality, a slave of Jesus Christ. Paul summed it up in Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Pleasing self or pleasing Christ, the fight for freedom starts and ends here. My freedom comes as I submit myself in slavery to Christ. Paradox? Yes. Reality? Again yes! Try teaching this concept to a new believer! It is not easy. Jesus realized this, after His hard sayings in John 6 when the multitudes abandoned Him. He turned to the twelve and said “…Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life” (6.67-68). With that statement Peter and the disciples abandoned their freedom, but became truly free.

Our people are slaves to various background difficulties, vices, habits. Working to help them realize true freedom in Christ is a great challenge, but one for which God is equipping us. Pray as we continue the Freedom Fight.

Happy Independence Day 2005 From all of us here in Sorocaba!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If this is the kingdom of God, do I really want it?

If this is Kingdom Living, Do I Want it? Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. In a study of the Sermon on the Mount to this point we might be tempted to say, “I don’t want to be that happy!” If this is Kingdom living then I want to go to Disney World. This place is depressing.  What Jesus describes here seems to highlight all of the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What? How?

 27 “But to you who are listening, I say:  Love your enemies,  do good to those who hate you, 28  bless those who curse you,  pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek,  turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat,  do not withhold your shirt from them.  30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.  32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.  33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.  34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.  35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be gr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Life's Twists - Esther

The fascinating account that we call "Esther" has intrigue, love and mysterious purpose that highlights God's sovereign control over every aspect. In ten chapters, we meet the ruling King of Persia, his evil courtier Haman, Mordecai, a dignified and stubborn Jew and his niece Hadassa. Each player has an integral part in the tale. That story goes like this.  The King has a magnificent party that goes on for six months! Finally, in his desire to show off his lovely wife, he calls for her to come dressed in her crown. She refuses, usually a crime punishable by death, and is banished from the castle. The flustered King asks his men what he should do, and they decide he should seek a new bride. The process takes months, but finally, Ester is chosen. Her new position will be a critical part of the happy ending of this story.  Enter the villain Haman, who hates Mordecai so much that he eventually plans to kill him. Before that evil deed, however, he hatches an even more cruel ac...
Post a Comment
Read more