TOPIC: FREEDOM
Memorise: And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32
Read: John 8:31-36
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Message
Freedom is generally defined as the power of self-determination attributable to the will. It is the power to act, speak or think as you want without hindrance, constraint or restriction. However, the freedom that Jesus promised is freedom in which a man is set free from the power of the devil, sin, sickness, poverty and failure. It is a freedom that is the possession of born-again children of God who have been liberated through the blood of Christ. It is a freedom that doesn't rule out obedience to the commandments of God and submission to the will of God. This freedom is a freedom of choice: a choice to submit to Jesus and follow Him all the days of our lives; a choice to live a holy and righteous life, and a choice to reject the devil, his demonic activities and their influences in our lives.
There are lots of misconceptions about the freedom that Jesus promised His followers. It is definitely not an invitation to lawlessness and self-will as some Christians suppose. The freedom Jesus promised comes through strict obedience to the word of God and its conditions. Jesus says, if you continue in His word, you will come face to face with the truth, and the truth in the word of God will then set you free (John 8:31-32). This passage was written for believers. Anyone that is yet to believe and trust in the Lord Jesus may find this principle of freedom promised by our Lord Jesus very difficult to understand. This freedom comes as a natural response to the grace of God; it is not a system that forces anyone to live in any particular way. The submission and commitment of Christians to Jesus is simply out of love and appreciation for what God did for us. However, anyone who claims to be a Christian, and yet finds it difficult to accept the freedom offered by our Lord Jesus Christ with thanksgiving, is only a pretender. James 1:25 says:
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
This concept of freedom is not easy to understand. It offers us freedom from religious systems, the devil, sin, unrighteousness, self and demonic powers. The Spirit guides us and leads us to make required sacrifices, but these sacrifices are for our own gain. We strive to make these sacrifices consciously and willingly out of love and appreciation for the salvation of our soul. This is the freedom of the Spirit offered by Jesus Christ to anyone who wants to be free from the devil and his works.
Prayer Point: Father, please let the truth of your word continue to make me free, in Jesus' Name.
Bible in one year: John 19:17-21:25; Job 33:19-33
SOURCE: Open Heavens Devotional, Volume 14, 2014
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