Bible Ballistics: BBs #594       Freed From Bondage???

 

I just want to share an encouraging word with you today about real freedom—freedom that we have IN Jesus!  We have been saved to serve The Sovereign God Almighty and His Son Jesus, through the power of saving grace and the impartation of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Power to be God’s children and live in a manner worthy of the “heritage” that we have received from our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Giving thanks unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers

of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness

of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14

Oh, praise God for that deliverance and translation into God’s glorious kingdom—one that is free from fear and bondage!  All because of what Jesus did for us through His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice at Calvary!  Paul reminds us to “remember” whose we are, because of Jesus’ completed work of salvation!

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,

they are the sons of God.

15 For ye have not received

the spirit of bondage

again to fear;

but ye have received

the Spirit of adoption,

whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

16 The Spirit itself

beareth witness

with our spirit,

that we are the children of God:

17 And if children,

then heirs;

heirs of God,

and joint-heirs with Christ;

if so be that we suffer with him,

that we may be also

glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings

of this present time

are not worthy to be compared

with the glory

which shall be revealed in us.”                  Romans 8:14-18

Oh, praise God, I just want to shout—in fact I just did—Amen, thank You, Jesus!  Yet, we also have a call to follow our Lord in word and deed—Paul says it better than I can (and in so many places, but I’ll share just one this morning):

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,

beseech you

that ye walk worthy

of the vocation

wherewith ye are called,

2 With all lowliness

and meekness,

with longsuffering,

forbearing one another

in love;

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity

of the Spirit

in the bond of peace.”   Ephesians 4:1-3

All things that we can be victorious in as we walk “in the Spirit” and not the flesh.  Sometimes (often times) we find ourselves yielding to the flesh, when we ought to be looking up and not around!  As one of my dear friends is often heard to say, “we have to remember what Paul told the young preacher, Timothy, and not be afraid”!  No matter how often we may stumble or fall, the key to success in God’s kingdom, is to just get up, look up and press on for our KING!

“For God hath not given us

the spirit of fear;

but of power,

and of love,

and of a sound mind.”   2 Timothy 1:7

I pray that these few words of encouragement will lift your spirit today!  I love the Greek word translated here “sound mind”, for it literally means “right thinking”; and as I heard someone say long ago, we need to look up to our Lord, and “quit your ‘stinkin’ ‘thinkin’!”  May it ever be so, and as a final reminder, don’t let fear rule your heart but follow Paul’s admonition for ‘thinking’:

“Finally, brethren,

whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things.”   Philippians 4:8

Amen and Amen!