Freedom

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freedom

Isaiah 49:24-25
24 Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
25 But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.

Isaiah 61:1-2
61 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
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The enemy works like a school yard bully. His tactics are fear, intimidation, and an irrational sense of hopelessness. Some of the greatest challenges we face are not how things are but how we perceive them to be. This is where the enemy comes in and tries to gain a foothold on our hope. Even born again, Spirit filled, blood bought believers can experience places of perceived pending doom. Judgment can be clouded by the seemingly loss of control.

Staying in faith is often the greatest challenge when we feel completely out of control. This is not the will of God. He will often allow the enemy, sometimes in multiple forms, to come in like that flood just so he can show us what lifting up a standard looks like. Just like you would board an air craft and trust the pilot, a trained professional to get you to your destination, you can trust  God.

Having celebrated Independence Day this week, I would just like to encourage you with a simple message. “God is in Control.” Adversity in your life doesn’t have to equate hopelessness, or even spiritual bondage. You may be experiencing turbulence, maybe some unchartered territory in your life, even loss or hurt, but God is still in control. I came to decree your Spiritual Independence. You will not face your days, weeks, months, or your life in dread. God is in control. God is able and willing to contend with those things that contend with you. Release it to Him.

You are free!
Free to live in faith.
Free to be happy.
Free to dream.
Free to expect a great present and a great future.
Free to dwell in peace.
Free to trust that God is in Control.

 

 

The Finish Line

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finishline

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2

These two verses sum up the roles and responsibilities of the work done on the cross.
Christ endured the pain and suffering of the cross for us. After the finished work He sat down at the right hand of God to govern the affairs of men. Our role is to lay aside the weights and sins of this life and to run with patience the race set before us. Our race is our individual cross. We carry our own cross by enduring the journey that we have been assigned. The race we individually run is as different as the weights and sins we individually face. That race has different courses depending on the ages and stages of life.
How do you get your momentum back when you feel like your head is no longer in the game?

  1. Identify the weights that are setting you behind– Put a name on them. Cancer, depression, suicide, unemployment, sin habits. You can’t dump what you won’t confront. As you take off some things, you have to put on the whole armor of God. Ephesians 6:10-18
  2. Prepare like an athlete- Spiritual endurance has a lot to do with the state of mind. Feelings follow thoughts. You can take yourself on unnecessary detours by the thoughts you entertain. You have to be willing to confront your own thoughts with the Word of God:
  3. Think like Christ:
    1. Remember He has a plan-Jeremiah 29:11
    2. He will take care of my enemies-Psalm 37:1-11
    3. He will provide- Psalm 37: 25-26
    4. When I am weary-Isaiah 40:30-31

See you at the FINISH LINE!