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FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE (Galatians 5:1 KJV) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." "It is easier to do as I say than it is to do as you think." "There is safety in numbers." "Follow the crowd and you won't get lost." "Do it my way and you won't be held accountable." These are all humanistic values that bring bondage and eventual defeat. However, if you listen to the voice of the Spirit very long, you cannot remain under legalistic values that bring bondage. Many have said that the great spiritual shake-up we went through in the body of Christ has really hurt the charismatic circles because a great number have gone back into the denominational structure. NO, IT HASN'T! Those people weren't listening to God, or they wouldn't have gotten fearful. Do not allow yourself to be deceived by moving in the flesh. Instead, respond to the direction of the Holy Spirit at any cost, or you will miss what God is doing. Paul rebuked the Galatian Church for turning back to the comfort and convenience of the law. Such legalism is but a religious yoke that quenches the Holy Spirit's movement. The flesh and the law cannot perfect us. Only the Spirit can lead us into true freedom (Galatians 3:1-5). We do not grow by what we hear preached. We may gain head knowledge and gain some insight, but growth comes by acting on what we've heard. It is then impossible not to grow if we begin to act upon the voice of the Lord to our spirit. Spiritual growth and maturity come by having your own experiences with God. A minister said recently on radio that he did not believe the prophetic ministry was for today because that was Old Testament and God had replaced the prophetic ministry with pastors and teachers. And since he was a pastor, he said he was a New Testament prophet. There's just one problem with that: Not all are called to pastor, but all are called to prophecy. It is not important to me how many people listen to my sermons, but how many are growing from hearing God, knowing His voice and bearing fruit. [And don't try to analyze if you are bearing fruit because you don't get to eat your own fruit. Only others get to receive from your fruit, so your analysis will be wrong.] The preaching of the Word is absolutely necessary. I don't care how many listen as long as those who do listen are becoming grounded properly. All Christians need to be under preaching (not just teaching) because it is spiritual food and vitamins to keep you cleansed and spiritually healthy by the conviction of God's Holy Word. [Teaching is for spiritual knowledge, whereas preaching is for spiritual cleansing.] God's Word relates preaching to repentance, the gospel, deliverance, the Kingdom of God, Jesus Christ, faith, Christ crucified, warning, and the Word - so that people will believe and be able to live in freedom. Teaching on the other hand is for all nations, in every church, HOW TO - pray in the name of Jesus, doctrine, and instruction so that others can go forth and teach other men and women. Jesus was both teacher and preacher. We have a decade of teaching behind us, but have lost the value of preaching. The loss has brought legalistic bondage back into our lives. The devil is not threatened by religious activity as long as it is not Spirit-directed activity. To stay liberated, hearing God must be the No. 1 priority in your lives. Then, Satan doesn't stand a chance. There are so many things happening in the spiritual world right now on behalf of this body. If we will just be patient, I stake my career with God on this fact: The supernatural manifestation of the power of the Holy Spirit, on behalf of all you, the body, is going to be shown real very soon, because you are listening to His voice. And all those who come in who are not listening are going to be astonished at God's work. Romans 8:2 says "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." When we begin to live in the light of the Spirit, little by little Jesus will chip away at our sinful characteristics. [It is like the Berlin Wall. Those people were free the very day and hour they were told they could leave. But the wall still remained. Day after day, little by little the wall is coming down. The freedom that they have has not made them all unified yet. But they are free to work on unification.] Now that legalism is broken by Jesus Christ, we as people must have something to rule us or we will fall back into the law. Jesus said the new law becomes LOVE. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart , soul, and mind and your neighbor as yourself." We must have love or we fall back into sin, the law, and bondage. And love can only come by a desire within for the Holy Spirit to govern our lives; and that takes place only when we listen and obey. If this sounds so good, why do the majority of people stay with the law? Because it is easier to do as I say than to do as you think - there is safety in numbers - follow the crowd and you won't get lost - do it my way and you won't be held responsible. The first time a problem comes along to which you can't find the immediate solution, you can do one of two things. Seek God, listen and wait, OR go to an expert on your situation and let them tell you what to do for half of your paycheck. God only asks for 10% and He will take care of every problem imaginable. His rates are lower than any professional you will ever find. And besides, no matter what the professionals tell you, it is only going to be temporary. Because something better will come along to replace his solutions. But with God, you always get the best. Through the law you will always get the least for your money. But with God's gift of love, you will receive the most. We spend a lot of money, pain, and energy because of the law. This is exactly what the Old Covenant says: you must strive, endure, and perform to make it through. The New Covenant of Love says: you must rest, rejoice, and listen and God will make it through for you. We don't please God by performance, but by walking in His love in the power of the Spirit. I Sam.15:22 says OBEY before SACRIFICE. So our life to God is not a performance of "do's" and "don'ts", but a response - by listening and obeying the voice of the Spirit. My heart craves to hear God. My life craves to live in freedom. Everyone does. All it takes is expectancy. Maintain a life of expectancy, which is simply HOPE. "And hope makes us not ashamed because of the love of God in our hearts by the Holy Ghost." (Rom.5:5) Freedom from bondage is living according to the cross of Jesus Christ. We have been taught enough to pray against the forces of Satan and think we will be set free from bondage. But before we can truly be free from satanic bondage, we must make sure we are free from legalistic bondage. Ask God what type of bondage you need to be set free from: Is it unconfessed sin? Is it bondage from the law? Or is it satanic? When you find out which one by the Holy Spirit and freedom comes, then the joy of the Lord will manifest. Whenever joy is missing for a period of time one of these three things has taken place. You can put on the garment of praise and Satan will be defeated and the joy will come. But if there is bondage to the law or sin, the joy will only be temporary. Jehovah's joy is part of His covenant with us in liberty. - Pastor Steve
June 1996 Newsletter | Freedom From Bondage | The Battle | Pastor's Journal - June 1995 Mouths of Praise | Steadfastness: Its Requirements, Work and Rewards Revised: June 25, 2008. |
Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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