“Let me be clear, the Anointed One has set us free—not partially, but completely and wonderfully free! We must always cherish this truth and stubbornly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past. We must live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him. So may we never be arrogant, or look down on another, for each of us is an original”
Galatians 5:1, 25-26 (TPT)
That Anointed One is Christ, and that anointing is THE burden-removing, THE yoke-destroying power of God! Imagine that! Jesus came to set us free from burdens and yokes from our past that entangled us.
The Webster’s definition of freedom is: the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint; the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.
What were the burdens and yokes that you were set free from? Many of us have been imprisoned, enslaved, restrained and silenced because of our past. But something happened! When we received Christ as our Lord and Savior, everything changed! The Anointed One and His Anointing came to live inside of us, and we were set free! We are no longer restrained. When we are free, we wear the armor of our freedom. Nothing will stop us from progressing in our faith. We come to know what it means to be a soul winner and a disciple maker, and we live that freedom every day!
Now is not the time to stop or quit! We must be determined! Freedom Fighters in Christ have a voice, a sound, and an appearance about them that is not common or regular. We will not allow the enemy to silence us again. Freedom fights! Freedom in Christ does not cower down, and it doesn’t give away its freedom! We must refuse to go back to the bondage of the past.
You may have a great career, a beautiful home, a thriving business, a great education. You may have notoriety; you may be exceptionally talented; you may be popular; and you may possess beautiful material things, but these don’t bring true freedom. True freedom in Christ causes you to REIGN from the inside out, not from the outside in. When we are born again, that freedom in Christ releases the past and our NEW life in Christ reigns (see 2 Corinthians 5:17).
An acrostic for freedom could be:
F-I am Free and Fearless
R-I Reign in Christ because I am Redeemed by the Blood and I am the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus
E-I Experience True Freedom because of the Price Christ Paid for Me
E-I have a Heart of Expectation because Expectation is the Breeding Ground for Freedom!
D-I am Determined to Fight the Good Fight of Faith to Keep My Freedom
O-I am an Original, and I Overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of My Testimony
M-I am determined to Model the Life of Christ to Win Others through the Great Commission
What is your acrostic? Write it out! Declare it, and make it your own because, “…if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed!” (John 8:36)
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
When you have been set free from the past, you cannot wait to share with others. It’s like climbing a mountain, making it to the top, and shouting with the loudest voice you can, “I am free! I am free! I am free! Thank you Jesus that I am free!”
When Chauncey and I received Jesus Christ in our hearts, we experienced such freedom that we could not wait to share our faith with others. Granted, many times I may have been a little too zealous. But remember the definition of freedom is the right to act, speak or think as one wants without hinderance or restraint.
Many friends and family members could not believe the change they saw in us. At every opportunity, we would share the gospel: at the bus stop, on the bus, on lunch breaks, at the mall or store, in hospitals, at family events, on the streets. We were witnessing to people all hours of the day and night, whenever and wherever we could. Thirty-three years later we are still at it!
Some of the ways we keep our freedom is by sharing our faith; bringing people to Christ; and by bringing people to church, connecting them to the Vision of our house! True freedom in Christ never wants to stop sharing about the goodness of God. Challenge yourself today to experience this freedom in Christ. Share your faith, and bring someone to Christ. (Pastor Donalee Pang)
TODAY’S DECLARATION
“It is clear to me that my Lord and Savior Jesus, the Anointed One, has set me free. I am not partially free, but I am completely and wonderfully free! I will always cherish this truth, and I refuse to go back into the bondage of the past. I will be determined to live in the Holy Spirit and follow after him. So, I will never be arrogant or look down on anyone, for I am an original.”
TODAY’S BIBLE READING
- Old Testament: Ezra 1-2; Proverbs 1
- New Testament: Luke 13:1-9; 1 Timothy 1:1-11
