Freedom from Religion

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5:1)

God has called us unto liberty, not bondage. He has called us to be free so that we may serve him without fear all the days of our lives. (Luke 1:74)

The devil has devised all types of ways to keep this glorious truth from us. He brings condemnation and guilt to our minds, accusing us to ourselves, and to each other, night and day. But the days of Job are gone (Job 2:1, Revelation 12:10), and God doesn’t listen to him anymore, and neither should we! Religious bondage comes in many different forms, but its goal is always the same, to steal our liberty, our freedom and our joy, and to abort our destiny. God wants us free to become all that He has ordained us to become.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were ever present in Jesus’ day, bringing accusation against Jesus and his disciples. They were enraged when the blind regained their sight and the deaf were able to hear. They became delirious with envy when the dead were raised, and the crippled leapt to their feet. They accused Jesus and his disciples of everything from healing on the Sabbath day to not washing their hands before they ate dinner, and were so infuriated when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead that they sought to kill him again! (John 12:10) Can you imagine that! He was raised from the dead once, and they were contemplating giving Jesus the opportunity to do it again!

A religious spirit is a confused and mean spirit; it condemns things that God has not condemned in his Word, and promotes things that God condemns. It’s cruel and merciless, and will rear its ugly head at the very moment that you are stepping out to obey God! David was instructed of his father to bring sustenance to his brothers who were in “battle” (I Samuel 17:17-18). But when David arrived at the camp, he heard Goliath slandering the God of Israel and defying God’s people, while his brothers, and the rest of Israel’s “mighty men,” trembled in fear. (I Samuel 17:23-24)

David simply had faith, and he wanted to help, but his brother Eliab accused him vehemenently;“Why camest down hither? And with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle…” (I Samuel 17:28)

They not only accused him concerning his motives, but they accused him of being prideful and haughty, and they even insulted his occupation, referring to his few sheep in the wilderness. But all David had said was “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? (I Samuel 17:26)

David could have walked away thinking to himself, “Well, maybe my brothers are right; they are certainly older than I am, and they’re men of war.” “Maybe they’re right, I shouldn’t be so haughty, I guess I’ll just go back and feed my few sheep in the wilderness.”

But praise God that David didn’t do that! He had something larger on the inside of him, something louder than the voice of Eliab! He had a relationship with Almighty God, and he defeated the giant with a slingshot and a stone because he had faith in his heart, and a destiny from God. I challenge you today, what is your giant? What are the voices of Eliab screaming in your ears? What has God spoken to your heart? Take the sling and the stone of God’s promise to you, and don’t let the voice of Eliab keep you from your destiny!

Dwelling Place

“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitors of the earth…” (Revelation 12:12)

We hear bad news all around us right now, and yes, things are bad, and they’re probably going to get a whole lot worse, because government is not the solution. However, in light of these things, it is not a time for us, as believers, to be afraid! But rather it is time for us to rejoice with the anticipation of the glory and the mercy of God! We are firmly seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, far above all principality, power, might, and dominion. (Ephesians 1:20-21, 2:6)

You might say to me, “well, you’re just a spiritual weirdo!” “These problems are happening in the earth, not in heaven, and we live in the earth!” Yes, we do live in the world, but we are not of the world! (John 15:19) Our hope comes from heaven, along with our provision, our peace, our healing and our deliverance. God is not limited to our currency, our health care system, the welfare system, or any other system of this world! Praise God!

When we are aware of our position in heavenly places, we are ever mindful of what is going on in heaven. We can abide there and conduct our affairs, and then bring heavenly things back into this natural, fallen world, until the impossible becomes possible! (John 10:9)

It takes a strong man to live the true Christian life, to stand up for righteousness, and to keep the Word of God abiding in him richly when everything else is contrary. It takes a man or woman of resolve and tenacity to walk in love when ridiculed, misunderstood and persecuted. But God has given us his Spirit, and has infused us with his strength. (Ephesians 6:10)

“Well, I’ve tried the ‘faith thing,’ and everything fell apart!” You might say. Listen, all of us have failed at one point or another, and sometimes the mistakes have been grievous and costly. However, we must forget the things that are behind, and reach forth unto those things that God has put before us! Faith always produces, it never fails; we only fail when we get our eyes off of the Word of God and onto the storm, or onto other things. (Mark 4:14-20)

God is calling us to step out once again, into the realm of the impossible! To hear his voice, and to step out of the boat! Does this sound irresponsible? Maybe it does, but God doesn’t look at it that way. Peter got out of the boat, but none of the other disciples did; they stayed where it was safe, and observed Peter. They probably laughed at him when he began to sink… “We told you not to do it, Peter! You should have listened!” But Jesus said, “Come!” And he will always say, “Come!”

Faith pleases God, and he would rather have us step out and sink, than not do anything at all. Notice that Jesus immediately reached out to Peter, and pulled him out of the water. It was also probably not the last time that Peter tried it; he may have been secretly thinking as he settled back in the boat, “I can’t wait to do it again!”

God's Testimony

Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today and forever! (Hebrews 13:9)

What are you struggling with? Whatever it is, God has anointed Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 10:38), and he has given us this same power and authority over all the works of the enemy, through his name, if we can only believe! (Mark 9:23) Our faith is the only prerequisite for receiving God’s deliverance. Is it gambling? Alcohol and/or drug addiction? Pornography, adultery or other sexual sins? Is it sickness or disease? A broken marriage? Whatever the problem, for this reason was “the Son of God manifest, that he may destroy the works of the devil” (I John 3:8)

Jesus is the deliverer, and he is the only deliverer! Many years ago God delivered me from a serious alcohol and drug habit, among other things, and counselors told us that “Once an alcoholic and/or drug addict, always and alcoholic and/or drug addict.” But that is not the truth! Glory to God! God will restore our health, our lives, our dignity and honor, and remove the label of sin from us forever! (Psalm 103:112, Micah 7:19)

For “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away and all things have become new!” (II Corinthians 5:17)

My friend, call upon the name of the Lord while there is yet opportunity! (Isaiah 55:6)

Allow me to tell you a true story that happened quite a few years ago:

There was a brother in the Lord (which I'll call "Joe" for the sake of this story) that used to go door to door with the gospel message, for he had a burning desire for souls. We also had a prayer group on Friday nights, which Joe would normally attend, but on this particular Friday night he showed up visibly distraught. When pressed for information, he proceeded to explain...

Several months before that, he had gone to an older couple’s home and presented the gospel to the man, who apparently was unsaved. He had asked the man if he would be interested in eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, and the man had replied, “Maybe some other time,” and sent Joe away. Joe was not one to give up easily, however, and he decided to return to the man's home several months later.

When Joe arrived on the property, the man was doing some yard work outside in his front yard, and he approached him and they began to talk. Joe asked him once again if he would be interested in hearing about Jesus Christ, at which point he waved his hand and shook his head, “No, no…" But this time the man never finished his sentence, instead he clutched his chest and fell down on the ground and died, right there at my friend's feet! Understandably, Joe was shook up for awhile after this, and I asked God about it… “Did you kill him?” I asked.

But the Holy Spirit reminded me of the parable in (Luke 12:16-20) concerning a rich man that had stored up goods for many years, but was not rich toward God. He had built barns and filled them with food, and then had said to himself, and I paraphrase, “You’re set up for life! You don’t have to worry about anything, so eat, drink and be merry!” (Luke 12:19) But God told him he was being foolish…

“…Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee…” (Luke 12:20)

Some translations and cross-references translate, “This night shall they require thy soul…”
I believe that this is more accurate, but either way, the question of who is doing the “requiring” can be found in light of Luke 9:56 and Hebrews 2:14...

“For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

“…that through death he (Jesus) might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”

God called this particular rich man a fool, because he didn’t invest in what was truly important, and when the “time of reckoning” came, the man lost it all.

In the case of Joe's experience, Satan had required this man’s life, as he had a right. The man had faithfully "served him" (the devil) all of his life, and he legally belonged to him. Nevertheless, God restrained him from taking the man’s life until he had received one last chance to make a decision in regard to Jesus Christ, but when he rejected the “life-preserver,” so to speak, the enemy took what was rightfully his.

Only after we are born-again do we become children of God. Before that point we belong to the devil as a result of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden, and are subject to his authority. (II Timothy 2:26, John 8:44) Satan is a merciless master, and will take a person, use them for his own purposes, and then throw them on the trash heap of life (or death).

You see, Jesus Christ is our deliverer, our Saviour! God is not creating problems in the world, he has the solution! He sent his Son that we might be saved, not condemned! (John 3:17) We have an enemy that seeks our destruction, but God loves us and has a wonderful plan for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11), and no matter where we’ve been, whom we’ve been with, or what we’ve done, God will receive us if we come to him through faith in the Son of God, and commit our lives to him.

If Adolph Hitler were to receive Jesus Christ before he died, he would be in heaven right now, and if Mother Teresa tried to earn her salvation through good works, and never submitted to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3) through faith, all of her good deeds would be in vain, and her soul would be in hell. Sound surprising? Yes, it is, but it’s true!

God's Kingdom is a spiritual Kingdom, and flesh and blood cannot inherit it, neither can the unrighteous (I Corinthians 6:9-10, 15:50). But praise God! He has given us his righteousness through Jesus Christ, to all who believe! (Isaiah 54:17, Romans 3:22)

God's Hand of Justice

"For he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." (Romans 13:4)

God's view on dealing with terrorists:

In I Kings 20:28-43, God had promised Ahab victory over the Syrians in battle because they had boasted of their gods, that they were greater than the God of Israel. So even though Ahab was wicked, God promised him victory for this reason; but here's the point...

During the heat of the battle, Ben-ha-dad, the King of Syria had fled and hid. But then his servants came to him and counseled him to go surrender himself to Ahab, because they had heard that "the kings of the house of Israel were merciful kings” (I Kings 20:31), and that perhaps his life would be spared. In other words, they counseled him to exploit the “mercy” that they had heard about, concerning Israel. So the king of Syria went to Ahab.

What happened next is truly amazing, for not only did Ahab let him go, but he also “made a covenant with him.” (I Kings 20:34) In other words, he "negotiated" with the King of Syria, who was not only his own enemy, but also the enemy of God!

Was God pleased with this act of “mercy?” Apparently not, as he immediately sent a prophet to him with a message;

“Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his life." (I Kings 20:42)

Ahab would later die by the hand of the King of Syria.

Heavenly Calling

“…I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.” (Acts 26:19)

Even the enemies of God understand the requirement of accountability to a universal Creator. That’s why they hate him, because they understand that such a Creator requires obedience and acknowledgement of his “eternal power and Godhead” (Romans 1:19-20). But why, as believers, do we run and hide?

“If I serve God, I’m afraid he’ll make me a missionary and send me to Africa or China, or worse yet, the Middle East!” “If I serve God, he may tell me to preach, and everyone knows I’m not very literate or a good orator!” “What if he wants me to become a pastor or evangelist ?” “No way, that’s just not me!” And so we run!

But heaven is not a democracy, and God does not give us a choice; he gives us an “offer we can’t refuse!” All we can do is accept or reject his invitation (Luke 14:16-24).

A call from God will not make us popular, and it is for sure that we will not be everyone’s “friend!” In fact, the greater the anointing upon our lives, the greater the isolation, misunderstanding and rejection will be. As the power increases in our prayer life or ministry, we also become a greater target for demonic attack and harassment (II Corinthians 12:7, II Timothy 1:8).

Am I talking about the calling of an apostle? A prophet? Or maybe an evangelist, pastor or teacher? Perhaps, but rather the calling of every believer, to take up his cross and follow him (Hebrews 3:1).

God has not called us to walk an easy path; the road to heaven is narrow, and the way is difficult, and it is not for the weak or faint-hearted (Ephesians 6:10). Few choose to travel this path, and the casualties and desertions are many (Matthew 7:14).

This present age is drawing to a close, and we must draw near to the Lord as never before. He does not require us to fulfill our calling in our own strength, neither does he permit it. For our strength is wholly inadequate for the job, and it only gets in his way. If we ask him, he will help us; if we submit our plans to him, he will show us what is needful for the day, and give us the strength and ability to do it. Time is our friend, not our enemy, when we live and walk in the Spirit.

Realities of Redemption

“Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. (Isaiah 51:11)

Blessed be the name of the Lord forever!!

It is with unspeakable honor and privilege that we can rejoice to be called the redeemed of the Lord! If the knowledge of our redemption is the only thing that we ever receive from God this side of heaven, then it is reason to shout and worship him every day of our lives!

Our future is heaven and not hell, and our path gets brighter and brighter with each passing day! (Proverbs 4:18) God has chosen us, we have not chosen him (John 15:16), and he has given us his name, the name of Jesus! What a wonderful privilege! We have “power of attorney,” if you will, to enforce all the ordinances of heaven here in the earth! (Matthew 6:10, 16:19, Mark 13:34) We have authority over all the works of the enemy (Luke 10:19), and the power to set others free!

While the world plunges deeper into darkness, despair and hopelessness, we have a glorious future! Our loved ones in Christ that have gone on before us will be waiting to greet us when we leave this present world, and our flesh will “return to the days of our youth!” (Job 33:25) God will create a new earth untouched by the curse, and there will be no more pain, and He will wipe away all tears from our eyes (Revelation 21:4-5, 22:3). There will be no more Democrats or Republicans, for Jesus himself will “sit upon the throne of David,” ruling in righteous judgment throughout eternity! (Luke 1:32-33) Praise God!

These are not simply pleasant words, for God has not only spoken them in his Word, the Bible, but he has emphasized them by saying “these words are faithful and true!” (Revelation 21:5) Now is not a sad time for the church! But rather the time to “lift up our heads, for our redemption draweth nigh!” (Luke 21:28)

Sometimes we can get so caught up in the cares and distractions of this life that we forget the realities of our redemption! The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, said that the sufferings of this present world were “not even worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us!” (Romans 8:18)

God has reserved the ages to come in order to pour out upon us all the fullness of his exceeding riches and kindness, for he will be no longer be limited by our flesh, and the natural, fallen state of our present world! (Ephesians 2:7)

God, our Father, is the source of everything good (James 1:17), and every good thing that we have experienced in this life is but a minute foretaste of what God has in store for us in the age to come!

Entering into His Rest

“Let us labor therefore to enter into his rest…” (Hebrews 4:11)

Sometimes our Christian walk seems to be so full of struggles. We struggle to “receive” from God, struggle to “please” God, to find our identity, and a host of other things.

A great man of God once got off an airplane in a foreign land and was asked, “Why is there so much controversy everywhere you go?” ‘Why are you so full of controversy?” The man of God replied confidently, “I don’t understand what you are talking about, there is not an ounce of controversy in me whatsoever!” What an amazing answer to this question! But that should be no surprise, as we serve an amazing God.

You see, the world is full of controversy and struggle, but this ought not be so with us as Christian believers! The Apostle Paul, a great example to the church, had no problem saying of himself, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…” (Colossians 1:1) He recognized and received who and what God had called him to be and was neither moved by doubts nor by the approval or disapproval of man. These things became settled in him as he matured in his relationship with the Lord.

What do we struggle with? Is it forgiveness? Healing? Confidence? Do we have identity issues? God has the answers already established in his Word.

“Well how do I enter into his rest?” You may ask. That’s a good question! We enter into his rest by faith, by taking God at his Word and believing what he says and allowing the truth of it to become settled in our hearts. We enter into his rest by continuing to walk the path that he has set before us until he redirects it, regardless of whether or not it makes sense to our natural minds. We rest in him, being fully persuaded that that which he has promised he is able also to perform! (Romans 4:21)

Did you ever notice that Jesus was sleeping in the boat while his disciples struggled against the storm? The devil didn’t stir up the storm for Jesus’ sake, but rather for the disciple’s sake, because he knew that they struggled with fear!

The disciples desperately toiled, but Jesus understood his Father’s promise of protection in Psalm 91, and so he slept. When the terrified disciples woke him up screaming, “Don’t you even care that we perish!’ He rebuked them for their unbelief. (Mark 4:35-40)

Oh, we struggle so unnecessarily in so many things, and we waste so much of our time worrying when it could be used for something else. God wants us free so that we can be productive for his Kingdom and have peace. There is a labor that we must endure, but it is not the labor of this world. We labor to enter into a condition of resting in faith; we labor by casting down imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of the truth of God’s Word.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3)