Friday, October 5, 2007

Freedom in Christ

We, on our own - independant from the Living God - are in utter and absolute poverty...It is the recognition of this truth, however, that can lead us to a place of blessing (..."Blessed are the poor in spirit...for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"). Yet, we often live in shame outside this great blessing because we begin believing that God is apalled at our human condition (spiritual bankruptcy). The enemy then amplifies our shame by whispering the greatest of lies: you are the exception and are therefore unacceptable. Our reaction to this belief (the lie) is to erect walls - denying ourselves the pleasure of being truly loved by our Father.

The irony of this action is that barriers are built against the One who has totally removed all barriers. Lies that are sown and take root can become great spiritual strongholds, which can keep us in great darkness. However, God is interested, and determined to bring down these strongholds, which Paul says are "arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the knowledge of God.." We use, "...the weapons of our warfare... not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]...mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds." Our weapon is the leading away of "every thought and purpose..captive into the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:3-6).

Strongholds (lies which set themselves up against us truly knowing God) begin to be removed when "every thought and purpose [is lead] away captive into the obedience of Christ." It is God who must reach in, lead us to the healing cross of Jesus (where our shame was destroyed) ...He must captivate our very thoughts, and continually breathe the TRUTH into us that we are absolutely loved and cherished as we are. We, in our present condition, could not be loved any more than we are at this very moment. Nothing in all creation can change that.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

After last Thursday I was reading in Romans some cool verses I thought I'd share.
Romans 8:15-16 (message)
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God''s spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we now who we are: Father and children.