I AM FREE

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

John 8:36 NKJV

I am free, praise the Lord I'm free no longer bound.

No more chains holding me

My soul is resting it's just a blessing

Praise the Lord hallelujah I'm free

First of all, I could hear this song in my heart right now.

I have grown up in and around the church and one thing we know is a song and scripture. My heart aches about the many people that passed through churches and met people that were still bound. Christian people in church pushed others away, hurt them, that gossiped about them; many things have happened in the church.

"I am sorry, there was no one to listen to you, I am sorry that there was no one to help you, sorry you were abused and that broke you."

We've met people that were bitter from their past, unhappy with their lives and frustrated with the uncertainty of their future. Those are the people that may not be as gracious, they may not show God's love and may not realize it. Many have turned away from God and the church for those very things. We all fall short of the glory of God. God's glory is His presence, when we sin, when we do things that are not 'right'-like lie, steal, cheat, curse the Holy Spirit runs away from that atmosphere. Imagine staying in a non-smoking hotel room but when you get there the room reeks of smoke, or booking a five-star hotel and the rooms look more like a motel, would you be dissatisfied? Would you go back there again? I would not. Some of our brothers and sisters in the faith may have what is called a form of godliness. Understand that until there is a true revelation of the word, a greater understanding of God's love people can remain bound to sin, shame and pain. The word says

Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and many wonders in Your name?'

Imagine all of this in vain because we did not walk in obedience and fulfill God's command. Love.

On the contrary, We have got to be set free to love freely, to honour humbly and to be thankful. Loving with a wounded heart leaves a trail of hurting people. Giving when there is not much to give can bring a sense of bitterness and misunderstanding of who God is. To walk right with God first know that He wants you to be liberated. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. The bitterness, heaviness, depression those things are not from God and often leave a succession of unhappiness and lack of peace. Revelation brings light to a situation, it acknowledges what has been hidden. Being free allows you to speak freely about what has been hindering you. An example is an AA when going to classes they speak about what they felt, why they used to no longer be mentally bound to thoughts that once hurt them. Seeing a counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist or shrink helps people with certain conditions have a reality of what is happening. These medical professionals are people that can help with mental trauma and in some cases, God can be that counsellor.

Additionally in the bible, we see in different scripture that Jesus was referred to as many different things and was greeted differently depending on the person. Some said, "Rabbi, Father, Yeshua, Yahweh or Jehovah" and others knew He was a healer, a deliverer, a miracle worker, a way maker, a provider and a saviour. For us to live right with God it will be easier for us to know who He is. Saul went about killing and persecuting so many Christians and one day the Lord Himself stopped him when we think God is so unfair and unjust. He forgave a sinner, a killer, a murderer. Saul repented and took the time to know God. We run away from God's presence, away from His teaching, away from his protection and away from His love but He loves us so gently that He waits until your heart has softened enough to receive Him and get to know Him (reading the Bible). Jesus said, 'the words I speak are Spirit and they are life'. Once you have studied and read the Bible it will come alive within you, when difficult times come it will come to your remembrance within your spirit. Jesus after being spat on, misused, abused and tortured he said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". A statement that is still evident now. Know there has always and will always be a place for you not because of my thoughts and feelings but because God is not like us and loves us so much more than we can even imagine. If we have expectations of earthly parents that give good gifts, how much more our Father in heaven. In studying the word certain scriptures will designate with you, that will give you a connection to Christ that was not always there, a personal relationship.

Moses was a man of God that was assigned to the Israelites. He liberated the Israelites through the power and instruction of God. Moses, also a murderer that ran away, was fearful and had temperament issues. God is not concerned about your past. The first test of obedience and how much you are gonna pay attention. How about showing up in a burning bush and calling out to you. God manifesting His presence can come in so many forms. Over time God spoke to Moses and gave him instructions to free the Israelites. Moses asked but God who must I tell Pharaoh sent me? God did not change, He does lie nor is He confused. God responded, "I am who I am".

'I am WHo I am'

The Israelites were free after years of imprisonment and abuse but there was still a problem...pain, scars, wounds. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are all books teaching over and over again the ways of God. These people were still bound to their pain and were unable to see the promised land. The hurt was so deep those very people that were saved lived a way of their own for forty years. Moses died and Joshua was raised to take over. He followed Moses' teaching but he also paid attention to his mistakes. Joshua, I am sure many have been intimidated to take over but God encouraged Joshua to be strong, be courageous.

God knows your struggle and the many things you had to overcome to get where you are. He does not want you to live lukewarm or for you to stay on the fence. There are two options, life or death but I hope you choose life. Choose life knowing that He is your saviour and has come to save you, knowing that you are forgiven even before you make a mistake, knowing that other believers mess up and He loves them too. Know that to be righteous you have to first be right with Jesus (repent, save and live right) but we fall short. At this point, we can go before Him in prayer, being bold, with expectation (because He is our Father) and surety to He will not only hear us but also answer.

Lastly, there are many of us in Christ that continue to fall short because of the struggles we faced and may still be facing in our lives but we try to still meet the mark and can miss it. It hurts me to know how many people have turned down God's love, His protection and presence because they have met Christians that are still salty from their past and brought pain to those that wanted to have an encounter with God. The thing with God is we have so many chances, He is forgiving and allows us grace for our mistakes even before we knew we would make a mistake like one of Jesus' close friends that denied Him. he knew what would happen, He knew that Judas was the one that sold Him for thirty coins. What kind of love is that? No matter what you have done or what you are feeling God loves you and I do too! Be blessed.

#freefromsin #freefromshame #freefromstrongholds #whotheSonsetsfreeisfree

Scripture References: John 8:36, Romans 3:23, Genesis 6:3, 1 Corinthians 6:19, Matthew 7:21, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Luke 23:34, John 6:63, Matthew 7:11, Exodus 3:, Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 30:19, Hebrews 4:16

Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyiTRPSR4mA