John 8:32 is often quoted but not as often understood.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free (KJV).
First of all, when quoted, people often leave out the prerequisite of knowing the truth strictly saying, ”The truth will set you free.” The information, that truth to which they refer, is of no consequence by itself. Ephesians 6:17 refers to God’s Word as the Sword of the Spirit, but unlike a physical sword, the Word of God in your hand does very little to intimidate your enemy. It’s only when the Word is in your heart do you truly wield the Word as the Sword of the Spirit.
Additionally, in the KJV, Jesus uses the word make as opposed to the word set. Semantics? Perhaps. But I submit to you Jesus did not make a grammar error. Whereas we envision the physical releasing of bonds when we use the term set, He was actually referring to achieving freedom on a much higher and less tangible mental plain as opposed to the physical one.
To be set free is an event, but to be made free is an experience . . .
- Dr. Sammie Holloway, Senior Pastor, Breath of Life Christian Center
Being set free is temporal—a moment in time with a defined beginning and end. Being made free, by contrast, is time transcendent.
Setting people free has been purchased with blood-shed, back-door deals, and large sums of money. Being made free may cost you little to nothing as studying the Bible only cost you the funds to purchase it. But what you gain as a result of said study is priceless.
People who have been set free can have their freedom revoked even after the blood shed and/or back-door deals have broken their bonds. People who have been made free recognize they are free even while they are physically in bondage, but once their chains have been broken are far less likely to be in that state of physical bondage ever again.
The point is that the revelation of truth liberates the mind. This is the freedom to which Jesus was referring in John 8:32. This freedom cannot be revoked. You be made free in your soul, you may never need to be set free ever in your life.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Walking in the Spirit, the Prerequisite to Avoiding the Desires of the Flesh
In the latter part of Galatians 5, Paul discusses being led by the Holy Spirit. In fact, throughout this passage, Paul compares the "works of the flesh" with the "fruit of the Spirit."
In verse 16, Paul tells us if we are led of the Spirit, we will not succumb to the lusts of the flesh. In truth, Paul should have said, "#1, . . . walk in the Spirit, and #2, ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Or, "(a), . . . walk in the Spirit, and (b), ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Or perhaps, " . . . IF you walk in the Spirit, THEN ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Spoken either way, the scripture implies that to truly avoid succumbing to the desires of the sin nature, walking in the Holy Spirit is the prerequisite.
Many people in world have been convinced that the process works the other way around. You ask a person why he/she is not attached to a local church, and that person might respond by saying he/she has issues to resolve first. "I'll come when I stop drinking." "I'll come when I kick the habit." "I'll come when I fix the problems at home." All the while not realizing that it is that relationship with the Holy Spirit fostered by being in church that is the remedy this person seeks. They will remain in the world bound to a fleshy desire from which they may genuinely want to be free because they limit themselves to their natural capabilities only instead of implementing strategies they can learn from the Holy Spirit.
So what does it mean to "Walk in the Spirit?" It means you have relationship with Him. You commune with Him. You spend time in His presence. You study His Word. And understand that it has to be you to initiate the relationship as well. James 4:8 says that if you draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to you implying that the responsibility for initializing your walk the Spirit is in your hands.
Walking in the Spirit is a self-perpetuating thing. Walking in the Spirit only begets more walking in the Spirit. Before long, you have so much of the Holy Spirit in your heart, and your relationship with Him so strong, there is no more space in your heart for those fleshy desires of your past.
Galatians 5:16 should bring new light to the phrase, "Come as you are." Call Jesus the Savior of your life today so the relationship can be established and the purging can begin. Walk in the Spirit, and you will feed your own Spirit-man and thereby starve the impurities out of your heart.
In verse 16, Paul tells us if we are led of the Spirit, we will not succumb to the lusts of the flesh. In truth, Paul should have said, "#1, . . . walk in the Spirit, and #2, ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Or, "(a), . . . walk in the Spirit, and (b), ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Or perhaps, " . . . IF you walk in the Spirit, THEN ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh." Spoken either way, the scripture implies that to truly avoid succumbing to the desires of the sin nature, walking in the Holy Spirit is the prerequisite.
Many people in world have been convinced that the process works the other way around. You ask a person why he/she is not attached to a local church, and that person might respond by saying he/she has issues to resolve first. "I'll come when I stop drinking." "I'll come when I kick the habit." "I'll come when I fix the problems at home." All the while not realizing that it is that relationship with the Holy Spirit fostered by being in church that is the remedy this person seeks. They will remain in the world bound to a fleshy desire from which they may genuinely want to be free because they limit themselves to their natural capabilities only instead of implementing strategies they can learn from the Holy Spirit.
So what does it mean to "Walk in the Spirit?" It means you have relationship with Him. You commune with Him. You spend time in His presence. You study His Word. And understand that it has to be you to initiate the relationship as well. James 4:8 says that if you draw nigh to God, He will draw nigh to you implying that the responsibility for initializing your walk the Spirit is in your hands.
Walking in the Spirit is a self-perpetuating thing. Walking in the Spirit only begets more walking in the Spirit. Before long, you have so much of the Holy Spirit in your heart, and your relationship with Him so strong, there is no more space in your heart for those fleshy desires of your past.
Galatians 5:16 should bring new light to the phrase, "Come as you are." Call Jesus the Savior of your life today so the relationship can be established and the purging can begin. Walk in the Spirit, and you will feed your own Spirit-man and thereby starve the impurities out of your heart.
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