When we were far from God, we understood things only from the vantage point of our sinful nature. We would look at the word “obedience” and consider it being in bondage to a cruel oppressor. In our sinfulness, we imagined that we had the freedom to do what we wanted.
Don’t ever ask God to give you what you deserve. “All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins” (Romans 3:23-24 CEV).
When God gets a hold of a man or woman and has taught them through His Holy Spirit, they start to see the truth as it really is. One of the greatest truths and most cherished blessings you can ever receive is to be set free from the bondage of sin and all the ways it hurts you.
The Lord is trying to set you free from the very things you’re holding onto. “You were made free from the power of sin. Being right with God has power over you now” (Romans 6:18 NLV).
The freedom to obey comes from the freedom we are given over the evil oppression of our sinful nature. When we are in our old man or woman, we are still in bondage to what their cravings cause them to do. But when we step into the new creature, we are set free from the old creature.
God can change you. The only question is, will you let Him? “Be renewed in the spirit of your mind… put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:23-24 NKJV).
The freedom to obey is a powerful force in the life of a believer. In all the ways you were helplessly controlled by your sinful desires, you can now stand firm in the power of Christ’s strength within you. You can now tell sin, “Not today, the Holy Spirit is reigning in me.”
God will change you just as much as you let Him. “I will put my Spirit inside you and cause you to live by my laws, respect my rulings and obey them” (Ezekiel 36:27 CJB).
When you were in bondage to sin, you had to sin. Whatever you’re filled with is what you will do. But when you were wonderfully saved and then filled with the Holy Spirit, now you will sin only when you want to. You don’t have to sin, but we know that we still often do.
Stop looking for excuses to fail and find reasons to prevail. “For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil” (1 Peter 2:16 NLT).
The freedom to obey doesn’t mean we will always obey, but we are free to do so if we want to. The holy life comes out of a willing life, for most assuredly, the Lord will help you if you’re willing. Don’t just wallow in your failures; learn from them and then ask God to help you do better.
Repentance is breaking free of the bondage you used to cling to. “Therefore, repent and turn to God, so that your sins may be erased; so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord’s presence; and he may send the Messiah appointed in advance for you, that is, Yeshua” (Acts 3:19-20 CJB).
When you gain freedom, then you are free. When you are free, you have choices. If you want to make better choices, it’s not about being stronger but being weaker beneath a God who is eagerly waiting for you to ask Him for His help.
God is better at answering than we are at asking. “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith” (Matthew 21:22 ESV).
You don’t have to beg for God to help you because He is willing to do so at any time, just as soon as you ask Him. When you pray to have Him help you to live in His will, then be sure your prayers are in His will. Not only will God help you a little, but He will help you a lot.
When you’re honest with your failures, God is faithful to help you. “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose]” (1 John 1:9 AMP).
The freedom to obey is sweetest when we do obey. Obedience comes from surrendering the right to yourself. Once you give yourself to Him, it will be there that you will be totally free. When God has you in His grip, nothing can take you away.
Be as intent towards righteousness as you used to be towards sin. “He gave himself for us; he died to free us from all evil. He died to make us pure people who belong only to him—people who are always wanting to do good things” (Titus 2:14 ICB).
In whatever sin you are having trouble overcoming, let God help you overcome it. God never planned nor intended that we could ever be our best apart from Him. Consider it is your failures that He is using to draw you to Himself.
God isn’t looking for your strength to stand but your weakness to fall before Him. “God is high and lifted up. He lives forever. His name is holy. He says, ‘I live in a high and holy place, but I also live with people who are humble and sorry for their sins. I will give new life to those who are humble in spirit. I will give new life to those who are sorry for their sins’” (Isaiah 57:15 ERV).
Blessings to you,
Paul Balius
Wonderful Words of encouragement. God bless you.
Thank you! God’s blessing to you as well!
The time has come for God’s people to stand up and publicly declare that our nation is in a state of tyranny, dominated and influenced by an oppressive authority. Our national government, meant to serve the people, is instead abusing its power and our resources for personal gain and selfish interests.
As our representatives fail to represent the people and the economy, we must remember that the Second Amendment gives us the power to alter or abolish a tyrannical government and install a new one. We have the right to revolution, and the power of the people can overcome the fear that grips our nation.
Where is your heart? It’s time to put your words into action and stand up against oppression. If you claim to be 100% committed, then how can you still support those in office who perpetuate injustice? The Constitution and the law give us the right to resist, but fear holds us back.
God says to fear neither man nor beast. It’s time to stand up against tyranny and oppression, to set the crooked road straight and bring justice to our people – God’s people.
We must realize our value and pursue our faith, our deeper calling, and purpose on Earth. We are called to a higher realm, a higher understanding, and a higher consciousness. We must recognize that our souls require more than just material possessions, which bring only superficial happiness.
We belong to a God who holds all things together, whose love can change our universe within. Let us seek forgiveness, acceptance, and healing. Let us humble ourselves, show our scars, confess our weakness, and seek His face.
As we unite as people, recognizing the value and power of unity through love, we will find peace that defies understanding, love that defies borders, and life that defies existence.
Let us cry out, ask, and receive. Our Father is near, but we remain in a state of oppression, just like the days of Noah. God will wipe away the oppressors, break down the walls of nations, and ignite a fire in His children.
We will come from the four corners of the Earth to stand before Him in the valley of Jehoshaphat, to give account and receive judgment and reward for our actions.
#GODstillgotitonlock
I am not sure how this relates to the blog, but thanks for leaving a comment!
I cherish the chastening of my forever first Love and all magnificent Obsession, our affectionate Abba Almighty and His Christ, our ardent, all-sufficient Advocate for the freedom that I wondrously walk in.
We are so blessed by all He has done for us, all He is doing for us right now, and all that He will do for us in the days and years ahead!