Freedom

I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to Your commandments.  Psalms 119:45 NLT

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” ‭‭ Isaiah‬ ‭61:1-3‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26:28‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.  ‭‭Mark‬ ‭5:2-9,13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So He (Jesus) came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  ‭‭Luke‬ ‭4:16-21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬  

To the Jews who had believed Him, Jesus said, “If you hold to My teaching, you are really My disciples. John 8:31 NIV

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ‭‭ John‬ ‭8:32‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” ‭‭ John‬ ‭8:36‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. ‭‭ Acts‬ ‭13:38-39‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” ‭‭ Romans‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins.  Romans 3:24 NLT

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. ‭‭ Romans‬ ‭6:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. ‭‭ Romans‬ ‭8:1-4 ‭NKJV‬‬

Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. ‭‭ Romans‬ ‭8:20-21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. ‭‭ I Corinthians‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. I Corinthians‬ ‭7:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV  

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. ‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭1:3-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites). Galatians 2:6 NLT

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. ‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭2:20-21‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

So again I ask, does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” Galatians 3:5-11, 13 NIV

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭3:22‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:4-5‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5:13-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ‭‭ Galatians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ‭ Galatians‬ ‭5:22-23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This includes you who were once far away from God. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now He has reconciled you to Himself through the death of Christ in His physical body. As a result, He has brought you into His own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. ‭‭ Colossians‬ ‭1:21-23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

He (Jesus) gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. 1 Timothy 2:6 NLT

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. ‭‭ Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

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

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. ‭‭ I Peter‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

---

Devotionals

And His name will be called Wonderful…Isaiah 9:6b. Commentary by David Jeremiah:  A former prisoner in Folsom, California, was arrested recently for trying to break back into prison. The parolee was caught attempting to scale the seven-foot-tall, barbed-topped fence that encircles the infamous penitentiary. Authorities haven’t yet determined the reason for the attempted break-in. They speculate he was trying to smuggle drugs or cell phones to other inmates. Jesus offers a way out of the prison of sin, but many people would apparently rather scale the walls of wickedness than enjoy the freedom of Calvary. They don’t understand the wonder of Christmas or the message of redemption, nor do they embrace the wonder of the name of Jesus. But you can. Let Jesus free you from whatever’s holding you back–sin, failure, addiction, shame, brokenness, fear, sadness. He breaks the power of cancelled sin and sets the prisoner free. He came to set us free; and if the Son of God sets us free, we are free indeed. Isaiah 29:9 says: “Pause and wonder!” So pause and wonder about that. And shout: Alleluia.  

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. Isaiah 61:1 Breaking free of Strongholds, commentary by Barry Adams:  The truth (Jesus) will set you free. There are things that we feel tied to–things that can cause a stranglehold on our lives. Like giant chains around our neck, they inhibit our ability to move, and prevent us from doing the Lord’s work effectively. Maybe you’re tied up by the distractions of the world around you. Maybe you’re bogged down by despair, or paralyzed by fear. No matter what has taken a stranglehold on your life, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is freeing! No chain is so strong that it cannot be broken by Jesus. You see, Jesus Christ is the truth (John 14:6), and when you give those chains to Him, the truth will set you free (John 8:32). You are free in Jesus.  

The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on Me; because Yahweh has anointed Me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3 WEB. Commentary by Barry Adams: This is the passage of Scripture that Jesus read out aloud in the synagogue (Luke 4:16-21) when He announced His public ministry. If you ever want to know what the heart of God is for you, just read Isaiah 61. Jesus came to bring good news to the poor. His heart was to bind up the heart of every broken hearted person.  Just as it was 2,000 years ago, Jesus proclaims liberty to the captives and He opens every locked prison cell with the power of His love. No matter what enslaves you, the power of God will set you free!  My prayer today is that the love of God would comfort all who mourn.  That we would all receive beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness.  The good news of the gospel is really good news! Jesus was sent by His Father to set every one of us free from all that keeps us captive. May each one of us know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are truly living in the year of the Lord’s favor every day of our lives.  

“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”  Matthew 26:28. Commentary by David Jeremiah: In 2007, James Tillman was released from prison after serving 16.5 years of a 45-year sentence for a rape he did not commit. Also in 2007, Lynn DeJac was released from prison after serving 13 years on a murder conviction — a murder she did not commit. In 2010, Greg Taylor was released from prison after serving 17 years for a murder he did not commit. As of June 2012, 292 wrongfully-convicted people had been freed from prison through DNA testing, 17 of whom had received death sentences. Imagine what it must feel like to walk out of prison a free person — no more burden of guilt or shame of (accused) wrongdoing. The Christian doesn’t have to imagine it. We know the reality in an even deeper way: We did, in fact, commit the sins of which we stand accused by God’s law. And yet we have been set free from the burden of guilt and shame of (actual) wrongdoing. Through the shed blood of Christ, God promises to remember our sins no more. Our challenge is to remember that God has forgotten! If you are a child of God, thank Him today that you have been set free — forevermore! Then walk in the newness of life Christ’s blood has bought.  

He had often been bound with shackles and chains.  Mark 5:4. Commentary by David Jeremiah: As superintendent of Chicago’s Pacific Garden Mission, Harry Saulnier had a 1940s radio program in which he told stories of people who had been transformed by Christ. Since this was the golden age of radio drama, Saulnier wanted to launch another broadcast that would take these stories and present them dramatically. In 1950, a set of scripts was readied for a recording session. But what to call the new program? During a brainstorming session, a former Navy man recalled, “In beginning a radio call at sea, we’d say ‘shackled’ and end with ‘unshackled.’ Why not ‘Unshackled’ for a title?” “That’s it,” replied Saulnier. Today “Unshackled” is the longest-running radio drama in history. There’s no lack of material. Every person who comes to Christ is unshackled. In Him, we move from slavery to freedom and from immorality to immortality–just like the woman at the well or like the demoniac of the Gadarenes. Jesus can break the chains of sin, shame, addiction, and despair. “Therefore,” said Jesus, “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).  

“And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched.”  Mark 9:45. Commentary by an unknown author. Don’t let anyone lead you to believe that hell isn’t real. Proverbs 27:20 says that hell is never full. It’s as if the enemy is looking for candidates every single hour to fill it up. Isaiah 5:14 says that hell has “enlarged herself and opened her mouth without measure.” You see, there is this continual building project going on in the bowels of the earth. Every day–every minute–it is expanding, adding new cell blocks and openings for the souls that are taken off the planet. 2 Samuel 22:6 and Psalm 18:5 say that hell is filled with sorrow. Why would you want to go to any place that is filled with sorrow?  In Psalm 9:17, it says that the wicked go into hell and all nations that forget God go into hell. You know that our nation is at the point of forgetting God. You are the last generation to know Him if we don’t pass on the Good News of Jesus Christ.  But thankfully the story doesn’t end here. There’s hope! In Revelation 1:18, Jesus appears to John and says, “Behold, I have the keys to death and hell.”  Do you believe this for your life? Aren’t you glad that He holds the keys? And those keys aren’t the ones to lock people up; they are the keys to set people free! Isaiah 61:1 says that, “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, for He has anointed me to preach the gospel, to bind up the broken hearted, to set the captives free, to open up the prison door and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” How wonderful to know that the Devil is not holding the keys any longer to lock you up. Jesus has wrestled them away–on the cross–to unlock the prison doors, to set our moms and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, bosses and co-workers–to set them free! For whom the Son sets free is free indeed (John 8:39). You only have two choices in life. Choose to be free in Jesus Christ today.  “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen” (Jude 1:24-25).  

Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them, but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:13-14. Freedom from the past, commentary by an unknown author. The great thing about being a Christian is that even if you were the meanest, raunchiest person, when the Holy Spirit gets a hold of you, He makes you a whole new person with a brand new disposition; like a child. You see, He makes you gentle and tender towards the things of the Lord — things that cause you to build up those around you, not tear them down. He gives you the kind of faith and patience that is so far beyond your understanding, but that you can feel every day. Instead of tromping on people and chewing people up, or spitting people out and hurting them, you are looking for every opportunity to bless another person. That’s the kind of faith and trust that a child has.  God’s plan for you wasn’t to be an alcoholic, a drug addict, or a lustful person. His design was that you would be like Him. God’s love is so powerful and full of healing.  Religion wants to nail you down and say, “Okay now, you’re going to live with the guilt of this forever.” But the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for you allows you to simply live by faith as a child. Yes, we will make mistakes, just like a child does. But like a child, we come to our heavenly Father, confess to Him that we sinned, and repent; then He forgives us. We don’t have to carry the guilt around. We can live happy, full of joy and enthusiasm –just like a child!  

“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32. Comments by Kevin Mallery: The truth about Jesus will set you free from depressive, oppressive thoughts, addictions, slavery to sin, the world system, free from selfishness, and anything that is holding you back from enjoying life.  One key to freedom is to replace thought strongholds with Jesus as your stronghold.

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1. Our Daily Bread, commentary by Poh Fang Chia: The elephant is the largest land animal on earth—and one of the most powerful. Yet it takes only a strong rope to restrain one. Here’s how it works. When the elephant is young, he is tied to a large tree. For weeks, he will strain and pull, but the rope holds him fast. So eventually he gives up. Then, when the elephant reaches his full size and strength, he won’t struggle to get free, for once he feels resistance, he stops. He still believes he’s held captive and can’t break free. Satan can play a similar trick on us to hold us captive. The Bible assures us that there is “no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). We have been set “free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). But the enemy of our soul tries to make us believe we are still dominated by sin. What shall we do then? Reflect on what Christ has done. He died for our sins and declared an end to sin’s control over us (Romans 8:3). He rose from the dead and gave us the Holy Spirit. Now we are empowered to live victoriously in Him because “the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in [us]” (Romans 8:11). In Christ, we are set free. Experience true freedom – take every thought captive in obedience to Christ. 

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 KJV. Commentary by Barry Adams: Promise: The Spirit of life in Christ has set you free from sin and death.  In life as we know it, there are two laws at work.  The law of the Spirit of life in Jesus and the law of sin and death.  There are many other analogies in the Bible that illustrate this same point… two kingdoms (kingdom of light versus darkness), two trees in the garden, two cities (New Jerusalem and fallen Babylon), etc.   The point of today’s promise is that we no longer have to live by the law of sin and death because of the finished work of Jesus Christ. We have been translated from the kingdom of darkness and now live in the kingdom of the Son. While this is a spiritual reality, many dear people still live by the law of sin and death in their minds because they have not yet been able to believe that they are truly free.  The law of sin and death to a Christian is like a prisoner who finds some form of comfort in the prison cell because of its familiarity, though he is free to leave the prison at any time. We are free from its power because of what Jesus did on the cross 2,000 years ago. We are no longer obliged to live by the power of sin and death! God wants us to experience the new freedom that we have in Christ because it is for freedom’s sake that He set us free. May the mind altering, earth shaking revelation of our freedom roar into our hearts today! The Spirit of life that is in Jesus Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death! Hallelujah!

Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2 Corinthians 3:17 WEB. Commentary by Barry Adams: Promise: You will find freedom wherever My Spirit dwells.  God is completely free and He loves freedom. Galatians 5:1 says that it is for freedom’s sake that Christ has set us free. In John 8:36, Jesus Himself speaks of the freedom He has for us when He said… “If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (WEB)  Wherever God lives, you will find freedom. If you are struggling with bondage today or are in controlling circumstances that hinder freedom, ask God to set you free!  God’s plan and purpose for us is to be free to live, free to serve, free to be generous, free to dream, free to be His beloved child…free, free, free!  My prayer today is that we would all experience a new level of freedom in our lives. Ask God for more freedom and believe in your heart that it is His desire to set you free… and watch what happens in your life! 

Grace to you and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father— to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Galatians 1:3-5 WEB. Commentary by Barry Adams: May each one of us find grace and peace from our heavenly Father today as we remember how our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ gave Himself up for all our sins. May we experience a deeper revelation of the freedom we now enjoy because we have been delivered out of this present evil age simply because our heavenly Father desired to do this for us.  May the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation (Ephesians 1:17-18) open up the eyes of our hearts today so that we would see that we no longer are slaves living in a dark world system, but sons of God, living in the Kingdom of His Son and partakers of every good and perfect gift that flows down from His throne (James 1:17). To God be the glory forever and ever for this amazing gift of salvation.

For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? For if I were still pleasing men, I wouldn’t be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 WEB. Freedom from fear of man, commentary by Barry Adams: In today’s Scripture passage, the Apostle Paul tells us that we cannot be a pleaser of God and a pleaser of man at the same time. The more that we know that we are loved and accepted by God Himself, the more His love will free us from all unhealthy horizontal entanglements.  God wants us all to be free from being pleasers of men so that we can live a free, unhindered life focusing on Him alone. We live for an audience of One. Our calling is to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2) who is the author and the finisher of our faith. When we are looking heavenward, we will not be ensnared by the trappings of earthly guilt and manipulation.  I truly believe that it delights our Father’s heart to see us walk in the fear of the Lord rather than the fear of man! I truly believe that our Father wants each one of us to be free from all of the trappings of living a fear-filled life, trying to make everybody happy. May the Holy Spirit break the power of the fear of man in our lives so that we could live our lives focused on God Himself and live out the life that He has called us to live. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10 WEB.

For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13-14 WEB. Commentary by Barry Adams: It was for freedom’s sake that Christ has set us free. In John 8:36 Jesus tells us “if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 says “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” So there is no question that freedom is a huge part of the Kingdom of God. Wherever the Lord is, people are free. My question today is… What does true freedom mean? Freedom to be self-centered? Freedom to hurt others? God forbid! True freedom is found in love! When we walk in the freedom that God has for us, we can be secure enough to lay down our own rights and begin to serve each other in love.  The more that we are conformed into the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29), the freer we will become. The freer we become, the more we will know that the secret to true fulfillment is not focusing on our own needs, but on the needs of others… Just like our elder brother does.  If we use our new found freedom to hurt others or to become more self-obsessed, we are not as free as we may think we are. My prayer today is that we would all see the glorious freedom that we have in Christ now and that freedom would cause us to extend that freedom to others and begin to fulfill the great commandment to love one another as we love ourselves.  “If there is therefore any exhortation in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies and compassion, make my joy full, by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind; doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself; each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.” (Philippians 2:1-4 WEB) 

---

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, lift me above my problems and help me to realize that I  live with You in the spiritual realm, not letting physical circumstances affect my mood, my thoughts or my power that I have from You.

---

Quotes

“We need to let God use us to free the slaves to sin and slaves to legalism- spiritual slaves.” – Anonymous Author

“Freedom can be yours, regardless of circumstances.  If you are free on the inside and you know the truth, you are free indeed!” – Anonymous Author

“Don’t try to blast your way out of a problem.  Cast your cares on God and rest in the promise that He will take care of it and take care of you.” – Anonymous Author

“We should live freely, realizing that it is impossible to use up all of the grace that God has for us. This is like thinking that you can exhaust all of the air there is to breathe. It is impossible.” – Anonymous Author

“Don’t let the oppression or depression keep you from true freedom in Christ Jesus. Be willing to be loosed from your bondage and start living in the freedom that He has given you. Let Jesus send you somewhere out of your comfort zone–whether that be across the street to share Jesus with your neighbor, or across the borders of another country. Jesus is loosing you, so run and be free in Him to serve Him and to love others wherever that takes you.” – Anonymous Author

“The government of the United States is acknowledged by the wise and good of other nations, to be the most free, impartial, and righteous government of the world; but all agree, that for such a government to be sustained many years, the principles of truth and righteousness, taught in the Holy Scriptures, must be practiced.” – Anonymous Authors

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.” – Anonymous Authors

“A man has free choice to the extent that he is rational.” – Thomas Aquinas

“The great comprehensive truths written in letters of living light on every page of our history are these: Human happiness has no perfect security but freedom; freedom none but virtue; virtue none but knowledge; and neither freedom nor virtue has any vigor of immortal hope, except in the principles of Christian faith, and in the sanctions of the Christian religion.” – James H. Aughey 

“Man is most free when controlled by God alone.” – Augustine

“He that is kind is free, though he is a slave; he that is evil is a slave, though he be a king.” – Augustine

“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” – George Washington Carver

“I have to get to the point of the absolute and unquestionable relationship that takes everything exactly as it comes from Him. God never guides us at some time in the future, but always here and now. Realize that the Lord is here now, and the freedom you receive is immediate.” – Oswald Chambers

“The family is the test of freedom; because the family is the only thing that the free man makes for himself and by himself.” – G.K. Chesterton

“Man, so long as he remains free, has no more constant and agonizing anxiety than find as quickly as possible someone to worship.” Fyodor Dostoevsky

“How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from an abiding faith in our Creator?” – Jonathan Falwell

“The framers of our Constitution meant we were to have freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.” – Billy Graham

“I love the people of Islam but their religion, I do not agree with their religion at all. And if you look at what the religion does just to women, women alone, it is just horrid. And so yes, I speak out for women. I speak out for people that live under Islam, that are enslaved by Islam and I want them to know that they can be free.” – Franklin Graham

“Our freedom is tied to our individual souls, a gift from God, not from government.” – Mike Huckabee

“The man who loves his wife above all else on earth gains the freedom and power to pursue other noble, but lesser, loves.” – David Jeremiah

“To keep our faces toward change, and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate, is strength undefeatable.” – Helen Keller

“The million little things that drop into your hands – the small opportunities each day brings He leaves us free to use or abuse and goes unchanging along His silent way.” – Helen Keller

“Free at last, free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” – Martin Luther King, Jr. 

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

“There are two freedoms – the false, where a man is free to do what he likes; the true, where he is free to do what he ought.” – Charles Kingsley

“If a thing is free to be good it is also free to be bad. And free will is what has made evil possible. Why, then, did God give them free will? Because free will, though it makes evil possible, is also the only thing that makes possible any love or goodness or joy worth having.” – C.S. Lewis

“Either sin is with you, lying on your shoulders, or it is lying on Christ, the Lamb of God. Now if it is lying on your back, you are lost; but if it is resting on Christ, you are free, and you will be saved. Now choose what you want.” – Martin Luther

“Free will is not the liberty to do whatever one likes, but the power of doing whatever one sees ought to be done, even in the very face of otherwise overwhelming impulse. There lies freedom, indeed.” – George Macdonald

“There is an amazing and refreshing journey of freedom for those who know Jesus Christ as Lord.” – Crystal McDowell

“If you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ you are free.” – Dwight L. Moody

“Yes, thou art ever present, power divine; not circumscribed by time, nor fixed by space, confined to altars, nor to temples bound. In wealth, in want, in freedom, or in chains, in dungeons or on thrones, the faithful find thee.” – Hannah More

“It is a fact that the Lord Jesus has already died for you. It is also a fact that you have already died with the Lord Jesus. If you do not believe in your death with Christ, you will not be able to receive the effectiveness of death with Him – freedom from sin.” – Watchman Nee 

“Now should the Christian be deceived already, then he fights to regain his freedom. If not, then he strives to rescue others and to prevent the foe from attacking.” – Watchman Nee

“If we do not abide in prayer, we will abide in temptation. Let this be one aspect of our daily intercession: “God, preserve my soul, and keep my heart and all its ways so that I will not be entangled.” When this is true in our lives, a passing temptation will not overcome us. We will remain free while others lie in bondage.” – John Owen

“It is not good to be too free. It is not good to have everything one wants.” – Blaise Pascal

“Freedom is a fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again.” – Ronald Reagan

“Peace is more than just the absence of war. True peace is justice, true peace is freedom. And true peace dictates the recognition of human rights.” – Ronald Reagan

“Freedom prospers when religion is vibrant and the rule of law under God is acknowledged.” – Ronald Reagan

“Free will carried many a soul to hell, but never a soul to heaven.” – Charles Spurgeon

“In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth, God is pleased when we’re pleased. He wills that we be as free as birds to soar and sing our maker’s praise without anxiety.” – A.W. Tozer 

“The time is near at hand which must determine whether Americans are to be free men or slaves.” – George Washington

“To serve God, to love God, to enjoy God, is the sweetest freedom in the world.” – Thomas Watson

“He breaks the power of cancelled sin; He sets the prisoner free; His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me.” – Charles Wesley

“He has our salvation wrought, He our captive souls has bought, He has reconciled to God, He has washed us in His blood.” – Charles Wesley

“God’s terrible insistence on human freedom is so absolute that He granted us the power to live as though He did not exist, to spit in His face, to crucify Him.” – Philip Yancey

---