Freedom In Christ ~Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH

Freedom in Christ
Freedom is an interesting concept! It has different meaning to
almost everyone. Definition of Freedom: Being able to do whatever
you please without considering anyone except:
wife/husband, police, boss, children, life insurance company, state,
federal and city authorities, the church body and the neighbors!
Some believe freedom means that there are no rules – I can do
whatever I feel is appropriate. Not true. There are ALWAYS rules to
guide our lives and to live by.
What about Freedom in America!
America was founded on freedom – however it was also founded on laws.
It was understood that the majority of the population would be law
abiding citizens.
Elbert Hubbard, a famous writer and speaker in the very early part
of the last century, said, "Democracy in America will survive as
long as at least 51% of the people are righteous."
Over the past couple decade more and more people have become
unrighteous. We have used our "rights" to mean anything goes in our
freedom.
As a result we were open to terrorists moving into our nation.
They literally moved into our neighborhoods because we were
allowing "anything" with our freedom.
We have now come to see that freedom involves more than just total
tolerance!
Our money says, "In God We Trust".
That statement reminds us that our freedom is based on living for
God. When we turned away from God, we actually started losing some
of our freedoms.
But…is that true freedom?
TRUE FREEDOM is "Freedom in Christ". The greatest freedom we can
have is when we are living in Christ. That truth is the Word of God –
given to show us the way to true freedom.
John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free".
John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be
free indeed".
Galatians 5:1 " Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith
Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke
of bondage".
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!
Today, some of you have been running away from parents, jobs,
responsibilities, and God! Perhaps you've been "doing what you want
to do", but are not enjoying the results. Even though you make your
own decisions, you don't feel very free!
I want to offer you true freedom – freedom in trusting Jesus Christ
completely with your life.
We carry around money that says "In God We Trust" but do we?
We should be walking around with "In God I Trust" written right
on your heart. Putting Jesus first is not just a one-time decision,
but more importantly it is a daily one.
It is a decision to:
1. Deny Self — give up something we want for the sake of God.
2. Take Up Cross — Taking up our Cross is something we have to
live with and come to terms with, such as physical ailments,
troubled marriages, etc.
3. Follow Jesus — in this way we live the life of Christ and becomes
His disciples.
Remember, to follow God is our personal choice. We desire to follow
God's ways because we are New Creations who do not want to be
enslaved to sin any longer. (Romans 6:1-23).
This desire to be a disciple of Christ is the essence of being alive
in Christ. Now there are two ways we can carry out this desire;
either by the flesh and Law or by the Spirit. That is the concern of
chapters 7 and 8 in Romans. We need to die to flesh and walk in the
Spirit. That then becomes Freedom in Christ.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory" is the source of power, change,
deliverance, hope and spiritual life for every believer. Every
believer in Christ must also know, understand and put into daily
practice the fact that Christ actually is living in us now. When
Jesus Christ comes into your life through the new birth you want to
see and experience more and more of Him than ever before. Such a
person never outgrows Christ. Once we have an intimate love
relationship with Him we grow in our need and desire of Him more and
more. Christ dwells within us for the purpose of presenting us
complete to the Father.
Then we have the FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT:
Galatians 5:22,23 "The Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-
control . . ."
How many of us really have self-control? Can we pass up a
cigarette? Can we pass up losing our temper? etc. etc.
One of the most amazing men I have ever read about was Saul of
Tarsus. He fell in love with Jesus Christ and his life was never the
same after that experience. The risen Christ pursued him on the road
to Damascus while he was looking for believers in Jesus Christ in
order to persecute them for their faith. God chose Saul and when he
saw the risen Christ put his faith in Him as his Savior. The death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the dominant theme of his
preaching and his letters to churches in the first century of the
Christian era.
Paul wrote:
Romans 10:9,10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord
Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him
from the dead, thou shalt be saved".
Paul had an intimate personal relationship with Jesus Christ that
demanded his whole being. He made himself available to his Lord and
Master. Paul considered himself a bondslave of Jesus Christ. There
was a time when Paul almost lost his life because of his commitment
to Christ. He was on the west coast province of Asia Minor when he
was "burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired
even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves
in order that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who
raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death,
and will deliver us . . ." (2 Corinthians 1:8-10a).
People you can be FREE IN CHRIST today if you ask Him into your
heart. If you have never done this before, this is the day to do it.
Jesus is coming back soon. Will you be ready?
2 Corithians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
newIf anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation; the old has
gone, the new has come!"
Romans 10:9,10 - Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.
1) Believe in your heart that God's Son, Jesus Christ is alive
today, risen from the dead. And that He died for you.
2) Trust that Jesus is Almighty God in the Flesh as God's Word
declares.
3) Confess it, say it, tell it.
4) Call on Him to save you.
Jesus promised, Everyone who asks receives. Matthew 7:8
Do you want to be forgiven and saved?
Do you believe Jesus Christ, God's Son died for you?
Will you receive Him as Lord of your life now?
Are you willing to repent of sin and follow the Lord Jesus Christ
for the rest of your life?
If you answer yes, you are ready to pray:
Remember God loves you. He wants to forgive, save, and heal you.
Cast all your cares on Him, and embrace Jesus with all your heart.
Pray this prayer, mean it, and YOU will be SAVED, right where you're
sitting.
PRAYER:
Father God, I come humbly before You in the name of Jesus. I here
and now REPENT and BELIEVE in Jesus Christ, the Son of God who died
on the cross of calvary and rose again that I might have eternal
life. I believe you died for ME, as MY Substitute, and rose from
the dead according to the Scriptures.
I thank You Father that Jesus was willing to take my place, and paid
MY debt in full. Even though I was separated from You by my sins,
You saw me, helpless, and fallen, and loved me enough to die for me.
I know that because You suffered my penalty, I am FREE. Now no sin
remains to condemn me as written in Your Word in Romans 8:1. I'm no
longer guilty before God. I can never be judged or condemned for my
sins because they were judged in You, Lord.
I ask Your forgiveness, and ask You to come live within my heart.
I am a new creation in Christ. I am Born of God with the life of
Jesus in me.
I TRUST the Blood of Christ blots out every sin from my life.
My record is now clean and my sins buried in the deepeest sea. Thank
you for saving me. I am now a child of Yours. Thank You Father. AMEN
INVITATION:
If you would like to invite Jesus to bring you true freedom, by
admitting your sinfulness and accepting His direction over your
life, please repeat the prayer, then let the leadlership of this
group know that you have done this so they might continue to counsel
and guide you. You can also email me at: quintopatruno@ hotmail.com
Maybe you are a Christian who has been running way from God and
needs to return to the freedom in Christ. You will be freer than you
have ever been.
God bless you.
Terry
Posted by: "Theresa Pavone"
God's Unfailing Love
God's Unfailing Love is somethiing we can count on. Isaiah spoke of
God's compassion and care for His children In his prophecy God
promised to deliver His peope n time of need. The Lord is able to
help us in our times of need as well. The mystery of God's love is
that it accepts and meets us at the point of our deepest need.
Trusting God's promises brings God's bessings into our lives.
Hebrews 10:23 (kjv) "Let us hold fast the professions of our faith without
wavering; for he is faithful that promised". Since God's promises to
comfort us has never failed ue, and never will, let us thank Him for
the ways He has comforted us during difficult times. God's love and
care are everlasting. Thank Him always in good times and in the bad.
Meditate on God's Word.
Scripture verses: Isaiah 49:16; Psalm 86:8-17; Isaiah 40:1.
Theresa Q. Pavone,A.TH, B.TH