Christian overcomers Community Group
This is a Christian Group for people that are seeking healing or overcoming challenges through Biblical advice. Our key verse is 3 John 1:2 "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
Are you Free?
For many, freedom is a dream. There are millions in the world who suffer from political bondage, sexual bondage, addictions, poverty, sickness and guilt. Others are trapped in slavery to religion or slavery to the economy. What is true freedom and what does it mean?
Jesus’ redemptive sacrifice on the cross provided freedom for all men. In His earthly ministry Jesus demonstrated freedom and provided freedom to all who came to Him. He walked free from the expectations of the religious leaders, free from lack, free from fear, free from sickness and from sin.
His ministry was born of love and compassion for the oppressed. He came to set the captive free. “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
“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; (Luke 4:18)
In what areas of your life do you wish to know and experience true freedom? Did you know that freedom is available? What would your life look like if you were free from the power of sin, addictions, poverty, sickness, fear and religion?
Take your eyes off of your chains and focus them on the One who came to make you free. Abundant life is available if you want it. Declare His Word and explore the freedom that Christ gave you through the cross.
Declare:
“I know the Truth and the Truth makes me free. The Son has made me free so I am free indeed! Now free from sin, I have become the servant of righteousness. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. I will stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made me free and I will not be entangled again with the yoke of bondage!!”
(John 8:32) (John 8:36) (Rom. 6:18) (Rom. 8:2) (Gal. 5:1)
(By Barry Bennett)
As a young believer, I remember hearing and reading this scripture very well. It always led me to this question "If I was made a new creature, why do I continue to do the things that I know I should not do?" The answer came to me when I was training my dog Blue. She had a tendency to pull really badly when we went on walks. I remember having blisters on my hand from the leash, she is very strong! To try and resolve this problem I went down to the local mom and pop pet store and spoke to the owner. He recommended using a pinch collar. I had always thought of these as being a little inhumane, but he reassured me that it was the most effective tool to accomplish my goal. I looked at my hands and walked out the door with the collar.
I was ready to begin working with Blue. My goal was for us to be able to enjoy each other on our walks. The pinch collar worked really well, as it set a boundary or consequence for pulling to hard. I had much more control over her and soon she began to walk by my side on a heal command. The more we practiced the easier things became, every day a little less resistance until I was able to remove the leash altogether and she would walk contently by my side.
One day not to long after I had trained Blue to heal, I was sitting in a service and the Lord began to speak to me. He reminded me of the question I had asked concerning 2 Corinthians 5:17. He showed me that years of walking in sin had programmed my mind to think a certain way. That the day I received the sacrifice that Jesus made, I was truly set free and made a new creature in Him. In other words I had been unleashed. I was free from the bondage of sin, but my mind was programmed to walk a certain way. The same way I had programmed Blue to stay by my side even when the leash had been removed.
So my spirit was translated out of darkness and into the everlasting light on the day I was born again. My mind however must be renewed. Years of programming must be unlearned and I must believe His truth. Prior to the born again experience I could only know sin and the ways of sin, now I can know the things that are freely given to me by God, but I must believe and in doing so prove the good, and acceptable, and the perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
So what about that 25 years of garbage written on my chalkboard? Thought patterns, ideologies and wrong understanding were all still there. My mind was not scrubbed in an instant. So begins the process of being transformed through the renewing of my mind. More to come….