Take your Liberty

"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." (2 Corinthians 3:17) Liberty. If you could put the will of God into one word, that would be the word. God wants people to be free. Free from sin, sickness, poverty, oppression and every other curse. That freedom is what Jesus came to provide. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor...to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18). That's what He trained His disciples to do. And if you're a born-again believer, that's what He wants you to do too! Some people say, "Well, I don't know about that. That may not be God's will for today." But listen, the Bible says God never changes. He hasn't changed His will for the earth. He doesn't do one thing awhile and then go do another thing awhile. Jesus' life was a perfect picture of God's will 2,000 years ago-- and it still is! That's why He left instructions for us to go and do the works that He did. That's why He sent the Holy Spirit to empower us to do them. Jesus still wants to do the will of the Father here on earth--but He does it through us. He has to work with us until we're willing to lay down our traditions and let Him do His thing. That's what the early Church did. They started out with a bang because they did as Jesus taught them. Everywhere they went people became free. Let's pray for the Church of today to deliver the liberty of God to the world. Let's quit questioning the will of God and start carrying it out instead. He said the works that He did we would do also and even greater works (John 14:12). It's time for us to take up where Jesus left off and set the captives free!

AMEN, the church of today do need our prayers because we are living in perilious times.

Hey Randall, just what I needed this morning. Good message. There's a song about that in church which we sing. Love it. I do have a question. I have always struggled wondering what God's will is for my life. Should I, should'nt I do this. I want to put my trust in him, daily, and do his will for that day. I just always question myself, doubting my judgement, wondering if this is what God has wanted me to do. I just wish I could get to the point that I would know without a doubt that I am doing the Lord's will. I know that is where liberty comes in, but I just can't seem to tie it all in. Thanks Geri

Randall, I read this post earlier but had to run out to take my kids to school and didn't get to reply until now. What a wonderful post! Thank you for sharing that with us this morning. Geri, you sound a lot like me. I have always been one to lay my problems at the altar...only to go back and pick them up again. I don't know why I think I can handle things better than God can...but I guess that is just our stubborn human nature. lol I question myself as well...every day. I've been told to just "be still" and "listen" .... and I'll know. We had a lesson in Sunday school that dealt with this too...and it was about knowing if God would want us to do something...it said things about prayer and scripture but the one thing that I can really remember is that if we are trying to make a decision, think to ourselves "is it something I wouldn't mind people knowing I was doing"..... All I can suggest is prayer, hon. I know it's hard to know...really know...all the time...if we are doing what is "right"...but God forgives us and knows that we are human and I believe as long as you are trying and you are communicating with God, He will see and know that you are trying to do the right things. I guess that is part of what "faith" is.....believing in what we cannot see... I hope you find peace in this struggle. God loves you, Geri..He will show you His will for you in His time.... Just let Him know you are willing to accept it when He shows it to you. Sincerely, Kandy

I had someone ask me ...."why can't you just allow God to control your eating, then you wouldn't need the WLS?" So I pondered on her question and searched my heart. All of the sudden I began to have doubts about the WLS. But after more thought and prayer, I sincerely believe that God recognizes my inability to control my weight, (my additcion to food). He has allowed this WLS to help me along my way. No doubt a healthier and more slender human being will have more energy to serve the Father and declare him to all the earth! This would make the Devil the winner in that battle. Also, I look at the WLS and compare it to the peer support an alcoholic receives at the AA mtgs. It is a tool that is available to improve your life right. I have prayed that after the surgery, my life and new options in life will glorify God. I pray for true humility and pure thoughts. I ask that you too my friends in this struggle, also pray I remain grateful and am able to please the Father? But to kinda go back to the topic (I think), just remember that Satan is a liar and he is the king of confusion. As long as he can cause you doubt he is happy. He can then keep you from doing things for God, your family, your church and friends. His cunning and sneaky. Remember the Battleground of the brain. Try to gain ground for God each day. LOVE YA'LL, Sally

DEAREST YOU ARE AN AMAZING DISCIPLE OF THE LORD. HIS LIGHT SHINES THROUGH YOU. WE ARE ALL TRULY BLESSED TO KNOW YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO IN THE NAME OF LOVE, WHICH WE ALL KNOW IS THE NAME OF OUR LORD. SOME YEARS BACK, I WENT A LENTEN RETREAT WITH FATHER VINCENT(VINNY) YOUNGBERG. HE TOUCHED OUR PARISH IN A VERY PROFOUND WAY. EVEN SOME OF THE CLERGY PROFESSED A DEEP AWAKENING AS THIS MAN SPOKE. HE WAS TRULY ANNOINTED. ONE THE FIRST DAY , HE SAID SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE, BUT IT WAS THE SIMPLICITY OF IT THAT BROKE THROUGH TO EVERY SOUL IN THE ROOM. HE SAID,"LOVE AND FORGIVENESS, THAT'S ALL THERE IS, JUST LOVE AND FORGIVENESS" WE GET SO CAUGHT UP IN OUR DAILY LIVES. THE COMPLEXITY OF OUR LIVES. WE REALLY FORGET HOW SIMPLE IT IS. NO JOBS, NO POSSESSIONS, NO ANYTHING CAN DIVERT US FROM WHAT LIFE IS REALLY ALL ABOUT. LOVE AND FORGIVENESS. AT THE HOUR OF OUR DEATH, WHEN WE ARE IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD, NOTHING WILL LIFT US HIGHER THAN THE LOVE IN OUR HEARTS AND THE COMPASSION WE SHOWED TO OTHERS. "WHATEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF MY BRETHREN, YOU DO TO ME" WE ARE ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. LOVE TO YOU, CARMELLA