Deliverance to Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

Freedom is defined as the state of being free or at liberty as opposed to slavery or bondage.

The Israelites were held in slavery for many, many generations. (400 years according to Acts 7:6 and Genesis 15:13)   When God delivered them from their captors (Egypt) you would think they just walked out into the world and claimed their freedom.  Unfortunately, that’s not the case.  Even though they had been delivered from slavery they still had the minds of slaves.  They were not living in freedom.   

                       

Deliverance is only part of freedom.  An important part no doubt, but still just a fragment.  We need to be delivered from our captors such as addictions, strongholds, lies and fear to name a few.  Then we need to receive the freedom that comes with deliverance.

The Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years.  Delivered but not really living in complete freedom.  Their minds often still held in the bondage of slavery.  Wondering if it might be easier just to go back to slavery than live a life delivered but not really free.  They enslaved themselves even amidst their own deliverance.

How many of us live just like them?  I know I have struggled for many years knowing God said I was delivered from an addiction but still living in a mindset of captivity.  That’s not freedom.  Freedom is no chains.  Freedom is the ability to live without constant fear of falling back into that trap if I take one misstep.  Freedom means I don’t just throw it all away if I do make a mistake.  It means I can accept God’s mercy and move forward with grace.  To me it means the enemy can’t use the addiction I was delivered from to pull me back to slavery.  I AM free!  I need to claim it and not look back. 

The Israelites wandered in their deliverance for way to many years.  So do many of us!  Often we’re too paralyzed by fear to know what steps we need to take from deliverance to freedom.  Every time they let their eyes drift from God they would wallow in their circumstances.  I’m guilty of the same.  If I take my eyes off Jesus for even a brief time the enemy tries to drag me back to the desert!

The Israelites could see the Promised Land.  Freedom was within their reach.  They stood on the hill to look.  They even stepped out into freedom to check it out.  Unfortunately, all most of them could see were giants in the land.  So they grumbled amongst themselves.  It spread like a virus.  How could freedom lie there?  It was there because God promised it!  So in an act of disobedience and lack of faith they turned away from their own freedom.  Just to walk back into where they had been delivered out of slavery to.  Stuck in limbo.  Not slaves but not free.

Let’s be like Joshua and Caleb and despite the giants we face, receive the gift of freedom Christ has promised us.  Accept the deliverance He has given you and walk out into freedom.

Jesus, help me to accept Your deliverance as a done deal.  Never again to pick up that yoke of slavery.  I know my freedom is IN You.  Give me the strength through Your Holy Spirit to make the choice to walk in freedom each day.  Keeping my eyes on You and Your promises!  In Jesus name, Amen!

Refined by Pressure

I think you ought to know, dear brothers and sister, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia.  We were crushed and completely overwhelmed, and we thought we would never live through it.  In fact, we expected to die.  But as a result, we learned not to rely on ourselves, but on God who can raise the dead.  2 Corinthians 1:8-9 (NLT)

I’m amazed how perfectly God orchestrates everyday circumstances for our own good.  It’s very clear how well he sees the big picture and guides us into truth in ways we can each understand.  God used a recent experience for me to really bring home a message I needed to hear.

I train Border Collie dogs to work livestock.  It’s a dance of pressure and release.  They need to apply the right amount of pressure to livestock to get the desired response from them.  They also need to release pressure at the right moment.  The same goes for me in training the dogs.

I went to a small sheep dog trial (competition) awhile back.  I had been dealing with some strife and conflict in my own personal life right around that time.  I kept replaying the conflict over and over again my head.  I was explaining to God how he needed to fix this problem.  I had many conversations with myself on what I could say to fix this whole situation if given half a chance!  To be perfectly honest, I wanted to fix this problem with my fists.

Jess is my little female dog that is a firecracker!  She had always come out fighting (gripping) when she felt pressure.  So at this trial when she was feeling pressure from the sheep challenging her, she immediately went to her default of hanging and dragging on sheep.  Because I wasn't disqualified with her right then, which was a first, she had to work through the pressure.  She had no choice but to start dealing with it.  No cop out this time.  She learned to settle in and find other ways to cope and deal with pressure.  It was hard for her but she progressed!

Rock, my older male, on the other hand came out and handled some extremely tough sheep with calm power.  They weren't pushing him around but he wasn't lashing out from the pressure either.  He handled them calmly and with respect.  The sheep tried to split up as to divide and conquer. They weren't going to get away with anything but to be completely victorious in the situation he needed my help!

God revealed to me that my default reaction is just like Jess.  When I feel pressured or especially if I feel like someone is hurting one of my “own” I want to lash out and get physical.  It’s honestly a cop out as I don’t have to deal with the hard stuff that way.  The emotions and discussions that come with the dealing with conflict.

God wants me to react with the calm power that He has given me.  He is right there with me!  I can’t do it on my own.  But I CAN do it with HIM beside me and IN me!  Stand firm!!  That is the practical side of all of this.  That IN HIM I can do all things.  It might not be easy but it’s possible.

I don’t have to settle or back down from the attacks of the enemy.  But, I don’t have to lash out and give the enemy any foothold into my life or my relationships.  These people that I think I’m protecting, God is already protecting!  I’m putting my faith, trust and hope in God to handle the situation!

Father God, help me to trust you in pressure filled situations.  You are the God who raises the dead!  Surely You alone can handle these pressured areas of our lives.  I trust YOU to handle these situations and give me the words, if any, to say at Your perfect time.  Help me to trust You and to not take it back into my own hands.  Thank you Lord!  In Jesus name, Amen!