Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Glorious Freedom!

"Once I was bound by sin’s galling fetters;
Chained like a slave, I struggled in vain.
But I received a glorious freedom,
When Jesus broke my fetters in twain.

Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom!
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator—
Now and forever He shall be mine."

(Glorious Freedom, Circa 1917, Author- Haldor Lillenas)

We sang this old hymn at church last Sunday and I have not been able to shake it out of my head.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful to have it playing over and over again in my brain, not only because it finally replaced the endless repetition of "Somebody that I used to know," by Gotye, but also because it has served as a constant reminder this week that I Do Have Glorious Freedom!


Glorious Freedom From Sin!

Do you find yourself "bound by sin's galling fetters; chained like a slave, struggling in vain?"

It is okay to answer this question honestly.
Every Christian I have ever known deals with sin and the temptation of sin.

Many friends that I know fight addictions and habits that they struggle to break.

If this is you today, remember that you have Glorious Freedom in Christ!

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, "...My grace is enough; it's all you need. 
   My strength comes into its own in your weakness."- (Message Bible)

Don't try to hide your weaknesses from God.  
He already knows about them.
He has already forgiven you.
Our loving Father God wants to use His strength to help you overcome the unhealthy areas of your life.

Surrender your weaknesses over to our Daddy God so that His strength can replace your weakness!

Glorious Freedom From Fear!

There are times in our lives where we battle fear and anxiety.

The enemy uses everything he can to make us worry.

Whether it is your job, or finances, your relationships, or your health; nothing is off limits to worrying!

If you let this fear and anxiety become a habit it can destroy your life by stealing your joy!

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life ?"- Matthew 6:25-34 (N.I.V.)

By worrying, which is a type of fear, you are taking the control out of God's hands and placing it back into your own.

Stand in the promise of God in Luke 10:19 that says we have the power to tread on serpents and scorpians!

Psalms 91 tells us that we dwell in the secret place of the Most High God and NO evil shall befall us!

"God has not given us a spirit of fear but of Power, and of Love, and of a Sound Mind!"- 2 Timothy 1:7 (K.J.V)

Trust God by learning to live in a place of Rest in His refuge and let Him protect you!

Then you will find Glorious Freedom!

Glorious Freedom From Shame!

If you are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgendered or any other type of lifestyle that is seen as non-traditional, then you probably know what it's like to battle shame in your life.

There is shame that comes from people's words and actions.
People you have known for many years may have cut you off.
Other Christians may be throwing stones of judgement against you right this very moment.

When you find yourself battling feelings of shame remember this,

"There is therefore noNO CONDEMNATION to them which are in Christ Jesus!"

You are beautifully and wonderfully made!
You are made in the image of Almighty God!
You have a destiny, a future, a reason for living that is far greater then you can comprehend!

Our Father God loves you so much, UNCONDITIONALLY, to the point that He would sacrifice His Only Son just to eliminate the barrier of sin between you and He.

Don't let anybody tell you that you are wrong for being gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgendered, straight, asexual, queer, questioning, or inter-sex!

Be true to who you are and live as the person God created you to be!

You have NO reason for Shame!

"Glorious freedom! Wonderful freedom!
No more in chains of sin I repine!
Jesus the glorious Emancipator—

Now and forever He shall be mine." 

Now that you have seen the amazing and Glorious Freedom that is offered in Christ Jesus I pray you will share this message with others around you.

This truly is the Good News!

Share it with your friends and family so that they too can shake off their chains and live in Glorious Freedom.

As always remember:

God Loves You!
God Created You!
God Accepts You!

Until next time,

SavedByGrace

Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra) - official video