The Freedom Fighter..

"Freedom fighter" is a relativistic term for those engaged in rebellion against an established government or regime that they consider to be oppressive. That seems like a very broad definition because terrorists can lay claim to being freedom fighters. When we read the Bible we read a lot of verses about how Jesus came to set us free. Free from what? The popular opinion about Jesus the Freedom fighter is that He came to set us free from the power of sin. That's another very broad brush as well.

Sometimes I can understand why folks never completely understand the Gospel. Jesus was the greatest freedom fighter of all time and yet many of us have never experienced the freedom that He has made available to us through His ordeal on the Cross because we don't see how that actually applies to our lives here on earth. We wrap everything that He did on the cross into one big bundle called eternal salvation. If that's the case, then our first day of eternity with God starts the day that we turn our life over to Him. Well then, if we are such eternal heavenly beings after we come to Jesus, why do so many of us live our life on earth like we've all gone to hell.

I'm not as concerned about life after death as I am with my life before death. Our lives on earth are plagued with forces of evil and rebellion. You can see it in a little child very early. They want to do what they want to do when they want to do it. That cute little rebellious behavior in a child when unbridled by parental guidance can grow into a monster when they become an adult.

Jesus is also said to have come to set the captives free. Here are a few things that can hold us hostage that you may not at first recognize as things that can imprison you.

1. Your Past
2. Religion
3. Shyness
4. Your Knowledge
5. Your Failures
6. People you have empowered.
7. Jealousy

All of these things and more can hold us hostage and God's enemy looks at these weaknesses in our life and uses them to drive a wedge between us and the Lord. Jesus, the greatest freedom fighter of all time can free us from all of these things and fill those voids with God's best for us.

If I'm free from the past, I can enjoy the present.

This is one that I have toiled with for a long time. I have always loved my past. As you get older there is a natural tendency to discuss the past because all of the sudden there are more days behind you than ahead of you but for a child of God that understands his eternity the past is a blip on the radar. When God frees you, time and age cannot imprison you anymore.

Think about the things that bring you down. Bring those hurtful things to Jesus and He will drive out the forces of evil that prey upon your weakness and then he will break open the doors of your prison and set you free. He will send you help and His Spirit will guide you. He is faithful. I'm living proof. He just freed me from a lifetime of imprisonment this past week. Believe me, He is there waiting for you to come to Him. He is real. He is active. His Spirit is redeeming many all over this world. You can be another. Don't hesitate to call on Him. Have brothers and sisters soak you in prayer and watch His Spirit work on your behalf.

For God So Loved.....