Freedom Devotional

After the gang rape of a 23-year old student in a bus in New Delhi, India, and the case of 17-year-old Anene Booysen who was gang-raped and murdered (her throat slit and body mutilated by a broken bottle) many women began looking for innovative ways to protect themselves from these sex predators. A few months after the above incidents, two high school football players were convicted in an Ohio rape case.  This culminated the fears of many women across the globe. "Are we safe?" They asked. "What do these men want, and how can we protect ourselves from them?" Recently, I read a lengthy article on Facebook.com that gave detailed descriptions on the types of women a typical rapist would like to attack, where they could get raped (if they were not careful enough) and what to do if they ever got attacked. Most of the solutions, were geared at turning young women into amateur ninjas. Other innovative solutions have also been developed to solve this epidemic. According ...

Verse Acts 26:18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Message It's Easter again, and as usual, many people all over the world are going to be celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As a result, it would be typical to hear people screaming out loud, "He is risen" or "Jesus is alive." Many Christians have got the Easter story at their finger tips (after watching 'Jesus movies' on the television every Easter who wouldn't?) We all know that Jesus rose up from the grave three days after He was buried: one of the pillars of our faith. But the question is, do we really understand the significance of the resurrection?  "He died and rose from the grave, because God used Him as a sacrifice for my sins; I am a sinner deserving eternal damnation and Jesus took my...

One man died and descended to hell, with the purpose of disarming and defeating the powers that kept the human race in bondage to sin. He fought for and helped us to gain our independence, yet many human beings are still being whipped and controlled by our former colonial masters because, they don't know what Good Friday is all about. It's sad right? Happy Good Friday to you :) "I guess we all know who won this fight..."

Had I not known there was a way out, or had I not tasted freedom long enough to know His word was true, I would have fallen again. Like a persistent sales man, he came knocking at my door again. If only we could all discern his presence, and his paralytic words. He is the serpent, and his words are venomous. It is said, "crush the head of the serpent, lest it shall bite you". Who sees a snake, and draws close to pet it? Who sees a snake and lies comfortably next to it? Who discerns his venomous words, and continues listening without rebuking him? His words again, are venomous and the more we listen to him, the more his poison takes over our lives. Poison so deadly it kills us in seconds, yet we do not die in the natural; we become zombies: alive naturally, but dead spiritually. One bite turns us into zombies in pursuit of freedom/ a miracle cure unknown to many people. A cure that many people — due to the blinding effect of the poison running through their veins — ca...

Verses Romans 7:18-20 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Romans 7:24-25 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Message If we would all be honest with ourselves, we would have to admit that, there are many things we do that we wish we never did or ever started doing. No theory can explain this, and even the knowledge gathered from the fact that, 'hate-filled experiences from a person's past, have the power to send them on a quest to find love in the wrong places', isn't enough to keep us from indulging in acts...

Verse James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you... Message Many people are looking for God, but when they find Him or are close to meeting Him, they turn away; their decisions are usually based on preconceptions of who He is. People want to worship a supreme being or a god who can offer them all their needs in this life: power, peace and everything they lack. People want a god they can have a relationship with. We all yearn for a Godly Father because, at one point in time or another we felt like spiritual orphans being battered by the cares of life, which took advantage of us because we were all alone. Spiritual orphans jump from temple to temple, church to church or any other place of worship in search of something or someone real. They are looking for God, and He is right around them, waiting for them to draw close to Him: to understand why He sent His Son Jesus, so that they can receive everything in Him. Amen

Verse Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Message For many, the desire to quit an addiction fluctuates like a thermostat. At one point in time, these individuals feel like quitting. However, when the guilt they feel after falling into temptation subsides, they once again wrestle with, and fall back into the same old temptations: indulging in the very things they wanted to quit. The question is, why the inconsistency? Why are we hungry for righteousness at one point in time, and for unrighteousness at another? It's hard to fathom our double-minded behavior, however, or thankfully, the Word of God gives us the key to understanding the reason behind our falls. This key lies in Genesis 3:4-5, "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Over the years, beg...

Verse John 14:6 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Message The big question everyone or some people are asking is, "Why is He (Jesus) the only way?" or "Why isn't so-and-so the way?" They want to know why there aren't many ways to God and what makes Jesus so special; and there is one simple answer: SIN. If whoever we think is the way to the Father or some paradise or heaven, can take away our sins; If who or whatever it is can make us new people, and can give us the power to stop doing the things we do not want to do, then we can all take who or whatever it is to be the way.  As long as you are still struggling or battling with past sins and sin itself or himself, then you either haven't found the way or you have been deceived into going back to your old ways. He is the way, the only way to God. He is righteous and He gives us His righteousness when we accept His offer of sal...

Verse 1 Peter 1:23 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Message What is the corruptible seed? Sin (the power source behind the things we do that we do not want to do—things that always leave us with regrets). Romans 7:19-20 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. ( Romans 7:19-20 ) What or who is the incorruptible seed?  The word of God; Jesus; The son of God, life (everlasting life). He (the word of God) came (down as flesh—John 1:14 ) to save us (the people of this world) from the grip or power, sin has over us. He (the word of God) came down to give us a choice. A choice to be born again with  a different seed—the word of God (1 Peter 1:23). This is what it means to accept Christ and to have Him(the word of God) dwell in us. With this new seed, ...

Verses Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Keywords : Grace, Faith  Message How do we receive His grace? God gives His (gift of) grace to us when we humble ourselves (James 4:6-10, 1 Peter 5:5-6) . We can't receive His grace when we act proud, that is, by thinking we can save ourselves. How do we increase our faith or where does faith come from? Faith comes by hearing the word of God. (Romans 10:17) What are we saved from? We are saved from the bondage of sin; which consequently leads to eternal condemnation or damnation.  Putting all together: Salvation can't be bought or worked for, it is a gift from God; and like every gift we can choose to keep it (His gift), reject it, receive it or receive it and dump it—like many have without knowing.  Further reading: James 4:8-10 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your h...

Verses Matthew 1:21 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Romans 10:9-10 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Message He shall SAVE his people from their sins. He shall save whoever calls upon His name. When people make confessions like:"Lord I  want to be a better person, I  want a more fulfilling life, I have tried everything and I still can't make it on my own, my sins are hurting me, my addictions are destroying me, my past is hunting me. Jesus please save me. This is why you were born, this is why you had to die for us and be raised up. For my sins and the sins of the world. You and only you, and for this you are my Lord. Lord Jesus, you and only you will I wors...

Verses 2 Corinthians 12:9 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Philippians 4:13 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Message "You just don't understand where I am coming from. I can't do it, I can't quit"; "I am tied of trying, maybe I was just born this way, maybe my environment shaped me and made me the way I am". Do you panic when you see the source of your addictions? Do you feel you can never quit doing something you do not want to do? Have you given up on trying? The truth is that in our own power we can never quit; we can never get around our former sources of addictions without being enslaved aga...

Verses Romans 7:18-20 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. Message Is sin a noun or a verb? Is it an act of disobedience towards God, or something (maybe a spirit being) that dwells within us (our flesh): one that makes us do things we do not want to do? What is sin and who is a sinner? Sin is both of noun and a verb. It dwells in us and can only control us when we walk according to the flesh—that's why Jesus had to crucify the flesh on the cross  (Galatians 5:24).  It is what drives people to indulge in all the disgraceful, wicked and shameless acts they do, that always leaves them with regrets.  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For ...

Verses Genesis 6:5 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Jeremiah 17:9 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Mark 7:21-23 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Message What goes on through your mind when you: watch TV (the news and others), read the papers, surf some sites or listen to some radio stations? Do you panic because you think the world is totally messed up? Has the world made you paranoid: do you think everybody is wicked, evil and out to get you?  Have you lost trust in humanbeings?  When many people see all the things happening in the world today (the wars, the immora...

Verses 1 Corinthians 1:20-21 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Message The world is looking for signs; is waiting for a new drug; and some are researching tirelessly to come out with a new solution to sin and it's side-effects (depression and loneliness being numbers one and two on the list). In their foolishness (in the eyes of God) or wisdom (in their own eyes) they call it is human nature. They tell us we were born to do the things we do not want to do; and that we will forever be like this. They tell us all we have to do is to deal with our actions and try to control our emotions et ceterra. Does this work or has this worked? NO or course not. Is this the cause of the countless suicide cases we hear of? Is this the reason why...

Verses Matthew 24:24 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 2 Peter 2:19 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. Message The devil can work through people (false Christs and prophets) to perform signs and wonders—and this is where the difference is—but he will never lead people (unbelievers) to the path of true salvation. What is true salvation? Let me explain it this way.True salvation comes about when a person completely turns away from his or her sins, and goes on from there to fulfill his or her God given purpose by faith. True salvation goes beyond confessing or reciting something you don't understand and claiming you a born again or a Christian afterwards. (Many have recited and confessed the sinners prayer, but the que...