Freedom Devotional

Verse 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Message What goes through your mind when you flip through your old photo albums or when you see your baby photos? I don't know about you, but I laugh ( a lot at myself) whenever I see them; and sometimes I smile a bit as I  try to remember what it was like in those days—I believe am not the only one who does this. Anyway. Behind the laughter and smiles, there is one thought we all like to push away when we go through our old albums or baby photos; and the reason we push this thought away is that, we feel there is nothing we can do about it. When this thought emerges, we begin to hate ourselves or someone from our past; we begin to wish we could turn back the hands of time; we sometimes become depressed, shed a few tears and pray for way out of the bondage we may find ourselves in.  Why? Because we were all born as i...

Verse John 1:29 29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Message Jesus didn't come to form a religion with a farrago of doctrines and beliefs, or to give people a chance to place denominational tags on themselves and others.  • He came and was sent  so we might have life - His life , Gods life, everlasting life. (John 10:10) • He came to free us from the bondage of sin; to give you and me power over our problems, issues, addictions, diseases and more. (1 John 3:5-6) • He came so you and I would be perfect without sin,  lacking nothing. (John 17:23) • He came so that you and I would become God's very own children with a heavenly inheritance.  (John 1:12) • He came because God loves you. (John 3:16) With him and through him you can throw your past away like it never existed and begin life on a fresh page. He came for you and me, and He will always be there for us; ...

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...