We probably really want to know why we can't figure it out.  There is something standing in our way.  We want to get over that final hump.  Friend, what you are looking for is FREEDOM.  What you are looking for is a closer relationship with the real Jesus Christ. . .

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LENGTH: LONG

LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

PURPOSE: FREEDOM FOR YOUR MIND

 

I came upon a very mind provoking post about slavery today.  It had to do with Harriet Tubman’s journey guiding slaves to freedom on the underground railroad.  There was great resistance from the slavery mindset in understanding the gravity of their potential freedom.  It was hard for a mind to leave the boundaries of familiarity when the thoughts of what was outside of those lines promoted fear.  The post pointed out that Harriet had to become violent with the very slaves she was helping.  She knew if they ran back to their captors, they would be tortured and forced to give up the escape route for other’s freedom.  

 

It benefits everyone who begins their journey to freedom to continue on their journey to freedom.  This post is not about slavery in America.  This post is not about racism.  This post, in honor of the Fourth of July.  It is about freedom.

 

“I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”

Harriet Tubman

 

This is a quote, that is not authenticated by historians as an actual quote that Harriet Tubman spoke; but it has so much truth that sings with inside of it.  People of all nationalities, especially those who identify themselves as African American, must understand that the concept of freedom starts in the mind.  The only one that can free the mind is the Holy Spirit.

 

We are slaves

 

The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind. At midday you will grope about like a blind person in the dark. You will be unsuccessful in everything you do; day after day you will be oppressed and robbed, with no one to rescue you.

Deuteronomy 28:28

 

If you are a reader of this blog than you are aware that I am indeed a Christian.  I speak from a Christian perspective on things that are important to address when attempting to understand the purpose of life.  With this in mind, the background of all study is in the foundational truth that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.  In other words, there is freedom in Christ.  However, the only way to help people get to that freedom is to show them how deep in their bondage they really are.  This world is not our own, hence we live in a place where the rules are not beneficial for us as Christians.  There needs to be a mindset shift to where we start to operate in the Kingdom mentality, and not in the world system.

 

So, how do we really become free?

 

There are those who feel accomplished in this system of oppression.  I think what eventually happens in the stages of life is that we get to a  certain place where it should have worked out for us, but it didn’t, not really.  It is at that point that we realize that something or someone lied about how this whole thing is supposed to work.  We go along with the system because that is what everyone else is doing.  We work hard in a system that does not benefit us in the long run.  We retire with little to no inheritance for our children because of  a systematic method of perpetual ignorance. We do not eat the fruit of our labor.  These are the curses on God’s people for disobeying his law (see Deuteronomy 28).

 

However, there is great news!

 

Jesus has overcome all systems of oppression.  He has provided a path to freedom.  He has opened up a way for us to be free.  So, why don’t we see more Christians living a life of freedom?

 

#1 We depend on our oppressor:

 

It is very easy to become accustomed to this world system.  It has many systems that are set up to mimic the Kingdom of Heaven.  We must understand that Satan used to be in  Heaven, he knows how it works and how it is organized.  So, in this world there is a government that is a counterfeit Kingdom of heaven government.  This world system organizes our justice system, our money, our employment, our communication, our health, and our education.  Overall, we become dependent on the inner workings of each system.  We are indeed relying on the system to work for us and for everyone to do their part in it.  However, this counterfeit system is based on lies.  There is no true justice, the riches of this world are for the children of this world, the employment system is a system of slavery, our communication is limited, our health is deteriorating, and our education system teaches a mindset of slavery and complacency.  We are tired under the yoke of this system. We are dying in this system.  We are slaves in this system.  But how can we leave a system that has held us up for so long.  We ultimately believe in it and this is why we continue to work for it, pay our dues, and send our children to it’s schools.  But the word of the Lord is telling us to do something different:

 

Come out of her my people!! (see Jeremiah 51)

 

I don’t think we really hear or understand what this voice is telling us, which brings me to the second reason why we as Christians fail to live in freedom:

 

#2 We have trouble hearing the voice of the Lord:

 

One of the most precious gifts that my father taught his children was how important it is to develop a relationship with the Lord.  In a close and intimate relationship; the Lord will tell you things that you need to hear for your walk to freedom.  He will show you things that you need to know.  He will show you signs that you need to decipher in order to turn the right way, meet the right people, and travel at the right times.  He will open up doors, and close them behind you so that you have no other choice but to move forward.  In order to know the voice of the Lord, you must understand the language of his Kingdom government.  This is something that he will teach you step by step as you move forward in your journey.  But first you must spend time with the Lord, get to know who he is, and follow his ways.  You must learn his voice. Then you can begin to clearly hear the direction he has for your life.  He tells us that he is the way to freedom.  He says that he knows that we are tired and thirsty for something more:

 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28

 

When we make the decision to be adopted into God’s family, we become a child of God.  This is when we start to develop our hearing. 

 

#3 We lack Faith:

 

In this moment, how do you respond in your heart about an outside voice trying to speak to you about the bondage that your mind is  in?   How crazy does it sound to say that the workings of this world system are nothing but evil?  Depending on your level of faith, which is a gift from the father, you may not think that the words that I share with you hold any viable truth.  It may all sound like a big conspiracy theory.

 

There is a plan and purpose for us being in this world.  There is a level of faith that needs to be sown in our hearts to understand what it means to really be free.  The word of God speaks to us all the time, many of us do not understand that God speaks to us in metaphors that will not die in language evolution.  His truth endures through all generations and therefore the stories that are in the bible are very relevant to us today.

 

-We are at the point in history where we are to experience a grand exodus out of the bondage of our oppressors.  The Lord is opening up our minds to see the truth of what this world really is about.  By the time those who oppress understand that they need a working class to sustain their system of oppression, they will be unable to follow us.  It will be our job, however, to keep the faith and trust the Lord to lead us through our wilderness. (See the story of the Great Exodus when Moses led the people out of Egypt)

 

- We were placed in this land to live off of the wealth of this land.  This is a great blessing of positioning that the Lord has given us.  In this we give thanks.  But understand that we are indeed functioning in a Babylonian system.  There will be events that will happen in our time that will shake the people up to show how false this world is.  These events will especially shine light to how the privileged uses money to manipulate the systems and get over on people who do not have the means to educate themselves. This is the system that the Lord tells us to come out of. The word tells us that we ought to run for our lives!  (See Jeremiah 51)

 

#4 We don't understand that Freedom is for everybody:

 

Some of us don’t understand that freedom is offered as a free gift to everybody.  In our salvation we have freedom.  This is something that the Lord offers to everyone, even those who we identify as our enemy.  We are not in complete understanding of who our enemies are because of our skewed perception of reality.  Our neighbor is not our enemy, our president is not our enemy.  We do not fight against flesh and blood, we fight against spirits that do not die in the spiritual realm.  They reinvent themselves in our world, and they influence the minds of the weak.  They are principalities, powers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness.

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12

 

With this said, we exit our bondage through love.  The love that we have for one another will carry us through the tuff parts of the journey.  We know love because God showed us love by sacrificing his son.  We know love because Jesus showed us love.  We know love when we are indeed willing to sacrifice our lives in order to guide each other to freedom.  We learn how to soften our hearts and share the love of Jesus Christ with the  whole world, not just a select few. We as “so called” Christians have to drop the holier than thou exterior and share the good news of Christ.

Here is a good throw back:

Be Holy, Kid 

 

Salvation can be for you too, if you make the decision to change your mind about this life.  Choose you this day whom you will serve: The World’s Kingdom or the Lord’s Kingdom?

 

While some may view this as an act of control, I assure you that Christ is the freedom that you are looking for.  The word very clearly states that we cannot serve two masters, it causes too much confusion in the mind.  Change your mind about it, start your journey to freedom.  The Kingdom of Heaven is coming soon to see if you are truly free.

 

Do not run back to your captors, they only want to torture you.  This is not freedom.

 

I use

 

31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 33They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. 35And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. 36If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. 37I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. 38I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father.

39They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. 40But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. 41Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

The Children of the Devil

42Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.46Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not,  because ye are not of God.

 

Until next time,

Tamorra