spiritual freedom

A Prayer for Spiritual Freedom
By Pete Briscoe

“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” - 2 Peter 1:2

Modern Christianity has done a poor job of presenting grace.

I hear this often: “Grace is fine, but don’t take it too far because then you’ll fall into sin.” This could also be spun, “Jesus is awesome, but don’t trust Him too much because then you’ll fall into sin.”

Really? Jesus will lead us into sin? Or is it that He will lead us among the sinners? Look deeper in Galatians 2:17-18:

But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn’t that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.

For the Jews – or church people – of Paul’s day to find themselves among the sinners meant sharing meals with them. This was law breaking. This was dancing. This was unheard of before freedom through Christ. When I am justified – or set free – in Jesus, I will start dancing in ways I always believed were… well, “too free.”

Perhaps then, if I am wondering whether or not I’m marching or dancing, I should take a look around me. Who are my fellow dancers? Do I find myself among the sinners? Are there freedoms around me causing me to lean deeper into the Spirit of God?

Or does everyone else on the dance floor dance just like I do?

One fear of freedom is that it will land us in a pit of sin. But Christ who is sinless and perfect has filled me with His Spirit. I live life through the Spirit. I dance in the Spirit. My freedom is surrendered to the Spirit. Thus, if I’m walking in the Spirit, I’m not walking in sin.

I can be sharing the dance floor with others whose freedom in Christ challenges my own.

Heavenly Father, we are saved by no works of our own, but by your sacrifice alone. Let us take joy in that, and glorify your name. Father, do not allow us to doubt your grace. You have taken every sin upon your shoulders, and washed away every blemish from our hearts. Amen.

its your decision

its Your Decision

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw [Jesus],he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him.

Mark 5:22-24

I wonder when God is going to do something about this problem! Have you ever asked that question? If so, you may be surprised to find out that the answer depends 100 percent on you.

There's an incident in Mark 5 that will show you what I mean. Jesus had just gotten out of a boat and people were pressing all around Him, "thronging Him," it says. They had Him shoved up against the shoreline when suddenly there came a man moving through that crowd to get to Jesus.

Throwing himself at Jesus' feet, Mark records, he prays and beseeches Him greatly, saying, "My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her... and she shall live."

Think about this situation for a moment. Here's a man that's politically on the level of the mayor of the city. But he's so doggedly determined to get to Jesus that he fights his way through the crowd and clears out enough room to fall at Jesus' feet. He's made a decision--and when he gets to Jesus, he says exactly what it is: Lay your hands on her and she shall live.

Let me ask you something: Who do you think is directing the ministry of Jesus here? This one man! A man who's made a decision. When he speaks that decision out, Jesus doesn't say anything. He just stops what He's doing, turns around and follows him.

In a crowd of literally thousands, the faith decision of one man is directing the actions of Jesus.

What does that mean to you? It means that if you're sitting around waiting for Jesus to decide to heal you... for Jesus to decide to help you...for Jesus to decide to prosper you and give you victory...you're in for a long wait. Because that's not Jesus' decision.
it is yours 🙌🙌🙌 halleluyah

see v28 a woman with a problem of blood discharge for years. she decided to to touch Jesus for healing and she received what she wanted. she was healed.
Mark 5:28-29 (AMP)
28 For she kept saying, If I only touch His garments, I shall be restored to health.
29 And immediately her flow of blood was dried up at the source, and  she felt in her body that she was healed of her  ailment.

Jesus our high priest

Jesus’ Priesthood Never Curses

Hebrews 5:9–10
9And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,”

When Jesus died and rose again, He became our High Priest. But notice that Jesus’ priesthood is “according to the order of Melchizedek”. Why the Melchizedek priesthood?

The Melchizedek priesthood gives to man (whereas the Aaronic priesthood takes from man). We see this when Melchizedek gave bread and wine to refresh a tired Abraham after his battle with the enemy kings. (Genesis 14:14–20) So if Jesus’ priesthood is according to the Melchizedek order, then it is one in which we can come boldly into His presence to receive from Him! (Hebrews 4:16)

Moreover, the first word from Melchizedek’s mouth was “Blessed” — “Blessed be Abram…” (Genesis 14:19) The Melchizedek order is just that — blessings. In other words, Jesus’ priesthood is one that blesses and never curses us!

So are we conscious of Jesus our High Priest giving to us every day? Are we alert to all His blessings coming from heaven toward us on earth?

Now, it is easy for us to believe God for His blessings in creation. For example, we have no difficulty believing that the sun will rise every morning. But while we have no problems believing the work of creation, we have problems believing the work of redemption. We sometimes find it hard to believe God for healing, provision, favor, protection or restoration — blessings that Jesus died to give us. We don’t really believe that every day, the Lord will take care of us, keep our bodies healthy and provide for all our needs.

Yet, creation is fallen. It can be a blessing as well as a curse. Sometimes, a storm arises, and powerful winds and rains destroy thousands of homes and lives. Sometimes, dark clouds hide the sun and make the whole day gloomy.

My friend, we can’t put our trust in creation, but we can certainly put our trust in redemption. And unlike creation, the blessings of redemption are all good! The work of Jesus is not subject to the weather or anything else. The work of redemption is as sure as Jesus Himself. He died and rose again to be our High Priest who daily showers us with blessings!

Thought For The Day
Jesus’ priesthood, which is according to the order of Melchizedek, is one that blesses and never curses us!