Are you living free? You might be wondering…free from what? The dictionary defines “free” as not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes, not or no longer confined or imprisoned; not subject to or affected by (a specified thing, typically an undesirable one). I found the word “free” mentioned 73 times in the New King James Version.
One of the reasons Jesus came to earth was to set us free from bondage and give us liberty (Galatians 5:1). To be in bondage means to be enslaved and oppressed. The Israelites were enslaved and oppressed, and God used Moses to set them free. The definition of liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views; the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. Can you say that you are living free?
As I write this blog, I recall the lyrics from the song “Freedom Reigns.” The opening lyrics are, “Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Lift your eyes to heaven, there is freedom.” Freedom reigns in Jesus Christ. If you are struggling with fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, sickness, or pain, there is freedom in the knowledge, understanding, and belief in Jesus and what He did for you over 2,000 years ago.
On July 4, Americans celebrate Independence Day. This is a day when Americans remember that their Founding Fathers set them free from tyranny and bondage from an oppressing government. In the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, it states that “we are endowed by our Creator (God) with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Liberty, as we saw above, means the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved; in other words, not being in bondage to anything. If you are sick or struggling with something, you are being imprisoned, enslaved, or in bondage. God does not want you to live in bondage. He wants you to be set free!
Just like God used Moses and the Founding Fathers to set their people free, God used Jesus Christ to set His people free. Freedom in Christ might be hard to process and understand, but He came to earth to set us free and live an abundant life. Below are several scriptures showing that we have been set free:
Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
Galatians 5:1 – Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
John 8:36 – If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Romans 8:2 – For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Many times, people want steps on how to lead a Christian life as well as steps to take in order to be healed. Rick McFarland, a pastor and teacher in Colorado, has a great response when he is asked for steps or a formula. He says, “There are only three steps: Look at Jesus, keep looking at Jesus, and keep on looking at Jesus.” I believe, if you do this, you will receive God’s grace, healing, and freedom.
God sent His Son into this world so that the world would be saved (John 3:17). The Greek word “saved” in this verse is “sozo” and means to make well, heal, restore to health, to save or rescue.
Accept Jesus as your Savior and Healer and let freedom reign in your life!
~Donna Jones