Welcome to the Truth@Life Blog Site by Curtis Songer


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Sunday, February 12, 2017

Part 2 of 3: Set Free - No Longer a Prisoner

You can be a Christian and be set free and no longer be in bondage, but still you choose to continue to live in bondage.

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
‭‭John‬ ‭8:31-32‬ ‭

In WW2, it took almost a week for the news of Hitler's death to reach nearly the entire world.  Until that news arrived, many soldiers kept fighting and being enslaved to the war and the possibility of defeat!

Everyone has the opportunity to know the truth and to be set free.  But many people have lived in bondage to sim for so long, that they don't know how to live any other way.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.””
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭4:6-7‬ ‭

You can overcome it, because God gives you the strength.  How do you live in victory.  Three things:

1. Turn to Jesus and rely on Him.  “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:12-14‬ ‭

If you turn away from sin, you must turn toward God.  You can't just turn away, you have to turn towards something.

2. You have to share your struggles with other people.  This is hard.  People don't like to admit they are vulnerable / weak / failing / incompetent.  This shouldn't be so hard because most of us have common struggles.  There are plenty of people out there who have the exact same struggles.  “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭

We need an accountability and an encouragement partner.  Finish this sentence: "In 2017, I will share my struggles with ______________."

3. Fight for freedom.  “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:3-4‬

Change happens when the pain of the same exceeds the pain of change.

In summary: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭5:8-9‬ ‭

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