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Monday Morning Blog - Mon 7 July 2014

Galatians 5:1b (NIV) "Stand firm, then and do not let yourselves be burdened again"

Freedom, this past 4th of July weekend, was on people's minds while they celebrated Independence Day. Family, Friends, Fireworks and Freedom mark this annual event in our country. Unfortunately, there are many celebrating freedom who are caught up in bondage and don't even realize it. That's the intent of our series "FREE" at Amazing Grace Fellowship in Bristol, NH. Seeing Freedom as Jesus Christ intended Real Freedom to be viewed.

Jesus gives Freedom Assurance because He is the Bondage Breaker! He IS Freedom; He OFFERS Freedom and He PROVIDES Freedom! All this is God's design for mankind who is under the bondage and shackles of condemning sin. Being set free and remaining set free is God's Goal for us!

Paul's words in Galatians 5 are striking. When he says "don't let yourselves be burdened again", it implies you've already been burdened. You've had a previous "burden experience". This "burden experience" is called the condemning sin nature. We are all born with it. You might say we've been born with sin handcuffs on. Jesus Christ broke the Bondage Factor with Freedom from Sin when He conquered death and the grave (the cross and the resurrection). But His offer of a Bondage Breakout is only applied to you when you confess your sin and need for Christ in your life and ask Him to change you, "unshackle" you and set you FREE!

Paul's words are further striking, because once you've been set free by faith in Christ's offer of Freedom for you, the enemy, Satan, wants to recapture your freedom and see you in bondage once again. Thus the words "be burdened again". A "set free" believer in Jesus Christ is in jeopardy every day to the enemy's devices to get caught up once again in sin's shackles. The Bondage Breakout by Jesus is a daily re-commitment to follow freedom in Christ ... It's a Bondage Breakout that rises above our circumstance! It's a Bondage Breakout that rises above our situations! It's a Bondage Breakout that rises above our hurts and pains! It's a Bondage Breakout that rises above the attacks of the enemy to suck you back into bondage! It's a Bondage Breakout so strong it rises above your habits of the past which have become so much a part of you!

Freedom in Christ does NOT mean a FREE RIDE! It can become tough at times. Satan is not "ok" with you being free. He will unleash anything that will reverse the Bondage Breakout. And, sadly, there are many Christ-Followers who have gotten caught in Satan's trap and are once again entangled ("burdened") with sin hand-cuffs on. 

The God-Head is all about RIGHTEOUSNESS (set free from sin to experience right living). God honors RIGHTEOUSNESS. In fact, RIGHTEOUSNESS is the opposite of being BURDENED! If you've been set free by a Jesus Bondage Breakout (because you trust Christ as your Savior) you are being declared RIGHTEOUS (positionally)! But notice: If you live every day the Jesus Bondage Breakout by overcoming the advances of the enemy to re-cuff you ... you are also being declared RIGHTEOUS (practically). 

Becoming and remaining Bondage-Free is God's intent and design for you. And, He gives you Freedom Resources to do that! (1) Freedom Resource #1 => Jesus Christ "abide in me as I abide in you" [John 15:1-8]; (2) Freedom Resource #2 => The Holy Spirit "you are under the control of the Spirit" [Romans 8:9-12]; (3) Freedom Resource #3 => The Word of God "I have hidden Your Word in my heart so I might not sin" [Psalm 119:11]

Stand firm today and everyday in the Freedom provided you by Jesus Christ!

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