Dianne olsen, SW Washington
Let Freedom Ring?
Independence Day is fast approaching, and one promise of God
we have is “freedom”, true freedom. One dictionary defines freedom as, “The right
to do or have something.” The verb free is defined as, “Allow someone or
something to leave prison or slavery.”
During worship
service last night, I was asking the Lord to free me of some hurts that I knew
had kept me bound. I kept saying, “Just one touch Lord, just
one touch.” I knew that is all I needed to receive inner healing, to receive
freedom. Then after church, my friend “Auntie”, leaned over to me and said, “I
keep hearing the Lord say, free, free, free!”
It was not until
today that I realized the connection between what I had prayed and sang to God,
and what she heard God say to her. Now sometimes, people say they hear voices,
and it is not a good thing. But I
know this woman well, and I know I can trust that the voice she is hearing is
certainly God’s!
In
I recently read a book
called, “The Fountainhead”, by
For a Christian, that
would be the Bible. Part of the definition of integrity is, “An uninterrupted
or unimpaired state of anything.” The root word of integrity is integral, “A
conjoined part of your being.” I think that sums up this whole concept rather
nicely; to have ones innermost thoughts and beliefs, match ones actions, even
when no one else is around.
The flip side to her
message was those that are “second-handers.” People
who want others to think they are
great, instead of being great; those
who stand up, because everyone else is standing; giving lip-service to
something that you really don’t follow.
Making the statement that you are a Christian,
going to church on Sunday, then living like a Pagan Monday through Saturday,
that is lip-service, but God knows our heart. I know some people who go to
church to “grow” their business. It has nothing to do with a personal
relationship with
So what does this
have to do with freedom? I’m glad you asked. Let us review that scripture
again. “…if you continue in My
word…the truth will set you free.” His word is the truth. And if we hold fast to His
Word, we will be set free. That means holding fast to His promises, but also
His statutes.
It is the latter part that trips us up. The
Word says to live in peace with our brothers, yet we fight and bicker. The Word
says that as you go to court, make peace with your
brother on the way there. Yet we will fight to the bitter end. We can see it in
divorce cases or child custody cases. If someone rises up against us, the Word
says to turn the other cheek, yet our flesh wants to fight to defend ourselves.
There is freedom when we keep integrity to the Word.
The battle is God’s, and He does not
need our assistance! Let go of that thing you are hanging onto, you be obedient to the Word, even if
those around you are not. God can not
and will not bless anything outside of His Word. Do not
tie His hands. You may stand alone, but God can and will move through your
obedience, and let freedom ring!
