Free to See Reality

Every day people are seeing things that are not there. They are presented with a vision of things as they are which leads them to behave in line with what they see. History is littered, however, with how people following these presentations only for wider forces to show that this was a false reality. It is not just those taken with a religious fanaticism or rabid obsession that are similarly blinded – anyone whose vision does not allow them to see love and pursue peace needs to be free to see reality.

He answered, "Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." (John 9:25)

Safe Journey

Shalom

Freedom From Fear Fortress

It happened before – it might happen before it really hurt and that does not want to be experienced again. What if the response is negative? They don’t like it. They are not for it. What if an embarrassment is made? What happens if the finished article isn’t good enough? Constantly second-guessing, never quite certain of the now, the paralysis is set because of gear. Male or female there is something about negative forecasts that can dissuade from a position. The foundations of fortress fear crumble at the sound of love that sets people free to live above their fears.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18)

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Shalom

Freedom From The Prison of the Past

Wracked with guilt for what was done, continually haunted by what was never done, experiences of yesterday hold today captive. As the memories thicken and the hurt intensifies, so the suffocating choke of yesteryear prevents any ability to breathe the fresh air of the present. The keys to the jail are found in discovering that though nothing can change what has happened, it does not have to cripple today. The hope is for the power of that release to be the present of the present for those still behind the bars of the prison of the past.

My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. (Philippians 4:13)

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Shalom

Freedom When The Wise One Comes Along

Sometimes the odds may seem overwhelming and considering defeating something that has dominated for so long might seem hard to almost impossible. It is the wise one, however, who can see all there is about something so imposing and still detect the weak points. It is the wise one who exercises faith, hope and love to believe that no matter how great the odds, freedom can still be achieved. The wise one does not put trust in self to overcome, but believes one far greater than the stronghold to secure freedom.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

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Shalom

No More Strongholds

Some things become so deep rooted in us that when they are removed the foundation of our life seems to go. It is as though such was its hold on us such a strong hold that we were indistinguishable from it. Such was its stronghold that the values of life revolved around it life itself was determined by the fortunes of that which held us. Such was the temporary nature and lacking quality of that thing that life was never fulfilling, but such was the strong hold that no freedom seemed in sight. However a wise man came along …

A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

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Shalom

Break Free … from Without: External Expectations

Peer pressure has a lot to answer for. As relational beings prone to enjoy the company of others and looking to maintain the status quo in certain characters can easily get sucked up in portraying someone that fits in. The pressure to live up to people’s expectations can be oppressive and leave people cold inside without ever understanding where they can truly be themselves. The cry to break free enables people not to please people but find that place of fully realising who they are called to please.

God was pleased to trust us with his message. We didn't speak to please people, but to please God who knows our motives. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

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Shalom

Break Free … From Without: Materialism

The cycle is as tragic as it is inevitable. They say it’s the thing to be wearing, the game to be playing, the phone to be using, the car to be driving, the food to be eating, etc. The pressure is on to buy it, watch it, wear it, eat it and no sooner have we bought it then it’s time to buy something else as trends change, because we’re living in a material world. Freedom from materialism lets us see the truth that life is less about what we own, and more about who we are within.

Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot. (Luke 12:15)

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Shalom

Dawning Realisation: What's Going On?

If you’ve been doing something the same way for a number of days, weeks, months and years it can become an engrained part of life. Some of these grains inhibit growth and freedom and are so deep that it takes something shocking, something that rocks the foundations of the grain for us to have a realisation that something is wrong. The reason why in some cases the pattern of pressure and slavery continues is because some of us need that dawning realisation that brings up that age old question ‘What’s Going On?’

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Shalom

Break Free Together

When there are complaints on things like not having the latest brand named goods or not having access to the best things in life it seems to miss the whole point of community. When someone is complaining about the name of the shoes, where their sister in another country has no shoes, something’s wrong. When someone expects all their rights to be met, where the rights of others are neglected something’s wrong. Something within the human condition cries out for us all to break free together.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Shalom

Break Free … From Without: Injustice

There are still vile human rights abuses taking place around our world. There are still traumatic offences committed in this country. There are still horrendous crimes carried out in our cities. There are still miscarriages of justice occurring in our towns. There are still tragic wrongs done in our homes. There are still sins committed in our own lives. Injustice is still somewhere, so the fight for justice – the fight to break free must carry on everywhere.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Shalom

Break Free … From Without: Discrimination

It’s almost as if someone else’s insecurities can put a barrier on someone else’s freedom. Negative discrimination is the thinking that describes that state of mind where our own inability and insecurity to celebrate our own identity is then forced outwards to others. We pick on any difference not as something to build on and explore but to crush others. Some people, communities and cultures still suffer greatly from accepted norms of negative discrimination and so desperately need to be set free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Shalom

Under Pressure

Slavery maybe something of an abstract concept to those in the western world privileged to be told that they live in a free society. However when the challenges of daily living are considered – bills to pay, onerous responsibilities to meet, friends to retain, personal image to sustain, rat-race to maintain – then it’s no wonder even those in the ‘free society’ appear just as enslaved as those from previous eras or other countries. Everyone is under pressure to some extent and that pressure can cripple, depress and rob the joy to be discovered when we break free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Shalom

Break Free: An Introduction

From the chick breaking through the egg shell to the moth emerging from the chrysalis there are experiences of the desire to break free. Even the wonder of seeing the birth of a newborn baby highlights the wonder of someone entombed for so long finally breaking free. This desire is not reserved to birth as the histories of peoples and individuals are full of struggle, triumph and tragedy to get and enjoy some physical, emotional, financial or spiritual freedom. This month is dedicated to exploring and reflecting on this crucial theme. What does it mean to you?

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

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Shalom

Hear Me Out

The cry for deliverance is something that is as natural a part of the human condition as the need for food, clothes, shelter and relationship. Although we all need it in different ways whether economically, physically, relationally and spiritually, please spare a thought today for those who need to have deliverance from substance addition. For those who struggle under the pressure of temptation this part of the prayer is particularly apt. For that person share the message – there is hope of deliverance.

Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! (Psalm 142:6)

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Shalom

Deliver Us

Deliver us – from the past that would enslave us; Deliver us – from future unknown that brings anxiety; Deliver us – from relationships that would crush us; Deliver us – from the pride that poisons us; Deliver us – from the fear that cripples us; Deliver us – from the world quickly fading; Deliver us – from thinking that aggravates; Deliver us – from a life of boredom, apathy and neglect; Deliver us – from masks that hide real struggles of life; Deliver us – from injustice and hatred; Deliver us – inside and out. Deliver us by Your power and love. Deliver us with Your touch from above.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matthew 6:13)

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Shalom

Words and Lives That Produce Tasty Fruit

God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. (Galatians 5:22, 23)

Here are headlines you’re not likely to read: Simon Bailey arrested in kindness shocker! John Flynn sentenced after being gentle! Sue Mears imprisoned following speaking words of faithfulness and goodness! Fran Cooke behind bars for life for exercising compassion! So whilst the law is on our side in those areas, let us enjoy these liberties and share these qualities with each other.

The thinking behind this was a conversation I had with the men on Monday night and the old chestnut about free will came up again. It basically exulted in the fact that we have a choice and free will and isn’t that a great thing? Well I’ve yet to see someone give me a compelling argument for free will biblically as that which is to be deified as much as it is in this culture.

When I do think about freedom and liberty, though, I do consider the freedom with which Christ has made me free to actually behave, think and speak in a manner that reflects the fruit of the Spirit. I haven’t been set free to do whatever I want, I’ve been set free to do whatever has been placed in the very core of my being to do. I was created to be disciplined. I was created to be joyful, loving, gentle, peaceful, faithful, kind and good.

When I don’t behave that way; when my thoughts don’t tally with that; when the words I speak go against that, although I may have been conditioned to be like that I actually feel a bit less human, a bit less that I get the impression I ought to be. Being obedient is the most natural thing about me. My arms are meant to do what I tell them to do and more often than not I’ll tell them to do something that supports me in a fitting and beneficial way. The same goes for every part of my body and although my brain may get it messed up with activities that hasten my inevitable physical departure from planet earth, more often than not the aim and desire is to stay on here as long and as comfortably as possible.

For that to happen certain orders have to be obeyed so that outcomes can be enjoyed. It sounds mechanical, but when the outcome is joy, peace and love and indeed when the process actually includes within it these qualities then the whole thing is makes a lot more sense. So if that’s me, personally I don’t see the big deal in actually admitting that perhaps rather than emphasising free will we should actually look at God’s original plan for us as to who we ought to be and then, by graciously receiving His Spirit on repentance, we live that out for His glory and the benefit of those around us.

I love the line that there’s no law against that – fittingly in a book that’s been dealing with law and grace. It also reminds me of the tragedy of the garden where God gave us an instruction to enjoy all the trees in the garden with the exception of one. The tragedy is that God’s Word is for us to enjoy all with one exception and now blighted by sin we miss out on enjoying the all in search of the exception. I wouldn’t mind our fascination with the one if we’d truly made the best out of everything else, but I know for a fact that enjoying all the beautiful things in life will take a lifetime in and of itself as there is so much of God’s goodness to enjoy. It’s a shame that my sin-natural inclination is to look at other women when I haven’t even made the most out of enjoying my wife who day after day grows and blossoms further in the beauty with which God makes her and so shows yet something more for me to enjoy. It’s a shame that my sin-natural inclination is to wander from the good and get into the bad.

Thank God for His Spirit that reverts me closer to the Jesus-nature that is the walking design of what man was always meant to be like. Thank God for His Spirit that teaches me of these things and empowers me to live this out. Thank God for His Word that illuminates my every decision to make the most of life in all its fullest. Thank God for new life in Him where I begin to recognise just what I was missing out on in my former life and acknowledge that life is a lot better producing love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control. In fact life doesn’t get any better than this and rejoicing in the God of my salvation allows me to smile in the face of this greater reality.

For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
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