I had an opportunity to visit the Brazos County Courthouse several weeks ago, and was burdened when I saw the handsome young men dressed in their loud orange jumpsuits sitting, awaiting to be sentenced for their offences. As I observed the various other family members with their loved ones, I couldn’t help but feel compassion for them all.
“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” (Luke 4:18)
We have failed to recognize the power that Jesus died to release into our lives. Too many of us still walk in ways that are not only contrary to the will of God, but hold us captive and in bondage to our flesh. We’ve fallen into a pattern of complacency that traps us in a never-ending cycle of failure and defeat, not realizing that Jesus came that we might have life, and that more abundantly.
Scriptures teach that we should not, under any circumstances, continue abiding in sinful or destructive lifestyles. The grace of God was not given to sanction or justify weakness in the lives of the believer, but to teach us how to live soberly and godly in this present world. But the problem still exists – we are still being held captive, prisoners to our own flesh.
A prisoner has been defined as someone who is incarcerated, trapped, locked up, confined, detained, enslaved, or held hostage against their will. There is a desire to be freed, but the mechanism does not exist to make it happen. Sadness, depression, discouragement, and sorrow are attitudes with which the prisoner has to deal with on a daily basis.
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested,
that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8)
Jesus came that we might have life, and that more abundantly. He died, and yet lives, that we might walk in victory in every situation that we face. I love the scripture that encourages us that “no weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper,” and that this is the heritage of the saints of the most High God. We have been called “more than conquerors” because our faith and confidence no longer resides in our own abilities to success.
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto
thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him,
and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, for that which is carnal is enmity against God. We do not fight against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore, we need the weapons given unto us through the Spirit of God if we are to obtain the blessings and promises made unto us. We must be born again, of the water and of the Spirit, for if we do not have the Spirit of Christ, we are not His children. If His seed has not been sown into our hearts, then our names are not written in the book of Life.
It’s time for us to awaken out of sleep and put on the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Scriptures admonish us to “put on the whole armor of God”, and as we do, then we will see the growth, progress, and increase that belongs to us. But, for all those who are stubborn and rebel against the will of God, darkness, destruction, and doom belongs to them. God resists the proud, but gives more abundant grace to the humble.
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because
greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4)
If we remain prisoners to our flesh, then Christ’s death had no power for us at all. If we remain weak, anemic, helpless and hopeless, then the sacrifice at the cross, the blood that was shed will be of no effect. Romans 6:16 says that “to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness.” Be not deceived, dear brother or sister, for God is not mocked. Whatsoever we sow, that shall we also reap. And, he that sows to his flesh shall, of his flesh, reap corruption. But he that sows unto the Spirit shall, of the Spirit, reap life everlasting.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36)
