Liberty From and Liberty To

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 csb

Coss Marte was sentenced to seven years in prison at age 23 for running a multimillion-dollar drug operation in New York City. While incarcerated, he was told he could die young due to his weight and poor health. Determined to change, he began working out in his cell, eventually losing over 70 pounds. After his release, Marte used his prison workout routine to start ConBody, a fitness company that mimics the intense exercises he did behind bars. He was now at liberty to launch it! With almost no money, just freedom, and determination, he began training clients in parks and rented spaces, eventually, ConBody gained national attention and opened a gym staffed by formerly incarcerated individuals. 

The Apostle Paul reminds us that wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. And we know that the Holy Spirit lives within every believer. With the Spirit comes freedom—freedom from the bondage of sin and freedom from death because of His life in us. But there are also things we are now free to enjoy! Like Coss Marte, our freedom in Christ gives us the power to choose life, to pursue holiness, and to follow the dreams He places within our hearts. Because we are free in Christ, we no longer have to carry the baggage of the sinful world we were once a part of. We are free to embrace the promises God has made to us through His Word.

Charles Spurgeon once said of God’s Word: “It is the bank of heaven—we may draw from it as much as we please without hindrance. There is not a promise—not a word in the Bible—that is not ours.”

So when you go through hard times, you can go to the bank of the Word and withdraw the same promise Joshua received: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” —Joshua 1:9 Or when you feel overwhelmed, you can walk up to the ATM of Scripture and pull out Romans 8:28:“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

We are at liberty to go before God’s throne seeking Him for mercy, promises and grace for help in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Christ’s liberty frees us not just from the bad—but also to the promises. In Christ, they are yours for the withdrawing. "For every one of God’s promises is ‘Yes’ in him. Therefore, through him we also say ‘Amen’ to the glory of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:20 csb

Agape,
Pastor Frank

Holy Yours

“You are to make a pure gold medallion and engrave it, like the engraving of a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD.” Exodus 28:26 csb

I really enjoy going to the library in my neighborhood. It’s right around the corner from our home—we can walk there, and we often do. I love browsing the aisles of books, checking out the different sections and genres. I usually find myself in the Sci-Fi section. I scan the titles and covers, and most of the time, I end up walking out with nothing. But when I do leave with a book, I enjoy taking it home and reading it—although I never seem to finish it. Why? Because the book doesn’t belong to me. It’s on loan, and there’s a time limit. It’s kind of frustrating because I’m not a speed reader, and usually, I can't finish the book in the time I’m given. Since it's borrowed, it must be returned—or I risk a late fee. Now, going to an actual bookstore? That’s a different story. If I walk out with a fresh book from there, I know I never have to return it. I can take my time reading it because there’s no due date. That book belongs wholly to me!

In our midweek service, we’re going through the book of Exodus. This week, as I was preparing my sermon, I came across the scripture referenced above—Exodus 28:36. This instruction to Moses is about his brother Aaron’s turban, which he is to wear while serving in the Tabernacle. A gold plate was attached to the turban, and inscribed on it were the words, “Holy To The Lord.” I thought, what a remarkable reminder of who Aaron belongs to. He belongs to the Lord, who is holy. There’s a bit of a play on words in English here. Holy means “set apart.” That’s exactly what the scripture is conveying—Aaron’s mind, thought process, and entire psyche are to be set apart for the Lord. The English play on words is wholly—as in entirely, fully.

As a Christian, the Bible tells me in 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, “...You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.” Just like that book I purchased from the bookstore—it's wholly mine, entirely and fully, with no due date. It belongs to me because I paid for it. In the same way, Christ has purchased my life. I am wholly the Lord’s. That means, like Aaron, my life should be Holy To The Lord! Since I’ve been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, my life should be set apart—holy—for the Lord. Whatever He wants me to do, whatever His plans are for my life—it’s His, at His command. So to with all Christians. Like Aaron, that includes our thought life. The things we dream about—are they His dreams? The plans we make—are they part of His plans? As someone bought and paid for, I don’t get to just do whatever I want to do—but rather, I follow what He desires for me to do. Now, that might freak some people out. They might think, What if God wants to harm me? What if His plans are bad for me? But His Word tells us the exact opposite.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I (GOD) know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

That doesn’t sound so bad now, does it? Actually, I think it sounds amazing! It takes a lot of weight off me—trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do with my life. Instead I get to go to Him in prayer and His Word (Hebrews 1:11) and ask Him what he has planned for me. I know he has my well-being in mind. He has a future for me! Aaron’s future was to be the High Priest in the House of the Lord forever. And as Christians, we are called kings and priests (1 Peter 2:9). It is His desire that we, too, dwell in His house forever—serving in His temple all the days of our lives—because we are Holy To The Lord, and through Christ purchase on the cross of Calvary, we belong to Him wholly. And you know what’s great about that, we are never returned! So ask Him, “Lord what do you have planned for this life of mine? What are your thoughts about _________(fill in the blank), and see what He would have you do!

Agape, Frank