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Finding Spiritual FreedomSeeing The first step in becoming spiritually free is to see just what your true condition actually is. You can only do this by testing. 1 Thess. 5:21 tells us to test everything and hold on to that which is true. It’s only in this way that we can really see how things are - not just see them as we want them to be. In this regard Donald Barnhouse, a great Bible teacher once said to his then student Walter Martin, "Walter, when most people say they are thinking what they’re really doing is rearranging their prejudices" To be truly free we must move beyond that!. According to Scripture we test to see if we’re saved - 2 Cor. 13: 5-6 and to see if we’re right with God - 1 Cor. 11:28. The Bible is also clear that our testing is not to done in comparison to others - Gal. 6:3-4!! Instead we test ourselves according to the timeless standard of the Word of God. The final thing that sets Biblical testing apart from what we normally hear about is that it is God Who should do the testing! (Psa. 26:2; Lam. 3:40) After all, Who but God alone truly knows our hearts and minds? He alone knows us, and also knows what we really need in our lives. So according to the Bible it’s to Him that we turn for an accurate picture of ourselves. Surrendering Once we’ve seen what some of problems areas are we must begin the process of change by the act of surrender. I don’t mean this to sound passive or defeatist - because it isn’t. It’s a choice we make - and continue to make - that moves the problem from being under our control to being under God’s control. Well at least that’s the theory. In practice it doesn’t always work out that way. Does the Bible teach us to give our problems to God? Yes it does - look at what Peter says: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7) More than that the Scriptures teach us that we should to God not just our problems - but our very selves - and so everything we have and are belong to Him. "I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:1-2) Understand that this is no panacea. Simply surrendering a problem or sin to God won’t set you spiritually free. There’s more to it than that - a lot more to it. But surrender is vital for the following reasons -
Responsibility Our next word is Responsibility. We can never be free of the things that bind us, we will never be able to make the changes that God wants us to make in our lives until we understand and apply this concept to our lives. There are at least three things that we need to understand about responsibility. You are Responsibile for You! This simple truth is a key to change. Each of us must understand that God holds us accountable to the life He has given us. He wants us to use to glorify Him and help others. If we choose to do otherwise, we will answer to Him. The Lord makes that clear in Ezekiel. "The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be changed to him…Therefore O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one, according to his ways, declares the Sovereign Lord. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall." (Ezekiel 18: 20,30) This means that you can’t blame your problems and actions on others. God holds you responsible for your life and actions - you’ve got to own up to that before you can change! So stop whining, get over it - and change! Again the Bible has many examples of this - see Genesis 3:13 and Exodus 32:22-24 for two examples you would do well not to follow! You also need to know that Knowledge Increases Responsibility. The more you know and understand the more God expects from you. Listen to the words of Jesus in John 9:41. "Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains." This puts many of us in a dangerous position. We’ve been in church for years, know a great deal about the Bible and have abilities and gifts that God wants us to use. But instead of that we’re sitting on our behinds complaining that things aren’t the way we like them! If that’s you you need to understand that you are responsible to act on what you know - so you might want to seriously consider getting off your well padded behind and getting into the work of the Kingdom! Lastly you need to know that there are Limits to Responsibility. While some people never want to take any responsibility on others have the opposite problem - they want it all! So they feel guilty and condemned if everything doesn’t work out perfectly! If that’s you understand God has set limits to your responsibility. You aren’t responsible for others. We are called to teach and warn those around us of the consequences of their behavior, but we aren’t responsible if they choose to ignore what God says. You can’t control anyone but you - and God doesn’t expect you too either. And of course you aren’t responsible for saving your own soul. God has accomplished that on the Cross of Christ. You are responsible to respond correctly - and receive Christ as Lord of your life! God will hold us all accountable on this issue. It has eternal consequences - and should not be taken lightly. Christ is calling - will you respond?
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