Thursday 6 February 2020

Liberty and Equality

Scripture:  Philippians 2 v 3 - 7: "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"

Isaiah 61 v 1: "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;" 
(Quoted by Jesus in Luke 4 v 18).


After the French Revolution in 1789, the people demanded liberty, equality, fraternity and freedom of speech and religion.  They wanted the class system of nobility and peasants to be abolished, with wealth shared with those who had none.

They wanted all men to be equal, and not some more equal than others.  Somehow these expectations are never adequately met in any society.  There are always those who become exceedingly wealthy from inheritance and land ownership, who employ others and lord it over them.

However, in Christianity, and through meekness, there is true liberty and equality.  God created us all equal in the new creation of which Jesus is the first.  The Lord made us one in the Spirit of God.  

Galatians 3 v 27 - 28: "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

In the new creation in which we are baptized into Christ Jesus we lose our independence, our nationality, our human status, our gender, and become one with Him.  In lowliness, or humility, of mind we esteem others higher than ourselves. The more we even lose our own identity and identify with Jesus, the more like Him we become. 

If there is no nationality neither is there a race issue.  If we are one in Christ then the colour of ones skin is not a stigma.  Black, white, yellow, red and everything in between are all one and equal by the power of the Blood of Jesus.   If we are Christians there is no need for freedom of religion.  Religion is a man made form of worship, Christianity is made by God.

The world clamour for human rights on every level, but the Body of Christ has transcended human rights because we are no longer only human.  In fact we have gone beyond the stature of Adam, into being part of Jesus, sinless, pure, holy, full of faith, humble, peaceful, joyful and having self control.

Adam had a perfect relationship with God but he did not have the fullness of the Holy Spirit empowering him spiritually.  It is the Holy Spirit that enhances us beyond being only human.

Those who are only human, are carnal, sinful, rebellious people who are selfish, unbelieving and full of man's wisdom and philosophy.  The churches who try to exist without the full power of the Holy Spirit become very religious and traditional, but lack true spirituality.  It's all on the soulish, man-pleasing plane which satisfies the flesh for a moment but leaves the spirit of man in darkness.

Becoming a follower of Jesus means leaving our human life at the foot of the Cross and travelling beyond the Cross spiritually to being a citizen of Heaven.  When our Earthly life is over, our soul is immediately present with our spirit in Heaven.  Absent from the body and present with the Lord.

So why do we strive for liberty and equality?  We would have to climb down from our vibrant spiritual life to a worldly state to achieve it, seeing we are already equal to all our brothers and sisters including Jesus.  We have true liberty in the Spirit when we are obeying the Lord in order to stay under His protection.  It is our fervent desire to do His will.

When we have a different desire from His then it's we who are slipping by our own will.  As citizens of Heaven we are now strangers passing through this Earth like tourists.  We are tourists with a purpose though - to show the humans stranded here that they are welcome in our kingdom.  Mostly they have only heard bad news about the kingdom of God so we need to put those false perceptions straight.

These days that is getting harder as the enemy is trying to stamp out true Christianity, and he has turned many churches into social clubs that have no spiritual goals of salvation and inspiration, revelation and expectation of the return of Jesus.  They are bound by legalism and traditions which He condemned.  

Mark 7 v 6 - 9: "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition."

Jesus wants you to know these things in case there are any who believe that belonging to a traditional church and faithfully attending every Sunday without having a personal relationship with Him through being born again, is going to get you to Heaven.  

Maybe this blog is the only voice you ever hear that tells you it is not enough.  Jesus says that on the day of Judgment there will be many gnashing their teeth in anguish.  You don't have to be one of them!  You have a free will to make your own choice.  Read the New testament carefully and make sure.

Jesus loves you and wants you with Him for eternity.


Prayer: Heavenly Father, suddenly my eyes are open.  I want to be born again and become a citizen of Heaven for now and eternity.  I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son who died for my sins to be forgiven.  Please forgive me everything I have done to offend You and people around me.  I forgive everyone who has ever hurt me.  I retract every curse, accusation, gossip or slander and pray for You to bless them all.  Please wash me clean of all sin in the Blood of Jesus.

Jesus I open my heart to You and invite You to come in and be my Lord and Saviour.  Thank You Lord that my name is now written in the Lamb's Book of Life and I am born again.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

If you have prayed this prayer aloud and sincerely you are now a true born again child of God.  Seek a church where the full gospel of Jesus is taught.  Go forward for baptism by full immersion in water followed by laying on of hands for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  May the Lord bless you mightily!