Finding Peace in Christ: Christian Freedom Through Faith in Jesus

The world is filled with grief, unrest, and uncertainty.

People are not content, despite economic improvements.

Moral values have declined, and people are losing their peace and joy.

Freedom in Christ is the solution to these problems.

Music Music Music Music Music Music Music Music Music Music Music Music In this world today, there is much grief and unrest, there is much uncertainty, even though statistics say our economy is much improved. But even with what looks like a little light at the end of the tunnel economically, people still are not content. People are not free from fret and worry. Uncertainty and unrest encompasses this war-torn world. Moral values have declined and are worse than any time besides that of biblical Sodom and Gomorrah and also in the days of Noah before the flood. Murder and character assassination is easily done without fear of recompense or due penalty of law. Our chief apostle Paul declared in his epistle found in 2 Timothy 3, 1-5, he says, But mark this, there will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God. having a form of godliness but denying its power, have nothing to do with them. The appearances of godliness completely belie the reality of what is real and genuine. Consciences are seared, and the discontented spirit is easily discovered and seen all around us in the attitudes and lives of those who are perishing. We see the moral decay of humanity on the news, whether reporting here in America or elsewhere in the world. We see a world turned upside down. Politicians and many leaders who profess to be Christians today call evil good and good evil, just as Prophet Isaiah declared in Scripture. Woe to those who call evil good and good evil Who put darkness for light and light for darkness Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes And prudent and shrewd in their own sight Isaiah chapter 5 verses 20 through 21 Lying is easy for those who are perishing And on their way to perdition They have no thought of what gloom hangs over their heads in sudden judgment. Proverbs 1.24 declares, Because I have called you, and you have refused to answer, and have stretched out my hand so that no man has heeded, and you have treated as nothing all my counsel, and would accept none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when a thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic. Verse 27. When your panic comes as a storm, and desolation and your calamity comes as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you, then will they call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me early and diligently, but they will not find me. Indeed, it is very true, dear listener. circumstances may cause us to lose our joy but people can also bring trials upon themselves that cause them to be robbed of joy and peace or otherwise stated their freedom in Jesus Christ because they did not heed the warnings nor grew in maturity and fear or awe of the Lord God Almighty Paul in his Gospel of Philippians chapter 2 verse 15 tells us something very significant in keeping ourselves in the eye of the Lord's vision and grace. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, any fellowship with His Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose, doing nothing out of self-ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that as Christ Jesus. How many times do believers in Christ lose their peace and joy and sense of freedom in Christ because of what people say or do, or because of their wrong choices and decisions that were made? The best remedy we have for these trials and to stay anchored in Christ's love is having a submissive mind, which is really a humble and tender heart that seeks only at all times to honor Jesus Christ, regardless of what goes on around us in this world today, which is falling apart at the seams. Our freedom in Christ is stated in Galatians 5, verse 1. For it is freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. The very cause or reason Satan was cast out of heaven and who was once called Lucifer the Lightbringer, the most beautiful of all angels ever created, was due to pride. Satan elevated himself over God and endeavored to overthrow the throne of the almighty living creator God. Satan was a created being who deceived himself first to believe that he was greater and above God in wisdom and power and then secondly influenced a third of other angels to follow him in his coup to overthrow the great I Am, the great Jehoah God. Pride is the cause of much unrest and contention in both the world and in what we call the visible harlot church today. She has a great influence on those who do not know Jesus Christ or the word of God which ultimately brings change in the inner person who follows hard after the king of kings the son of the living God, the Lord of glory These people will know the voice of their shepherd and will not be deceived by those who present a mix in the pure doctrine of the gospel better known as the word of God Because they've grown in humility, wisdom, discretion, and discernment, and most of all, love for the Lord Jesus Christ who died for them. Humility will always bring peace and joy and freedom in Jesus Christ. Humility is opposite of pride. In our previous scripture in Philippians 2, Paul gives us examples as true believers to follow so that we may achieve submissive and humble hearts on our journey to the celestial city above. Philippians chapter 2 verse 1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort in his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit. Do nothing out of selfish ambition, vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should look not only to your own interest, but also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Since the title and encouragement of this message today is called Peaceful Words of Freedom in Christ, We must be attentive to the words of Paul, which lay the foundation for us in this encouraging message today. Notice the many times throughout this message that freedom, peace, and the promises of God comes through habitually dwelling in Jesus Christ. It is this way only that we truly begin to know the one whom God sent into this world to save us from our sins. It is in this way only that we will be obedient to the first and greatest commandment, and that is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and all of your strength. Deuteronomy chapter 6 verses 5 through 6. Dear listener, it is in this way only that you and I will experience true freedom in Jesus Christ and also have the promises of God's favor in our lives, which aid us on the pathway on earth to eternal life in heaven above. In our previous scriptures in Philippians, chapter 2, verses 1 through 5, Paul lays out a road map, so to speak, when he gives us the instruction for remaining on the path or road that will lead us to humility in Jesus Christ. When this path is followed, it ignites the promises of God into action on our behalf. And this is actually called God's favor in our lives. We must know up front as we progress on our Christian journey that the fulfillment of the biblical promises are for those who qualify because of right relationship with Jesus Christ. Isaiah 55, verse 8, tells us, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Paul tells us in Philippians 2, verse 2, that our joy will be complete by being like-minded and having the same purpose and love and being one in spirit and doing nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility. Since Apostle Paul was completely sold out to God and considered himself a bondservant or slave to Christ Jesus having a deep love for him was totally dedicated to the cause of Christ he tells us be like minded as I am in this love and be perfectly agreed in your labor to promote the honor of your master and keep your eyes fixed continually on him. That is Jesus Christ. You see, when we do this habitually, the promises of God spring into action and the Holy Spirit will dwell in us and lead us into a peace and freedom in Christ that we have never experienced before in our whole life before we came to Christ Jesus, our Savior, and eternal life. 2 Corinthians 1.10 declares to you and me, For no matter how many promises God has made, they are yes in Christ Jesus. Did you notice again the mention in Christ here? Those who are not in partnership with Jesus will not benefit one bit in their claims to the wonderful promises of God. Notice please in 2 Corinthians 7.1 the prerequisite to lay claim or hold of this wonderful and marvelous promises to God. Apostle Paul instructs, Therefore, since these great promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit and bring our consecration to completeness in the reverential fear of God. The promise is that God Almighty would be a father, a protector, a friend to us, and he would be our God. And the prerequisite is that we should remove everything, whatever, that would be offensive in his sight and that we would become perfectly holy as he is holy and righteous. Bottom line, dear listener, this is what being like-minded is all about, mirroring the image and the likeness of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is totally different from the slavery we once lived in before we came to our Messiah and Savior. We were definitely not free. we didn't even know we were slave to Satan's world of sin. Being like minded and mirroring the image of Jesus Christ is what will ultimately bring us freedom in him. Paul tells us in Galatians chapter 4 verse 31 along the same lines he says brethren we who are born again are not children of a slave woman the natural but the free supernatural Chapter 5 verse 1 He declares in this freedom Christ has made us free and completely liberated us Stand fast then and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to the yoke of slavery what you have once put off The yoke of slavery is the old or the natural man before we came to Christ and inherited the promises which included freedom from the old life to which we were slaves to Satan the devil fulfilling all the lust of the flesh lust of the eye and pride of life What a wonderful protecting promise and freedom we have in Christ. This is nothing you nor I could do on our own power or will. And this is supernatural. It is a supernatural miracle and mystery that begins to unfold in an untold or unexplainable love for the one who shed his blood upon the cross and died to have you and call you his child. You can know these scriptures and things that I am sharing with you today. but until the truth of these words move from your head down into your heart and becomes a living reality you will never know what Jesus did for you personally and your heart will remain cold and hard and you carry about with you a deep hollow gaping hole crying out for something to fill it and make you happy and set you free may I tell you Satan has a whole array and arsenal of glittering and dazzling temptations awaiting those who refuse to listen. Paul gives this warning in his epistle found in Hebrews chapter 12 verse 25. See to it that you do not reject him or refuse to listen and heed him who is speaking to you. For they, the Israelites, did not escape when they refused to listen and heed him, who warned and divinely instructed him here on the earth, revealing with heavenly warnings his will. How much less shall we escape it if we reject and turn our backs on him, who cautions and admonishes us from heaven. This is a call to every human being on the earth since the time of our first parents, parents, Adam and Eve in the garden. Do not turn your ear away from the truth of the gospel or the words of the Lord when he calls you to obey and serve him. This message you are hearing today is a call from the Almighty God to give your all to Jesus Christ in order to experience his freedom in abundance and fullness. May I tell you bottom line here, Jesus is offering you and me and all of mankind for that matter the opportunity to be free of our sin nature and live with him forever in his righteousness and purity this is called God's holy and upright living according to his standard and is no longer Satan's standard which makes us unhappy empty, angry and slaves to sinfulness Apostle Paul also in Galatians chapter 5 verse 1 declares, In this freedom Christ has made us free, completely liberated us. You see, this declaration of our freedom is both a statement of an accomplished fact and goal for us to pursue. You must understand that freedom is ours because of the accomplishment of Christ. If we are free, it is because Jesus alone has set us free I am sure you observed in the scripture That Paul didn't appeal to us as followers of Christ To fight for our freedom He said Christ has made us free We are only free from our own sin nature If we live in him and our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ We do not have freedom in this life on our own efforts or by declaration of good works we might do for his cause or for others. This freedom is supernatural and results by right relationship with Jesus. Proverbs chapter 4 verse 20 declares, My son, pay attention to what I say. Listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight. Keep them within your heart. for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body. Verse 23 And above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth. Keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left. Keep your foot from evil. Freedom in Christ has been given to us by Christ, and that freedom is our goal and responsibility to pursue and guard. As our scripture warns, we are to guard our hearts. We guard our hearts against the temptation of sin. As was previously stated, this freedom is supernatural and only results by right relationship with Jesus. Can you see the dual partnership here? Without Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, and yours and my willful and habitual obedience to his commands, in order to be one with him as the branches connected to the vine, and to set us free from our sinful nature, we would still be slaves to the evil one, partaking of every whim and temptation he would dazzle in front of us. In John chapter 15 verse 4 Jesus tells us dwell in me and I will dwell in you live in me and I will live in you just as no branch can bear fruit of its own with abiding in being finally connected to the vine neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in me An analogy would be like like a prisoner who suddenly was surprised to find out that he'd been pardoned and set free. He did nothing to accomplish this. In fact, he was not even aware that it had happened. But there he stands, outside the prison walls, a free man. And now it's his responsibility to live as a free man. Our scripture again in Galatians 5, 1 declares, It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not let yourselves be burdened again by the yoke of slavery. We have a responsibility to maintain this newfound freedom in Jesus Christ. Stand firm, our chief apostle tells us. And this tells us that we were held prisoners by the law of sin and death and were in slavery to Satan the devil under the basic principles of the world. There is no doubt to the nature of our slavery. We were condemned prisoners under the judgment of the law of God, doomed to live under the severe restrictions of the law, with no hope of earning our freedom by obedience to the law, since all the law could do was to point to our sinful, sinful nature. Jesus Christ gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age and the curse of the law therefore we are no longer children of the slave woman but of the free woman from above Jesus declared in Luke 5 verse 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance since Isaiah 64 6 tells us that we are all unclean and our righteousness is as filthy rags. We were and are all sinners if we have not been set free by living in Jesus Christ. The nature of our freedom is clear. We have been delivered if we remain in Jesus Christ and are yoked to Him in unwavering and habitual fellowship and submit to His word and ways which define His image and character and bear visible fruit in those who follow him. Stand firm is a word to us all by Paul. This exhorts us to stand firm in the faith and cling to the hope which is the promise of eternal life. Stand firm in one spirit. Christ has become our righteousness. Righteousness is also called our holiness. What a beautiful transformation that takes place in the new creature in Christ that every step of the way to this awesome and divine freedom in your life now is by faith. May we all be among the multitudes in numbers who, through the Holy Spirit, wait on Him for the hope of righteousness by faith, working through love and understanding and discernment. May we all hold fast to freedom we experience now and the promise of eternal life, which is found in Christ alone. Without faith working by love, all else is worthless and everything else is insignificant and counted as nothing at the end of our lives. Beloved Apostle John tells us, God's holy word which declares freedom to those who pursue him with their whole heart and surrender their whole will to do his will. Beloved Apostle John tells us, Now a slave does not remain in the household permanently forever. The son of the house does remain forever. So if the son liberates you and makes you free men, then you are really unquestionably free. John chapter 8 verses 35 through 36. Romans 16, 16 through 18 tells us, Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, and to obedience, which leads to righteousness, doing right and right standing with God. But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all of your heart to the understanding of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed. Verse 18, And having been set free from sin, you have become servants of righteousness, of conformity to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action. Romans 6, verses 6-18 I have run the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free. Psalms chapter 119 verse 32 Now the Lord is a spirit and where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 17 It is the spirit who gives life He is the life giver The flesh conveys no benefit whatsoever There is no profit in it The words truth that I have been speaking to you our spirit and life. John chapter 6, verse 63. Dear listener, if the spirit gives you life, then you are experiencing freedom in Jesus Christ. Life leads to salvation, and life is eternal in Jesus Christ, the King who reigns forever and ever. There is a testimony of a young man who was an alcoholic and a convicted felon who found his freedom in Jesus Christ. The young man writes, I am blessed to confess that Jesus called me out of darkness to serve in the light. I found freedom in Jesus Christ in prison. I became an addicted alcoholic by the time I was in my early teens and started robbing and stealing to support my habits. At 20 years old, I was captured by law enforcement, convicted of armed robbery, credit card fraud, burglary and drug possession, and then sentenced to more than 30 years. For 15 years, I was shuffled from prison to prison, seeing the inside of more than a dozen bloody institutions where, for the first 13 years, I lived a violent, hate-filled, vicious life. Facing a death threat once again, almost homicidal and suicidal, I cried out to Jesus and he rescued me from darkness and gave me life and love. With two years until released, I studied the word of God, corresponded with ministries on the outside, and finally, in September 2006, I was released. Since my release, I have been blessed and highly favored to serve in ways I could never even imagine. I am a servant of Christ, but he has made all things possible, and I became an ordained minister, worked as an evangelist, performed most all pastoral duties, and praised his holy name. I founded a youth outreach gang prevention ministry in 2009. Jesus really does make all things possible. I am living proof and testify today. Seeing others come to Christ is the ultimate purpose in my life. I pray millions more like me are reached, so every chance I get, I share. What a wonderful testimony of one last sheep. In Luke 15, 4, we see the wonderful testimony of Brandon Duncan in living action in the following verses when Jesus told his disciples in verse 4. Suppose one of you had a hundred sheep and loses one of them Does he not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it Verse 5 And when he finds it he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and he goes home And he tells his friends and neighbors together and says, Rejoice with me, I have found my lost sheep. Our wonderful Savior also warns us in his word to guard our hearts and hold fast to his teachings and our personal experience so that we will not lose out on eternal life. No matter how far along we are on our journey in life, we must always hold fast to our Savior. Proverbs chapter 4, verse 23 declares, Above all else, guard your heart, for it's the wellspring of light. Put away perversity from your mouth. Keep corrupt talk far from your lips. let your eyes look straight ahead fix your gaze directly before you make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm do not swerve to the right or to the left keep your foot from evil truly this word is not a suggestion for us but it is a straightforward admonition to heed and guard what we say what we do and what we allow our minds to think John chapter 8, 31 says to the Jews who believed him, Jesus said, If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Let's not miss the treasure in the scripture. Jesus said, If we hold fast to his teachings, which is his word and truth, this life-giving truth will set us free. In John 17 verse 15 Jesus when praying to his heavenly father said Father my prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one They are not of the world even as I am not of it Sanctify them by the truth Your word is truth The book of James chapter 1 verses 22 through 25 declares Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in the mirror and after looking at himself, he goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the law that gives freedom and continues to do this, not forgetting what he's heard, but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does. a man or woman who looks into the perfect law or the truth will live in freedom if they continue doing what it tells them to do but you may ask, freedom from what? freedom from sin, dear ones, which leads to eternal death and misery for all of eternity Apostle Paul gives insight in Romans chapter 6 verses 22 and 23 as to our obedience to this new way of life as we yield ourselves to the word of God. Verse 22 But now that you've been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefits you reap to holiness and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Our habitual obedience and submission to God's will to eternal life is in Jesus Christ. Listen next to an encouraging testimony from an individual who recounts how in the past he almost took his own life because living became too complex. This is the testimony of Mickey's deliverance from mental torment. Mickey writes, About three years ago, I dropped into a black hole. Four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life. But somehow, I reached out to a friend who took me to a hospital. I had three hospital visits in four months. I actually thought I was in hell. I imagined I was going through some sort of metamorphosis, mental and physical and spiritual. I had been seeing a therapist in 1994 on a regular basis up until this point of time. I actually thought I would be locked away, but the hospital staff was very supportive. I had no control over my progress. I was released from hospital September 16, 1994, but my pain and fear and shame had only subsided a little. I remember this particular morning waking up at home and my process started up again fear, pain and shame no one could help me not even my therapist I was terrified I asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me and forgive me of my sins slowly all my fear has dissipated and I believe Jesus delivered me from my psychological prison the Holy Spirit is my friend in strength and every day since then I've been enjoying joy and blessing I deserve to go to hell for the life I led but Jesus through his sacrifice on the cross delivered me from my iniquities I can relate to him Jesus is a real person who is with me all of the time I have so much joy and peace in my life today after a childhood spent in orphanages in England and Australia. God loves me so much. Fear and pain and shame are no longer my constant companions. What a wonderful tribute to the loving kindness of our great God and Savior. A young man was delivered from darkness of his past and translated into the kingdom of light. Mickey says slowly all of his fears had dissipated And Jesus delivered him from his psychological prison King David tells us in Psalms 52, verses 8 and 9 That he would confide in his Lord forever Because he had delivered David, he kept them saved David knew that his continual deliverance was not a one-time event but that it required continual and habitual communion with God. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in and confidently rely on the loving kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever. Verse 9, I will thank you and confide in you forever, because you have done it, delivered me, and kept me safe. I will wait on, hope in, and expect in your name, for it is good in the presence of your saints, your kind and pious ones. Psalms 52 verses 8 and 9. David declares, But I've trusted and leaned on and been confident in your mercy and loving kindness. My heart shall rejoice and be high in spirits in your salvation. Verse 6. I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me. Psalms chapter 13 verses 5 and 6 There's an encouraging testimony that is told of an individual who was comforted by God's grace during a very trying time in his life. We're told by this individual who writes, We were one of those families in the stages of home foreclosure. I was scared because I didn't know where my family would live. I am a Christian and I knew the words of God but did not have faith. I kept reading and hearing the news about how many homes were being lost. I had nobody to turn to, no family members to help out alone. I did not have anything. No one could help us. I woke up one day and read scriptures about our needs and the one scripture that stood out the most was when God said Do not worry what you shall eat or about tomorrow God is in control and I repented of my worry after reading that scripture I received plenty of letters telling me when I had to move and that I had to put my house up for sale but I stood on God's word believing that no matter what happened, he is in control and he will put me in a better place if this place is taken. I had to cast all my cares on him. I later received a UPS letter stating that I had been given a loan modification. My first interest rate was 7%. Now it had dropped to 5%, dropping my mortgage payment to almost $300. I got to keep my house and pay a better interest rate. I had no idea this would happen. What a miracle working God. God hears our prayers, dear listener. This man realized his faith did not rest in his Savior, but in himself. He repented of his sin, and he stood believing that God would take care of him and his family no matter what happened. If any of you are facing concerns and worries, turn to Jesus Christ. Listen to the scripture that this man recalled and the one that inspired his faith. Luke chapter 12 verse 22. Therefore I tell you not to worry about your life or what you will eat or about your body or what you will wear. Life is more than food and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens. They do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn. Yet God feeds them. How much more valuable are you than birds? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very thing, why do you worry about the rest? Verse 27. Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in his splendor was dressed like one of these. if that is how it goes to the grass of the field which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire oh how much more will he close you oh you of little faith do not set your heart on what you eat or drink and do not worry about it for the pagan world runs after such things and your father knows you have need of them but seek first the kingdom of God these things will be added to you be given to you as well If any of you are facing concerns and worries of any sort, turn to Jesus. Ask him to come into your life and open up the storehouse of faith and love within your soul. Let his kindness and faithfulness, let it come in. Let his kindness and faithfulness end. Answer the knock on the door of your heart and let Jesus Christ in. He loves you, dear one. Psalms 30 verse 8 declares To you, O Lord, I called, I cried for mercy What gain is it in my destruction, in my going down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me O Lord, be my help You turn my wailing into dancing And you remove my sackcloth and clothe me with joy Verse 12 that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give you praise forever. Psalms 36 verse 5 Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies. Psalms 89 verses 1 through 3 I will sing of the Lord's great love forever. With my mouth I will make your faithfulness known among the generations. I will declare your love stands firm forever. and that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself. I have said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one. God tells us throughout the whole Bible that it is good for us to learn to wait upon God. In our last presentation of a testimony in this message today, we see exactly the story and life of an individual who learned to wait upon God for his direction. And may I tell you that the outcome held a rude spiritual awakening for this young man whose life was changed forever. This young man titled his testimony, Trusting God Through Failure. He writes, When I was in grad school, the Lord brought an opportunity to direct a film called Pendragon. I quit school to do that. We prayed and sought the Lord's blessing and His leading. We were so hoping that our first movie was going to be a success, but it wasn't. I'd punched all the boxes, done all the right things I was supposed to, and God had not kept his end of the bargain. I was broken and bitter, deeply in debt, painfully single, and all the things that somebody in their mid-twenty experiences very keenly, but the Lord used that to bring me just to the right place. My grad school advisor graciously agreed to take me back into the research group, but I couldn't afford the single unit housing I had lived in previously. I feel so strongly that this was a God movement because there were a group of guys who were all involved in ministry and missions for Christ. They invited me to come live with them for $200 a month, and that's exactly what I could afford. It was great to have these missionaries loving and mentoring me and also just to have someone else who could get involved in your life enough that the Holy Spirit can convict you of sin and spur you on to where He is leading you When the Lord brings the opportunity to be in that kind of discipling relationship, seize the moment, I urge you take a hold of it as it can and will change your life forever. I had been caught up with the externals And what I was doing and trying to earn was God's favor, but the Lord used these guys to love me and strongly renovate my faith through a couple of key points. One of these was identity. I had been looking to find significance in my work, my actions, and my performance. I defined myself by these things. It was crushing when I failed and incredibly empty when I was successful. Jesus wanted me to rest in his finished work and in the identity that I have in him. Paul talks much about putting on Christ, which was a revolutionary concept for me. As long as I was worshipping at these other altars and looking for significance and identity that I so deeply craved, I was never going to find it. Jesus wanted to be there for me anyway. The other key point is relationship over success. The process of the journey is the most important part. I used to think that if God would just illuminate the path like a runway to show me which way he wanted me to go in life, then I would be happy to follow him. But I really believe that he makes life in the way it is because he wants us to seek a relationship with him. That's not just part of the process, but it's like an integral and incredibly important central piece of the puzzle. I look back often and how it was not the way I wanted the storyline to work out, but how thankful I am today that God didn't answer the prayers the way I wanted. It has been an awesome journey because we've seen the Lord answer our prayers differently than we ever hope. And we've also seen him very specifically answer exactly what we were praying for just in the nick of time. What a wonderful testimony. What an eye-opening revelation this young man was given by the Spirit of Grace. He found freedom in Jesus Christ through his failure. and also was given divine revelation in that his identity was not in himself nor defined by what he did in his work, his actions and performance but only by the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. And secondly, this young man learned relationship over success was the key point in this journey towards eternal life. He learned he must wait on the Lord to direct his paths. But in the meantime, this is when relationship with God is being formed and strengthened in the inner man. God's word declares, lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all of your heart and your mind. And do not rest on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways, know, recognize, and acknowledge him, and he will direct and make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes, reverently fear and worship the Lord, and turn entirely away from evil. It shall be health, and your nerves, and sinews, and marrow, and moistening to your bones. Proverbs chapter 3, verses 5 through 8 I will instruct and teach you in the way that you should go. I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or mule, and have no understanding, but must be controlled by bit and bridle, or they will not come to you. Psalms 32, verses 8 and 9. Jeremiah 10, verse 23 declares, I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own. It is not for a man to direct his steps. Correct me, Lord, but only with justice, not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. Romans chapter 8 verse 14 tells us, For all who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God. Isaiah chapter 30 verse 21 encourages us, And your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, This is the way, walk in it. when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. This last verse tells us that as we grow and remain faithful to the ways of God and to His will, we will become very tender in our hearts to His soft, still voice. Thus, our consciences become very alert and sensitive and desire more than anything to please the Holy Spirit and to do His will. Proverbs 3 verse 6 says In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths Proverbs chapter 16 verse 3 tells us Commit your work to the Lord and your plans shall be established 1 John 1.9 declares If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Hebrews 13 verse 5 declares keep your life free from the love of money and be content with what you have for he has said I will never leave you nor forsake you Jeremiah 29 verse 11 encourages us for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans and welfare and not for evil plans to give you a future and a hope this is a wonderful promise for all of us who have chosen Jesus Christ as their Savior and continue to habitually live and grow in their relationship with him and produce fruit that is in keeping with our initial repentance. This verse is often misused by many, and it's wrongfully applied to the masses and multitudes of humanity in general. Again, this promise belongs to those only who live in Jesus Christ. We could say that scripture can be an invitation to receive Jesus' invitation according to John 3.18. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. So this promise is only for those who eventually live in Jesus Christ. If you come to him, he promises you a future and a hope. Outside of Christ, who is the only Savior, offers freedom from life's burdens and sinful ways. There is no other hope. Philippians 4, verse 3 declares, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. This verse makes it clear. Only as we remain in Christ, as the branch is connected to the vine, we can bear no fruit of salvation on our own. In other words, we have nothing to offer our Maker on the day we meet Him and give account of our lives. If we have no fruit of salvation, we have no real freedom in this life. We belong to the slave woman, which is the natural man, yoked to sin and perversion in the ways of the world. Paul says in Galatians 4.31 So brethren, we who are born again are not children of the slave woman, the natural, but free, the supernatural. So again to reiterate, chapter 5, verse 1, Paul says This freedom in Christ has made us free, completely liberated us. Stand fast, do not be hampered and held and snared, and submit to the yoke of slavery which you have once put off. The yoke of slavery is the old, sinful, or natural man before we came to Christ and inherited the promises, which included freedom from the old life to which we were slaves to Satan, fulfilling all of the lusts of the flesh, lust of the eye, and pride of life. But dear ones, what wonderful protecting promises and freedom we have in Jesus Christ. This is nothing you or I could do on our own power or will. This is a supernatural miracle and mystery that begins to unfold in an untold and unexplainable love for the one who shed his blood on the cross, died to have you as his own, and called you his child. Psalms 91 verse 15 declares, When he calls to me, I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and honor him. Philippians 4.19 promises, My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. And James 1.5 and 6 says, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach. it will be given him, but let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed to and fro by the wind. In Matthew 6, 33, Jesus tells us, Seek you first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Jesus in his own words in this verse tells us, Do not put the cart in front of the horse, so to speak. Seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness takes us back to the most important commandment in the whole Bible and this alone is where yours and my freedom will be found. Jesus says in Matthew 22 verse 35, one of them, an expert in the law attested him with this question, teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? Jesus replied, love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all of your soul, with all of your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second like it is to love your neighbor as yourself. 1 John 5 verse 1 says, Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his child as well. And this is how we know that we're children of God, by loving God and carrying out his commands. Can I tell you that Apostle Paul gives insight in a key word to us in 1 Timothy 1, verse 5? The goal of this command, Paul tells us, is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith. Paul's instruction to Timothy here was love and the love he was speaking about was the purest kind of love it is a love which pours forth from a cleansed heart untainted conscience and a sincere unhypocritical faith Paul seems to sum up this wonderful trio and speaks ultimately of purity and integrity of the heart It produces the most uncommon, rare form of selfless love and is seen in the ultimate form of God's love itself. God's unadulterated truth will always purify the human spirit and bring continual freedom, while a life of error and apostasy will defile it to where the individual will remain a slave to Satan the devil. David in Psalms chapter 40 verse 2 and 3 He said he drew me up out of a horrible pit and out of miry clay He set my feet upon a rock steadied my steps and established my goings verse 3 And he has put a new song in my mouth a song of praise to our God Many shall see and fear revere and worship and put their trust and confidence and reliance on the Lord King David's new song is a song of freedom. It is a song from the heart of appreciation and the mercy of what God had done in delivering David from the bondage he was experiencing at the time. David's sense of gratitude and intervention on the part of God could not be conveyed in words, but only in a surprising and joyful expression of love in a new song to celebrate his newfound freedom, it is God. Jesus replied, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry, and he who believes and clings to me and trusts in me and relies on me will never thirst anymore at any time. John 6.35 Dear listener, yours and my freedom will only be found in Jesus Christ, God's own Son. No need to look any further for your peace or happiness. Jesus will provide everything you need to have eternal life. Jesus will provide everything you need to have eternal peace and happiness forever and ever. Commit your ways to the Lord. Trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalms 37, verse 5 Yea, though I walk in a deep, sunless valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil. You are with me. Your rod to protect me and your staff to guide. May comfort me. Psalms chapter 23 verse 4. Eternal freedom is found only in Jesus Christ, creator of all things, king of all kings, lord of all lords. All glory and honor is due him, and him alone, for what he has done for all who accept his wonderful gift of salvation. Thank you.

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