WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD IN THE STORMS OF LIFE?

"Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:  which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil..." 

Hebrews 6:17-19

The past few weeks have been tough for me with the passing of my father and getting sick with COVID-19.  It has been four weeks, and by the Grace of God, we have recovered and are feeling much better.  Our prayers have been answered.  Our second COVID-19 test has come back negative, and we are not contagious anymore.  Out next step will be to donate plasma (our antibodies) for the treatment of others who are suffering in the hospitals due to COVID-19.  May God be praised for His goodness and mercy toward us through your prayers.  My family, both here and in Florida, also got sick.  They also have recovered except for my sister, who is fighting the virus and will remain in the hospital for at least a few more days.  We continue to hope that the new treatment with antibodies (plasma) will give her a complete recovery according to the Grace of God.

With these things in mind, let us think for a while about what God provides for us as an anchor for our souls during the stormy seasons of our lives through His Son, our Lord Jesus.

In all this, I have learned that no matter how righteous a Christian might be, he is not exempt from suffering, and we must learn to accept our trials and sufferings with joy.  All our trials and sufferings refine our faith and mold us into what God wants us to be that we might be faithful to Him until we die.  In all our sufferings, our Lord Jesus Christ is honored.  And no matter what happens in our life, our Lord and Savior must be honored, for He is worthy of all honor and praise.   We must continue with joy and confidence in our eternal home.  Our faith must remain strong, that we not become bitter, sour, and ungrateful.

Our pain and suffering grow our faith.   Our faith helps us to endure all of life’s sufferings and difficulties.  God uses our afflictions to perfect our faith for our good.   Indeed, it is difficult to have a positive and peaceful mindset when we are going through trials and pain.  But there are so many disguised blessings when we endure our pain and struggles to survive and keep afloat!  When we are suffering, our expectations are debilitated and shattered.  We forget what God can accomplish through our pain.  Our fervent love for Christ must not be hindered by our trials and sufferings.  Often in our grief, we stop reading and studying our Bibles. We stop praying and singing songs of praise.   Our desire to honor Christ must compel us to pray, praise, study, and have fellowship with Him and with one another during the days of suffering.  God allows suffering for a reason. It is for His glory.  Suffering with hope and praise honors Christ, for He alone is our solid Rock in Whom we find refuge and strength.

Suffering and pain are good for us.  No matter how intense our affliction may be, God will find a way to provide what we need to comfort us.  I am happy to be sharing in the sufferings of my Lord Jesus!  Through pain and suffering, I have come to know the power of God.  Suffering grows our faith in Christ, for it compels us to rely on His power and not our own.  Though we might find ourselves utterly burdened beyond strength, God is able to deliver us.  But, we must depend on Him for deliverance.  God can strengthen and comfort us so that we might endure our afflictions.   God’s comfort is not intended to make us comfortable but rather to make us comforters to others.  Our pain and trials must be used for helping others who are enduring similar trials.  May we learn to comfort those who are suffering and be the means of God’s comfort to them (2 Cor. 1:3-4).

The Psalms have become my best and most loyal companions when I descend into the valleys of despair. I go to them for guidance, comfort, refreshment, and healing.  They teach me to trust in God despite my circumstances.  When my heart is overwhelmed, and my world is upside down, they guide me and force me to discern and accept that God's ways are not my ways and that I must hold on to Him even when it seems like He is not holding on to me.  The Psalms help me understand God more and more.  As I read and meditate on them, I see that I must walk with Him faithfully in a real world of pain and suffering.  They teach me to trust in Him, for He is working behind the scenes and behind the real screen of the great unknown.  He is with us even when our mind and heart are clouded by the hopeless mist of struggles.

Singing songs of praise helps me to trust in Him even when I cannot see His obvious works, His great deliverance.  Singing songs of praise strengthens me when my spirit is flagging. O how I long to immerse myself in His Word and sing songs of praise when my heart is distressed!  It is the only antidote that can heal my crushed heart. Such songs help me to face tragedy, for they keep me focused on the unseen, and lead me to acknowledge God (trust Him, His Word, and His providence).

The Gospel gives us hope despite the troubled world that roars all around us.  Let's think about what our Lord has provided to anchor our souls and bring us calm amid the storms.


I.   OUR HOPE AS AN ANCHOR IN TROUBLED TIMES:

I have selected the song “We Have An Anchor” because it pictures our hope as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.  This song also reminds us of the anchor that is provided to our souls by our hope in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  This anchor provided by our Lord keeps us from drifting.  When a ship is buffeted by a storm, it needs an anchor to provide security and safety (Acts 27:29).  And just as ships are often faced with storms, so it is that we must face storms in this life.  The clouds unfold wings of strife when we are faced with various trials and tribulations (James 1:2-3).  Thus, we must have an anchor that is fastened to something steadfast that we not drift (Hebrews 2:1).  Will your anchor drift or firm remain?

• The Christian's Hope: 

1. What is the meaning of hope to the Christian?  
2. How does the Bible define hope?  

Hope is crucial to the Christian.  The hope that the Bible speaks of is not an “I-hope-so,” but rather an “I-know-so.”  It does not wish for the best.  It is not waiting to see what happens and hope that it turns out well.  Hope is not a feeling or emotion.  Hope is the knowledge of facts.   The Bible defines hope as the sure anchor of the soul.  Human hope is insignificant in comparison to the hope of the Bible.

Our hope allows us to desire and expect what God has in store for us.

"Wherein God, being minded to show more abundantly unto the heirs of the promise the immutability of his counsel, interposed with an oath; that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us:  which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil; whither as a forerunner Jesus entered for us, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."  (Hebrews 6:17-20)

The hope we have as Christians is based on "two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie."  Consider them:

• God's promise.
• God's oath.

So, what is this promise, and what is this oath?  The promise is the one given to Abraham that his seed should be blessed, and in this seed should all nations of the earth be blessed. The questions are:

• To whom was the promise made? 
• Who are the “seed”?  

The Seed is our Lord Jesus, through whom all nations are blessed.  This promise was made not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  We Christians are the seed of Abraham since our Father is the God of the faithful.  Therefore, God's promise is established securely for all who are faithful to Him as Abraham, who was faithful to Him.  Abraham believed God's promises and walked in the steps of faith as an example to us. All who are faithful to Christ Himself will be blessed as sons of Abraham.

So what is the oath?  It is the oath that the Lord swore to Abraham after he had offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice to God.  This is the oath of His priesthood.  Our Lord Jesus is our Priest, who has finished His sacrificial work and has already gone within the veil and is now seated at the right hand of God, the Father forever.  His priesthood is abiding in eternal efficacy!

What a blessed anchor to the soul it is to know our Lord and Savior is within the veil!  That our King of righteousness and peace is now seated before the throne of our Father in heaven, interceding for us.  Therefore, I have that hope of assurance and security in Him.

1. What better Anchor can the faithful have?  
2. What a consolation that we can be heirs of such a promise! 
3. What hope it is for His faithful ones to rely on His oath and promise!  

Our Anchor, Jesus, is drawing us home to Himself, not downward beneath raging and devouring waves, but upward to blissful joys.  Our hope is nearer than when we first believed!  It is near to its fruition!  We are anchored to heaven's precious promises.

"So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us" (Hebrews 6:18).  

And the foundation of our hope, our joy, and our peace is our confidence in the unfailing promises of God.  His promises are evident in His Word.

"For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,[a] having patiently waited, obtained the promise."  (Hebrews 6:13-15).

The Christian's definition of hope is far superior to that of the world.  A Christian knows that his hope is based on solid, concrete evidence because it is grounded in the Word of God, and we know that God cannot lie (Heb 6:18; Num 23:19). The Christian has a faith that is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).  It is the hope of faith that will not be shaken or moved by circumstances or what the eyes see because an unseen God is seen in His faithfulness.

In Romans 8:24-25, Paul tells us the following.

"For in hope were we saved: but hope that is seen is not hope: for who hopeth for that which he seeth?  But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."  

“And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

It is the hope of resurrection.  "The hope and resurrection of the dead."

"Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, 'Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.' 7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.'"  (Acts 23:6-10)  

"So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:  it is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:  it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body."  (1 Cor. 15:42-43)  

We all long to be with our Lord in His heavenly Jerusalem. However, we must pass through the storms of life before we arrive at our destination.   Yet, our Lord helps us to achieve our goal by keeping us pressing onward, knowing that in this hope, "We have an anchor."

Our God has provided us an anchor to our souls through our Lord Jesus Christ to hold us fast lest we be shipwrecked, unhappy, unstable, useless, and hopeless. Jesus, our Lord, is God's perfect provision for us.  He is our City of Refuge!  The true Anchor holds because,

1. Our Father in Heaven has provided us with hope (Heb. 6:19).
2. We have a home, and our anchor is secured in heaven, in the Holy of Holies since Jesus is there as our High Priest (Heb. 6:19-22; Heb. 9:11-12).
3. Our anchor is set firmly in the regions above, and every step of our journey is bringing us closer to our heavenly destination.
4. We are anchored to heaven's peerless Priest (Heb. 6:20).
5. Our peerless Priest has proceeded to heaven before us and is our "forerunner" (Heb. 6:19-20).
6. Heaven's peerless Priest has perfected us by redeeming us and is sitting at the right hand of God's throne interceding for us (Heb. 10:12-14).
7. Heaven's peerless Priest is preparing for us a place (Heb. 6:20).
8. Our anchor holds since it is anchored to the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ, the one whose name is above all names.

When our hope is in Christ, we are safely moored because our anchor will be well-secured by our Savior’s mighty hand.  This anchor secures us to our Savior (Lk. 2:11).  It is as if cables were passing from our Savior’s heart to ours.  But this can only be true when we are devoted to Him and love Him with all our hearts (Mark 12:30).  Through these spiritual cables, we are able to defy the blast, for we will be strengthened with power through His Spirit in our inner being (Eph.3:16-17).  The anchor that Jesus provides to us by our hope in Him will guide us in the straits of fear.   As we sail life’s seas, we will be faced with situations that will produce fear.  But God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and self-control (2 Tim. 1:7).  And though the tempest might rave fiercely all around us, there is nothing to fear, for God has promised to be with us to calm the storm (Heb. 13:5-6).  With God on our side, we can rest assured that no angry wave shall our bark overflow.  Perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

The anchor provided by our Lord Jesus will sustain us in the floods of death.  When we, Christians, pass through the floods of death, our eyes can behold that city of gold (Rev. 21:1-2).  Although many debate where the soul actually goes after we die, whether it is heaven or not, we, Christians, must agree that the righteous who die in the Lord are in a state of bliss because they are near that shore where the pure river of the water of life flows (Rev. 22.1-2).  Here, they are resting from their labors, and their storms are all past, for God has promised that there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain to bring about those storms (Rev. 21:3-4).  We may rest assured that one day, we all must pass through the floods of death (Heb. 9:27).  However, in Christ, we have a steadfast anchor, and that can never fail.  Such hope will result in our salvation (Rom. 8:24-25).  The reason why such an anchor can never fail is because it reaches and fastens to that which is within the veil, our Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:19-20).  The anchor will bring us to the golden harbor of heaven!  


CONCLUSION:

All faithful Christians must be ready for hardships, difficulties, discomfort, and afflictions. Satan uses our afflictions to move us away from God.   His goal is for us to give up.  He delights in striking us from every angle so that we give up on God.  Satan wants to hear us say, “It’s too much, and it is too hard!”  He wants to wreck our lives.   And it does not matter if we lose everything in this life, for we must learn to live for God, honor, serve, and worship Him.  We must surrender to Him whatever He gives us in life. We must trust God while suffering (1 Peter 4:19).  Our suffering demonstrates our genuine faith and must continue to do good.  In doing this, we will defend the hope we have in Christ and help others.  We motivate unbelievers and believers by the way we behave in the face of suffering.  When we continue steadfast in our service to God in the face of suffering, we are opening doors for unbelievers to come to Jesus.  Honoring Jesus is rejoicing even in our massive trials.  We must be like Job, who said, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive adversity.”  (Job 2:10)  “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD.”  (Job 1:21)  Amen to that!!

Therefore, I am resolved not to be moved by my afflictions.  We must be ready to suffer and carry Jesus’ cross no matter what may come our way in this life.  We must be ready for trials and suffering.  We must take joy in Christ, who gives us the strength necessary to bear all of life’s pain and trials.  He is our Comforter and the Father of all mercies who comforts us in all our afflictions (2 Cor. 1:4).  Pain and suffering teach us to share the comfort of God with those who are afflicted and need it most.  God’s comfort does not end with us.  God teaches us through our suffering to comfort others with the same comfort that we receive from Him.  He comforts us in our afflictions that we may be His conduits of comfort to others who are also suffering.  You see, our suffering has a divine purpose.  God’s purpose is that we may understand compassion toward one another.  Suffering is not a competition about who has suffered the most.  I often hear those who are suffering say that their pain is so much worse than anyone else’s.  This is naïve! It hinders us from being a channel of real comfort and blessing.  We must not wallow in self-pity seeking the attention of others, but rather lift our eyes and see the ways we can comfort others even while we are suffering! 

We often plant ourselves in shifting sand, leaving our ship adrift and in danger of sinking.  You see, people are desperately trying to fasten themselves to an insecure world, forgetting the true anchor that is secure, grounded in the deep. Indeed, this world, like a restless sea, can be a cruel and dangerous place filled with storms, tribulations, trials, and pain.

We all have stormy seasons that rage fiercely, turning everything upside down.   They are:

1. The storms of doubt, discouragement, despair, and defeat as well as the winds of temptation, trials, and sorrows that tear at our sails.  
2. The seas of sin, sorrow, and sickness leave us wounded and discouraged.  
3. Our barriers of fear, frustration, and failures can cause us to lose our joy, hope, and peace as well.  

Thus we start to wonder if we are going to make it or not.  Will your anchor hold steadfastly or drift away when adversities touch your life?  Will your faith survive?

Jesus, our Anchor, will steady our ship when we anchor our lives to Him.  He will calm the storms of our life that batter our ship and set it adrift in the violent seas.  He will hold fast our ship and keep it from drifting, as He sees us safely home.  He is our anchor of hope, our daily motivation, and encouragement when we place our faith in Him.

Our hope is our anchor.  The hope of the Bible is compared to a ship on the sea that is threatened by raging storms that drive the ship from its intended course.  As the ship's anchor reaches down to the seafloor, out of sight, so the Christian's anchor rises out of sight into heaven.  When it strikes solid ground there, it is fixed!

The purpose of the anchor is to hold us fast to our God.  Our hope gives us stability in stormy times.

May we make sure our anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock, Jesus our Lord.  May we be fastened to the Solid Rock that "keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll."  May our anchor hold to the Rock, which "cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love."  Our only hope! May the Lord be our Anchor, as our soul's refuge, in times of trouble and "stormy seas."  May God's Word, prayer, and songs of praise be our anchors in all of our troubled times.  May we hold fast to our true Anchor lest we drift away.  May we all be encouraged by the hope that is set before us, which we have as an anchor of the soul.

Read with me the words of this beautiful song.  It is one of my all-time favorite songs.  I hope the words of this lovely song stir your soul the way it does mine.

Will Your Anchor Hold?

 "Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,

When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?

When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,

Will your anchor drift or firm remain?"

"It is safely moored, ’twill the storm withstand,

For ’tis well-secured by the Savior’s hand;

And the cables passed from His heart to mine

Can defy the blast through strength divine."

"It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,

When the breakers have told the reef is near;

Though the tempests rave and the wild winds blow,

Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow."

"It will surely hold in the floods of death,

When the waters cold chill our latest breath;

On the rising tide it can never fail,

While our hopes abide within the veil."

"When our eyes behold through the gathering night

The city of gold, our harbor bright,

We shall anchor fast by the heavenly shore,

With the storms all past forevermore."

 Chorus,

"We have an anchor that keeps the soul

Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,

Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love."

Luci

“BE WITH ME, LORD”

“For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” 

Hebrews 13:5

The world that each of us lives in is composed of many parts. Our daily routine of work and play is part, and all the people that fit into those routines are also a part. The greater part of our world is the invisible members of the heavenly family, our God, who always walks beside us and the members of our family that we can take for granted. Although they are always there, a day arrives when they vanish from our lives and leave a great empty spot that aches without remedy. In those moments, we are alone except for our God, who is full of tender mercy. Be with me Lord, when loneliness overtakes me. Sickness such as the COVID-19 even further isolates us. We have been in quarantine now for two weeks, but we are not alone when Jesus remains nearby. He is closer to us than anyone else.

The song “Be With Me, Lord” is a beautiful song that reminds us of life’s circumstances in which God’s children want the Lord to be with them to help them bear the loads of life that so often are too heavy for us to bear without God’s help and strength.  We dare not take one step alone, for it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

“I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.”  (Jer. 10:23)

In our lives, we have loads or burdens that we cannot bear alone without the Lord’s help.  He wants us to cast them on Him, for He loves and cares for us.  He will sustain us and will not allow us to be moved.  Thus we must choose to trust Him and look to Him for strength to help us bear life’s loads of burdens.  With God on our side and the strength that He provides us, we can do all things (Phil 4:13).

“Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”  (Psalm 55:22)

Indeed, in this life, we will have to face fiery trials and storms of tribulation.  All faithful Christians must face and bear the lashing seas (tribulations) which leap everywhere about us.  God has told us that to enter His kingdom, we must go through many tribulations.  However, these fiery trials and storms of tribulations will not harm us or make us afraid, for He who has promised is faithful and has promised us that He will be with us and carry us under His mighty wings of protection.  If God is with us, who can be against us? (Rom. 8:31).  Our merciful and loving God has promised us that He will help and strengthen us.

“Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  (Acts 14:22)

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.”  (1 Pet. 4:12)

We must walk various journeys throughout life. No matter what journey we must walk through life, we must acknowledge that every good and perfect gift, including God’s abiding presence, comes down from above.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (Jas. 1:17)

God has promised us that He will abide in us if we keep His Word.

“Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”  (Jn. 14:23)

Wherever we are, our Lord has promised to be with us always, even to the end of the world (Matt. 28:20).

As we walk our journey here on earth, we will have to face loneliness and pain.  There will be times in life when we must weep amid the fires of pain (Ps. 6:6-8).  One such time will be the hour of our departure for worlds unknown (2 Tim. 4:6).  And though we must walk through the valley of the shadow of death, our gracious Lord has promised to be with us (Ps. 23:4).


CONCLUSION:

The more I walk life’s various journeys here on earth, the more I become aware that I must bow before my God and humbly beseech His help, simply asking,

“Be With Me, Lord. I cannot live without Thee; I dare not to try to take one step alone.  I cannot bear the loads of life unaided.  I need Thy strength to lean myself upon.”

May we cast our heavy burdens on Him, for He loves and cares for us.  May we choose to trust Him and look to Him for strength to help us bear life’s loads of burdens.  He will sustain us and will not allow us to be moved.  May we acknowledge that with God on our side and the strength that He provides, we can do all things (Phil 4:13).


Luci


I hope the words of this moving song will stir your soul the way it does mine.

“Be with me, Lord, I cannot live without Thee;

I dare not try to take one step alone.

I cannot bear the loads of life unaided;

I need Thy strength to lean myself upon.”

“Be with me, Lord, and then if dangers threaten,

If storms of trial burst above my head,

If lashing seas leap everywhere about me,

They cannot harm or make my heart afraid.”

“Be with me, Lord, no other gift or blessing

Thou couldst bestow could with this one compare:

A constant sense of Thy abiding presence,

Where’er I am to feel that Thou art near.”

“Be with me, Lord, when loneliness o’ertakes me,

When I must weep amid the fires of pain;

And when shall come the hour of ‘my departure’

For ‘worlds unknown,’ O Lord, be with me then.”

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WAYS SATAN MAY SEEK TO DESTROY US

"Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil... Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints." 

 Ephesians 6:11-18

The early Reformers in Europe and the pioneers of the American churches prayed fervently for God's help against the invisible hosts of evil. They believed unabashedly in the devil and lived their lives as a battle against his evil influences. Just because they are invisible does not make them imaginary, nor does it make us superstitious to acknowledge their existence. Let's have a serious Bible discussion of Satan and his activities.

Satan knows us well.  He is an expert, knowing our strengths and weaknesses.  He is the serpent, the adversary, the evil one, the persecutor, the prince of darkness, the ruler of this world, and the great dragon.  And when you follow Christ, he hates you with a passion.  He is like a roaring lion prowling about, seeking to destroy us.  He finds delight in our weaknesses.  This is his target.  He often targets us by attacking our strengths, the areas we have built upon, and the principal qualities we promote best.  

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take HEED lest he fall."  I Corinthians 10:12

Satan is astute and cunning and has many devices.  He usually goes for the citadel rather than the tiny cracks in the wall.  We must learn to be more astute than he is, be on the alert, and stand firm to resist him so that he will flee from us.  We cannot afford to be naive for a moment!  We must consider his evil ways and be equipped with the armor of God to fight back.

I.  SATAN'S EVIL WAYS THAT DESTROY US:

Satan fiercely seeks us out like a roaring lion to utterly destroy us.  Satan, our adversary, wants to destroy those who are doing good work for Christ's sake, those who are faithful and are being used in service to God for His glory.  He hates them and wages war against those striving to live for Christ, walking in righteousness.  Indeed, his primary purpose is to destroy, discourage, and disgrace us.  He will use all of his evil weapons against God's faithful children. 

That is why we must become aware, be on guard, and stand firm in Christ with all prayer to resist him.  However, I am confident that he can do nothing to us besides what God allows.  He still has the power to prowl and attack us fiercely.  His goal is to take us away from God's Word and love. He can do that only if we give him an open door.  He will do everything he can to discourage and sway us away from God and His ways.  He is eager to persecute all who desire to live godly (2 Tim. 3:12).  His main goal is to attack our faith and joy. Therefore, let us take heed and be on the alert!!

We have a real enemy, and we need to be watchful!  We cannot afford to be careless or lazy. Satan is the author of most of our troubles, cares, and persecutions.  Even so, we must not allow him to intimidate us.  I am determined not to let him win!!  

We must become fully aware that although Satan can put sinful suggestions into our hearts, they are merely suggestions, and we must not yield or give in.  We all have to face these illicit suggestions, but we must be wise about what to do with them.  We must choose wisely, meditate on the Word of God, and pray on what to do with those suggestions rather than make plans to do evil.  We must try to get those evil thoughts or suggestions out of our minds and not act upon them!

Let's consider some of his evil ways:

• He loves to slander our God, making us doubt His goodness and destroying our faith, Genesis 3:4-5. 
•  He tempts us to pretend to be more spiritual than we are, Acts 5:3; Joh 8:44. 
• He corrupts our minds and loves to steer us away from the simplicity and purity of the Gospel of Christ, 2 Corinthians 11:3. 
• He hinders the success of the Gospel by putting obstacles in the way and making the Truth hard to understand.  He snatches the Truth away,  I Thes. 2:18; Matt. 13:19.  
• He fights us to defeat whatever progress the Word of God makes in us, Eph. 6:12. 
• He may tempt us into committing adultery by encouraging one of the spouses to neglect the intimacy of the marriage bed, I Cor. 7:5. This is an area where he makes leaders in the church stumble.  This shipwrecks the Bride of Christ and Her spiritual well-being. 
• He loves to afflict us with thorns in the flesh, 2 Cor. 12:7. 
• He may smite us with physical illness, Lk. 13:16; Job 2:7.  
• He loves to blind the eyes of those we love who don't know the Gospel by instilling doubt, keeping them from seeing the glory of our Lord Jesus, 2 Cor. 4:4. 
• He hinders many from coming to God in obedience through faith by enslaving them to sin, Gal. 4:8. 
• He tries to disable the effectiveness of the Word of God in us through confusion, discouragement, and despair, 2 Cor. 4:8-9. 
• He sows tares through false doctrines and false teachers to create disunity in the church, Mt. 13:38-39; 2 Cor. 11:13-15. 
• He leads many into embracing false doctrine and compromising what is sound, I Tim. 4:1-3.  
• He persecutes those who want to live godly, Rev. 2:10. 
• He tempts us to do evil, Matt. 4:1; I Thess. 3:5.  
• He uses pride to destroy us, I Peter 5:6-8.  
• He slanders us before God, Rev. 12:10.  
• He may ask God's permission to sift us, Lk. 22:31. 
• He may use the power of suggestion to keep us from doing the will of God, Matt. 16:21-23.

So, with all these warnings about Satan's ways, how do we stop him from causing so much damage and misery?  How do we attack him?  How can one stand firm and resist him so that he will flee? The answer to these questions is found in the Word of God.  The Word of God urges Christians not to be naive about his schemes, 2 Cor. 2:11.  To defeat Satan, we must submit to God, James 4:7.  We must be sober and remain alert, giving him no opportunity, Eph. 4:27; Jas. 4:7; I Peter 5:8; and finally we must hate him and all sin, Psalm 97:10; Jude 23; 2 Peter 2:10.


II.   HOW CAN WE, AS CHRISTIANS, DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST THIS POWERFUL ENEMY?

Consider the following suggestions from the Word of God that would help us to overcome our adversary, the devil:

• We must put on our battle armor:  We cannot afford to be naive about Satan's wicked devices.  Indeed, our conflict with him is a spiritual one.  Therefore, we must consider his evil ways and be equipped with the whole armor of God to fight back.  Ephesians 6:10-18 provides us with a list of these protections and arms for battle:  

• Truth.
• Righteousness.
• Peace.
• Faith.
• salvation
• God's infallible Word and
• Prayer.  

If we put on this spiritual armor, we can resist our adversary, the devil, and he will flee from us (James 4:7).  How do you suppose our Lord and Savior overcame Satan's temptations in Matthew 4?  He overcame Satan with the Word of God.  Jesus quoted Scripture on every occasion that Satan tempted Him.  Now, if we are ignorant of the Word of God, we will not be able to overcome Satan's wiles and temptations.  We will most likely give in to his temptations since we don't know what God demands of us.  When we do not know the Word of God, we won't completely know and understand the difference between right and wrong.  Thus, we will be an easy target for Satan.  On the other hand, if we are thoroughly saturated with the knowledge of the Word of God and the courage to keep pressing on, Satan will have no chance to defeat us. You may rest assured!

• We must remember that although God will allow Satan to tempt us, He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can endure (I Cor. 10:13).  

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."  

Remember this comforting promise always!  This verse also restates that man is responsible for his actions or choices.  God will never put us (Christians) in a position of temptation we cannot handle.

• We must remember that we have an advocate, Jesus Christ, our Lord, even though we have Satan as the "accuser of the brethren" (Rev. 12:10).  Jesus, our advocate, is standing with us, is pleading our case, is protecting us from all evil, and is refusing to forsake us (I John 2:1).  How comforting are these words to my soul!!!  Our Savior understands well what it is like to be tempted by Satan since He was tempted by the enemy.  Therefore, He is interceding for us (Hebrews 7:25).  He is on our side and wants to remain faithful to us if we are faithful to Him, walking in the Light "as He is in the Light."  (I John 1:7)

• We must never forget that victory is within our grasp and must keep going.  Satan knows that he is going to lose in the end.  Therefore, let us make sure that we keep pressing on and never give up when the way gets tough and wrong seems so strong.  Let us heed the Lord's words of advice, 

"Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."  (Matt. 26:41)

Thus, if we faithfully arm ourselves with these four Bible truths, we will surely overcome our adversary, the devil.


CONCLUSION:

"Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom."  

All Christians are involved in combat with a powerful and deceptive enemy, and we must be alert.   The apostle Peter warns us about this big enemy in I Peter 5:8.  Therefore, we must stand firm and not let him intimidate us.  We must realize who our enemy is and learn his tactics of warfare.  He is dangerous!  We must acknowledge his power and devices.  He is a crafty snake!

Satan is the roaring lion encircling the flock to see if he can make the sheep stray away from the shepherd's and the flock's protection.  He is always prowling about, looking for an open door to attack and discourage us.  His main goal is to devour or destroy us completely.  Therefore, we must be watchful or vigilant and not be ignorant of his devices.

Today, many characterize Satan as a toothless lion that can only roar but cannot harm.  This is dangerous!  Because Satan does not intend just to scare us.  He means to destroy and take us to the "lake of fire" with him.  Let us pay attention to the Bible warnings about him!  

Satan and his ministers of evil (those angels who rebelled against God) want to attack our faith and our desire to obey the Lord.  Our struggle is not fleshly but rather spiritual, against spiritual forces of wickedness in high places (Eph. 6:10).  Hence, we must put on our spiritual armor and stand firm to defeat him.  How do we resist him?   By submitting to God, drawing near to him, and purifying our hearts with His Word (James 4:7-8).  

We must always consider that Satan is patient and not easily discouraged, no matter how many times we turn him down.  He does not give up!  Remember what Luke 4:13 says, "And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time."  Satan attacked Jesus with various temptations during His time in the wilderness.  And although he was not successful, he certainly did not give up on Jesus.  He is back when another opportunity presents itself.  

Remember that Satan and his demons believe in God, heaven, and hell.  Notice what James wrote:  "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder" (James 2:19).  They tremble because they know the eternal suffering that awaits them.  Satan is always working (day and night).  He knows his time is limited, and he has much to accomplish with his wicked plans.  We read of this in Job 1:7.

"The LORD said to Satan, 'From where have you come?' Satan answered the LORD and said, 'From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.'"

Therefore, we must be on the alert and put on the whole armor of God to withstand the evil day and stand firm against Satan's attacks on our faith.  The armor of God includes "defensive weapons," which are the Truth, Righteousness, the Gospel of Christ, our Faith, and our Salvation.  The armor of God also includes "offensive weapons," which are the Sword of the Gospel and Prayer, Eph.. 6:11-18. These are the only measures of war that we can take to stand firmly against him and win.  

"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but AGAINST principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of WICKEDNESS in the heavenly places."  Ephesians 6:12

May we stand on a firm foundation of faith, the knowledge of God, and His Word so that we may be saved from Satan's wicked devices.  May our Lord help us put on His whole armor to withstand the evil day and stand firm on our faith.  May we submit to God and resist the devil so that he will flee from us. May we never surrender to Satan but dedicate our lives to God's service zealously. May we always be vigilant with all prayer that we may not enter into temptation.  May we never forget that victory is within our grasp, and we must not let go.  

Luci

FREEDOM VERSUS RESPONSIBILITY

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another." 

Galatians 5:13-15

Jesus came to a world imprisoned by the guilt and practice of sin and offered freedom. He still offers us freedom, but with the proviso that we not return to the service of the Enemy.  Freedom is a wonderful blessing for anyone. It is a blessing to experience our unique freedoms for two centuries:  the freedom of speech, the press, privacy, and the freedom to worship without government interference. The Lord’s freedom is much more significant, priceless, and eternal for those in Christ.  The price of our freedom is the blood of the Lamb.  Our souls are so precious and valuable to God that He sacrificed His innocent Son.  I cannot fathom the depth of God's love for the souls of men!! 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life"  (John 3:16). 

When God saw our hopeless condition, He sent His Son to make us alive together with Him since we were dead in our sins. Our heavenly Father showed us His lovingkindness when He sent His beloved Son to die on the cross for our sins.  It was through His Son's death that He could grant us pardon and freedom.  Our Lord Jesus Christ set us free from the bondage of sin, the yoke of slavery.  Jesus, our Lord, paid an extremely high price.  He laid down His life for you and me! (Colossians 2:13-14).  

I.   OUR FREEDOM IN CHRIST:  (Galatians 5:13-15)

Our Lord Jesus is the sum, the essence, the end, and the support for both the Law of the Old Testament and the Law of Christ under the New Testament.  Paul wrote in Romans 10:4,

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes."  

He contrasts the Law of Moses with the new Message of Christ.  It is through Christ that the Spirit of God brought freedom from:

• The darkness and slavery of sin.
• The freedom from prejudices and superstitions (as in the case of the Jews).
• Freedom from the fear of death. 
• Freedom through the Gospel of Christ through His Grace toward us.  It is through the Gospel that He makes us glorious, transforming us and changing us into His glorious image.  We can be like Christ!

II.   OUR FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY:   

In Galatians 5:13-15 we read,

"For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another."  

Galatians 5:1, 13-15 speak of our freedom in Christ and the responsibility that comes with it. When Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians, there was no freedom for those under the Roman Empire, such as we have today.  In the first century, the most significant form of freedom was freedom from slavery. Both men and women who were slaves had no rights or civil liberties.  A slave was to submit to his master(owner), who told him what to do in every circumstance.

In Galatians 5:1, Paul was not talking about a political freedom but rather the freedom from the yoke of the Law of Moses.  He emphasized freedom from religious bondage.  Paul spoke of one being physically a slave while being spiritually free in Christ.

"21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. 23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God"  (1 Corinthians 7:21-24).

In the days of Judaism (in the first century), the Jewish brethren tried to enslave the Gentile brethren by demanding that they be circumcised, offer the right sacrifices, keep the correct holy days, and follow Jewish traditions.  They insisted that these brethren follow their traditions and doctrines to have an acceptable relationship with God.  Apparently, they've forgotten that Jesus condemned all such religious oppression.  God gave Jesus to free everyone who obeys Him.  He gave Jesus to free men from the old ways of sin so that they could serve Him.  He gave us freedom and responsibility.

So, how does one obtain freedom in Christ?

In John 8:31-36 Jesus said,

"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' 33 They answered him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?'  34 Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.'"

Here Jesus is speaking to those Jews "who had believed Him."  To be a disciple of Jesus, one must obey His Word completely.  Being a true disciple is not just a vocation or doctrine one believes in but an action. It is a life lived in total surrender to His Lordship (Luke 6:46; Matt. 7:21-23).  A true disciple of Christ will refuse to be in bondage to the traditions and doctrines of men (Colossians 2:20-23).  He refuses to be in bondage to anyone except Christ (1 Cor. 7:22-23; 2 Peter 2:19).  He obeys only His Master (Matt. 6:24).

John 8:32 states, 

"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'"

To know the Truth is to hear, believe, and obey it.  The Truth is only useful if one puts it into practice. More than a mental affirmation of the Truth is needed to set one free (James 2:24).  If one fails to apply the Truth to his daily living, he runs the risk of being lost.  The Truth can give us freedom: freedom from the bondage of sin and guilt, the cares and worries of this life, and finally, freedom from the fear of death.

We have been given other exhortations to stand firm in:

• Our faith (1 Cor. 16:13); 
• Our spirit  (Phil 1:27);
• The Lord (Phil. 4:1; 1 Thess. 3:8); 
• Stand firm and hold to the traditions taught by the apostles (2 Thess. 2:15; 3:6).

The Galatians were manipulated by Jewish Christians who insisted on imposing the Old Law system on them.  Paul declared that it was impossible for a Christian who was not a Jew to do the things that the Jews did in the past under the Law of Moses.  Sadly, the Galatian brethren were being pressured by a crafty Jewish force (Galatians 5:6-12; 12-16; Phil. 3:1-3).

Today, the Lord's church is still being threatened in many forms as it was in the days of the early church:  

• Dispensationalism 
• Premillennialism 
• Sectarianism 
• Liberalism
• Humanism 
• Modernism 
• Socialism
• Evolution 
• Human philosophy
• Psychology
• Feminism and 
• Many other destructive ideologies.  

Satan’s goal is to destroy our faith, especially the faith of our vulnerable young people (1 Timothy 6:20-21).  Another major problem the church faces is loyalty to men whose primary goal is to push false doctrines and man-made religions foreign to the Word of God.  They willfully ignore 1 Peter 4:11, which says,

"Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything. God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." 

Division among us is another problem many churches face because everyone seems to be fighting.  They are so busy fighting among themselves that they neglect to teach the lost (Galatians 5:15).  This grieves my heart!!!

The world's freedom is deceitful.  Why?  Because they deceived themselves into thinking that they are free when, in fact, they are not.  They are entangled in the desires of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life, worldliness, and everything that's against the Word of God (1 John 2:16). They are enslaved to their sinful living, their riches, worldly success, and weaknesses.  They think that's freedom.  They say, "If you just plan and set enough goals, then you will find freedom."  I will not deny that these accomplishments can bring us some freedom, but it is only earthly freedom, not God's. God's freedom is to love and serve, to trust Him, and, most importantly, to do His will.  This fleshly slavery renders them helpless without any way of escape unless they surrender to the knowledge of God's Truth.

Sadly, the affairs of this life, worldliness, and ungodliness are most likely the greatest dangers the Lord's church faces today.  

"And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature."  (Luke 8:14)

All the worldly affairs of this life keep us from loving God's Word and serving Him faithfully.  Our faith then becomes like the religion of a spectator.  We only want to come on Sunday mornings (if we make it!).  We sit and watch what is going on as "spectators."  We refuse to get involved in our Lord's business since our minds and hearts are engaged in something else.  We are too busy to visit the sick, so we burden our Preacher with the job.  It is all about me, me, and no one else! 

Let us not miss the point of being a true disciple and servant of the Lord.  Let us not be too busy in worldly affairs that we neglect to study and teach God's Word. Let us find time to pray and study so that we do not fail to nourish our souls.  Let us not be put to shame by God on that final day for ignoring our God-given responsibility to Him and our neighbor. It is not the Preacher's responsibility but ours as well.  

"Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him"  (2 Timothy 2:3-4).  

Our freedom in Christ must not be abused to satisfy our flesh without restraint (Galatians 5:13). Our freedom in Christ does not give us license to indulge our fleshly desires, "perverting the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ"  (Jude 4). We must not, under any circumstance, turn our freedom in Christ into licentiousness that we may continue in sin so that grace may abound (Romans 6:1, 15).  Yes, we are free from the old Law (the Law of Moses), free from sin, and free from fear.  Yet, we must not use this freedom as a covering for our sins or lawlessness but rather to serve God in righteousness and holiness as faithful servants and heirs of God (Gal. 4:7, 31; 5:1; Psalm 110:3).

"And having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness"  (Romans 6:18)

•  Serving One Another Through Love:  

So how does one demonstrate freedom in Christ?  By accepting another class of service.  We stop being servants of sin to become servants of righteousness (Romans 6:12-18).  We then become servants of Christ when we serve one another in love (Matt. 25:34-46).  When we refuse to be servants of Christ and one another, we are abusing our freedom in Christ.

We are indeed free, but at the same time, we have responsibilities toward one another as part of that same freedom.  We have obligations.  The Law of Christ, the perfect Law of liberty (James 1:25; 2:12), compels us to serve God with love.  It is impossible to love God if we don't love one another (1 John 4:20).  The greatest in the kingdom of God is the one who is a servant and serves the most as a slave (Matthew 20:26-28).  By way of example, consider:

• Dorcas (Acts 9:36, 39), 
• Phoebe (Romans 16:1-2), 
• The house of Stephanas (1 Cor. 16:15-16), and 
• Gaius (3 John 5-8).  

To give one's life to the Lord means to give one's life in service to others.  Notice that in Galatians 5, Paul employs the expression "one another" five times (verses 13, 15, 26).  If we don't learn what it means to live in peace with our brethren in Christ and serve one another in love, we are violating the second commandment:  

"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14; Matt. 22:39).  

It implies that we have not learned this second commandment.  It also shows that we are not free.

Most people on this earth are dependent on each other.  It is an inescapable reality.  That is, "You help me, and I will help you back."  The world's philosophy is mostly self-interest or selfishness.  That is why Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me"  (Matt. 16:24).  That is to say, disciples are not to be moved by self-interest but rather by a genuine spirit of service. There is no other way to be great in the Lord's eyes (Matt. 20:25-28).

A faithful follower of Christ serves in the hope of saving souls, strengthening, and encouraging (edifying) the souls of all Christians so that they may continue in the faith. They serve because they want to save their souls and the souls of their hearers (1 Tim. 4:16).

So as a Christian, how can I best serve in the kingdom of God?

We have several Scriptures that explain how we ought to serve one another:

1. Admonishing one another, Romans 15:4.
2. Restoring one another, Galatians 6:1
3. Encouraging, edifying, admonishing, comforting, supporting, and being with one another, 1 Thes. 5:11, 14.
4. Stimulating one another, Hebrews 10:24
5. Practicing hospitality, Romans 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9.
6. Meeting their physical needs, James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:17-18.

In serving one another and doing all of the above, we are serving our Lord Jesus, our Master (Matthew 25:34-46).  My question:  What did the house of Stephanas do?  Consider what Paul has to say in 1 Cor. 16:15-16:

"Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household  of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer."

Notice that they did not ask, "What shall we do? They did not complain, saying, "No one gives us any work to do in the church." Likewise, they did not wait for someone to tell them what to do or give them work to do. They devoted themselves to serving the saints without being pushed or forced to do the job. 

"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well."  (Romans 16:1-2)  

Phoebe and Dorcas were sisters who served in many ways in the Lord's church (Acts 9:36, 39). Romans 16 has several examples of saints who served and helped in many different ways in the church. When we attend to our brethren's needs, we serve Christ (Matt. 25:35-40).  There will always be sick, poor, needy brethren.  Several Scriptures speak of the need to practice hospitality toward one another (Rom. 12:13; 1 Peter 4:9, etc.).  The face of the earth is full of lost souls.  Sadly, most of them have never heard the saving Gospel of Christ.  As members of the body of Christ, we each have responsibilities that we must meet if we want God's approval:  

• Visit, teach the lost, 
• Invite them to our homes for Bible classes, 
• Distribute tracts, etc.
• Use the phone, the internet, etc., to teach the Gospel.  

There are endless ways to serve and be of good use in the kingdom of our Lord.  But there must be a willingness of heart to do it.

• Love:  

Love is active and is known for its actions.  God loved, and God gave.  Christ loved, and Christ gave. Love must be visible and evident.  One seeking to find true freedom in Christ and freedom from the slavery of the flesh is not selfish, serving his own interests. Instead, with self-denial and a willing heart, he seeks the physical and spiritual welfare of others.

1. He serves willingly and chooses to do it, showing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  
2. He is "filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).  Everyone can see it!  Because he is moved by love. 
3. He does everything with a joyful heart.  
4. He shows it in his conduct, way of speaking, and service to others.  
5. He is always a "peacemaker."  He lives peaceably with all (Romans 12:18).  
6. He does not try to appease or crush the sinner.  
7. He does not compromise with sin and error but teaches and practices with long-suffering the glorious Gospel of peace.  
8. He practices tolerance (patience) because he trusts (has faith and confidence) that the Word of God (the seed) will produce good fruit in due season.  
9. Not only does he endure his brethren with patience, but also he helps them bear their burden in love.  
10. He perseveres in doing good despite their ingratitude or rudeness.  
11. Moreover, he is kind and gentle in spirit, like the good Samaritan, Dorcas, and Barnabas.  
12. He is always faithful, loyal, trustworthy, and responsible.  
13. His gentleness of spirit is known to all men (Phi. 4:5).  
14. He practices self-control in everything and with everyone.  

Love is not about hidden qualities but rather about evident and provable ones. Therefore, if none of the above fruits are visible in us, cannot be seen in us, they do not exist.  We are simply not bearing any good fruit.

Indeed, love is the source of freedom.  Let me explain how:  

1. If you hate me, I choose not to hate you; that is freedom.  
2. If you slander me, I choose not to slander you; that is freedom.  
3. If you are bitter against me, I choose not to be bitter toward you; that is freedom.  
4. No matter what evil you do against me, I choose to do good toward you; that is freedom. 

Think of Jesus as our highest example:  

• They spit on Him, yet He did not spit back.  
• They slapped Him, yet He did not slap back. 
• They cursed and mocked Him, yet He did not curse and mock any of them.
• They abused their power against Him, yet He did not abuse His power against them. 
• They killed Him, but instead, He forgave them.  
• They were slaves to corruption and evil, yet He was sinless.  
• Jesus was the freest person who ever lived on this earth.  Nothing could enslave Him. 
• No evil ever motivated Him.  
• Not even death had dominion over Him.  

"For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Galatians 5:14)

In Matthew 22:34-40, a certain lawyer of the Sadducees asked Jesus about the greatest commandment in the Law.  Notice what Jesus said to him:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

In Romans 13:8-10, Paul told the brethren in Rome:

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."'

The word "love" in the Bible does not mean just a feeling or emotion but rather an action (a state of being active).  It is seen in our service to others and our goodwill (our kindness, generosity, tolerance, friendliness, empathy, sympathy, understanding, wholeheartedness, warmth, earnestness, etc.).  Love desires the welfare and protection of the one that we love.  Love demands that we love even our enemies and persecutors.  Love demands that we pray for them, their souls, that they may come to repentance (Matthew 5:44-45).

What the Bible teaches about love differs significantly from what the world teaches.  The world's love demands that we love self.  It is all about us and little else.  Our world teaches that love is one's appreciation for himself and the attention others pay us.  Love is Valentine's Day and Cupid, love songs, and romance. Moreover, the world's concept of love is based primarily on feelings rather than on our loyalty and commitment to those we love and God.

So true love is not just a feeling or emotion.  In fact, love goes against our feelings.  Love is treating others the way we want them to treat us.  It follows the Golden Rule of Matthew 7:12.  It involves self-denial rather than self-fulfillment.  It is considering others' interests before our own,

In John 15:13, we are given an excellent example of love, the love of our Lord and Savior, who died for us.  What more excellent example of love can there be than this?!

The world's concept of love is selfish rather than sacrificial.  It is self-absorbed emotionalism. Designed to meet one's needs rather than respond to the needs of others.  It is conditional love rather than unconditional.  It is mutually exploitative.

CONCLUSION:

It is a great blessing to have freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right to privacy. But all these can be taken away in the blink of an eye.  And though they can all be removed from us, we Christians will remain free.  Free from what?  Free from the slavery of sin.  Free to righteousness in Christ.  Free from the condemnation of sin that we might have eternal life.  Jesus has already paid the price for our freedom with His own blood, the blood of the sinless and innocent Jesus.

You see, "whoever commits sin is a slave of sin"  (John 8:34).  One who sins is a slave to sin (Rom. 6:16-23).  When we are enslaved to sin, we are in danger of dying in our sins without hope (John 8:24).  Jesus, the Son of God, makes us free through His Truth (John 8:32).  In Him, we have eternal freedom (John 8:36).  Sadly, many don't want freedom from sin.  They like to be slaves to their desires, pleasures, and indulgences.  Some have the wrong idea about freedom and show it by acting and thinking irresponsibly.  Their freedom is unrestrained.  They are deceived, thinking freedom is whatever it takes to make them happy.  Others use their freedom to gain and exercise control, that is, doing everything their way, surrendering to their traditions, presumptions, preconceived notions, and prejudices.

Only in knowing Jesus can we truly be free and find peace and contentment.  We can rest in Him and be free to walk with Him, abide in Him, and have a diligent heart that freely listens to and obeys Him.  He walks on ahead, showing us the WAY.  He is guiding us in the path of righteousness through His eternal Word. We follow Him, setting our hearts free from the bondage and slavery of sin. Christ's true freedom is to love and serve.  It demands that we die to self and crucify our ego, which often gets in the way.  As we love and serve, we draw nearer to Jesus, His character, and His heart.  We conform our lives to only Him.  Only then do we find true freedom for our enslaved souls. It will bring joy in our walk with Him.

    "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed."  (John 8:36)

Our Lord and Savior.  He sacrificed His life so that we might taste the freedom God can offer.  A freedom that will come to its full glory in heaven. Therefore, let us purpose to seek after Him and His kingdom of righteousness.  Let us pray for God to help our hearts be free from the chains of sin so that we may walk in freedom.

"Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God."  (1 Peter 2:16)

May the Lord open our eyes to see His real and lasting freedom.  May He also free our hearts, mind, and soul from bondage so that we may breathe the fresh air of Truth that He offers.  May He open our minds to a life of righteousness and holiness that brings honor to Him.  May we always desire to live in His freedom, breaking all the chains in our lives so that we may be enslaved to Him only.

 "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life."  (Romans 6:22)

Luci