HE WAS CLOSE TO MAKING THE GREATEST SACRIFICE OF HIS LIFE BUT WAS HE READY TO DO IT? EVERYTHING HE BELIEVED IN LED HIM TO THIS EARTH-SHAKING CONCLUSION. EVERY FIBER OF HIS BEING DREADED WHAT HE KNEW WAS TO COME. YET, HIS VISION WAS CLEAR AND HE WOULD GO ONWARD- FORWARD TOWARD HIS DESTINY. HE KNEW IT WOULD BE WORTH IT ALL.
THE BAND OF MEN WOULD HUNT HIM DOWN SOON. THOUGH HE HAD WARNED HIS FOLLOWERS WHAT WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, THEY SEEMED OBLVIOUS TO THE SITUATION. HE REALIZED THEY COULD NOT FULLY COMPREHEND THE MYSTERIOUS SCENE THAT WAS ABOUT TO UNFOLD BEFORE THEIR EYES. AND HE GRIEVED FOR THEM BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THE CONFUSION, PAIN AND DEEP SORROW THEY MUST ENDURE IN THE COMING DAYS.
WITHOUT A DOUBT, HE LIVED FOR AND WOULD DIE FOR Truth AND Freedom. HE KNEW HIS FOLLOWERS-FRIENDS- WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THE SAME THING ONE DAY IN THE NOT TO DISTANT FUTURE. FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE. THERE IS ALWAYS A PRICE TO PAY. JESUS PAID IT ALL. HE TOOK THE LONG WALK UP THAT HILL FOR OUR ETERNAL FREEDOM.
BECAUSE OF CALVARY WE KNOW WHAT IT IS TO EXPERIENCE REAL LIVING. THE WORLD DOESN’T BELIEVE IN IT AND CAN NEVER RECEIVE IT. THEY BELIEVE THAT POWER AND PRESTIGE MAKES MEN FREE. AND TO THE NATURAL MIND IT’S SYNONYMOUS WITH THE WORD “HAPPY”. THEY CANNOT IMAGINE HOW HUMBLING AND SUBMITTING THEIR LIVES TO GOD IS THE WAY TO LIBERTY AND TRUE HAPPINESS.
A CARNAL MINDED PERSON CANNOT DISCERN SPIRITUAL TRUTH. IT IS FOREIGN TO HIM…ANOTHER LANGUAGE THAT HE’S NEVER LEARNED. HE’LL NEVER KNOW WHAT TRUE FREEDOM IS UNLESS HE FIRST REALIZES HE IS BOUND BY SIN AND THEN ACCEPTS THE SACRIFICE JESUS MADE ON THE CROSS TO SET HIM FREE. "NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!"
IF A CHILD OF GOD BECOMES REBELLIOUS OR INDIFFERENT TOWARD THE WORD, HE WILL LOSE HIS LIBERTY IN JESUS AND BE IN BONDAGE TO SIN ONCE AGAIN. THEN, HE’LL EVENTUALLY SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES. HE’LL EITHER REPENT AND SUBMIT TO THE TRUTH OR HIS CONSCIENCE WILL BE SEARED AND HE’LL BELIEVE THE LIES OF SATAN AND WALK IN COVETEOUSNESS AND VANITY. 'ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED' IS A LIE FROM THE PITS OF HELL.
1Pe 1:14-21 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psalm 119
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