: William T. Bantom
: Living Free Maximizing the Gift of Freedom to Live a Fulfilling Life in Christ
: Manifold Grace Publishing House, LLC
: 9781952926228
: 1
: CHF 7.30
:
: Lebensführung, Persönliche Entwicklung
: English
: 175
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Most people won't admit they're stuck in a one step forward and two steps backwards routine, unable to maintain any steady forward momentum. Living Free will teach you how to break free from those unproductive past patterns, and maintain a steadfast commitment to the pursuit of God's will for your life.

Chapter One


Freedom and Empowerment


Then Jesus said to the Jews who believed on Him, If you continue in My Word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 8:31–32 (MKJV)

Most believers live their lives plagued with bondage and perpetual frustration because they are not experiencing the biblical promises in their lives at the level of their expectations. This is not because they are bad people who do not love God; it’s because they are stuck and do not know how to get free from unproductive life patterns. Many have tried all kinds of programs that guarantee a quick fix, but there is no quick fix for bondage and stagnation. Getting out of an unproductive mind-set takes time, personal effort, assistance from God, and a commitment to replace past patterns with biblical principles. It is not a one-step process but a commitment to a lifestyle of learning to live by faith in the Word and power of God.

John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed” (MKJV). This is a powerful statement with an important promise that warrants a basic understanding of its meaning. Let’s look at three key observations from that verse:

1.      Jesus Christ is the one who sets us free; we cannot set ourselves free from anything.

2.      The words “make free” mean “to liberate from the bondage of sin, deliver, or cause to be unrestricted.”

3.      The word “indeed” means “truly, in reality, and as a matter of fact.”

Considering these three points, this verse tells us it is a true and unchangeable fact that those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior have been made free from the bondage of sin and death. Jesus has given them the authority to make unrestricted decisions, which means they alone have the authority to determine the course of their lives.

However, John 8:36 does not apply to those who have not accepted Jesus as Lord. As a matter of fact, Ephesians 2 tells us unbelievers are in the world without God, disconnected from His promises and therefore without hope. They lack the ability or the authority to resist the lusts of their flesh, the lures of this world, or the devil’s attempts to destroy their lives.

If you don’t have a personal relationship with God, I pray you ask yourself right now whether you want to continue the life of bondage you are currently living or whether you want to be free to live the abundant life that is only available through Christ. If you have had enough and you genuinely want your life to change, the first step is to receive Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9–10 says if you confess the Lord Jesus with your mouth and believe in your heart that God rais