Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
Free, Freedom what does that mean? Freedom is a Paradox Word.
In the Midst of Suffering there is Joy…….Generosity in poverty…Power in Weakness.
I would like to Share a Little Fact with you, Christians are always Persecuted.
They Are Persecuted by Facts, by un-believers, by sinners, and by their own people and have recently surpassed the Jewish Nation, and have become the most hated and persecuted people in the World.
Have you ever read through the Book of Daniel, Did you notice anything about that Book? It represents Freedom and Joy, Spiritually, in a time of Bondage.
Here is the thing about a people in Bondage, Give me a Prison in Christ, Such as some I have been in and held services, I’ll show you freedom, liberty, a people who cant be held down or back.
Give me the finest Nation in the World, Such as ours is, and I will show a people who are internally bound to a inward prison of immorality.
The truth about being in Bondage is there is always freedom presenting a opportunity for Spiritual freedom.
The truth, about the Communist prison in Siberia, in Russia is it is Just for Christians, they fear putting them in Regular prisons, because they are afraid Revival will breakout, that the people might Get set free.
Php 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Php 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Php 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Php 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Php 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Php 1:19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
Php 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Php 1:22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
Php 1:23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Php 1:24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Php 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
Php 1:26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
Php 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Php 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.
Php 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Php 1:30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Paul was in Prison Chained to a Roman Guard, and His concern was for the Church, Is that Bondage or is that freedom.
Paul was Still trying to keep the Church alive, because a dead Church is a Church that is in Bondage to Spiritual Emptiness.
If we would have a true understanding that sin lays at the door waiting to place us in Bondage, we would grab hold of our liberty as the Most prized possession and Safe guard it with all our Heart. Doing everything in our power and ability to keep the powers of Bondage away, Never flirting with it or opening the door to it.
We must speak boldly and Live boldly in the Operations of the Church, or else weakness will set in and take over and we will become spiritually stagnant.
We need to Boldly, with compassion and Understanding, proclaim the Word, because we Love the lost, the living, and the Dying.
We need to Understand this PAUL WAS IN PRISON for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In China in the Underground Church the Pastor opens up the service with this Question, How did you suffer for Jesus this week, what would be our answer if we were to be asked that very question?
Php 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Churches are bound by Spiritual Emptiness, addictions and Materialistic wants.
If we can shift the Focus off of us and onto the Will of God, despite the circumstances, We will have Spiritual freedom.
May we all go Home and Build us a 10’ x 6’ cell, So that we will have the place were we must come face to face with the deliver of the Church Jesus Christ, a place to get still and Pray, so we can become free.
The Message of Galatians 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” was heard throughout Rome because of Paul’s persecution.
We must once again have a willingness to Go under the persecution that was told to the Church, by Jesus Christ when He said if they first persecuted Him then they would persecute us. We must knock off this seeker friendly attitude and be a Righteous right arm of Christ who mirrors not the Worlds image, but battles hell for the liberation of the Lost, the sinner, and the dyeing.
Freedom is not circumstantial, But It’s found in the Bondage of Chains, Chains of Persecution, Chains of Unrighteousness, Chains of hatred, and chains of Sin, But wherever the Spirit of the Lord is allowed, seeked out, and sought after there will always be freedom in the hearts of the believers.
