FREEDOM OF WILL

Published November 28, 2007

There is one thing that God honors and that we need to recognize and appreciate, it is our FREEDOM OF WILL. In Revelation 3:20 Jesus Christ says “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Understanding this verse will give you an inner strength and a freedom that only truth can bring.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten son of God, stands at the door, this is the door to your heart. He stands out of respect for you, the individual. You choose Christ. You choose to let him into your heart. (Romans 10:9&10) When He comes in He sups with you. This sup (to eat) was very special in biblical times. People would only eat with others that were very close to them. The reason was because of the salt in the food.
When salt was eaten in the presence of others it constituted a sacred covenant. , in biblical times you were to eat in the presence of another (food always had salt in or on it) or to put salt in your mouth then you were obligated to protect that other person and his/her belongings with your life. That is what Jesus Christ is saying. He will protect you. He covenants that. To break that covenant meant death to that one that broke it. Jesus Christ will never break that promise. What else verse Twenty says is that you, by the freedom of your will can and will sup (eat) with Him. This is done by the freedom of your will.
What this verse DOESN’T SAY is that he will possess you or that he will control you. Where did people get this idea? Why do men in the pulpit espouse this insanity? Thinking that God would control you or that God will possess you leads only to defeat.
Even in the area of manifestation of the holy spirit it is the choice of the person manifesting. (I Corinthians 14:32).
Where does that leave us in our day by day walk? It leaves us in charge of what we do. We choose to do right or wrong. We choose to do the will of God or not. This is a wonderful thing. We choose to buy a car or a house or to go to work or not. NO man can make you do anything. No spirit, no voices in your head, no advertisement can make you do anything IF you choose not to do it!
I Corinthians 10: 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
When you choose to do right God will back you up and help you see it through. He will strengthen you.
Psalm 31:24 Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.
Psalm 89: 21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
Isaiah 41: 9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.
10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
Isaiah 41 is written to Israel we have the same promise being sons of Abraham (Romans 4:16).
I Peter 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
We have great power and ability to do good, to help others and to see great deliverance in our own lives. It is our choice.
To Every Man
To every man there openeth
A way, and ways, and a way.
And some men climb the high way,
And some men grope below,
And in between on the misty flats
The rest drift to and fro.
And to every man there openeth
A high way and a low;
And every man decideth
Which way his soul shall go.
John Oxenham

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