Permission to be free...
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They’ll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You’ll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you’ll have the title “Priests of God,” honored as ministers of our God. You’ll feast on the bounty of nations, you’ll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. “Because I, God, love fair dealing and hate thievery and crime, I’ll pay your wages on time and in full, and establish my eternal covenant with you. Your descendants will become well-known all over. Your children in foreign countries Will be recognized at once as the people I have blessed.” I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations. (Isaiah 61:1-11 MSG)
I got to thinking today that freedom is costly.
You may be criticized for it, some may even be killed for it. Jesus was.
And yet, freedom is taken for granted.... Freedom is sought after by some. Abused by others.
The prophet Isaiah! reminds us....( above ) that freedom is announced. Proclaimed even.
Imagine you are in jail, for something you even deserved to be there for. And out of the blue someone arrives and says...you, my friend are free to go. The doors are open, the way ahead is unclear, but you are as free as a bird, all you have to do, is just walk on out of the cell.
How stupid would you be, if you decided to stay in the cell ?
When freedom was awaiting.
Some in the church, most churches, are choosing to stay locked up and closed to the things of God, the freedom He gives. Stay locked down in "rut religion". Instead of a free relationship with His Son.
There are a few key verses in Isaiah 61. Key for me. Maybe key for you !
Let me show you.... Take it as your own promise, live it as a servant for Jesus. He loves you more than you will ever know....
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They’ll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You’ll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you’ll have the title “Priests of God,” honored as ministers of our God. You’ll feast on the bounty of nations, you’ll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. “Because I, God, love fair dealing and hate thievery and crime, I’ll pay your wages on time and in full, and establish my eternal covenant with you. Your descendants will become well-known all over. Your children in foreign countries Will be recognized at once as the people I have blessed.” I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations. (Isaiah 61:1-11 MSG)
Everyone proclaims something.
It's either God and his love, or the rut of a religious spirit locked in a jail cell of powerlessness.
I want freedom, I choose freedom, I proclaim freedom, I announce it to all my readers....
If you want it ..... It's yours.
(Btw....if you want to stay locked up, bound by the traditions of man, powerless, weak and insipid, that is also yours to choose ...choose well. )
I got to thinking today that freedom is costly.
You may be criticized for it, some may even be killed for it. Jesus was.
And yet, freedom is taken for granted.... Freedom is sought after by some. Abused by others.
The prophet Isaiah! reminds us....( above ) that freedom is announced. Proclaimed even.
Imagine you are in jail, for something you even deserved to be there for. And out of the blue someone arrives and says...you, my friend are free to go. The doors are open, the way ahead is unclear, but you are as free as a bird, all you have to do, is just walk on out of the cell.
How stupid would you be, if you decided to stay in the cell ?
When freedom was awaiting.
Some in the church, most churches, are choosing to stay locked up and closed to the things of God, the freedom He gives. Stay locked down in "rut religion". Instead of a free relationship with His Son.
There are a few key verses in Isaiah 61. Key for me. Maybe key for you !
Let me show you.... Take it as your own promise, live it as a servant for Jesus. He loves you more than you will ever know....
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God’s destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them “Oaks of Righteousness” planted by God to display his glory. They’ll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They’ll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You’ll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you’ll have the title “Priests of God,” honored as ministers of our God. You’ll feast on the bounty of nations, you’ll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever. “Because I, God, love fair dealing and hate thievery and crime, I’ll pay your wages on time and in full, and establish my eternal covenant with you. Your descendants will become well-known all over. Your children in foreign countries Will be recognized at once as the people I have blessed.” I will sing for joy in God, explode in praise from deep in my soul! He dressed me up in a suit of salvation, he outfitted me in a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom who puts on a tuxedo and a bride a jeweled tiara. For as the earth bursts with spring wildflowers, and as a garden cascades with blossoms, So the Master, God, brings righteousness into full bloom and puts praise on display before the nations. (Isaiah 61:1-11 MSG)
Everyone proclaims something.
It's either God and his love, or the rut of a religious spirit locked in a jail cell of powerlessness.
I want freedom, I choose freedom, I proclaim freedom, I announce it to all my readers....
If you want it ..... It's yours.
(Btw....if you want to stay locked up, bound by the traditions of man, powerless, weak and insipid, that is also yours to choose ...choose well. )
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