Jesus died to set us free because He wanted us to be free. That is circular reasoning, not a good argument strategy. And yet…. It’s the simple truth. Freedom is the inheritance of the believer.
I had a friend named Gene who was in prison for 37 years for a murder he didn’t commit. The day he was released, he immediately headed home. He didn’t question whether he was free, or check the weather before he left, or hang around for just one more fresh cup of penitentiary coffee—he was free!
When you are free, you get out of there!
When you’re free, you are free! Yes, it’s circular reasoning. And it's nonetheless true. Back on Gene's amazing story - when he was in prison, one of the things that changed his life was receiving a Maximized Manhood from a chaplain. It changed his thinking ... and today he's a chaplain for a large company.
Freedom is the exhilarating gift Jesus Christ has given to every believer—so why would we keep hanging around the prison?
Paul wrote: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1).
Christ has set us free…to be free! It's where you live - in freedom.
When you’re free, you get out of there! You’re FREE!
Paul shouts to us in Galatians, “DON’T BE AFRAID! You’re out, so stay out - don't go back into the prison!"
Jesus gave you and me freedom—part of that freedom is a faith that sets us free from fear. Faith always defeats fear.
The attack of the enemy is built, founded on fear. Bringing fear, anxiety and dread continually against us. We’re negative by nature, so it’s easy to shove us into fear. BUT, STAY OUT OF FEAR PRISON.
Centuries before Paul, God said through Isaiah the prophet, “Fear not, for I am with you” (Isaiah 41:10).
Freedom means freedom from fear. Freedom is bold. Freedom is about doing what we’ve been set free to do.
Jesus said the man with faith can speak to every great obstacle of his life with the word of God:
“Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says” (Mark 11:22, 23 NKJV).
Get bold!! Speak in faith. Negative words are the language of failure. Positive words of faith are the language of overcoming power.
Declare it now—right now, out loud. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
Brother, I pray you live a life of FREEDOM, of unrestrained JOY. I pray that BOLDNESS wells up within you to speak God’s Word, pray His prayers, and believe on Him for miracles in your life, your family, your work.
Reading God’s Word builds boldness. It also helps to get together with other men just like us. So, check the dates – Nov 5-7 – and get to Dallas for Lions Roar. I hope to see you there. Until then….
GO BOLD.
Your friend, brother, and ally.
Grace and Peace,
Paul Louis Cole
