The True Liberty
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
While you are enjoying hamburgers, friends, and fireworks, consider what true liberty is. It isn’t doing what you want; as we’ve been led to believe in America of the free. The liberty presented of and by the world is an illusion.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one
The whole world is under the sway of the wicked one. In Matthew 4:8-9, “Satan” offers Jesus the kingdoms of the world if He will bow down to him, because they are his to give. This earth is Satan’s/evil’s domain. (Satan is the cumulative force (energy) of the human self-determined will) You don’t have to look far to see this truth in religion, government, education, financial systems, consumerism, and media. If you take time to dig a little deeper, you will see just how real his kingship is on earth. Satan is a created being. There are the children of God, and then there are the seed of the wicked one. John 8:44, Matthew 13:25 His presence, work and influence are very real, not mystical as he would have you believe. All is inundated with his messages and influence. There are really only two choices in regards to true liberty; following Satan’s way/messages or God’s. Only one brings freedom.
Many times I’ve said, be careful of the influence of others. Satan’s spirit floods the airwaves. It’s his copycat of the Holy Spirit. He sends out his propaganda of who we are supposed to be, do and want. He tells us want it important, valued and accepted. The messages are EVERYWHERE. Like lost sheep going to the slaughter, most people serve them. We make great sacrifices for them. We own them as truth, life, happiness and the American way. This is his world and the kingdoms of this world serve his purposes; thus true liberty by this world is an illusion. 2 Corinthians 4:4
It’s easy to spiritualize Satan’s sway over the world negating its power, but it’s foolish and blinding to do so. His manipulation, control, and influence abounds and yes in America too, which is cloaked in the illusion of liberty. True, in America we are able to “do what we want” more than many countries, but is that really freedom, or just another from of bondage? Your enemy is extremely shrewd. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful I don’t have to sleep with an Uzi under my pillow, but I don’t want us to be unwise in the enemy’s tactics, thinking it is America of the free, when it’s just another form of bondage, which many are blind to and is increasing daily.
Some may be outwardly slaves, but free inward. Others can be outwardly “free” but in bondage inwardly. What is the worse? True bondage or freedom begins with the mind. What truths we hold bind us or free us. When we hold and live by the truths of God, we are loosed from Satan’s sway. A mind united to God in truth is the only one that is free; because God is perfect in truth and love. Ultimately what we deeply desire can only be fulfilled through unity with God, thus He is our freedom, and any other way is bondage.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty
America exemplifies this bondage of the mind. The bondage of the American mind is apparent in the epidemics of obesity and diseases, sexual addictions, work alcoholics, drug addicts, debt, and stress. We bind ourselves by following Satan’s messages. We are not healthy as free people would be, we are deeply sick as we are trapped by heeding the lie from the beginning, “do what you want.” But are we really doing what WE want? Or want Satan wants?
America symbolizes Satan’s modus operandi (MO), “do what you want”, in the name of liberty. Yet, as I mentioned, he is manufacturing what we “want” by his propaganda. It’s how he manipulated Eve, it’s how he tempted Jesus, and it’s how he tempts and manipulates us. Though this statement has an appearance of liberty, it moves you away from truth to self, thus bondage. (Following God is truth and life, following self is bondage and death) The gay pride movement is an example of this MO at work. They are doing what they “want” and as society supports and reinforces their actions, these poor souls are becoming more deeply bound to pain and sealing them to a fate of slavery to that pain. We are to love the person, not the pain. But this isn’t happening and in the name of liberty and “do what you want” these souls are in deeper bondage than they were before because now it’s who they are, instead of a symptom of a deeper hurt. This is one example of many inward bondages masqueraded as outward liberty.
Look at the hours spent serving Satan’s messages (anything contrary to God’s truth). Look at the time spent deeply seeking God and His truth. Now do you wonder why we are in the state we are in? It’s time to be honest with ourselves. Who is America really serving? Who are YOU really serving?
As you set out to honor liberty today, honor the only true liberty and the only One it comes from, God. God’s presence and truth in you is the only true liberty. The liberty painted by this world is a masquerade of Satan that only puts you in further bondage. Be wise.
The greatest prison is our mind. Thus, liberty is of the mind, and that is what Christ came to give us among many other treasures. The truth sets us free. Though it isn’t an easy journey to be renewed in God’s truth because of the pressing in of the world upon our minds, but if we seek we will find.
The True Liberty
Liberty is of the mind
A gift to receive, to find
Given from the One above
Found through the sacrifice of blood
A door to an unadulterated way
A path to truth, for this pray
May you walk this narrow road
Difficult as it sets a new mold
Reshaping your mind to a new kind
Removing the veil holding you blind
Seek for truth on high
Allowing your bondage soul to fly
Look not to what you see
But to the One of Eternity
Freedom reign within
Liberty without end
~ Rachel DiPaolo
July 4, 2011
July 5, 2011 at 7:07 am
Rachel . . .thank you. You speak the truth and warn us is a way that isn’t condemning. He has given you a special place and ministry. I felt this one and nodded as I read. I understand and how you explain once again brings even more understanding and clarity.
God bless you and all that He has called you to do in this day at this time.
July 5, 2011 at 5:29 pm
Hi Debbie – thanks so much for your comment Debbie. Recently, I feel God has been opening my opens so much more to the level and extent of the deception that surrounds us. How important it is to be in His Word daily, renewing our minds in truth.
July 6, 2011 at 8:37 pm
“Following God is truth and life, following self is bondage and death”
This pretty much sums up our journey in this realm. Why it’s such a difficult concept to grasp, I imagine just shows how subtle and sly the devil is.
The parable of the sower says, some hear the word but fail to understand it; others – hear the word, but in times of trouble, they fail to see these troubles as the hand of the devil trying to prevent the word from taking root in their hearts & minds. Still others as you’ve so eloquently described, become enamored/bugged down by the cares of the world – trying to pay bills, raising families, pursuing careers, trying to possess the most material goods and encumbered by all the trappings of ‘pursuing the American dream’. All this pursuit of liberty without realizing that true liberty can only be found in Christ, because, “in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”
Thanks for this blessed message.
God Bless,
July 7, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Hi, thanks for laying that out in relation to the parable .. how true it is. The more I “see” the more I stand amazed at the depth and level of deception. Most don’t think they are able to be deceived or misled, or at least for very long, but what we see is quite the opposite. There is much blindness … my prayer is constantly for ALL our eyes to be open to the truth.
July 9, 2011 at 4:36 am
I am glad you boldly confronted lies we believe about the enemy. There is no need to pretend satan is irrelevant because we have been given authority in our inheritance. Thank you for exercising that authority and presenting truth in love. Keep spurring the believers on in abiding in truth!
July 9, 2011 at 10:14 pm
Hi Andy, Thanks for your encouragement! We are more than conquerors in Christ … may we understand the power and strength we hold as His body.