Captivity to Freedom – Part 2

God’s Word tells us that true freedom is victory in Jesus (Ac 2:24, Lk 4:18). 

And God’s Word never fails (Is 40:8).

In Jeremiah 1:12 AMPC God says, “…I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.”

So, although the enemy of our soul may try to ensnare us, God’s anointed Word cannot be bound (2 Ti 2:9). It is continually at work in us and around us to deliver us into more of His freedom by His Spirit. 

2 Corinthians 3:17 AMPC says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).

Since Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, who lives in God’s saints, when we believe Him at His Word by faith, He guides us into all truth, which sets us free from bondage (Jn 16:13). 

Matthew 11:6 AMPC says that “…blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is he who…is not hindered from seeing the Truth.”

Hebrews 4:12 AMPC says, “For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.”

Friends, we need to wrap our “minds around the riches of God, the depth of his wisdom, and the marvel of his perfect knowledge” as He wraps His Presence around us (Ro 11:33). We need to wear our blood-bought hope (assurance) of salvation like a protective helmet against doubt, unbelief and giving up as Holy Spirit renews our minds with the washing of His Word

With God, we always have a hope and a future (Je 29:11).

Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV say, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the LORD. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,’ says the LORD. ‘I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.'”

Friends, revelation brings transformation. 

John 16:13 NLT says, “When the Spirit of truth comes…He will tell you about the future.”

God may reveal some events and timelines to us as we move further into His freedom. He’ll reveal strategies, wisdom and course corrections along the way. 

So, even if we find ourselves held in captivity—like Paul and Silas, who were released from jail after they praised God (Ac 16:25-26); or like Daniel, who was delivered from lions in a closed off den as he trusted God (Da 6:22); or even like Jonah, who was expelled from a whale of an encounter as he turned to God (Jon 2:10)—we can trust God and know that captivity can be a platform for glorious miracles, a turning point of breakthrough for greater freedom and higher purposes. 

These saints experienced that, with God, captivity gets reworked by His authority to further mobilize their divine legacy (inheritance) and their divine destiny (pre-determined plan for them).

Like these saints, God intentionally and specifically enables us to come out of captivity by faith when we praise Him, trust Him and turn to Him in humility in impossible situations. 

The grace work God does in our soul, during what feels like limited times, is cleansing and will make a way for His explosion of new (resurrection) life that will prove His faithfulness, His Word and His love as limitless. 

Even if we were to find ourselves exiled, like the Israelites in Egypt, we could be certain that God ultimately has our restoration in mind. This is His covenant promise to us.

Acts 13:17 TPT says that “…While they were enslaved in Egypt, he made them great, both in numbers and in strength, until he unveiled his mighty power and led them out of bondage.”

So, God can purpose captivity to be like a cocoon to do deep works in us, and cause us to be made stronger in Him. He can make us more grateful and receiving of His purpose for our new-found freedom once released.

Exodus 12:13 reminds us of our blood covenant of protection and provision when the Israelites remained in their divinely-designated safe place, which was behind closed doors, for a time.

They may have felt like they were held captive within captivity for a moment, but God had their greater deliverance in mind all along.

Friends, always remember, the greatest resistance will give way under the mighty arm of sovereign God, and we have access to Him through grace by faith. Jesus sits at God’s right hand, the hand of authority. And we are seated with Him as He is established with us on earth—liberating us from the captivity of darkness. 

Psalm 16:11 tells us that, at His “right hand there are pleasures forevermore. [Acts 2:25-28, 31],” and that in “His presence is fullness of joy, also that He will show us “the path of life.”

Romans 5:17 TPT says, “…now, how much more are we held in the grip of grace and continue reigning as kings in life, enjoying our regal freedom through the gift of perfect righteousness in the one and only Jesus, the Messiah!”

I believe God is releasing His recompense: I believe He is about to deliver multitudes into a new level of freedom from the immorality of their past, like never before. What once choked out their blessings, will be no more. I believe what 2 Timothy 2:26 AMPC says, which is “…that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God’s] will.” I believe God will launch His pure-hearted ones into deep, abundant life that will extend to others in miraculous ways, meeting them at awestruck. I believe God is promoting His saints, who will continue to pursue holiness in any and every circumstance, even like Daniel (2 Ti 2:22, Da 6:20, 22-23).

And I pray that you will be one of them. 

To God be the glory. 

This video-devo was graciously re-posted by the Salem Web Network, which includes iBelieve.com.

Bitter or Sweet

Recently, I cozied in on this season’s first cold day with a cup of tea and a favorite gingerbread cookie from a local specialty store. As I bit into the soft decadent dessert, the flavors of bitter and sweet seemed more pronounced than when I had eaten them before.

The molasses was sweet. The baking soda or powder was bitter.

I did not like the bitter.

I had a distinct sense that God was expressing something to me.

I flipped on the TV to watch Pastor Jentezen Franklin. No accident, he shared a message about how the Israelites had eaten bitter herbs in Egypt and, as a result, they were difficult to be around.

He described their words as having “stunk bitterly.”

Later, I flipped through a stack of books a friend had borrowed and returned to me. One of them was John Eckhardt’s Destroying the Spirit of Rejection: Receive Love and Acceptance and Find Healing. A nugget on one of the pages leapt out at me: Provoke is rooted in bitterness.

This brought to mind someone I know who, from a very young age, seemed to have made an art of controlling others through antagonistic provoke–stirring up trouble (instead of Holy Spirit). It reminded me of the deep “unprovokable” work The Lord did in me over the years and continues to do.

The next day, I picked up my Bible reading in the book of “Proverbs,” where I had left off. I discovered even more clues to this message The Lord was building . . .

“There’s only one kind of person who is worse than a fool: the impetuous one who speaks without thinking first” (Proverbs 29:20 TPT).

I felt led to look up “impetuous.” Webster’s defines it as “marked by impulsive vehemence or passion (temperament).”

I felt led to look up “vehemence.” Webster’s defines it as “forceful energy, powerful wind, intensely emotional, fervid, deeply felt (suspicion), forceably expressed (denunciations), bitterly antagonistic (debate).”

I noticed that on page (267) of my TPT Bible is the study note: “Wind is an emblem of the Holy Spirit bringing new life” (John 3:6-8).

Then the Word of The Lord was made clear:

Bitterness can be a false establishment of a driving force behind provoke, antagonism, intensely emotional temperaments. Do not tolerate the false shield of provoke (rooted in bitterness) from others or yourself. Extend the true shield of faith for grace to come to know the Presence of God more than any familiar spirit of provoke. Remain in faith.

Bitterness works against the Holy Spirit on your behalf. It can hinder new life through Christ. Do not accept the false wind of bitterness over the Holy Spirit’s wind of change for new life. A sweet countenance is required for where God desires to lead you and with whom He desires to align you in His promised land. Choose to receive His big fruit (abundant) blessings. Remain in His Word of truth.

 I prayed . . .

Dear Lord, Regarding bitterness, please pluck up any root and rid me of all residue. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit of light, life and truth, in Jesus’ Mighty Name. Let me be a flourishing branch, a good tree with flourishing branches. Let my heart be Your beautiful garden that produces and attracts a sweet harvest of good fruit—Your goodness demonstrated—as I abide in You at the root level. As You water me with Your Word, continue to make me “a woman of strength and mighty valor, a radiant woman” (Proverbs 31:10, 31). One who “lives in the wonder, awe, and fear of The Lord” (Proverbs 31:30). An anointed cloud “carried by the wind of the Holy Spirit [to] bring refreshing truths to [Your] people” (Proverbs 25:14 TPT Note).

Funny thing, I don’t think I like those gingerbread cookies as much as I used to. God offered me something better: more authenticity in my relationship with Him.

He enabled me to receive more gratitude and true intimacy.

“For the natural realm can only give birth to things that are natural, but the spiritual realm gives birth to supernatural life! You shouldn’t be amazed by my statement, ‘You all must be born from above!’ For the Spirit-wind blows as it chooses. You can hear its sound, but you don’t know where it came from or where it’s going. So it is within the hearts of those who are Spirit-born” (John 3:6-8 TPT)!

“But when the truth-giving Spirit comes, he will unveil the reality of every truth within you. He won’t speak on his own, but only what he hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you what is to come” (John 16:13 TPT).

“As for us, we have all of these great witnesses who encircle us like clouds. So we must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. Then we will be able to run life’s marathon race with passion and determination, for the path has been already marked out before us” (Hebrews 12:1 TPT).

“You must catch the troubling foxes, those sly little foxes that hinder our relationship. For they raid our budding vineyard of love to ruin what I’ve planted within you. Will you catch them and remove them for me? We will do it together” (Song of Songs 2:15 TPT).

“These ‘foxes’ are the compromises that are hidden deep in our hearts. These are areas of our lives where we have not yet allowed the victory of Christ to shine into. The foxes keep the fruit of his Spirit from growing within us” (TPT Bible note for Song of Songs 2:15).

“And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power” (Ephesians 3:16 TPT).

“Now my beloved ones, I have saved these most important truths for last: Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life-union with the Lord Jesus. Stand victorious with the force of his explosive power flowing in and through you” (Ephesians 6:10 TPT).