WE ARE FREE INDEED

THE EXCHANGE I

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.- II Cor 5:21

Through baptism, the sin receptors were swapped or exchanged with the God's righteousness receptors. 1Pet 2:24 says "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed."

So we are dead to sin and it's distress and alive to righteousness. This means that whenever death approaches us, this could be financial, marital, health and even untimely death, it will find no sin receptors to bind to, "for sin has lost it's power over us" (Rom 6:6) But righteousness receptors attract grace which reigns to eternal life.

That is why Romans 5:21 says "so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." It is our duty to reframe our mindset, relate to this beyond human senses for "we have crossed from death to life"

BLESSED ARE YOU GOD THE LOVING FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR SALVATION IN JESUS AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES!

THANK YOU JESUS!

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

WE ARE FREE INDEED

D) THE EXCHANGE II

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.- Galatians 2:20 NKJV

Romans 6:4 tells us that by baptism, when Christ died.we died, and when He resurrected, we were raised to a new life with him. Col 3:4 tells us that Christ is our new life.

That is why the bible says "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.(I John 5:11‭-‬12)

This means that on the cross, our old sinful life was replaced or exchanged with the life of God, free of sin and distress.

That's why the bible says Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.- Isaiah 61:7

As our opening text says, we live our new life with "faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Let's go beyond our senses for we are spiritually transformed, justified, renewed, sanctified and glorified.

BLESSED ARE YOU GOD THE LOVING FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR SALVATION IN JESUS AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES!

THANK YOU JESUS!

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

WE ARE FREE INDEED

F) ACCLAIM HIM

The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—Exodus 3:7‭-‬8 NIV

Two things the Lord specified in our verse He came down to do is: to rescue us and also to bring us into land flowing with milk and honey, that is his kingdom. He has accomplished it for He said " It is finished"; also Col 1:13 says "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,".

That is why the Bible says "Let this be recorded for the generation yet unborn, that a people yet to be created shall praise the Lord. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary, from heaven did the Lord behold the earth, To hear the sighing and groaning of the prisoner, to loose those who are appointed to death, So that men may declare the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem" (Psalm 102:18‭-‬21)

Are we appointed to die, is our finance, marriage, health appointed to die? The appointment came too late for Jesus already set us free and we are dining with him in his kingdom. So, have we recorded this as the scripture said above ? Do we celebrate it? Do we acclaim him for this?

One of the ways we celebrate and acclaim God for this good work of God's salvation is through the Holy communion. Let's be conscious of that. 1 Corinthians 11:26 says "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes again"

BLESSED ARE YOU GOD THE LOVING FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR SALVATION IN JESUS AND THEY ARE MARVELOUS IN OUR SIGHTS!

THANK YOU JESUS!

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

WE ARE FREE INDEED

G) SHEPHERDS

Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.- Matthew 12:29 NKJV

The Lord in Matthew 9:36. had compassion on a crowd, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Is 63:9 says "In all their distress he too was distressed, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old."

Our opening verse tells us, the strong man is bound and we are freed. We also know that He has defeated this enemy, sin and it's distress, for He said " Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:31‭-‬32)

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, LET'S PONDER ON THESE;

THE STRONGMAN IS BOUND AND DRIVEN OUT, JESUS HAS DIED AND RESURRECTED, HOW DOES HE DRAW PEOPLE TO HIMSELF?

IF THE LOVING FATHER OF OUR BELOVED JESUS IS DISTRESSED AND UNCOMFORTABLE IN A PLACE LIKE HEAVEN AND CAME DOWN TO A PLACE LIKE EARTH TO SAVE US, WHAT DID THAT TELL US? WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT IT?

REMEMBER IN CHRIST, JESUS IS THE HEAD IN HEAVEN, WE, THE CHURCH IS THE BODY ON EARTH. WE ARE THE FORCES THAT DRAW GOD'S FLOCK INTO HIS KINGDOM WHERE THEY ARE NOT HELPLESS, HARASSED AND DISTRESSED.

That is why the Scripture says " I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” (Jeremiah 23:4) WE ARE THE SHEPHERDS, HIS BRANCH ON EARTH THAT BEARS THE FRUIT!

BLESSED ARE YOU GOD THE LOVING FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR SALVATION IN JESUS AND THEY ARE MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES!

THANK YOU JESUS!

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

WE ARE FREE INDEED

H) SHEPHERDS II

You shall not muzzle the ox when he treads out the grain. - Deuteronomy 25:4 AMPC

Do you know that while we are doing our job as kings and priests of the most high that God rewards us here on earth? Our verse states that: "when he treads out the grain."

God is a faithful employer. Remember He said " Do unto others as you would want them do unto you" That is to say that God treats us as He would like to be treated if He is in our place.

As kings and Priests, we are shepherds of God's flock in our workplaces, families and communities. We intercede for our team members, families in prayers and bless them, God loves them, He doesn't like his flock harassed

We are his ambassadors on earth, our pay does not come from earth, it is sent from our throne on high. That's why heb 11:6 says "No one can please God without faith, for whoever comes to God must have faith that God exists and rewards those who seek him."

So, let us do our work and wait patiently for our reward. Matt 6 :33 says "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." So let's

walk in his righteousness by being shepherds, maintaining rightness, justice and praises.

BLESSED ARE YOU GOD THE LOVING FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR SALVATION IN JESUS AND THEY ARE MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES!

THANK YOU JESUS!

.

OUR FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN

WE ARE FREE INDEED

I) OUR LATER GLORY IS BETTER THAN THE FORMER

‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.”

Haggai 2:9 NIV

Whenever we go through tribulations, know that our later glory is always better than the former. In the old covenant, Jeremiah 23:7 tells us that God will not only bring the Israelites out of Egypt, but will also bring them into their own land, and He fulfilled it. So the Israelites moved from slavery in a foreign land into living freely in their own land.

In the new covenant, Col 1:13 tells us that "He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves." We went from the kingdom of darkness to light.

Brothers and sisters, we are in a safe hand, God has restored us to a better glory.

We went from being born of flesh and blood to those " who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12‭-‬13)

David wrote about this as a prophet, "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings".(Ps 40:2) in another place he said "you have rescued me from death and kept me from defeat. And so I walk in the presence of God, in the light that shines on the living.(Ps 56:13 )

How are we kept on a solid rock, and set apart from defeat? Isaiah 10:27 tells us that because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, "the satanic yoke is destroyed as a result of fatness [which prevents the yoke from going around our neck]." So, because we have grown spiritually fat, we can never be yoked by the enemy again.

Therefore, no matter our present circumstances, let's know that we are glorified, our later days are better than the former.

BLESSED ARE YOU GOD THE LOVING FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST FOR WE HAVE RECEIVED YOUR SALVATION IN JESUS AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES!

THANK YOU JESUS!