Yesterday our pastor did an amazing message on putting ourselves in bondage and living the life of freedom that God is offering. There is a big difference between us living for Christ and Christ living through us. The first is something that we in our flesh try to accomplish, the second is something that the Spirit is trying to accomplish. The church today is so programmed that we must do something for Christ, it might not be works for salvation, or works in general, but most everyone will say "But you are supposed to be living for Christ". And how can we in our flesh accomplish this? We can't. It is only the faith of Jesus Christ that perfects us!!! I have known this and believed this for quite awhile. But yesterday it became even clearer.
Galatians 4:22-23---For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
Genesis 16:1-4 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.
Genesis 16:15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.
Genesis 17:18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee!
Abraham did a work in the flesh. He tried to solve the problem on his own. It was like he was saying "look what I did God. Can't you use Ishmael? See I made a son you can use him." He was trying in his flesh to fulfill God's promise but God said:
Genesis 17:19-21 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation. But my covenant will I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.
Genesis 21:1-5 And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac. And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him. And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.This is such an amazing example to us trying in ourselves to do something to please God. We say so often "God look at all of these good things I have done." But the only works that will stand are those done by the leadership of the Spirit.
Genesis 21:9-10 And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
The son of the bondwoman will always mock that of promise. Paul was mocked for the message God had given him, today Grace believers are looked at as the hypocrites. But it is amazing to see how God has done it all and all we must do it simply get in the Word an He will do the rest! We see what Abram did in his flesh and it was unacceptable.
Galatians 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.
We need to stop saying "Look what I've done. Can you use it?" No he can't. Cast out the bondwoman, get rid of it.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
This is such an amazing message! We should walk through our day simply glorying in ALL that Christ has done for us and glorying in Him! I think it is neat though that God knew how our fleshly minds would work. He knew we would say "oh I'm under grace I can do what I want to then." But he follows up 5:1 with verse 13.
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
And now we come to this verse and it gives it such a greater meaning:
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
And this one:
Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
WOW GOD IS SO AWESOME!!!! Thank you Jesus for your AMAZING GRACE!!!!!
