March 2023 – LTW GLOBAL

True Freedom

July 6, 2020

True Freedom

By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Satan will entice you to use your freedom to sin. But true freedom means we are free from sin—free to serve Christ and live holy lives.

Read 2 Peter 2:17-22. One of Satan’s cleverest tactics is to entice us into slavery by giving it a new name: freedom. Schooled in the art of seduction, he will keep at it until he overpowers the voice of the Holy Spirit—if we let him.

In verse 19, Peter warns us that false teachers will promote a false, unbiblical ‘freedom’ that actually gives us license to sin. They will twist the Truth, saying we are free to sin because God’s grace will cover it.

If Christian freedom is not properly understood, it can be easy for us to fall into this trap. But here is the Truth: When the Bible speaks about our freedom in Christ, it is referring to freedom from sin—and freedom to serve Christ. Before Christ came into our lives, we were slaves to sin, but since Christ has saved us, we are free from that merciless slave master (see Romans 6:15-23). By the Spirit, we now have power to say no to our lusts and joyfully serve our Lord Jesus.

Friends, let us not be allured by Satan’s arguments of cheap grace. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). Train yourself each day to reject unrighteousness and experience true freedom in Christ. It’s never too late to serve Him with your whole heart today.

Prayer: Lord, I rejoice in the freedom You have secured for me in Christ—freedom to live in the peace and joy of holiness. Show me how I can serve You today. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for ‘people are slaves to whatever has mastered them’” (2 Peter 2:19).

Everything We Need

March 24, 2023
Uncategorized

Power for Christian living does not lie in hard-to-attain experiences. It comes from realizing God has already given us everything we need.

Read 2 Peter 1:3-4. Have you ever been frustrated trying to chase the next spiritual experience? Or felt that something was missing in your life with God? If so, you are not alone. Many of us have been there. Truthfully, our problem is not that we lack what we need—it is that we have not fully appropriated all that He has already given us.

When we first receive Christ, we receive everything we need to live a godly life (2 Peter 1:3). We are filled with the Holy Spirit and become recipients of every covenantal promise of God—promises like:

“[T]hose who hope in the Lord will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
“[W]hoever believes in [Christ] shall not perish” (John 3:16).
“[I]n all things God works for the good of those who love him” (Romans 8:28).

Today, before you search for the next mountaintop experience, remember the promises of God. Before you give in to depression and despair, remember the promises of God. And long before you say, “It’s too late for me,” remember the promises of God. As you allow these precious promises to permeate your mind, you will participate in the “divine nature,” living in the abundance of all that Christ has given you (2 Peter 1:4). He has already given you everything you need; don’t let anything hold you back from living fully for Him.

Prayer: Father, I know Your promises are sure and unchanging. Thank You that my experience of Your presence has no bearing on the Truth that You are with me. Thank You for empowering me with Your Spirit so that I can live abundantly with joy, holiness, and hope. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Month: March 2023

True Freedom

Everything We Need