F. I .C. M  NEWSLETTER
SUMMER 2003
FREEDOM
BY Pastor RICH JOHANSAN

    Let's talk about freedom.  In the USA we are blessed to be in a free nation.  We can vote for the candidate of our choice.  We can work in the occupation of our choice.  We are able to travel freely from state to state.  We can buy homes, cars, clothing etc,. and marry the spouse of our choice.  We have the right to speak our opinions freely.  These are just a few of the freedoms that we enjoy and that most of us take for granted.  Yet these freedoms that we enjoy come with a large price tag.  Many men and women gave their lives to ensure our freedom.

    Now lets talk about another kind of freedom that is even more important.  John 8:36 says, "Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free, you shall be free indeed". I once was a slave but now I am free.  You may be thinking, how was he a slave, he was born in America which is a free country.  You are right, my slavery wasn't at the hands of men, my slavery was to the devil and the desires of the flesh.  Galatians 5:19-21 describes the bondage I was in, "v19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, v20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, v21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which i tell you before hand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."  I wasn't guilty of all of it, but a lot of those verses were a part of my lifestyle.  Then at a time in my life when I didn't think there was a way of escape, I asked Jesus to come into my life, to forgive me and take control.  At that time I became the 2nd Corinthians 517, man, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." Praise the Lord!  I was transformed from a slave of sin to a slave of Christ.  The freedom from sin that we now enjoy also came at a high price.  That price being the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.  He died on the cross for you and me.  He paid the price that we deserved to pay.

    So now when the old sin nature begins to act up, just remind the devil that you are no longer under his control.  Romans 6:16-18 " v16 Do you not know that to whom  you present yourselves saves to obey, you are that one's slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? v17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  v18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."  We've been set free!  Now it's up to us to choose to walk in it.  Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."  Sin no longer rules our lives, Jesus does, Praise the Lord!