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Worship: The Freedom Connection
Break Every Chain
words/music by Will Reagan
unitedpursuitbandWorship is probably the most effective way to connect with the Lord God. The act of worship gives voice to your faith, a guard for your heart, and an opportunity for God Almighty to speak to your heart and touch your soul and body. It is a special time that allows Him the freedom to have His way in our life.
The Freedom Connection!
There’s a story in the Bible about a madman, a demon-possessed man, who could not be chained, shackled, suppressed, controlled, or tamed by anyone. My how they tried! They might get the shackles on for a moment, but before long, SNAP! The chains would fly off, and the man would be on the prowl again.
IF, I repeat, IF, you wanted to find him (though I’m not sure why you would want to), he usually hung out at the local cemetery. No chains, no clothes, no hassles. Unless, of course, someone came along to pester him.
While it’s true no one could shackle him, it is just as true he was not a free man. He was bound by a much stronger force than anything man could create or concoct. He was bound by evil spirits whose sole desire was to steal, kill, and destroy.
He was bound, shackled and tortured by demonic chains!
Though he lived “free” among the tombs, and though no one could control him or even communicate with him, he was not a free man.
How did all this happen? When did this change “come over” the man? What was he like before he became bound by the devil? Scripture doesn’t give the answer for those specific questions. The best we can do is surmise a guess based on principles revealed in the Word.
For instance, Proverbs reveals, “Pride goes before destruction…” (16:18). We know that was one of the issues the prince of darkness, The Rebellion’s Leader, had problems with. Pride opens the “door” for thoughts, actions, and even manifestations of the evil one.
Isaiah 14 reveals another aspect of Lucifer’s problem. It wasn’t just pride, but a discontented heart. He wasn’t content with the ministry the Most High gave him. No, he wanted elevated to THE Highest place. He felt he could do better than the One Who created him. Discontented and Anointed with Power, Authority, Beauty, and a following of others spelled trouble, division, and ultimately a change in Heavenly leadership. A new worship leader had to be found.
This could be the reason the madman was like he was. It’s possible. He could have been an associate rabbi at a local synagogue. He could have felt his messages were far better than those of the senior rabbi. The more he thought about it, the more others reinforced those ideas with words like, “brother, you really are a great teacher/preacher. You ought to have your own church. We get much more out of your messages than our rabbi,” then the more he was convinced. Things like that can turn many a head. And, turn the head far enough, it just might fall off.
Something else might have happened. Someone could have really upset him. Maybe made him the laughingstock of all their jokes. Maybe they lied about him and ruined his reputation. Maybe…maybe he felt like others were putting him down, ridiculing him and not appreciating him enough.
How do you handle the words of others, aimed as arrows at your heart, words you know are untrue? Do the actions of others draw you into feelings of retaliation, or extreme depression?
What did Jesus do when people attacked Him like that? He did just what James said to do. “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (4:7)
There are other things that might have been the reason the man was being controlled by demons. Maybe raised in a home that worshiped everything EXCEPT the One True God. I’m not saying his parents were evil personified, but just “living for the almighty dollar”, or “living and working for the weekend, for recreation, for football, for a party, etc” is a form of worship many in this day and age ascribe to. Worshiping anything or anyone other than God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ will only leave a void in one’s life. That void CAN be filled with habits or spirits that bind a person with unbreakable bonds.
But this blog isn’t just about how chains can be applied, or how a man can lose control of his life. This is about FREEDOM. It’s about Jesus, and His ability, desire, anointing to break EVERY chain!
The Kingdom of God isn’t just about words. It’s about Heaven’s Authority AND Power changing things on earth. Jesus said, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven.” And He meant it.
When the “madman” first laid eyes on Jesus, he ran to worship Him. “When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him.” Mark 5:6
The demons controlling him fought to keep him bound. But it was too late! Worship had drawn the two together.
The madman was changed by the Kingdom of God. The woman at the well was changed by the same power. The Widow of Nain’s son was raised from the dead by the Word of Heaven!
And, regardless of the reasons for your chains, you can be free as well.
Will you worship, will you bow down before your Lord and King?
Will you be free today?
Free! Jesus breaks every chain. There’s IS power in the Name of Jesus!
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It’s Getting Late
“I’m bored.”
“I don’t have anything to do!”
“Honey, we NEED more TV channels.”
“Life isn’t fair! People are making fun of me because I go to church on Sunday.”
“God, You KNOW I must win the lottery! You know my needs. I promise, IF You’ll come through on this one, I will TITHE on the amount after taxes.”
“If I hear another message from that pastor of ours about working in the church, I’m going to leave. I’ve put in my time! It’s time for someone else to do something. And what about him? He only works a few hours a week! I’m too busy, anyway.”Have YOU given any thought, lately, to how late it is?
Late?
Yes, late. I’m referring to the Lord’s end time clock.
Why did you just roll your eyes at me?
Like it or not, prepared or not, believe it or not; time keeps ticking, the world keeps turning, and seasons come and go. People come and go, babies are born, others expire; life keeps going through the motions.
But with each passing second we step just a bit closer to the end of the age.
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You Have Free Speech!
Free Speech. THE HOTTEST TOPIC in quite awhile.
But speech has always been free! Sure, there may be consequences from what is said, but anyone and everyone can freely say what they want.
Phil Robertson said what he wanted to say, in regards to homosexuality and sin in general. No one put a gun to his head before or after he spoke. Sure, he lost his job. He’d probably rather duck hunt, anyway. But he freely said what he wanted to say. And I applaud him.
I understand the First Amendment is part of our United States of America’s Bill of Rights. It gives each and every American the right to free speech. But the government can’t give you what God has already given every human being. They also can’t take away something they couldn’t give in the first place.
Free speech, like it or not, doesn’t mean people can say what they want without the risk of consequences.
Believe it or not, not everyone is going to love what you have to say!
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Meet with God
Awesome is the encounter; when God and man commune as one.
Fragile meets Unbreakable, impotent meets Omnipotent at the place of worship; above the Mercy Seat, between the two cherubim.
“There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel.”(Exodus 25:22 ESV)
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:8 – 4:11 ESV)
God measures the universe by the span of His hand, yet He dwells between the cherubim above the Mercy Seat.
The glory that shines on the face of Jesus resides within my spirit. The cloud that came and overshadowed those on the mountain fills my heart to overflowing. And it’s the same cloud that filled the Holy of Holies when God came down.
“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.” (Psalm 45:1 ESV)
He anoints my head with oil and my hands with fire. He establishes my words and my walk. He clothes me with His Glory; He is the Shield around me and the light within. We have communed, and I am alive!
His power not only sustains me, but also makes me jealous for Him as He is for me.
By His Spirit within me, I have the wisdom to do His will on earth. With His Spirit upon me, I have supernatural, miracle working, life giving love for those around me.
His Spirit restores me, transforms me, pours through me, and even “floors” me. He adores me, and I Him.
In His Presence is fullness of joy; at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Worship pours from me like water; cool, refreshing water.
I have no fear, even in His awesome Presence. For He is my peace.
Jesus is my propitiation, my Mercy Seat. He is my worship!
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What If Santa Got Sick?
Wow! Only one week until Gift Exchange Day. Just 7 days before one of our Happy Holidays. Approximately 168 hours left before someone we all know and love takes to the friendly skies, with a cheery ho-ho-ho and sleigh full of toys.
I wonder if he ever has a bad day?
What if the red-suited guy got sick some year? What would the world do?
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Worship and Warfare
“Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in.” (Joshua 6:1 ESV)
Have you ever sat watching people as they go about their day? I have. Actually, I’m the kind of person who could sit for hours and do nothing but watch people! I know, I’m kind of weird. My only defense is I come by it honest.
As I watch people go about their hectic day, I wonder about their spiritual life. Do you? I wonder if they’re as free as they want people to believe? Can they go anywhere they desire, or are they limited by chains and walls of addictions? Do they have the authority to open their gates and leave the old life behind, or is someone, or something else controlling who comes and goes? Have they ever tried scaling the walls, calling for help; or have they given in to the devil’s spin, “this is the way it is; the way it will always be”?
Most people know the story of Jericho; and how God had Joshua shout the walls down so they could go in and kill all the people. Well, that’s MOSTLY true.
But there’s a more important storyline here. I believe Jericho was attacked for the following reasons:
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I Hate Cancer
I hate cancer!
Cancer: a malignant tumor of potentially unlimited growth that expands locally by invasion and systemically by metastasis (which is the spread of a disease-producing agency (as cancer cells) from the initial or primary site of disease to another part of the body; also : the process by which such spreading occurs).
An evil, malevolent tumor of unlimited potential growth that expands by invasion…
An evil tumor. An abnormal new growth of tissue that possesses no physiological function. Something that draws life and energy from that which it’s attached itself to. It serves no benevolent purpose. It steals nutrition, kills good cells, and destroys any resemblance of life.
Cancer isn’t just a disease in a body, but a hellish disease that affects people’s thoughts and attitudes, causing the destruction of relationships.
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The Check Engine Light
I would like to add to what was written in a previous post, “Shame On Us.”
Every single person living on planet earth has a problem with sin. What do I mean, “has a problem”?
Well, I DON’T mean people have a problem sinning; like they can’t find a way to sin! Not at all! It is so much a part of our nature, we have a problem trying to keep from sinning.
No one has to be taught to do wrong. There’s not a child born that won’t, someday, disobey their parents at least one time. And they don’t need instructions from an older sibling, either.
It all started in the Garden of Eden. Man disobeyed, and suddenly, they knew something was wrong. Maybe they felt guilty. Maybe they were ashamed. And why not? There certainly are consequences associated with sin.
Below I’ve listed 4 words: shame, conviction, ashamed, and contrite; along with their definitions. Please note, there is not much difference between any of the words.
Shame: a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing.
Conviction: the state of being convinced of error or compelled to admit the truth.
Ashamed: a: feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace b: feeling inferior or unworthy
Contrite: feeling or showing sorrow and remorse for a sin or shortcoming.
Shame can be likened to the “check engine” light on a car’s instrument panel. It’s an indicator of a possible malfunction, not the problem itself. It means, “you better have a mechanic inspect your engine and fix whatever’s wrong.”
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A Reason To Worship
In case you can’t find a reason to worship the Lord this Christmas season, here’s one for you.
“And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.” (Exodus 4:31 ESV)
Have you heard the news? The Good News of Christmas? God saw our plight, our emptiness, and our cruel bondage to sin. He knew there could be no freedom unless He sent Someone strong enough, and pure enough, to defeat the devil on his own turf.
So, that’s what He did.
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8 ESV)
Do you believe the story of Christmas?
It’s true. God saw YOUR bondage, YOUR affliction, and He sent His Son for YOU.
THAT is the reason for Christmas, and the reason to worship.
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Shame On Us
Shame: a feeling of responsibility for wrongdoing.
Have you noticed? There doesn’t seem to be much shame in America these days.
Oh, there’s plenty of shameful things happening, but shame just can’t be found.
Why? Why is shame so hard to find?
Is it because people don’t know they’re doing wrong? Maybe in some cases. After all, the last couple of generations have allowed this country’s moral standards to drop so low, almost anything is acceptable.
To a large number of people, it’s quite alright to kill babies, as long as they’re killed while still in their mother’s womb.
Where’s the shame?
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
