Counting the Cost

Have you truly counted the cost of your decisions?  

For yourself?  For others?

We all suffer and endure at the expense of not only our decisions but also other people's decisions within the body of Christ.  Why?  We are all connected both spiritually, physically, and/or otherwise.  We are ultimately affected as a part of the spiritual body though.

"And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it."  (1 Corinthians 12:26, NKJV)

However, there is another way.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me."  (Matthew 16:24, NKJV)

'The world' would have you to think and believe that you are just on your own here.  You have to do it all by yourself.  Just pick yourself up by your boot straps so to speak.  You are old enough, educated enough, pretty enough, etc.  After all, it's all about you and your own selfish thoughts and ways.  You should be self-sufficient.  Just do it as the Nike commercial said many years ago.

Well, that kind of thinking is contrary to God and His word.  

"For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ."  (1 Corinthians 12:12, NKJV)

"For in fact the body is not one member but many."  (1 Corinthians 12:14, NKJV)

But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.  And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,  but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.  (1 Corinthians 12:20-25, NKJV)

"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.  And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.  Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?  Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?"  (1 Corinthians 12:27-30, NKJV)

We all need not only God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  We all need each other spiritually, physically, and/or otherwise.  

The Apostle Paul not only recognized his weaknesses but he boasted about them.  That is usually contrary to the world's view which doesn't want you to know your weakness, show your weakness, or talk about your weakness.  He knew that it wasn't about him but about Jesus Christ though.  

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  (2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NKJV)

I too like the Apostle Paul recognize my weaknesses.  Therefore, I know my absolute need for my Savior on a daily basis.  It's through His Grace that He strengthens me, empowers me, and more.  

What is Grace?  For one, Grace is the person of Jesus Christ.  Grace is also a gift which cannot be earned nor worked for either.  We are not only saved by Grace through faith in Jesus, but we also live by Grace through faith in Jesus.  (See Romans 5:1-2; Ephesians 2:8-9)  

We are not only made in God's image, but we are His children which is all by Grace through faith in Jesus.  He loves all of us unconditionally.  (See Genesis 1:26-27; Romans 8:31-39)  He not only modeled His love for us but tells us about His love for us.  (See Isaiah 53; John 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

"By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."  (1 John 3:16, NKJV)

What does that look like?

"My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth."  (1 John 3:18, NKJV)

What is the truth?

God's word.  It is the absolute and eternal truth.

"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (John 8:32, NKJV)

That freedom is not to indulge the flesh --- the old, sinful nature --- but to serve one another in love --- His perfect love.  (See Galatians 5:13-14, 16)

Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All Rights Reserved.

Greater Works

Jesus never became friends with the devil. However, within the body of Christ, it seems that some members think and believe that we are to just tolerate sin and passively accept the works of the devil in the world. Too many Christians seem to believe that it's alright for men to think, dress, and act like women; women to think, dress, and act like men; for both men and women to have operations and procedures which change their God-created physical bodies; and so much more. It is not alright. Nowhere in God's word does it say that is alright with Almighty God either. Therefore, it should not be alright with any true believer within the body of Jesus Christ.

One of the reasons I have brought this up is due to a ministry meeting I attended a couple of months ago. This particular ministry hosts support groups for both men and women at different agencies within the community. Now, they are allowing men who identify as women to attend women support groups which not only bothers me but concerns me for the actual women within the groups who may want and need to talk confidentially about their past, their relationships, the men in their lives; and more. With so-called women now identifying themselves as women instead of actually men, it can be even more of crossed boundary lines within the support groups. As a minister, I found the whole topic of self-identified women who are still physically men allowed in women support groups to be very disturbing to me.

For those who are truly blood-bought children of God, we are in the world but not of the world. It is so very important for us to set an example as Jesus Christ was the example for us. He never condoned sin even in unbelievers such as the adulteress woman. He didn't condemn her either. However, He did tell her to go and sin no more. With the demon-possessed man, Jesus rebuked the evil spirit within the man as well as commanded him to come out and go into the swine. He didn't just accept the demonic man as he was at the time. There are also plenty of other instances in God's word where Jesus didn't tolerate the sin nor placate the sinner.

"...as He is, so are we in this world..." (1 John 4:17, NKJV - emphasis added mine)

Jesus not only tells us the works we are to do here, but He also shows us the works we are to do in God's word. Before He left this world, He told all of God's legitimate children that we do greater works than He did while He was here. (See John 14:12-14) Consequently, I not only encourage you but also strongly urge you to do all of His work in this world.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn..." (Isaiah 61:1-2, NIV)

Who will seriously join me?  I am looking for people to partner with me in ministry.

(See Genesis 1 - 2; Isaiah 53; Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 5:1-20; John 8:1-11; Romans 12:1-2)

Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Following God's Call

Not every person is meant to have a JOB as the world thinks and says of other people. That kind worldview is not really biblical anyway. Every person has different spiritual gifts, abilities, talents, skills, experiences, callings, paths, and journeys. Don't attempt to box other people into a very limited box.

Jesus was a carpenter by trade, but He was the Savior of the world. The Apostle Paul had a tent-making business. However, he was basically a traveling evangelist who went from house to house and church to church. In between, he went to prison while doing God's work. Peter was a fisherman. 'The Rock' as he was called was chosen by God to preach on the day of Pentecost to thousands of people.

Mary was a virgin, but she became the mother of Jesus Christ. David was a shepherd who became a king. Matthew was a tax collector by trade. Luke was a physician. Both men were disciples of Jesus Christ though. Rahab was a prostitute who became an ancestor in the lineage of Jesus.

I could go on, but I won't now. I will say this... Some people are meant to have trades. Some people are meant to have---what the world calls---jobs. Some people are meant to own businesses.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ..." (Ephesians 4:11-12, NKJV)

Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. That's the freedom to be who God has created each of us to be for His purpose and plan. So, release all of the burdens to God. Leave all the cares behind. And, allow God to do the work in and through people. He knows best for every person in this world.

(See Joshua 2; Isaiah 53; Matthew 1, 4:18, 9:9-10; Acts 2:14-39, 16:1-40; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 12; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Ephesians 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13)


Copyright 2018 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Setting the Captives Free

Are you being held captive? Are you in a prison?

A prison is not necessarily a physical confined space as you may think of today. It can be more than just that kind of confinement or restriction. People can be confined or restricted by the way they think as well. People can be free physically and still be in a mental prison. Likewise, people can be free mentally and still be in a physical prison. Either way, you are being held captive either physically or mentally. It does not have to be that way though.

When the Apostle Paul was confined, he was in a physical prison with Silas. (Acts 16:23-24) However, Paul was not confined or restricted mentally. In the midst of his temporary circumstance, Paul was still able to praise and worship God. (Acts 16:25) It can be the same for you.

The Apostle Paul says to cast “down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God” and bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…” (2 Cor 10:5, KJV)  However, you first must know God’s word. You must know His truth!

By continually renewing your mind in God’s word, you will be able to know more fully His truth. (Rom 12:2) God assures everyone that His truth will set him or her free! (John 8:32) You can be free in your mind, your situation, and your life. To be free, you must read and study His word on a daily basis though.

Then, you will be free mentally and physically. There will be no more prisons in you or in your life. You will not be held captive in your mind and in your life any longer. (Luke 4:18) “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36, NKJV)


Copyright 2012 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.