The Narrow Way

When we originally receive the free gift of salvation, we begin the journey of faith.  It also begins us on the narrow way.  (See John 3:16-17; Romans 3:23, 6:23, 10:8-10)

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:13-14, NKJV)

As a believer and follower of Jesus, I have been learning more about the narrow way in my own walk with Him.  

The longer we are on our faith journeys, the more narrow becomes the path.

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."  (Romans 12:2, NKJV)

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."  (2 Corinthians 3:18, NKJV)

We become more holy in our behavior.  We become more obedient to our Father.  (See 1 Peter 1:13-16)

Ultimately, we become more like Him in every way.  As He is, so are we in this world.  (See 1 John 4:17)

Jesus is the way, the truth, the life.  (See John 14:6)

Copyright 2020 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Sacrifice on the Altar

Please first read Genesis 22:1-19.

God told Abraham to take his one and only son, Isaac, and sacrifice the boy to Him.  Abraham had wood, a knife, the fire, and Isaac with him.  He took all of the necessary items to perform the sacrifice on the altar.

His young son questioned his father beforehand.  Isaac asked Abraham, "...Where is the lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:7b, NKJV)?"

Abraham answered his son, "...God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:8a, NKJV)."

When they got to the physical place, Abraham began all of the preparations for the offering.  He built the altar and put down all of the wood in an orderly fashion.  Then, he got his son and bound him up.  He placed him on top of the wood on the altar.  Lastly, Abraham took his knife and got ready to physically sacrifice his only son, Isaac.

However, an angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven.  Abraham answered, "Here I am (Genesis 22:11b, NKJV)."

Then, He told Abraham not to harm his son.  He now knew that he feared the Lord, since he was going to sacrifice his one young son.

Abraham turned around and saw a ram in the bush.  He sacrificed the animal that the Lord provided in place of his son, Isaac.

The angel of the Lord again called out to Abraham.  He said, "Because you have not withheld your son, I will bless you and multiply your descendants.  Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies.  All the nations will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice (Genesis 22:16-18 - paraphrase mine)."

Could you do it?  Would you do it?  If God specifically asked you to sacrifice a prized possession, would you be able to do it?  Out of obedience to God, could you do it?

There are many people and/or things that get in the way of our personal relationships with God every single day in this world.  He desires to have all of us to Himself and for Himself for His purpose and plan.  He is a jealous God---a consuming fire (See 2 Corinthians 11:2)! 

Often He blesses us with people and material possessions in our lives.  However, He never wants them to personally take the place of Himself nor our personal relationships with Him.  He never wants anything or anyone else to consume us or possess us.  He desires to be the only one who possesses and consumes us.

What is currently possessing you?  What is now consuming you in life?  Is it material possessions?  Houses?  Cars?  Money?  People?  Work?  A position?  Another relationship?  A calling?  A ministry?  A Life Group?  Another small group? 

Whatever it is, make sure that it does not take precedence over God and a personal relationship with Him.  Otherwise, He may ask you to lay it down.  At any moment, He can request that you sacrifice that other person or thing on the altar.

Know that it is always for your best though.  He wants you---totally, completely, wholeheartedly.  He desires a personal relationship with you over anyone or anything else. 

Depending on the version, the specific phrase, ‘fear the Lord,’ is listed in the Bible over 100 times.  Therefore, it is very important to Him that everyone fear Him in a holy way.  He always wants us to revere and honor Him above all (See Exodus 20:3; Acts 9:31; 2 Corinthians 5:11). 

Copyright 2015 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.  

The Magnitude of the Cross

[Watch this excerpt video for the purpose of this lesson. *Note: This is a graphic portrayal of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ from the movie, The Passion of the Christ. Therefore, please be aware that it may be too graphic for anyone under the age of 21 to view this video.]

 

The Passion of the Christ

This portrayal from the movie, The Passion of the Christ, was only a portion of what our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ endured for us as believers.  And, it still doesn't fully depict all that He went through upon the Cross of us.  However, hopefully, you will gain some insight and a better understanding of His suffering for us through this depiction.

Now, some people within the body of Christ do not understand the magnitude of the Cross.  I am not saying that I, or anyone, can fully understand it.  The more we better understand it though, the more it will cause all of us to live a holy life just like Jesus.  He literally lived a holy and sinless life, and He lives within every believer today.  Therefore, it is possible with the help of the Holy Spirit for believers to also live a holy and sinless life. 

Unfortunately, there are some people in the church as a whole who think since Jesus already died on the Cross for them----it gives them a so-called license to sin.  That is not true.  That is not the case.  I am here to tell you, "No!  Stop it!  Stop sinning against God, yourself, and others!"

It is unacceptable for believers in Jesus Christ to look and act like the rest of the world.  We are called to be set apart from the world.  We are in this world but not of this world.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."  (Romans 12:2a, NIV) 

When all believers get a better grasp of the Cross, people will live a more holy life like Jesus Christ Himself.  He took on all of our sins on Himself.  He bore it once and for all.  (Hebrews 7:27)  Therefore, we are forgiven of all sin.  

That doesn't mean to be flippant (meaning: disrespectful, shallow) about it though. It doesn't give us permission to sin.  It means we should want to live more for Him---honor Him, resemble Him---be holy.  But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:15, NIV)

What does the word 'holy' mean?  According to scripture, it means that we conduct ourselves in a Godly way.  We don't knowingly and willfully sin against God, ourselves, and/or others.  We yield to and follow the Spirit of God.  (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:18)  We obey God's word---His truth.  We walk in that truth.  We live it out in this world.  (1 John 4:17) 

That's what it means to live a holy life before God, ourselves, and others. 


Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

Yesterday, Today, and Forever

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."  (Hebrews 13:8, NIV)

In the same way, God's children should be the same every day.  There shouldn't be any mood swings in us.  We shouldn't go by our feelings which are ever changing from one moment to the next.  We shouldn't have any wrong mindsets, negative thoughts, or as Joyce Meyer would say---any 'stinking thinking'.  We shouldn't be hot one day, and then cold the next day towards people.  After all, we are not like the weather which changes often. 

We are made in the image of God.  (Genesis 1:26-27)  He doesn't change.  "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."  (James 1:17, NIV)

Neither does He change His mind.  "God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind."  (Numbers 23:19a, NIV)

We shouldn't change.  Neither should we change our minds.  As God's children, we should be the same every day.

God's thoughts and ways are always higher and better than a human's thoughts and ways.  (Isaiah 55:8-9)  We should forgive as He forgave us.  (Colossians 3:13b)  We should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.  (Galatians 5:22-23)  We should 'walk in love'.  (2 John 1:6)

"Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  (Ephesians 5:1-2, NIV)

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:15-16, NIV)  

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."  (Matthew 5:48, NIV)


Copyright 2014 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.

The Believer's True Identity - Part 2

I recently shared with you that it is very important for the body of Christ to know their true identity for a few different reasons.  For one, members of the body have to know their spiritual identity before they truly know who they are in Christ.  In addition, believers of Jesus Christ need to know their actual identity in order to receive everything that Jesus died to give them and all that includes as well.  They can only know their true identity when they look into the spiritual "mirror" of God's word.  Knowing their spiritual identity also helps the believers to know their purpose in God's plan.

First of all, we are adopted by God.  (Ephesians 1:5)  We are adopted into His spiritual family.  We are part of God's family once we accept Jesus into our hearts. 

Next, we are accepted by God.  It does not matter what we do or where we are spiritually.  God accepts us and loves us unconditionally.  (Ephesians 1:6)

We are truly blessed by God.  (Ephesians 1:3)  He has spiritual blessings stored up for us because of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.  We must believe that we are blessed in order to receive all of our spiritual blessings.

Additionally, we are chosen by God before the beginning of time.  Before the foundation of the world was laid, God chose us to be His people.  He created us for His purpose and plan.  (Jeremiah 29:11)

We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.  According to Dictionary.com, the term 'redeemed' means cleared by payment or bought back.  We were purchased at a price.  That price was Jesus.  We are forgiven of all sin once and for all time.  (Ephesians 1:7)

We are justified by God through our faith in Jesus Christ.  (1 Corinthians 6:11; Galatians 2:15-17; James 2:23-25)  According to Dictionary.com, the term 'justified' means 'to declare innocent or guiltless; absolve; acquit.'  Therefore, we who are justifed are innocent or guiltless in God's eyes.  It is not due to our own human acts but due to Christ's one act of love. 

We are blameless. It means that we are without blame or fault before God our Father. He sees us just like He sees His son, Jesus. (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:21-23; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13)

Next, we are also sanctified by God.  (1 Corinthians 6:11; John 17:17, 19; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4)  He sanctifies us by His word...His truth.  According to Dictionary.com, the term 'sanctified' means 'made holy; consecrated'.  We are purified and freed from sin. 

We are already holy. (Ephesians 1:4, 4:24; Colossians 1:22, 3:12; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13; 1 Peter 1:13-16) Jesus is holy. His spirit within us is holy which helps us to be holy in our behavior.

We are already pure too. (1 John 3:2-3) Like Jesus, we are pure because of His spirit within us.

In addition, we are called by God to do great work for Him.  (1 Corinthians 7:20, 24)

We are anointed by God.  (1 John 2:20-21, 27)  God knows all things.  His spirit within us knows all things and teaches us all things.  We must cooperate with Him and His spirit within us.

We are complete in Christ Jesus.  His spirit within us makes us fully complete and whole.  (Colossians 2:9-10)  We do not lack anything in Him. 

We are perfect in Christ.  His spirit within us is perfect which makes us perfect just like Jesus.  (Matthew 5:48)

Lastly, we are righteous in Jesus.  We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:6; Ephesians 4:20-24, 6:14; 1 John 2:29, 3:7)

It helps to know our true identity in Christ Jesus in order to be the women God has created us to be for Him, His purpose, and His plans for us.  When we believe what God says about us instead of what other people say to us or about us, it will not only change us but change our lives for the better.  We will no longer be deceived by the devil.  We will have everything God wants us to have and be everything that God wants us to be.  We will be living the abundant life...walking into all of the blessings of God.  (John 10:10)  We will be living in God's perfect will.  (Romans 12:2)  We will experience as much as heaven on earth as possible.  (Matthew 6:10)


Copyright 2013 by Dawn Freeman. All rights reserved.