I cannot even begin to wrap my head around what it would be like to have been lame or crippled from birth, unable to move on my own....and then have someone approach me and tell me to just... ‘stand up and walk’.

And yet, this happened multiple times as it’s recorded in scripture, where if Jesus was not raising up the lame, His followers were. (John 5:8-9; Acts 3:6-7). I have to wonder if there were any instances when Jesus approached someone in that condition, and they laughed at Him, refusing to even consider the possibility of being healed...as their lives remained unchanged while they watched Jesus move on to the next city or town. We do read where He ‘did few miracles because of their unbelief’ in some places (Matt. 13:58).

Clearly, our bodies were designed and created in order for us to walk uprightly on two healthy legs/limbs. I’m sure it’s something most of us take for granted. But were you aware that a follower of Jesus – one who is actually ‘abiding in Him’ has been set free from sin in order that they too...could ‘walk just as He (Jesus) walked? (1 John 2:6; John 8:36). But if you tell that to most professing ‘believers’ today...they have a hard time wrapping their ‘faith’ around such a notion and oftentimes will actually get mad or offended that you even suggest such a thing. Go figure.

Do you think it’s possible that the modern day church has a ‘messaging problem’ when it comes to reaching the very people we were commissioned to preach this gospel to? Let’s be honest, that old phrase how ‘Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven’ makes for a cute bumper sticker; but does that really offer people who are bound by sin any hope that they could be free from the very thing that binds them...and in turn is destroying their lives, or is hurting those around them who love them?

To the reader who may have dropped in here today...and would not even hint or suggest that you are a ‘believer’ or ‘follower of Jesus’, perhaps there are areas in your life that you so desperately wish were different. Call them ‘vices’ or ‘sins’ or ‘addictions’...maybe ‘chronically bad behavior or impulses’ that you can’t seem to control...can I just assure you today that the gospel that Jesus came preaching is powerful enough to set you free in such a way...that you can be ‘free indeed’ (John 8:36)? This...is what Jesus came to do for ‘whomsoever’ (Mark 2:17).

It might help for you to first realize that the reason you have failed repeatedly in seeing lasting changes in your life...is because these ‘problems’ that have chained you are ‘spiritual’ in nature. Yep, that is the God’s honest truth. And no matter how hard you try in your own strength to overcome these issues that plague you, you are powerless and defenseless to do so; which is why Jesus wants you to know this truth: You. Can. Be. Free.

But you have to turn to Him...with your whole heart.

All I can do for anyone to whom this might be ‘speaking to’ at this moment...is tell you what God’s word says. And this you can know: this whole world has been under the power or influence of ‘the wicked one’, whom we are told is ‘the devil’ (and his minions of fallen angels) (1 John 5:19; Acts 26:18; Eph. 2:1-3; Rev. 12:7-9). And the very reason Jesus came to earth was to set us free from them, as He was anointed and empowered by God to go about ‘healing all who were oppressed by the devil’ (Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18).

Can I tell you how...He plans to deliver you from these ‘enemies with in’? “Little by little”, in the same manner in which He led His people who entered in to Canaan Land and empowered them to overcome and remove their enemies (Ex. 23:27-30; Deut. 7:17-24). And God does not need your help or advice when doing this; He simply needs your cooperation and obedience as you ‘take up your cross’ and ‘put to death’, once and for all everything within you that is not of God’s nature, likeness, or image (Rom. 8:13-14).

Pride, greed, anger and lust...have to go. Foolish talk and filthy language, grumbling and complaining, gossip and backbiting...are to be repented of once and for all. Malice and bitterness, revenge and angry outburst will be a thing of your past...IF...you are following the leading of the Holy Spirit who will bring these things to your attention so you...can put them to death by the Spirit (Ex.23:23-24; Co. 3:5-9; Rom. 8:13). When Jesus promised that we would know the truth...and the truth would set us free, He then doubled down on that by stating: “And he whom the Son sets free will be free indeed” (John 8:32-36).

Do you know where so many in the ‘church’ today have gotten it wrong? They don’t believe they can ever be free of all these things and will always remain ‘fallen sinners’ (saved by grace) who will continue to stumble and sin because of their flawed humanity. So where does this leave room for the fact as a ‘Christian’...”we are His workmanship’ (Eph. 2:10) who are being ‘conformed to the image of Christ’ (Rom. 8:29) and ‘IF in Christ, we are a new creation where the old is gone and all things become new’...in THIS lifetime? (2 Cor. 5:17; 1 John 2:6) Would you hire a contractor who promised to remodel your home from the ground up, but all he ended up doing was giving you a cheap paint job?

We’ve been conditioned to spew out ‘empty words’ about ‘grace’ and ‘mercy’ and then point back to all the missteps and sins of well-known Bible characters whom God still used and worked through, like Abraham, Moses, David...and yes...even Peter, who denied knowing Jesus three times. Did they all fail miserably? Of course they did; but their failures were not an endorsement nor indicative that a born-again follower of Jesus would continue to do this (1 John 3:6-9, 5:18.) Oh...and how determined Peter was in assuring Jesus that he... would never fail Him, not Peter! And yet...we all know how that played out (Luke 22:31-34, 54-62)

So what was missing in Peter’s life in that moment...and could very well be missing in your life that might explain why no matter the number of times you have tried repeatedly...to ‘get it right’, you have fallen on your face over and over. It will wear you out with discouragement and frustration for sure. Tomorrow...we will examine more scripture and I encourage you to join me as we may discover what that missing ‘ingredient’ is. But if you want a ‘hint’, God gives us one in Zechariah where He reminds us that it is ‘not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit’...that we will overcome anything in our lives.(4:6)