Christian Living

SHADING YOUR LIBERTY

by Emmanuel Ude
05/03/16
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Author: Bassey Emmanuel Ude

Title: Shading your Liberty

          Freedom is what every human seeks, if it was possible some people would have wished God never existed to give them his statutes to live by. And I asked, if he hasn’t existed, would we have been in existence? Maybe nature would have looked for a way of creating the human race. and another question arises, who is nature? For the bible says “in the beginning was the world and the world was with God and the world was God” verse one of Genesis chapter one says “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth (Nature). (KJV) so God is nature.

          We are still talking about freedom, Jesus said “For if the Son of man sets you free, you are free indeed” this means that total freedom comes from Christ alone. I recall many years ago when I accidentally fell inside a water well and my mum saved me. I definitely would have drowned. I was saved but not totally saved because without salvation I was still in a deeper spiritual well which only Christ could get me out, and set me on the free path and having liberty haven been free from the limitations of that well.

          Liberty is gracefully gained by every Christian because Christ had liberty but for the sake of the gospel was still bound that he may win many to the kingdom. Apostle Paul declared this in 1Corinthians 9: 1 “am I not free? (KJV)… verse 19 “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. Christ recognizes the importance of Christian discipline, the necessity of shading his liberty as a God on earth, as a preacher of repentance. In Apostle Paul’s life, we see the same attributes and characteristic posited by Christ. This is a pointer to the fact that every Christian is obliged to take control of his Christian liberty. Apostle Paul’s life depict carefulness in conduct, conversation and decency in appearance. As Christians, we are free from human laws and judgment and only answerable to God final judgment 1Corinthians 9:19 “For though I be free from all men…21 “… (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,)… our approach to life, our conduct, in conversation and everything that characterize our lifestyle, we are free from man’s laws and judgment (not constitutional and those that are not against the bible. 1 Peter 2:13-14. 13 “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;” “14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well”. KJV) I mean the ceremonial laws, the sacrifices and the belief in gods, in sacrificing items and making ceremonial events for this so called gods. 1 Cor 8:9-13 “9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. “10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; “11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? “12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. “13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend”.

          Liberty cries out “you can eat, it means nothing after all “he that is in you is greater than he that is in the world” there is absolutely nothing just men full of ignorance and deceit from the devil. And In the same vein curtailing our liberty as Christian is very imperative because the Bible says in 1 Cor 8:7-9 “7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. Verse 8 “But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. Verse 9 “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak”.

          Many believers have been entangled in sin in the verge of exercising their Christian liberty 1 Peter 2:16 (NIV) “Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil (sin); live as servants of God”. Unnecessary closeness to him/her may trigger what I call an invitation to treat, much effort to belong can slowly drag you into the wrong assembly, and the quest for popularity will soon introduce us into a new act and wrong means of achievement.

          In one of the Pentecostal church in my county, the church zonal coordinator and the zonal women coordinator were involve in fornication and when discovered they were suspended. In one of the church leaders meeting a man asked, “how did it start?” a question a pastor close to me said is unnecessary because when lust is conceive it births sin.

          When the devil knows that suggesting outright fornication or adultery to you will probably not materialize, he uses means that are sometime very difficult to know will lead to sin. As insignificant as they may appear, we have to be watchful and prayerful because a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arm… a little corner we give to devil to occupy and I tell you sooner or later he will occupy the whole house.

          We must learn to be discipline, I was travelling with a friend in one of the holidays when I was in college and he told me of one of the campus Christian leader who never allowed a girl into his house alone. At first I asked why but later on I discovered that he was shading his liberty and never giving room for the devil to whisper a thought nor operate.

          All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. 1 Cor 6:12

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 1 Cor 10:23. I tell you, you wanna  accept those visitation at late hours every day, you don’t wanna engage in the kind of unanticipated relationship, you don’t wanna be part of that conversation, you can’t give room for that can of hugging , not that kind of touches, not that type of play. Hi friend! He is just too close, I bet you she drawing too intimate. You have to watch out before they wash you out and probably save this words “I didn’t see it coming”, see what? I leave it to you

          In our daily activities as pilgrims on earth, having in mind why we are here and bearing in mind where we are going to (Heaven) let us act wisely (1 Samuel 18:15). 1 Cor 8:9 “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak. Romans 14:13 “therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to be a stumbling block or obstacle in your brothers way”. But we should “earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”. Jude 3