Out of the mouths of babes strikes again. I was teaching a Sunday school class of seven 3rd – 5th graders on Daniel and the lions den. I asked them to give me a situation where it was difficult for them to do something they knew they should do.
I had to refrain from laughing at some of the answers, while others were quite serious. We then read the story of Daniel who continued to do what he knew he should do, even with a death sentence hanging in the air for disobeying the government.
Then one of the kids spoke up about Christians being killed for their faith in Syria, which sparked a wonderful conversation. (I’ll save you the details.) All the children, save one, immediately said they would be like Daniel, even though it would cost them their life. Keep in mind this was a group of 3rd-5th graders.
I said, “Want to know if you’d respond like Daniel?” The Lord had their attention as all eyes were riveted on me. “Obey your parents now, even when it’s hard to do. You obey now when it’s tough, you’ll do it later when it’s tougher.”
This lesson is true for all of us. Obey your Father now when it’s tough, and you’ll stand up for Him in times of crisis, even deadly ones. Learn to exercise the truth by faith Spirit empowered now and you’ll be prepared to do it later if and when the stakes are higher.
Set Fre“E” Nowww

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The key to this passage is found with the word and. First, a witness is someone who knows something from personal experience. Second, believers would be indwelt with an incredible power source, the very Spirit of God. And connects these two thoughts.
You can only experience God change your life through the power of the Spirit of God. When you do, you have something to share, something to witness about, as you’ve personally experience God work in your life. A changed life is a powerful witness.
I heard the story of a person who built a relationship with a self-avowed Satanist, who knew the Bible better than most Christians. He brought a very gifted Christian apologist to sit down and share with this Satanist, but the apologist made absolutely no headway. The Satanist had a rebuttal for the apologist’s every argument.
Then one day a very young believer was sharing with the Satanist. She said, “I can see in your eyes that you’re lonely. I’ve been there, especially as a formal occultist. But I’m no longer lonely. I began a relationship with Jesus Christ, who came to live inside me…now and forever.”
The Satanist eventually came to faith in Christ. Was it wise and persuasive arguments that led him to faith? Nope. It was the power of the Spirit through a changed life. Let the Spirit change your life and you’ll have a very power witness to share with those He leads your way.
Set Free Now“W”w

“Joshua said to the people of Israel, ‘Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.’” 28 times Joshua told the nation of Israel to look to the “your God.” In fact, the only time Joshua ever said “my God” was when he told his Jesus story. Joshua consistently wanted Israel to believe in the LORD as their God, not just his. He pointed to the One doing all the heavy lifting so the nation would trust in the LORD for themselves.
Joshua, Yehovah saves, is a real type of a future Yehovah would come to save all mankind – Jesus. Joshua pointed people to the LORD. Jesus constantly pointed people to the LORD. He repeatedly said that He never said or did anything without first clearing it through His Father. When people saw Him, they saw the Father.
Hopefully, we are pointing people to Jesus through our words and actions. He is the only who can save them from themselves to have and experience life from this day forward into eternity. The only way to make this happen is to submit to the Spirit with every word and action…before we say or do them. I’m learning how with each passing day, hopefully you are as well.
Set Free Now“W”w

Perfection is not simply the absence of sin. It’s the addition of Jesus, who is our holiness (1 Cor. 1:30).
Sanctification is a process where the Spirit transforms our lives into the image of Jesus by exchanging our character with Jesus; thus making us holy or perfect. It’s a matter of focus. Am I allowing my mind to focus on not sinning or on Jesus to become more like Him?
Here’s something to think about. “Am I so focused on stopping something that, in a way, I’m giving more thought to the enemy; or, am I focused on asking for the Spirit to help me hear Jesus’ voice and give me the strength to follow Jesus, the one who defeats my enemy? As we become more like Jesus, our sin automatically is removed!
Today, trust the Spirit to empower you to make the necessary contrary faith choices to practice the truths Jesus gives you through His Word. This is not a solo journey, either; but one walked with other believers. Remember, it was the Spirit who put you into Jesus’ church – a group of people called out by Jesus to move toward Him together – the moment you became a child of God (Jn. 1:12).
Choose to be held accountable, by being in a Bible Impact Group, to using the biblical process the Spirit uses to sanctify us – the FREEdom process. Let someone pray for you to stay focused on and become more like Jesus today everywhere you go (James 5:16).
Set “FREE” Nowww

I was reading a very good book about Auschwitz and the struggle for existence that took place at this death camp. Do know that besides Jewish people, those believers who stood up for the Word of God and hid, protected, and provided for Jews were also killed at this camp.
One particular brother in Christ was asked how he could maintain such a “good attitude” while trying to exist in this camp. He said, “I dwell on what I can control, as I have no control over what I can’t.”
In the midst of a true living hell, hope and life existed. This pastor found peace and life in midst of despair and death by dwelling on the truths from the Word of God. He let his mind hide out in the safe dwelling place of Jesus Christ.
He could still listen to and follow Jesus even while surrounded by personified evil. He could still become more like Jesus and help others do the same while trying exist another day. He still had control over his choices while others were making theirs.
You become what you focus on and what you focus on only gets bigger. You control what you think about and dwell on; therefore, what and who will become bigger in your life today?
S”E”t Free Nowww