I’m paraphrasing something I read the other day, but here it is. If discipleship was simply about giving people biblical knowledge, then the demons are the best disciples around!
Western Christianity has adopted the lie that knowledge equates to a mature faith. Yet this simply is not true! The author of Hebrews says a mature believer is one who knows how to use biblical truth to discern good and evil and then attempts to live it out (“trained in righteousness”). They know how to actually use biblical truth to make decisions that draw them closer to Jesus. Folks, you haven’t learning anything until what you’ve heard changes your life, until then you’ve just been exposed to information.
This goes right along with the biblical meaning of the word disciple. It means a person who takes the data they’ve heard from the teacher and lets it change their life. In fact, a disciple is not a disciple until their live has been changed! Believe me when I say that demons have not been discipled! Their lives have not and are not being transformed by Christ. Is yours?
If so, biblical information is freeing. If not, it’s dangerous as it leaves you with a head filled with data, but an empty heart and an unchanged life. Is that why you trusted Jesus in the first place? I don’t think so; and if you’re honest, neither do you.
It’s hard to walk what you know because there is nothing more challenging and empowering than to say no to yourself and yes to Jesus. Real eternal living starts with saying yes to Jesus. Please say yes today!
S“E”t Free Nowww

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