Hey John,
A day or two ago I listened to the CD that Brother Earl sent me [the one where you were preaching about the uselessness of ceremony], and I have been having so many thoughts about freedom since then. It is a word that should be and IS so liberating, yet the human mind can’t take it in as such. Or I should maybe say my mind can’t take it in, for I don’t know what is in anyone else’s. As I have told you, I have been hurting very badly for the last few days, so I have been sitting around and been in the bed a lot, which has left me with my thoughts being right with me. The girls had a sleep over, so they have been out of the house. As I lay on the bed, I kept sensing, even though I felt so bad, “It will not forever be like this. I don’t know just when I’ll be delivered from this illness for it could be tomorrow or the next day, but what I do know is if I live the best I know how in the Lord, it won’t be forever. One day I will give up this corruptible body, and my faith is to believe I will get a new body that will not have to endure these afflictions.” It hit me that I AM FREE, and that allows me to rest because of what Jesus has done for me (and for whoever else will trust HIM).
Freedom is so easy when we focus on the WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIFE. I can stop fretting over folks that are not ready to be truly free (whatever their problem may be) for HE has made freedom possible. Freedom also relieves a person from having to observe rituals that were never intended for them to begin with. Really it is a burden to have to participate in ceremonies. I have heard some preachers instruct the people of God to offer an offering, or work some type work to show their sincerity towards God. I believe that the pride of man can drive them to do these things to be recognized of others, and if that is the case, I don’t believe is acceptable to God in the first place. Really, Jesus only asks for a lifestyle in him through the spirit.
Anyway, I have found myself having to really focus on not finding something that needs to be done or someone that I believe needs fixing [and just enjoy my freedom]. Doing all that has actually become funny to me.
I have had many liberating things to prick my spirit the last couple days about freedom and Jesus being the answer not in the details etc.
Talk to you soon.
MT