In 1976 I met Jesus ..I was sincerely Born Again ..I was a new creature and had a joy that the world could not take away.
I yielded to lust ..and lust took over with selfishness in every area. My body weight is a product of that. I've been to Bible college and Israel and have witnessed and been part of many moves of God..hey He loves us all..BUT my relationship had never been the same. Hell is very real and we have many warnings of those who have turned their backs on God and yet "With much tears can't find repentance."
So , for the last few weeks I've had one endeaver..to read about 1 hour every morning to see if this verse will come true in my life."IF ye continue in my Word ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." I also obeyed something I sensed the Holy Spirit tell me to do..to underline every word that is in reference to God loving us and underline all the scriptures that talk about the Word.I had a new Bible to mark up so I've been doing that.
I learned a few things about that verse in John 8 I quoted ..It's really in 4 parts;so when I underline verses I write beside it Word 1 , Word 2, word 3 or word 4..
Word One or Step One..The Word is a seed..you can read 7 hours a day but if you don't do step 2...you are still lost..Like the ones that hear and don't obey..Matthew 7.they are like those who built their house on the sand..
Step Two..The word Jesus said,"If ye continue { Obey , abide} in my word." that doesn;t mean if you keep reading it..it means if you digest , meditate upon these concepts and do them..then
Step three..Then,,YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH and the TRUTH shall set you free..The Holy Spirit is called the Sprit of Truth..
In Acts we read that "God giveth the Holy Spirit to them who obey Him..so it's the Holy Spirit that gives you the freedom Truth..as Romans 8 says,,If any man have not the Spirit he is none of His..so this Truth is a God given truth..It's only the God given truth that can set one free.
Step Four..they keep the Word unto Eternal Life..
John 12:49For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 50And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.
The Snag..the snag my friend is obedience..Step Two..We are what we think..It's our thinking that needs to get fixed.,,or renewed. If the government had the right to yearly search your computer history and give you an automatic 1 year in prison for any kind of porn..would you ever get on porn again?? the answer NEVER..or like in the Old Testament..if you had to get your best hunting dog and sacrifice him when you gossiped..would you ever gossip again..NEVER..so our lack of obedience is a lack of faith..a lack of divine seriousness..a lack of the fear of God..But we will never know the truth that sets us free until God knows we have truly repented..which is Step Two.."If ye continue THEN will you know the Truth that sets one free." I sincerely don't think that this repentance is of oneself..Romans tells us that the kindness of God leadeth us to repentance and also that no man can come to Christ accept the father draw Him..so getting into the Word is a very good start..and then pray for the Truth that sets one free and pray for an obedient heart..
My dear friends..please rejoice with me..by God''s grace and His truth I've returned to my first love..I'm free .I sensed His presence in my home today like I haven't experienced in 30 years..I'm free..I won't get into all the fine points that led up to it..BUT trust me..I'm free ..free indeed..like the prodical son..I''m back in the arms of my Savior , my Lord Jesus Christ.
God bless
Chuck7
Testimony
