There is freedom in serving Jesus and during his time on earth, they brought to him those who were sick and paralysed so he could lay his hands on them for them to be healed. Many came to Jesus that were demon possessed and Jesus healed them (Mark 1:32-34)

Whenever Jesus went to a region and people knew that he was around, they knew that all they needed to do was to get close enough to him to be healed. Imagine people that were lame from birth, who could then walk or run and move their limbs; persons blind could then see and those oppressed had freedom.

It is through our relationship with Jesus and developing intimacy with him that we discover freedom. And having been set free we can move forward to fulfil our purpose and destiny and accomplish our assignment on earth. God placed destiny inside each and every one of us and the Devil uses negative circumstances to try to distort God’s plans.

We go back to the source and our creator to find liberty and freedom so that we can move forward in accomplishing what he has created us to do. And Jesus sets us free from the hurt from our past, from fear and anxiety, from our insecurities and feelings of inferiority. He sets us free to be who God created us to be and then we can go forward uninhibited.

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John‬ ‭8:36‬).

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The religious leaders were angry when Peter and John taught about Jesus Christ. They healed a man who was crippled from birth and when they were questioned about it, proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ. “let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well” (Acts 4:10). The religious leaders were confounded by their proclamation, but too afraid to harm the disciples. This was because the people were amazed by the miracle and believed in Jesus Christ.

The most that they could do was to threaten the disciples and warn them not to speak anymore about Jesus. “But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name” (Acts 4:17). The disciples were not deterred, but were ever more determined to continue because they recognised the power in the name of Jesus. “while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30).

There have been many attempts throughout history to censor the use of the name Jesus. Artists have been signed to labels who forbade them to use the name of Jesus in their songs. Why does the Devil go to such lengths to try to stop the use of the name of our Lord. The Devil thought he won the victory against our Lord when he had him crucified on the cross. What he did was allow the blood of Jesus Christ to flow as a healing balm to cover our sins.

Despite the attempts at censorship and our modern day political correctness, we boldly declare that there is one way to God. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and no one can come to God, except through him (John 14:6). “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).

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We have power when we call on the name of Jesus. There are people around us who we perceive to have power because of their positions and status. There is a name whose power transcends any other name that ever existed on earth. And we have access to that name and can use his name and the power associated with that name. Jesus said that if we ask anything of the father in his name that it will be granted unto us (John 24:13).

Jesus promised us that in his name we will cast out demons; we will speak in new tongues; we will pick up serpents with our hands; and if we drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt us; we will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18). Demons tremble at the name of Jesus. Sick bodies are healed at the name of Jesus. Troubled minds are set free at the name of Jesus.

We speak the name of Jesus into every dead situation in our lives and command them to come to life in Jesus Name. We command every challenge and difficulty that we face to bow at the name of Jesus. We declare that the weapons formed against us will not prosper because we stand in the name of Jesus.

We speak healing to our minds, bodies and emotions in the name of Jesus. We declare victory over every trial and every battle that we face in the name of Jesus. We command every enemy and strategy designed to come against our destiny to move out of our lives by the power that we have in the name of Jesus.

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We always have to remember that God knows best. That he sits in heaven like a parent who sees our faults and failings and knows the season’s, times and the purpose for everything.

Like parents who are wise enough to know at what stages their children can manage certain freedoms, so the father understands what we need in each season. We never understand the reason for difficulties. We do not understand why some seasons are so hard pressed and why we are tested.

God responded to Job after his lamentations about his situation when he had been stripped of all he had. “Who is this who darkens counsel, by words without knowledge? Prepare yourself like a man and I will question you and you answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth (Job 38:2-4)? Like Job, God can handle our questions as long as we wait long enough to listen for his response. He uses circumstances to test us and to help us to grow. Difficulties reveal his might and power and there is new revelation in seasons of testing.

We won’t understand the need and purpose for every trial that we face. Some situations are as a result of our choices and decisions. Other circumstances are simply allowed to test us. We grow wiser through every storm and pain. God uses it to strengthen us and to help refine us. We have imperfections that only tests and trials will remove.

Trust God even when we do not understand. He will lead when the road is darkest. Even in the most difficult situations he sees up ahead the way around it. He is our help, our rock and defense and our strong tower. He already knows how this will end. And when we trust in him and let him lead, we are guaranteed victory.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways” (Romans‬ ‭11:33‬)!

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In Genesis 22, we see the ultimate test of Abraham’s faith. God asked Abraham to take his only son to offer him as a sacrifice. Now this was the same son that God promised Abraham to multiply his seed as the sand of the sea. This was the son that Abraham bore when he was over a hundred years old when Sarah was ninety. This same son whom Abraham waited for and hoped for beyond hope, God asked Abraham to offer as a sacrifice.

And knowing the heart of God better than anyone, Abraham did not hesitate, but obeyed the Lord. He took his son with the wood and the fire and made his way to do what God said. Understandably so, Isaac was puzzled and questioned his father. “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering””(Genesis 22:7)? Abraham’s response was unflinching conviction in God’s character. “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son” (Genesis 22:8).

So Abraham built the altar and reached out his hand with the knife to slaughter his son. Only then did the angel call out to Abraham. “He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me”” (Genesis 22:12).

What a relief at this point in the story, when Abraham realised that he did not need to sacrifice his son. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son” (Genesis 22:13).

I don’t know if I have as much faith as Abraham and I believe that I would have many words for God if he asked me to do something like that. To sacrifice the very thing that we hold dearest. I suppose Abraham was so acquainted with God that he though God would either raise Isaac back from the dead, give him another son or provide another sacrifice. Either way, God proved to Abraham that he would meet his need for a son of promise, provide a seed for his inheritance and provide the sacrifice for his offering.

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Moses understood first hand the might and power of God. He came face to face with God and through him, God worked signs, wonders and miracles. “I AM THAT I AM,” is how God described himself to Moses, when he sent him on his mission to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Tell the children of Israel that I AM has sent you to deliver them from bondage (Exodus 3:14-15). The term “I AM” symbolises the one who is all powerful, all knowing and who is able to do the impossible.

God has great power to set us free in those areas of our lives where we feel bound or trapped. His word is sent to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1). There is absolutely nothing that God cannot do and his ways are past finding out.

God has power to set you free from negative thoughts and fear that holds you captive. His power will set you free from the hurt of the past and from painful memories. You don’t have to live in fear and torment. God will comfort those who mourn and he will restore light where there is darkness. “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm‬ ‭34:8‬)!

There is freedom when we trust in God. There is comfort, assurance and peace that he has a good plan for us. As we walk in purpose, God will light the path before us. We serve a great and mighty God and he is good and faithful. God is ready to mend those broken places in our lives and set us free. The Lord our God is mighty to save.

“The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing”(Psalm‬ ‭34:10‬).

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Jabez descended from the tribe of Judah and he was described as being more honourable than his brothers. Jabez’s mother gave him his name to represent the pain which she experienced during childbirth. The challenge with names is that, their meanings are significant and often typifies the kind of life that we will lead. Jabez refused to accept his predicament and he was determined to receive a blessing from God.

Jabez prayed one simple prayer request and he was specific about what he wanted God to do. Jabez wanted his borders and his territory to be enlarged. Jabez wanted God to expand his influence, to bless and protect him. God responded to Jabez and granted his request for a blessing. In this season, we ask God for promotion in whatever we do. We ask God for skill to understand, as Daniel did when Gabriel was sent to bring revelation knowledge, concerning the fate of his people (Daniel 9:22).

Sometimes we become despondent and discouraged because life may not seem to be going the way that we want it to. Very often the answers are in front of us but the problems cloud our judgement and we lose perspective.

We ask God for increased wisdom, insight and revelation knowledge in order to show us the answers that we need. We pray for our minds to be renewed through the word of God. We pray that we will continue to remain steadfast and unmovable. We pray to receive strength of conviction to pursue those things that will lead to success and favour.

““Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities” (Isaiah 54:2-3).

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After the flood during Noah’s time in Genesis, God blessed Noah. And God promised in his heart to never again destroy the earth in the way that he did before. What God promised was that while the earth remained, that the seasons would continue and that there would always be a time for sowing and reaping. When a farmer plants crop and sows seed into the ground, he understands that there is an appointed time for harvesting. Harvesting appropriately requires an understanding of the appropriate times. Crops harvested too early can yield a poor harvest while crops not harvested in time can rot.

In Leviticus, God spoke to Moses about the blessing of obedience for his people. God’s promise included protection and rest for his people and he spoke concerning their crops and harvest. “Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely”(Leviticus 26:5).

There are many references in the old and New Testament to seed time and harvesting because the people were mainly farmers. People made their living from the land and whatever the land produced accounted for their wealth and abundance. God’s promise was that his people would plant and also enjoy the harvest for which they had laboured. “The Lord has sworn by his right hand and by his mighty arm: “I will not again give your grain to be food for your enemies, and foreigners shall not drink your wine for which you have labored; but those who garner it shall eat it and praise the Lord, and those who gather it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary””(Isaiah 62:8-9).

God is not unjust to ignore our labour of love or to disregard the good that we have done for others. His promise is that we will reap the harvest that we have sown. Many of us have sown our time, energy and other resources to be a blessing to others. God says it is harvest time and this is our season to reap where we have planted. We position ourselves and we expect an increase and we command this land to yield the increase from where we have sown.

“He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness” (2 Corinthians 9:10).

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A bait refers to something used to lure someone into a trap. Baits are typically used to lure fish into nets or a fish unto a single hook. The term has commonly been used in conversations, to warn people about being duped or lured into a trap or an ambush.

The scripture reference above comes from a story we have discussed before regarding Nehemiah. While he built the wall, Sanballat and Tobiah perceived that he was a godly man. As such they felt that he may listen and heed the words of a prophet. The trap was to lure him into the temple to hide out of fear of being killed (Nehemiah 6:10).

Nehemiah refused to go into the temple with Shemaiah. It did not make sense to Nehemiah, to abandon the work which God had commissioned him to do, to go in hiding in the temple. “And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him” (Nehemiah 6:12). Nehemiah was perceptive enough to discern, that this prophet had been hired to make him afraid and to cause him to act in disobedience.

Nehemiah continued to ignore the distractions and soon after, successfully completed the work. I believe that we have entered a time, when there are so many contrary voices among us. It is extremely important that we make time to study and understand the scriptures for ourselves. Be sober, be vigilant, be watchful and give careful attention, prayer and thought to discern the voice of God from the voice of the devil.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John‬ ‭10:27‬).

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In Numbers 13 after the spies returned from spying out the land, 10 of the 12 spies gave an evil report. “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are”(Numbers 13:31). At the words of the 10 spies the people rebelled against Moses. “And they said to one another, “Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt”” (Numbers 14:4).

Despite the frustration expressed by the people and their angry threats, Joshua and Caleb maintained their report regarding the land. “If the Lord delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey” (Numbers 14:8). Joshua and Caleb were the only two men brave enough to stand with Moses. They refused to go along with the majority of the other spies and offer a bad report.

“Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel” (Numbers 14:10). God was so angry with the rebellion of the people that he promised that they would not live to see the promised land. None of them except Caleb and Joshua would live to enter the promised land.

That entire generation of people died in the wilderness due to their rebellion and it was their children who made it into the promised land. Joshua took over leading the people after Moses’s death and together, he and Caleb led the people into the promised land. That was their reward for staying in faith and having the integrity and the strength of character to maintain a godly perspective.

Joshua and Caleb taught us the importance of having an independent mind. In other words having a mind of your own and being willing to maintain your perspective despite the disagreement of others. Caleb and Joshua were not concerned about the majority. They were confident about what they had seen and were willing to maintain a different perspective. This is even if their perspective attracted the anger from the crowd. You don’t have to bend your conviction to fit in with others. Standing out is what we have been called to do for God.

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