Maintaining Freedom in Christ

A Message from Elect-Lady Vengie McMillan

This is the season to“Receive and Maintain God ’s Freedom”! Since the

Beginning, God has given us the Right, the Power, and the Freedom

to choose, between light and darkness, good or evil, love or hate.

With the Free Will to choose for ourselves our own way, to find our

own destiny, and not have others, or the collective, or society, or the

government choose for us. This can be seen in Genesis when God

gave the first man, Adam, vast freedom when he was told that he could eat from any tree of the garden –except one (Gen.2:16). Prohibition was placed on the one, so Adam could show forth his trust in God. It was

also seen when Israel was in bondage for 400 years, it was God who brought deliverance by His mighty hand.

All that was required of His people to remain free was trust Him and show it by obeying His commands.

Unfortunately, the people repeatedly showed that they preferred their own ways. And as a result, they

found themselves back in bondage as the Lord would sell them to the power of their enemies (Jdg.2:14).

We are all born into bondage to sin and self because of our relationship to Adam. But God, in His

grace, brings deliverance through Jesus Christ. Jesus began His ministry saying that God sent Him “to proclaim release to the captives” (Lk.4:18). As one comes to Jesus, He is set free from the bondage of sin

and guilt of this world. But for this freedom to be maintained or preserved, we must take care to live

according to God’s Word. Jesus made this as plain as could be. “If you continue in my word, you are truly

my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Jn.8:31, 32). And again, “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. . .. So, if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn.8:34, 36).

A major challenge in maintaining freedom is that we must define freedom accurately. Freedom, despite

popular misconceptions, is not having the autonomy to do whatever you please. This only brings one back

into bondage. However, freedom is having the power to do what we ought, to the glory of God. As the

Apostle Paul wrote, “You were called to freedom, brethren, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity

for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Gal.5:13). Therefore, we can only possess and enjoy

God’s freedom to the extent we walk with the One who gives it.

An Ambassador for Christ,