Free indeed!

The Lord has called us out of bondage into freedom. It's a deliverance from  the powers that held us bound from pleasing the Father who loves us. This is liberty indeed, so that we can be what we were made to be: like the one who made us!

However, the beggarly elements of slavery are not unrelenting but determined to bring us back into bondage again through various snares all around us meant to entangle us in morbid fear. Fear of death reigns over souls in bondage all the days of their life. It comes in different forms. One of them is the fear of man, which the holy writ describes as a snare. This is the power that rules in many denominations or religions of the world. For this reason, many would want to appear politically correct, even at the expense of displeasing the Father who loves us so much that He gave us His only begotten Son.

But when we choose to love and know the Son rather (that is when we are drawn to Him by the Father) we shall be made free indeed from this bondage of fear. The proof of this love is obedience to His sayings. The Father loves all who wholeheartedly follow His Son. They make Their abode in them who continue in the Truth.

In the early church, Ananias was asked by Peter in Act 5:4 "Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God."

This is a demonstration of the liberty that is in Christ. It's unlike the law of bondage that tells us that 10 percent of the money was not for Ananias. But from Peter's question, we can deduce that this is not the case. All the money belonged to the brother whilst it was yet in his hands. He didn't have to lie about it. It's the fear of man that makes people tell lies about things that ordinarily they shouldn't. The money belongs to you. God is pleased when you acknowledge this. You are at liberty to keep it or part with it, whole or part. If you want to use it for His sake, He would love to do it willingly and cheerfully, not grudging or because it is an obligation you must fulfill. You don't have to lie at all about it in order to please some men. If you are doing it for God, understand that He knows everything about it. So you don't have to impress Him with some drama. Some people would even go to the extent of begging another brother in the congregation for money so that they too can come out to give in the presence of others to avoid the shame of being looked down upon by the carnally minded for not coming out to give money in the church meeting! The Lord understands that you don't have. That money you're begging for belongs to another man. It's his to give to God by himself if he wills. Just be real about your situation and deal with Satan who wants to fill your heart to lie to the Holy Ghost. You have the liberty over him now. You have no need for such fears anymore. The Father loves you first. Yours is to be grateful for His love. Walk with Him. He has called you to bless you, not to enslave you like your former boss, Satan. Rejoice, you're now free!