JESUS CHRIST – THE ULTIMATE AND HALLMARK OF FREEDOM: FREEDOM WITHOUT HYPOCRISY, DOGMAS, PREJUDICE, SENTIMENTS, BIGOT AND SUCH LIKE – GET CONNECTED TO HIM!
“It was for this FREEDOM that Christ SET US FREE [completely liberating us]; therefore keep STANDING FIRM and do not be SUBJECT AGAIN to a YOKE of SLAVERY [which you once removed]” Galatians 5:1 (Amplified).
You don’t have to look too far away from you to note, through the mirror of life, that the entire world is interconnected, and is built up and built on and built by many communities of like-minded people – each with various unions, associations and passions in many respects. Their coming together is for a common cause and purpose, and they are in the course to create, promote, explore, initiate and enhance a kind of FEEEDOM to meet a particular interest.
The irony of life is that all these various acts of coming together -whether at International, national, community, workplace, street and the family-enforced levels – have NOT given any of us the genuine, total FREEDOM so much desired, anticipated and expected to experience in its fulness. And knowingly and unknowingly, in most of these various cases, what they once considered as FREEDOM has become the foundation for another unidentified and unaccounted-for bondage. Unfortunately, the entanglement in its causes and course comes at a cost – and an enormous one in various ways. And the changes made with time to suit or solve one problem have created another in many other ways. Hence some have folded up, others are surviving instead of thriving, and many others are just in existence, counting time by and by for the next move.
It is therefore imperative to know that the allegiance to all forms of man-made STATUES and ARCHITECTURAL IMAGES that have been believed, revered, adored and adopted in some places as such – all in the name of serving as symbols or landmarks – are in fact classed in SCRIPTURAL terms as IDOLS. Especially when you examine the reason for such high-place STATUES and SYMBOLIC IMAGES on our high streets, in City Centres, and other designated high places. Most times they depict, in essence, ENSLAVEMENT, BONDAGE, INSULT, SEGREGATION, MARGINALISATION and such like – because what they once signified in a particular generation and dispensation is no longer welcome or honourable to another generation. That is why the only true FREEDOM is that which is of God in Christ Jesus – LIVING IN OUR HEARTS beyond dispensation, generation and walls of any sort. For God’s FREEDOM for us all in Christ Jesus is impartial, and it is without sentiment, prejudice and dissimulation. It is beyond walls and without respect of persons.
“. . . 21 Little children [believers, dear ones], GUARD YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS— [false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would TAKE God’s PLACE IN YOUR HEART]” 1 John 5:18-21/Amplified.
It is because of the above narrative and such like, that Apostle Paul shared scriptural TRUTH in Acts 17:15-34, in his response to the ATHENIANS’ superstition and devotion to graven image altars, which they ascribed to their UNKNOWN GOD. A community sold out to STATUES – Modernised IDOLS today. Thanks be to God in His awesomeness; He used Apostle Paul to bring the ATHENIANS out of their superstitious bondage and to see the essence of knowing the true God. Apostle Paul made them know and understand that it’s in God that they are MADE to LIVE, to MOVE and to HAVE THEIR TRUE BEING; and he therein told them about the true FREEDOM that they EARNESTLY craved and desired to have – not from the STATUES DEPICTED in their City Centre and Community places that serve as Landmarks of greatness for admiration and devotion, even for many today.
“. . . 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the CITY was full of IDOLS. 17 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there . . . 22 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects. 23 Now as I was going along and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I came to an ALTAR with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you already worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who CREATED the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who gives to all [people] life and breath and all things. 26 And He MADE from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories. 27 This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we LIVE and MOVE and EXIST [that is, in Him we actually HAVE OUR BEING], as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ . . .” Acts 17:15-34/Amplified.
Be it known today as a way of reminder, that our Saviour and Lord Christ Jesus has made possible the true FREEDOM to all, and He has offered it to all without PREJUDICE, SENTIMENT, DOGMA, HYPOCRISY and such like. I, therefore, as God’s servant, hereby beckon, beg and urge YOU in the same Apostolic similitude, to resolve to CONNECT to Christ Jesus today in order to enjoy the FREEDOM that is genuine – without controversy and diabolical sentiments (1 Timithy 3:16)- instead of bowing to dumb IDOLS DEPICTED in STATUES and SYMBOLS for meaningless causes other than to offend another. Hence, I say you:
JESUS CHRIST IS – THE ULTIMATE AND HALLMARK OF FREEDOM – THE FREEDOM WITHOUT HYPOCRISY, DOGMA, PREJUDICE, SENTIMENT, BIGOTRY AND SUCH LIKE – GET CONNECTED TO HIM AND LIVE FREE IN HIS GRACE TO STAND TALL IN HIS POWER AND MIGHT IN GOD. AMEN.
SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.
SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:
“And [if you] are CONFIDENT that you are a [qualified] GUIDE to the blind [those untaught in theology], a LIGHT to those who are in darkness, 20 and [that you are] a CORRECTOR of the foolish, a TEACHER of the [spiritually] childish, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth— 21 well then, you who TEACH others, do you not teach yourself? You who PREACH against stealing, do you steal [in ways that are discrete, but just as sinful]? 22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who detest IDOLS, do you rob [pagan] temples [of valuable idols and offerings]?” Romans 2:19-22 Amplified.
“It was for this FREEDOM that Christ set us free [completely liberating us]; therefore keep STANDING FIRM and do not be SUBJECT AGAIN to a YOKE of SLAVERY [which you once removed]” Galatians 5:1 (Amplified).
“. . . 16 Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was greatly angered when he saw that the CITY was full of IDOLS. 17 So he had discussions in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Gentiles, and in the market place day after day with any who happened to be there . . . 22 So Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I observe [with every turn I make throughout the city] that you are very religious and devout in all respects. 23 Now as I was going along and carefully looking at your objects of worship, I came to an ALTAR with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you already worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who CREATED the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 25 nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, because it is He who GIVES to all [people] LIFE and BREATH and all things. 26 And He MADE from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their APPOINTED TIMES and the BOUNDARIES of their lands and TERRITORIES. 27 This was so that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grasp for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we LIVE and MOVE and EXIST [that is, in Him we actually HAVE OUR BEING], as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 So then, being God’s children, we should not think that the Divine Nature (deity) is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination or skill of man . . .” Acts 17:15-34/Amplified.
“We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God DOES NOT habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. 19 We know [for a fact] that we ARE of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts]. 20 And we [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world] and has given us understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true; and we ARE in Him who is true—in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children (believers, dear ones), GUARD YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS— [false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart]” 1 John 5:18-21 Amplified.
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What say I then? THAT THE IDOL IS ANY THING, OR THAT WHICH IS OFFERED IN SACRIFICE TO IDOLS IS ANY THING? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they SACRIFICE TO DEVILS, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have FELLOWSHIP WITH DEVILS. 21 Ye cannot DRINK the cup of the Lord, and the cup of DEVILS: ye cannot be PARTAKERS of the Lord’s table, and of the TABLE OF DEVILS. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?” 1 Corinthians 10:16-22.
SUMMARY:
This message is a prophetic call to abandon man-made idols and false systems of freedom, and to CONNECT to Jesus Christ — the only One who gives true, complete, and lasting FREEDOM without prejudice, hypocrisy, or bondage.
KEY POINTS
- THE WORLD’S PURSUIT OF FREEDOM IS FALLING SHORT
Interconnected but bound — The world is built by communities, unions, associations, and causes all chasing a version of “freedom.”
The irony — What one generation calls freedom becomes bondage for the next. Solving one problem creates another.
The result — Many have folded up, others are just surviving, and many are merely existing, waiting for the next move. No human system has given us the genuine, total freedom we desire.
- MAN-MADEIDOLS ARE BONDAGE IN DISGUISE
Statues & Symbols — Allegiance to man-made STATUES and ARCHITECTURAL IMAGES in city centres and high places are, in SCRIPTURAL terms, IDOLS [1 John 5:21].
What they depict — ENSLAVEMENT, BONDAGE, INSULT, SEGREGATION, MARGINALISATION. What was revered in one generation is rejected in another.
Spiritual reality — “The things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they SACRIFICE TO DEVILS, and not to God” [1 Corinthians 10:20].
“GUARD YOURSELVES FROM IDOLS — [anything that would TAKE God’s PLACE IN YOUR HEART]” [1 John 5:21].
- THE ATHENIAN EXAMPLE: FROM IDOLS TO THE TRUE GOD [Acts 17:15-34]
Athens was full of idols — Paul’s spirit was provoked by a city sold out to graven images and an altar “TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.”
Paul’s proclamation:
God does not dwell in temples made with hands [Acts 17:24]
“In Him we LIVE and MOVE and HAVE OUR BEING” [Acts 17:28]
He “GIVES to all LIFE and BREATH and all things” [Acts 17:25]
He made all nations so they would “seek God and find Him” [Acts 17:27]
Outcome: Paul led them out of superstitious bondage into the knowledge of the true God.
- JESUS CHRIST: THE ULTIMATE AND HALLMARK OF FREEDOM
Freedom without… — HYPOCRISY, DOGMA, PREJUDICE, SENTIMENT, BIGOTRY and such like. Offered to ALL without respect of persons.
Christ’s declaration — “It was for this FREEDOM that Christ SET US FREE [completely liberating us]; therefore keep STANDING FIRM and do not be SUBJECT AGAIN to a YOKE of SLAVERY” [Galatians 5:1].
Where freedom lives — In our hearts, beyond generation, dispensation, and walls. Impartial and genuine.
- SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Romans 2:19-22 — Don’t condemn idols while compromising with them.
1 Corinthians 10:16-22 — You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils.
1 John 5:18-21 — We are of God. The world lies in the evil one. Guard your heart from idols.
CALL TO ACTION
I, therefore, as God’s servant, hereby beckon, beg and urge YOU in the same Apostolic similitude:
- RESOLVE TO CONNECT TO CHRIST JESUS TODAY — Turn away from dumb idols depicted in statues and symbols for meaningless causes.
- STAND FIRM IN CHRIST’S FREEDOM — Do not go back to a yoke of slavery [Galatians 5:1].
- LIVE FREE IN HIS GRACE — Stand tall in His power and might in God.
- GUARD YOUR HEART — Let nothing take God’s place in you.
DECLARATION:
JESUS CHRIST IS — THE ULTIMATE AND HALLMARK OF FREEDOM — THE FREEDOM WITHOUT HYPOCRISY, DOGMA, PREJUDICE, SENTIMENT, BIGOTRY AND SUCH LIKE.
GET CONNECTED TO HIM AND LIVE FREE. AMEN. SELAH — PAUSE AND THINK.
IN ONE LINE:
This message is that all other freedoms will fail you, but JESUS CHRIST alone gives the freedom that sets you free indeed.
REV. CHUKIE MORSI
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