Liberty or Restraint?
There are always options. The question is, which one do YOU choose? If you are honest with yourself, most likely you choose options based on others. Sadly, most live outwardly, living to impress others. Very few people, especially adults - even more so than children, make decisions and choices that will mitigate being judged or targeted as the topic of lies and gossip. Or the polar opposite, choices made that will impress others (or in your own heart and in your own mind) you believe will impress others and therefore cause others to covet or desire to have what you have, or even want to be you. As crazy as that may sound; it really does happen.
You have heard me say it many times: ‘I am too old for peer pressure’ and I genuinely mean that.
But more importantly, I KNOW my God, I KNOW whom I serve. And I both fear Him and love Him equally. But my fear is not an earthly dread or panic, it is an in-awe fear towards Him because He- first-loved-me-and- proved-His-love-for-me type of fear. Wouldn’t you, or don’t you do all that you can to keep safe and please those that you love? Of course you do! But to truly love (agape) we must first love our Creator (Elohim - The Lord), our Redeemer (Jesus Christ), and our Comforter (Holy Spirit). For it is easy to pretend the peace is there, or pretend that the joy is there, but in actuality, the misery and the void are what’s really there. And that void cannot be filled with idolatry - that is the love of things, the love of icons, the love of money and wealth.
Can I share a secret with you? This is a secret meant to be shared, but most don’t share it because it does not fit into their persona.
We are created in the image and the likeness of our Creator. Therefore, that void is there because our souls are meant to align with our spirit which is created in the image and the likeness of our Creator. And when we realize that, we have liberty, that is to say we have freedom. And we have a peace, which passes ALL understanding!
Many have looked at my life in either confusion or judgment because they could not understand how I can have peace and sleep well with my choices and my decisions. I’ll tell you how,
I Trust in My Lord and I do what pleases Him (Psalm 37:3 - 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.)
I do not fear mankind. (Matthew 10:28 - 28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.)
I know and understand His plans and purpose for my life. (Philipians 2:13 - 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.)
I take care of His Kingdom matters and He takes Care of my earthly matters. (Matthew 6:33 - 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.)
My list could go on, but you get the point. If you are not walking in liberty, which simply stated is freedom intertwined with peace and joy, stop and take an honest look at you. This is between you and your Creator and no one else. The God that created you for His plan and His purpose. You will never find what you are looking for to fufill that void you have, because you are looking for things in this natural and earthly realm, but you are a spirit being who lives in a body called flesh and blood, and you are constantly trying to satisfy your flesh with earthly things that have absolutely no spiritual value and don’t add to your eternal life at all. In fact, your thought processes and your deeds are ensuring you have eternal death, that is your soul is cast into eternal damnation. You will not see “the pearly gates” as one beloved sister in Christ calls it.
Don’t take my word for it, read the scriptures for yourself. I have read them and studied them and continue to study them. I have read the Bible from cover to cover twice thus far: once from beginning to end and the second time in chronological order, and I am about overdue to re-read it again. Because each time reading it and continually studying, Father reveals Himself to me a degree beyond (shoutout to Apostle Reginald Carson for imparting into us that term he coined) and a deeper level than before.
Because it is written in John 10:30 - I and the Father are one. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. In other words, Father took His Word(s) and put them into a body and called Him Jesus, His only Begotten Son. (John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.)
And honestly, I dare say those in leadership that have not read the Bible at least once from beginning to end, you really should not be teaching, pastoring, or leading Father’s flock, because the scriptures really do build precept upon precept and line upon line. Therefore, it really is impossible to have a full understanding of scriptures you have not yet even read. Thus, scriptures are continually isolated and mistaught. Speaking into the lives of those putting their trust in you for spiritual guidance is damnable for your souls as well as those you are leading astray by your ignorance (lack of knowledge). Ministry is not a career designed to make you rich, it is a calling of servitude and sacrifice. Read the book of Jeremiah and pay close attention to the 14th chapter for those who want to play the role of the prophet. If you knew the cost of walking in the gift of a True Prophet(ess) you really would get yourself somewhere and sit down!
That right there is a deep teaching. Stay tuned - here at JITA Ministries, we go deep into the study of God’s Holy Word, and we are unapologetic Kingdom Warriors, winning souls through teaching, training, and equipping so that the man/woman of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. We will teach on that again - maybe or maybe not - it is as the Lord leads.
I leave you with this question: Is it liberty or is it restraint you are living? It’s not a trick question, but it does have a very loaded answer.
Liberty in Christ Jesus is restraint! Yes, it is! If you have been made free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death you are living out this earthly life in a good restraint. You restrain from that which is unacceptable and displeasing to our Heavenly Father.
[Hosea 4:2 - By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, They break all restraint, With bloodshed upon bloodshed.
Without restraint, mankind will do anything and everything evil and sinful. Everyday that is proven to be such the case. Mankind is too blinded and quite frankly, too foolish to fear The Creator.
Proverbs 29:18 - Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.
When you have revelation (understanding and knowledge of the scriptures and who the Lord is) you have restraint. You have not left this life you are living - that you did not create nor breath the breadth of life into - to your own knowledge and understanding. You have trusted in The Lord YOUR God. [Proverbs 3:5-6 - 5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.]
Blessed Be The Name of The Lord!
in His Service,
Apostle & Prophetess Wendy Connor
(C) Copyright 2022 Wendy Connor
