Yesterday, Pastor Gena brought an incredibly anointed Word. She had us camp in the wilderness of the book of Leviticus, to dive deeper into the atonement of God. This is a must listen to message for anyone needing encouragement in their life.
“Sometimes we can frolic in the freedom and forget about the fight that went into having our freedom.” – Gena Batres Montoya
The Apostle Paul affirms for us that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Corinthians 3:17). That freedom is only made available by our atonement—our Savior Jesus Christ—who was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; punished in our place, and wounded. All to bring us peace, healing and freedom (Isaiah 53:5).
Proverbs 4:23
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do flows from it.
We need to make sure that we do not forget the fight that went in to give us our freedom. We need to make sure we guard our hearts from the lies of the devil, that seeks (take off s on seeks) to steal, kill and destroy your freedom. Remember that Jesus came to give you life and for you to have it to the full (John 10:10). Don’t allow shame and guilt to enter your thoughts and harden your heart over things that He has forgiven and forgotten.
Pastor Gena reminded us of what really happened in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, they were the ones that hid from God. God never hid Himself from them. She pointed out that we do the same thing today; we hide in guilt and shame. Yet, God continues to be the same, never hiding Himself from us but instead inviting us to come and drink from the living water He provides (Revelation 22:17). Furthermore, His word in Joel 2:32 promises that those who call upon His name will be saved.
Hebrews 3:15
15 As has just been said:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion.”
This Sunday the heart and voice of God was loud and clear. He loves us so much, that He went to great lengths to make sure that nothing and no one could ever separate us from His love. He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to be our atonement. In the original Greek text used, the word for harden used here is sklérunó (sklay-roo’-no); which means to become inflexible (literally “dried out”); obstinately stubborn, resisting what God says is right.
If you find yourself drying out and thirsting for more of Him, take His invitation to drink from the free gift of living water. If you find yourself wrapped in shame and suffocated by guilt, call on His name and He will set you free. Call on Him, He will hear you and you will hear Him speaking life over you. His joy will be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
Prayer
Jesus,
I call on Your name. Forgive me and set me free. I accept your invitation to drink of the free gift of Your living water. Open my ears to hear Your voice and guard my heart. Reveal to me how much You truly love me. Let Your love flood my thoughts and fill my heart to overflowing. In my freedom, I will hold dear the price You paid for it and I will fight to never forget. AMEN!
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Nathan
