Calls for Freedom
I Samuel 7:8, “Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” 9 Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD ; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.”
This story of the Israelites and the Philistines is just one of many in the Old Testament that mirrors the love of God that is shown fully in the sacrifice of Jesus. The Israelites were being held in bondage by the Philistines, but they never fully forgot that it was God who could save them.
The prophet Samuel had been anointed by God as His messenger, and the children of Israel recognized this connection he had with God; they pleaded with Samuel not to stop petitioning the Lord on their behalf.
When the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth it was obvious to all that there was a special anointing on Him, but His disciples were able to recognize that His anointing came from God. John 6: 67, “So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”68Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go ? You have words of eternal life. 69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.” The anointing of God was evident on Jesus, and His disciples knew that only He had been given the words of God that could free them from the bondage to sin they were under, and bring them to eternal life with the Father!
The Apostle Paul tells us that we are slaves, and in bondage to sin in the flesh; and we can only be set free from this bondage by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Romans 7:22, “For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death ? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord ! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.” It is only when we recognize the saving power of Jesus that we can be saved from the bondage to sin that we are under by the power of Satan.
When Jesus was crucified He cried out, John 19:30, “…”It is finished !” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” He signified through His sacrifice that we can now be set free from the captivity that we are under by calling on Him, and His death and resurrection were the steps that God has used to answer our calls for freedom!
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Father God, I thank You for giving the examples in the Old Testament of the freedom You gave me through Jesus, and I ask that You would show me these examples as I read Your word; so I may be strengthened in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen
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The image above can be found at: http://akohlstrom.blogspot.com/2009/11/advent-getting-ready-for-visit-from.html
Yes, You Can Ministry 