Set Free From Captivity

Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Today's Chapters: Jeremiah 51-52
Message Title: Set Free From Captivity

Hello My Friend, Sin, it's not something that most of us live for, I do not think most people wake up every morning looking for ways to bring shame and suffering upon themselves or devise evil schemes to get the things they want. Most of us want a normal life, without any drama or complications, but thanks to this flesh of ours we often do things out of pride, emotions, and feelings, which can result in sin and a life full of drama and complications. Can I tell you that no one is without sin, no one is perfect, and no one is better than anyone else, we all have sinned and done things that have hurt us or someone else. Thanks to Jesus, we are set free from the captivity of sin. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans 3:23,24.The fate of Babylon had already been foretold, after all their glory of invading Judah, they would be next. The idol worship of the nation would also be judged, and their fate was grim, but there was hope even for them. Through Jeremiah, God pleads with every soul, regardless of who they were, to get out of Babylon before His vengeance came upon that nation. “Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets. For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.” - Jeremiah 51:1,4-6,8,9. It is God's desire than none perish, He will save any who comes to Him through His Son, but unless they come to Him He cannot and will not save them. Why? Free Will, Choice, and Acceptance. God gives us all the free will to choose what we believe, if we want to believe that man evolved over millions of years ago, than that is our choice. Believing in God is not enough, we also must believe in and accept Jesus. If they do not believe in and accept Him as the only own who can save them than He will not save them. It is God's choice not to save those who do not believe in Him or His Son. Why would He save anyone who does not believe in Him? “What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” - Romans 9:14-16.
Four-thousand and six hundred Jews were carried into captivity to Babylon while Nebuchadrezzar was king, but while in their seventy year captivity something amazing began to happen, many of the people sought forgiveness of their sins, and put their faith and trust in God. The result, God's mercy and grace was upon them and they began to prosper, even the last king of Judah, Jejoiachin, who was captured and imprisoned was released from prison and sat under the throne of the king of Babylon. “And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life. And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.” - Jeremiah 52:31-34.This is an example of God's mercy and grace, we can mess up a million times, but He will never stop forgiving us, if we come to Him with a humble heart, there is no sin that can separate us. Sin hurts, it makes us ill more than anything we could ever do to our bodies, I mean, sin literally makes us sick, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Thank God that we have our loving physician, Jesus Christ, the key to His healing is realizing that we have sinned and only He can heal us. “And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” - Mark 2:15-17.
Today's Prayer: God, There is no amount of words that can describe just how merciful and forgiving You are, no matter what we have done. To think of the things we have allowed in our lives or been caught up in due to others is astounding, but You are always there to catch us, to pick us up, to mend the wounds, and heal everything from a broken heart to a broken ego. Lord, give us your power and strength to set free anything that we have brought into our lives, whether we are imprisoned by sin or held captive to it. Give us the strength to endure, let us not escape Your sight. Lead us and guide us, give us Your mercy and grace, and keep us looking to You through all of our joys, trials, and sufferings. In Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
ChristinaAre You 100% Sure That You Are Going To Heaven? Visit: God's PriceLike Us On Facebook: I'm Following Jesus
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