Acts 22:27-28
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
Born (again) Free
If you're north of 40, chances are as soon as you read the words 'born free' a certain song starts ringing through your brain. That's the sound track for today's message.
This is an interesting exchange between the centurion and Paul. The chief captian became a Roman citizen because he bought the priviledge. Paul was born a Roman. There was a difference between someone who became Roman and who was born Roman. Blood, it would seem, matters.
If you were born American, you were born with freedoms not universally enjoyed in the earth. There are countries where being of two different cultural groups makes you invalid, illegal. Where being born female makes you a target for abuse. Where being born poor condems you to a life of poverty with no opportunites to change. These are just a few of the many freedoms simply being born in this country, or to a parent from this country you are automatically afforded.
With those freedoms, its easy to get a little cocky. Americans have a reputation in other countries of being obnoxious tourists. We're reputed to be arrogant and boistrous when we go to new places, because we walk with such confidence and expectation.
As believers in Christ, we are born again free. Just like being born American, there are freedoms, rights, priviledges afforded to us just because of the re-birth. But THESE freedoms, rights and priviledges are WAY beyond anything accorded to citizenship in a country. And just like that American citizen example, we are supposed to be assured in our relationship in Christ and all that the relationship holds.
Imagine, walking through your life with the confidence that everything you do would work? Walking with the assurity that you could not fail. Meeting every challenge, every obstacle with success as the destined outcome.
How would you walk if you knew that you could strut through what you want to do most and it would work? Would you march, or would you take small, sheepish steps? Of COURSE you'd move with strength and confidence because that's what security and assurity does.
Security is a patent hallmark of relationship. That expectation that the other person will 'be there' whether that other person is a parent, a spouse, a friend, is something that we all count on. It's one of the reasons why we trust that person with our heart.
Born again into Christ brings security, assurance, confidence, righteousness, holiness and all with enteral life with the Father. This relationship is a blood one...THE Blood relationship that matters most in our lives. It's not a step, it's not via in-laws. An honest to goodness blood relationship that lasts forever.
Dear ones, you are born again free when you confess Christ. You are grafted into the body of Christ and of essential importance to Him.
And He will 'be there' no matter what you do. No matter where you go. When we accept Him as Lord, nothing fails. We yield our will to His, and all things work.
So, embrace the song. Be born-again free.
Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Free!
Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages. Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.
27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
Born (again) Free
If you're north of 40, chances are as soon as you read the words 'born free' a certain song starts ringing through your brain. That's the sound track for today's message.
This is an interesting exchange between the centurion and Paul. The chief captian became a Roman citizen because he bought the priviledge. Paul was born a Roman. There was a difference between someone who became Roman and who was born Roman. Blood, it would seem, matters.
If you were born American, you were born with freedoms not universally enjoyed in the earth. There are countries where being of two different cultural groups makes you invalid, illegal. Where being born female makes you a target for abuse. Where being born poor condems you to a life of poverty with no opportunites to change. These are just a few of the many freedoms simply being born in this country, or to a parent from this country you are automatically afforded.
With those freedoms, its easy to get a little cocky. Americans have a reputation in other countries of being obnoxious tourists. We're reputed to be arrogant and boistrous when we go to new places, because we walk with such confidence and expectation.
As believers in Christ, we are born again free. Just like being born American, there are freedoms, rights, priviledges afforded to us just because of the re-birth. But THESE freedoms, rights and priviledges are WAY beyond anything accorded to citizenship in a country. And just like that American citizen example, we are supposed to be assured in our relationship in Christ and all that the relationship holds.
Imagine, walking through your life with the confidence that everything you do would work? Walking with the assurity that you could not fail. Meeting every challenge, every obstacle with success as the destined outcome.
How would you walk if you knew that you could strut through what you want to do most and it would work? Would you march, or would you take small, sheepish steps? Of COURSE you'd move with strength and confidence because that's what security and assurity does.
Security is a patent hallmark of relationship. That expectation that the other person will 'be there' whether that other person is a parent, a spouse, a friend, is something that we all count on. It's one of the reasons why we trust that person with our heart.
Born again into Christ brings security, assurance, confidence, righteousness, holiness and all with enteral life with the Father. This relationship is a blood one...THE Blood relationship that matters most in our lives. It's not a step, it's not via in-laws. An honest to goodness blood relationship that lasts forever.
Dear ones, you are born again free when you confess Christ. You are grafted into the body of Christ and of essential importance to Him.
And He will 'be there' no matter what you do. No matter where you go. When we accept Him as Lord, nothing fails. We yield our will to His, and all things work.
So, embrace the song. Be born-again free.
Ephesians 1:3-6
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
Free!
Lifeline is produced from the Evangelistic Ministry of Fellowship Church in Jonesboro, GA. You are encouraged to share this message. The Fellowship Church website (www.fcchosengeneration.com) includes a link to the Lifeline Blog (www.lifelineatfellowship.blogspot.com) where you can find previous messages. Evangelist Robinson also posts her entries on Facebook and Twitter. To subscribe to the mailing, or for questions and comments, tweet (@evangeliststeff) or send email to fellowship_lifeline@yahoo.com. Fellowship Church can be reached at chosen.gen@att.net.
Fellowship Church
Where Passions Become Reality
Because You Are a Chosen Generation
455 Highway 138 W, STE C
Jonesboro, GA 30236
770-573-9339
Alton Watkins, Pastor
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