Freedom Without Bonds

As we complete our heart-stirring and challenging discourse, we first take a curious look at the kind of disciple Jason was, checking ourselves all the way. This will be a most futile exercise, without the guidance and showing of the Holy Spirit of God.  

• Before welcoming Jesus’ Living Word, carried and given birth in Paul and Silas, in his house, Jason was a man who went about his living, unnoticed. He made no waves in the ocean of his community.

• Before associating with Jesus’ Present, Living Word, carried and given birth in Paul and Silas, in his heart, Jason was a man who went about his living, untouched. He made no dents in the darkness of his community.

• Before welcoming Jesus’ Present and Powerful Living Word, carried and given birth in Paul and Silas, in his hearing, Jason was a man who went about his living, untroubled. He made no rocking of the boat, of his community.

How are you, a believer and disciple of Jesus, impacting those around you? Who is complaining about you or complimenting you for your faith and works in Jesus? May God, the Holy Spirit move each one of us to see exactly where we are in relation to our covenant relationship in Him and with Him.

Now here is Jason, forced to make a covenant with the powers that be, in order to secure his freedom. A once free man, without posting bond, a once free man, without having to make covenant with the human authority, now only knows freedom with covenant. When this is shown to us in different light, we are made to see ourselves in a similar situation, but not for similar reasons.

You and I were free in our sins, living life without making waves or causing a stir in our living. No one bothered us and we were free to go in and come out without particular notice. However, one day, the Living Word, the powerful life-changing Word came to where we were and we welcomed this word into our homes, our hearts, our hearing and nothing remained the same. We were arrested, captured, helped by the Word, and we could only know perfect freedom through covenant.

Father, Sovereign God, set and made the covenant and we have responded in faith, offering our entire lives to Him and His service. George Matheson has written the hymn which says, “Make me a captive Lord and then I shall be free.” It is only when we are no longer our own, when we have irrevocably given over our wills and selves to the Lord Jesus, God Incarnate, Word made Flesh that we are able to remain in this world of sin and darkness, this world of Jesus-haters, this world of pure enmity with God and be perfectly and effectively His own.

Just as every single experience of Jason and others, in this moment of posting bond or making promise, only came about because of Paul and Silas, so too with you and me. Our covenant making has only taken place and can only take place because of Jesus, the Living Word, made flesh in us. Jason opened his house. Are not you, me and every follower of Jesus, His home, His dwelling place? Is not home then, our heart, hearing and having?  Jason and others heeded the Living Word as brought by Paul. The Bible tells us this about Paul.  As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead.  This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is Messiah, he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. Acts 17: 2 – 4.

I see Jason, in many ways, as Lydia the convert at Philippi, who heard Paul’s preaching and speaking and opened up her house - her heart, hearing and having - to the Living Word, given form and living life, in servant Paul. This fall, comes into the life of one who accepts and responds in visible service.  Jason is no different and we are not to be different either.

We look more closely, with keener eyes of faith, as our Holy Spirit continues to teach us and lead us into all truth. As indicated, Jason, before being arrested, before posting bond and before making that promise, to which he would be held accountable, was living freely, without having any marked influence on his community, because of Jesus. However, by a simple action, a response which all believers can know, he is a changed believer. Follow Jason in this our today. Like this ordinary believer and disciple of Jesus, our Risen Lord:-   

• Be humbled before God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as you have heard His Word. Acknowledge and acclaim to this truth in your exposed living that all might and power belong to Him.

• Be empty of all your learned and acquired human mind-sets about serving the Lord, as you heed His every Word. Accept and acclaim His Word in you, is powerful and potent, so that you will demonstrate none other, but the Lord’s authority and power in your life.

• Be wise in hearing and heeding so that you will not be deceived by the enemy, into living lives which are fine and nice, according to good Christian habits, but totally displeasing and a lie to our Lord.