FLOURISH IN FREEDOM

“Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY by which Christ has made us FREE, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage” – Galatians 5:1

God wants you to flourish like the Palm Tree – to FLOURISH in FREEDOM and in the Liberty of the Spirit: “stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY by which Christ has made us FREE” (Gal.5:1; 2Cor.3:17). How does the Palm tree flourish in freedom? The Palm Tree BREAKS BANDS; other trees do not! As trees grow, the band digs into the wood, like an old clothesline wire sunk deep into a tree. The palm tree breaks the bands as it grows. It refuses to be bound by the bands. It refuses to submit to limitations by either intrinsic forces or extraneous agencies. The palm defines its own limits. Satan tries to put bands around believers to dig in, cut, and leave delimiting and hurtful scars. But the child of God can break the bands of sin and bondage through Christ: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom.6:14). You do not have to continue in sin.

The Palm Tree demonstrates the freedom to flourish – to abound, grow, increase, and enlarge; to make steady progress; to spread out; to prosper, thrive, and attain great heights! So does the believer in Christ! In Him, you are free to flourish, abound, grow, increase, enlarge, make steady progress, spread out, prosper, thrive, and attain your high points in life! Palm trees and their branches cannot be handled casually. Pruning them and cutting the branches is an extremely difficult task, and bending them to fit into a container for the garbage is even worse. They cut the fingers, they bounce back when they are bent – they are so strong that even a saw cannot really cut through their fibres. They are free from flourish in the face of the severest of odds. Other trees would bow to whirlwinds and hurricanes, but the palm trees stands strong, firm and free against the most tempestuous winds!

Freedom is the power of self-determination – an attribute of our God-given will. It is the power to think, speak or act without hindrance, constraint or restraint. However, the freedom that Jesus guarantees is freedom from the power of the devil, sin, sickness, poverty, failure, curses, and the diversity of demonic bondages. It is freedom from the dominion of the flesh! This freedom is the right and possession of every child of God who has been liberated through the blood of Jesus Christ. This freedom does not give licence to iniquity (Gal.5:13). It doesn’t rule out obedience to the commandments of God and submission to His Will. It is a freedom of choice: to submit to Christ and follow Him all the days of your life; to walk in holiness and righteousness; to reject the devil; and to renounce the works of darkness, demonic activities and their influences. Freedom in Christ is not an invitation to lawlessness. Rather, it comes through obedience to God’s Word and adherence to His precepts and instructions. Jesus says, if you continue in His Word, you will come face to face with the truth; “and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall MAKE you FREE” (Jh.8:31-32).

Grace sets you free. The truth that you know makes you free! Freedom comes as you respond to the Grace of God. Your submission and commitment to Jesus is out of love and appreciation for what God did and is doing for you. You then accept the freedom offered with thanksgiving: “But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man is blessed in his deed” (Jam.1:25). Freedom is a great blessing! Beloved, you must stand fast in this Freedom to Flourish. “May the Lord give you increase more and more, you and your children” (Psa.115:14). May you “prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers” (3 Jh.2). “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place” (2Cor.2:14).