Staying Free

It is one thing to gain freedom, it is another to maintain it. Jesus told a story to this effect, Matthew 12:43- 45 ⁴³When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. ⁴⁴Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.¹ More is required.

As you read the Bible it becomes evident that the Christian life is a team effort vs. a solo enterprise. It is meant to be done together. I believe Christians need each other to confess their sin, find encouragement and exhortation, and accountability. Look at the following scriptures:

James 5:16 ¹⁶Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.²

Hebrews 3:12-13 ¹²See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.³

Hebrews 3:12-13 ¹²See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.³

Hebrews 10:24-25 ²⁴And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. ²⁵Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.⁴

There are two important ways to put into practice these verses:

1) Get in a small group of like-hearted, same gender believers. Every week I meet with three other men. The format for our meeting is as follows: we open with a word of prayer, we share what is going on in our lives, and we prayer for each other. We value transparency and keep what is shared in the group, to the group.

2) Find a mentor. Over the years I have had several different mentors. They were spiritual men, good listeners, didn't try to fix me, but rather offered me a new perspective on things and shared their lives with me.

These relationships have blessed me thoroughly. I honestly don't know where I would be if over the years I had not made and cultivated these friendships. Proverbs 18:24 ²⁴A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.⁵

¹ Matthew 12:41-14, NIV.
² James 5:16, NIV.
³ Hebrews 3:12-13, NIV.
⁴ Hebrews 10:24-25, NIV.
⁵ Proverbs 18:24