Many of us as Christians live fairly clean lives, however, the question is whether we are living this way because of what others think of us or rather due to a healthy fear of God. Until I began to experience liberty by way of praying the binding and loosing prayers(see Liberty Savard’s book ‘Shattering Your Strongholds’), I never quite grasped the scripture in Galatians 5:13. “ For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.“
For years this scripture verse had very little practical meaning for me. I understood that which was meant in a theological sense but not so much in my day to day living. I saw that Christ had set me free, however I could not see freedom involving sin in any way at all. This began to change as I moved more into the Keys of the Kingdom. The more I striped away the layers of strongholds and soulties, which allowed the power and presence of the word of God and the Holy Spirit to enter my soul and affect change the less I am concerned about the opinions that others have of me.
This, in my opinion, can be a very dangerous place to be for those of us that are applying the keys to the kingdom prayers to our lives. As we strip away the strongholds, we find that we are no longer concerned about what others think. At this point we can find ourselves in a place where we are so free from others opinions that what others think do not matter to us. At this point the only thing that will keep us in place is our fear of the Lord.
Another passage says that 1 Cor 8:9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. Even though we are free, we are not to use this as a stumbling block to others.
So we have a problem in living free from sin and at the same time from the pressure of what others think of us.
I heard a business man say once that self-esteem is not necessarily what we think of
ourselves, but rather what we think others think we think of ourselves. Arguably there is some truth in that sentiment.
The Tripartite Nature of Man
2nd Corinthians 5:17 tells us that old things have passed away and all has become new. This is true in the spiritual realm. However, there are two more levels to consider, the soulical and the physical realm. (1st Thessalonians 5:23) Both of these realms need the keys of the kingdom to be used if they are to be what God has ordained. Most of the time we are trying to do the work that God has called us to with all of our old structures intact.
So even well meaning advice is based on the word plus our soulish structures. This has to be changed.
All Things are Lawfull
The word of God tells us that we are redeemed from the curse of the Law. Galatians 3:13 1 Cor 6:12 “Glorify God in Body and Spirit All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Cor 10:23 “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. “
This is not to say that we are to live a life of no restraint, but rather, there must be a healthy reverential fear of God, that will stir a deep an abiding Love for Jesus.
Many Live Phone Papered Over Lives
Due to our concern of the opinions of others, many Christians can never fully get to a place where obedience to that which God has called them to can ever be achieved. Often, if God speaks to us, we become so consumed with how others view that which God has spoken that we cannot obey God’s instructions. Galatians 1:10 instructs us that we need to be pleasers of God and not pleasers of men. Now this does not mean that we cannot please men in it’s entirety, however, when the decision needs to be made to accept one over the other, we must always choose to please God first. This is difficult, if our strongholds are intact and being manipulated.
Applying The Keys to the Kingdom Principles Brings Liberty
When we apply these principles we will arrive to a place where the old religious man oriented control mechanisms that we have utilized to maintain our upright walk will no longer be there. This is when we need to continue to press in and grow in God or we can fall. As we attain to greater and greater freedom, we will find that our love for God and his love for us, without the reverential awe of God can lead us to a place of ungodly liberty. This is not God’s will for us.
Develop the Fear of God
It seems to me that this study can have a problematic result if the Keys to the Kingdom are not studied and implemented. Moses stated several times in the book of Deuteronomy that we should study the law to learn to fear God. We are not to study the law so that we can dot every I and cross every T. But this will teach us God’s attitude and response to ungodliness. Deuteronomy 31:9-13; When this is studied correctly, it will cause us to have an even greater appreciation of the completed work of the cross.
Colosians 2:11-17
