The Lord says for this time: "Learn to let go of your past. Forgive yourself and forgive others. My grace is enough for you. The devil will try to remind you of your dark past, sins or wrongdoings. The devil will do anything to condemn you. Do not allow him. Instead, this is your time to receive the river of My healing and restoration. You shall look forward with a fresh outlook. You are set free. For where My Spirit is, there is liberty!"
Somebody shout Hallelujah! Indeed, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty! Freedom! Free in Christ! And this is what the Lord wants to show us and teach us today.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 (NKJV) says, '...when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.'
It means the more you turn to the Lord and look to the Lord, just like you look at a mirror, so to speak, the more you are going to reflect the glory of the Lord. And because the Spirit of the Lord is a Spirit of liberty, therefore you too are free indeed!
What is this word 'liberty' here? It is 'eleutheria' in Greek. You know what it means? It simply means 'freedom from slavery'.
Have you been a slave to a certain sin?
Have you been a slave to your past?
Have you been a slave to a certain addiction?
Have you been a slave to a certain regret in life?
Have you been 'imprisoned' by a certain happening in your past, and you still can't forgive yourself or forgive those who hurt (or abuse) you?
Beloved, whatever your situation may be, there is hope for you. You shall know this truth that the Lord is teaching you today, and this truth shall set you free! (John 8:31-32)
So, whatever your bondage, whatever your slavery, or whatever that has 'imprisoned' you, be set free in Jesus' name! You see, no one and nothing in this world can take away this freedom and liberty from you. If you have this revelation, nothing in this world and nothing in your past can bound you, enslave you, or 'imprison' you anymore.
Let's go to the Scripture now.
Judges 3:7 (NKJV) says, 'So the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forgot the Lord their God, and served the Baals and Asherahs.'
'Baals' simply means 'master of this world', in contrast to you looking to the Lord God Almighty, YHWH, as your Master and your God. And 'Asherah' is the name of a Canaanite goddess.
The children of Israel, instead of worshiping the Lord their God, they served these idols, i.e. the Baals and Asherahs. In other words, they fell into idolatry. In the context of our study today, yes indeed, even in our modern days, not necessarily idolatry as in bowing down to idols. But there can be all sorts of idolatry that humans can fall into. For example, money, fame, position or power.
Judges 3:8 (NKJV) says, 'Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia; and the children of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim eight years.'
It means the children of Israel were enslaved by Cushan-Rishathaim. Now, no denying that this slavery to Cushan-Rishathaim was due to the Israelites' own doing. They themselves turned away from the Lord their God. And you know that God cannot stand idolatry. So, admittedly, sometimes we do experience the consequences of our own wrongdoing. Sometimes our 'fingers can be burned'.
But today, the Lord wants you to know whatever your past wrongdoing, whatever your past mistake, or whatever you have done in your past that you regret, condemn yourself no more. Romans 8:1 says, 'There's now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.'
So, beloved, let the Lord heal you today. Let the Lord restore you today. His grace is more than enough for you. Look not behind you. But look to the Lord. Open your heart and receive His river of healing and restoration that flows in you right now.
Now, what does 'Cushan-Rishathaim' mean? This is very interesting. It means 'double wickedness, or double fault'. See the word 'double' here? So, it's not just wickedness, but double wickedness. In other words, a heavier burden than usual, or twice the amount of trouble or condemnation that the devil (or the enemy) inflict on you. Or you can say it this way, 'double whammy', i.e. a twofold blow or setback in your life.
But I want to encourage you, beloved, that whatever past is past. Whatever mistake that you have done in the past, that's in the past. Let the bygones be bygones. Whatever 'double wickedness' or 'double fault' that you may be experiencing now, let the Lord release to you double healing and double restoration. Amen!
Judges 3:9 (NKJV) says, 'When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them. And his name is Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.'
What does this name 'Othniel' mean in Hebrew? Interestingly, it means 'lion of God, or force of God'.
Here, the Lord came to the rescue for the children of Israel. The same it is for you, if you look to the Lord. He is coming to your rescue right now! He is setting you free from your past! He is setting you free from your bondage! He is setting you free from your slavery! He is setting you free from your 'prison'!
The Lord your God, Jesus Christ, He is the Lion of Judah! The Lion of Judah is now in you to turn things around for you! He also pushes away whatever your 'Cushan-Rishathaim' may be, or whatever 'double wickedness' that comes against you!
Judges 3:10-11 (NKJV) says, 'The Spirit of the Lord came upon him (Othniel), and he judged Israel. So, he (Othniel) went out to war, and the Lord delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his (Othniel's) hand; and his (Othniel's) hand prevailed over Cushan-Rishathaim...'
In other words, the Lion of Judah, the force of the Lord, prevailed over the 'double wickedness', the 'double fault' that is being sent by the enemy, or that is being inflicted by the enemy against you!
So beloved, you can have this hope today, because your 'Othniel' is here right now, and this 'Othniel' is a 'picture' of the Lion of Judah, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! He is here for you, and He is here to deliver you, heal you, save you, and rescue you! And if He is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31)
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