What does it mean to be delivered? When used as a verb, delivered means to set free or liberate, also to release or save. In John 8:36 it says, if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
So you might ask the question, if the Word of God declares whom the Son sets free they are free, why do most Christians seem to be so bound? Well, in order to be delivered, you must first be willing to let go of every connection to your old life that is contrary to Jesus Christ of your own free will. Romans 12:2 says be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
That means you need to bring your own body to subjection. Which entails the people you were involved with in the world, whether friend or family, you just can’t be as close as you where. Why you may ask? Well just think. They knew you when you were in the same frame of mind as they are. So as you might have already figured out, the conversations and mind sets would not be conducive to your renewal and transformation of your new way of thinking. Besides, you’re in a process of transition from the old man or old woman to a new way of talking, walking, thinking and living.
The next thing is a saying that is common among the real estate market. Everything is based upon location, location and location when buying a home. Questions are raised about what’s in that area, whether its a good or bad neighborhood, what the resale value of the home would be, what the taxes are like, and many other factors. Well, this is somewhat the same when you start your transition in the life of a true child of Jesus Christ. The places you use to go to; some people call this their old stumping ground. You must remember these are the locations where memories of events happened. So it may not be a good thing for you to go back to those old locations anymore, because all the emotional memories might cause you to have a set back in your transition of having your mind being renewed.
The last, but very important thing is who do you associate with? Like the old saying goes, “it’s the company you keep.” Not letting go of some of the people you have in your life has been one of the major reasons your new life in Jesus Christ has met with a lot of falls or stumbling blocks in your walk. Not to mention emotional discouragement and frustration, plus loss of focus in your walk in Jesus Christ. So until all these distractions in your walk have come under Godly control, it’s better that you stay clear of the pitfalls you know of from the past.
26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. 27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, 30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luke 14:26-30
You must remember talk is cheap. To walk costs you a lot but the rewards are great. So lets not just talk it out but walk it out. The reason a lot of Christians are still bound today is because they’re in some ways like Lot’s wife who looked back to bondage instead of looking in front at deliverance. She looked back at what could have been. Even in the Church today so called Christians are reminiscing over what they wish they would or could have done in their lives.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:16-19
You have to have a sound mind about this in you heart. There is no looking back.
Philippians 3:8-21
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself
Philippians 3:8-21
