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Originally Posted On: Happiness Is Freedom [What Is Your Cost] – Your Humble Walk
Happiness is freedom, but what is your cost for true happiness and freedom?
In today’s world, purchasing or experiencing things bring you only temporary happiness.
Moreover, sacrificing of yourself to bring happiness to another, does not bring to you, true happiness, and freedom. In truth, real freedom is not found in either of those things.
Freedom, we all want it, to do what we want, whenever we want and with whomever we want.
It is time to break the chains this world has put on you so that you can experience what true happiness is!
In part one of what is your cost to follow Christ, we discussed what you will have to strip away from your life to experience true happiness and freedom.
First, instant answer time.
In truth, you will agree that happiness is freedom and you highly value this.
Know this, happiness and freedom are found only in Jesus Christ.
But, read on because there is much more you need to know.
You will be provided with facts and evidence to prove this!
Moreover, you will come to know your cost for true happiness and freedom.
This message is the most important message you will have ever read or shared with anyone!
HAPPINESS IS FREEDOM: WHO IS JESUS CHRIST
God created the universe and all things and Jesus Christ was with Him from the very beginning!
The most prophesied figure in the Bible is the Messiah as there are over 3,000 bible verses speaking of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ.
Daniel Chapter 9, Verse 25; “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’
Deuteronomy Chapter 18, Verse 15; Moses continued, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
God does exist!
The Bible is truth.
Moreover, Jesus Christ. The Messiah, lived and died on the cross so that you and I could know true happiness and freedom for all eternity!
No one knows more than God than happiness is freedom!
Read on about what God planned for your happiness and freedom since before you were born.
GOD’S PLAN FOR US PROPHESIED
You will find details about Christ’s death and resurrection, in the four gospels Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
When compared to the Old Testament Scriptures about the coming Messiah, several of the events and their specific details mentioned in the timeline of HIS death and resurrection were the fulfillment of Prophecy.
Happiness is Freedom and God, Our Creator knew that He would have to sacrifice His One and Only Son in order for us to be free.
Psalm 41:9 in the Old Testament, this was written centuries before the birth of Jesus Christ sometime around 1000 BC; “Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.”
Prophecy fulfilled in Matthew 27:3-5.
“Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.”
Isaiah Chapter 53, Verse 7; “He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.”
Prophecy fulfilled in Luke 22:63-64.
“The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” And they said many other insulting things to him.”
Moreover, prophecy is fulfilled two more times in Luke Chapter 23!
Luke Chapter 23, Verse 27; “And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and wailed for Him.” Verse 33; “And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him.”
Almighty God foretold in detail, the events of Christ’s death on the cross in the Book of Psalms.
Psalm Chapter 34, Verse 20; “He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken.”
Prophecy fulfilled in John 19:32-36.
“Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.”
WHY JESUS CHRIST MATTERS TO YOU
For something or someone to matter to you, there must be belief on your part in that something or someone.
Moreover, that the thing will do what you expect it to do or that the person is who he or she says is he or she is.
Belief stems from the spirit living inside you and the experiences that occur in your life.
The opposite of belief is disbelief.
On that note, there have been some people over the centuries that have questioned the existence of Jesus Christ as well as the events told in The Holy Bible.
Conspiracy theories about Jesus Christ and what happened after Jesus Christ died on the cross have been stated over the years.
One theory stated that the disciples of Jesus Christ, stole HIS body from the tomb and later claimed that HE had risen from the dead.
THAT would have been an impossibility, being that the tomb was guarded around the clock.
Matthew, Chapter 27, Verses 62 through 66; “The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘
After three days I will rise again.’ So, give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead.
This last deception will be worse than the first. Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So, they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”
The stone itself that made the tomb secure weighed about 3,000 pounds or 1 ½ tons.
No human, whether inside or outside of the tomb could have removed the stone by himself. Let alone with it being guarded day and night.
There were no gyms or workout facilities around in those days, this would mean that the average person had the ability to lift about 125 pounds.
Moving a stone that weighed over 3,000 pounds would take a minimum of over 20 people. ALL Happening AFTER they had subdued the guards, those guarding the tomb, WHICH DID NOT HAPPEN.
What is a big rock toward true happiness for you and for me?
Jesus Christ commanding a 3,000 pound boulder to roll away.
Then there was the “wrong tomb” theory.
After Jesus was crucified, Scripture states that the women came to the tomb on the third day to anoint the body of Jesus.
The unproven theory suggested that the women simply came upon the wrong tomb, which happened to be empty.
All that theory proves is that fake news has been around for centuries.
Jesus Christ matters to you because in fact He did exist.
He walked the face of this earth and took our place on the cross.
2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Jesus Christ matters to you because He created you!
Moreover, because true happiness is freedom, your freedom can be found only in Jesus Christ.
THEIR BELIEF AND SACRIFICE PROVES HE LIVES
Some more facts.
There were eyewitnesses, many, who saw the Resurrected Jesus, with their own eyes.
The first was Mary Magdalene.
John Chapter 20:11-18, “Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
Moreover, The Bible tells us the account of the Resurrected Jesus Christ speaking to the two men, one man by the name of Cleopas, on the Road to Emmaus.
Luke Chapter 24:13-35, “Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened.
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
“What things?” he asked;
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel.
And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther.
But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.”
So, he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem.
There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”
Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.”
The third piece of factual evidence is written for you in Luke 24:36-43. Jesus appearing to the 11 Apostles.
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.
And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.”
What Is True Happiness: Because of Almighty God calling the Apostle Paul, many have come to know Jesus Christ!
Paul, the man Christ Jesus charged with delivering HIS message to the Gentiles.
You, me, anyone who is not of the Jewish Faith.
He answered the question, what is true happiness by telling and proving to us that it is found only in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3-8; “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.
By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word, I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
Furthermore, Paul continues to prove that Jesus Christ did in fact rise from the dead in Verses 12 through 19.
“But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead.
But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”
THEY WITNESSED GOD ALMIGHTY IN THE FLESH
Over 500 witnesses, all saying the same thing.
That Jesus Christ died on the cross and that they saw in person, for themselves, the Resurrected Jesus Christ.
And they were willing to die for this truth. Many of them did.
The Apostle Peter was crucified, at his own request after sentencing he was crucified upside down.
His brother Andrew, whipped, tied, and hung to a cross where he died.
Phillip, Bartholomew, Simon the Zealot, all crucified.
James, son of Zebedee beheaded with the sword.
The other apostle names James, son of Alphaeus, clubbed to death.
Matthew axed to death by a halberd which is a combined spear and battleax.
Thomas lanced and burned to death inside an oven.
Judas Thaddeus, beaten to death with sticks.
The Apostle Matthias, one of the 70 that Christ sent out to spread the Good News early on his ministry, stoned to death while hanging on a cross.
Paul was beheaded in Rome at the hands of the Roman Emperor Nero.
They died for The Truth. Dying for their BELIEF that CHRIST is the SON of the LIVING GOD.
That HE died for our sins on the cross, that HE was raised on the third day and that HE will come again in his time of Glory.
No one would sacrifice their own life for a made-up story.
HAPPINESS IS FREEDOM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE OF WORK
1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
You can do nothing apart from Christ.
Nothing, means anything, whether it be inside or outside of the workplace.
This means you will never succeed eternally in anything when you are apart from Jesus Christ.
All that is written in the Holy Bible is there for a specific reason, written by God Himself.
Almighty God outlined His plan for work in the first two chapters of the Book of Genesis.
Moreover, God as He always did and does, sets the example for us to follow.
He created all things, the universe and the earth with infinite detail and wisdom.
Christ, the Wisdom of God being there with Him from the very beginning!
God spent six days creating everything needed to sustain life for the animals and more importantly the humans that would populate the earth.
On the seventh day, after completing His work, God rested and saw that what He had made was good.
God then Blessed the seventh day and sanctified it as a Holy Sabbath, a day of rest from work.
Moreover, a day that we are to honor God in all that we say and all that we do.
We are not to idolize work because when we do, we become separated from Almighty God!
Happiness is Freedom When You Enjoy Your Work and Produce Fruit to Help Others.
You glorify God when you obey authority, love your fellow workers, and leave work at work, when the bell strikes at the end of the day.
Jesus Christ showed us that the poor will always be among us and in need in Mark 14:7.
“For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me.”
You do well when you put in a good day of work and you reap the benefits of your work so that you can help others in need.
Be diligent and you will prosper!
Proverbs 10:4, “Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches.”
Moreover, look to gain experience from the work you do.
Because when you do this, you will prosper in the days ahead.
This will make all the work you do profitable!
Stay clear of anything unholy in and outside of the workplace and beware of the love of money.
Because it is the root of all evil.
Your job, my job is to be an ambassador for Jesus Christ, both inside and outside of the workplace.
Enjoy a good day’s work and pray to God for His Holy Spirit to make known to you anyone you can help or serve each day during your time of work.
Moreover, make known to you who to share The Good News of Jesus Christ with.
In conclusion, there is no getting around the fact that we are a sinful humanity, living in a fallen and sinful world.
Because happiness is freedom, therefore God had to become a man.
Jesus Christ, the man who is God, came and with His death on the cross reconciled us to Holy God.
We were born sinners, every single one of us.
All sin is lawlessness, lawlessness means separation from Holy God Almighty.
For us to live eternally and be united with our Creator, there was only ONE who could be the Bridge, between The Holy Father and The Creation.
The Perfect Lamb, The Son of Man, Christ Jesus.
HE died so that you and I could live. HE took our place and experienced the agony, the torture of crucifixion so that you and I do not have to.
Moreover, paying the penalty that all us sinners deserve.
A Selfless Hero, who laid down HIS life so that all others could live.
Who else could but GOD HIMSELF could do that?
THAT is a LOVE Like No Other.
Your time to Believe in Him, to have Reverence for Him and to Worship and Glorify Him is now.
Happiness is Freedom and your freedom is in Jesus Christ.
The reward that awaits you is eternal life in Almighty God’s glorious kingdom!
Your alternative, should you choose to reject the love of Christ is the horrifying, second death.
When Christ is Sanctified in your heart -who or what shall separate you from the love of Christ. The answer is No One. Nothing shall separate you from HIS Love.
The gifts you receive are never ending. The peace of Christ living inside you.
Answers to any question you would ever have. All you need to do is ask Him.
Jeremiah 33:3, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
The Spirit of God Almighty Himself will lead you every second of every day. All you need do is ask HIM to fill you with His Spirit, to lead you, to guide you as you head out into the world. The Mind of The LORD will live in you.
You will take the truth, God’s Word, and act obediently.
When you are truly free in Christ you will receive His priceless Wisdom.
Moreover, all you need do is ask for it.
His Holy Spirit will help you so that you do not conform to the ways of this world.
You will know what to say because the words will come from Him.
He will show you the way, He will lead you down the narrow road. The road that leads to life.
You now know the cost for true happiness and freedom.
Moreover, every person who stands breathing on the face of this earth is going to pay a price.
Either the price of discipleship or the price of rejecting Christ and GOD’S Gift of Salvation and Eternal Life.
Happiness is Freedom and You get to choose because GOD would have it no other way. Yours is to have the free will to decide.
It is the most important decision you will ever make. I am certain of that.
The Creator, The Holy God who is so pure, infinitely righteous, and holy, one we are not fit to be in the presence of EVER, loves us, HIS creation so much that HE created a way for us to live in HIS Presence, though it cost HIM dearly.
HE gave up his only begotten son to put sin to death once and for all.
The cost to the Father was great.
Your cost should you reject HIS love, will be even greater.
In truth that you were created to walk the narrow road that leads to life.
Through times of hardship, you were created to endure, you were created to overcome.
You were created to soar on wings like eagles, to inspire mankind.
Created to love and to be loved.
I know that YOU, were created to last forever.
Jesus died, so that forever could be yours.
Happiness is Freedom in Jesus Christ.
Forever is waiting for you.
Will you claim it?
Let’s take this journey together each week as you will find new Christian Blogs here each and every week designed especially for you to help with your walk through this life.
Psalm 102:18; “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.”
Please send your comments, questions and prayer requests to my personal email, [email protected]