During one of the prayer meetings recently, the Lord said that He is in the midst of removing the limitations you (the Body of Christ) have permitted to set in your mind. Some of these limitations are self-imposed or being inflicted by others. These limitations have become a bondage and a deterrent in your life. In order to advance to the greater things that He has for you, let Him remove the limitations that bound your mind.
Gideon - Set free from fear, intimidation and sense of inadequacy
During Gideon’s time, Israel had been oppressed continuously by the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites would come against Israel time and again to destroy their produce and take away their live stocks. In fear and hunger, the people of Israel had to hide themselves in dens and caves in the mountains.
Gideon was secretly threshing wheat in the winepress away from the eyes of the enemy when the Angel of the LORD appeared to him.
Judges 6:12, 14-15 (NKJV)
And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, “The LORD is with you, you mighty man of valor!” … Then the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.”
Gideon had grown up in the environment of fear and intimidation imposed by the enemy. Also, he had a self-image problem because he deemed himself the most insignificant in his clan and among his siblings. No wonder he doubted the Lord who was saying something about him that was too good to be true.
However, after getting some concrete confirmation from the Lord, he allowed the Lord to change his mind and to guide him in the mission to save Israel. Eventually, Israel won the battle against the Midianites and were liberated from the oppression of the enemy.
Judges 8:22, 23, 28 (NKJV)
Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, both you and your son, and your grandson also; for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian.” But Gideon said to them, “ I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you.” ...Thus Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted their heads no more. And the country was quiet for forty years in the days of Gideon.
Gideon allowed the Lord to set him free from the fear of failure, from the intimidation of the enemy, and from the sense of inadequacy that limited his mind. He allowed the Lord to give him a new self-image. He rose up to be a military leader who saved the people of Israel from the Midianites.
However, Gideon knew it was not by his own might that he became who he was. He understood that it was by the leading and the enabling of the Lord that He became successful. Therefore, he was fully convinced and convicted that only the Lord can rule over the nation, not just any king or man-made government. Thereafter, the Lord made him a judge and a prophet over Israel. And Israel had peace, away from war from then on.
Are you one of those who are struggling with fear, intimidation and low self-image? Fear of failure, fear of rejection, intimidation by bullies, being taken advantage by others, sense of inadequacy, low self-esteem, and the list goes on. Just as Gideon was, allow the Lord to renew your mind and give you a new identity in Him!
Peter - Set free from guilt and disappointment
John 13:37-38 (NKJV)
Peter said to Him (Jesus), “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.” Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.
Peter was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. He had set his mind to follow Jesus and even to die for him. None of the disciples knew then that Jesus was going to be executed on the cross. So, Peter could not accept it when Jesus said that he cannot follow Him to the place He was going.
John 18:17, 25-27 (NKJV)
Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man's disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” … Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.
However, after Jesus was arrested, Peter denied Him exactly three times, just as Jesus had spoken. Peter must be feeling devastated upon hearing the rooster crowing, remembering everything Jesus had said to him. Why did he deny Jesus? For someone who was ready to fight for Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane, had he become a coward? Was he feeling confused in such unthinkable and chaotic situation? Was he angry with Jesus that He did not allow him to fight back? Had he concluded that sacrificing for a non-hero is no longer worthwhile? Only Peter knew what was playing in his mind when he denied Jesus. But one thing for sure, Peter went back to his profession as a fisherman with deep guilt and great disappointment.
John 21:15-17 (NKJV)
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
After Jesus rose up from the dead, He went to meet His disciples (Peter included). Turning things around, Jesus offered Peter three times to be restored back to his calling and ministry. Peter allowed Jesus to set him free from his guilt and disappointment. He was restored back to his apostolic ministry. He preached the gospel to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost, thousands were saved, and the first church was born.
Are you one of those greatly sorrowed by guilt and disappointment too? Stop beating yourself with questions like “Why did I do it?” or “Why didn’t I do it?”. Stop punishing yourself for a mistake you have committed in the past. Jesus will surely forgive you if you turn to Him in repentance (see 1 John 1:9). Stop blaming yourself for a lost opportunity due to your ‘incompetency’ in the past. Jesus is able to help you rise up again if you are willing to seek His guidance. As Peter did, forgive yourself and allow the Lord to heal you. Let the Lord restore you to be the person He has always wanted you to be!
Paul - Set free from bad reputation and wrong perception
Paul, whose name then was Saul, was on the way to Damascus to persecute more believers of Christ. During the journey, he encountered Jesus in a great light experience. That experience changed his belief, his vocation and his direction in life. He became a believer and started preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Acts 9:20-21, 26 (NKJV)
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
You see, Paul already had a bad reputation among the believers of Christ. Before his conversion, Paul was well known for breathing threats and murder against the disciples of Jesus. After his conversion, no matter how Paul tried to convince the believers of his sincerity, they were still afraid of him. It must be really difficult for Paul because there was such distrust in him and his initial ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ. But Paul did not give up.
Acts 9:22, 27-28 (NKJV)
But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ. … But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.
In spite of all the rejections, Paul held on to his great light experience in Damascus and the revelation he had received from the Lord. He focused and worked on his ministry calling. Eventually, he was cleared of the ‘bad reputation’ and accepted by the Body of Christ. Through his ministry, many people from at least fifty cities were saved. He had also raised up ministers of God such as Timothy, Titus, Aquila, Priscilla, and many others. Moreover, almost half of the books in the New Testament were written by Paul. What a change of image and identity!
Are you one of those with ‘bad reputation’ or ‘bad track records’? Have you been trying hard to turn a new leaf of life but yet still trapped in the vicious cycle? Or have there been people who harbor wrong perception of who you really are? Has it been difficult to receive respect and trust from people around you due to your past? Start praying and asking the Lord for a renewed mindset. Then, allow the Lord to speak His revelation into your life. As Paul did, hold on to your deeper experience with the Lord and meditate on His revelation for you (through the Word, prophecies, or dreams/visions from the Lord). May a Christ-like identity begin to grow in you, and may the new identity soon be witnessed and affirmed by the people around you. Amen!