SLAVE TO: OBEDIENCE & RIGHTEOUSNESS

Slave to: OBEDIENCE & RIGHTEOUSNESS | Romans 6:16, 18, 22 AMP

Have you ever stopped and truly weighed the cost of being a bond slave of Jesus Christ? Exodus 21:1-8 tells us that there was a certain protocol for slaves (servants).

Slaves had to work or serve for a period of 6 years and in the 7th year they could then go free or, if they’d begun to love their master and his counsel, generosity, etc., they could choose to remain a slave to that master forever!

So let’s understand the term slave, it means:

Slave: bondman, man of servile condition, metaph.,  one who gives himself to another's will those whose service is used by Christ in extending His causes among men; devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests; servant, attendant

The description given in Exodus prophetically symbolizes our spiritual lives in Christ Jesus. We were purchased at the highest value and many work extremely hard, not all but many after salvation to return their gratitude.

After a period of time as described in Exodus, the number 7 is prophetic symbolism for completion so after a period of time or what seems like a new beginning, a decision is made.

Did you want your bookie’s debt paid so that you’d finally be off the hook and now you have it or after a time did you begin to love the ways of the Master and decide that you’d prefer this His way?

Now, our devotional is on Romans 6 yet we’re discussing Exodus, why? I’m glad that you asked!

Exodus gives the best details for our subject matter so that what we unfold in Romans takes root.

In this custom with slaves or servants outlined in Exodus, the servant who decides to stay with his/her master has now made a lifelong decision.

In making this decision the servant or slave is now pierced in the ear with an awl (strong needle)to solidify his/her as the Master’s possession.

Speaking prophetically, this transition from the spiritual eye has now transformed the slave from slave or servant to bond slave/bondservant.

What’s the difference? Originally, a debt was due and it was paid on Calvary at the most expensive cost. So slaves are bound by debt, yet the slave decided he has found grace, love, and mercy with his Master that he’d rather remain, which now categorizes him as a bond slave.

A bond slave is one by choice and not force.

Let’s pause here and reflect on this fact, before Adonai or (My Lord, Master) purchased you, you were already a slave, so see you didn’t become a slave at purchase, at purchase you were already a slave.

Romans 6:16,18 outlines this truth…

16: ”Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either [slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (right standing with God)?

18: And having been set free from sin, you have become the slaves of righteousness [of conformity to God’s will and purpose].

How we view the things that we enslave ourselves to has multiplied over the years although they did exist in the early church era. The two more prevalent things were sin and righteousness.

Verse 16 gives us clear indicators of the result of the choice that we make to whom we will be enslaved.

Let me argue this fact, Matthew 12:30 says…

”He who is not with Me [once and for all on My side] is against Me, and he who does not [unequivocally] gather with Me scatters.“

So let’s put a pin right here, I’ve been challenged by the Lord to think deeply and intently about what forms of enslavement are available between sin and righteousness because if we use the scriptures that I have outlined as a metric, you should know undoubtedly where you fall in.

Here is the hard truth, in between being a slave to sin and a bond slave to righteousness, notice these are two different formalities of enslavement, there is LUKEWARM! OUCH!

Let me just say this, we’re on the 4th quarter and it’s crucial that we settle some things before moving into 2024.

If you haven’t already listened to the Word the Lord gave at the end of November concerning: AGREEMENTS, listen to that HERE https://youtu.be/lkbor9qKlqY?si=m2VKxaXb2hK9CJXj

According to the Hebrew calendar, we are already in a New Year where the will of God is being fulfilled, there is a measure of grace for those who look solely to the Westernized calendar and its “New Year”.

So, I’ll leave you with this, what are you slave to? Sin or Righteousness?

I exhort you to look into this with spiritual eyes, hear with spiritual ears, and allow the Spirit of the Lord to shed light on any agreements with sin.

Do not discount your extracurricular activities, your family traditions, or your date night selections…

Nothing I’ll ever speak, write, or imply will cause fear, however, as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, I am charged to invoke the fear the Lord, it’s my VOCATION!

God is not looking for a compromising people but a people who will unashamedly look like heaven! Heaven does not engage in worldly traditions of men laced with satanic undertones.

Many are declaring a life of holiness yet to God they truly do look “holey” having many spots, blemishes, tears, and holes.

God has been heavily speaking to me concerning covenants, conditional and unconditional, and not only do we have to understand the meaning of these we also have to stare truth in the face as to the conditional agreements we’ve outlined in our hearts before God.

You see, your words are like chaff in the wind, how do we know? Because God could swear by none other than himself, man is fallible, what God can “see” in your heart determines your indictments!

Declare the Lord but somehow find a way to fit in the things of this world and you’ll find yourself at enmity with God.

As you close this Western year of 2023, determine without doubt what enslaves you. Sin or Righteousness!

What do you “will” to do? Serve sin or serve righteousness?

Let’s look at our final verse 22:

But now since you have been set free from sin and have become [willing] slaves to God, you have your benefit, resulting in sanctification [being made holy and set apart for God’s purpose], and the outcome [of this] is eternal life.“

Before Christ, sin was too great for His people which is the very reason we needed a better covenant. He ascended upon the earth intending to divorce us from sin so that we’d be “willing” to become bondsmen to God!

Willing means:

ready, eager, or prepared to do something given or done readily readiness to be obedient prepared to be obedient;  having the mind inclined, not opposed in mind.

But notice verse 22 says “having been freed “ / “have been set free” This means

To make free; set at liberty: free from the dominion of sin

If we’ve been made free from sin, what we see now is our “willingness or willfulness” to be enslaved to sin.

On the contrary, being a bond slave to righteousness causes a need for CONFORMITY.

In this context, conformity means compliance with standards, rules, or law; outward fashion, one thing fashioned as another; likeness,  resemblance, and agreement.

So our commitment to obedience and righteousness and ultimately binding ourselves to it requires one to fashion ourselves after righteousness, being strictly obedient and compliant with the standards of God’s laws and precepts for His Kingdom, resembling the likeness of Christ as we transcend from glory to glory!

This read is a call to meditation, let not this year close without knowing where you are with God, what pleases and displeases Him! Let this be your lifeblood, to be a bond slave to the obedience and righteousness of God.

Waiting well,

Apostle Tash 💜