Where the Spirit is Lord-part 2

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

In part one, I was talking about the disconnect between what we say we believe and our experience of that belief, especially when it comes to our freedom in Christ. It’s the struggle we all have (if we’re honest with ourselves) with the patterns of daily life that keep us from walking in the abundant freedom that is our birthright in Yeshua.

I closed by speaking to the tendency to take the definition of ‘freedom’ (see part 1) in a way where we focus on our position in Christ assuming that guarantees our rights/freedom in daily life, while neglecting the one pathway to experiencing freedom-submission to Christ.

Let me make this very clear. This is not something we do maliciously at all, and it affects all of us as believers in some measure. What I want to look at in this second part is this: I believe our real struggle stems from a misunderstanding of the words: “where the Spirit of the Lord is”. 

We look at that statement and focus on LOCATION. We are believers indwelt/filled with the Spirit; therefore, we are free simply because He is here. This is a perception that leads to real problems. We fail to take seriously our entanglements in sin daily life. Please keep in mind, I am not talking about horrific, blatant sins; but, the subtle ones that are common, everyday influences accepted in society that pull us away from our union in Christ. The Apostle Paul put it this way:

“I have the right to do anything,” you say-but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”-but not everything is constructive.” (1 Corinthians 10:23)

I want to be gentle here. I struggle with this issue daily and understand how easy it is to move this way. But, there is a clear shift we can make that changes all that. It has two parts, so stay with me.

First, go back to the first and last statements Paul makes in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18–“Now the Lord is the Spirit”, and “which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” Paul clearly states the Spirit is Lord. Very important. So much so, that he bookends this passage with those words. Who is Lord? Holy Spirit.

Now, look again at “where the Spirit of the Lord is” and make a shift—where the SPIRIT IS LORD–now the focus is on Lordship NOT location.

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit is Lord, there is freedom”

See the difference? It makes all the difference in the world. Now I begin to see clearly not only the source of my freedom, but the way that freedom is truly released into my life.

Question: Is the Spirit Lord in your life? Scripture clearly calls us to be ‘led’ by the Spirit, yielded to Him moment by moment. He is much more than just one called alongside us, just to walk along to be engaged only when we want or need something. He is Lord.

There is a groaning throughout the earth. All of creation (which includes human beings, yes?) is longing for and looking for freedom. We are created and called to be the agents of that freedom, to be the revelation, manifestation of God in the earth.

“For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:19-21)

Paul makes all this very clear. Creation is waiting for the ‘sons of God’ so that creation will be brought into the ‘freedom of the glory of the children of God’. We are children of God through the Blood of the Lamb. We become sons of God, maturing through the Lordship of the Spirit.

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” (Romans 8:14)

Is Holy Spirit Lord of your life? Make no mistake about it. To the extent that we are truly led by the Spirit, submitted to His Lordship in our daily lives, will there be an ever increasing glory, a truly abundant miraculous life.

For this were created. To this we are called. Be blessed.