Right-click to download PDF version

Most do not know what real freedom is. Read here the surprising answer which some Congregation members have yet to understand and apply.

Paul said: “Then stand firm in the liberty with which Messiah made us free and do not be harnessed again with a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). Just what is this liberty? Does this mean that Yahshua has made us free to do as we please? The world interprets this to mean that we are free to follow the inclinations of our own will – in plain words, to sin! Yahshua said: “Everyone practicing sin is a servant of sin” (John 8:34). What did he mean? The world has been completely and totally deceived by Satan (Revelation 12:9).

As a result the world speaks of “liberty” and “freedom”, and yet the world is in slavery! “While promising them freedom, though themselves being slaves of corruption; for a man is overcome, by whatever it is that enslaves him” (2nd Peter 2:19).

Everywhere we hear of people wanting freedom. They do not want to be told what to do, or when to do it. They do not want to be restrained by law or government. Every man wants to be a law unto himself and not under the authority of law. Each man wants freedom, and by seeking Satan’s pseudo freedom he becomes enslaved to sin. He becomes enslaved since he disobeys the spiritual and physical laws of his Creator. By breaking the laws of our Creator, we bring upon ourselves death.

Slaves to Lust

Most of mankind is a slave to wrong habits and desires. They are enslaved by passion, and lust, anger, drunkenness, drugs, and everything vile and unclean. Others are slaves to society, or to the thoughts, ideas or opinions of others. Such people are in real miserable bondage to such desires and passions. They think they are wise while rejecting the Creator Yahweh. “Professing to be wise, they became foolish” (Romans 1:22).

Instead of serving the true Elohim, they have served things which they have made. Therefore, Elohim has given them up to uncleanness through their own lusts and as a result they have become abject slaves to their own passions and lusts. Yes, the whole world is in slavery today. Satan has deceived the whole world into thinking it is free! Yet the whole world is in slavery, only free to do evil—to harm the self—to destroy the self.

This same slavery to sin and to Satan is expressed by the Apostle Paul. “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to whom you obey, whether of sin to death, or obedience to righteousness” (Romans 6:16).

The word in this scripture that is translated “servant,” is ‘doulos’ in the Greek. This word means to be “enslaved, enthralled, and subservient.”

As a noun it refers to a “slave, a servitor, or person of mean condition”. This is the same word which is usually translated into the word servant in the New Testament. In fact it was so translated 120 times. With this in mind let us read the next verse?

“And having been set free from sin, you were enslaved to righteousness” (Romans 6:18).

Slaves of Yahshua

The way to become free from sin is to become the slave of righteousness. This may seem to be a paradox. Freedom and liberty in Yahshua is freedom from the penalty of sin. We are either slaves of sin, or slaves to righteousness. Those who are slaves to sin are slaves to Satan the Devil. Those who are slaves to righteousness are slaves of Yahshua Messiah.

But, the yoke of slavery that Yahshua puts on us is joyous and light (Matthew 11:29-30). Paul also mentions the principle of our being slaves of Yahshua in 1st Corinthians 7:22-23. In order to make this more clear, the word “slave”, which is a correct translation, is being used instead of the word “servant”.

“For the one called while a slave in our Master is a freed man of our Master. And likewise, the one called while a free man is a slave of Messiah. You were redeemed with a price; do not become slaves of men”.

Since we are the slaves of Yahshua Messiah, we should not submit ourselves to become slaves of man. He is not speaking about being subservient to our elders, but being enslaved to unconverted mankind such as our boss at work, an unconverted mate, or peer pressure from unconverted friends.

Neither should we come under the spiritual slavery of Satan the Devil. The fact that we are slaves of Yahshua Messiah is also mentioned in several other places by the Apostle Paul. He also referred to himself as a slave of Yahshua Messiah several times.

Responsibility of Masters

In the strict sense, a master is totally responsible for his slaves. He is responsible to provide their lodging, their clothes, for food and other necessities. This is assuming that the slave serves well. If not, the master may have the power of life and death over his slave. It is because of this authority that many masters have dealt cruelly with their slaves. Many masters have had their slaves cruelly tortured or put to death when the slave was not worthy of such punishment.

As slavery was practiced during New Testament times it was necessary for the Apostle Paul to write to Timothy concerning this very important point.

“Let as many as are slaves under a yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of YAHWEH and His doctrines may not be blasphemed. And those having believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them more zealously, because they are believing and beloved ones, those receiving of the good service in return. Teach and exhort these things” (1st Timothy 6:1-2).

Christian slaves must have proper respect for their masters, otherwise they blaspheme Elohim. The master is supposed to serve the slave, and to take care of his needs. As a result the slave partakes of the benefits of the master.

Yahweh is Ruler and Master over all, and yet He is the one who serves the most. According to Yahweh’s commands, the one that serves is the greatest. Therefore, Yahshua is our servant, even though He is over us as our Master and Elohim. That is exactly opposite to the masters and rulers of this world, they exercise authority and dominion over those that are under their authority (Luke 22:24-26). How contrary to Yahweh’s just and good ways!

What is a Master?

In one inspired prayer recorded in the Bible the people lifted up their voice to Yahweh with one accord and said “YAHWEH you are the Elohim” (Acts 4:24). In our English translations this does not appear unusual, but in the Greek there is a difference. Usually the word kurios is used and translated into an English word “Master.” In this particular place the word is ‘despota‘. This Greek word refers to Yahshua Messiah as a despot. Actually this same word is used several times referring to Yahshua (2nd Peter 2:1 and Revelation 6:10).

This seems strange to us today. We only know of despots as those who are cruel and inhuman. A despot is “an absolute ruler.”In other words, a despot is a ruler who has the power of life and death over his subjects. Most of the despots of this world have been tyrants and oppressors. They have ruled with harshness and force. However, there have been a few which have been termed “benevolent”. Yahshua Messiah is a benevolent despot. In other words, He is an absolute ruler, having the power of life and death over all His subjects, but He rules them in love and kindness and serves them continually, providing for their needs and necessities.

Since Yahshua Messiah is a benevolent despot, our Master and Elohim, we should expect Him to supply our needs. Many of Yahweh’s people do not realize their correct relationship with their Ruler and Creator. That is why some of them are not as happy as they ought to be. They do not realize that they are totally and completely in the same status as a slave. They do not realize that their Master is a benevolent despot having the power of life and death over them, but at the same time one who has the responsibility of providing all the necessities of life. If we had a benevolent master according to the flesh, we would surely expect Him to provide these things.

Since our Master and Elohim is not visible, we sometimes do not think that He has the power or the interest to supply us our needs. Some of Yahweh’s people are unhappy with their circumstances or station in life.

They are not satisfied with their home, their food, their clothing or position. They are not happy with their health. The trials and tribulations they have to endure sometimes discourage them, even though the “burden” and “yoke” they have been given by Yahshua is light (Matthew 11:29-30). Why is this? It is because such people are dissatisfied with what their Master has provided. They are unthankful!

Did you give your Life to Yahshua?

Let’s go back to the beginning of the disciple’s life and examine briefly the agreement that we have made with Yahshua Messiah.

When we were baptized, we agreed (according to Luke 14:26-33) that we would love Yahshua more than even our own life. We agreed to bury the old self, to be willing to give our life completely, totally, and without reservations, to Yahshua Messiah. He was then to become our Master (Despot), our Elohim and our Ruler. By such an agreement, we were making a solemn contract with Yahshua Messiah to give our lives to Him in slavery.

Yet in spite of this, some people say that they did not know that the Believer’s life was going to be quite like this. Apparently they expected a life of ease and plenty. The Bible states that the life of a true disciple is going to be filled with trials and tribulations, but Elohim has promised to deliver us out of them all (Psalm 34:19).

Since we have agreed to give our life to Elohim, nothing that Elohim would require of us could be greater than this. After all, what do you value more? Your life, or the physical assets you might have. Your own life is of more value to you than dollars and cents. It is worth more to you than reputation, friends, houses, lands or cars! Since you have agreed to give your life to Yahweh you have no complaint, no matter what happens.

Yahweh will not require of you more than you have agreed to give. The question is, did you really give your life to Yahshua?

If you really did, then you should not be unhappy whatever your present state. You should not be unhappy about your situation in life. You are being continually filled with more and more joy, which is one of the fruits of Yahweh’s Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). But have you really given your life to Yahshua? Do you live to Him every day? Is your every thought, and action toward your commitment to Him? Are you filled with joy every hour of every day of your life because Yahshua is your shepherd who cares for you, loves you and has give up His life so that you can live righteously before Yahweh?

Is Yahshua Your Master?

Some of the people of Yahweh are just like some of the people in the world. They call Yahshua their Elohim and Master, not realizing what these words mean and their relationship with Yahshua Messiah. They call Him their Elohim and Master and yet they don’t do the things He says to do (Luke 6:46-49). In this regard Yahshua Messiah has said that we are to seek the kingdom of heaven first and all these physical things are going to be added for us. Notice Matthew 6:24.

“No one is able to serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and he will love the other; or he will cleave to the one, and he will despise the other. You are not able to serve YAHWEH and wealth.”

Since we are serving Yahshua Messiah, we should not take anxious thought about the necessities of life. “If YAHWEH so enrobes the grass of the field, which is today, and is thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will He not much rather you, little faiths” (Matthew 6:30). Yahweh is our Master and Elohim. He is our Supplier. Therefore, He instructs us:

“But seek first the Kingdom of YAHWEH, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

These are promises for Yahshua’s slaves. Those who are obedient to Yahshua Messiah, and are doing the things that He says to do, are seeking first the Kingdom of Yahweh. They are receiving the necessary things of life.

Since Yahshua provides these things, we need not be overly concerned about them. We should not fear or worry. We must do our part, be industrious, and be profitable servants or stewards, working diligently at whatever He has given us to do.

Then He will provide these things for us. When trials, tribulations, or other difficulties come, when we may be in lack or in need, our Master knows our state of affairs and will provide these necessities in His own time.

Do You Have Faith?

Some who consider themselves a part of Yahweh’s Congregation do not believe that their Master will provide for them? They do not have faith that Yahshua Messiah is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.

By this lack of faith they are not in complete subjection to their Master, Yahshua Messiah. Yet the Bible states that without faith it is impossible to please Yahweh. Do you have that kind of faith? The kind that believes that Yahweh means what He says, and that He will supply such needs?

Or, are you in rebellion and disobedience to Yahshua Messiah and harbor doubts that He will take care of these needs? You have agreed to give your life to Yahshua. He has agreed to supply all your needs if you seek His Kingdom first.

Therefore, you should have complete confidence and trust in Yahweh. You should have complete joy and happiness, realizing that Yahweh cares for you and will supply your needs even beyond what you may ask or think.

Yahshua supplies our Needs…

“Now to Him being able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, according to the power working in us”(Ephesians 3:20).

Having this knowledge, we certainly can have joy exceedingly. Realize, even though we may have trials and tribulations, they all happen for our good (Romans 8:28).

Realize fully that our Master knows our need even before we ask. Realize also that He will not bring upon us more than we are able to bear (1st Corinthians 10:13).

Therefore we need not worry. We need not be over- anxious for the affairs of this life, but can accept with joy anything that happens to us, knowing it is for our good. Knowing in full confidence that everything is going to turn out alright. We can have supreme confidence in Yahweh, knowing that He does everything for our good and will treat us as benevolent servants, providing for our needs and helping us in the time of trouble.

All good and perfect gifts come from Yahweh (Jacob 1:17).