Freedom

I am suppose to speak to a group of women at my church in a few weeks. Not knowing exactly what to speak about, I have been in prayer. But, I saw an email that went out to the women leaders of this group that said I would be speaking on being peculiar and doing a inner healing on the entire group of listeners.

So, there you have it. Prayer answered.

I started thinking, how do these two things relate. I sat down and started writing and realized the connection is great.

Most of the Christian people are not peculiar. They appear to be like everyone else. It is very hard, in a crowd, to pick out the Christian from anyone else. Why?

So, here is the focus of my speech. We are not peculiar because we have unresolved issues that lie inside of us that hold us back. These issues have to do with perception. This perception includes how we see our selves and worry about how others will see us.

Fear of man and fear of self. We fear of making a fool of ourselves. Finding the issues inside of ourselves that creates this fear will have to be the next step.

What kind of issues are there that create such fear? To name a few:

I was told to not make a fool out of myself.

As a child, I was hurt, emotionally, every time I tried to express myself.

Told, "what will the neighbors think" when I look different.

Came to believe all the above.

All these words and deeds not only keep us from being peculiar, they also, keep us from pure worship. We stifle the desire to fall to our knees, bow before the Lord or dance with the joy of the Lord.

We are called peculiar seven time in the Bible.

Exodus 19:5
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Deuteronomy 14:2
For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Deuteronomy 26:18
And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

Psalm 135:4
For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.

Ecclesiastes 2:8
I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

Titus 2:14
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1 Peter 2:9
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

Even though God calls us peculiar we ignore that call. We concentrate on other things that God has called us and leave this one alone. We, has Christians, need to find a place of freedom inside of ourselves, that brings freedom to be a peculiar people.