Part of our rest, our land of promise, is to rule, in Christ, over all that is about us; to not be subject to fears, desires, lusts, the opinion of people, or anything else that would cause us to act in a manner contrary to the manner in which we think God would have us act.

At one time I was bound by an attraction to classical music. The Lord asked that I give it up. This I did. Now I can take classical music or leave it. It no longer has a grip on me. I rule it. It serves me, not I it. Since the Lord has burdened me to write the things I have heard from Him over the last fifty years, I do not have time to practice the piano. I expect that in the next life, if this is what I desire to do, I will have all the time, strength, and instruction I need to further my ability.

Music no longer is a god to me.

Becoming obedient to Christ alone so we are free to rule joyfully and gloriously in every circumstance is a very desirable state in which to live.

How does God develop such rest in us? He permits Satan to put us in prison, in situations in which we are denied our fervent desires and compelled to do that which displeases us. We can be in such a situation for many years.

While we are in prison our gods speak to us to find a way out. But we have to break God's laws in order to break out of the prison.

If we wrench our circumstances, probably harming people in the process, we lose all the value of that which the Lord planned for us. We remain an adamic creature.

If, however, we wait patiently for the Lord to bring us to joy, our bondages are broken. We are set free to govern our circumstances in Christ. We no longer are bound by the several fears and lusts that had us chained.

So far we have seen two great areas of being and doing that must be brought into subjection if we are to be able to enjoy the Paradise of God, the new environment planned for us. These two areas are obtain perfect union with Christ and the authority and power to rule in Christ over our circumstances.

What else must be brought under subjection?

To Obtain Total Deliverance from All Behaviors That Bring the Torment of Divine Judgment upon Us

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. (Revelation 2:11—NIV)

Freedom from being tormented by God's judgment by means of deliverance from the kinds of personality over which the Lake of Fire retains authority.

Christians have sometimes been taught they are free from the authority of the Lake of Fire forever, on the basis of grace. This is not the case. We have a temporary reprieve while Christ is giving us an opportunity to change. But God has given the Lake of Fire authority over certain types of behavior. Either we are delivered and changed, or else the Lake of Fire will claim us.

We have attained a very important objective when we have no more fear of being harmed by the Divine judgment.

To be continued.