Ishamel was the son of human effort and intervention. Isaac was the fulfilled promise begotten by faith. Ishmael was Abraham’s slave son while Isaac was Abraham’s free son. Ishmael as a teenager bullied Isaac as a toddler and so infuriated Sarah, Isaac’s mother, that she expelled Ishmael and his mother Hagar from the home.

Turns out, Ishmaels are still bullying Isaacs today. We don’t mean the age-old conflict between Islam and Judaism/Christianity, although that is a reality. We are speaking in spiritual terms.

Spiritual Ishmaels are those with a slave mindset who work hard to earn right-standing with God through their own efforts and performance. Spiritual Isaacs are those who receive the righteousness of God by faith in Christ. Isaac represents the freedom we have in Christ.

These two brothers in conflict with one another in Abraham’s household represent the conflict we still see today in God’s household. Those earning their own salvation through their own efforts will always discredit, bully, look down upon, and harass those walking in faith and freedom in Christ. It’s the nature of the relationship between the two.

Gain insights in this week’s episode as to why you have felt intimidated, discredited and mistreated by your own brothers and sisters in Christ as you’ve attempted to grow in Christ and walk on your own two spiritual feet.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

02:48 The Story of Isaac and Ishmael

03:57 Spiritual Growth and Conflict

06:49 The Promise and the Conflict

18:05 Paul's Teachings on Faith and Works

33:12 Perfectionism and Legalistic Upbringing

33:45 Struggles with Sin and Guilt

36:39 Spiritual Ishmaels vs. Spiritual Isaacs

38:19 Paul's Teachings on Legalism

42:52 Hypocrisy and True Righteousness

55:10 The Way of Isaac vs. The Way of Ishmael

01:03:41 Conclusion and Future Vision

We continue our series on spiritual maturity. It is vital we mature as Christians because increased maturity leads to more freedom in Christ and more freedom expands the authority we walk in as children of God.

That authority is what threatens the devil’s illegitimate dictatorship on the Earth. A mature child of God who gloriously embodies their freedom and expertly executes their God-given authority is devastating to the devil, so what does he do?

He tampers with and contaminates our spiritual food. Why? Because just as our physical man needs physical food to grow, our spirit man needs spirit food to grow.

But, what exactly is spiritual food? And are we consuming it?

A mature Christian isn’t someone who has been in church a long time. It is someone who is becoming acclimated and expert in the things of the spirit realm.

This episode dives into what exactly spiritual food is and the ways it has been contaminated in the Church over the centuries, all in an effort to fetter the devil’s most powerful and feared enemy - YOU! 

Are you ready to finally walk in a freedom and authority that cannot be stopped? 

00:00 Introduction to Spiritual Maturity Series

00:58 The Enemy's Tactic: Perpetual Spiritual Immaturity

02:34 Paul's Perspective on Spiritual Maturity

03:16 Spiritual Milk and Solid Food

04:17 The Role of the Spirit in Spiritual Growth

06:00 The First Church's Spiritual Practices

07:09 The Spirit Gives Life

15:16 Logos vs. Rhema: Understanding God's Word

18:23 Personal Testimony: Embracing Spiritual Freedom

31:13 The Power of Rhema Word

32:22 Understanding Spiritual Milk

34:40 Why Paul Discusses Breast Milk

43:33 Breast Milk vs. Formula

46:49 Spiritual Growth and Leadership

56:42 The Role of Spiritual Milk in the Church

01:00:56 Conclusion and Call to Action

If you were the devil and you knew the spiritually mature child of God operates in a powerful authority to utterly depose you of your illegitimate authority on the Earth, what would you do as their enemy?

You would deceive him or her into a perpetual state of spiritual childishness and convince them it is holy and righteous before God.

The devil employed this tactic almost immediately in the first century church, and it’s so effective it is still the primary method he employs to handicap and hamper the Body of Christ in its devastating authority over him today.

But, if The Freeborn Podcast has anything to do with it, that gig is up! This new 4-part series is all about spiritual maturity - what it is, why it’s important, why it is a vital prerequisite for walking in FREEDOM, and the sneaky, effective tactics the devil uses to keep us from achieving it.

This is a call to spiritual maturity. It’s time to grow up! 

This series will expose the enemy’s devices against you and how he has kept you small, scared, and ineffective. 

But, once you see his evil agenda clearly, you’ll know how to effectively fight back and rise up to become who he fears most - a child of God who knows how to walk in freedom and authority and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

We know you are all so ready for this. The next four weeks could be exactly what you need to be launched into your divine identity and destiny as a child and heir of God.

00:00 Welcome Back to the Freeborn Podcast

00:40 Introducing the New Series on Spiritual Maturity

01:05 Understanding the Concept of Freeborn

02:27 The Importance of Spiritual Maturity

04:24 Hearing and Responding to the Voice of God

08:25 Training Course Announcement

13:52 Defining Spiritual Maturity

16:36 The Role of Self-Control in Freedom

20:30 Parental Guidance and Spiritual Growth

26:14 Authority and Freedom in Christ

31:58 Galatians 4: Understanding Our Inheritance

33:58 The Appointed Time of Maturity

35:05 Believers' Journey from Slavery to Sonship

36:12 Macro and Micro Views of Spiritual Growth

37:17 The Role of Spiritual Fathers and Mothers

41:24 The Devil's Strategy to Keep Believers Childish

43:08 Paul's Admonition to Guard Freedom

44:29 Legalism and Its Impact on the Church

49:40 The Call to Spiritual Maturity

55:08 The Role of the Fivefold Ministry

59:40 Rejecting Spiritual Slavery

01:01:34 Conclusion and Next Steps

This may be our most important podcast yet. It is the final part in our series “Are You in the KNOW?” It is all about knowing the voice of God. We can know nothing more important.We speak on behalf of the Millennial generation in particular in this episode, a generation that has walked away from God in droves. Why?Perhaps it is because we have been taught to listen to the many manmade forms of God passed down to us - traditions, standards, dress codes, protocols - but we haven’t learned to hear the voice of God Himself. We know so much about God, but we don’t know who God is. In our times of need, desperation, and pain, these manmade constructions of God have turned up empty and cold-hearted again and again. And so, we have scattered.This episode is a timely and inspiring call back to the voice of God. He DOES speak to us. We are wired for connection with Him. With a little training and instruction, we can get reconnected to His voice of comfort, instruction, wisdom, and destiny.00:00 Welcome to the Freeborn Podcast01:24 Hearing the Voice of God05:29 Samuel's Story: Recognizing God's Voice17:34 The Importance of Prophecy24:13 Trusting in God's Guidance27:43 The Power of Prophecy27:54 God's Dream and the Holy Spirit29:02 Encouragement and Comfort through Prophecy30:39 Training in the Prophetic33:38 The Importance of Hearing God's Voice38:17 Moses' Final Words and the Voice of God44:32 The Danger of Idolatry and Forms49:18 Returning to God's Voice52:36 The Knowledge: A Real-World Example58:21 Conclusion and Call to Action

This is part 3 of our series “Are You in the KNOW?” In this episode, we discuss two types of knowledge - earthly knowledge and divine knowledge. 

Everyone has access to earthly knowledge, but only God’s children - The Freeborn - have access to divine knowledge. So, what is divine knowledge? How do you know you’re accessing it? If you’re not currently accessing it, how can you begin?

We hope this fascinating discussion starts you on a journey that upgrades you into a new operating system, into the mind of Christ - thinking the actual thoughts of God.

Freeborn believers, it’s time to ascend higher into those heavenly realms where we really belong.

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

01:09 The Importance of Knowledge

03:05 Earthly Knowledge vs. Heavenly Knowledge

05:32 Understanding Gnosis: Earthly Knowledge

13:51 Epignosis: Divine Knowledge

21:20 The Challenge of Legalism in the Church

28:33 The Dangers of Legalism in the Church

31:00 The Church Mimicking Worldly Institutions

32:26 Competition and Excellence in the Church

34:44 The Church as a Human Kingdom

38:25 The Importance of Spiritual Discernment

42:08 The Benefits of Epignosis

54:23 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

This is part 2 of our series “Are You in the KNOW?” In this episode, we do a brief history lesson of courageous freeborn believers from the past who demonstrate how an intimacy with God empowers believers to take bold, even world-changing stances in the freedom Christ purchased for us. These individuals are our cloud of witnesses rooting us on in our own pursuit of freedom.

Interestingly, these bold believers were reading the same translation of the Bible, the 1560 Geneva Bible. What was it about this translation that emboldened them to risk their lives for the truth? We discover that this translation actually portrays God much differently than modern translations, all of which demonstrates the importance of seeing God correctly. We hope this is an inspiring, eye-opening episode!

Important show notes:

You can subscribe to Naomi Wolf’s readings of the Geneva Bible here - thegenevabiblereadings.substack.com. 

PLEASE NOTE: Since the recording of this podcast, I have listened to more of Naomi Wolf’s readings and she said that she switched from reading The Jerusalem Bible to the Revised Standard Version because she was informed by her listeners that TJB is a notoriously bad translation. This still provides a great illustration of how translators can impose their lens, perceptions, and biases to their interpretation of ancient texts.

If you are on a journey out of religion and legalism, we can’t recommend Eric Mextaxas’s book Martin Luther enough. If you’re like us, you’ll note several striking parallels between his story and yours. You’ll find courage, wisdom, and insight in your journey of freedom.

00:00 Welcome to Episode Three

02:05 The Importance of Knowing the Truth

02:56 Historical Examples of Freedom Fighters

04:35 Martin Luther's Stand Against the Catholic Church

14:07 The Geneva Bible and Its Impact

21:17 The Geneva Bible's Influence on America

25:23 Naomi Wolf's Discoveries

27:56 Rediscovering the True Nature of God

30:14 Historical Misinterpretations of Scripture

31:21 The Impact of Viewing God Correctly

32:44 Genesis 6:3 - A Gentler Interpretation

41:09 Exodus 4 - Moses' Argument with God

43:55 The Role of Mediators in Religion

48:24 Direct Access to God through Jesus

51:31 Closing Thoughts on the Importance of Scripture

Captivity is directly related to ignorance. As The Freeborn, while freedom is our birthright, it is not guaranteed we will enjoy freedom. So, how do we ensure we remain free?

This episode dives into the spiritual keys hidden in Isaiah 5:13 and John 8:31-32. You may see things here you've never seen before!

01:25 The Roller Coaster Analogy

03:07 Laying the Foundation for Freedom

05:18 The Power of Knowledge and Truth

06:36 Frederick Douglass and the Importance of Education

09:43 Spiritual Captivity and Freedom

13:29 Embracing Truth and Admitting Mistakes

20:37 Breaking Free from Lies

21:32 The Power of Revelation

22:57 Applying Truth to Your Life

23:37 Knowing and Owning the Truth

24:06 Abiding in the Word

32:29 The Importance of Personal Scripture Reading

41:25 Concluding Thoughts on Freedom and Truth

You can find our podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and Amazon Music.

Episode 1 of The Freeborn podcast is now available!Join hosts Ashley Griffith and Clinton in the inaugural episode of 'The Freeborn' podcast. We dive into the meaning of being 'born into freedom' as a son or daughter of God and share our personal journey of understanding and living out biblical freedom, discussing how this concept can transform lives and lead to an adventurous and fulfilling relationship with God. In this episode, we dive into the twelve elements of a good adventure story and how a life of faith is truly the ultimate adventure.

00:00 Welcome to The Freeborn Podcast

00:11 The Meaning of Freeborn

01:06 Starting the Podcast Journey

07:52 The Concept of Biblical Freedom

12:43 Reframing Christianity for Young Adults

21:08 The Call to Adventure with God

26:00 The Thrill of Faith

29:07 God as Our Fearless Captain

30:52 Feeling the Call: Leaving the Comfort Zone

35:01 Elements of a Good Adventure Story

39:36 Facing Challenges and High Stakes

42:13 The Importance of Diverse Characters

44:24 Plot Twists and Surprises in God's Plan

45:33 Engaging All Senses in the Adventure

46:52 Moving Forward and Finding Clues

48:57 The Role of Bad Guys in Our Spiritual Journey

52:06 Conclusion: Embracing Adventure with God

You can find our podcast on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Audible, and Amazon Music.