Keys to Freedom

This morning, we are going to begin a brand new series that is going to talk about one of my favorite topics regarding our walk with the Lord. That topic… is freedom!

And this series is going to revolve around a simple truth that so often is forgotten or misunderstood. That truth was spoken by Jesus and is found in John 8:36

John 8:36 NIV

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

There are a lot of ways a person might try to find freedom today...

I am thankful for the freedom we have in this nation… a freedom that was fought for and is defended today by many who are willing to place their lives on the line for it.

But as great as our national freedom is… a person can still be found living in bondage… spiritual bondage. But thankfully, someone was willing to go the distance for us… He was willing to lay down His life for us so that we could be set free from that which had us bound on the inside.

Freedom… TRUE freedom… can only be found in Jesus - the One who gave it ALL so that we can be free! AND… if He has set you free… you are free indeed!

I can live in a communist country and still be free in Christ. I can be bound in physical chains and locked in a jail cell and still be free in Christ.

The greatest freedom a person can experience in life comes not from the outside, but from the inside, as the love of Christ breaks through the spiritual chains and shackles of sin and transgressions. JESUS IS THE ONLY SOURCE OF SUCH FREEDOM TODAY!

He fought for it, bled for it, and died for it. He gave all so you can be free!

And I believe, over the course of the next several weeks, we are going to see God set people free in this place!

Spiritual bondage is no joke… and it is wreaking havoc on lives of people throughout the heartland. The enemy desires to keep people bound and tied up He will do all that he can to keep people from hearing and receiving the truth that can set them free.

Church, in the next several weeks, we are going to war. We are going to wage war against an enemy who is trying to enslave our families, our communities, our loved ones and friends. We are going to go to war for some in this room who are battling, struggling, who know how to out on a mask to hide the bondage within.

Here’s the deal: THE BATTLE HAS ALREADY BEEN WON. Jesus did all that is necessary for you to be free today! But that freedom can only be experienced one way.

John 8:31–32 NIV

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Our freedom is GAINED through SALVATION (deliverance). Our freedom is MAINTAINED through OBEDIENCE (discipleship).

Jesus’ blood has the power to break sin’s chains and shackles. But with the decision to follow Christ must also come the decision to hold to His teaching.

The Son sets us free through His Blood and through His teaching.

Consider this: our national freedom was won many years ago. That national freedom is defended by not allowing certain ideologies to take hold OR enemies to invade. Our national freedom was fought for and is defended.

Spiritually, Christ won the battle for our souls the moment He gave His life on the cross. We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS over sin THROUGH Jesus.

And that victory in our life is defended as we say NO to sin and YES to Jesus’ teachings every day. Romans 6:11-14

Romans 6:11–14 NIV

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

This morning, we re going to begin to lay the foundation of what it means to “hold” to Christ’s teachings. We are going to begin to at what dead to sin… alive in Christ looks like.

IF you are in Christ, then the Son has set you free! And there may be some who say, “In recent days or seasons, I sure haven’t felt very free.” We’re going to talk about why that might be so we can experience total and complete freedom in our lives.

Look out for Snakes.

I like animals. I like watching and observing them. I like seeing certain ones in my yard and enjoying the company of our dog… generally speaking… I like animals.

However, there is one animal I do not care for very much. That animal is the snake. I cannot stand them. I’m not afraid of them, but they give me the willies. I would rather not see them, run into them, or have anything to do with them.

Several years back as we were just getting started in full-time ministry, we were living in a small office/apartment space in one of Kristy’s dad’s shops. It had an attached single car garage that we used to store some of our items and work on things.

One day, we were sitting in the living space and Kristy’s sister came in with a nervous look on her face. She wanted me to come out to garage but she didn’t want Kristy to join us. The tremble in her voice made it clear that something was wrong.

I got up, went to the garage… and in the middle of the floor was a three foot long hognose snake! This was NOT what we wanted in our living space!

It got in because I had left the garage door open on the building! I was working on a few things in the garage and failed to close the door.

I dealt with the snake, closed the door, but my wife’s sense of security… had been rattled. I don’t like snakes but Kristy REALLY doesn’t like snakes! It was upsetting to her that this animal had gained access to our home.

I left the door… open. That’s how the snake gained access. And… that is how the enemy gains access to our lives, if we are not careful - by leaving a door open.

That’s what Romans 6 was warning us about. That is why Jesus said freedom is found when we hold to his teachings.

Romans 6 gave clear instruction. We can close the door on the enemy in two ways.

One - by not allowing sin to reign in our bodies anymore. This means we are done with it. This means we listen to Jesus’ teachings regarding sin and steer clear of it.

This means our minds are no longer to be governed by the flesh but by the Spirit of God. When we leave the door open to sin… we leave room for the enemy to come back into our lives.

Two - by not offering ANY PART of our bodies to wickedness. This means we must be wholly surrendered to Jesus and His teachings.

We cannot entertain it, we cannot tolerate it, we cannot allow it any space whatsoever in our hearts and minds. If we want total freedom, we must not offer any part of ourselves to the wickedness and darkness of the world.

Unwelcome snakes of the spiritual sort can slither into our houses when we choose to leave doors or windows open. These snakes are DANGEROUS. They are not to be treated as friends… they need to be kicked out the door!

Hear me today… the enemy is very real and his demons are real. He is looking for ANY OPPORTUNITY to come in and to oppress and influence you. HE WANTS YOU IN SPIRITUAL BONDAGE TODAY.

Now watch this: Once Christ has set you free, the enemy cannot come in and simply take your freedom away. Your freedom… can only be given away - by choice.

Look at Romans 6:13 again

Romans 6:13 NIV

13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.

This passage talks about two different offerings - A CHOICE. We can go the way of wickedness OR the way of righteousness - as those who have brought from death to life.

A BELIEVER CANNOT CLAIM TO HAVE THE FREEDOM OF CHRIST WHILE STILL OPERATING IN DEATH. Christ DID NOT give His life for you to remain where you are spiritually. His life was given so that you might have life to the full!

If you want total and complete freedom in your life then it’s time to make a choice - a choice to become dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ!

When those thoughts, habits, or behaviors try to creep up again… when the snake tries to gain access again… SHUT IT DOWN. And never forget this important truth today:

1 John 4:4 NIV

4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Our God is GREATER.... say that word with me today: GREATER… He is greater than ANYTHING in or of this world. The enemy might creep in… that habit, thought, or behavior might try to overpower you… but never forget, through the power of God’s Spirit now living in you and the power of the blood of Jesus that has redeemed you - YOU ARE FROM GOD AND THROUGH THE WORK OF HIS SON, YOU HAVE THE POWER TO OVERCOME.

The enemy might try to impress… to oppress. He might try to get your attention with something so you will let him in only to ensnare you with bondage.

Consider this: If someone knocked on your door, and they had the look of a robber (mask, weapon, bag for loot, etc) would you let hi/her in? Of course not!

The enemy knows this! He will come in such a way to impress you… to oppress you. DON’T FALL FOR IT! Don’t let him in.

AND… when he tries to oppress through attacks… recognize it for what it is and remember that the battle belongs to the Lord and the victory has come through Jesus.

Perhaps your lack of feeling free has come from your inability to close the doors to the enemy. Perhaps you have left room in your life for sin to come in… for the enemy to oppress you.

In a moment, we are going to pray for God to DELIVER you from those open doors. Church, listen to me, we are not going to give counsel… we are going to CAST OUT that which is trying to bind you… but you’re going to have to make the choice - the choice to be dead to sin and alive in Jesus.

Look up to the Son.

Secondly, maybe your lack of feeling free is coming from another are of concern. Maybe you need deliverance… but maybe you need to get back to discipleship. What does discipleship have to do with our spiritual freedom?

Remember, Our freedom is GAINED through SALVATION. Our freedom is MAINTAINED through OBEDIENCE. How can we obey… if we do not know His commands? How can we obey… if we do not know the teachings of Jesus? Remember, Jesus said freedom comes from knowing the truth - the truth that is known through holding on to His teachings.

As Christ is central in our deliverance… He is also central in our discipleship. His words, His teachings are to become the foundation to our lives.

WE CANNOT KNOW FREEDOM WITHOUT KNOWING THE WORD. WE CANNOT LIVE IN FREEDOM WITHOUT LIVING THE WORD.

And… the freedom that comes from knowing and living the Word, cannot be found anywhere in the world.

THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE. THERE IS NO PLAN B. Anything else is a cheap imitation that will not deliver like the Word of God can!

Spiritual freedom is found when we are delivered by the blood… and discipled in the Word. Both are made possible through the Son who is Jesus Christ.

Never forget today that Christ IS the Word. John 1:1-5 tells us

John 1:1–5 NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:14 NIV

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

When we take in the Word... when we live by the teachings of the Word, we take in Jesus and His way. being delivered by the blood and discipled by the Word is what it means to be set free by the Son!

The Word is given to us that we might steer clear of sin. The Word is given to us that it might become a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. The Word is given to us that we might store it in our hearts so we will not sin against God.

The Word is given to us so that we might be able to offer every part of ourselves as instruments of righteousness.

When we open the Word, we close the door for the enemy to come in. When we listen to the Word, we stop listening to the lies of the enemy. When we live the Word, we go Jesus’ way instead of the world’s way.

In the Word, sin no longer has mastery over us and we become more aware of God’s mercy and grace!

Make the Choice

So when you find yourself not feeling free… when you find yourself getting wrapped up again… there are a couple of things I would encourage you to do.

First… look intently for open doors. Look for areas where the enemy is finding ways into your life.

Remember… these are doors we choose to keep open. The enemy cannot force his way in… but he will enter through any opportunity he can find.

In the Garden of Eden, the serpent did not force Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, instead he twisted the words of God and convinced her that God was withholding something good from her.

Genesis 3:4–6 NIV

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

He found an open door and… the damage was done.

It’s time to close the doors. It’s time to turn the enemy away. It’s time to say a resolved NO to anything that might allow for the influence and oppression of the enemy to take hold in our lives.

Secondly, we need to look up to the Son.

We need to remember that Jesus offers us a freedom that cannot be found anywhere else. This freedom is NOT determined by our circumstance… it is determined by our commitment.

Jesus shed His blood to deliver you from the bondage you were in.

Jesus gave the Word to disciple you in His teachings and commands.

Going back to Genesis… if Eve had only held on to the word God had given her, she would not have fallen for the lie of the enemy.

Church, if we would hold on to the Word God has given us, we would not find ourselves in spiritually vulnerable situations like we so often do!

The Word of God is given that we might hear it and apply it to our lives. Holding on to the teachings of Jesus is how we become His disciples AND become knowledgeable in the truth that can set us free.

Together, through deliverance and discipleship… a person can experience total and complete freedom in Christ!

So I ask this morning… are you ready to get free in this place today?

First off, let’s talk about deliverance. Some of us need delivered today. Some of us need God’s help to close the doors that the enemy is using to gain access to our lives.

It’s time to say no to sin and yes to Jesus. This deliverance comes through calling on the name of the Lord. Our deliverance begins with relationship.

PRAYER - Salvation and Deliverance

This is a prayer of forgiveness, repentance, and reception of what Jesus has done for us.

Secondly, it’s time to overcome. It’s time to allow the Word to permeate our situation… so that we can be set free.

Maybe you recognize where things or why things are going wrong. Maybe you aren’t living according to Jesus’ teachings. Maybe you are harboring things in your life you know shouldn’t be there. It’s time to be set free from such things.

PRAYER - God, set me free today in Jesus’ Name!