Free Indeed

Alright, one last time and with some gusto… are you guys ready? If the Son has set you free… YOU ARE FREE INDEED! Do you believe that truth today? Now the real question is… are you LIVING in that truth today?

We conclude our series, “Set Free” with a final message entitled Free Indeed - an acknowledgment of our freedom that goes far beyond just a spoken word, but also is displayed in the way we live.

Remember… Our freedom is GAINED through SALVATION.

This deliverance is something only Christ Jesus can supply. We cannot break free on our own.

Galatians 2:21 NIV

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

What Paul is saying here is if we could move from a place of spiritual unrighteousness on our own, then the work on the cross was not needed.

The moment we call upon the name of the Lord as we repent of our sins… His blood breaks through… bringing forgiveness for our sins and a new freedom that can only be found in Christ.

Secondly, Our freedom is MAINTAINED through OBEDIENCE.

Our lives are not set free so that we can continue to live in sin. As Paul said in Romans 6:1-2

Romans 6:1–2 NIV

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Romans 6:11–13 NIV

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 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.

A life in deliverance is a life lived in discipleship. We are to offer our whole self as instruments of righteousness. In order for this to happen, we must live according to the Word. We must make the choice to live as the Father would lead us to live.

God, through His Son, is calling for all to come to freedom. Galatians 5:13 reads

Galatians 5:13 NIV

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.

We are CALLED to be free. The cross of Christ is the calling card… if you will… and our freedom is to be used in humble service.

As we wrap this series up and get ready to celebrate with those who have found freedom in Christ, I want to briefly look at a familiar story that shows what can happen when we reject the call to be free. God gives us a choice… and the awesome part is… God also gives us a second chance.

Freedom Rejected

Our world is where it is today because of its rejection of the Father. Choosing sin over God’s commands is that rejection. And perhaps the best illustration of this rejection comes from the story of the Prodigal son.

We know the story. The youngest son in the family decides he doesn’t want to do things dad’s way anymore. So he demands his inheritance and leaves the family.

This demand was the equivalent to saying to the father, “You’re dead to me.” Traditionally, the inheritance would only be received after the father passed away.

The son thought the freedom he was looking for… was found outside the Father’s influence. He thought the father was holding him back. He thought the father was keeping him from having fun. So the son took what he thought was rightfully his, and began living a life of so called freedom.

But where did this life end up taking him? To the pig pen… literally!

Luke 15:14–16 NIV

14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

Where is the freedom? Is this the life this guy really dreamed of? Of course it wasn’t!!! So let’s consider that statement right here and now… are you living the life of freedom God has been calling you to? OR do you find yourself stuck in the pigpen?

Many people, believers and nonbelievers, are living in pigpens. That’s picture language for a messy, chaotic life. Sometimes the mess is evident on the outside. Sometimes outsiders would never know. Either way, many people are not where they should be. They find themselves in mucky wallows of cold, hunger, anguish, fear, anger, regret, loneliness, exhaustion, sorrow, and stress.

This is NOT the reality God call us to today! This is NOT the place God desires for you to be! God does indeed have a remarkable inheritance to give to all of His children… but it will not come through rejection of the father… it will only come through the repentance of our sins.

Freedom Restored.

The situation with the prodigal son did not begin to turn around until something significant took place. Look at Luke 15:17-18

Luke 15:17–18 NIV

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

The son realized the error of his ways. Scripture said he came to his senses. Verse 18 tells us the son was ready to repent.

I say this as lovingly as I possibly can… some of us today have yet to come to our senses. Some of us today are still living in a pigpen instead of responding to God’s call to freedom.

Maybe its shame, guilt, or pride that is keeping you where you are. Maybe it is denial or deception that is keeping you where you are. Whatever the case might be… You’re missing out on the freedom God has called you to.

I encourage everyone here today: Allow the Holy Spirit to convict you of sin, and then, by God’s grace and power, fully repent of that sin. DON’T GLOSS OVER ANYTHING IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, particularly in the area of deliverance.

If you want to be completely free… it will require more than a 15 second moment in a church service, it means LIVING a life of deliverance and repentance.

Repentance means that we agree with God ans turn from sin. Repentance involves contrition and sorrow. Repentance means we regret past actions because they were ultimately offenses against a holy and righteous God.

Repentance means that… with the help of God’s Word and Spirit - WE COME TO OUR SENSES! We realize that the Father’s way was the best way after all

Answer the Call

So this morning, I want to give us an opportunity to do something very important. I want to give us the opportunity to answer the call - to be free indeed.

The prodigal son thought his freedom would be found outside the influence of the father. And many today believe that same lie the enemy has been spinning. Church, hear me - this world will NOT lead you to freedom. This world will only lead you to destruction.

The prodigal son learned this the hard way. And maybe you can relate. Maybe when you take an honest look at things, you find yourself in the pigpen instead of living in the plan God has for you.

The really cool part about this story is… when the son returns home… the Father welcomes him back with open arms. ALL is forgiven. Say that phrase with me today… ALL IS FORGIVEN.

As we come back to the Father through Jesus… ALL IS FORGIVEN. Your relationship with God is fully restored. The price for your forgiveness has been paid in full by Jesus.

You don’t have to stay in the pigpen!!! Consider this… whatever it is that is keeping you there is keeping you in bondage!

God is calling you out… out of that bondage and back into freedom!

It’s time to come back to the Father! It’s time to get out of the muck and back into freedom!

I believe the Spirit is working on lives ans hearts this very moment. I believe God has been calling to you throughout this series… and it’s time to break free!

The prodigal son, after coming to his senses, had to start his walk back to the father. He had to pick himself up, leave the mess behind, and start heading home.

This morning, if you need to answer God’s call to freedom, I want you to get up out of your seat and come to these altars. Star taking the steps right now. The Spirit has been moving in you and you are ready to respond.

Don’t let the bondage keep you there. Don’t let what others might think keep you there. Don’t let the lies of the enemy keep you there. God’s presence is in this place and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom!!!

Will you come and be set free today?

PRAYER

First what I want you to do is… repent… tell God that you’re sorry. Tell God that you realize the error of your ways. Talk to God and ask for forgiveness.

Secondly… RECEIVE His forgiveness today! Thank Him for saving you! Thank Him for setting you free! You are no longer bound… you are no longer in the pit… for if the Son has set you free… YOU ARE FREE INDEED!!!

Our God is a God of second and third and forth chances. Our God is here ans He wants to set us free! He is calling us to freedom… He is calling us out of bondage! He is calling us to die to sin ans to come alive in Jesus!!!