After Freedom

1 Peter 2:13–17 NIV84

13 Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, 14 or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 15 For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

1. Embrace your new identity

Sub-point 1: You are a Child of God

John 1:12 “12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—”

Sub-point 2: You are Forgiven and Redeemed

Ephesians 1:7 “7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace”

Sub-point 3: You are a New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

2. Surrender your will to God

Sub Point 1: Submit to God's Will

Romans 12:1-2 “1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Stop thinking like a slave

Get Egypt out of your mind

Sub Point 2: Seek God's Will

Proverbs 3:5-6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Sub Point 3: Obey God's Will

James 1:22-25 “22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.”

Be like Nike and “Just Do It”

Do what His Word tells you to do

3. Join a community of Authentic Believers

Sub Point 1: Live good lives

1 Pet 3:15-16 “15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

No gossip can hurt you when your behavior is right

It is never right to do wrong and it is never wrong to do right

Sub Point 2: Humble Yourself

James 4:10 “10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

1 Peter 5:6 “6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Sub Point 3: Use Your Gifts and Talents

1 Peter 4:10-11 “10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

4. Persevere in Faith

Sub Point 1: Endure Trials

We will face trials and hardships in this life, but we can persevere through them by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3 “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Sub Point 2: Remain Faithful

We must remain faithful to God even when we don't understand His plan or when it seems like He is silent

Hebrews 10:35-39 “35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.”

When you don’t understand your trials—stay faithful

When the car breaks down and you have no money—remain faithful

Sub Point 3: Trust in God's Promises

Jeremiah 29:11 “11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

We can trust in God's promises and have hope for the future, knowing that He will never leave us or forsake us

Hebrews 13:5-6 “5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” 6 So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?””