Braveheart

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Today we are looking at Braveheart, this is one of my favorite movies, you have action, kilts, bagpipe music, and love. but the theme of the movie is one that we can all relate to as Christians, and that is the theme of Freedom.

What is freedom to you??

What does freedom mean to you?

I remember the first real moment I felt freedom. I just got in my 1978 chevy nova and I drove to my friend Andy’s house for the first time by myself. There were no Mom or Dad to control what I did, I was free.

We often talk about our freedoms, like the freedom of speech, bare arms, against search or seizures and so on.

There is a freedom we as Christians enjoy, that we can still have even when dictators rule.

and it is possible that a person in North Korea to be freer then a person living in the US with the freedom that I am talking about.

The freedom I am talking about is only found in Christ.

It might seem like we have freedom without Christ

Clip 1 party

we might think that we are free and it might seem like things are great, when we are a part from God, or just walking our own way apart from Him. and yeah we might get hurt a little bit with a stone to the face, but After this clip the English army comes in and breaks up the party and causes all kids of chaos. The English were in control during this period of history, and the Scotts were not free at all

Sin entraps us, and gives us a false since of freedom

John 8:34 NIV

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Romans 6:6–7 NIV

For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

When we gave our lives to Christ and He set us free from the slavery of sin, and now we have true freedom.

However we forget sometimes that we have been set free and we fall back into sin,

I look at like this

PUT ON VEST

Have you ever put a coat on, and put you hands into the pockets just to discover a folded $20 bill? It is such a great moment to find it.

You see, that bill was there the whole time, it was your bill, WE just forgot that we had it.

I mean we could have been short $20 on a bill, or something that we wanted

We might have not gone to get food at a restaurant because we didn’t have the money

But in truth that was there the whole time, We just forgot

Likewise we have been set free from sin, but sometimes we just forget and we fall to sin.

We have to always be fighting the flesh so that we can be living in freedom

Clip 2 Freedom

This clip is so good, one of the

I love the part when they wanted to run and live.

Have you felt like that before??

You know you feel temptation and think it is just too much to handle, and maybe you can go get “You fix” and feel better?

or maybe you think, it’s not really that big of a deal and or I can repent later

Or think that God really does not care if it is a little sin,

Well Lets look at sin for a moment and how God feels about it,

James 4:17 NIV

If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

“I know lying is a sin, but I don’t want my friend to be made at me”

You are sinning

See even “Little” sins are Sins

Habakkuk A talks about how God looks at it

Habakkuk 1:13 (NIV)

Your eyes are too pure to look on evil;

you cannot tolerate wrongdoing.

God cannot tolerate wrong doing

So when we sin, Even a little sin we are falling back into the slavery that we once had, and not living in the freedom that we have in Christ

One of the deceitful things about sin is that it promises freedom but only brings slavery.

bio.warrenwiersbe

When we think about sin we look at it as fun, or easier, but in truth it is nothing but slavery.

Lets see how it looks to be set free

John 8:1–11 NIV

but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

This woman was caught in sin, she was leading a sinful Life, but when comforted by Christ, she was set free.

She was in the act of sin and God set her Free, and when it was time for her to go, Christ told her to leave her life of sin.

Can we be perfect? I am going to say it is highly unlikely until we are with Christ, but we can take steps to leave our sin behind and live in the freedom of Christ.

So how can we live in freedom?

Confession and Accountability

1 John 1:9 NIV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

We need to confess to God that we have sinned, we can not hide from it, and we cannot hide sin from God. If we want to make a change we need to confront our sin and repent

and we need accountability

James 5:16 NIV

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

When we are going through this life we need help, we need that person that can help keep us in check and we can reach out too.

Avoid Temptation

2 Timothy 2:22 NIV

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

When there is temptation we need to flee, but many times when we are hit by temptation it is already to late.

Craig G. talks about pre-deciding

we setup decision in advance, we tell ourselves, “Hey when ___ temptation hits, I will do _____.

Like this,

Driving home from church where I interned in CA, there was a strip of road that had 5 or 6 billboards that were advertising gentlemen's clubs. I told myself when I drive through that area I would look a different direction

See when can do that too, if you have a problem with alcohol you pre decide that you will not go to places that sales it. and so on.

Understanding You Identity In Christ

We are a new creation

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

we are free because of who we are in Christ

John 8:36 NIV

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

Romans 8:14–17 NIV

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Its time that we start living in the freedom that we have in Christ Jesus as Sons and daughters in Him. and standing firm in our relationship with God, and fighting against our flesh .

Clip 3