Freedom in Christ: Week 2 Freedom to Serve
Freedom in Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 views"The door has been opened. The chains have been removed. The question is: What will you do with your freedom?"
Notes
Transcript
Announcements:
Offering box is on the back wall near the coffee
2. Bible reading plan is on the church website.
3. MCS ready Now Clay County will be meeting at the community center on Tuesday from 6PM-7PM. This is open to everyone who is actively in addiction or in recovery.
4. We will be having prayer next Sunday evening July 5th from 5-6PM.
Introduction:
Good morning church.
Last week we discovered that Jesus didn't come to improve prisoners.
He came to release them.
We learned that sin is a terrible master.
We learned that Christ paid our debt.
We learned that the prison door has been opened.
But today we discover an important truth.
Freedom is not the finish line.
Freedom is the starting line.
Many people spend their entire lives pursuing freedom.
Freedom from debt.
Freedom from addiction.
Freedom from obligations.
Freedom from responsibilities.
Yet when they finally get what they thought they wanted, they discover something surprising.
Freedom by itself is not enough.
People need purpose.
Without purpose, freedom becomes empty.
Without purpose, freedom becomes selfish.
Without purpose, freedom becomes destructive.
And that brings us back to our prisoner.
The Prisoner Learns to Live
Remember our prisoner?
The chains are gone.
The prison is behind him.
The door stands open.
He walks outside.
For the first time in years he feels sunlight on his face.
Fresh air fills his lungs.
The horizon stretches farther than he has seen in years.
He is free.
But then reality sets in.
Now what?
The prison is behind him.
But his future is in front of him.
He has to learn how to live again.
He finds work.
He rebuilds relationships.
He learns responsibility.
He begins contributing to society.
Then one day he notices another prisoner staring through prison bars.
And because he remembers what it felt like to be trapped...
Because he remembers what it felt like to be hopeless...
Because he remembers what it felt like to be rescued...
He begins helping others find freedom.
That is when he discovers something important.
Freedom isn't just freedom FROM something.
Freedom is freedom FOR something.
People Need Purpose
One of the greatest struggles many people face is not finding freedom.
It's finding purpose.
Think about retirement.
Many people spend decades looking forward to retirement.
They count down the years.
They make plans.
They dream about all the things they will do.
Then retirement arrives.
Some flourish.
Others become miserable.
Why?
Because purpose matters.
Human beings were created with purpose.
God never intended for us to simply exist.
He created us to make a difference.
He created us to contribute.
He created us to serve.
That is true physically.
That is true emotionally.
And it is certainly true spiritually.
Paul's Warning
Galatians 5:13 says:
"For you were called to be free, brothers and sisters; only don't use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love."
Paul is reminding believers that freedom can be misused.
Freedom can become selfish.
Freedom can become self-centered.
Freedom can become all about me.
The flesh constantly asks:
What do I want?
What do I deserve?
What makes me happy?
What benefits me?
What feels good right now?
The flesh says:
Life revolves around me.
But Christ teaches something entirely different.
Jesus Shows Us What Freedom Looks Like
Mark 10:45 says:
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."
Think about that.
Jesus possessed more freedom than anyone who has ever lived.
He is the Son of God.
Creator of the universe.
King of kings.
Lord of lords.
Yet what did He do?
He served.
He washed feet.
He fed hungry people.
He healed the sick.
He comforted the brokenhearted.
He welcomed outcasts.
He sacrificed Himself for others.
True freedom did not make Jesus selfish.
True freedom made Jesus a servant.
And if we want to follow Jesus, we must learn the same lesson.
The Lesson of the Towel
One of the most powerful moments in the life of Jesus occurs in John 13.
The disciples gathered expecting Jesus to teach.
Instead, Jesus wrapped a towel around Himself.
Then He knelt down.
One by one.
Disciple by disciple.
He washed their feet.
The King became a servant.
The Master became a helper.
The Lord became a laborer.
Why?
Because serving is at the heart of who Jesus is.
And serving should be at the heart of who His followers are.
A Recovery Lesson
One of the healthiest things that can happen in recovery is when someone begins serving others.
At first recovery is naturally focused inward.
People are learning.
Healing.
Growing.
Breaking destructive patterns.
But eventually something changes.
The healthiest individuals begin helping others.
They encourage newcomers.
They share their testimony.
They mentor someone behind them.
Why?
Because addiction constantly turns life inward.
Recovery turns life outward.
The same principle applies spiritually.
The more we focus only on ourselves, the more miserable we become.
The more we learn to serve others, the more fulfilled we become.
Saved For a Purpose
Ephesians 2:10 says:
"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do."
Notice what Paul says.
We were created FOR good works.
Not saved BY good works.
Saved FOR good works.
Good works don't earn salvation.
They flow from salvation.
We don't serve to become God's children.
We serve because we are God's children.
God has assignments for every believer.
Someone needs encouragement.
Someone needs prayer.
Someone needs compassion.
Someone needs a helping hand.
Someone needs a listening ear.
Someone needs the Gospel.
And God may want to use you.
Faith That Moves
James 2 reminds us that genuine faith produces action.
Real faith doesn't sit still.
Real faith serves.
Real faith helps.
Real faith loves.
Real faith moves toward people.
The world says:
Take care of yourself first.
Jesus says:
Love your neighbor.
The world says:
Protect your interests.
Jesus says:
Serve one another.
The world says:
What can I get?
Jesus says:
Who can I help?
Application
Let me ask you a simple question.
Who are you serving?
Who are you encouraging?
Who are you helping?
Who are you praying for?
Who are you investing in?
Because freedom was never intended to stop with us.
God blesses us so we can bless others.
God comforts us so we can comfort others.
God forgives us so we can forgive others.
God frees us so we can help others find freedom.
Option 1: The Consumer Christian Application
Many people approach church the same way they approach a restaurant.
They ask:
Did I like the music?
Did I like the sermon?
Did I like the programs?
Did I get what I wanted?
But followers of Jesus should ask different questions:
Who did I encourage?
Who did I serve?
Who did I pray for?
How did I contribute?
The church was never intended to be a place where we simply receive.
It is a place where we serve.
Application: Move from being a consumer to being a contributor.
Option 2: The Recovery Service Application
One of the greatest signs of growth in recovery is when someone stops focusing only on themselves.
At first, recovery requires a lot of personal work.
But eventually healing produces service.
A recovering person begins:
Encouraging newcomers.
Sharing their testimony.
Helping others avoid mistakes.
Becoming a source of hope.
The same principle is true spiritually.
Growth produces service.
Application: Find one person this week who is where you used to be and encourage them.
Option 3: The Gift God Gave You Application
God has equipped every believer differently.
Some can teach.
Some can encourage.
Some can organize.
Some can serve behind the scenes.
Some can pray.
Some can give.
Some can mentor.
Many believers spend years wishing they had someone else's gift while neglecting the gift God gave them.
Application: Ask God this week, "How have You uniquely equipped me to serve others?"
Option 4: The Neighbor Application
Sometimes we think service must be something big.
But Jesus often served people through simple acts.
A phone call.
A visit.
A meal.
A prayer.
A listening ear.
A word of encouragement.
Many people around us are carrying burdens nobody knows about.
Application: Intentionally serve one person this week without expecting anything in return.
Option 5: The Inward vs. Outward Life Application
The flesh constantly turns life inward.
The flesh asks:
What do I want?
What do I need?
What do I deserve?
Jesus turns life outward.
Jesus asks:
Who can I help?
Who can I encourage?
Who can I bless?
The more self-focused we become, the more miserable we become.
The more others-focused we become, the more fulfilled we become.
Application: Every morning this week ask, "Lord, show me one person I can serve today."
Option 6: The Towel and Basin Challenge
Jesus had every right to be served.
Instead, He picked up a towel.
The question isn't whether serving is beneath us.
The question is whether anything should be beneath us if it wasn't beneath Jesus.
Some people want a title.
Jesus picked up a towel.
Some want recognition.
Jesus washed feet.
Some want appreciation.
Jesus served without expecting applause.
Application: Do something this week that nobody notices except God.
Invitation Response
"The prisoner has walked through the open door. The chains are gone. The question is no longer, 'Am I free?' The question becomes, 'What will I do with my freedom?' Will you spend your life serving yourself, or will you spend your freedom serving God and others? Freedom isn't just freedom from something. Freedom is freedom for something."
Conclusion
Remember the prisoner.
The prison is behind him.
The chains are gone.
The door stands open.
But now he discovers freedom has purpose.
The greatest question is no longer:
"What am I free from?"
The greatest question becomes:
"What am I free for?"
The door has been opened.
The chains have been removed.
The question is:
What will you do with your freedom?
Amen.
