Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Good morning everyone, glad to see you here today.

Today, of course you know is our Independence Sunday service, the 4th will be here in just a few days.

We celebrate so much as we think about the 4th of July… We celebrate the fact that as a nation we were no longer subject to the tyranny of a selfish or evil king or queen.

We celebrate that we are free that we can worship as we choose, that we can go here or there, that we have the freedom of speech and of course, we celebrate the our 2nd amendment rights in here in America.

We enjoy so much in America because of the determination of our forefathers like Washington, Jefferson, Adams and so many more.....

It is great to be free and we enjoy more freedoms than any other country in the world.

It is great to be free and we enjoy more freedoms than any other country in the world.

But let me ask you a question: Would you want to give up any of your freedoms?

I think I can answer that for you… No!

No we would not want to give up any freedoms.....

We could not even think of it....

Now consider this, we have and enjoy many freedoms in Christ.

We are free from sin, we are free death and hell.

We are free from the law and from the burden of the law.

Would you want to go back to that?

Would you want to have to keep the law and try to fulfill rule in your life?

Well, I bet you would say no....

But we do it all the time, we are guilty of it.

How?

We allow sin to reign in us, we participate in sin over and over....

We give Jesus a back seat in our life and thus we try to manage our life according to self, according to the ways and values of the world.

Sadly, the list could go on and on....

So this morning I want to take you to the New Testament book of Galatians and lets find Galatians chapter 5.

Galatians 5

So we have a beautiful text here for us, and the message is this; Stand firm and refuse to return to the captivity of the law.

And with these thoughts in mind, lets walk through this passage...

So my first thought is very familiar to us, remember what Jesus has done in your life.

1. Christ has set you free.

My friends you must remember as you walk in your Christian life, we cannot forget the reason we have life, the reason we are free is because of Jesus.

Jesus died for you.

Christ has set you free

This truth is one we cannot ignore - Christ died to free us from the penalty of death, from the penalty of the law.

The law, which does refer to the 10 commandments, God’s law that was first given to the children of Israel as they stood before the mountain of God, Sinai there in the wilderness.

Now think about the children of Israel for a momernt...

They were in bondage, they had been in the land of Goshen, in Egypt for 400 years.

The BIble tells us there arose a Pharoah that did not know Joseph.

The people were hated, despised, they were suffering and dying everyday in the brick making fields of Egypt.

They called out to God and God answered....

He brought them out of bondage and set them free....

They were in bondage, they were suffering and dying everyday in the brick making fields of Egypt.

They called out to God and God answered....

He brought them out of bondage and set them free....

He gave them life and the law was to help them walk in front of Him in a life changing way… but they forgot and began to focus on the the outward requirements of the law instead of the inward desire of the heart.

He gave them life and the law was to help them walk in front of Him in a life changing way… but they forgot and began to focus on the the outward requirements of the law instead of the inward desire of the heart.

God was giving them life and they (the children of Israel) were giving it away to satisfy self....

Now jump ahead hundreds of years to the coming of Christ… Christ came to help the people over come.... to set them free.

Hear verse 1 again....

And still today, understand and know, God is calling us to remember that for Freedom, Christ has set us free!..

So consider....still today, understand and know, God is calling us to remember that for Freedom, Christ has set us free!..

Sin has ruined us, it left us desperate and without hope.

Consider my friends that sin, our sin.... and our own disobedience has left us without hope.

We are guilty in front of the righteous Judge....

Death is what we deserved… and we received life..

Do we truly understand the significance of God’s love, mercy and grace?

He saved us, released us from the penalty of sin … Why has Jesus done this?

Yes, automatically you are thinking the magic word is love.

And your right, He does love us.

But, look at the beginning of verse 1..... Paul say it was “for freedom.....”

Freedom is an important word… it speaks to liberty.

Personal freedom from servitude, from oppression.

Jesus spoke about the burden of the law the religious leaders placed on the people..

The law was meant to direct people to freedom, not death…

And so it was with us....

Just as we were captive once, just as we were a slave to sin.... dying in the fields of this world being led astray by the plan and ways of the devil....

We were captive once, just as we were a slave to sin.... dying in the fields of this world being led astray by the plan and ways of the devil....

Jesus has rescued us so that we can be free....

Not for us to return to sin or to the bondage of the man made obligations.

So what are we to do????

How can we overcome?

Paul reminds us to stand firm...

2. Stand Firm.....

Standing firm means to be un-movable.

un-willing to fall back into the old ways or the old practices of man.

Why is this “phrase” “stand firm” so important… if you walk through the Bible you see God reminds man to “stand firm” in so many places.

Lets go back to our text....

So break this verse down… Christ has set us free… because of this… Stand firm.... and do not do anything else..

So the idea of “standing firm” is the natural response to the fact that God has chosen to bless us, to help us The work of Christ compels us to stand firm.

Consider this giant from the Old Testament...

Joshua, he has been the servant of Moses, he walked with God… but after the death of Moses.... God calls Joshua from the “minors’ if you will… It is your time to lead Joshua.

And listen to what God says to Joshua....

Joshua 1

The phrase “Strong and Courageous” speaks to the meaning of facing trouble, opposition without being moved or pulling away.

My friends it is that important...

Failing to stand in our faith, Failing to stand when God directs us, and failing to live for Jesus brings us death, it brings despair and it brings bondage.

You see Paul directs a warning to us...

Do not submit yourself again to a yoke of slavery.

And this leads us naturally into my next thought....

3. Do Not Submit Yourself to a Yoke of Slavery....

The third portion of verse 1 is a picture of where we once where....

Q.

Let me stop right there and just ask you a question...

Can you look back in life, physically or even spiritually and say… Man; I’m glad i don’t live there anymore… Man; I’m glad I don’t have to work there or do that anymore… or Man, I’m glad that’s not me anymore, I’ve changed, grown, matured… whatever.

The whole idea for all of this is: This is where I was.... and this is where I am now i am incredibly grateful.

Now here is a second question: Could you imagine going back... ?????

I’m sure the answer is a resounding no!!!!

I’ve never known a drug addict who once clean wants to return, and the same should be our old way of life before Jesus.

Now some might say, Preacher… you cannot compare drug addiction to spiritual issues… Why not?

The Spiritual man is more important that the physical… For the Spiritual man helps direct the Physical...

Now back to verse 1 again please.