FREEDOM: It's Not What You Think

Freedom so longed for

- freedom to roam,

- freedom to roam, to do whatever one wants, to choose whatever one wishes - but that something may be regardless of the pain it may cause another. Therefore one man’s freedom may be another’s pain and suffering.

Intro- freedom is so longed for - freedom to roam, to do whatever one wants, to choose whatever one wishes - but that something may be regardless of the pain it may cause another. Therefore one man’s freedom may be another’s pain and suffering.

- freedom to do whatever one wants,

- freedom to choose whatever one wishes even ifthat something may be regardless of the pain it may cause another.

One man’s freedom may be another’s pain and suffering.

Man has always had a quest to be free because man lost freedom in the garden … and in man’s sinful state humankind disregards the freedom of others for their own benefit of comfort.

Ultimate freedom can only exist in a moral world without sin - but the sinful nature of man and the selfishness to do what one wants at the expense of another is what keeps true freedom from being attained

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This week America celebrates our freedom - or rather Independence from another nation’s tyranny over us - but our governing fathers knew that any nation still required law and order and needed to be governed by morality.

Those founding fathers knew that there was no freedom without boundaries

No freedom without boundaries

1. There is No Such thing as Complete Freedom

There is no such thing as complete freedom

Galatians 5:1 NLT

1 So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.

Benjamin Franklin, Signer of the Declaration of Independence "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters." "Whereas true religion and good morals are the only solid foundations of public liberty and happiness . . .”

Robert Winthrop, Speaker of the U. S. House, "Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or by a power without them; either by the Word of God or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet."

Noah Webster, author of the first American Speller and the first Dictionary said "[T]he Christian religion, in its purity, is the basis, or rather the source of all genuine freedom in government. . . . and I am persuaded that no civil government of a republican form can exist and be durable in which the principles of that religion have not a controlling influence."

Freedom without a boundary that is observed leads to bondage

Because Freedom without a boundary that is observed leads to bondage

These are words of some of our founding fathers who understand that without the restraint of a love for God and His Word - a morality that our conscious due to our faith in God imposed upon us, that we could not maintain freedom...

WHY?

Because Freedom without a boundary that is observed leads to bondage...

The Garden of Eden was the first time at the start of creation that the greatest freedom ever existed - however to maintain that freedom there was still a boundary:

Garden of Eden was the first time at the start of creation that the greatest freedom ever existed - however to maintain that freedom there was still a boundary

Genesis 2:15–17 NLT

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— 17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”

Genesis 2:15–16 NLT

15 The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—

Do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil

do not eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil

Follow that boundary

MAKE A WILLFUL CHOICE OF OBEDIENCE - and live in paradise communing with the Creator

BREAK THAT BOUNDARY and be subject to death, bondage to sin, labor in fields and child bearing - pain will enter your world.

As our society desires to become godless, we desire to have know GOD GIVEN BOUNDARIES in our lives — FREEDOM TO WHATEVER WE WISH --- but in reality - where is that taking us as a nation...

More regulation, more laws, loss of Constitutional RIGHTS — why - because those living outside God’s laws are willing to trample on the freedoms of others for their own fleeting pleasure...

There is truth to arguments for gun control --- I believe in our constitutional right to bear arms. It is a protection from government taking over the independence and freedom of its countrymen. Yet, I do not own a gun.

I see the need and benefit of owning a weapon for self defense, using one to hunt for food, etc.

I also see the ridiculous waste of life caused by human beings that are without boundaries, selfish, caring only for their gain or desire and how they misuse weapons because of the sinful nature of their hearts. Their lack of boundary or restraint is forcing greater regulation on the whole --- it is a sin problem. OUR NATION HAS A SERIOUS ONE — and because we have wondered from the laws of God, we are finding ourselves having to create more man made regulation that places restraint.

Just as Adam and Eve had restraint placed upon them by God after willfully choosing to disobey the one boundary given to them… more than paradise - it was freedom lost. Freedom to eat freely, commune freely and go about each day now became ladened with work and burdens.

Freedom requires a moral compass and code in order to be enjoyed --- True morality/ righteousness is found in Christ!

2. What is True Freedom in Christ

John 8:36 NLT

36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

John 8:31–36 NLT

31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 “But we are descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

Jesus came to bring freedom restored - empowering us through His Spirit to make wise choices of honoring His teaching to avoid pain and be restored to true freedom -

That freedom is found in relationship with Christ - becoming a part of the family of God --

Romans 8:15 NLT

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

When we come into relationship with God the Father through Jesus Christ the Son - we are cleansed from SIN and made righteous...

This righteousness enables us to experience true spiritual freedom --- which is greater than even physical freedom because it has eternal value.

That freedom is dependent on the relationship! As long as we are in relationship with Christ we enjoy this benefit — if we choose to ignore that relationship we forfeit the freedom it brings.

John 15:14 NLT

14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

That restriction of freedom is in following through in the relationship… this is the boundary that existed from the beginning of creation — choosing to obey God and enjoying communion with HIM

But man wants freedom outside God’s provision and that just leads to bondage and sin.

Today - true freedom is available - not a freedom to sin but a freedom to live Free From Sin

1 Peter 2:16 NLT

16 For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil.

Romans 6:1–2 NLT

1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

Galatians 5:1 NKJV

1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Gal 5.1

Sin destroys where Jesus gives life!

Relationship in Christ gives us FREEDOM FROM SIN - NOT FREEDOM TO SIN, and in walking in the righteousness that only He can give - we are truly FREE! The FREEDOM IS IN CHOOSING TO FOLLOW!!!

(This is why as a nation we are losing all of our freedoms — we don’t want the Word of God to be our moral compass and therefore our true freedom is hindered because greater laws must be enforced to bring order)

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3. God Has Always Given us the Freedom of Choice

But that choice has never been without consequence

Difference between being controlled and being able to choose - just realize when you choose wisely - the plans of God it releases greater freedom within a safe plan

Freedom to choose our own willfulness leads to bondage not by God but by those things we have chosen

Freedom without morality leads to bondage!

Israel if obeying the laws of God lived in freedom and blessing but when they broke those laws the very freedoms they sought brought them into bondage - the same goes in our lives today

2 Chronicles 7:11–22 NLT

11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. 17 “As for you, if you faithfully follow me as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, 18 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty. For I made this covenant with your father, David, when I said, ‘One of your descendants will always rule over Israel.’ 19 “But if you or your descendants abandon me and disobey the decrees and commands I have given you, and if you serve and worship other gods, 20 then I will uproot the people from this land that I have given them. I will reject this Temple that I have made holy to honor my name. I will make it an object of mockery and ridicule among the nations. 21 And though this Temple is impressive now, all who pass by will be appalled. They will ask, ‘Why did the Lord do such terrible things to this land and to this Temple?’ 22 “And the answer will be, ‘Because his people abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and they worshiped other gods instead and bowed down to them. That is why he has brought all these disasters on them.’ ”

The Lord was telling Israel that they will live prosperously in the land with freedom if they respected the boundaries God had laid down for them --- if they choose to follow HIS DECREES!

If they did not, and they choose to worship other gods — they would bring calamity upon themselves - slavery

This happened again and again - and the slavery was forced, the freedom was lost to the people WHOSE GODS THEY CHOOSE TO SERVE!!!

God does not remove our freedom --- WE REMOVE OUR FREEDOM WHEN WE WORSHIP OTHER GODS — IT IS THOSE GODS WHO PLACE US IN BONDAGE!!!!

I fear AMERICA is experiencing the same --- we are losing freedoms because as a society we have lost our moral compass --- serving Christ and following Him!

We have murder, rape, sacrifice of the innocent, sexual immorality in abundance, greed, etc. --- no one wants to be told what Christ has taught us --- and these very things I have mentioned were the behaviors that fueled pagan worship to false gods in the days of the Bible --- we just have contemporary versions of the same SIN!

Conclusion

Here is the reality — I cannot control the nation or its people, but I can control and choose for myself and my household!!!

I choose freedom through Christ and honoring HIS WORD IN MY LIFE!!!!

There is always a remnant of people who in the midst of a decaying nation that can still stand in the gap and pray and repent for their nation and choose to honor God!

Have your freedoms led to destruction, bondage or pain in life???

Have your freedoms led to destruction, bondage or pain in life???

Realize that living according to God’s Word releases grace, healing, hope and a future

Realize that living according to God’s Word releases grace, healing, hope and a future