It is for Freedom

Galatians 5:1–13 NIV84

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. 7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. 11 Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves! 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

1. Freedom is never free

Jesus set the example of freedom

Jesus died for our freedom

Many have paid the ultimate price for our freedom

Many give up their comfort to give others freedom

Many sacrifice so that others don’t have to

2. Stand firm on your freedom

After you’ve done everything to stand, stand

Ephesians 6:11–18 NIV84

11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

You can’t defeat the enemy on your own

You can’t defeat the enemy with the News (Only the Good News helps you)

You can’t defeat the enemy trusting in Man (trust in God)

You can’t defeat the enemy with negativity (be transformed by renewing your mind)

Know who you are

Stand on His promises

A king passed a law that everyone must bend the knee to a statue (a law that everyone must bend the knee to Covid, not go to church, and wear a mask)

Three Hebrew boys refused to bend the knee and they were arrested and thrown into a fire pit (are you ready for the fire?)

The three Hebrew boys danced with Jesus in the fire because they took a stand

If you want to dance with Jesus in the fire, then take a stand

A king passed a law that no one can pray (a law no one can gather for worship)

Daniel did what he normally did, he prayed (do what you normally do, gather for worship)

Daniel got in and out of the lion’s den because he refused to bend the knee

If you want God to shut the enemy’s mouth, then stand up for Him

If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything

3. Those that bend the knee lose their freedom

God has become a subscript to wisdom

Many are saying, use wisdom, practice social distance, wear a mask, but we believe God can help us (a subscript)

The sick did not practice social distance when Jesus walked the earth (remember the woman with the issue of blood)

Don’t make God a subscript (an after thought)

1 Corinthians 1:19 NIV84

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV84

25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 NIV84

4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

1 Corinthians 3:19 NIV84

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”;

You were running a good race

Did Covid take out of the race?

Those that cause others to miss church will have to answer to God

Those that cause the believers to stumble will answer to God

Don’t use your freedom to enslave yourself to the world

4. The Truth set you from free from all fear

You did not receive or inherit a spirit of fear

A popular acronym for FEAR: Forget Everything And Run

Here is another

False

Evidence

Appearing

Real

The enemy wants you wearing a mask (False)

The enemy magnifies an event to cause fear (Evidence) the news are not telling you the millions of people who tested negative. They are not telling you the millions that survive. They are twisting truth (evidence) to scare you

The enemy is making seem like if you step outside you will die. Just like he told Eve, “Did God really....” now he is saying, “God wants you to be smart, use wisdom, etc...” (Appearing)

The enemy will even misquote and get Scripture out of context like he did with Jesus (Real)

Take the mask off - step into your freedom

5. You are free to practice your FAITH

Here are three acronyms to help your FAITH

Fear Ain’t In This House

Full Assurance In Trusting Him

For Anything I Trust Him

John 8:32–36 NIV84

32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” 34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Don’t make the work of Christ worthless but cowering to Covid

He is still Able

He is the Creator of Heaven and Earth

He is Jehovah-Rapha

He is Jehovah-Nissi

He is Jehovah-Jireh

He is El-Shaddai

He is Jehovah-Shammah

He is Jehovah-Tsidkenu

He is Jehovah-Mkaddesh

He is Jehovah-Shalom

I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from, my help comes from the Lord and maker of heaven and earth

He is an ever present help in time of need

It Is For Freedom, that Christ died for you