Fighting for Your Spiritual Freedom
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10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 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.
Where does our strength come from? The Lord. Paul did not say to be strong, he said to be strong in the Lord because that’s where our strength comes from.
They were called freedom fighters -
(Gulf War) fighting for personal freedom that were threatened by dictatorship.
Revolutionary War - over taxation with no representation.
Civil War - fight to end slavery.
In each of the wars, we were fighting for the personal freedoms of people and nations.
Personal freedom is important, but Spiritual Freedom is essential… paramount to a successful life.
Personal freedom is important, but Spiritual Freedom is essential… paramount to a successful life.
China - Communist Country - They have little or no personal freedom but the message of the Gospel is spreading. underground churches are thriving even though the communist government is rewriting the Bible and hunting down real believers
Iran - Many Muslims are becoming Christians because of the internet. Iran is a nation with little personal freedom - spiritual freedom. Iranians are abandoning their Muslim religion and turning to a faith in the Living God through Jesus Christ.
Working in a prison makes you value your freedom.
Working in a prison makes you value your freedom.
You lose most of your personal freedoms when you go to prison. You don’t decide when you do something or where you can go... It’s dictated to you. You miss out on life outside the prison.
Dawn was not able to go to her father’s funeral… our jail doesn’t allow inmates to attend funerals.
Little Paul… I don’t know too much.
Education is expensive, but ignorance will cost you a lot more.
32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Liberate or delivery
You cannot change your heart but you can change your mind… with the truth.
Wisdom is truth applied to a problem accurately.
Wisdom is truth applied to a problem accurately.
All mistakes are a result of truth not being applied.
17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
All spiritual bondage is a result of truth of God’s Word not being applied to your situation.
Poor self esteem, depression, fear...
How do we develop and maintain personal freedom?
How do we develop and maintain personal freedom?
1. Worship God daily
1. Worship God daily
Worship helps to combat worry and fear.
Play worship CD’s…
Pray in the Spirit. It sets the tone in your home & for the day. My dad would play revival time records… I was very small but still remember.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.
During hard times, wake up to the blessings around you.
2. Keep a prayer journal
2. Keep a prayer journal
Write out prayer needs, goals, and positive confessions. It helps to combat feelings of uncertainty about the future. Ht helps to anchor your emotions. ILL - I have the mind of Christ...
Power of the spoken word.
Calling those things which are not as though they were.
Write out an action plan in which you put the Word into practice in yourself and with God, to others and your prayer character.
3. Forgive all wrongs
3. Forgive all wrongs
Daily weed out all hurt feelings, small grudges and jealousys. The enemy sows those seed daily in hopes of reaping a crop.
12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
No one displays this scripture. How should we react when people hurt or attack us for what we believe?
14 Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. 15 Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
Could be a spouse, coworker, your boss, a teacher, ...
Pew Research Center did an extensive study and found
4. Base every life decision on the Word of God.
4. Base every life decision on the Word of God.
Don’t base life decisions on human reasoning or emotion. Some people think we have 10 suggestions not 10 commandments.
unequally yoked in marriage… job at Hooters…
Let the Word of God dwell in you richly.
Let the Word of God dwell in you richly.
16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.
Preach the word. Speak the Word. Meditate on the Word. Listen to the Word on CD.
Invest in yourself through books, CD’s, ...
let the WORD circulate in you so it will rise up in you in the moment of attack. If you wait until the trial or Satan’s attack, you will stumble.
If we want to maintain Super Power status, we have to invest in our military… in weapons that surpass the enemy’s. We have to prepare.
Sports teams will prepare for what they think the other team will do so they can win the battle.
In a debate, the participants will prepare for what they think the questions will be as well as for what they think the other person will say.
When we prepare, we put ourselves in a place where we can win.
The Armor of God is superior to anything the devil has so we have to prepare by learning to use it daily.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 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.
5. Stay away from strife
5. Stay away from strife
Your conversations should build up, not tear down.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Have a victors mentality. You open the door to the enemy when you get into a war with words. Satan will steal your joy by speaking negative. Always seek to build other people up!
29 Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
The Joy of the Lord is My Strength!
The Joy of the Lord is My Strength!
6. Develop an intimate relationship with God
6. Develop an intimate relationship with God
How? By doing all of the above.
12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
Know who… not what you believe in.
Paul was willing to die for the Author of the truth.
3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
7. Stay Free
7. Stay Free
Stay free by continuing to do the above.
The high recidivism rate. People often go back to jail or to bondage of addiction because they don’t do what it takes to stay free. The work to get free, but then stop doing it when they get some freedom and they end up back in jail.
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.
8. Help others find freedom
8. Help others find freedom
Help others find freedom by being a living epistle to all.
2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
2 The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. 3 Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts.