Journey to Freedom

[CELEBRATE FREEDOM]

[COUNTRY, BELIEVERS, CHURCH, SIN]

I CAME TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT FREEDOM TODAY

[DRIVERS LICENSE FREEDOM]

ALL THE SUDDEN A NEW LIFE WAS UNLOCKED

Go where I want. When I want. I can get a job. I can get a girlfriend. By the way you can't have a girlfriend before you have a job. It's not a date if it's your parents money. Earn income. I can do so much more. a better life is here.

THIS IS synonymous WITH FOLLOWING JESUS -- A NEW LIFE IS UNLOCKED

Maybe you have wondered. Is there really any benefit to following Jesus besides heaven? Like what do I get now. People you get so much! Freedom from sin. Freedom from shame. Freedom to live for Christ. Freedom from the chains of regret.

Freedom is what you get after God has acted to remove all obstacles—that block our creational purpose. This purpose is to know, love, worship, and enjoy God forever. This is a freedom that has been won for us by the death and resurrection of Jesus. By the power of the Spirit, the Christian seeks to live in freedom and to join with God in bringing freedom to others

GOD REMOVED ALL OBSTACLES WITH THE CROSS OF JESUS. NOW WE GET TO ACCEPT THAT FREEDOM AND LIVE IN IT.

You see when Jesus died on the cross, he defeated sin death and the grave. No longer do those things HAVE to have any hold on you. You now get to live in freedom.

We are free to now choose God's way over our own way. What has your own way ever gotten you? What have you ever gained from following your own way?

Romans 6:20–23 (NLT) — 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the obligation to do right.

You see you get to pick your freedom. You can be free to the better life of following Jesus. Or free to pursue your own way... And here is what Paul says our own way gets us:

21 And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in eternal doom.

BUT HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS CHURCH!

22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

WE ARE LIVING IN A TIME AND IN A COUNTRY THAT IS NOW REAPING THE WAGES OF SIN.

Come on can I talk a little today? Our country, at one time, was focused around Christian principles. Morality was assumed. But we are a long time from then. We are now a country that is confused to the point that we cannot answer the question "what is a woman". We are a country that is so confused that it doesn't know the answer to the question "What is a life?".

You may say "Pastor now don't get all political" in fact I've had many people come to this church and say they didn't like that their last pastor got political. BUT CHURCH if standing up for the fact that a baby in the womb is not just a clump of cells is considered political then count me in.

This church is not and will never be a church that bows to what is considered politically correct at the expense of seeing the Gospel move forward and see more people find freedom in Jesus.

And like I said we are in a country and a time where we are tearing down God's way so that we can rebuild our own. And I think this is the reason:

PEOPLE SEE GUIDELINES AS RESTRICTIVE

I would be a christian but I wouldn't get to have fun

All these rules keep me from enjoying life

GUIDELINES CREATE FREEDOM

[Dog leash creates freedom for my dog]

WE ARE CALLED TO THAT HIGHER LIFE THAT BETTER LIFE

And it's not just for you. No it's for our kids. Your future spouse. Your future grandkids. For your neighbors. For your co-workers. For people who you don't even know are being influenced by you. There are people who become better, who come to know Jesus, whose marriages get restored, who get renewed hope that their life can change when you decide to follow and liv inside God's freedom.

This is what Hebrews said:

Hebrews 12:1–2 (NLT) — 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,

These are the people. The great crowd of witnesses is your family, your neighbor, your co-workers, your church. The writer says "SINCE THEY ARE WATCHING" then we have something we gotta do.

let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

RACES HAVE A TRACK. THEY HAVE BOUNDARIES!

Can you imagine a Nascar race. But no boundaries? They would end up getting hurt. Others would potentially be at risk. Spectators. Other racers. The track and the boundaries don't remove freedom they grant it. Because I know as long as i operate inside these boundaries I can have no fear of shame, no fear of regret, no fear of finding myself in the ditch. I know that i'm heading in the right direction.

Church we need a church full of people and a nation full of people living inside God's freedom bringing boundaries.

BUT TIMES COME WHERE THE WRONG THING IS EASIER THAN THE HOLY RIGHT THING

Someone once said do the hard right thing over the easy wrong thing. There is a saying in the NAVY that goes "the only easy day was yesterday". People the days are not getting easier to do whats right. The days are not getting easier to honor God. The days will not get easier so If you are looking for those days they are long gone and you are gonna keep looking.

You will get tired of doing good. And Paul knew you would here's what he says.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT) — 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

COME ON! TELL SOMEONE NEXT TO YOU DON'T GIVE UP!!!!!

*STAND*

New Purpose don't get tired of doing good. Don't give up on being an example for your kids. Don't give up on leading the way for your workplace.