Finding Freedom Part 4: Finding Freedom for What?
Notes
Transcript
Announcements:
Pastor Jordan making an announcement
Worship:
House of the Lord
The Battles Belongs
I Surrender
Introduction:
We are in a series entitled “Finding Freedom.”
We talked in week 1 about finding freedom from uncertainty as we can be certain about God’s Word and the Gospel in the ever-changing world we live in. We just have to make sure we are believing the Gospel according to the Word of God rather than a message that makes us feel better about ourselves. We also talked about how to spot a false message because false messages always twists the truth of Jesus Christ (Son of God, died and rose) and focuses on pleasing people rather than God.
Week 2 we talked about finding freedom from the past. In order to be free from our past, we need to be honest with ourself and others about our past, let go of the past and who you were, and find your identity in Christ and what Gospel says about you as a result of what Jesus Christ did for you on the cross.
Week 3 (two weeks ago), we talked about “Finding Freedom from Social Pressure.” We need to confront hypocrisy in the church and do it the right way; Let the scriptures dictate what you stand for rather than others’ and society’s popular opinion; We need to remember that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ and that results in living for Jesus Christ.
This week we will conclude our Finding Freedom series with “Finding Freedom for What?” What is the point of finding freedom if we don’t know what to do with it?
Please turn in your bibles to Galatians 5:13-26:
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,
20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Body:
I. Who are called to be free? (V13a)
Galatians 5:13a (NLT)
13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.
A. “Brothers and sisters” = those who are all children of God
26 For you are all children* of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.*
B. If you have:
faith in Christ Jesus
baptized in Jesus Christ
clothed in Jesus Christ (His righteousness)
C. True freedom is found in Jesus Christ alone!
i. Quote: David Guzik says, “Jesus came to set the captives free, not to keep them in bondage or put them in bondage all over again. It is worth asking if people see us as people of freedom and liberty. Often, Christians are seen as people more bound up and hung up than anyone else is.” [David Guzik, Galatians, David Guzik’s Commentaries on the Bible (Santa Barbara, CA: David Guzik, 2013), Ga 5:13–15.]
ii. John 8:32
32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Transition: What do we do with our freedom we have in Jesus Christ? Paul gives us two choices:
Galatians 5:13b (NLT)
13 But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.
Paul points out here that we can choose to use our freedom/liberty as an opportunity for the flesh. He purposely addresses an issue regarding the thought/practice of someone going out and doing whatever they want, and sin as they please only to ask a spineless God, “I’m sorry, please forgive me” and then go right back out and do it all over again.
16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
There is a constant battle going on inside of you! We need to not only be aware of it but also need to make a choice as to what we are going to do.
What do our choices look like? Paul gives us examples of each side:
II. We can use our freedom to satisfy our flesh/sinful desires
A. Fruit of living by sinful nature (selfish)
15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
i. Using our freedom to satisfy our flesh comes at the expense of others because all we focus on is ourselves and our way.
B. Examples:
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
i. Sexual immorality (such as adultery-violating the marriage covenant or fornication which is defined as sex before and outside of marriage), impurity (such as pornography, sexual speech) and lustful pleasures (to throw off restraint and be ready to sin at any time) are sensual sins relating to sex
ii. Idolatry (worship of any god except the Lord God which includes the god of their own opinion) and sorcery (service and worship of occult and spiritual powers and the use of any kind of drugs, potions or spells to get high or participate in the occult; Greek word here is pharmakeia, from which we get our word for “pharmacy) are religious sins
iii. Hostility/hatred (an attitude of the heart), quarreling (combative or argumentative spirit), jealousy (the desire to have what someone else has), outbursts of anger (lose your temper; not being able to control your temper/anger), selfish ambition (ambition that has no concept of service and only aims for profit and power while asking the question: “What’s in it for me?”), dissension (to stand apart and not come together), division (one who divisively expresses their choices or opinions) and envy (being bitter because someone has something we don’t have) are people sins
iv. Drunkenness (to be impaired by drinking or have the intention of becoming impaired), wild parties (unrestrained partying) are social sins
v. “Sins like these" tell us this is not an exhaustive list
26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Paul tells us in verse 21b those who use their freedom/liberty in Christ for their flesh will not go to heaven!
Galatians 5:21b (NLT)
21 Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Transition: Paul tells us who are called to be free and the selfish way to use our freedom/liberty in Christ with the result of that way. There is one other way we can use our freedom/liberty in Christ:
III. We can use our freedom to love our neighbor/others
A. We can only do this by continually being in the Spirit and it is the singular work the Holy Spirit wants to do in all of us as believers (fruit is singular compared to works plural of the flesh)
B. Examples:
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
i. Love which is agape and summarizes all the other fruit of the Spirit as the other fruit can be love put to action. The works of the flesh are a perversion of this love.
ii. Joy comes not from circumstances or situations. It is about whose we are and not what we have or where we are, etc.
iii. Peace to know that everything is in the hands of God
iv. Patience is being able to have love, joy and peace over a period of time when people or events annoy them and not to be quickly irritated with others.
v. Kindness and goodness is closely related but goodness also has the idea of generosity with it
vi. Faithfulness to God and to serving others.
vii. Gentleness is being teachable and not having a superior attitude and not demanding one’s rights.
viii. Self-control for the benefit of others
Conclusion:
As we conclude this series on finding freedom, I want us to take the time and decide what are we going to do with the freedom/liberty we have in Jesus Christ?
We have talked about freedom from uncertainty, the past and social/peer pressure which is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to finding freedom in Jesus Christ.
But how are we going to live out this freedom in Christ? Are we going to use it as a “get forgiveness every time we sin” card? Are we going to use it to justify pushing our preferences on others in spite of the results of the relationship and their relationship with God? Are we going to focus on getting what we want no matter the damage it may cause to others and the body of Christ?
My prayer is that we realize: 1) we have freedom in Jesus Christ and He wants us to enjoy our freedom to the max, and 2) we need to use the freedom we have in Christ to love others/neighbor and put them first rather than be selfish and use spiritual pride to think we are better than everyone else.
Prayer:
I want to open the altars this morning. I believe the Holy Spirit has been speaking to our hearts and we need to take some time to get some things right before God and others.
If you would like special prayer, I would be happy to prayer with you as well.