You can find the video here: https://www.facebook.com/RichlandNaz/videos/633286424062914/
We are taking a break from the book of Judges and since it’s the 4th of July, we are going to look at freedom and what freedom really means for a Christian.
In Christ, we are free from earning our righteousness by the law. And we are free to walk in the Spirit. But our freedom gives us a responsibility because our freedom gives us the ability to love God and other people sincerely. You see we cannot love God and others, except that God does this work in us and through us. We can’t love on our own, in the brokenness of humanity.
Galatians 5:13-14 (NIV) You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
We don’t just have freedom from sin, death, and legalism. We have freedom to live as Christ lived, as a beloved and empowered child of God. We have this freedom because of our access to God through the Holy Spirit. Here’s what Paul told the Church in Corinth.
2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (NIV) Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
This is simply reminding us where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. You know one of the freedoms we receive in Christ is freedom from ourselves. Further in the same chapter of His letter to the Galatians Paul wrote this.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Our sinful nature leads only to death. But in Christ, we receive his indwelling Spirit. And we become the best version of ourselves. We become who God intended us to be as our personalities begin to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
I want to invite you today to experience true freedom. I want to invite you to be able to live the way God intended human beings to live when He first created us. It really is simple – it’s just like picking up the phone and making a call. All you need to do is to pray and ask God to forgive you of your sins. Ask God for His help to turn away from sin and towards Him. In light of Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection from death, Proclaim Jesus Christ Lord of your life, and begin to follow His teachings as you read His Word. Honestly it is that simple.
If you prayed that prayer for the first time, or if you recommitted your life to Christ – you need to let someone know. I would love to be that someone, but maybe you just need to tell someone who is close to you that you have become a child of God today.
I just want to leave you with this, and say to you, welcome to the family, I’m so glad you are here with us. Go in God’s blessing today.