The author of the following story is a friend of mine who wishes to remain anonymous. The story sums up well the messages about freedom
Galatians 5:1
1It 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. NIV
Christ has set us free to live a free life. MSG
Once upon a time there was a group of slaves. These slaves were born into slavery under a horrible slave master. All they had ever known was slavery. All their parents had ever known was slavery. One day there arose among them a rumor that the wealthiest and most influential man in the land had, at great cost to himself, purchased their freedom and given them an inheritance to live on. All they had to do was go to the gate of their slave master’s property and claim their card of freedom and inheritance under the wealthy land owner. The rumor was that the slave master knew they had been set free and couldn’t stop them if they chose to go claim their freedom.
Some dismissed this as a crazy fantasy – no wealthy person would take that much interest in one of them, much less pay the huge price to purchase freedom for all of them. Others treasured this as hope they had never imagined. This hope began to grow and flower in their hearts. Many of these, though hopeful, were terrified of the slave master and didn’t dare act on their hope. But a few ran with everything that was in them toward the gate to claim this most precious gift.
As the other slaves watched anxiously, these few approached the gate. At the gate, they saw them receive their new identification cards that marked them as free and inheritors of the wealthy land owner.
As the others saw this many more began to approach the gate to claim what they believed was now rightly theirs. They passed through the gate to freedom holding tightly to their cards and to their inheritance.
Now, on the other side of the gate stood the slave master and his paid workers. As the former slaves passed by, the slave master, a clever man, realized his opportunity. These slaves didn’t really know what freedom meant!
As they walked out his gates he began to lie to them. He whispered in their ears his version of the truth. “You don’t understand”, he told them. “Your freedom has been purchased, but you now have to prove that you are worthy of that freedom. After all, you are only a slave – and not a very good slave either. Only the best and most worthy can leave here. YOU don’t always do your best. YOU don’t act like a free person should act. YOU are not the productive member of society that you are required to be in order to leave here.”
One by one, the heads of the freed men dropped and their shoulders sagged under the burden of these statements, and one by one, the former slaves slowly turned and walked back thru the slave master’s gates – still clutching the papers that proclaimed them free.
The son of the wealthy landowner stood at the gate weeping.
He pleaded with those who passed by – “Your debt is paid. There is nothing left to be done.” But they sadly shook their heads, “I know who I am,” they each replied as they continued on their path.
Year after year, the son of the wealthy landowner continued to stand at the gate – calling to those inside, “Come out! You are free! Your debt is paid!”
In time, some of the former slaves became excellent slaves, successful in all that they did. The slave master never gave them their leave, but it is doubtful that they would have taken it, even if he had – they had become very proud of their achievements and comfortable in their success at being slaves.
But also in time, the words of the son of the wealthy landowner began to pierce the hearts of those working for the slave master. More and more, former slaves began throwing down their tools and striding purposefully towards the gates. The slave master would try to stop them with his clever lies, but the former slaves, realizing that they would never earn their freedom, fixed their eyes on the son of the wealthy landowner and proclaimed, “HE says I’m free,” and with that, passed through the gates into freedom.
Showing posts with label freedom of forgiveness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label freedom of forgiveness. Show all posts
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
freedom in forgiveness (3 of 4)
Over the first few messages we have looked at this verse:
Galatians 5:1
1It 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. NIV
Christ has set us free to live a free life. MSG
I have talked about the yoke of slavery being the bondage to sin that we are each born with.
This bondage came to mankind as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden. Since that time we all have had in us a desire to go against what we know is right.
Our freedom from this yoke was paid for BY CHRIST through his sacrifice.
We have been set free from condemnation
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
We have been set free from the lies of Satan when he tells us we are worthless
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
In order to be free we must first acknowledge that we are slaves to our sin and we need to be released.
The story of the Pharisee and the prostitute (LUKE 7) gives us a good picture of this.
Jesus forgave the prostitute of her many sins because she came to him broken and realized her love and need for him.
Last year my family and I, through our church, were delivering Thanksgiving groceries to families in the neighborhood. We took with us a man called “Crazy”, a friend of ours from church. Crazy – for all practical purposes - was homeless, but he made it to church more often than most of us. He rarely failed to tell someone, “Jesus loves you!”. Crazy believed it and wanted you to know it and believe it too. At some point during the evening while in our car I asked Crazy if he would pray. I don’t remember much of what he prayed. However, I do remember that I was near tears when he finished. I also remember this line, “Lord you know that I take much more than I ever give…”
We do not have to be homeless to be broken. God wants each of us to realize that it is not because of any great thing we have done or not done that he accepts us. It is because we go to Him broken and honestly say I take much more than I ever give.
Hebrews 8:12 tells us that we have been set free from living with the guilt of our sin
For I will forgive their wickedness
And will remember their sins NO MORE
In the last message/post I wrote about this total forgiveness being a difficult concept to fully grasp.
It is difficult because we look at GOD”S FORGIVENESS through our human experience of forgiveness.
HUMAN FORGIVENESS OFTEN HAS STRINGS ATTACHED WE SAY THINGS LIKE
“I forgive you BUT – don’t ever let it happen again”
“I forgive you BUT – you owe me”
“I forgive you BUT – you should not of done that”
OR
WE DO NOT FORGET THE OFFENSE
“that’s not what happened last time”
“you keep doing this”
OR
WE FORGIVE WITH RESERVATION
“I shouldn’t forgive you of this”
“you don’t deserve a second chance”
Our human examples are not examples of true forgiveness at all.
Our example should be God who says, “For I will forgive their wickedness, and will remember their sins no more.”
This is the God that offers you forgiveness and freedom.
· The God that used Abraham, who did not trust God, to build a nation
· The God that called David, an adulterer and murder, “a man after my own heart”
· The God that redeemed Peter after he denied Christ 3 times.
· The God that TRANSFORMED Saul who was persecuting and killing the Christians to take the Gospel to the non Jewish world.
This struggle to understand and accept forgiveness is not a flesh and blood battle or a mental battle but a spiritual battle.
EPHESIANS 6:12
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.
This week we are going to look at living in freedom and forgiving others.
Matthew 18:21-35
21At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
22Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
23-25"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'
29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."
MSG
MATTHEW 6:14-15
14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
We can acknowledge our need for forgiveness and accept it and live in it, BUT if we do not choose to forgive others as we have been forgiven WE ARE NOT FREE
WE HAVE CHOSEN TO PICK UP THAT YOKE AND PUT IT RIGHT BACK ON
WHY
What good does it do any of us to keep from forgiving somebody?
We get wrapped up in thinking that they do not deserve to be forgiven and forget that neither did we.
OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE TO FORGIVE LIKE GOD WHO DELIGHTS IN SHOWING MERCY
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18
The passages in Matthew are pretty straight forward. We cannot be forgiven if we refuse to forgive. When God says things like this through His word we often want to ignore it and pretend it isn’t there.
Instead we need to deal with the unforgiveness no matter what happened, how long ago it happened, or how many times it happened.
Mercy is unmerited forgiveness.
Follow the example of God. Delight in showing mercy.
Stop reading now and begin to forgive and remember it no more.
Allow healing to take place in your life and the lives of the others.
DELIGHT IN SHOWING MERCY
EXAMPLES
Exodus 23:5
If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.
Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
WHO SHOULD WE FORGIVE
Luke 23:34 – JESUS ON THE CROSS
34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Stoning of Steven Acts 7:54-60
54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
It is clear from these examples that we should forgive all even those who do not ask to be forgiven
SEARCH OUR HEARTS GOD THAT WE MAY LIVE IN FREEDOM
Galatians 5:1
1It 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. NIV
Christ has set us free to live a free life. MSG
I have talked about the yoke of slavery being the bondage to sin that we are each born with.
This bondage came to mankind as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin in the garden. Since that time we all have had in us a desire to go against what we know is right.
Our freedom from this yoke was paid for BY CHRIST through his sacrifice.
We have been set free from condemnation
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
We have been set free from the lies of Satan when he tells us we are worthless
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17
In order to be free we must first acknowledge that we are slaves to our sin and we need to be released.
The story of the Pharisee and the prostitute (LUKE 7) gives us a good picture of this.
Jesus forgave the prostitute of her many sins because she came to him broken and realized her love and need for him.
Last year my family and I, through our church, were delivering Thanksgiving groceries to families in the neighborhood. We took with us a man called “Crazy”, a friend of ours from church. Crazy – for all practical purposes - was homeless, but he made it to church more often than most of us. He rarely failed to tell someone, “Jesus loves you!”. Crazy believed it and wanted you to know it and believe it too. At some point during the evening while in our car I asked Crazy if he would pray. I don’t remember much of what he prayed. However, I do remember that I was near tears when he finished. I also remember this line, “Lord you know that I take much more than I ever give…”
We do not have to be homeless to be broken. God wants each of us to realize that it is not because of any great thing we have done or not done that he accepts us. It is because we go to Him broken and honestly say I take much more than I ever give.
Hebrews 8:12 tells us that we have been set free from living with the guilt of our sin
For I will forgive their wickedness
And will remember their sins NO MORE
In the last message/post I wrote about this total forgiveness being a difficult concept to fully grasp.
It is difficult because we look at GOD”S FORGIVENESS through our human experience of forgiveness.
HUMAN FORGIVENESS OFTEN HAS STRINGS ATTACHED WE SAY THINGS LIKE
“I forgive you BUT – don’t ever let it happen again”
“I forgive you BUT – you owe me”
“I forgive you BUT – you should not of done that”
OR
WE DO NOT FORGET THE OFFENSE
“that’s not what happened last time”
“you keep doing this”
OR
WE FORGIVE WITH RESERVATION
“I shouldn’t forgive you of this”
“you don’t deserve a second chance”
Our human examples are not examples of true forgiveness at all.
Our example should be God who says, “For I will forgive their wickedness, and will remember their sins no more.”
This is the God that offers you forgiveness and freedom.
· The God that used Abraham, who did not trust God, to build a nation
· The God that called David, an adulterer and murder, “a man after my own heart”
· The God that redeemed Peter after he denied Christ 3 times.
· The God that TRANSFORMED Saul who was persecuting and killing the Christians to take the Gospel to the non Jewish world.
This struggle to understand and accept forgiveness is not a flesh and blood battle or a mental battle but a spiritual battle.
EPHESIANS 6:12
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.
This week we are going to look at living in freedom and forgiving others.
Matthew 18:21-35
21At that point Peter got up the nerve to ask, "Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me? Seven?"
22Jesus replied, "Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.
23-25"The kingdom of God is like a king who decided to square accounts with his servants. As he got under way, one servant was brought before him who had run up a debt of a hundred thousand dollars. He couldn't pay up, so the king ordered the man, along with his wife, children, and goods, to be auctioned off at the slave market.
26-27"The poor wretch threw himself at the king's feet and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' Touched by his plea, the king let him off, erasing the debt.
28"The servant was no sooner out of the room when he came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him ten dollars. He seized him by the throat and demanded, 'Pay up. Now!'
29-31"The poor wretch threw himself down and begged, 'Give me a chance and I'll pay it all back.' But he wouldn't do it. He had him arrested and put in jail until the debt was paid. When the other servants saw this going on, they were outraged and brought a detailed report to the king.
32-35"The king summoned the man and said, 'You evil servant! I forgave your entire debt when you begged me for mercy. Shouldn't you be compelled to be merciful to your fellow servant who asked for mercy?' The king was furious and put the screws to the man until he paid back his entire debt. And that's exactly what my Father in heaven is going to do to each one of you who doesn't forgive unconditionally anyone who asks for mercy."
MSG
MATTHEW 6:14-15
14For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
We can acknowledge our need for forgiveness and accept it and live in it, BUT if we do not choose to forgive others as we have been forgiven WE ARE NOT FREE
WE HAVE CHOSEN TO PICK UP THAT YOKE AND PUT IT RIGHT BACK ON
WHY
What good does it do any of us to keep from forgiving somebody?
We get wrapped up in thinking that they do not deserve to be forgiven and forget that neither did we.
OUR DESIRE SHOULD BE TO FORGIVE LIKE GOD WHO DELIGHTS IN SHOWING MERCY
Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Micah 7:18
The passages in Matthew are pretty straight forward. We cannot be forgiven if we refuse to forgive. When God says things like this through His word we often want to ignore it and pretend it isn’t there.
Instead we need to deal with the unforgiveness no matter what happened, how long ago it happened, or how many times it happened.
Mercy is unmerited forgiveness.
Follow the example of God. Delight in showing mercy.
Stop reading now and begin to forgive and remember it no more.
Allow healing to take place in your life and the lives of the others.
DELIGHT IN SHOWING MERCY
EXAMPLES
Exodus 23:5
If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help him with it.
Proverbs 25:21
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
Matthew 5:44
But I tell you: Love your enemies[i] and pray for those who persecute you
1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
WHO SHOULD WE FORGIVE
Luke 23:34 – JESUS ON THE CROSS
34Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."[a] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Stoning of Steven Acts 7:54-60
54When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
57At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60Then he fell on his knees and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.
It is clear from these examples that we should forgive all even those who do not ask to be forgiven
SEARCH OUR HEARTS GOD THAT WE MAY LIVE IN FREEDOM
Thursday, December 11, 2008
freedom the beautiful life (2 of 4)
1It 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. NIV
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. MSG
Galatians 5:1
I enjoy hiking. There is just something about it that I really love. I like to go to the top of the tallest point and look around as far as I can see. We often go hiking as a family, but sometimes I go alone – well the dog and I.
I think we all have a place of peace. Hiking is mine.
It is through hiking and in that place of peace that I re-connect with God.
There was a week not to long ago when I really needed that place of peace. I needed to connect with God. So I loaded up the dog and headed out to Palo Duro Canyon.
The first couple of days that week I was just down. I was in a funk and could not seem to pull out.
As I wrote about in my first message I knew I did not have to remain in that state.
When you live in freedom you are no longer tied to sin and Satan is no longer your master.
He wants to rip that freedom away from you. He wants to place you back in bondage. He wants you to be a slave.
It is key that each of us accept and claim our freedom.
It is key that we hold onto that freedom
Don’t hold on to guilt
Don’t listen to his lies that put these false labels on you
· You are unlovable
· You are unforgiveable
· God doesn’t want you – you’re not cool enough – you don’ have enough money
· Your too dirty for God to forgive – he knows what you looked at – he knows the things you’ve done in secret
· He does not want you
· You are trash
Even though I knew what to do I could not seem to let go and accept freedom.And like Galatians 5:1 says I let myself be burdened by the yoke of slavery. I was burdened down by all the thoughts in my head.
Thoughts of failure.
Thoughts of doubt.
The Bible refers to Satan as the father of lies. He deceives us with thoughts of failure and worthlessness. He leads us to feel like we have gone so far that we cannot turn back to God.
In the midst of my thoughts of failure and doubt that day God led me to this:Philippians 1:6
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God began to show me and remind me that I am His.
He started a good work in me. I am His creation, made in His image.
He is not going to give up on me and throw in the towel.
He is not going to try to return me to the store because I’m busted.
He began the work by creating me and calling me to freedom.
He will continue to pursue me and call me until the end.
The same is true for all of us.God created each of us. He gave us life. The good work began in us. That good work was continued when each of us is offered freedom.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:12
Is the concept of total forgiveness – I will remember their sins no more - a concept we fully grasp and accept?
I don’t believe it is because we look at forgiveness though our human experience.
WE FORGIVE WITH STRINGS ATTACHED
“I forgive you BUT – don’t ever let it happen again”
“I forgive you BUT – you owe me”
“I forgive you BUT – you should not of done that”
WE DO NOT FORGET THE OFFENSE
“that’s not what happened last time”
“you keep doing this”
WE FORGIVE WITH RESERVATION
“I shouldn’t forgive you of this”
“you don’t deserve a second chance”
It is no wonder we struggle to understand and accept true forgiveness. Our human examples are not examples of true forgiveness at all.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins NO MORE
God is the God that offers you FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM.
He is the God that used Abraham, who did not trust God to give him a son through his wife, to build a nation
He is the God that called David, who was an adulterer and a murder, “a man after my own heart”
He is the God that redeemed Peter after he denied Christ three times. The same Christ he followed and watched perform miracles for three years.
He is the God that transformed Saul, who was persecuting and killing Christians, and used him to take the Gospel to the non Jewish world.
Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
DELIGHT TO SHOW MERCY
Let me go back to my hike in the canyon. For those who have not been to the canyon or it has been a while. You drive down into the canyon down a winding two lane road. Once you are in the canyon the canyon walls are on both sides of the road. They are formed with different layers of colored earth. If you follow the road it eventually loops back around and sends you out of the canyon. From the road you do not see the whole canyon just a small part of it.
It was towards the furthest end of this road that Izzy, the dog, and I got out to hike.We began on a trail that was heading from the road up the canyon wall. As we began on the trail it was well worn and wide. It was obvious that many people had been on this part of the trail before. As we went further up and away from the road the trail narrowed. The cactus and mesquite encroached onto the path. We continued up until we climbed out of the canyon and onto the rim.
As we climbed out of the canyon it was difficult to find any trail at all. This particular place where we climbed out sits on a point. As you stand on this point you look back to your right and see where the road ends. You can see the road heading back out of the canyon.As you look back over your left you see and entire area that is not visible from the road. There is a whole other arm of the canyon that is not seen from the road. As you look straight ahead the canyon stretches out as far as you can see. Well beyond the road.
In our lives God sees the things we cannot see. He sees the places he is taking us. Off the road and up onto the rim of the Canyon. He sees the beautiful things that our lives will become if we would just allow him to lead us out of bondage and slavery and into freedom. HE DESIRES TO SHOWER US WITH HIS MERCY
However, sometimes we choose to remain in bondage and slavery. We see the big walls of the canyon. We see all the layers of junk and think or sins are too big to overcome. We see the narrowing paths and think it would be too difficult to forgive our sins.The price has been paid for our freedom but we listen to the lies. The lies begin to bring thoughts of doubt. From this we slip back into bondage. If we stay in bondage we will never get off the road. We will never see the beautiful things our lives could become.
That is what was happening with me at the beginning of that week. The reason I could not shake the thoughts and feelings I had that week was because as Ephesians 6 says our fight and struggle is not against flesh and blood.
12For 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.
You see I was trying to fight the thoughts of failure and doubt with my own thoughts, knowledge and understanding. I did not see the lies as lies. I thought they were truth. I did not see the real battle that was going on. Therefore, it was not until I claimed the truth of scripture, that Christ had set me free to live a free life, that I had freedom. It was not until I accepted freedom from slavery that I was free.
We each face a battle. We must first see our need for forgiveness. Once we see our sin we must accept that we can and will be forgiven. We must believe that God desires to show us mercy and will remember our sins no more.
Once we accept forgiveness we must stand firm and realize the battle still goes on. Satan will not give up on crushing each of us. He will continue to lie to us all. However, HE THAT BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION.
Stand firm. Trust God to lead you through the difficult path and over the canyon wall. Know that he has begun a good work in you. Believe that your life lived in freedom is a beautiful thing.
Verses of Freedom.
Hebrews 8:12For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Romans 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Galatians 4:6-7Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 15:15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you
Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 1:6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.2
Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. MSG
Galatians 5:1
I enjoy hiking. There is just something about it that I really love. I like to go to the top of the tallest point and look around as far as I can see. We often go hiking as a family, but sometimes I go alone – well the dog and I.
I think we all have a place of peace. Hiking is mine.
It is through hiking and in that place of peace that I re-connect with God.
There was a week not to long ago when I really needed that place of peace. I needed to connect with God. So I loaded up the dog and headed out to Palo Duro Canyon.
The first couple of days that week I was just down. I was in a funk and could not seem to pull out.
As I wrote about in my first message I knew I did not have to remain in that state.
When you live in freedom you are no longer tied to sin and Satan is no longer your master.
He wants to rip that freedom away from you. He wants to place you back in bondage. He wants you to be a slave.
It is key that each of us accept and claim our freedom.
It is key that we hold onto that freedom
Don’t hold on to guilt
Don’t listen to his lies that put these false labels on you
· You are unlovable
· You are unforgiveable
· God doesn’t want you – you’re not cool enough – you don’ have enough money
· Your too dirty for God to forgive – he knows what you looked at – he knows the things you’ve done in secret
· He does not want you
· You are trash
Even though I knew what to do I could not seem to let go and accept freedom.And like Galatians 5:1 says I let myself be burdened by the yoke of slavery. I was burdened down by all the thoughts in my head.
Thoughts of failure.
Thoughts of doubt.
The Bible refers to Satan as the father of lies. He deceives us with thoughts of failure and worthlessness. He leads us to feel like we have gone so far that we cannot turn back to God.
In the midst of my thoughts of failure and doubt that day God led me to this:Philippians 1:6
6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
God began to show me and remind me that I am His.
He started a good work in me. I am His creation, made in His image.
He is not going to give up on me and throw in the towel.
He is not going to try to return me to the store because I’m busted.
He began the work by creating me and calling me to freedom.
He will continue to pursue me and call me until the end.
The same is true for all of us.God created each of us. He gave us life. The good work began in us. That good work was continued when each of us is offered freedom.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. Hebrews 8:12
Is the concept of total forgiveness – I will remember their sins no more - a concept we fully grasp and accept?
I don’t believe it is because we look at forgiveness though our human experience.
WE FORGIVE WITH STRINGS ATTACHED
“I forgive you BUT – don’t ever let it happen again”
“I forgive you BUT – you owe me”
“I forgive you BUT – you should not of done that”
WE DO NOT FORGET THE OFFENSE
“that’s not what happened last time”
“you keep doing this”
WE FORGIVE WITH RESERVATION
“I shouldn’t forgive you of this”
“you don’t deserve a second chance”
It is no wonder we struggle to understand and accept true forgiveness. Our human examples are not examples of true forgiveness at all.
Hebrews 8:12 For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins NO MORE
God is the God that offers you FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM.
He is the God that used Abraham, who did not trust God to give him a son through his wife, to build a nation
He is the God that called David, who was an adulterer and a murder, “a man after my own heart”
He is the God that redeemed Peter after he denied Christ three times. The same Christ he followed and watched perform miracles for three years.
He is the God that transformed Saul, who was persecuting and killing Christians, and used him to take the Gospel to the non Jewish world.
Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.
DELIGHT TO SHOW MERCY
Let me go back to my hike in the canyon. For those who have not been to the canyon or it has been a while. You drive down into the canyon down a winding two lane road. Once you are in the canyon the canyon walls are on both sides of the road. They are formed with different layers of colored earth. If you follow the road it eventually loops back around and sends you out of the canyon. From the road you do not see the whole canyon just a small part of it.
It was towards the furthest end of this road that Izzy, the dog, and I got out to hike.We began on a trail that was heading from the road up the canyon wall. As we began on the trail it was well worn and wide. It was obvious that many people had been on this part of the trail before. As we went further up and away from the road the trail narrowed. The cactus and mesquite encroached onto the path. We continued up until we climbed out of the canyon and onto the rim.
As we climbed out of the canyon it was difficult to find any trail at all. This particular place where we climbed out sits on a point. As you stand on this point you look back to your right and see where the road ends. You can see the road heading back out of the canyon.As you look back over your left you see and entire area that is not visible from the road. There is a whole other arm of the canyon that is not seen from the road. As you look straight ahead the canyon stretches out as far as you can see. Well beyond the road.
In our lives God sees the things we cannot see. He sees the places he is taking us. Off the road and up onto the rim of the Canyon. He sees the beautiful things that our lives will become if we would just allow him to lead us out of bondage and slavery and into freedom. HE DESIRES TO SHOWER US WITH HIS MERCY
However, sometimes we choose to remain in bondage and slavery. We see the big walls of the canyon. We see all the layers of junk and think or sins are too big to overcome. We see the narrowing paths and think it would be too difficult to forgive our sins.The price has been paid for our freedom but we listen to the lies. The lies begin to bring thoughts of doubt. From this we slip back into bondage. If we stay in bondage we will never get off the road. We will never see the beautiful things our lives could become.
That is what was happening with me at the beginning of that week. The reason I could not shake the thoughts and feelings I had that week was because as Ephesians 6 says our fight and struggle is not against flesh and blood.
12For 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.
You see I was trying to fight the thoughts of failure and doubt with my own thoughts, knowledge and understanding. I did not see the lies as lies. I thought they were truth. I did not see the real battle that was going on. Therefore, it was not until I claimed the truth of scripture, that Christ had set me free to live a free life, that I had freedom. It was not until I accepted freedom from slavery that I was free.
We each face a battle. We must first see our need for forgiveness. Once we see our sin we must accept that we can and will be forgiven. We must believe that God desires to show us mercy and will remember our sins no more.
Once we accept forgiveness we must stand firm and realize the battle still goes on. Satan will not give up on crushing each of us. He will continue to lie to us all. However, HE THAT BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU WILL CARRY IT ON TO COMPLETION.
Stand firm. Trust God to lead you through the difficult path and over the canyon wall. Know that he has begun a good work in you. Believe that your life lived in freedom is a beautiful thing.
Verses of Freedom.
Hebrews 8:12For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Romans 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Galatians 4:6-7Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 2:20I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 15:15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you
Philippians 4:4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 1:6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.2
Corinthians 10:3-5
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
freedom (1 of 4)
FREEDOM IN CHRIST
Galatians 5:1
NIV
1It 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.
MSG
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
Lord Jesus I pray your covering over these words. As they are read may only your truth be spoken. Protect it from twisting and distortion. May Satan have no part in this in Jesus name. In humility I offer these words. I pray that the truth of you word would come alive to the individual. In Jesus name – amen.
? WHAT IS A HARNESS OR YOKE?
A yoke is the instrument (often wood) that is used to hold to oxen or such animal together in order for them to pull a load.
? What is the yoke or harness of slavery talked about here?
The yoke of slavery is slavery or bondage to sin.
AND
Being held captive by the lies of Satan
The yoke of slavery to sin fell upon man as a result of Adam and Eve wanting to make themselves like God and eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Since that time every child that has been born has been born in bondage to sin. We are born held to and locked to that sin.
? What does it mean to be in bondage to sin?
Being in bondage to sin means you are born with a desire to sin.
If you don’t believe me try watching a two year old.
My youngest, when he was 2, pushed his older brother into the pool. He then sat down and folded his hands and put himself in time out. He knew it was a wrong thing to do however he chose to do it anyway. He had the desire and took great pleasure in doing it.
RESULT
This bondage leads to spiritual death or separation from God.
Romans 6:23a tells us:
For the wages of sin is death
We do not have to remain in this condition.
God has provided a path to freedom through Jesus Christ.
We do not have to remain in this condition. – as slaves -
We can live in freedom
What is freedom? What is living free?
· Freedom is not living under condemnation.
· Freedom is living without guilt
· Freedom is accepting the forgiveness offered through Christ
· Freedom is rejecting the lies of Satan when he tells you you’re trash – not worthy
· Freedom is living with God and not apart from Him.
· Freedom is living to be who God created you to be
· Freedom is knowing you are not a slave but a son or daughter
God has provided a path to freedom through Jesus Christ. – His only Son who died so that you no longer have to.
The punishment that is due us …..
Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death
………He took upon himself
Romans 8:1
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
HOWEVER
Instead of making the choice to accept the freedom that has been offered us we try to change ourselves by our own actions. We try to do it without God.
· We are “good” and go to church
· We are a nice neighbor
· We are a fair boss or employee
· We work hard to get good grades
· We work to be “different” from everyone else so we can say “I’m not like them”
· We discipline our bodies to become a good athlete
· The outside looks fit and put together
· We practice to become an good piano player / singer / guitar player
Instead of a release from bondage these things BECOME your identity and who you are.
And you remain as a slave and in bondage because you are looking toward something other than God for your freedom and identity.
Hi I’m John the nice neighbor
Friendly guy
I go to church
People like me
I’m good at________
I’ve got it all together
NO I am John a son of God - that should be the identity I hold to.
Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."* So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
* that is essentially “daddy”
The first step to FREEDOM IN CHRIST
Is putting all these false freedoms and false identities aside and acknowledging our need for forgiveness.
LUKE 7:36-48
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[d] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The Pharisee in this story was finding his own way to God. He was being a good neighbor and all the other things he was to do. Here was Christ (the fulfillment of the OT law) sitting in front of him and he was so worried about making himself perfect that he did not look for the Christ. He is very much living in bondage because he rejected Christ and tried to purify himself.
This is us when we look for things other than Christ to free us.
The prostitute is who we need to be like. She came to Christ broken; knowing she could do nothing and that she needed him for everything.
She came to Christ weeping. She came to Christ repentant. (Godly sorrow)
The second step to FREEDOM IN CHRIST
IS ACCEPTING THE FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM OFFERED
Repentant heart
As soon as we go to God with a repentant heart and seek forgiveness we are free from the bondage of those sins.
GOD WILL FORGIVE OUR SINS AND REMEMBER THEM NO MORE
Hebrews 8:12
MSG
They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.
NLT
And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”[
NIV
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."[c]
You are free! You are free! You are free!
Each one of those verses screams of the freedom awaiting you.
CAUTION: MUST LAY CLAIM TO YOUR FREEDOM – IT IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE
When you live in freedom you are no longer tied to sin and Satan is no longer your master.
He wants to rip that freedom away from you. He wants to place you back in bondage. He wants you to be a slave.
It is key that each of us accept and claim our freedom.
It is key that we hold onto that freedom
Don’t hold on to guilt
Don’t listen to his lies that put false labels on you
· You are unlovable
· You are unforgiveable
· God doesn’t want you – you’re not cool enough – you don’ have enough money
· Your too dirty for God to forgive – he knows what you looked at – he knows the things you’ve done in secret
· He does not want you
· You are trash
Romans 8:1
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Galatians 5:1
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.
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
YOU ARE NOT TRASH - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A SLAVE ANY LONGER
Be the prostitute and acknowledge your need for forgiveness. Not one of us can fix ourselves. No matter how hard we try or say we will try. Accept the forgiveness that the Creator God as offered you through Jesus Christ. Accept that you are a son or daughter of the most high king.
LAY CLAIM TO YOUR FREEDOM.
Call on God. He will forgive your sins and remember them no more. He will call you son. He will call you daughter.
VERSES FOR FREEDOM
Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Galatians 5:1
NIV
1It 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.
MSG
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
Lord Jesus I pray your covering over these words. As they are read may only your truth be spoken. Protect it from twisting and distortion. May Satan have no part in this in Jesus name. In humility I offer these words. I pray that the truth of you word would come alive to the individual. In Jesus name – amen.
? WHAT IS A HARNESS OR YOKE?
A yoke is the instrument (often wood) that is used to hold to oxen or such animal together in order for them to pull a load.
? What is the yoke or harness of slavery talked about here?
The yoke of slavery is slavery or bondage to sin.
AND
Being held captive by the lies of Satan
The yoke of slavery to sin fell upon man as a result of Adam and Eve wanting to make themselves like God and eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
Since that time every child that has been born has been born in bondage to sin. We are born held to and locked to that sin.
? What does it mean to be in bondage to sin?
Being in bondage to sin means you are born with a desire to sin.
If you don’t believe me try watching a two year old.
My youngest, when he was 2, pushed his older brother into the pool. He then sat down and folded his hands and put himself in time out. He knew it was a wrong thing to do however he chose to do it anyway. He had the desire and took great pleasure in doing it.
RESULT
This bondage leads to spiritual death or separation from God.
Romans 6:23a tells us:
For the wages of sin is death
We do not have to remain in this condition.
God has provided a path to freedom through Jesus Christ.
We do not have to remain in this condition. – as slaves -
We can live in freedom
What is freedom? What is living free?
· Freedom is not living under condemnation.
· Freedom is living without guilt
· Freedom is accepting the forgiveness offered through Christ
· Freedom is rejecting the lies of Satan when he tells you you’re trash – not worthy
· Freedom is living with God and not apart from Him.
· Freedom is living to be who God created you to be
· Freedom is knowing you are not a slave but a son or daughter
God has provided a path to freedom through Jesus Christ. – His only Son who died so that you no longer have to.
The punishment that is due us …..
Romans 6:23a
For the wages of sin is death
………He took upon himself
Romans 8:1
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
HOWEVER
Instead of making the choice to accept the freedom that has been offered us we try to change ourselves by our own actions. We try to do it without God.
· We are “good” and go to church
· We are a nice neighbor
· We are a fair boss or employee
· We work hard to get good grades
· We work to be “different” from everyone else so we can say “I’m not like them”
· We discipline our bodies to become a good athlete
· The outside looks fit and put together
· We practice to become an good piano player / singer / guitar player
Instead of a release from bondage these things BECOME your identity and who you are.
And you remain as a slave and in bondage because you are looking toward something other than God for your freedom and identity.
Hi I’m John the nice neighbor
Friendly guy
I go to church
People like me
I’m good at________
I’ve got it all together
NO I am John a son of God - that should be the identity I hold to.
Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."* So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
* that is essentially “daddy”
The first step to FREEDOM IN CHRIST
Is putting all these false freedoms and false identities aside and acknowledging our need for forgiveness.
LUKE 7:36-48
36Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[d] and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."
The Pharisee in this story was finding his own way to God. He was being a good neighbor and all the other things he was to do. Here was Christ (the fulfillment of the OT law) sitting in front of him and he was so worried about making himself perfect that he did not look for the Christ. He is very much living in bondage because he rejected Christ and tried to purify himself.
This is us when we look for things other than Christ to free us.
The prostitute is who we need to be like. She came to Christ broken; knowing she could do nothing and that she needed him for everything.
She came to Christ weeping. She came to Christ repentant. (Godly sorrow)
The second step to FREEDOM IN CHRIST
IS ACCEPTING THE FORGIVENESS AND FREEDOM OFFERED
Repentant heart
As soon as we go to God with a repentant heart and seek forgiveness we are free from the bondage of those sins.
GOD WILL FORGIVE OUR SINS AND REMEMBER THEM NO MORE
Hebrews 8:12
MSG
They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven, with the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.
NLT
And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”[
NIV
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."[c]
You are free! You are free! You are free!
Each one of those verses screams of the freedom awaiting you.
CAUTION: MUST LAY CLAIM TO YOUR FREEDOM – IT IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE
When you live in freedom you are no longer tied to sin and Satan is no longer your master.
He wants to rip that freedom away from you. He wants to place you back in bondage. He wants you to be a slave.
It is key that each of us accept and claim our freedom.
It is key that we hold onto that freedom
Don’t hold on to guilt
Don’t listen to his lies that put false labels on you
· You are unlovable
· You are unforgiveable
· God doesn’t want you – you’re not cool enough – you don’ have enough money
· Your too dirty for God to forgive – he knows what you looked at – he knows the things you’ve done in secret
· He does not want you
· You are trash
Romans 8:1
There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Galatians 5:1
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.
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
YOU ARE NOT TRASH - YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A SLAVE ANY LONGER
Be the prostitute and acknowledge your need for forgiveness. Not one of us can fix ourselves. No matter how hard we try or say we will try. Accept the forgiveness that the Creator God as offered you through Jesus Christ. Accept that you are a son or daughter of the most high king.
LAY CLAIM TO YOUR FREEDOM.
Call on God. He will forgive your sins and remember them no more. He will call you son. He will call you daughter.
VERSES FOR FREEDOM
Hebrews 8:12
For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
Galatians 4:6-7
Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
John 15:15
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
Philippians 1:6
being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
3For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
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