EPISODE 89: BE FREE TO FLY

BE FREE-SLIDER-01

A MESSAGE FROM SARA:

So often we read about how to simplify our lives or how to not be busy. We think to ourselves, “Well heck, we spend tons of time talking about it out loud…’if only life would slow down’ or ‘if only I wasn’t so busy.’” Or perhaps it isn’t busyness that plagues us, but rather a stronghold…a habit…an addiction even. There are books upon books about such things many of which are full of wisdom and practical application. And yet, here we are as a culture and a church slave to these “things” more than ever. Your thing and my things might look differently, but the result is the same. BONDAGE! And when in bondage we simply cannot break free into the life that God meant for you and me.

I simply do not believe that God meant for life to feel so heavy and weighted for us especially if we are believers. The Word of God is full of simple yet profound instruction guiding us through our lives. God desires us to be free in Him. For if we are free in Him then we are better suited to share the Gospel…to be the hands and feet of Jesus. This freedom does not represent perfection in our lives. We cannot ever be perfect and free from the burden of sin while here on earth. However, we can give it all to Him and walk in His truths so that those issues that nip at our feet and weight on our backs cannot paralyze us rendering us ineffective.

Paul does a great job of explaining some of these very things to the Church of Galatia. This is where we will camp out today and see what he had to offer these people. A little background here…the Church of Galatia has been set free from the Law but now they are having a hard time finding their moral compass. With no “rules” per say, they struggle with living a righteous life. So, they begin to implement the Jewish Law again leading back into slavery to the law. So Paul encourages the church to be Free from bondage and commit their lives to loving others.  

BE IN THE WORD (THIS WEEK’S VERSES):

“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, ESV)

Paul tells the church that it was for freedom sake that Christ set us free. The law had made everything confusing and only caused more slavery. God knew the people needed true freedom from the wages of sin and so He sent His son for our freedom.

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Paul now knows that the church needs a moral compass. On the one hand he has told the people they are free from the burden of the law but he needs them to realize this is not a get out of jail free card.

He also needs to keep the church from being legalistic and returning to the slavery of the law. (called to freedom) Paul knew the church was struggling with moral issues; they thought that by following the Jewish law, they would be able to control their fleshly temptations.

BE EDUCATED (ADDITIONAL RESOURCES):

Today, I am actually posting some of my notes for Be Educated including a blog post from Beth Moore. If you are struggling with Freedom, commit to find yourself a good book or even counseling that can encourage you and help you move in the direction of freedom!

What does true flying look like?

  • The old law has been replaced by a new law: The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (v. 14)
  • “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. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.” (Galatians 5:22-24)
  • The great church father Augustine taught that true freedom is not choice or lack of constraint, but being what you are meant to be. Humans were created in the image of God. True freedom, then, is not found in moving away from that image but only in living it out. The closer we conform to the true image of God, Jesus Christ, the freer we become. The farther we drift from it, the more our freedom shrinks. Roger Olsen from The Bond of Freedom
  • John Howard Yoder wrote in The Politics of Jesus about “revolutionary subordination.” True freedom is found not in insisting on one’s own rights, but in freely giving them up by being a servant to Jesus Christ first and the people of God second.

Things That Hinder Our Freedom: Break Through 5 Obstacles to Freedom in Christ by Beth Moore):

  1. Unbelief: Unbelief is choosing not to believe God. I’m not talking about believing in God; I’m talking about believing what He says. We can believe in Christ, accepting the truth that He is the Son of God, and we can believe on Christ, receiving eternal salvation, yet fail to stand firm in belief and choose to find Him trustworthy day to day.
  2. Pride: Pride is an obstacle to glorifying God because it is equivalent to taking God off the throne and putting ourselves in His place.
  3. Idolatry: But when we look to other sources for satisfaction, we are guilty of idolatry.
  4. Prayerlessness: Prayerlessness is the most prohibitive obstacle in the road to a believer’s victory.
  5. Legalism: We must understand that we cannot please God—or find the freedom we seek—by following a set of rules. 

BE DOERS, NOT JUST HEARERS (PRACTICAL APPLICATION):

1. Are you freely flying in salvation? Are you flying toward eternal life or death? If you have not received the freedom provided through the death, burial and resurrection, I urge you to give your life to Him today.

2. As part of the church, do you find that you are more apt to live in legalism or in liberalism? We have to have ask real questions and give real answers so we know why we are not flying.

3. Choose an attribute of living in the Holy Spirit to work on this week and then focus on a new one each week for a month.

4. In Beth Moore’s list of 5 Obstacles, what do you struggle with? What do you need to surrender to the Lord? Write it down and acknowledge it. Now, find a Bible verse that can help you take it captive and give it to God.