June 28, 2009 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

Galatians 5:1

“Our world is filled with negativity, telling us things are going to get much worse before they’re going to get better. The economy is getting worse, society is getting worse, employment is down and families are suffering. This sermon explores our Freedom to Choose our response to a darkening world.”               Pastor Phil Roland

 

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

 

There a number of ways we have Freedom to Choose:

I.  GIVE UP SELF-CONDEMNATION AND GUILT – Rom. 8:1

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

            A. We claim the power of Christ’s Blood Atonement to Cover our Sin

                        1. We walk before God and Man w/Transparency and Truth

                            “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son

                              cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

                        2. God’s Love removes our Fear of one another –1 Jn. 4: 18,19

                            “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because                                  fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made

                              perfect in love.  We love Him because He first loved us.”

            B. No one can place Guilt on you unless you allow them

 

II. REJECT NEGATIVE THINKING – Psalm 23:5

    “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my

       head with oil; My cup runs over.”

            A. The Glass isn’t half-empty / The Glass is half-full

            B. We cannot control things OUTSIDE us, but can what is INSIDE us

                        1. We can control how we react

                        2. We can control how we think

 

III.  DECEIVERS WILL ABOUND IS GOD’S DAY APPROACHES

     “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

        But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being

        deceived.” 2 Timothy 3:12,13

          A. False Messiahs will be everywhere – Matthew 24:23,24

               “Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There!' do not

                 believe it. "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great

                 signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”

          B. Signs and Wonders are only to Validate the Gospel

            C. Goodness will follow you who walk with Christ – Prov. 4:18

                 “But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.”

 

IV.  BELIEVE YOUR LIFE IS GOING TO END UP SWEET

       “The end of a thing is better than its beginning” Ecclesiastes 7:8

            A. Things will get better for the righteous – Haggai 2:9

              “'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says

                  the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD

                  of hosts."             B. Believe that God has saved the best for last – John 2:10

            “And he said to him, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good

                  wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have

                  kept the good wine until now!"

V.  KNOW THAT GOD HAS THE BEST IN MIND FOR YOU     

        "And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your

       sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'  "But the father said to

       his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his

       hand and sandals on his feet. 'And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let

       us eat and be merry; 'for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost

       and is found.' And they began to be merry.”

        A. We are the Prodigal in God’s Eyes

                        1. You are dearly Beloved

                        2. You are valued in His sight

            B. He longs for us to choose to come to His Open Arms

 

VI.  ACCEPT THE BIBLICAL KINGDOM PATTERN – Luke 17:21b

       “. . . the kingdom of God is within you."

        A. Old Covenant to the New Covenant

            B. The Blood of Animals to the Blood of Jesus

            C. From Law to Grace

            D. From Sin to Righteousness

            E. From Sickness to Health

            F. From Adversity to Prosperity

            G. From Defeat to Victory

            H. From Unclean to Clean

            I. From Empty to Filled

FREEDOM TO CHOOSE

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION

God is the great emancipator of our souls. The only one who can truly set us free.

Leith Anderson tells this story about Abraham Lincoln in his book "A church for the 21st Century." "Abraham Lincoln went to visit a slave auction one day and was appalled at the sights and sounds of buying and selling human beings. His heart was especially drawn to a young woman on the block whose story seemed to be told in her eyes. She looked with hatred and contempt on everyone around her. She had been used and abused all her life, and this time was but one more cruel humiliation. The bidding began, and Lincoln offered a bid. As other amounts were bid, he countered with larger amounts until he won. When he paid the auctioneer the money and took title to the young woman, she stared at him with vicious contempt. She asked him what he was going to do next with her, and he said, "I'm going to set you free."

"Free?" she asked. "Free for what?"

"Just free." Lincoln answered. "completely free."

"Free to do whatever I want to do?

"Yes," he said. "free to do whatever you want to do."

"Free to say whatever I want to say?"

"Yes, free to say whatever you want say."

"Free to go wherever I want to go?" she asked with skepticism. Lincoln answered, "you are free to go anywhere you want to go."

“Then I choose to go with you!” she said with a smile.

"Then I'm going with you!" she said with a smile.

True freedom is the power to choose.

If we have the power to choose then choose the one who has truly set us free!