Breaking Free!
Breaking Free!
Pastor E. Keith Hassell
(Pass out 3 x 5 index cards)
Luke 4:16-21
I. What is holding you in bondage tonight?
A. Sinful habit?
B. Unforgiveness?
C. Lust?
D. Sexual sins?
E. Cursing?
F. Drugs?
G. Alcohol?
H. Smoking?
I. Medications?
J. Vulgarity?
K. Pornography?
L. Anger?
M. Bitterness?
N. Jealousy?
O. Hate?
P. Prejudice?
Q. Greed?
R. Fear?
S. Stubbornness?
T. Rebellion?
U. Pride?
II. Bondage can be the result of
A. Disobedience
1. Proverbs 5:22 (NKJV) “His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.”
B. Unforgiveness
1. Matthew 18:32-35 (NKJV) 32 “Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”
C. Beliefs contrary to the word of God
1. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV) “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,”
2. Examples
a Example #1
1) Lie: God can never forgive me
2) Truth: 1 John 1:9 (NKJV) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
b Example # 2
1) I will never be able to live for God
2) Philippians 4:13 (NKJV) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
c Example #3
1) Lie: I can never be totally free
2) Truth: John 8:36 (NKJV) “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
D. Inner vows and judgments against others
1. Matthew 7:1-5 (NKJV) “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
2. Judgments in your heart toward others can keep you in bondage
3. Inner vows are based upon bitter judgments against others
a “I will never allow anyone to hurt me again!”
b “I will prove to my dad that I am good for something!”
c “I will never allow my family to go without things like I had to when I was little!”
4. We must release all judgment of others to God and renounce all embittered inner vows
E. Generational curses
1. Exodus 20:5-6 (NKJV) “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.”
2. Galatians 3:13-14 (NKJV) “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
3. A curse in a spiritual empowerment to fail
4. Blessing is a spiritual empowerment to succeed
III. Bondage can feel like
A. Binding cords of evil passion
B. Chains of slavery to sin
C. Prison of consequences
D. Dungeon of despair (hopeless of ever being free)
IV. Jesus came to set you free! He is anointed to
A. Preach good news to the poor (broken in spirit)
B. Heal the broken hearted
C. Bring freedom to the captives
D. Restore sight to the blind
E. Bring deliverance to the oppressed
F. Declare the time of God’s favor (Year of Jubilee)
V. Breaking Free!
A. Believe that Jesus Christ wants to set you free tonight
B. Look at the Cross and believe that the price for your freedom has been paid
C. Forgive others as Christ has forgiven you
1. Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
D. Acknowledge and confess your sin
1. Psalm 32:5 (NKJV) “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.”
2. Write down on the 3 x 5 index cards the sins from which you want God to deliver you
E. Repent of your sin—intending never to go back again
1. 2 Corinthians 7:10 (NKJV) “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
F. Cry out to the Lord for deliverance
1. Psalm 107:17-20 (NKJV) “Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. 18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. 20 He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.”
G. (Leaders pray and minister deliverance)
H. Receive your deliverance by faith
VI. Confirming your freedom
A. Each person burns their card in the fire as a sign that their sin and bondage is gone. As they place their card in the fire they declare “Never again!”
B. After burning the card each one walks under the cross and declares, “Freedom!” Leaders and others “high five” them as they come through the cross.
C. Return to the sanctuary for corporate praise the Lord
D. Pray for those who desire to be filled with a fresh fire for God