Freedom

What we celebrate the 4th of July each were each year to celebrate our independence or the beginning of our country and end and to celebrate freedom. Freedom is one of those Concepts that I think like love like trust like happiness has has become. So big so misunderstood so individualized and and and and so misinterpreted in our culture that I'm not sure what it means anymore. in the context of almost any scenario it if you were like me you watched and semi disbelief over the last several weeks as a group of anti-fascist took over several blocks in a major American city Seattle and declared it in an autonomous Zone. These groups created an incredibly fascist state. That they were rebelling against borders and walls they put up a wall. They were rebelling and and protesting against police force. So they created bands of armed individuals roving through the environment. They they were checking people's licences and registrations are allowing people in and out. They were protesting the lack of freedom and created a less free environment. fascinating study of irony at the leaf We're in a situation right now in our culture in our country where people are protesting and nnn raising their voices and making their voices heard and much of it is necessary and much of it is needed and much of it is valid. And much of it isn't.

in this interesting environment where AR technology

Our economic reality have provided us with more freedoms than any culture has probably ever experienced in the history of the Earth. We have more access to food and medicine to technology education to information than anyone has ever had when we think about being free from want. We are as free as any culture as ever been what we talked about the freedom to express ourselves the freedom to speak the freedom to protest we have more freedoms in those lines than we've ever have. And yeah, we're not satisfied with the freedoms that we have. We're desperate for more and more freedom. Today we want to be free from any restraint. Fascinating what we see happening. We want to be free.

From an E-1 or anyting imposing or establishing any Authority?

or idea that we find as an imposition. We want to be free from it.

So where? fighting for freedom

and yet I think we can make an argument.

I don't think it's very difficult to make the argument. The door we are more free. We have more freedom. And we've ever had. We are less satisfied.

left field

And in that sense less free than we've ever been.

if you want to have an exercise in despair spend some time Googling statistics Look at the statistics of suicide rate over the last decade. Whisper teenagers alone. The suicide rate has gone up by 56% in the last decade. We we we have all of these freedoms.

But what are they for?

This morning. I want us to turn to God's word together. And we're going to look at. One of the songs in fact the first song Psalm chapter 1, I believe it is a song that speaks to us. About the realities of true freedom. And the blessings that come from it. So if you got your Bibles, let's go ahead and take a look some chapter when I'm just going to read the whole song. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the way of Sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffer. But his Delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He's like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season. Its Leaf does not wither And all that he does. You prosper. The wicked are not so they're like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the Judgment nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous. The Way of the Wicked Will perish This introductory song to The Book of worship the book of songs The Book of phrases for the ancient Israelites starts out, bye-bye by calling the worshiper. Recognize that we have a choice about how we are going to live our lives that we get to choose the direction the path of our lives and that every single one of us is forced to choose that in an ongoing basis and on-going reality. How will we live our lives what direction what we move towards what is going to drive and be the goal and the substance. of our life

it starts out by making this amazing statement. Blessed is the man. They're blessed is the man. It's just right there. He's starting out with an invitation and a declaration that it is possible to have a life. That is black. A blessed is another one of those words that gets used a lot especially after somebody sneezes but ins in in church environments we use the word blessing. God bless us bless this blessed that we use it all the time and yet I'm not sure that many of us understand what we mean when we say it. What does it mean to have a blessed life? The word is an interesting word in the in the Hebrew. It can be translated in in in a variety of different ways into the English language. But many translators will translate it as happy happy is the man blessed is the man that idea is that a blessed life is a life of a life of July the life of fulfillment.

Happy is the man.

If I were to write a translation of it, I think blessed is good. I think happy is good. But just this morning I would say this free is the man.

Blessing real happiness is a description of true freedom. free from as we're going to see the constraints of evil the choices of sin and wickedness but free for the Delights and the joy of God this is a song that is telling us about how Syrian a life of Freedom a life of Happiness a life of blessing. Blessed happy free is the man. And then you give us this this interesting Triplett. Walks not in the counsel of the wicked North stands in the way of Sinners nor sits in the seat stopper. But if you want to experience blessing if you want to be happy, if you want to be free, you got to consider how you live your life and who you spend your life with in other words how you identify yourself how you see yourself and how you share yourself?

First those who walk not in the counsel of the wicked. Hebrew wear that for Wicked Workshop usually describes people who did not have a covenant relationship with God they have little regard for God but live to satisfy their own passion.

They have little regard for God but live to satisfy their own passion.

From that Definition of wicked what it means to be Wicked. I think that you can look at our culture and it's not it's not an outrageous statement to say that we live in Wicked time. That we we we are a wicked people. We have a wicked culture. Our culture is all about following our own passion.

It doesn't mean that they're necessarily as evil as they could be. But they have no regard for the spiritual dimension of life. So they are at the best superficial.

Walk not in the counsel. Of the wicked in the counsel of the wicked. Where do we seek wisdom? Where do we look for insight? Who is who is informing and instructing and dieting and driving us in the world? Are we taking our two from the world around us a world that is on a seemingly and blatantly rejecting God in a spiritual Dimension to life. With no inhibition pursuing their own passions above anything else.

Do we walk? in the council The Weeknd

I've been talking a lot lately about our engagement and involvement in social media.

I think there's some more for us to think about.

We're going to get to it even more here in a second. Secondly. He says nor stands in the way of sinners.

This word here. This Hebrew word for for spinner is the the route occurs about 580 times in the Old Testament. It is the principal word that is used for sin the basic meaning of the root. has to do with missing a mark in other words

If you're if you're shooting at something and you miss it, you miss what you were shooting for. That is the essence of this word. That is translated 4% In this context you say listen, you have been created by God for God. You've been created by God to live with. And when you choose a life without God when you choose to go your own way you miss Lamar.

You may think and this is where our world is today. You may think that in rejecting God. In rejecting God's Authority in rejecting God's rule in rejecting God's law that you're actually going to make yourself happy. You're going to find fulfillment and satisfaction. You're going to find Freedom without God's with the reality is when you try to do life without God you missed the mark.

Rather finding rather than finding that freedom rather than finding that satisfaction and substance that we hope so desperately. We will find without God we simply Miss. Lamar

Lastly he says Norse it. in the seat of scoffers don't walk in the counsel of the wicked don't stand in the way of Sinners. Don't sit. in the seat of scoffers enough ancient Hebrew idiom to sit with a group is to identify with the group. This is a statement of identity. If you fits with the Hebrews your Hebrew, if you sit with the Romans, you're a Roman if you sit with the tax collectors your tax collector if you sit. in the seat of scoffers you are a scoffer.

What is a scoffer? the proverbs speaks to us about stalker over and over again. One of my favorites is Proverbs 21:24 that actually defines it for us.

Is the name of the Arrogant haughty man who acts with arrogance fry?

Don't fit in the city of the Stauffer. What's a stopper a Stoppers the name of an arrogant hottie man who acts? with arrogance try

I look at where we're at as a culture as a country as a community.

more full up soccer

divided absolutely divided On one hand, we got scoffers and on the other hand, we got Stoppers then each side is equally convinced of the absolute rightness of everything that they believe they're right there hottie about it.

Arrogant pride and they act out on it. Don't you dare say something that I disagree with? Don't you dare post something that I don't like don't you dare have an opinion that differ from what my opinion is and it doesn't matter if you're on the left or the right. It doesn't matter if your red or blue both sides. stop

both sides band with an arrogant disdain towards the other. Repeat play out everyday. every way on one hand, we've got people that know that covid-19 absolute hopes that wearing masks is something that only idiots stupid they are honest and unafraid to Proclaim over and over again. They know what's going on on the other hand. We have those with no absolute disaster. It's the end of the world and if you don't wear masks, but we know what that means about you both sides stand and stop. against each other

the writer of the song says don't take your place. in the seat of scoffers

don't find your identity in the arrogance. positions and platforms and ideas of this world

because at the end of the day

bifurcated reality that we're living in between conservative and Progressive liberals and Democrats Republicans and Democrats are all the stuff at the end of the day. They share more in common.

Then they'd ever dare or like to believe.

because at the roots of both of these sides Is the fundamental commitment to a life without God?

Don't take your seat in the place of the Stauffer.

Proverbs 13:1 says this a wise son hears his father's instruction.

But a scoffer does not listen.

This verse alone. And it's not alone, but this first alone is enough. For us to really reconsider and think about how we use and engage in dialogue in our culture, especially social media. The reality is

when you get into an argument.

When you get into disputes, when you start to engage in these dialogue and I use the term very Loosely on Facebook or Instagram or Twitter any of the social media platform.

You're beginning to deal with scoffers. Nnnn scripture tells us a wise man hears his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke. In other words, what is it that we're hoping to do when we engage in that kind of dialogue. But what there's more how about this Proverbs chapter 9 7 to 10, whoever corrects a scoffer. Give himself abuse.

If you try to correct the Arrogant hottie man who acts in arrogant Pride what you get is not an old thank you so much for letting me know. I was drunk you get abused. Whoever corrects a stopper gets himself abuse and he who approves a wicked man incurs.

I think we've seen this play out time and time and time again on the news for the last several weeks. Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you. Reprove a wise man. And he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser teach a righteous, man, and she will increase in learning. the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is inside

a couple things. I want to make clear about this one. I'm not saying.

And we don't engage. Or stand for or have a voice for truth.

It's not what these verses are telling us. They're not telling us to be passive. They're not telling us to bury our head in the sand. They're not telling us to run away from the world and pretend it doesn't exist.

But they are telling us that we have to be wise and thoughtful and careful about how we do that.

I Think Jesus might have been meditating. on this text and Proverbs chapter 9

when he said that should be towards the conclusion of The Sermon on the Mount Matthew chapter 7 judge not

But you be not judged.

Your primary role is not to be somebody's judge. It's not how you're supposed to be driven. That's not that's not your calling you calling is not to pronounce judgment.

Or culture needs to hear this so desperately. Our job is not to pronounce judgments. We have to judge we have to make decisions we have to discern but it's not our primary identity. We have a judge.

We're not at he says for with the Judgment you pronounce you will be judged. With the measure you use it will be measured to you. This is the fundamental problem with a cancel culture. One day those that are politically correct that are cancelling everybody else because of something they said or something they did or an idea for a belief or an activity. Eventually that comes right back around to eat you and consume you with the judgments you give the measure should be brought back to you.

Why you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but did not notice the log that is in your own eye. Jesus saying be careful. Yeah other people have things wrong. No doubt. But you've got something to throw. What are you looking for the speck in someone else's eye when you got a giant log in your own?

something about human nature

We don't like to see our weakness and our faults and we love to see the weakness and faults in honor. And went when you partner that with the reality of human nature that we love to compare ourselves to each other comparison is is the way our brains form and shape and understand reality. It's so this is what we love to do. We love to compare our strength the other's weaknesses Our success to their failure our righteousness to their since we do it in a in a way. That's absolutely blind to the reality. of ourselves if I compare my strength to your weaknesses I get to feel so good about myself.

even if there's not that much to feel good about

why you see the speck that's in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own. How can you say to your brother? Let me take the speck out of your eye. When there's a log in your own eye.

You hypocrite. First take the log out of your own eye and then you'll see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

I feel something so fast. Do not give dogs. What is Holy do not throw your pearls before pigs lest. They trample them underfoot and turn. 2 AccuWeather

He who reproves a scoffer? What's up review? You might have something. That is really good. That is really true but is really right. But if you give it to someone in a way or in a form that is not useful for them that they're not ready to have rather than than them receiving that truth or whatever it is that you have to offer with joy and being receptive and being open to it. The reality is your you're inviting. An indignation you're inviting a response of anger. You're inviting.

violence and abuse upon yourself

The saying don't stand up for truth is that saying walk away and Advocates and pretends? The things are bad, but he is saying you got to be careful and thoughtful and wise about how you end game.

I feel like I could go on and on about that because there's so many. realities in our culture Does this apply to? We have followers of Christ need to take seriously how we represent the cause and the kingdom and the person of Jesus our King in this world.

I would present his invitation. How we model his life and love how we demonstrate his grace and his Mercy. the way that we do

absolutely vile

Let's continue the song one helps us with that. It says they spent his Delight.

Is in the law of the Lord.

It went when you read that don't don't don't just think law. Don't just think legalism. Don't just think a code of of regulations and rules are certainly included in this but but but this is referencing the revelation of God the word of God the disclosure of God. And that includes not only the special revelation of of the Torah of the written word, but it would include natural Revelation what we discover about God and the Creator to the works of the creation. It's about all that's his Delight is in the revelation of the Lord and on his law. He meditates day and night.

Simple but profound truth is revealed. in these first two verses if you want to be blessed. If you want to be happy if you want to be free. You don't speak blessing or happiness or freedom? When you speak for those things in and of themselves.

You never find.

when we seek God when we seek God when we would we obsessed with dots on his on his Revelation on his disclosure on his character on his act on his word. meditate day and night

blessed is the man who doesn't walk fit stand. Blessed is the man who Delights? Happy is the man who Delights in Godfrey is the man who Delights in God?

Jesus said in that same Sermon on the Mount. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

and all these other things laughing Joy Freedom will be at it. unto you There's a light is in the law of the Lord on his washing meditates day and nights. And then and then the song That's goes to this. This this biblical allusion we have in Ezekiel and other places that this idea of a blessed man a righteous man is like a tree planted by streams of water a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season its belief does not wither and all that. It doesn't.

Fitness Miss phrase planted by streams of water a natural River or a natural stream. It's a it's a term that used to describe ancient irrigation irrigation processes. Ancient Egyptians and Mesopotamians and ancient Keepers thinner stood ain't they understood irrigation? And so they dug canal? Orchestrated in the organized and they made sure that the crops received the water that they need it. It's not it's not lift up the happenstance or chance crafted and Design. When we when we seek God when we Delight in him and in his work in his Revelation in his life in his disclosure, we're like a tree.

That is absolutely nourished and provided are like a tree planted by streams of water. Gilbert's fruit and season it does what a tree is supposed to a tree that does not yield fruit is an ineffective tree, but not not the tree.

Set the lights in God that tree Bears its fruit. in season may not be the season that you want may not even be the type of fruit or kind of fruit that you desire. But when you seek God when you put God first when you seek his kingdom and his righteousness first allow him to lead and guide we will allow him to strengthen and nourish you will bear fruit.

Leaf does not wither this is a reference.

In the ancient world medicine was primarily done through herbs and plants and sleeves and and this idea concept and it's in the Hebrew idiom of a leaf is is the leaf it does not with her. Is that your life? Will have the ability to bring healing. bomb soothing other

I believe that she will prosper. In other words, you will have a valid. functioning life That makes a difference. That leaves a legacy that has an impact. When we try to do it on our own for our own. Doesn't turn out so well, but when we seek God first.

like a tree planted by streams of water

not so wicked. The wicked are not so they're like cha.

the Winds Drive using the ancient agricultural mad at metaphor. When you when you would Harvest Grain you take it up onto a high hill threshing floor and you beat it beat it and then you would throw it up into the air. Emma cha the useless non-nutritional

refuse of the grain that you would throw it up into the air the wind would blow away the chat and the heavier nutritious useful grain would fall down until over and over and over you do that until all the chaff was blown away. If you will if you are or in and direct and live your life focus on God, you'll be like a tree planted.

Solid and stable bearing fruit your leaves providing healing you will bring prosperity and meaning and significance to the world around you. the wicked Not again, those who are as bad as they could be. The winter is not just talking about the Schindler's and the domers of the world. The wicked is talking about those who neglect and ignore the reality of God and who he is and seek their own passions in life.

And the wicked are like chaff that the wind drives away.

therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment. are sinners In the congregation of the righteous.

Takes it to a whole nother level kit in this world.

You want a life of substance and meaning you want a life of real friend?

Real blessing put God first. Put God first. Put God before your politics put God before your your ethnicity put God before your identity put God before your pleasure put put God first. You'll be like a tree planted by streams of water. But if you're going to run around like everyone in this was going to put your pleasure first, if you're going to follow your passion do not follow your bliss. If you're going to do things your own way being to stand on your own and be your own rock.

In a long-term result result. Is that one day the righteous judge one day. The righteous King is returning ending his kingdom the wicked will not stand in the congregation of the righteous.

I could always Steph this song the scripture takes us.

from the temporal to the eternal the reality that does the decisions and choices that we make shape our life not only here and now but for eternity And against which I'm not talking about whether you go to heaven or whether you go to hell I'm talking about whether at the end of things you stand in the company of the king in the congregation of the righteous or like the chaff on the threshing floor. You're Blown Away.

for the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the Way of the Wicked Will

I think sometimes we need to be reminded.

because sometimes In fact, very awful. We look around and we see the wicked prosper. and the righteous suffer Very often we can look at this and go I've been trying to follow God. I don't feel like a tree planted. I feel like a tree under attack. I feel fruitless. I feel adrift I feel for Lor. And in this world Jesus said you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world. The Lord knows the way of the righteous all who desire to live a Godly life in Christ. Jesus must suffer persecution, but the Lord knows the way of the righteous. when we choose to follow Kim and we suffer for

and he knows the Way of the Wicked.

And they will perish. Don't don't be deceived by what your eyes feet. Don't be deceived by your limited temporal perspective. God will not be mocked.

And God knows he knows the way he knows the life of the righteous and he knows the way the life of the wicked. wicked wicked will perish

this this

the song called

and invites calls to radically pursue our blessing our joy or happiness and our freedom in God.

The moment we searched for blessings for happiness and freedom in something outside of God. We begin to lose it. I know uses illustration a lot, but it's so vivid. It makes it makes me viscerally grasp it no pun intended pun intended. It's like it's like grasping. Jello. It's a grasping Jello the harder you squeeze the less you have. The more intensely you look for blessings or Joy or Freedom apart from God's the more you squeeze it the less you have.

Someone invites us to find our blessings in a radical Pursuit. of The God Who Made Us

we run after. And in that we find our freedom. I was thinking about this some of Paul's where it's just struck me. Just a new this week. Paul Road and talked about Freedom a lot exalted in the freedom that we have in Christ. It's for Freedom that Christ set us free.

We love the freedom of the Gospel. But we need to hear what Paul has to say about that to eat. He says this in 1st Corinthians chapter 5. Or chapstick. Sorry are lawful for me. Some translations to say that everything is permissible.

It's it's in Christ. I'm accepted. I'm adopted I'm forgiven. I'm I'm a new creation. I'm I'm an air of the king. I have a I have an inheritance that can never spoil or Parish Parish. Nobody can take it away from me. I've got freedom in Christ. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.

You think about that next time you want to share a post or get involved in an argument online? You have no right to do it. The question is do you want to be right or do you want to be righteous? All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated. buy anything In other words, we have an incredible freedom in Christ. But that's Freedom brings with it an incredible responsibility. What will you use your freedom in Christ for? I think tragically much of the evangelical church today. We want to use our freedom in Christ to actually be and live like the world. We want to use our freedom in Christ to sit in the seat of scoffers.

And then we wonder why we've lost a prophetic boy.

All things are lawful for me, and I don't think you're helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I would not be dominated by anyting. Outside of Christ that is he says this another time in 1st Corinthians 10. 1st Corinthians 6 he's talking about sexual immorality and and how we live in a world full of sexual corruption now in in in chapter 10, he's going to talk about how we did how the Corinthians dealt with meat sacrificed to idols and there's all sorts of confusion disagreement about how that was to work. And again, he says all things are lawful.

But not all things are helpful. All things are lawful.

But not all things build up.

I don't think it's Bill.

Because we're an individualistic. Autonomous Society we filter and think everything through the lens of me me me. It's all about me. What a y wants. How does this help me when we think about Freedom. Tell him I free. How does my freedom benefits me? How do I get what I want when I want how I want it.

That's not the freedom of Christ. The freedom of Christ is not obsessed with the self. The freedom of Christ is the freedom from self-obsession. The freedom of Christ is the absolute blessing and happiness and freedom that only Christ can bring that actually sets us free from the radical pursuit of self. but everyone else in our culture is absolutely addicted to

Freedom of Christ actually sets us free from the freedom of self. The ultimately turned against us.

How you use your freedom matter? All things are lawful, but not all things build up.

How do I use my freedom? The build-up to lift up to encourage to strengthen.

He goes on a toxin the next few verses about the meat sacrificed to Idols, but he ends it all he says so whether you eat or drink.

Right, so they were those in the church that a thneed and there was all this at the end of the day whether you do it or don't whatever you do do it all to the glory of God.

Do it all.

to the glory of God

Galatians 5:1. I already mentioned starts out this way. It is for Freedom that Christ has set you free. I know you spent several versus talking about not not returning to the bird and obligations of the law. Ben verse 13 says this you were called. the freedom Brothers

You called freedom.

Only don't use your freedom as an opportunity for the Flash.

And this is one of those points where the gospel and the reality of the freedom in Christ goes a little bit countercultural. AR Constitution

the right to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness the way that most of us interpret that is through a personal loan.

And search you got to hear you got to hear me this morning. Jesus did not come and die and rise again so that you could pray a prayer or believe a truther confessed something with your mouth and then go and live exactly the way that you want to and pursue your happiness apart from Christ. That might be the Constitution of the United States is not the constitution of the Gospel. The kingdom operates under different ethics. You called the freedom brother. We don't use your free does not what you needed was flashed but through love. Serve one another.

love serve one another God does not do.

Except you free so that you can be exactly who God wants you to be. and do what God created you to do which is to be

Freedom the way we interpreted so often in our culture is just another word for selfishness. Freedom in the gospel is another word for love. But serves one another you're called the freedom Brothers don't don't use your freedom as an opportunity for the food for the Flash. Through love serve one another for the whole Lots with filled in one word. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

but if you bite and devour one another

watch out

that you're not consumed. by one another

if ever there was a warning.

From where we are to call sir.

That might be it watch out.

Be careful if we bite and devour one another guess what we're going to be bitten and devour.

real freedom righteous Freedom Godly freedom

is the freedom from self the freedom to love not the freedom to get but the freedom to give

Freedom Cry

It's the freedom to try the God sees the way of the righteous and The Way of the Wicked and at the end. at the end of the day the righteous will stand while the wicked are blown away Church Let us radically. Pursue God let us seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.

I'm not saying don't be involved in the things of this world. I'm not saying don't be engaged. What I am saying is that you only have something to offer the things of this world when you're radically engaged Christ.

Because she is the one that makes us a tree planted by streams of water. She is the one that causes our fruit to bloom. He is the one that keeps our leaves from withering he is the one that makes us prosper.

seek first the kingdom of God

and all these things Jesus. Will be added to you about church. Let us be free in Christ. free to live Enforcer because of the one who loved and served us so perfect. Hey, man.