Freedom For

Good morning church, today we are continuing our sermon series titled Follow Me. We’ve been looking at what it means to Follow Jesus. This is the 4th lesson and so far we have said Following Jesus requires:

Courage

Surrender

Changed Perspective

Today we’re talking about freedom.

If you grew up in America, then you almost certainly have heard the universal belief among Americans that:

“You can do whatever you want—as long as you don’t hurt anybody”.

Anybody ever heard that before? One of the most sacred words of American ideals is the word freedom. As Americans we love our freedom. In America, our freedoms include the rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” You have heard the songs lyrics: “the land of the free” and “let freedom ring.” Freedom is our highest good.

AMERICANS LOVE THEIR FREEDOM

As Americans we love our freedom. And rightfully so, literally, millions of Americans have sacrificed their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. They have shed blood, sweat, and tears for our freedom. We love our freedom so much that we have national holidays to celebrate our freedom, we’ve made statues and monuments to remind us of our freedom, our national anthem is about our freedom, our right to freedom is etched into our constitution, we have freedom of speech, freedom of expression, the freedom of the press, the freedom to practice religion, freedom to bear arms, and many other freedoms. As Americans we love our freedom!

And car commercials are notorious for promoting this idea of freedom. With the open road in front of you, you can go anywhere you want from behind the wheel, you just take control of your own destiny and do whatever you want.

Cars are empowering. Ownership means that you have the means to be independently mobile and free, that you own not just the road and your vehicle but choice as well.

Freedom means breaking the limits. No rules, no boundaries, no restrictions. They’ll say “Buy this car and you’ll be free”, “Unleash yourself”. No one tells you what to do. You decide for yourself to be free.

DODGE COMMERCIAL

In fact, there is a car commercial put out by Dodge that depicts a scene from the American Revolution. The commercial shows the British army taking position, waiting for the Americans. And as they are waiting, guns drawn, the soldiers start to have the look of concern on their faces.

And you’re starting to wonder why, what do they see to make them look so concerned? And suddenly, three Dodge Challengers come out of nowhere, blazing full steam towards the British soldiers. And lo and behold, wouldn’t you know who was driving one of the Challengers.

George Washington himself, George Washington was behind the wheel of one of the cars and all the British soldiers start to run away. Who knew that our history books got it wrong all this time. They weren't using horseback, they were using horse power. Haha who knew?

And then the commercial ends with George Washington next to the car and this quote, "Here's a couple of things America got right, cars and freedom.”

As Americans we love our freedom!

We bristle at rules, laws, and boundaries because they seem to be the opposite of freedom. No one comes between an American and their freedom.

ELECTION CYCLE

This past election cycle is great example of how much we love our freedom. When our freedoms are infringed upon, people will grumble and argue with one another. With our neighbors. With state and local governments. Americans will line up behind a political party and leverage the Bible to validate our political talking points. We’ll take each other to court, we’ll argue with our brothers and sisters and treat our neighbors with suspicion.

On social media we’ll demonize and criticize people, for threatening our freedom. We allow ourselves to be divided over masks and vaccines. Indiscriminate demonization and dehumanization. No Matter what side you're on, as long as you don't come between me and my freedom. Americans love freedom.

TRUE FREEDOM

Now, unfortunately for Americans, the premium we place on personal freedom does not appear in scripture. In fact, the opposite is true. When we become followers of Jesus the Bible teaches us to give up our freedom and rights.

When you become a new creature in Christ and follow Jesus we’re called to give up our freedom.

In this passage we’re about to read today, in order to encourage the Christians in Corinth, Paul described his entire ministry as one of forfeiting his rights and his freedom for the sake of the Gospel.

Paul described his entire ministry as one of forfeiting his rights and his freedom for the sake of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Paul says, if you want to follow Jesus, overcome the desire for personal freedom. It is the only way, it’s the only way to serve Christ and to spread the gospel.

The implication is clear: in America freedom equals my rights, my choice, what’s best for me. Paul says actually, freedom is the opposite.

Now don't misunderstand me. I am an American and I love our freedom, our freedom is a good thing, our freedom is a very good thing. And if you've ever been to another country that doesn't have the freedoms that we have, then you know how blessed we are. Our freedom in America is a tremendous blessing.

But what I'm here to tell you today, is that personal freedom is not biblical freedom.

POINT:

Because If anybody knew anything about freedom it was Paul.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

Philippians 3:4–6.

“I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in Jerusalem. I studied under Gamaliel and was thoroughly trained in the law of our ancestors

Acts 22:3

Paul was not just a free Jew, but he was born from one of the best tribes, from one of the best traditions, taught by one of the best rabbi’s. He was also born free as a Roman citizen. He was born in one of the provinces of Cilicia and he was free born in every way; in a world that knew a lot of slavery, in the Roman world he was free in every way.

And yet, with all the political, religious, and social freedoms that Paul enjoyed, we learn that when he was on the road to Damascus in Acts 9, he was still in chains. He was a slave to religion, he was a slave to the law, he was a slave to sin, he was a slave to condemnation, he was a slave to wrath, and he was slave to ultimate death.

He did not know that he was a slave. He didn't realize it. He's on the road to Damascus and he has all this freedom but yet he's a slave a doesn't even know it.

And God confronts him and says, “Hey Saul look, if you want freedom, then you need to get off at the next exit.”

And so he encounters Jesus, and his encounter with Jesus is so powerful that it blinds him. It knocks him to the ground. So, he goes to Damascus, he meets a man named Ananias, he's on a street called straight, and he puts his faith in Jesus, he repents of his sins, confesses Him as Lord, he's immersed in water.

Acts 22:16 Ananias says what are you waiting for? Arise, be immersed and wash away your sins. Come get off the road, get off the highway to hell and get on the freeway to salvation!

16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on His name.’

Acts 22:16.

He has all this freedom but yet he's a slave a doesn't even know it. I love what Proverbs says in this regard:

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 14:12

Paul had all this freedom, but he was a slave and didn’t even know it. So when Jesus says Follow Me , He says there’s a better way, there’s freedom in Me that the world can’t offer you, you’re using your freedom the wrong way. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Acts 9:4.

He says follow Me and I will show what it is to have true freedom.

So, that’s what I want to share with you today, about when we follow Jesus we have freedom in Christ and what it looks like. Personal freedom is not biblical freedom. Let’s read together.

READ: 1 Cornthians 9:19-23

THE PROBLEM WITH OUR CONCEPT OF FREEDOM

What our culture teaches us, is that we have freedom from, not freedom for. Freedom from means, no limits. Freedom is the absence of constraint, obstacles, or any interference. I am free when nothing is stopping me from doing what I want. I am free from other people, from society or government dictating how I live, freedom from tradition and authority, from nature and my body, and maybe even from God.

Freedom means breaking the limits. No rules, no boundaries no restrictions. No one tells me what to do. I decide for myself. I’m free. And I’m free to do what’s best for me. What they all have in common is that they conceive of freedom only in negative terms. We bristle at rules, laws, and boundaries because they seem to be the opposite of freedom. This kind of freedom means refusing to live by the rules or prescriptions of anyone else.

FREEDOM IS WHAT’S BEST FOR WE

However, Paul teaches us, that when you follow Jesus, freedom is not what’s best for me.

FREEDOM HAS LIMITS

Because there is no such thing as freedom without some limits. There are the basic limits of nature: I’m not free to live underwater like a fish or fly off buildings like a bird. We are not free to ignore the law of gravity. If my freedom means ignoring gravity, I will quickly find myself unable to act freely at all. Freedom must respect the laws of nature.

And then there are also the limits that come with living with other people: I’m not free to borrow a fire truck to drive my daughter to school, and I’m not free to interpret red lights as green. Doing these things will quickly mean the end of my freedom.

There are laws of nature, and there are human laws. But both put limits on freedom.

True freedom is not living without any constraints, but it is living within the bounds of the rules.

A fish is only free if it is restricted and limited to water. If we take a fish out of water and put it out on the grass, its freedom to move about and live is not enhanced, it’s destroyed. The fish dies if we do not honor the reality of its nature.

Paul teaches us, that when you follow Jesus, freedom is not what’s best for me, freedom is what’s best for We.

Notice how Paul uses his freedom for We. He says:

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible for the Gospel!

1 Corinthians 9:19

Paul put himself at the service of others, in order that God may use him to bring people to Jesus. He allows God to use him as an instrument through which someone might hear the gospel and be saved. He adapts to the people around him, not by compromising the gospel or its message, but to remove any obstacles to their acceptance of the gospel itself.

To the Jews he became like a Jew,. To those under the law he became like one under the law,. 21 To those not having the law he became like one not having the law,. 22 To the weak he became weak. He says I have become all things to all people so that by any means necessary, I might save some for the sake of the gospel!

He used his freedom for We.

And, isn’t that what Jesus did for us? He used His freedom for us, so that we might be saved, to have life and have it more abundantly? Paul tells us:

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;

7 rather, he made himself nothing

by taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name that is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:5–11

What Paul says here is that Jesus, being God Himself, relinquished His rightful position of honor and glory in heaven. He relinquished His position at the right hand of God. The One who spoke and created the heavens and the earth. The One who hung the stars in the sky.

He’s the One that at the sound of His voice nature itself obeys, nature listens and does what He says. Storms cease, winds die down, waters part, demons shutter, water is turned into wine, yeah, we’re talking about that Guy! He bankrupted heaven, came to earth, became like a slave so that you and I could receive salvation.

He left the glories of heaven, to use His freedom for We.

Nowhere in the Bible does freedom mean personal freedom (radical individualism). Nowhere does freedom mean freedom is all about me. That we are to horde the Gospel for ourselves. That idea doesn't come from scripture. Biblical freedom is always relational and tied to love—love of God and love of others.

Look at how the church used their freedom in Acts.

All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Ac 2:44–47.

In Acts chapter 3 they use their freedom to heal a handicapped man and teach him about Jesus.

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Ac 3:6.

In Acts 4 they used their freedom to preach Christ before the Sanhedrin and religious

leaders.

19 But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! 20 As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

Ac 4:19–20.

In Acts 4 they shared their possessions with one another again

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.

Ac 4:32.

In Acts 17 they used their freedom to travel from city to city to teach others about Jesus, even while being persecuted.

When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.

Ac 17:1.

Look how they used their freedom! There are all these examples of the church using their freedom to advance the Gospel. And we got people in America who only want to use their freedom for me, me, me, me! Nowhere, does the Bible teach us that freedom is all about me.

The greatest example of this, I believe, is in 2 Corinthians 11. Listen to the extent Paul uses his freedom.

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

2 Co 11:21–27.

You think Paul had a bad day? A bad month, a bad year? I think I would have tapped out after the first shipwreck. Look how Paul uses his freedom! Look at all the mess he goes through! And you know why he does it? Look at the next verse.

28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.

2 Co 11:28.

It’s not about me! He uses his freedom for We!

He’s not concerned about me, he’s concerned about we! He went through all that trouble for the church!

What if we poured the same amount of energy, that we use to secure our political, social, and economic freedom in America. For our spiritual freedom in Christ? Man, we wouldn’t see a single car on the road on Sunday mornings, our crime rates would be so low, we wouldn’t have as many single mothers, and we wouldn't have people calling good things evil and evil things good, we would be the most unstoppable force on the planet.

When we decide to follow Jesus, we don’t just have freedom for me but freedom for We. We do things that are best for the church and what’s best to reach unbelievers. Not from, but freedom for. And I just love this example set forth by Paul.

FREEDOM IS WHAT’S BEST FOR THEE

Not only should we use our freedom for We, but we should use our freedom for Thee.

God is glorified when we use our freedom for Him.

You know, we look back at all the things Paul went through, being beaten, shipwrecked, naked, thrown in prison. And we wonder why would he put himself through such turmoil? And I believe it's easy to see why Paul would be willing to go through those things.

It’s because of his single minded devotion and dedication towards God. If he’s not doing it for God then it really doesn’t make sense does it? He’s so in love with God that he uses his freedom for God.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Mt 5:16.

Jesus says, we should use our freedom to be salt and light to glorify God in heaven.

On the road to Damascus, Paul was free in every way. Free Jew, born from one of the best tribes, from one of the best traditions, taught by one of the best rabbi’s. He also was born free as a Roman citizen in a world that knew a lot of slavery, Paul was truly free.

It was when he encountered Jesus that he realized he wasn’t free, but he was a slave in every way.

He said:

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Php 3:7–9

He considered all his freedoms garbage for the sake of we and Thee. He endured beatings, prison, being flogged, shipwrecked, stoned, naked, cold, hungry, snake bitten. He did it all for Thee.

Isn't it true, that the people who go the farthest for God, are the people who know how far God has gone for them?

Can you imagine if Paul hadn’t used his freedom for We and Thee? We wouldn’t have half the books in the New Testament. There are only 27 books in the New Testament and Paul wrote 13 of them! Think about that! What would we be missing out on if Paul didn’t use his freedom for Thee?

We have all these people working hard for these companies and businesses, for the latest products and latest new trends. We have cities that don’t sleep, and everybody’s trying to find the new and latest way to make a dollar.

But who's working for Thee? Who’s working for the church? If not us then who? If not now then when?

I hope I have made it clear to see now, this idea of freedom in Christ, is always outward in scripture. It’s always outward and upward. It’s never about me only.

What These two points come down to church, is what Jesus said are the two greatest commands. Love God and love neighbor. What a great picture. Paul used his freedom the live out the greatest commands. God and neighbor. For We and Thee.

My Holmes Road family, today, as we follow Jesus, I'm asking you to use your freedom for the kingdom of God. Will you sacrifice your personal freedom for We and Thee?

I know you can do it because you’re out there making money. I know you’ve got gifts and talents. I’m asking you to use those things for the church and for God’s glory.

CONCLUSION:

This morning, there is freedom in Christ Jesus. If you’re ready to experience that freedom, be called a child of God, why don’t you come as we stand and as we sing.

NOTES:

______________________________________________________________________

We live in a market driven world. What can you do for me, what can I get it of this. How can you serve me? We shop churches.

How are you being called to serve? Leadership shapes our church identity.

How does church gathering time, help us in scattering time, when we're scattered?

Faithfocusedsolutions.com

Faith Coach by Dave and Debbie Hogan. Missionaries in Singapore

True freedom is not the absence of restrictions, but the presence of the right ones.” (Tim Keller, The Reason for God, 47-48)

Give me enough options and I will find the ideal job, the optimal graduate degree, the perfect spouse. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt observes that “choice and its frequent associate freedom are the unquestioned goods of modern life.” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/dont-chain-yourself-to-freedom/

Indulging in immediate desires has a way of quickly making us unfree. As Augustine puts it, we end up serving the things that are meant to serve us.

Rankin Wilbourne and Brian Gregor, The Cross before Me: Reimagining the Way to the Good Life (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2019).

One particularly telling example of this comes from fourteenth century Belgium. Let me tell you the true story of a Duke Raynald III. Raynald lived a life of indulgence and was obese. His Latin nickname was Crassus, which means, “fat.” One day Raynald and his younger brother, Edward, got into a vicious fight and Edward planned and executed a triumphant revolt against Raynald. Edward took his older brother into custody but did not take his life. Edward decided to construct a room around Raynald in the Nieuwkerk Castle and promised his brother that he would enjoy freedom once again when he was able to leave the room. Now for the average Joe this wouldn’t have been much of a challenge, because the room Edward built had a number of windows and a door of near-normal size. Neither the door nor the windows were locked - - they weren’t barricaded. So you’re getting the picture by now: In order to experience his freedom again Raynald needed to lose weight. But his brother Edward was no dummy, because he knew just how to keep Raynald imprisoned. Every day he would send Raynald an assortment of tasty foods. And what took place is just sad: Instead of dieting his way to freedom, Raynald grew more overweight and he stayed in that room for ten years until his brother died. But by that time his health was so awful that he also died within a year. We can say that Raynald III was a prisoner of his own appetite for food.

I ask you. Was Raynald free? He did what he wanted to do. When given the choice, he chose to indulge his appetite at the cost of greater freedom. I think that we can agree that he was enslaved. To whom was he enslaved? – His lesser but larger self. (1) Many people think that freedom is the license to do whatever a person wants, but true freedom is the ability to do what is right. It takes obedience in order to have true freedom.

For a Christian, The love of Christ constrains us.

Timothy Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism (New York: Riverhead Books, 2009), 51.

The cross shows us a freedom that is not self-seeking but is directed outward, toward others.

It is self-denying and self-sacrificial. It does not insist on its own rights. Instead it gives itself for others. That is the heart of true freedom

Rankin Wilbourne and Brian Gregor, The Cross before Me: Reimagining the Way to the Good Life (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2019).

ILLUS.

WHAT FREEDOM IS NOT

What does freedom mean in light of the cross?

Paul's credentials and what he did with his freedom.

FREEDOM IS FOR OTHERS

FREEDOM IS FOR THE CHURCH

FREEDOM IS FOR GOD

INTRO: A. On Romans 14:13-21: Dave Swavely- One time I was playing Uno with 3 of my children. The youngest one, Madison, was only 4 and still learning how to win and lose with grace. So when things were not going her way in the game, she would be tempted to whine and cry. In one game, she was not doing well at all, and she was on the verge of losing it. I, on the other hand, was about to win, and I almost put down a “Draw 4” card which would have put her deeper into the hole and almost certainly sent her over the edge emotionally. But I didn’t want to have to discipline her for throwing a tantrum, and I wanted her to have a good first experience with Uno, so I kept the “Draw 4” card in my hand and picked one off the pile (which disadvantaged me). Then the next time around, the only card I could play was the “Draw 4” card again, but after staring into Madison’s blue eyes and noticing her quivering lip, I kept it in my hand and drew again. This happened a third time and a fourth time, until Madison finally won the game and I was left with a big stack of cards! I don’t like losing any kind of game, even when the winner is so cute, but I thought afterwards what a great illustration this is of how we should treat one another in the body of Christ. We must be willing to give up our rights and our freedoms to keep others from going down the wrong path, when we know they might be headed that way.

Anytime we do what we want in our own eyes death and destruction always follows.

Judges verse and Genesis verse.

Introduction: Two men who lived in a small village got into a terrible dispute that they could not resolve. So they decided to talk to the town sage. (A person of wisdom that is a mentor) The first man went to the sage’s home and told his version of what happened. When he finished, the sage said, "You’re absolutely right." The next night, the second man called on the sage and told his side of the story. The sage responded, "You’re absolutely right." Afterward, the sage’s wife scolded her husband. "Those men told you two different stories and you told them they were absolutely right. That’s impossible—they can’t both be absolutely right." The sage turned to his wife and said, "You’re absolutely right."

Sometimes it seems easier to stay away from conflict than to stand for the truth. (When a person doesn’t stand for truth they become hypocritical.)

The Corinthians’ focus on personal liberty skews the message of Christ, which concentrates on the needs of others (Matt. 22:37–40; cf. Rom. 14:7; 15:2; Gal. 6:2; Phil. 2:1–8): “No one should seek their own good, but the good of others” (10:24).

Preben Vang, 1 Corinthians, ed. Mark L. Strauss, Teach the Text Commentary Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014), 142.

There may be a such thing as a lone Wolf, but there is no such thing as a lone sheep. Sheep don't make it in their own. Fellowship is always contingent on relationships with others.

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