LET FREEDOM RULE IN YOUR HEART John 8:32

                  LET FREEDOM RULE YOUR HEART

John 8:32

 

America celebrated 250 years of freedom from Britain this year.  The Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776. However the slave trade begin in a America in 1526 by Spanish slave traders is South Carolina. Another group of African slaves arrive in August 1619 at Point Comfort 

Present day Fort Monroe  in Hampton Virginia. The signing of the Declaration of Independence did not address human slavery in America.

Slavery in the US was constitutionally abolished in the 13th Amendment in December 1865. Black males didn’t get the right to vote until the 15th amendment was added in 1870.

Congress never made holding slaves a crime until 1941. The 14th and the 15th Amendments to the constitution were not enforced until the 1960’s.

Black women did not get the right to vote until the 1950’s

Today in America many immigrants who came looking for the American dream are being forced out. Except for the native American Indians, we are all immigrants.   So whose freedom are we celebrating? 

Dr Martin Luther King had a dream for the future of America. It was doing the Civil Rights movement in 1963. It was about physical freedom and the equality of men and women with equal rights. 

His I Have a Dream statement was made in Washington DC. An excerpt is below

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today. “

We live in a society where freedom is based on whose perception you are looking from. In America today we are not free to voice our opinions without physical reprisals or violence. Your freedom depends on how much money you got, what political party you claim and what connections you have in government. And that changes from day to day,

WHAT GOD SAYS ABOUT FREEDOM

Gal 5:1 For freedom did Christ set us free: stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

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1 Peter 2:16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

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Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end eternal life.

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Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.

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THE WORD OF GOD ABOUT TRUE FREEDOM

I have the Word of God about true freedom. God promised us spiritual freedom over 2000 years ago. It was ratified with the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. It has nothing to do with our physical circumstances but all to do with our spiritual freedom. Physical freedom want get you into heaven but Jesus can.

John 8:32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Jesus is the truth, Freedom of the soul. Jesus came to make us free from the inside out. Jesus came to set us free from sin. In the Bible sin is missing God’s perfect standard of righteousness or breaking His law. Unless we get puffed up

God reminds us; Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.  

God further emphasizes our inability to be perfect in His sight with 

Rom 3:10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;

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It is only through a relationship with Jesus Christ can we be set free from Sin 

John 8:36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

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SLAVERY TO SIN ALWAYS A HUMAN PRODUCT

Slavery to sin has always been a factor in human relationships. It started in the Garden of Eden and continues today.  Sin binds us to a lie; you want die. It blinds us to the truth which is the Word of God and it grinds us into the pit of hell. 

JESUS NEVER CONDEMNS YOU BUT EMPOWERS YOU

Jesus never condemns us for our sins or put us on a guilt trip. Jesus went out His way to meet the Samaritan women at the well.  A woman who had had five husbands and was living with a six man who was not her husband,

Jesus told her he knew who she was and offered her living water, which she accepted and became a missionary in Samaria.

The woman with the issue of blood for 12 years by law was not to be in the crowd, quietly made her way to Jesus and touched the helm of His garment

And was immediately healed. She intended to slip away unnoticed. But 

Jesus recognized the healing power had come out of him. He called her out and she confessed. Jesus said your faith has made you well. She was free from the blood issue and could live a normal life. But she was bound to the blood of Jesus for her spiritual freedom.

Peter who denied Jesus three times the night of His trial, was forgiven and restored with preaching power. Peter converted 5000 souls in his first two sermons.

Jesus came that we might have life abundantly. Jesus did not come to start a religion, but to start a relationship with Him. Religion is something you do out of habit. A relationship is a free gift from Jesus. You did not have the good sense to come to Jesus until you were drawn. 

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him: and I will raise him up in the last day.

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SIN KEEPS YOU IN A WALL OF GUILT

There are some who build  walls around their sins. They get comfortable in their misery, It is their norm. Like Judas He was the keeper of the donations given to Jesus. He regularly stole from the money bag. He sold Jesus out to the Jewish leaders for 30 pieces of silver. He knew he

was wrong and gave the money back to them. BUT, he was too proud to confess his sin to Jesus and accept forgiveness. The tragedy was that forgiveness was his for the asking. He was blinded to Jesus’ words that

He had the power to forgive sin;

Matt 9:6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (then saith he to the sick of the palsy), Arise, and take up thy bed, and go up unto thy house.

Judas had been with Jesus for 3 ½ years. He heard and witnessed this. Blinded by Satan he committed suicide.

Judas didn’t start out to be a thief. His name means “praise be to the Lord”.

Jesus trusted him with the donations. He took a little once, got away with it

And kept doing it and in some way justified it in his mind till it became a habit. He accepted the lie from Satan, you can quit anytime and no one will know,

THE PRICE FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS

Anything worth having has a price. To be any athlete takes years of training. To pursue a professional career takes years of study.

Our spiritual liberty was not cheap. It cost Jesus His life, A man without

Sin received the death on the cross, the cruelest punishment.

On the cross with arms stressed wide , his final words was it is finish, Into

Your hands I commit my spirit. The word finished was a legal business term. The transaction between Jesus and the Father was complete

Jesus paid the price for you sins and mind forever, past present and future,

God chose to forget your sins. He is the only one that can do that

Ps 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

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WHAT DOES SPIRITUAL FREEDOM COST YOU?

Give up self for God 

Give up hate for love

Give up you getting even for God’s vengeance

Give up intolerance for patience

Give up your will for God’s will

Give up religion for relationship

Give up independence for dependence on Jesus

Give up your opinions for the truth

THE BENEFIT OF YOUR SPIRITUAL FREEDEM

The Truth will set you free            John 8:31-32

Freedom from the Law to Grace   John 1:17

Freedom to love and serve         Gal 5:13

Protection over your freedom   1 Cor 6:12

Freedom From Guilt 

Freedom From the Bondage of Sin

Prepared place in heaven        John 14:2

WHAT DOES A LIFE OF TRUE FREEDOM LOOK LIKE?

1. LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOU MIND BODY AND SOUL

2. ACCEPT JESUS AS THE ONE WHO PAID THE PRICE FOR ALL YOUR SINS

3. TRUST GOD FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS AND THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART

4. EXPECT GOD TO GIVE YOU A LIFE OF ABUNDANCE

5. START EACH DAY WITH PRAISE AND WORSHIP

6. LIVE EACH DAY WITH AN ATTITUDE OF GRADITUDE

7. SEE EACH DAY AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OTHERS

8. LIVE EACH DAY IN JESUS JOY, THE WORLD DIDN’T GIVE IT AND ONLY YOU CAN LET IT SLIP AWAY

9. LET THE PEAC

10. E OF GOD RULE YOUR HEART IN MIDST OF YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

11. MAKE ALL YOUR REQUESTS KNOWN TO GOD WITH PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING

12. IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM AND HE WILL DIRECT YOUR PATH

WE ARE FREE THANK GOD ALMIGHT FOR THE GIFT OF FREEDOM 

 

REMADED, RESHAPED, REDEEMED Jeremiah 18:1-10

 REMADED, RESHAPED, REDEEMED

JEREMIAH 18:1-10

Jer 18:1-10

 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words." 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? says the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will repent of the evil that I intended to do to it. 9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will repent of the good which I had intended to do to it.

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THE LORD IS THE POTTER

WE ARE THE CLAY

THE POTTERS WHEEL IS THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE

THE SPOILING IS SIN

THE REMAKING IS THE MERCY OF GOD

YOU HAVE A DIVINE CALL ON YOUR LIFE

V:1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 "Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words

1. AVAILABLE TO ACT ON GOD’S COMMAND

Jerusalem was on a hill and perhaps the potter's house was in the valley.

Jesus stepped down out of heaven, put on humility to come dwell with us.

We have to humble ourselves before the Lord and become His workmanship

2. A VISUAL EXAMPLE OF A SPIRITUAL MESSAGE

Sometimes the simple jobs of life have profound messages. Everything is by God's design and we would do well to pay attention. Sometimes we have to lower ourselves to the ground to look up and realize God’s work

The potter like God himself was a creator of vessels of different sizes, for different purposes and different uses. It was the potters' design to create vessels for general use.

Each of us were made by God for different uses to give Him glory. The work of God requires us to move at His command. We see different things in different places. You never know what God is going to reveal to you from day to day. Keep living. Keep serving and you keep gaining insight into the God of creation.

DIVINE WISDOM, FOLLOWING GOD’S COMMAND

V:3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 

Obedience to God’s guidance and direction is important in our lives.

Sometimes God can show us a way we can get a clearer understanding.

The potter was a busy body doing the work assigned to him. In his creative work, the more vessels he made he  increased his skill of creativity. The more we serve God the more ways we learn to serve. To learn, God sends us to working people, dedicated to the skill.  Like clay, we are in the potter's hand. Our minds, body and souls are individually shaped by God.

GOD HAS A  PLAN, A PURPOSE AND POWER FOR YOUR LIFE

V: 4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 

After God spoke the world into existence, on the sixth day he took the dust of the earth and made man in His own image and likeness. Some where along the way of life sin was introduced and we became spoiled,

Israel was at the time moving away from God in their constant disobedience to God’s commands. The message is a physical example of God's sovereignty, power and control.

Wisdom develops through the problems we face in life.  There are times we fail at what we do, Sometimes failure is not our fault. We are not told what caused the vessel to be spoiled. What we do know is the potter didn’t give up on the clay, he reshaped it. That’s what God does for us. He will never leave us or forsake us 

1. SIN THE REASON FOR A SPOILED LIFE

What causes life to be spoiled is sin. God does not give up on us. It was the potter who selected the clay. It was the potter's plan for the clay. It was the potter's design for the clay, It was to be made into a vessel of use. He restarted the process. Perhaps, the potter inspected the clay and removed the imperfection before the reshaping. In life the reshaping of  ourselves to model the perfect model who is Jesus Christ is the goal.

2. WE SERVE A GOD OF MANY CHANCES

Notice he reshaped it into another vessel. There are cups for drinking, bowls for mixing, plates for eating and pots for cooking. Maybe he changed the design to make a more useful vessel. God gave some for preaching, some for teaching, some for missions, some for encouragement and some for helps. 

Any man in Christ is a new creation. We forget about the old and focus on the new.  The old experiences in life prepared us with a testimony for a new life in Christ. The potter’s wheel represents the circumstances of change,

Growth, development and the hope for a future.

YOU ARE IN GOD’S HANDS TO DO AS HE PLEASES

V:5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? says the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel. 

Learning about the Lord never ceases. God used the example of the potter to show what He would do for Israel and us. We are but clay in God’s hands To do as He pleases

What God does is consistent with His nature. He is sovereign, He has the power to change natures as He wills. Our past does not change His plan and purpose for us. He knows our faults but may not judge them but change our minds to reflect His will

Jeremiah was completely aware of the sins of Israel. And may have been

Concerned as to why God had not corrected the nation. God’s timing is not our timing and His ways or not our ways. We have no ability or wisdom to counsel God. We have to accept His way as the best way. 

GOD’S PLAN INCLUDES YOUR TESTIMONY

V: 7 If at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom, that I will pluck up and break down and destroy it, 8 and if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turns from its evil, I will repent of the evil that I intended to do to it

1. God makes judgement on our sins. And can carry it out at His will. We deserve punishment described in His Word. He has the choice to 

Defer the Judgement depending on our  repentance. 

2 Chron 7:14 if my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2. THE MERCY OF THE POTTER

God has laid out a judgement for our sins. But because of His great

Love and mercy, He has given us a way out. God is not too quick to 

Execute His judgement. He tolerates our sinful behavior because knows what to do to bring us to repentance. 

3. HOPE FOR RESTORATION

God reshaped the clay into a new vessel 

The new vessel is better able to serve because it has a history of failure to add to its testimony. Life experience often change one’s perception on God’s Work

GOD’S PLAN INCLUDES YOUR CHOICE

V:9 And if at any time I declare concerning a nation or a kingdom that I will build and plant it, 10 and if it does evil in my sight, not listening to my voice, then I will repent of the good which I had intended to do to it.

God makes choices concerning us. Salvation or judgement.

We have a choice, to do good or to do evil.  We have the choice to accept God’s will for our life or to reject God and suffer the consequences of hell

Where you spend eternity, heaven or hell depends of you. We can claim

Ignorance or lack of knowledge. God makes Himself plain to all man kind

Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, (even) his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse:

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SUMMARY

Jeremiah served under five Kings. He was directed by God to warm Israel of the impending doom of the city and the people if they did not repent and 

Return to God. The did not want to hear the message. He was threatened and imprisoned. He saw no change in the attitude of the people. Yet he had a message of hope for redemption.

The message from God to Jeremiah through eyes of the potter was that 

God is in control and He will do as He will to punish and restore Israel

The message to all believers is God is in control of your life. The circumstances of your life does not change God’s plan of redemption for you,  GOD GOT THIS.  GOD GOT YOU IN THE PLAMS OF HIS HANDS.

IN ALL YOUR GETTING, GET AN UNDERSTANDING Proverbs 4:5-3

 IN ALL YOUR GETTING, GET AN UNDERSTANDING   Proverbs 4:5-13

THE TEXT

Prov 4:5-13

5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!

Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 

6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;

Love her, and she will watch over you. 

7 "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;

And with all your acquiring, get understanding. 

8 "Prize her, and she will exalt you;

She will honor you if you embrace her. 

9 "She will place on your head a garland of grace;

She will present you with a crown of beauty." 

10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings

And the years of your life will be many. 

11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in upright paths. 

12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

And if you run, you will not stumble. 

13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go.

Guard her, for she is your life. NASU

INTRODUCTION

Life on earth is a puzzle. Your birth is the first piece and your death is the last piece of the puzzle. The events of your life complete the puzzle. 

We never really know a person because we don’t have all the pieces. Some pieces are best kept secret and some pieces we don’t care to share.

At some point a man or woman acquires wisdom an ongoing process which changes and redirects life.

Webster defines wisdom as the ability to discern inner qualities and relationships which includes insight, judgement and knowledge. 

The problem with Webster’s definition is it leaves out God

The Bible defines wisdom as the Word of God in action.  True wisdom comes from the Lord.

WHAT GOD’S SAYS ABOUT WISDOM

Ex 28:3 whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom

Ex 36:2 in whose heart Jehovah had put wisdom

Job 12:13 With (God) is wisdom and might; He hath counsel and understanding.

Job 28:28  Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom

Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! 

1 Cor 3:19  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. 

You never get too much wisdom. It was an ongoing  process

The older you get the more qualified you are to give wisdom.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE WORLD TODAY

What is wrong with the world today is a lack of Godly wisdom. From the leaders down to the basic family unit is a lack of wisdom. It is not passed down or emphasized from generation to generation. 

This text emphasizes  the importance of passing  wisdom from family members. Proverbs 4 was written by King Solomon. The importance of wisdom was passed down to him by King David.

ACQUIRING WISDOM IS UP TO YOU

4:5 Acquire wisdom! Acquire understanding!

Do not forget nor turn away from the words of my mouth. 

The Hebrew word for acquire is qunah which means to  buy or purchase.

Wisdom has a cost. It requires active participation. The purchase price is 

You obedience, your continued study of the Word 

Knowledge is information. True knowledge is the Word of God. Wisdom is 

The strength to put the Word in action in your life. Wisdom is living out the Word.

Forget not  a voluntary thing of the mind and soul. It is not a physical thing.

It is the action of the one who pursues wisdom. The promise of salvation is keeping memory of what we have received

1 Cor 15:2 by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain.

WISDOM IS YOUR GUARDIAN

4:6 "Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;

Love her, and she will watch over you. 

There are benefits to wisdom; 

Never leave wisdom, she will guard you 

Develop a love for wisdom , she will watch you 

This implies that you live in danger,

You need someone to guard you in dangerous situations

You need someone to have a watchful eye on you

You need someone bigger than all the world together; Jesus

The watch anticipated danger

The guard protects you from danger

RECOGNIZING THAT YOU NEED WISDOM  GOD’S GRACE

V:7 "The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom;

And with all your acquiring, get understanding. 

The beginning of Wisdom is the action to obtain wisdom

It is the recognition that wisdom is beneficial

In life we acquire a lot of stuff. I have a house full of stuff.

But it has no way to protect or guard  me.

The best thing I can do in life is get an understanding of the Word of God and understand the benefits of wisdom

I need actual real life examples of wisdom in action. These examples were handed down to Solomom from his father David. He was teaching the principles to his children.

Understanding the Word takes active Bible Study and meditation 

Understanding wisdom requires living out the Word in obedience.

Make wisdom your business. It is first place and it is everything

Wisdom is the principle thing. Worldly knowledge is of no benefit,

It can only mislead you

Pursue wisdom above all other

1. What we lose is transitory, what we gain is durable

2. What we lose is hollow and empty. What we gain is full and substantial 

3. What we lose is vain, what we gain is profitable

4. What we lose is a matter of danger, what we gain is safety and security

THE PRIZE OF WISDOM

V:8 "Prize her, and she will exalt you;

She will honor you if you embrace her. 

The Word of God is Christ. If Christ is lifted up you will be lifted up

Humble yourself before Christ. Claim him as Lord and Savior.

The Lord blesses those who are obedient to His Word

Wisdom is a prize that many fail to realize. It is a prize that gives joy to

Being with God and God guiding them through life's situations

Honor comes to those who wisely follow the Lord guidance 

THE BEAUTY OF WISDOM

V:9 "She will place on your head a garland of grace;

She will present you with a crown of beauty." 

Wisdom is the principle thing. Everything else is of little value

Wisdom is the favor of God that blesses lives. Status, position,

Power and possession fail at some point and are useless in troubled situations.

Daniel brought captive to Babylon and was chosen to eat from the King’s

Table, that which was sacrificed to idol gods. He refused to eat but chose

Vegetables and water as his diet, After years of training in the kings college was found ten times smarter than the rest who ate from the kings table 

Because of his obedience to God’s commands in captivity, he was placed in High position in Babylon.  Daniel chose wisdom over substance. 

He chose obedience in the face of danger. He chose to trust God, when all the others chose to trust the worldly king.

LISTEN TO THE WISDOM OF YOUR MENTORS

V:10 Hear, my son, and accept my sayings

And the years of your life will be many. 

The wisdom of God adds years to your life.

It is the job of the father to give wise advice to the children.

Eph 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 

2 Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise),3 that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

The addition of years are years of well living, comfortable blessed living

THE WORD OF GOD IS YOUR DIRECTOR

V:11 I have directed you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in upright paths. 

Wisdom is practical understanding of how to live a life of righteousness and moral integrity. The fathers words of wisdom may not be heeded at first, but they take root. As one matures, his words become valuable and sound for 

Situations to come.

THE SURE STEPS OF THE WISE

12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

And if you run, you will not stumble. 

The wise walk the path of Christ. It is a narrow road that is already straight. 

Nothing can correct the steps of Christ. 

When we run for Christ the ups and downs of the road are smooth by the confidence we have in Christ leadership

HOLD FAST THE COMMANDS OF GOD

13 Take hold of instruction; do not let go.

Guard her, for she is your life. 

The Bible is full of God’s instructions for right living. The job of the believer is to pursue a right understanding for right living. Hold on to God’s  commands and let nothing cause you to stray, Wisdom is your life

SUMMARY

You gain wisdom and understanding from Proverbs 4:5-13, consider these key insights:

• Seek wisdom diligently and prioritize it above all else.

• Embrace understanding as a valuable treasure in your life.

• Guard your heart, as it influences your thoughts and actions.

• Follow the path of righteousness to avoid pitfalls and dangers.

• Listen to the teachings of your parents and mentors for guidance.

• Keep your focus on the straight path to ensure a successful journey.