False Freedom Sunday PM 1460

I. Let My People Go!

A. For over 400 years Israel had been slaves in Egypt.

1. They were told where to live, where to work, what to do.

2. Their children could be taken from them & sold or given away.

3. Their lives could be snuffed out on a whim. They could be beaten or jailed w/out trial. They had nothing. Were nothing.

4. They cried for freedom. ...dreamed of freedom. ... prayed for freedom.

5. And God delivered them! Who could forget?

B. God delivered them from slavery to become a great nation…

1. But it was a long journey and not a short trip.

2. The promised land was not in sight, & the trip was a struggle.

3. Num. 11:5 -- "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers & the melons & the leeks & the onions & the garlic."

a. They were getting free food in the wilderness, too. But no variety.

b. They remembered the fish, etc., but forgot that it came with a price: slavery!

c. Too many are willing to become slaves for a pitifully small pleasure

4. Paul's admonition could have been Moses':

Gal. 5:1 -- "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

II. Give Me Liberty!

A. Freedom is one of the most sought-after ideals in human history.

1. Man's search for freedom has taken him into the fiercest of protests, struggles, revolutions, civil wars -- even world wars!

2. Today, in the midst of free societies, many continue to fight for what they perceive as ever greater freedoms.

B. And freedom is one of the greatest blessings God gives us.

1. Jn. 8:32 -- "You will know the truth, & the truth will make you free."

2. Jn. 8:36 -- "So if the son makes you free, you will be free indeed."

3. Rom. 8:2 -- "For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."

4. Gal. 5:1 -- "It was fro freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."

5. Gal. 5:13 -- "For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh…"

6. I Pet. 2:16 -- "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God."

7. 2 Pet. 2:17-19 -- "These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. ¹⁸For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, ¹⁹promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."

"Promising freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption."

1. You see them all the time. People struggling financially, but they promise to make you rich…

2. "Be free, man. Don't let anyone tell you what to do."

3. Many consider it freedom to drink alcohol 'til it gets its grip on you.

a. Then you have no choice. You're not free not to drink.

b. And the price you pay is nothing less than slavery.

c. "for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."

4. Many consider it freedom to take drugs, to feel the ecstasy!

a. We see high profile entertainers grappling with severe addiction; some die; but their appeal is: "Be free. Come with me."

b. They are enslaved, offering you freedom.

c. "for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."

5. The sexual revolution popularized it; now society endorses it. "Be free to have all the sex you want, any way you want."

a. Slavery was inevitable. Venereal diseases are rampant. AIDS is a worldwide disaster. Sexual addictions.

b. Sexual slavery. They can't choose to not buy the pornography, or not engage in illicit sex, or not sexually abuse children…

c. "for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."

6. "Be free to be all you can be"

a. And we become enslaved to fads & fashions -- and things like bulimia and anorexia enslave us.

b. "Be free. Be a man. Smoke this." And it enslaves. & kills.

c. "for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved."

7. The devil offers freedom. But the chains are hidden.

D. "These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved." (2 Pet. 2:17)

1. Faith is only as good as its object. Always take a good look at who is promising you freedom!

a. A pagan can have great faith in his idol, but the idol can do nothing for him.

b. On the other hand, God always keeps His promises.

c. I K. 8:56 -- "There hath not failed one word of all His good promise."

2. The devil's agents offer you freedom, but they are springs w/o water.

a. A well w/o water is a dry well.

b. But a spring w/o water ceases to exist.

3. … they are mists driven by a storm.

a. Jude 12 says they are "clouds without water"

b. How often have we been disappointed when we need rain and the clouds come and go with dropping any?

c. So is the promise of all who peddle freedom in the guise of license to do what you please.

III. Trust God or Trust the Devil

A. Who do you trust to keep promises? Satan? or God?

B. Many think that believing and serving God is restrictive and causes us to lose our freedom. And that He wants to keep us from having any fun! Nothing could be further from the truth.

1. Psa. 34:10 -- "they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing."

2. Psa. 84:11 -- "For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace & glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly."

3. James 1:17 -- "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,

C. Even the commandments that many find so restrictive actually give us freedom. e.g.

1. "You shall have no other gods before Me." "… not make for yourself an idol"

a. Frees us from false gods who can do us no good… from illusions and deceptions… from fear and hopelessness...

2. "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain."

a. Frees us from being two-faced. … from being dishonest and untrustworthy. Frees us to be at peace with God and men.

3. "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

a. Frees us to worship. ...the freedom of a day of rest. Leaves us free to be renewed ...to be grateful… to be right with God.

4. "Honor your father and your mother,"

a. Frees us to be loving. to have wonderful family relations. Frees us to live long on the earth. Frees us to receive God's blessing.

5. "You shall not murder."

a. Gives freedom to live together in harmony… feel safe…

6. "You shall not commit adultery."

a. Frees us to be secure in our marriage… from the hurts & pains that come from unfaithfulness… frees us from broken homes….

7. "You shall not steal."

a. Frees us from loss… from constant vigilance… from fear...

8. "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

a. Frees us from lies & deceptions, false accusations, court dates & lawyer fees… from the need of fences & walls...

9. "You shall not covet your neighbor's house…"

a. frees us from greed…selfishness & all the pains accompanying

b. Along with the other freedoms, they all free us from the wrath of God!

Yes, there is a price to pay for our freedoms.

1. I Pet. 2:16 -- "Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God."

2. We must be bondslaves of God. But we will be slaves of God or the devil. It's our choice.

3. It's true in every arena.

a. The sailor who would know the freedom of the open sea must be a slave of the compass.

b. The one who would know the freedom of being a top athlete must be a slave to training, to discipline and regimen.

c. The one who would have the deep and wonderful blessings of God, and eternal life, must be a slave of righteousness.

4. Rom. 6:13 -- "do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, & your members as instruments of righteousness to God."

a. 6:16 -- "Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?"

b. 6:20 -- "For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness."

1] All the good things you do don't count…

E. When you choose your freedoms, you choose your master.

Choose God. Choose righteousness. & He will make you master of much.

We hope that by visiting this website, you have been blessed.

Sid Womack, webmaster