Freedom?

Galatians 5.1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you”. (Romans 8:11 NLT)  

If “the Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you” (Romans 8.11) - what difference does it make?

“Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life.” Romans 8:5-7 The Message

“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death”. (Romans 8:1 MSG)

2 Corinthians 10. 3-5 “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

Everything begins with a thought… Everything begins with a thought…. “But what comes out of the mouth gets its start in the heart.” Matthew 15.18

Freedom from sin – What’s holding you back? “I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up.” Romans 7.18-21 Freedom from sin – What’s holding you back?

A stronghold….. “A mind-set impregnated with hopelessness that causes us to accept as unchangeable situations that we know are contrary to the will of God”. - Ed Silvoso

Freedom from regret and disappointment “It’s not fair….” “God doesn’t really love me”

John 10.10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”.

Freedom from hurts and wounds

Freedom from lies that shape us

Speak out to God (and a friend maybe) and confess the wrong stuff that you know is there… Tell God you want to think differently ie repent Forgive anyone that has affected you, or hurt you in that area…. Let God off the hook if you need to Identify the lies that are feeding your thinking Tell God you don’t want to agree with that lie anymore and break it’s power off yourself… Ask God to reveal to you the truth that He wants you to know instead…..and agree with that instead…

Know and accept forgiveness for the past and the present Forgive others – don’t live in the prison of unforgiveness and resentment Ask for revelation on the lies or lenses that you have grown up with Live in the present moment not fearing past or future “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom” (2 Cor 3.17-18)

The resurrection power of the Spirit to transform..   “Continuous, low lying black cloud”? or “open, spacious free life”? (Romans 8)

Arrive? Leave? Tired Peaceful Doubting Assured Angry Energised Pained Deeper faith Fearful Belonging Overwhelmed Courageous Addicted Purposed Anticipating Generous Guilty Graced Numb Joyful Being with Jesus….

“With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death”. Romans 8.1 The Message