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(Gal 5:13-18) For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. {14} For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” {15} But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! {16} I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. {17} For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. {18} But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

GIVE ME LIBERTY

A.Give me liberty or give me death - Patrick Henry B.Statue of Liberty C.Liberty/freedom is important to us D.Liberty is not a God-given right E.God’s people have been in slavery many times throughout history F.1 Corinthians 7:20-24 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. (21) Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. (22) For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave. (23) You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. (24) Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called. G.God does want us to have liberty (from the old law and from sin)

I. LIBERTY'S CALL - Vs "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty;"

I. LIBERTY'S CALL A.Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; B.Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. (6) And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" (7) Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

II. LIBERTY'S CAUTION - Vs "only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh,"

II. LIBERTY'S CAUTION A.1Pe 2:16 — as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. B.1Co 8:9 — But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. C.2 Peter 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage.

III. LIBERTY'S CONDUCT - Vss "but through love serve one another."

III. LIBERTY'S CONDUCT A."For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." - Vs. 14 B."But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!". - Vs. 15 C."I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." - Vs. 16

III. LIBERTY'S CONDUCT D.Romans 6:17-23 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. (18) And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. (19) I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. (20) For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. (21) What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. (22) But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. (23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

IV. LIBERTY'S CONFLICT - "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish".

IV. LIBERTY'S CONFLICT A.We are to be led by the Spirit. "But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." - Vs. 18 B.Romans 8:5-9 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. (8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

Our ultimate liberty is coming - Romans 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

YOUR LIBERTY? A.Have you answered the call to liberty? B.Have you misused your liberty? C.Have you given in to the flesh?

TONIGHT’S SERMON WE ARE CALLED