Topic: Freedom. Category: Know God> Experience God>
Bible Scriptures: 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and John 17:15-26.
Listen to the full sermon.
Throughout history freedom has been the cry of both the oppressed and the oppressor. In the name of freedom battles have been fought and lives have been lost. Yet freedom, true freedom, is not something we can realise ourselves or obtain by effort.
Human perception and thinking lies in bondage and oppression of self and/or others. It is the human experience that consists of the war within. That is consciously or sub consciously being bound up in the destructive debilitating forces of self.
Freedom, true freedom is found in God. True freedom comes when we see God and self through His eyes of truth. It is His gift of being able to receive and respond to His goodness. Living in the freedom to be loved unconditionally by Him and love others unconditionally. To be able to receive His undeserved blessing and bless others undeservedly.
To be free of the heart that turns in on itself. Free from the self imposed legalism and self condemnation.
Where we find ourself in the personal place of God’s love story. The place that He has created for us. Being safe and secure in our true identity, which is only found in God.
Where we live each day, knowing and experiencing His love, truth and power. No matter where we are at in this life journey, each day is a new day to know and experience God more.
Freedom, true freedom is a gift from God and only possible where His Spirit is.
the spirit of freedom
So today, as we journey through the scriptures, let us surrender all our thoughts and distractions, knowledge and experiences, and hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying today.
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
The Lord who is the Spirit, is the Eternal One who commanded light out of the darkness. He is the Spirit of the Lord, the Spirit of the living God. The Father, the Son who is the Lord and the Spirit are one. Wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
At that moment when a heart turns to Jesus, there is the Spirit of the Lord. Illuminating and revealing the glory of God in Jesus and the freedom, true freedom we have in Him.
It is the Spirit of God who makes known to hearts that are open, God’s free gift of Himself to us. That is everything of who He is and what He has done and will do.
The freedom that His gift of salvation brings in this life and the next, is ultimately realised in the personal, intimate gift of God Himself. His gift of love unconditional, life eternal and freedom incomprehensible.
It is the good pleasure and perfect will of God to journey together in harmony and fellowship with Him. God’s heart desire is for each one to be truly free and say yes to being part of His eternal love story.
God brings freedom
God’s love is so great that He has done everything and given everything of Himself to bring true freedom into the hearts and minds of all who are willing to receive. He continually reveals Himself in ways that each individual and people group would understand. His ultimate expression was in that moment in history, when God became human born of the Spirit. He grew to be a man and suffered the most brutal torture and human death at the hands of humanity. Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven. God pours out His Spirit and continually pursues humanity in love.
True freedom can only be realised in a covenant relationship with the living God. In saying yes to Jesus, we say yes to God and receive His Spirit within.
God did all this because He so loves and knows what we need to be able to receive and believe in Him to be truly free.
True freedom is being at home with the living God. No longer a slave to condemnation, guilt and shame, free to come to God at anytime. Where we can behold the glory of the Lord that He has revealed to us in Jesus. Living in the reality of the freedom of having an intimate relationship with the living God, regardless of the circumstances of this life.
personal letter of Jesus
At the beginning of this letter written by the Apostle Paul and co ministry worker his beloved Timothy, they share their story within God’s story to the recipients. They open up their hearts and testify that in their suffering, God is with them and sustains them. They do not diminish the suffering they have endured, but instead testify that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Their sufficiency is from God, even in their darkest of times.
They state to the recipients of the letter, that they too are a personal letter of Jesus. A letter written not with the ink of this world, but by the Spirit of the living God. A personal letter or message of Jesus, that Jesus has written on their hearts in His love, truth and power. Not only are they part of God’s story, but they are a part of each other’s story with God. Each one equal in status and value. A personal love letter of the living God.
This is a beautiful expression of the intimacy and assurance that we all have with God in Jesus. Where each one has a special place in God’s love story and is His personal letter of love.
The Spirit of God testifies of everything of who God is, what He has done and will do. The Spirit of the Lord that brings true freedom, is the same Spirit who walks along side us and will never leave us. The same Spirit who reveals the glory of God in Jesus.
the spirit of freedom testifies
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
We can behold His glory. Where we can receive His deliverance and comfort even in the most challenging of circumstances. To be able to see the glory of the Lord, regardless of the circumstances is true freedom.
The Spirit of the Lord not only brings true freedom but transformation.
Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God and it is His image that we are transformed into. It is the Spirit of the Lord that transforms. This transformation is internal. The Spirit of the Lord reveals the invaluable treasure of the divine dwelling within us.
The Spirit of God empowers us to be able to identify with Jesus, as He identified with us. Jesus shares His divine image, His glory with us, each and every day. That is our identity and reality.
Where we live in the reality of God’s glory that is revealed in Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection. As the Spirit of the Lord dwells within our mortal bodies.
From glory to glory is not a linear progression. It is an exchange. Just as Jesus took our death and gives us His life, He took our shame and gives us His glory. It is God who imparts His abiding, eternal glory into us. A glory that will never be taken away.
True freedom is a gift from God and only possible where His Spirit is. The Spirit of the Lord is being poured out continually, for us to drink freely the water of the divine. To know and experience God more and more.
water of the divine
Let us listen to some intimate moments with the Living God. Starting with Jesus’ prayer for His disciples before He sacrificed His life.
John 17:15-26
I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.
“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”
the freedom to testify
One of Jesus’ disciples this day testifies.
I hear the whispers of love. ‘Come away with Me my fair one, my beloved.’ Take me there Father God to the garden of Your heart. To that secret place so deep and intimate.
‘Here is my garden, what do you see?’ Father, help me to see!
There is a grand and beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush, green vegetation. Between the greenery I see water glistening in the beams of light. I hear the birdsong breaking through the silence. It is melodic and serene. The flowers, the valleys, the mountains, are all so picturesque.
I hear You say, ‘What is my garden to you? Father, it is a sanctuary of rest, peace, joy, delight, life and Your presence. ‘I have planted My beautiful garden in your heart. My garden is for everybody. My desire is to plant My garden in all people’s hearts to enjoy and delight in.’
Father, you are the garden and you plant and grow beautiful, precious things for us to cherish in our hearts. You bring special moments full of awe and wonder. And form flowers and create beauty out of both the soft and hard places. You write Your name in our hearts.
Father may I cherish in my heart your precious garden, that is so rich with Your presence. Full of your love, joy, and peace, your beauty, delight and goodness.
I hear You say, ‘It is done.’ Father, righteous Father, I have to live from that place, in each and every moment. Through the highs and lows, the storms and fair weather, no matter the circumstance, I know You are there.
God’s heart
Oh, how committed You are to us, walking with us through the seasons of this life. As we journey together in a royal relationship of divine romance.
‘You are after my own heart, my fair one, my beloved. Remember the people and tell their story, testify of Me. I have written My heart in Your heart. Reveal My heart.’
Thank you Father for the amazing privilege and honour of bringing people to Your heart. May all Your children know and experience Your love, truth and power, so they can be truly free. Oh, that the world may know You and Jesus whom you have sent.
For I am truly blessed. I have seen Your glory Father. I have touched Your holiness, known Your love and experienced Your gentleness. Father, I thank you. I testify of Your goodness, for I have touched the face of God.
Therefore where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is true freedom.
Sermon categories: son of man> love of God> hope and healing> know God> truth> power> end times> experience God> life> success in life> kingdom>
Connect with us, pray for our projects, subscribe to our free podcasts, sermons and videos, follow us on facebook and our #ineverystep magazine. Together we share the good news with the world.