Free as a Bird
The other morning, I heard a bird singing, and it sounded like it was shouting, “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” When you think about freedom, what do you think about? A bird soaring above mountain peaks, without a care in the world? Being independently wealthy? Walking along a beach, building sand castles and collecting seashells?
Jesus came to give us freedom – the kind of freedom that can’t be taken away, can’t be earned, and lasts for eternity.
Freedom for Brokenhearted
Isaiah 61:1 (NASB)
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
This life has a way of tearing us down. People have a way of breaking our hearts. Circumstances have a way of making us prisoners. Jesus came to set us free from all of this. We might still have the problems, but He shows us how we don’t have to be controlled by them. We can rise above our problems and soar on the wings of freedom that He gives us.
We were called to be different; we were not called to stay in our captivity to sin, but to be free from sin. Sin is our taskmaster. It makes us do things we don’t want to do, and it uses that to control us.
We need to stand up and speak to the sin that is controlling us, “I am a child of God. Jesus paid the price, He has made the way, and He has set me free. I will walk in that freedom!”
Untangled Freedom
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB)
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Have you ever gotten tangled up with something – maybe a net, a rope, or even a piece of clothing? That’s what sin does to us. We think we are going along great, no problems at all, then all of a sudden, we fall flat on our faces. Sin will blind us to what is really happening in our lives. I have seen people who thought that they had it all. They had a good job, a good family, and their own secret sins that no one knew about. Then, all of a sudden, it all came to light, and they wound up losing everything. The sin that they thought was bringing them freedom was actually getting them tangled up. Their downfall was inevitable.
Freedom From Sin
Galatians 5:1, 13 (NASB)
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.
13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Some people think that freedom means that they can do anything that they want – including sinning. Unfortunately, that only makes them slaves to the thing that they thought was bringing them freedom.
Sin is slavery.
1 Peter 2:15-16 (NASB)
15 For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.
16 Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.
We should never use “freedom” as an excuse to do whatever we want. God has called us to holiness, not bondage to sin: free from sin, not free to sin.
Freedom from Selfishness
1 Corinthians 10:28-29 (NASB)
28 But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience sake;
29 I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s; for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?
There are times when what I do could cause someone else to stumble or not understand. If what I do becomes a problem for someone else, I should be willing to change what I do, for their sake. Christian love always puts others first, not ourselves. We hear some people ask why someone else should dictate whether they can do something, just because the other person thinks that they shouldn’t do it. Why not turn that around, and ask ourselves, “What can I do to help my neighbor/friend/relative get closer to God?” If avoiding movies, certain foods, or other things will help, those would be small sacrifices viewed in the eyes of eternity.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NASB)
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Eternity is forever. Souls are forever. Everything we do should be for the sake of eternal souls, our own and everyone else we can reach.
1 Corinthians 10:30-33 (NASB)
30 If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?
31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
32 Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;
33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.
Freedom For Others
2 Peter 2:18-19 (NASB)
18 For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error,
19 promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.
Jesus said in John 8:44 that the devil “is a liar and the father of lies.” Satan hates all of us, because he hates God, and we were made in the image of God. He will promise things that sound good and look good, but they are actually leading to our slavery and eternal death.
Luke 16:13 (NASB)
13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
Jesus tells us that we have to pick a side; we can’t stay in the middle. We have to either live completely for Jesus or not. If we think that we can just be a little good, do good deeds now and then, and “slide through” life, we are mistaken.
Jude 1:22-23 (NASB)
22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting;
23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
Are we willing to do what it takes to save others from the very real fire that is waiting for everyone, unless we repent? Hell is real; what are we going to do about that?
Freedom to be On Fire
In Revelation, Jesus tells the church in Laodicea to get in or get out; you can’t “ride the fence.”
Revelation 3:15-16 (NASB)
15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.
True freedom is living for Jesus, no matter the temptations or what others might think.
John 8:34-36 (NASB)
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin.
35 “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever.
36 “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.
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