Unwrapping Christmas – The Gift of Genuine Freedom

Luke 4:18 (NIV) 

    "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

Galatians 5:1 (NIV) 

    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.

John 8:36 (NIV) 

    So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

How Does God Define Genuine Freedom?

i.                   Freedom from

Luke 15:12-13 (NLT) 

    The younger son told his father, 'I want my share of your estate now, instead of waiting until you die.' So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.

    [13] "A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and took a trip to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money on wild living.

ii.                 Freedom for

Galatians 5:1 (NASB) 

    It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

iii.              Freedom in

Romans 6:14 (Msg) 

    Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.

Romans 8:24 (NLT)

    Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it.

1.  Christ has set us free in our destructive patterns of thinking by renewing us with new truths that set us free

John 8:32 (NLT)

    And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

We must distinguish between the feeling of fear from the decision to fear.

Philip. 4:8-9 (NIV)

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. [9] Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

2.  Christ has set us free for a lifestyle of victory as reflected in our character habits

Romans 6:16 (Msg) 

    You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!

Proverbs 12:24 (Msg) 

    The diligent find freedom in their work; the lazy are oppressed by work.

Sow an action, reap a habit.
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Romans 8:1-3, 12 (NLT) 

    So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death…Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do.

Galatians 5:19-23 (NLT)

    When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will produce these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

    But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control...

3.  Christ has set us free to live fully in God’s potential excellence in all areas of our lives

Renounce spiritual strongholds and tendencies

2 Cor. 10:5-6 (Msg) 

    We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. [6] Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.

Renounce and release past sins that still holding us in bondage

Psalm 32:3-5 (NLT) 

        When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long.  Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.  My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.   Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them.  I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord."  And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.

Don’t be afraid to suffer

Don’t let our comfort zones limit us

Don’t wait to live life until we have a 100% guarantee