{"id":35,"date":"2009-02-23T16:26:12","date_gmt":"2009-02-23T16:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=35"},"modified":"2009-08-03T14:39:13","modified_gmt":"2009-08-03T14:39:13","slug":"sunday-february-22-2009","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=35","title":{"rendered":"Sunday, February 22, 2009: Flying Free with Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flying Free with Jesus<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Galatians 5:7-26<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Introduction\u201d\u201d<\/span><\/em>How many of you feel like this eagle in your day-to-day life? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u201d\u2122s hard to soar with eagles when you\u201d\u2122re surrounded by a bunch of turkeys.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Most days, do you feel like you live in the freedom you were created to experience? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Do you believe that in Jesus you CAN spiritually soar freely with Him in this life<\/span><\/span><\/em>?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cBelieving grace is one thing. <\/span>Living it is another\u201d (Swindoll).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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READ Galatians 5:1-26<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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3<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong> aspects<\/span><\/strong> of flying free with Jesus:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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1. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Stay on the course of freedom in Christ. <\/span><\/em><\/strong>(7-12)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Freed from:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

a) <\/span><\/span><\/span>God\u201d\u2122s Wrath<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 8:1\u201d\u201d\u201cThere is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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b) <\/span><\/span><\/span>Dominion of Satan<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Colossians 1:13\u201d\u201d\u201cHe has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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c) <\/span><\/span><\/span>Tyranny of Other\u201d\u2122s Expectations <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Colossians 2:16, 20-23\u201d\u201d\u201cSo let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths . . . if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations\u201d\u201d\u201d\u02dcDo not touch, do not taste, do not handle,\u201d\u2122 which all concern things which perish with the using\u201d\u201daccording to the commandments and doctrines of men? <\/span>These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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d) <\/span><\/span><\/span>Power of Sin<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 6:22\u201d\u201d\u201cBut now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Swindoll: <\/span>\u201cGod\u201d\u2122s goal for our freedom is to live as the redeemed people we are. <\/span>It\u201d\u2122s as if He has released us from the prison of sin and now we are free\u201d\u201dfree not to do those things that would put us back in prison, but free to live a meaningful life, a beautiful life\u201d (109).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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2. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Enjoy your freedom in holiness by loving others<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. (13-15)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cdon\u201d\u2122t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201copportunity\u201d<\/span><\/strong>\u201d\u201d\u201cplace from which an offensive is launched or base of operations\u201d (Stott).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Swindoll: <\/span>\u201cGod\u201d\u2122s idea of freedom and our human idea of freedom don\u201d\u2122t necessarily match. <\/span>Ours is kind of na\u00c3\u00afve\u201d\u201dwe see freedom as a casting off of restrictions, with no particular goal in mind\u201d (108).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>And that perspective usually ends up taking us into all sorts of selfish thoughts and behavior that we think will fulfill us. <\/span>But, in reality, that<\/em> kind of \u201cfreedom\u201d just lands us back in the slammer of sin, imprisoned by our own selfishness, not free at all.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cChristian liberty is freedom from sin, not liberty to sin.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Verse 15\u201d\u201d2 snakes illustration<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 13:8-10\u201d\u201d\u201cDon\u201d\u2122t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. <\/span>When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. <\/span>The law code\u201d\u201ddon\u201d\u2122t sleep with another person\u201d\u2122s spouse, don\u201d\u2122t take someone\u201d\u2122s life, don\u201d\u2122t take what isn\u201d\u2122t yours, don\u201d\u2122t always be wanting what you don\u201d\u2122t have, and any other \u201cdon\u201d\u2122t\u201d you can think of\u201d\u201dfinally adds up to this: <\/span>Love other people as well as you do yourself. <\/span>You can\u201d\u2122t go wrong when you love others. <\/span>When you add everything up in the law code, the sum total is love.\u201d (The Message)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Matthew 22:36-40\u201d\u201d\u201cTeacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law? <\/span>Jesus said to him, \u201d\u02dcYou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. <\/span>This is the first and great commandment. <\/span>And the second is like it: <\/span>\u201d\u02dcYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d\u2122 <\/span>On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Loving God and loving others IS Holiness.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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1 John 3:16\u201d\u201d\u201cThis is how we\u201d\u2122ve come to understand and experience love: <\/span>Christ sacrificed his life for us. <\/span>This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves.\u201d (The Message)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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So, how<\/span><\/strong> can we ever love others like God loved us through Jesus<\/em>? <\/span>How can me and you live with that holy love<\/em>? <\/span>HOW can we fly with Jesus in love?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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3. <\/span><\/span><\/span>Love others with the Holy Spirit\u201d\u2122s help<\/span><\/em><\/strong>. (16-26)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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There is an Internal War for Love<\/span><\/span><\/strong> (16-18)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Romans 7:18-19, 24-25\u201d\u201d\u201cI realize I don\u201d\u2122t have what it takes. <\/span>I can will it, but I can\u201d\u2122t do it. <\/span>I decide to do good, but I don\u201d\u2122t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway . . . The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. <\/span>I truly delight in God\u201d\u2122s commands, but it\u201d\u2122s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. <\/span>Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. <\/span>I\u201d\u2122ve tried everything and nothing helps. <\/span>I\u201d\u2122m at the end of my rope. <\/span>Is there no one who can do anything for me? <\/span>Isn\u201d\u2122t that the real question? <\/span>The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. <\/span>He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

(The Message).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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There is an Internal Person of Love<\/span><\/span><\/strong> (24-26)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His name is Jesus, living in His people by His Spirit!<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Romans 5:20-6:11, 15-19 [READ from NLT]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2 Corinthians 3:17-18\u201d\u201d\u201cNow the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. <\/span>And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. <\/span>And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.\u201d (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Here\u201d\u2122s an email from a friend of mine in response to the last couple of weeks sermons\u201d\u201d\u201cWould you\/he agree that there are times where legalistic rules have there place? <\/span>Say for instance, someone who has gone too far with alcohol? <\/span>Wouldn\u201d\u2122t they need to implement some rules and boundaries in their life to bring that back under control. <\/span>Or more personally, someone who is given to overeating. <\/span>Shouldn\u201d\u2122t I give myself some boundaries (a diet) in this area to bring my sinful behavior back in line? <\/span>This has always been a struggle for me. <\/span>Do I need to go on a diet and try to control this area with God\u201d\u2122s help or should I continue on and pray and ask God to change my heart in this area and let him do a miraculous work in me.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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In dependence on the Holy Spirit<\/span><\/em>, we must actively draw boundaries and avoid sin. <\/span>BUT, the lines the Holy Spirit draws for me in my life aren\u201d\u2122t necessarily the lines He\u201d\u2122ll draw for you\u201d\u201dthere is NO place for \u201clegalistic rules\u201d that I make and apply to everyone else and then judge them by my rules\/restrictions. <\/span>Of course, God has drawn lines that are the same for us all\u201d\u201dthe Word of God that reveals God\u201d\u2122s design and standards for our lives. <\/span>But as we seek to please Him, my day-to-day living will differ from yours. <\/span>(Use example of gluttony and my diet\/exercise vs. Melessia\u201d\u2122s). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Ephesians 4:17-24 [READ from NLT]<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Philippians 2:12-13\u201d\u201d\u201c . . . you must be even more careful to put into action God\u201d\u2122s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. <\/span>For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.\u201d (NLT)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

THAT is what is means to fly free with Jesus!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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This clearly involves decisions we make<\/span>, in faith trusting Jesus for the power<\/em> to do what we\u201d\u2122ve committed to do (or not to do). <\/span>Our motivation is <\/em>gratitude and love and surrender to God for His grace in Jesus, and out of love for others<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Conclusion\u201d\u201d<\/span><\/em>\u201cHe doesn\u201d\u2122t get tired out, doesn\u201d\u2122t pause to catch his breath. <\/span>And he knows everything, inside and out. <\/span>He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts. <\/span>For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. <\/span>But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. <\/span>They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don\u201d\u2122t get tired, they walk and don\u201d\u2122t lag behind\u201d (Isaiah 40:29-31, The Message).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Flying Free with Jesus Galatians 5:7-26 Introduction\u201d\u201dHow many of you feel like this eagle in your day-to-day life? \u201cIt\u201d\u2122s hard to soar with eagles when you\u201d\u2122re surrounded by a bunch of turkeys.\u201d Most days, do you feel like you live … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-35","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-messages"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":258,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35\/revisions\/258"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}