Our Independence Day

July 2, 2006

Pastor Brad Dyrness
Sparks Nazarene Church

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.   

 2 Corinthians 3:17 

It is God’s plan that we walk free:

Free from …

Freedom isn’t a reality for many people -- They are captive…

Why?

1.     Ignorance: Rom 6:16 

They either don't know that they are captive

They don’t know that the door is unlocked. 

2.      Laziness keeps us where we are.  Proverbs 12:24 ~  Proverbs 26:15

3.      Weakness prevents us from overcoming.  Judges 6:15 ~ Nehemiah 6:9 ~ Matthew 26:41 ~ Romans 6:19 

4.      Legalism keeps us trapped by the enemy.   Galatians 2:4 

Legalism is man's agenda vs. God's agenda.

We become bound by things that don’t matter to God – Outward appearances.  God looks at the heart.

So what?

1.  We need to educate our ignorance.

2.     It’s time to get up off our duff and begin.

3.     Recognize that our weakness is the door God uses to enter in with His power.

Psalm 72:13 ~  Isaiah 40:29 ~ Romans Rom 8:26  ~  2 Corinthians 12:9 

4.     Obey God not man -- Legalism is putting rules above God and above human needs.

“Your’e gonna serve somebody” James Taylor

Freedom is Freedom for something.

Romans 6:18 ~ Romans 6:22

Galatians 5:1  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.