Time for a Great Quote (Freedom)

On this fourth of July, friends, I thought it might be interesting to notice a few quotes on freedom — and respond to them from the Scriptures.  Albert Camus, the existentialist philosopher who wrote “The Plague,” said, “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.”  I believe that only Jesus Christ can make us free.  And there is no such thing as absolute freedom.  We come into this world as slaves of sin and worshipers of self.  However, I do believe that soon the very existence of Christians in this world will be seen as an act of rebellion!

George Orwell, famed author of “1984” and “Animal Farm” said, “Freedom is the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”  Man, is that ever true today when we Christians simply quote what the Bible says about morality!  Let us not prune our words to the contemporary fancies of those who don’t want to hear the truth.

Jim Morrison, lead singer of the Doors, developed an alcohol dependency, dying at the age of 27 in Paris, probably of an accidental heroin overdose.  He once said, “The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are. You trade in your reality for a role. You give up your ability to feel, and in exchange, put on a mask.”  To be who you really are?  God defines reality and our reality is that we are rebels against Him until we believe in Jesus Christ.

The American self-help author Wayne Dyer, once said, “Freedom means you are unobstructed in living your life as you choose. Anything less is a form of slavery.”  This thrice-married man was accused of plagiarizing psychotherapist Albert Ellis’ Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) in his best-selling book “Your Erroneous Zones.”  Dyer suggested that readers emulate Jesus Christ, whom he termed both an example of a self-actualized person, and a “preacher of self-reliance.”  I’m thankful for the Scriptures which provide us appropriate “obstructions” in life.  We call a river without banks a flood.  If I am the ultimate determiner of how to live my life I am doomed to a slavery in which God is only a footnote.

Jesus said, “You shall know the truth — and the truth shall make you free.”  Would you say that you are free — in Jesus Christ?

 

 

“Every man felt free!” (movie clip from “Shawshank Redemption”)

We take our freedom for granted, don’t we?

When I first began teaching at a local maximum security prison, I was quite happy when I could walk out the locked doors, get into my SUV, and go and buy a milkshake.

Freedom.  Jesus said, “You shall know the truth — and the truth shall make you free!”

Questions:
1.  The book of Galatians challenges Christians to not let their freedom in Christ be stolen.  In what ways was their freedom being threatened?
2.  What is one example of your freedom as a Christian that you wish you could share with your non-Christian friends?

 

IF GOD’S WORD CAN BE TRUSTED, THEN, (Part 7) . . .

In our recent series from the book of Philippians in our church in South Carolina, I preached on the highlights of the book of Philippians for me.  I entitled the series, “If God’s Word Can Be Trusted, Then . . .”

We’ve noticed six of our seven conclusions in our study.  We’ve noticed —

IF GOD’S WORD, SPECIFICALLY THIS BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS, CAN BE TRUSTED, THEN . . .

I.  My prayer life will be revolutionized (1:3-6).

2.  My view of life and death will be revised (1:20-24).  

3. My perspective on suffering will be matured (1:29-30). 

4.  My self-image will be challenged (2:1-5).

5.  My System of Values will be recalibrated (3:1-9).  

6.  My Perspective on Circumstances will be brought into line with God’s Word (4:4-7).

We now want to look at our SEVENTH conclusion from the book of Philippians and it is this —

7.  IF GOD’S WORD CAN BE TRUSTED, THEN MY SENSE OF CONTENTMENT WILL BE STABILIZED IN THE LORD (4:10-13).

There we read:

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Here we learn that —

A.  Contentment is something we learn (v. 11).

B.  The Christian life involves times of plenty and times of want (v. 12)

C.  The strength to be content comes through Christ! (v. 13)

Discussion Questions:  Would you describe yourself as a CONTENTED Christian?  Why or why not?  What steps will you take this week toward a biblical contentment?

 

IF THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS CAN BE TRUSTED . . . THEN . . . (Part 6):

I recently preached on highlights from the book of Philippians in our church in South Carolina.

For the purpose of this blog, I’m approaching the highlights as conclusions to a proposition:

IF GOD’S WORD, SPECIFICALLY THIS BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS, CAN BE TRUSTED, THEN . . .

I.  My prayer life will be revolutionized (1:3-6).  I will learn to pray with JOY for others, pray for our partnerships in the gospel, and pray for God’s continuing & maturing work in the lives of others.

We next saw that IF God’s Word can be trusted, then

2.  My view of life and death will be revised (1:20-24).   There Paul says he wants to exalt Christ in his life or his death:  “for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The third truth that leaps out at me from Philippians is this:

3. My perspective on suffering will be matured (1:29-30).  There we see that it is a GIFT to suffer for Him (a gift which property preachers don’t want to receive!).

The fourth truth which we saw in the book of Philippians relates to how I view myself.  IF the book of Philippians can be trusted, then . . .

4.  My self-image will be challenged (2:1-5).  There we learn that we are to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit but to put others’ needs before our own.

The fifth truth is that —

5.  My System of Values will be recalibrated (3:1-9).  In discussing that passage, we saw that —

A.  Knowing Him might lead to the loss of everything else!

B.  A relationship with Jesus Christ is more important than anything else life offers!

We move now to the SIXTH truth that jumps out at me, in trusting God’s Word, is that —

6.  MY PERSPECTIVE ON CIRCUMSTANCES WILL BE BROUGHT INTO LINE WITH GOD’S WORD (4:4-7).  There we read:  4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We see in this passage that anxiety is replaced by peaceful, protective prayer!

Discussion Questions:  How do you view your circumstances?  Do you see them as opportunities to show your faith in Christ to a watching world?