Friday August 1, 2014

Read Romans 8:12-14

The world thinks of freedom as the power or ability to do whatever one pleases. The world seems to think that freedom is the right to self rule and to make decisions for one self based on one’s needs and desires. Freedom is the right to take a holiday when desired. Freedom is the right to shop where ever one wants. Freedom is the right to read whatever one desires, or to look at whatever one wishes on TV or the internet. Freedom is the right to do whatever feels good.

While some of these notions are certainly implicit in freedom, we have seen some terrible trends in the world. Violence has increased. Perversity has risen. Drug, alcohol and other substance dependence has sky rocketed. Depression and mental illness has increased. And in all of these things, the age at which they occur has dropped dramatically to serious lows. Professionals are now dealing with children aged as young as 6 or 7 performing indecent acts on others, drinking excessively and abusing drugs. Freedom has not delivered!

Biblical freedom is a totally different. Biblical freedom is the freedom to die to self and to serve God. The kind of freedom described in the Bible is the kind of freedom that allows us to serve others and to put our own needs at the bottom of the pile. It allows us to joyously give up things that God hates and that hurt or offend others.

 Biblical freedom allows us to put to death the misdeeds of the body - even if they feel good or bring us quick and instant pleasure. This kind of freedom gives us the strength and character to say ‘No’ to things and acts that are immoral or displeasing to God. This kind of freedom empowers us to say ‘yes’ to those things that build up others, bless others and bring glory to God, even if they cause us to miss out or to have less. Galatians 5:13 captures it so well.

             Galatians 5:13 (NIV84)

You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.

Biblical freedom is a Spirit-filled and Spirit driven freedom that leads us towards eternal life, not eternal death. At times it means we may be taken down the narrow road, even as we watch the world run down the wide, multi-lane super highway. It may mean going without, denying ourselves, taking up our cross and following Jesus in paths that the world would never take. 

When the world sees our freedom in Christ they should see Jesus, not hypocrites! If we use our freedom to indulge the sinful nature, that’s exactly what the world will see and they will be pushed away from Christ. But if they see us joyfully loving each other and putting others’ needs above our own, they will be powerfully drawn to worship our Lord and Saviour.

Prayer:

Having read today’s passage and notes jot down various prayer points in each:

Adoration:

Confession:

Thanks:

Supplication:

¨ Youth group meets tonight. Pray that they would grow in Christ-likeness, in depth of knowledge and insight. Pray for a growth in love and compassion for the needy and the lost.

¨ Pray that our youth leaders would teach the Bible clearly but also that they would live it out and model their teaching day by day.

 Witness Moment:

If the world sees us living as hypocrites, they’ll never come to Christ for salvation. They need to see His character and personality in our lives before they’ll be attracted to Him.

 Discussion Questions

1. How does the Spirit help us to put to death the misdeeds of the body?

2. Explain what role you have in this and what role the Spirit has?

3. What does verse 12 mean when it talks about our obligation?

4. How do you counsel a believer who wants to continue in their sin under the pretext of being free in Christ?

 Discipleship Moment For Girls

Intro: The daily battle with the sinful nature and our desires is won by the power of  the Spirit.

Discuss: If you can remember a time when the Spirit helped you in a particular struggle share that story.

Read Galatians 5:22-25

What fruit is produced by the Spirit in us?

How can we help that fruit grow?

What can we do to stay in step with the Spirit?

Pray together For daily victory and for remaining in step with the Spirit.

 Discipleship Moment For Boys

Intro: We will never win the flesh battle by ourselves. We need to be led by the Holy Spirit. Only through Him can we win the battle.

Discuss: If you can remember a time when the Spirit helped you in a particular struggle share that story.

Read Galatians 5:22-25

What fruit is produced by the Spirit in us?

How can we help that fruit grow?

What can we do to stay in step with the Spirit?

Pray together For daily victory and for remaining in step with the Spirit.