Free to Live for God

FREE: Not under the control or in the power of another; no longer
confined or imprisoned; released from captivity, confinement or
slavery
JOHN 8:31-36 NLT
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my
disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the
TRUTH, and the TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE.” “But we are
descendants of Abraham,” they said. “We have never been slaves to
anyone. What do you mean, ‘You will be set free’?” Jesus replied, “I
tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a
permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family
forever. So if the Son sets you FREE, YOU ARE TRULY FREE.”
3 Categories of People When It Comes to Sin:

1. Blinded to Sin: Totally controlled by sin and don’t even know it!
2. Struggling with Sin: Know they have sin in their lives and are
   struggling to break free!
3. Freedom from Sin: Living a life where they’ve learned to
   cooperate with God’s grace and live a life controlled by God instead
   of sin.
   The Big Question: “How do I really get free from sin controlling my
   life?”
   The Answer: Give yourself completely to God!
   ROMANS 6:12-14 NLT
   Do not let sin control the way you live, do not give in to sinful desires.
   Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve
   sin. Instead, GIVE YOURSELVES COMPLETELY TO GOD, for you
   were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an
   instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer
   YOUR MASTER, for you no longer live under the requirements of the
   law. Instead, you live under the FREEDOM OF GOD’S GRACE.
   How Do I Live a Free Life with God?

1. Come to Him.
   MATTHEW 11:28-30 MSG
   “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get
   away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a
   real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn
   the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting
   on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and
   lightly.”
   What Does It Mean to Give Yourself Completely to God?
   • Developing a life with God day to day
   2 CORINTHIANS 4:16 NKJV
   Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is
   perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed DAY BY DAY.
   A Life with God:
   A. Having a prayer life instead of a worry life
   PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 NLT
   Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God
   what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will
   experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can
   understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in
   Christ Jesus.
   B. Having a Word life instead of a social media life
   JOHN 8:32 NKJV
   “And you shall know the TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE
   YOU FREE.”
2. Focus on the new instead of the old.
   PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14 NLT
   I don’t mean to say that i have already achieved these things or that I
   have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that
   perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear
   brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I FOCUS ON THIS
   ONE THING: FORGETTING THE PAST AND LOOKING FORWARD
   TO WHAT LIES AHEAD, I press on to reach the end of the race and
   receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is
   calling us.”
   Your past is your teacher. Your present is your opportunity. Your
   future is your friend!
   2 CORINTHIANS 5:17 NLT
   This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a NEW
   PERSON. The OLD LIFE is gone; a NEW LIFE HAS BEGUN!
3. Start living by faith instead of by fear.
   2 TIMOTHY 1:7 NKJV
   For God has not given us a SPIRIT OF FEAR, but of power and of
   love and of a sound mind.
   HEBREWS 11:1 NKJV
   Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
   not seen.
   HEBREWS 11:6 NKJV
   But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to
   God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who
   diligently seek Him.