The Joy of Freedom

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Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359736/fan_mail/new] Sermon Title: The Joy of Freedom Monthly Theme: Freedom & Favor Theme Scripture: John 8:36 (KJV) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Introduction One of the greatest emotions God gives mankind is joy. Joy is more than happiness. Happiness depends on what happens around you, but joy comes from what God has done within you. There is no greater joy than knowing you are free. When a soldier returns safely from war, there is joy. When a patient hears the doctor say, "You're cancer free," there is joy. When a person who has been declared innocent walks out of prison, there is joy. When the Berlin Wall came down, people celebrated because freedom had finally come. And on Juneteenth, after years of slavery and two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued, many enslaved African Americans in Texas finally heard they were free. There was shouting, crying, hugging, dancing, praying, and praising God because freedom always brings joy. Spiritually, many people are still living like slaves when Jesus has already purchased their freedom. Jesus did not die merely to forgive us. He died so we could live free. The devil wants Christians to drag around chains that Christ has already broken. But God wants His children to walk in victory, favor, peace, and joy. Today we are going to discover why every believer ought to rejoice because of the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. 1. There Is Joy When You Discover You Are Truly Free John 8:36 (KJV) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." Notice Jesus didn't say you would be "a little free." He didn't say "partially free." He said free indeed. That means genuine freedom. Freedom from guilt. Freedom from condemnation. Freedom from the penalty of sin. Freedom from Satan's control. Freedom from fear. Many people have been forgiven but still live as though they are condemned. Jesus says, "Stop living like a prisoner when I have already opened the prison door." Illustration Imagine someone sitting inside a prison cell after receiving a full pardon. The prison door is unlocked. The sentence has been canceled. But he refuses to leave because he doesn't believe the pardon belongs to him. Many Christians live exactly like that. Jesus says, "Come out and enjoy what I already paid for." 2. Freedom Gives You a Song Even Before the Chains Fall Off Acts 16:25-26 (KJV) "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed." Paul and Silas had every reason to complain. They had been beaten. Humiliated. Locked in prison. Feet in stocks. Yet they started praying and singing. They praised before they were delivered. Many people wait until God changes their situation before they praise Him. Paul praised God while still in prison. Sometimes your praise becomes the key that unlocks your prison. The joy of freedom often begins before the chains actually fall off. 3. Freedom Restores Everything Bondage Tried to Steal Psalm 126:1-3 (KJV) "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." Notice what freedom restored. Their laughter returned. Their singing returned. Their hope returned. Their dreams returned. Bondage steals joy. Bondage steals peace. Bondage steals confidence. But when God sets people free... Laughter comes back. Hope comes back. Purpose comes back. Joy comes back. 4. Jesus Came Specifically to Bring Freedom Luke 4:18 (KJV) "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." Jesus announced His ministry by saying, "I came to free people." He came to free: The brokenhearted. The addicted. The oppressed. The discouraged. The wounded. The captive. Everywhere Jesus went... People left different than they came. He still does that today. 5. Freedom Gives Us Power to Live for God Galatians 5:1 (KJV) "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Paul says, Don't go back. Don't pick up yesterday's chains. Don't allow old habits... Old sins... Old attitudes... Old fears... To enslave you again. Freedom is not permission to sin. Freedom is power to overcome sin. 6. Freedom Opens the Door to God's Favor When people become free... God begins trusting them with greater assignments. Joseph Joseph was freed from prison. Soon afterward... He became governor of Egypt. Freedom prepared him for favor. The Three Hebrew Boys They refused to bow to idols. Their spirits remained free. God promoted them after the fiery furnace. Peter Peter was released from prison by an angel. Immediately afterward... He went right back to preaching the Gospel. Sometimes your greatest favor begins after your greatest freedom. 7. Somebody Paid for Your Freedom Freedom is never free. America's freedom cost the lives of soldiers. The freedom celebrated on Juneteenth came after generations of enslaved people endured unimaginable suffering, and after countless abolitionists, soldiers, and ordinary men and women risked everything to end slavery and secure liberty for others. Our spiritual freedom cost even more. Isaiah 61:1 (KJV) "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound." Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. He shed His blood. He died on the cross. He paid a debt He did not owe because we owed a debt we could not pay. Every time we worship... Remember— Somebody paid. Every time we pray... Remember— Somebody paid. Every blessing we enjoy spiritually came because Jesus paid the ultimate price. Humorous Illustration A little boy was flying a kite. Someone asked, "How do you know it's still up there? I can't even see it." The little boy smiled and said, "I know it's still there because every now and then I feel it pulling." You may not always see everything God is doing. But every now and then... You'll feel His joy. You'll feel His peace. You'll feel His freedom reminding you... God is still holding you. Conclusion When Israel crossed the Red Sea... They sang. When the captives returned to Jerusalem... They laughed. When Paul and Silas were delivered... They praised. When Jesus rose from the grave... The disciples rejoiced. And today... Everyone whom Jesus has set free ought to have joy. Don't just say you're free. Walk free. Live free. Love free. Forgive free. Praise free. Serve free. Because the joy of freedom is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. John 8:36 (KJV) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." The prison door is open. The chains have been broken. The price has been paid. Now rejoice in the joy of your freedom! Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2359736/support]