A message shared by Pastor Luke Martin at Empower Christian Church, Sunday 25 April, 2010:
Being free, as a believer, means carrying a weight of responsibility, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. But it’s a weight that goes beyond being merely saying you are free. What you’ll learn in today’s message is how there’s actually something more profound and life-changing than being able to say you are free.
Think first how it's not always easy to just 'get over something'. We may face a challenge and need to deal with it. But what if the challenge is more like a prison in our lives? A gaol, in that example, is not actually moveable. It's true that in Philippians 3:14, we see how you must press on toward our goal. And it’s good to acknowledge that, for Christians, we have already overcome death itself by Christ's act.
But facing challenges takes more than a statement that you are free. Being free, therefore, actually means to be 'freedom' itself. Think about how representatives of nations are more than just citizens of a country. Being 'ambassadors' actually means to embody the country of origin. An Australian Ambassador, for example, represents Australia itself.
Rambo, for example, represented freedom itself, not just a free person. When prisoners saw him, they saw freedom, not just a man who was himself free.
It's a truth that believers are called to be FREEDOM for others, not just people who are FREE!
Freedom, by definition, sets people free.
In Acts 9:13-15, we see how the implement God uses is freedom and righteousness itself.
Call on God to use you as more than free - you are FREEDOM itself. NEWNESS, for example, is of more use than someone who is merely new.
Christians, you are ministers of God's love. You ARE freedom and newness.
In short, you qualify, right now, to be used by God.
Think first how it's not always easy to just 'get over something'. We may face a challenge and need to deal with it. But what if the challenge is more like a prison in our lives? A gaol, in that example, is not actually moveable. It's true that in Philippians 3:14, we see how you must press on toward our goal. And it’s good to acknowledge that, for Christians, we have already overcome death itself by Christ's act.
But facing challenges takes more than a statement that you are free. Being free, therefore, actually means to be 'freedom' itself. Think about how representatives of nations are more than just citizens of a country. Being 'ambassadors' actually means to embody the country of origin. An Australian Ambassador, for example, represents Australia itself.
Rambo, for example, represented freedom itself, not just a free person. When prisoners saw him, they saw freedom, not just a man who was himself free.
It's a truth that believers are called to be FREEDOM for others, not just people who are FREE!
Freedom, by definition, sets people free.
In Acts 9:13-15, we see how the implement God uses is freedom and righteousness itself.
Call on God to use you as more than free - you are FREEDOM itself. NEWNESS, for example, is of more use than someone who is merely new.
Christians, you are ministers of God's love. You ARE freedom and newness.
In short, you qualify, right now, to be used by God.
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