SUNDAY SERMONS 12/05/2024

TITLE: THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM

Romans 8:21 “that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”

The Bible says that even the creatures need to be set free. If you raise chickens, they also need freedom. If creatures need freedom, how about humans? Why do they need freedom? The Bible says, “and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.” The children of God should be free in the glory of God.

If there is freedom with glory, it also means there is freedom without glory. When God gives you freedom, it means He has given you glorious freedom. Misusing that freedom means losing the glory of God.

Some people have received the glorious freedom of God. They were bound by diseases, and God gave them glorious freedom. Glorious freedom is freedom under God’s protection. God has given us the freedom to decide whether to come to church or not, but some have been given this freedom and misuse it. When you reach a point where you start saying, “I’m not going to church,” know that your freedom lacks the glory of God because glorious freedom of God requires worship.

HOW DO YOU RECEIVE THE GLORIOUS FREEDOM OF GOD?

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Do you have true freedom? God blessed us to be fruitful and multiply, which means people don’t have true freedom, and true freedom begins in the mind. If your mind is truly free, we’ll see your life changing. The freedom Jesus gives us is not just freedom from diseases, but also freedom of our perspectives and actions. True freedom lies in one’s mind and heart. A person whose heart and mind are free will see their possessions flourish.

How do you get glorious freedom? By listening to the glorious gospel of God. Not all gospels are worth listening to. If you listen to the glorious gospel, it will change your mind. Someone who listens to the gospel of glory, even their prayers become glorious.

The gospel of glory brings glorious freedom because listening to it and acting on it brings glory into your life. Glory means honor, power, and the presence of God. If you are a good listener of the gospel of glory, it will surely change you.

2 Corinthians 4:4 “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” When you listen to the glorious gospel of God, you gain entry into your life.

If you get the glorious gospel, you will be truly free.

Romans 6:16 “Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Here we see two types of servitude:

1. Servitude to sin, which ends in death. How do you know you are in this servitude? Everything you do dies. You start a business and it fails; you have relationships, but they just die. Why? Because you are in the service of sin, which ultimately kills things.
2. Servitude to obedience, which ends in righteousness. If you have this servitude, it means whatever you do brings righteousness into your life.

Which group are you in? If you want to receive your righteousness, whatever you desire, look at the type of servitude you have. Is it a servitude of obedience for righteousness? Or is it a servitude that disobeys instructions leading to death? If you have a disobedient servitude, nothing will happen to you until you decide to obey to gain righteousness.

How do you ensure your servitude endures? Jesus redeemed us, but why do the bonds and problems we left come back? Why don’t we enjoy our glorious freedom, and it vanishes? What do you do to ensure the glory of God endures?

1. Acknowledge that the old has passed away. In your life, if you want this freedom given by Christ to endure, acknowledge that the old has passed away. Don’t dwell on the past because it can strangle your freedom.

   2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

In your mind, recognize that you are a new creation and live in the freedom of glory, not in anxiety. If you don’t acknowledge that the old has passed away, the devil will use it to torment you.

It’s true that you were born into a certain family, but realize you have glorious freedom. It’s true you can’t even afford a penny now, but realize you have glorious freedom; you won’t die young. You, with glorious freedom, have the freedom to start a business, to bear children, to do business, to do anything you want and have it for yourself. The easiest way to be free is to forget the past.

© Apostle Noel Kapinga – Spiritual Leader Efatha Church