Embracing True Freedom and Identity in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Experiencing Total Freedom in Christ

Jesus desires more than just a functional life for us; He wants us to experience total freedom from the chains that bind us, whether they be anger, addiction, or spiritual oppression. This freedom is not just about avoiding sin but about living a life filled with purpose and righteousness. The story of the woman healed by Jesus illustrates that true freedom is not merely the absence of bondage but the presence of a life filled with the Spirit and purpose. Jesus' intervention in our lives is meant to transform us completely, allowing us to walk uprightly and live in the fullness of life that God has intended. [03:59]

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel bound or oppressed? How can you invite Jesus into that area to experience His freedom today?

Day 2: Moving Beyond Salvation

Many Christians stop at the point of salvation, satisfied with the assurance of heaven, yet missing out on the fullness of life that God offers. We are called to move beyond the threshold of salvation and explore the abundant life God has prepared for us. This involves a continuous journey of growth and transformation, where we actively seek to deepen our relationship with God and embrace the abundant life He offers. It is about stepping into the fullness of our identity in Christ and living a life that reflects His love and purpose. [05:56]

"Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God." (Hebrews 6:1, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you actively pursue a deeper relationship with God beyond the initial moment of salvation? What steps can you take this week to explore the abundant life He offers?

Day 3: Redefining Our Identity in Christ

Our identity should not be defined by our past or present circumstances but by who we are in Christ. As new creations, we are called to live uprightly, free from the bondage of sin and shame, and to walk in the freedom Jesus has secured for us. This involves embracing our identity as children of God and heirs to His promises, allowing this truth to shape our lives and decisions. It challenges us to let go of the labels and limitations of our past and to fully embrace the new life and identity we have in Christ. [13:13]

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV)

Reflection: How do you currently define your identity? Are there past labels or circumstances that you need to let go of to fully embrace your identity in Christ?

Day 4: Embracing a Fresh Start

When Jesus comes into our lives, He offers us a fresh start. We must embrace this new life, making choices that align with our identity in Christ and rejecting the old patterns that once held us captive. This fresh start is an invitation to live a life characterized by righteousness and purpose, where we actively choose to align our actions and decisions with the truth of who we are in Christ. It is about stepping into the newness of life that Jesus offers and allowing His Spirit to guide and transform us daily. [30:49]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What old patterns or habits do you need to reject to fully embrace the fresh start Jesus offers? How can you align your daily choices with your identity in Christ?

Day 5: Filling Our Lives with Righteousness

A functional life comes when Jesus takes away our bondage, but a free life comes when we fill ourselves with righteousness and the Spirit. This fullness prevents the enemy from reclaiming territory in our lives and allows us to live in the freedom God intended. It is about actively seeking to be filled with the Spirit and allowing His righteousness to permeate every aspect of our lives. This involves a conscious decision to pursue holiness and to allow God's Spirit to guide and empower us in our daily walk. [38:07]

"And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." (Ephesians 5:18-19, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively seek to be filled with the Spirit and righteousness in your daily life? What practices can you incorporate to ensure that your life is characterized by the freedom and fullness God intends?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound story of a woman who had been bound by a spirit of infirmity for 18 years, unable to stand upright until Jesus intervened. This narrative serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual bondage many of us experience. Just as Jesus freed this woman, He desires to free us from the chains that bind us, whether they be anger, addiction, or any other form of spiritual oppression. The essence of our journey with Christ is not merely about being functional or having our sins forgiven; it is about stepping into the fullness of life that God has intended for us.

Before coming to Christ, I was consumed by anger, using it as a lens through which I viewed the world. It was a constant presence, much like the woman’s infirmity. However, God intervened, and through a process of surrender and transformation, I found freedom. This personal journey mirrors the broader spiritual truth that God desires more for us than just a surface-level change. He wants us to experience total freedom and transformation, moving beyond the initial moment of salvation into a life of abundance and purpose.

Many Christians stop at the point of salvation, satisfied with the assurance of heaven, yet missing out on the fullness of life that God offers. This is akin to standing at the doorway of a house and never exploring the rooms within. God calls us to move beyond the threshold, to explore and embrace the abundant life He has prepared for us. This involves redefining our identity, not by our past or present circumstances, but by who we are in Christ—children of God, heirs to His promises.

The story of the woman healed by Jesus challenges us to examine how we define ourselves. Are we living under the labels of our past, or are we embracing our identity as new creations in Christ? Jesus calls us to live uprightly, free from the bondage of sin and shame, and to walk in the freedom He has secured for us. This freedom is not just about avoiding sin but about being filled with the Spirit, living a life characterized by righteousness and purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. True Freedom in Christ: Jesus desires more than just a functional life for us; He wants us to experience total freedom from the chains that bind us, whether they be anger, addiction, or spiritual oppression. This freedom is not just about avoiding sin but about living a life filled with purpose and righteousness. [03:59]
2. Beyond Salvation: Many Christians stop at the point of salvation, satisfied with the assurance of heaven, yet missing out on the fullness of life that God offers. We are called to move beyond the threshold of salvation and explore the abundant life God has prepared for us. [05:56]
3. Redefining Identity: Our identity should not be defined by our past or present circumstances but by who we are in Christ. As new creations, we are called to live uprightly, free from the bondage of sin and shame, and to walk in the freedom Jesus has secured for us. [13:13]
4. Embracing a Fresh Start: When Jesus comes into our lives, He offers us a fresh start. We must embrace this new life, making choices that align with our identity in Christ and rejecting the old patterns that once held us captive. [30:49]
5. Filling Our Lives with Righteousness: A functional life comes when Jesus takes away our bondage, but a free life comes when we fill ourselves with righteousness and the Spirit. This fullness prevents the enemy from reclaiming territory in our lives and allows us to live in the freedom God intended. [38:07]
** [38:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:23] - Personal Testimony of Anger
[03:59] - God's Desire for Total Freedom
[04:57] - Beyond Just Enough
[05:56] - The Beginning of a Journey
[06:55] - Entering the Fullness of Life
[07:29] - Growth in Relationship with God
[08:40] - Transformation of Perspective
[10:20] - Living Upright in Christ
[11:21] - Defining Ourselves in Christ
[12:36] - Identity Beyond Weakness
[13:13] - Daughter of Abraham
[15:12] - Wrong Definitions
[18:08] - Freedom from Bondage
[21:51] - Honoring Jesus' Sacrifice
[23:18] - Choosing to Live Free
[24:29] - Discovering Freedom in Christ
[30:49] - Embracing a Fresh Start
[38:07] - Filling with Righteousness
[42:52] - Abundant Life in Christ

Sermon Clips

"Many Christians, many Christians stop right at that point. I give my life to the Lord. Oh, praise God. My sins are forgiven. I've been born again. I get to go to heaven. But now I got to live the rest of my days trying to figure that out. Now I got to live the rest of my days limping around. Well, I'm saved, but I don't even know how to interact with the world that I live in now. I don't know what to do now. What am I going to do? How do I get to heaven now?" [00:05:10] (29 seconds)

"That's the Genesis of the thing. That's the beginning of the thing. But God has so much more. It's like you're coming in to just the front door of a house. That's yours. I won't be satisfied. Look, I got a house. I got a door. I'm going to step in the door. I love this door. And we camp on the front porch. And God says, no, this whole house is yours. Come in and live this life. Come in and enjoy everything that I have for you. Look at this room and look at this room and look at this thing and look at this thing. And we stay right at the front door." [00:06:24] (31 seconds)

"Jesus calls this woman, a daughter of Abraham. You know what that meant? She was one of God's people. She was one of God's chosen people. She was part of Israel, part of the air of the promises of God made to Abraham. She was, she was in, she was in. But I bet if you'd asked her, she would have told you that her life was really defined by her weakness. Think about it. Everybody knew her in town. Weakness. Everyone called her. She probably was a bent over lady. Kids probably made fun of her." [00:13:21] (41 seconds)

"I wonder how many Christians are in church today and you've called on the name of Jesus and you've given your life to him, but you're defined by something other than him. That instead of being called a child of God, instead of knowing that you're a child of God, instead of knowing that you've been redeemed, instead of knowing that you have a new nature, instead of knowing that you are called to be the head and not the tail above and not beneath, you're walking around being defined by some disability, some limitation, some sin, some weakness, something from your past, or even something in your present. And you're allowing those things to determine who you really are." [00:14:34] (33 seconds)

"See, God didn't save you to leave you like he found you. And you and I need to honor the sacrifice of Jesus by making a choice to live for more than just enough. In some ways it's dishonorable to the sacrifice of Jesus. To not truly live the life you were created to live. The life that he poured out his blood on the cross for you to have. God sets you free. Why? So you could just willfully choose to remain in bondage?" [00:21:46] (33 seconds)

"Let's choose to embrace the work of Christ and live beyond functional. Praise God He took the chains off, but that doesn't mean you stay where you are. You've got to move on into total freedom. If you're taking notes, I'm going to give you a couple of principles. That I think are important for us today. Point number one is discover freedom in Christ." [00:24:10] (23 seconds)

"When Jesus came to her life, he was giving her a fresh start on a new life. And when Jesus comes to us, the Bible says, we're no longer who we used to be, but now we are new creations in Christ Jesus. The old things are done away with. Behold, all things are made new. God gives you a fresh start. But the devil is going to come back and see that your life is made right. And so he's going to want to challenge that. He's going to want to test that. But you have to embrace it." [00:30:24] (27 seconds)

"Romans 6, 15 through 19. We read earlier in Romans 6. I'm going to read the rest of that. Verse 15 through 19. What then? Shall we sin because we're not under law, but under grace? In other words, now that we're free, should we go back to being in bondage? Certainly not. Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves as slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey? Whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience to God leading to righteousness?" [00:31:57] (30 seconds)

"When Christ makes us free and gives us a free start, the way that we enter into fullness is to be filled with him, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be filled with fruits of righteousness. When you are filled, there's no room for anything else. Then our lives are not defined by what we let go of, but what we gain. Not what we lost, but what we found. This is what happens to Christians. Oh, you know, the devil comes in. Oh, you got to give up this and you got to give up that. And you let that relationship go and you let that thing happen and you let this and you don't do that no more. Yep. That's right. But, but that's nothing. This is what I got. I got freedom. I got peace. I got peace. I got peace. I got peace. I got peace. I got peace. I got joy. I got wholeness. I got eternity. I got friends forever." [00:38:39] (47 seconds)

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