From Spiritual Slavery to True Freedom in Christ

 

Summary

In the wilderness, the Israelites, despite being freed from slavery in Egypt, found themselves longing for the comforts of their past, even as they journeyed toward the Promised Land. This narrative from Numbers 11 reveals a profound truth about the human condition: our tendency to crave what enslaves us, even when we know the path to freedom. The Israelites' desire for the food of Egypt, despite the harsh realities of their bondage, illustrates the spiritual slavery that grips the human heart. This slavery is not merely political or economic but deeply spiritual, rendering us powerless to do what is right and good.

The Bible teaches that sin is not just an action but a power that enslaves us. Every sinful action has a destructive power that shrivels our rationality, emotions, and will. This is evident in the Israelites' irrational longing for Egypt, despite the suffering they endured there. Their craving for the comforts of their past blinded them to the freedom and future God was offering. This pattern of craving and denial is akin to addiction, where the more we indulge, the more we need, and the less satisfied we become.

The solution to this spiritual slavery lies in worship and a deep relationship with God. Just as addiction requires intervention and a new focus, our spiritual freedom requires us to taste and see that the Lord is good. Worship, both personal and corporate, is essential to replace the burning desires of our hearts with a longing for God. Only when God is at the center of our lives can we experience true freedom. Jesus, the better Moses, bore the burden of our sins and offers us freedom through His sacrifice. His mercies are new every morning, providing the only true liberation from the enslaving power of sin.

Key Takeaways:

- Spiritual Slavery: The Israelites' longing for Egypt despite their freedom illustrates the spiritual slavery that affects all humanity. Sin is not just an action but a power that enslaves us, making us spiritually powerless to do what is right. This slavery is evident in our irrational cravings and the destructive patterns they create. [08:58]

- Sin as Addiction: Sin operates like an addiction, with a tolerance effect that leaves us needing more and more to feel satisfied. This craving distorts our reasoning and destroys our willpower, trapping us in a cycle of dissatisfaction and longing. [15:30]

- The Role of Worship: True freedom from sin's power comes through worship and a deep relationship with God. Worship allows us to taste and see that the Lord is good, replacing our cravings with a longing for God. This spiritual nourishment is essential for breaking free from the enslaving power of sin. [28:55]

- The Need for Intervention: Just as addiction requires intervention, our spiritual slavery requires a wake-up call. Recognizing our spiritual condition and seeking God's intervention is the first step toward freedom. We must acknowledge our powerlessness and turn to God for help. [26:27]

- Jesus, the Better Moses: Jesus is the ultimate liberator, who bore the burden of our sins and offers us true freedom. Unlike Moses, who struggled under the weight of leading the Israelites, Jesus willingly took on our sins and offers us liberation through His sacrifice. His mercies are new every morning, providing the only true path to freedom. [32:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:16] - The Israelites' Craving
- [01:31] - God's Response to Moses
- [02:25] - The Dark Passage
- [03:40] - The Human Condition
- [05:05] - The Paradox of Knowing and Doing
- [06:46] - Sin as a Power
- [08:58] - Spiritual Slavery
- [10:05] - Paul's Struggle with Sin
- [12:47] - The Structure of Slavery
- [15:30] - Sin as Addiction
- [18:53] - The Illusion of Freedom
- [21:16] - The Tolerance Effect
- [26:27] - God's Intervention
- [28:55] - The Power of Worship
- [32:51] - Jesus, the Better Moses

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- Numbers 11:4-6, 10-20

#### Observation Questions
1. What specific cravings did the Israelites express while in the wilderness, and how did they compare their current situation to their past in Egypt? [00:16]
2. How did Moses respond to the Israelites' complaints, and what was his conversation with God about? [01:01]
3. What was God's response to the Israelites' longing for meat, and what did He promise them? [01:57]
4. How does the passage describe the Israelites' emotional and spiritual state as they longed for the food of Egypt? [14:15]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the Israelites' longing for Egypt reveal about the nature of spiritual slavery, as discussed in the sermon? [08:58]
2. How does the sermon compare sin to addiction, and what are the implications of this comparison for understanding human behavior? [15:30]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that worship can lead to spiritual freedom, and how is this connected to the Israelites' story? [28:55]
4. How does the sermon portray Jesus as the "better Moses," and what significance does this have for understanding spiritual liberation? [32:51]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you found yourself longing for something from your past, even though it was not beneficial. How did you overcome that longing, or how might you address it now? [08:58]
2. Consider the concept of sin as an addiction. Are there areas in your life where you feel trapped in a cycle of dissatisfaction and longing? What steps can you take to break free from this cycle? [15:30]
3. How can you incorporate more worship into your daily routine to help replace unhealthy cravings with a longing for God? What specific changes can you make this week? [28:55]
4. Identify a spiritual "wake-up call" you have experienced or need to experience. How can you seek God's intervention in this area of your life? [26:27]
5. In what ways can you rely on Jesus, the "better Moses," to help you bear the burdens of your spiritual journey? How can His sacrifice inspire you to seek true freedom? [32:51]
6. Think about a specific area in your life where you feel spiritually powerless. What practical steps can you take to invite God's power into that situation? [09:52]
7. How can you cultivate a deeper appetite for God in your life, and what role does community play in supporting this journey? [28:55]

Devotional

Day 1: The Enslaving Power of Sin
The Israelites' longing for Egypt, despite their newfound freedom, highlights a profound truth about the human condition: the tendency to crave what enslaves us. This spiritual slavery is not merely a political or economic issue but a deep-seated spiritual problem that renders us powerless to do what is right and good. Sin is not just an action but a power that enslaves us, as seen in the Israelites' irrational desire for the comforts of their past, even though it meant returning to bondage. This narrative from Numbers 11 serves as a mirror reflecting our own struggles with sin, where our cravings and desires often blind us to the freedom and future God offers. [08:58]

"For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another." (Titus 3:3, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you find yourself longing for something that you know is not good for you? How can you begin to seek God's help in breaking free from this desire today?


Day 2: Sin as a Cycle of Addiction
Sin operates much like an addiction, creating a cycle of craving and dissatisfaction. The Israelites' longing for the food of Egypt, despite their suffering there, illustrates how sin distorts our reasoning and destroys our willpower. This craving for what enslaves us is akin to an addiction, where the more we indulge, the more we need, and the less satisfied we become. The destructive power of sin shrivels our rationality, emotions, and will, trapping us in a cycle of dissatisfaction and longing. Recognizing this pattern is the first step toward breaking free from its grip. [15:30]

"For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved." (2 Peter 2:19b, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a habit or behavior in your life that feels like an addiction. What steps can you take today to begin breaking this cycle and seeking God's strength to overcome it?


Day 3: Worship as a Path to Freedom
True freedom from the power of sin comes through worship and a deep relationship with God. Worship allows us to taste and see that the Lord is good, replacing our cravings with a longing for God. This spiritual nourishment is essential for breaking free from the enslaving power of sin. Just as addiction requires intervention and a new focus, our spiritual freedom requires us to center our lives on God. When God is at the center, we experience true liberation from the desires that once held us captive. [28:55]

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!" (Psalm 34:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate more worship into your daily routine to help shift your focus from worldly cravings to a longing for God?


Day 4: The Necessity of Divine Intervention
Just as addiction requires intervention, our spiritual slavery requires a wake-up call. Recognizing our spiritual condition and seeking God's intervention is the first step toward freedom. We must acknowledge our powerlessness and turn to God for help. This acknowledgment is not a sign of weakness but a necessary step toward liberation. By seeking God's intervention, we open ourselves to His transformative power, which can break the chains of sin and lead us to true freedom. [26:27]

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you." (Psalm 32:8, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to acknowledge your powerlessness and seek God's intervention? How can you begin this process today?


Day 5: Jesus, the Ultimate Liberator
Jesus is the ultimate liberator, who bore the burden of our sins and offers us true freedom. Unlike Moses, who struggled under the weight of leading the Israelites, Jesus willingly took on our sins and offers us liberation through His sacrifice. His mercies are new every morning, providing the only true path to freedom. By accepting Jesus' sacrifice and embracing His mercies, we can experience the liberation that comes from being free from the enslaving power of sin. [32:51]

"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: How can you embrace the freedom that Jesus offers in your daily life? What steps can you take to ensure you do not return to the yoke of slavery?

Quotes



The Bible's explanation is that human hearts are sinful but beyond that that we're slaves to sin. Sin, the Bible says, is not just an action; it's a power. Let me put it to you this way: a sinful action is a power. Every sinful action is a suicidal, destructive power upon the faculty that put that action forth. [00:05:52]

Sin is the suicidal action of the self against itself. Sin destroys freedom. Sin is an enslaving power. Sin shrivels us up. That's what the Bible teaches. Now, you can see it right here. Look at the fact of it. The children of Israel say, "We had a wonderful time in Egypt. Let's go back." [00:06:46]

They were no longer political captives; they were no longer slaves socially or politically or economically. And yet many times, this isn't the only place, this is just one of the most memorable, they say, "We had it better in Egypt. Why don't we go back to Egypt? We want the comforts of Egypt." [00:07:17]

The Bible says that every human being on the face of the earth is a spiritual slave in the same way. Paul, for example, puts it this way in Romans 7, in a very, very famous passage. And remember, this is St. Paul saying this. He says, "I have a desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." [00:09:57]

The Bible says you are powerless to do the good. Sin is not just an action; it's a power. Now, the second thing we're taught here, and this is what's so astonishing, is the structure of this slavery. And you see it in verse 4, 5, and 6. Now, I already said to you the basic fact. [00:12:47]

Every sinful action becomes an addiction. Every sinful action actually brings into your life a power that operates exactly like addiction cycles and addiction dynamics operate. In other words, in the little specific addictions of alcohol or drug addiction or voyeurism or exhibitionism or sexual addictions, you actually have a microcosm of how sin works in your life. [00:15:30]

The real reason that you're having a problem with an enslaving habit is because you don't have an appetite. You're not tasting God. I'm not talking about believing. I'm not talking about even obeying. I'm saying tasting. Tasting. What do you mean? He used to say, here's what I mean. [00:28:55]

The solution, the way to get out from under enslaving habits, the secret to freedom is this: you've got to worship. You've got to have great worship. You've got to have weeping worship. You've got to have glorious worship. You've got to sense the greatness, sometimes be so moved, moved to tears, moved to laughter by what God is, who he is, and what he's done for you. [00:29:30]

If you give him enough time, if you're seeking him, if you're reflecting on him, if you're worshiping him, if you're praying to him, of course, you're not going to get these incredible times of weeping and glorious worship, but that's the only way you'll ever get them. And that is the only thing that will replace the little fire burning in your heart that says, "If only." [00:30:20]

You need a new fire that says, "If only I saw the Lord, if only he was close to my heart, if only I could feel him to be as great as I know him to be, if only I could sense his grace and taste his grace as sweet as I know it to be, if only I had that." [00:30:59]

Jesus was, he lost his freedom that we could be free. He was nailed to the cross so we could be sprung. He was chained into the dungeon, into the darkness, so that we could be free to fly. We could run and not be weary. We could walk and not faint. We need a better Moses, but we've got one. [00:32:51]

The one who took the burden of our sins and was willing to die doesn't say, "I'll die rather than bear the burden." He says, "I'll die and thereby take the burden." Jesus was, he lost his freedom that we could be free. He was nailed to the cross so we could be sprung. [00:33:51]

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Transcript
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