Living Unhooked: Embracing Freedom in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the concept of being "unhooked" from sin and living a life led by the Holy Spirit. We began by acknowledging the transitions many of us face, especially parents sending their children off to college. This transition mirrors our spiritual journey from being bound by sin to living in the freedom Christ offers. We delved into Romans 6, 7, and 8 to understand this transformation. Paul emphasizes that knowing the truth about our identity in Christ is crucial. This knowledge isn't just intellectual but must penetrate our hearts and translate into action.
We discussed the importance of biblical knowledge and how it protects us from deception. Knowing God's Word helps us stand firm against the enemy's lies. However, it's not enough to know the truth; we must also believe it deeply and act on it. Paul uses the term "reckon" to describe this deep-seated belief that leads to action. Just as we would trust a gift from a wealthy benefactor, we must trust and act on God's promises.
We also touched on the balance between legalism and lawlessness. True freedom in Christ doesn't mean we can do whatever we want; it means we are free to live a life that honors God. Paul warns against letting sin reign in our mortal bodies and encourages us to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness.
Finally, we explored the ongoing battle between our flesh and spirit. Paul candidly shares his struggles in Romans 7, reminding us that even as believers, we will face internal conflicts. However, the answer to this struggle is found in Christ, who frees us from condemnation. By walking in the Spirit, we can live a life full of the fruit of the Spirit, leaving evidence of our faith wherever we go.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Biblical Knowledge: Knowing God's Word is essential for true freedom. It protects us from deception and helps us stand firm against the enemy's lies. Without this knowledge, we are vulnerable to being misled and entangled in falsehoods. [01:07:05]
2. Belief Must Lead to Action: It's not enough to intellectually know the truth; we must believe it deeply and act on it. Paul uses the term "reckon" to describe this deep-seated belief that leads to action. Trusting God's promises should result in a life that reflects that trust. [01:12:51]
3. Balance Between Legalism and Lawlessness: True freedom in Christ doesn't mean we can do whatever we want. It means we are free to live a life that honors God. Paul warns against letting sin reign in our mortal bodies and encourages us to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness. [01:23:00]
4. The Ongoing Battle Between Flesh and Spirit: Even as believers, we will face internal conflicts between our flesh and spirit. Paul candidly shares his struggles in Romans 7, reminding us that the answer to this struggle is found in Christ, who frees us from condemnation. [01:26:45]
5. Living a Fruit-Filled Life: By walking in the Spirit, we can live a life full of the fruit of the Spirit, leaving evidence of our faith wherever we go. This involves listening, obeying, getting filled, and leaving fruit in every aspect of our lives. [01:37:44]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:00:22] - Special Announcement for Parents
[01:01:55] - Transitioning to Freedom
[01:03:32] - Walking in the Spirit
[01:05:15] - The Importance of Knowing the Truth
[01:07:05] - Protecting Against Deception
[01:08:58] - Intellectual Knowledge vs. Heart Knowledge
[01:10:50] - Belief Leading to Action
[01:12:51] - Trusting God's Promises
[01:14:47] - Guarding Your Heart
[01:16:17] - The Cycle of Spiritual Growth
[01:17:55] - Overcoming the Enemy's Lies
[01:19:57] - Aligning Actions with Faith
[01:21:34] - Avoiding Legalism and Lawlessness
[01:23:00] - Presenting Ourselves as Instruments of Righteousness
[01:26:45] - The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
[01:28:47] - No Condemnation in Christ
[01:30:34] - Living as Children of God
[01:32:14] - The Holy Spirit as Our Filter
[01:35:49] - Called to Freedom
[01:37:44] - Living a Fruit-Filled Life
[01:39:46] - Proclamation of Freedom
[01:41:35] - Breaking Chains of Condemnation
[01:43:59] - Celebrating Our Freedom in Christ
[01:46:37] - Living in the Overflow
[01:49:28] - Closing Praise and Worship
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Romans 6:1-14
2. Romans 7:15-25
3. Romans 8:1-17
#### Observation Questions
1. According to Romans 6:6, what happens to our old self when we are baptized into Christ Jesus?
2. In Romans 7:15, what internal conflict does Paul describe?
3. What does Romans 8:1 declare about those who are in Christ Jesus?
4. How does Paul describe the relationship between the flesh and the Spirit in Romans 8:5-6?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to know and understand our identity in Christ according to Romans 6:6-7? How does this knowledge impact our daily lives? [01:05:15]
2. What does Paul mean when he says, "reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin" in Romans 6:11? How does this concept of "reckoning" influence our actions? [01:10:50]
3. How does Paul’s struggle in Romans 7:15-20 reflect the ongoing battle between flesh and spirit in a believer’s life? What does this reveal about the nature of sin and grace? [01:26:45]
4. In Romans 8:12-14, Paul talks about living by the Spirit. What practical steps can believers take to live according to the Spirit and not the flesh? [01:28:47]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current understanding of your identity in Christ. How has this knowledge influenced your actions and decisions recently? What steps can you take to deepen this understanding? [01:05:15]
2. Paul emphasizes the importance of "reckoning" ourselves dead to sin. Think of a specific area in your life where you struggle with sin. How can you apply the concept of "reckoning" to overcome this struggle? [01:10:50]
3. The sermon discussed the balance between legalism and lawlessness. Are there areas in your life where you tend to lean towards one extreme? How can you find a balance that honors God? [01:23:00]
4. Paul candidly shares his struggles with sin in Romans 7. How can you relate to his experience? Share a personal struggle and discuss how you can find strength in Christ to overcome it. [01:26:45]
5. The sermon mentioned the importance of living a fruit-filled life by walking in the Spirit. Identify one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) that you want to cultivate this week. What specific action will you take to develop this fruit in your interactions with others? [01:37:44]
6. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt the tension between your flesh and the Spirit. How did you respond? What can you do differently next time to ensure you are led by the Spirit? [01:28:47]
7. The sermon highlighted the importance of biblical knowledge in protecting against deception. What is one practical way you can increase your biblical knowledge this week? How will you ensure this knowledge translates into action? [01:07:05]
Devotional
Day 1: The Armor of Biblical Knowledge
Knowing God's Word is essential for true freedom. It protects us from deception and helps us stand firm against the enemy's lies. Without this knowledge, we are vulnerable to being misled and entangled in falsehoods. The Bible is not just a book of stories or moral guidelines; it is the living Word of God, a powerful tool that equips us to discern truth from lies. When we immerse ourselves in Scripture, we build a foundation that can withstand the storms of life and the attacks of the enemy.
In a world filled with conflicting messages and deceptive philosophies, biblical knowledge acts as our compass, guiding us toward God's truth. It is through this knowledge that we can identify and reject the lies that seek to entangle us. As we grow in our understanding of God's Word, we become more adept at recognizing the enemy's tactics and standing firm in our faith. [01:07:05]
Ephesians 6:14-17 (ESV): "Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."
Reflection: Think about a time when you were deceived or misled. How might a deeper knowledge of God's Word have helped you in that situation? What steps can you take today to deepen your understanding of Scripture?
Day 2: Faith in Action
It's not enough to intellectually know the truth; we must believe it deeply and act on it. Paul uses the term "reckon" to describe this deep-seated belief that leads to action. Trusting God's promises should result in a life that reflects that trust. Just as we would trust a gift from a wealthy benefactor, we must trust and act on God's promises.
This means that our faith should be evident in our daily lives. Our actions, decisions, and attitudes should reflect our trust in God's Word. When we truly believe in God's promises, it changes the way we live. We become more courageous, more loving, and more willing to step out in faith. [01:12:51]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Identify one area of your life where your actions do not fully align with your beliefs. What practical steps can you take today to bring your actions in line with your faith?
Day 3: Freedom with Responsibility
True freedom in Christ doesn't mean we can do whatever we want. It means we are free to live a life that honors God. Paul warns against letting sin reign in our mortal bodies and encourages us to present ourselves as instruments of righteousness. This balance between legalism and lawlessness is crucial for living a life that truly reflects our identity in Christ.
Freedom in Christ is not a license to sin but an invitation to live a life that glorifies God. It is about using our freedom to serve others, to love deeply, and to pursue righteousness. This kind of freedom brings true joy and fulfillment, as it aligns us with God's perfect will for our lives. [01:23:00]
Galatians 5:13-14 (ESV): "For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'"
Reflection: In what ways have you misunderstood or misused your freedom in Christ? How can you use your freedom to serve others and honor God today?
Day 4: The Inner Struggle
Even as believers, we will face internal conflicts between our flesh and spirit. Paul candidly shares his struggles in Romans 7, reminding us that the answer to this struggle is found in Christ, who frees us from condemnation. This ongoing battle is a part of our spiritual journey, but we are not left to fight it alone.
Christ has given us the Holy Spirit to empower us and guide us in this battle. By walking in the Spirit, we can overcome the desires of the flesh and live a life that pleases God. This requires daily surrender and reliance on the Holy Spirit, who helps us to live out our new identity in Christ. [01:26:45]
Galatians 5:16-17 (ESV): "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent struggle between your flesh and spirit. How did you respond, and what can you learn from that experience? How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit in your daily battles?
Day 5: Bearing Spiritual Fruit
By walking in the Spirit, we can live a life full of the fruit of the Spirit, leaving evidence of our faith wherever we go. This involves listening, obeying, getting filled, and leaving fruit in every aspect of our lives. The fruit of the Spirit is the visible evidence of a life transformed by Christ.
As we walk in the Spirit, we become more like Christ, and our lives begin to reflect His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This fruit is not something we can produce on our own; it is the result of a life surrendered to the Holy Spirit. [01:37:44]
John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
Reflection: Consider the fruit of the Spirit in your life. Which fruit do you see most evident, and which do you struggle with? How can you more fully abide in Christ to bear more fruit in your daily life?
Quotes
1. "Over the last two weeks we have talked about sin, we've talked about being hooked but if it's okay with you I want to talk about being unhooked because we don't want to be so sin focused and mistake focused that we end up not recognizing that we are free from sin but we are free for God. That make sense? We have been freed and now we have to do something because we have a new identity." [01:01:55] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You have been saved but you're not free. You have, you know, figured out that Christ is your savior but you don't know how to walk in the spirit. That's what it is to be unhooked. You are able to walk in the spirit and you are full of fruit from the spirit." [01:02:20] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "True freedom has to involve growing in what you know about Jesus. You have to grow in what you know about this faith that you have proclaimed. You have to know what God says about you. Because if you are not knowledgeable about that, the enemy can begin to send fiery darts of deception your way. And all of a sudden, you twist up, tie it up, and tangle it up into something that is not biblical." [01:05:15] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What you don't know can hurt you. But what you do know can keep you unhooked. I remember one time I was walking through Target, excuse me, Target. I was walking through Target and this young man walked up to me and he says, do you have a few moments? I'm like, sure. He says, well, I want to talk to you and introduce you to Mother God. I said, wow, Mother God? He says, yes. I want to show you all about a Mother God." [01:07:05] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you have some output in your life that you don't like, if you have results in your life that just, you don't know why it's happening, I encourage you to take a look at the input in your heart. Everyone's not a hater. Everyone is not conspiring against you. The algorithm is just not sitting there waiting to trip you up. But there is something that in the heart that has to be addressed." [01:14:47] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Salvation has already made us free from the penalty of sin, but God wants to move us forward and be free for him, sanctified, holy for him from sin for God. So you just begin to walk it out when the enemy sends his fire. Fiery darts, which are accusations because he's still a liar. He's the father of lie. And I don't care how long you have been seen, been saved. Sin is always going to be there." [01:17:55] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "There is a component of walking in freedom that's up to us. There is a part. And let me be clear. We're not talking about legalism here, where my salvation is based upon my work. That's legalism. See, when I, when I grew up and I first got saved, I would get up, pray, because if you didn't, it was a sin. I would go to work, go in there, look down. If a lady walked by because I didn't want to see it, Lord, keep me go home." [01:21:34] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Just because sin or your flesh calls does not mean you have to answer it. You've been unhooked. It's been severed. So that sin, that desire, that passion that really is there, we're not in denial. It's going to call, but you're unhooked. You don't have to answer, whether it's jealousy, because sometimes we just go to the big sins, right? You know, we're not doing the big stuff. Then we say, oh, we're good. No, no." [01:32:14] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Every conversation, the Holy Spirit will say, this is where you give love. Every time you get ready to go off, this is where the fruit of patience comes in. Even if you don't want to, again, we have to decide to lean into him leading. We have to say, I want a fruit-filled life. No matter where I am, who I'm dealing with, Lord, help me be full of fruit, kindness, self-control. Just read Galatians." [01:37:44] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "I want all of us to start singing this song like you believe it are you ready are you ready are let's go inside and sing it come on I am free i'm a little churchy are flowing the holy spirit I'm going to go to my seat We're just gonna praise him we're just gonna say thank you you Jesus we just don't glorify God for what he has done and if you believe you are free on the count of three just send up a high praise to God I don't care what you sound like ain't nobody listening to you because they're getting" [01:49:28] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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