Renouncing Control: Embracing Freedom in Christ
Summary
### Summary
In our ongoing series on tearing down strongholds and breaking curses, today's focus is on the concept of renouncing. We began by reflecting on the story of King Edward VIII, who renounced his throne for love, drawing a parallel to our need to renounce the throne of our lives to Jesus. Many of us try to control our lives, but true freedom comes when we step down and let Jesus take the throne. This act of renouncing is not just about confessing sins but also about formally abandoning them, as highlighted in Proverbs 28:13, which states that those who confess and renounce their sins find mercy.
We explored the example of the Ephesians in the book of Acts, who publicly renounced their former ways by burning their sorcery books, symbolizing a complete break from their past. This act of renouncing is crucial for breaking free from spiritual entanglements and demonic attachments. It's a step beyond repentance, requiring us to identify and abandon specific sins and harmful practices.
Renouncing involves more than just personal sins; it also includes rejecting the negative influences and curses that have been placed upon us by others. We discussed the importance of renouncing hidden things of dishonesty, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:2, and went through a list of things from Galatians 5:19-21 that need to be renounced, such as sexual immorality, idolatry, jealousy, and more.
The sermon emphasized that renouncing is a personal responsibility. While others can support and pray for us, the act of renouncing must be done by each individual. We shared stories of people who struggled to renounce their past and the consequences they faced, underscoring the importance of taking this step for true freedom.
Finally, we were reminded that renouncing is not just about rejecting evil but also about allowing God to redeem our brokenness. Just as Joseph in Genesis 50:20 saw God turn evil plans into good, we too must give our burdens to God for Him to transform them. The story of Robert, a man redeemed from a life of rejection, illustrated the power of God's redemption when we renounce our past.
### Key Takeaways
1. Renouncing the Throne of Our Lives: Just as King Edward VIII renounced his throne for love, we must renounce the throne of our lives to Jesus. This act of stepping down and letting Jesus take control is essential for true freedom and spiritual growth. [01:49]
2. Confession and Renunciation: Proverbs 28:13 teaches that confessing and renouncing sins leads to mercy. It's not enough to merely confess; we must also formally abandon our sins and harmful practices to break free from spiritual entanglements. [04:55]
3. Public Acts of Renunciation: The Ephesians' public burning of their sorcery books in Acts serves as a powerful example of renouncing past sins and practices. This act symbolizes a complete break from the past and a commitment to a new way of life. [06:28]
4. Personal Responsibility in Renouncing: While others can support and pray for us, the act of renouncing must be done by each individual. It's a personal responsibility that requires us to identify and abandon specific sins and harmful influences. [11:29]
5. God's Redemption Through Renunciation: Renouncing is not just about rejecting evil but also about allowing God to redeem our brokenness. By giving our burdens to God, we enable Him to transform our lives, just as He did for Joseph and Robert. [24:32]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:49] - Allegiance to Jesus
[03:26] - Renouncing the Throne of Your Life
[04:55] - Confession and Renunciation
[06:28] - Example of the Ephesians
[08:06] - Identifying Hindrances
[09:41] - Personal Stories of Renunciation
[11:29] - Personal Responsibility
[13:01] - Consequences of Not Renouncing
[14:31] - Challenges of Change
[16:04] - Spiritual Work of Renouncing
[17:33] - List of Things to Renounce
[19:45] - Guided by the Holy Spirit
[21:20] - Generational Curses
[22:51] - Opposing Evil
[24:32] - God's Redemption
[26:18] - Story of Robert
[31:25] - Renounce so God Can Redeem
[32:16] - Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 28:13 - "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."
2. Acts 19:18-19 - "Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars."
3. Genesis 50:20 - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 28:13 say about the relationship between confessing and renouncing sins? How does this lead to mercy? [04:55]
2. In Acts 19:18-19, what did the Ephesians do to publicly renounce their past practices? What was the significance of their actions? [06:28]
3. How did Joseph in Genesis 50:20 view the evil plans against him, and what was God's role in those plans? [24:32]
4. According to the sermon, what are some specific things that need to be renounced as listed in Galatians 5:19-21? [17:33]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important to not only confess but also renounce sins according to Proverbs 28:13? How does this dual action contribute to finding mercy? [04:55]
2. What does the public burning of sorcery books by the Ephesians symbolize about their commitment to a new way of life? How does this act of renunciation help in breaking spiritual entanglements? [06:28]
3. How does the story of Joseph in Genesis 50:20 illustrate the concept of God redeeming our brokenness? What does this teach us about handling the evil plans against us? [24:32]
4. The sermon mentioned that renouncing is a personal responsibility. Why is it crucial for each individual to take this step themselves, and what are the consequences of not doing so? [11:29]
#### Application Questions
1. Have you ever tried to control your own life instead of letting Jesus take the throne? What steps can you take to renounce the throne of your life to Jesus this week? [01:49]
2. Reflect on a specific sin or harmful practice in your life. How can you formally abandon it, and what support do you need from your small group to do so? [04:55]
3. Are there any items or practices in your life that symbolize a past you need to renounce, similar to the Ephesians burning their sorcery books? What practical steps can you take to remove these from your life? [06:28]
4. Think about a negative influence or curse that has been placed upon you by others. How can you identify and renounce these influences to find freedom? [16:04]
5. How can you allow God to redeem your brokenness? Identify a specific burden you need to give to God and discuss how you can trust Him to transform it. [24:32]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of personal responsibility in renouncing. What is one specific area in your life where you need to take responsibility and renounce something? How can your small group support you in this? [11:29]
7. Reflect on the story of Robert. How can you be more open to God's redemption in your life, especially in areas where you feel rejected or thrown away? What steps can you take to invite God's transformative power into these areas? [26:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Renouncing Control to Jesus
Description: Just as King Edward VIII renounced his throne for love, we must renounce the throne of our lives to Jesus. This act of stepping down and letting Jesus take control is essential for true freedom and spiritual growth. Many of us try to control our lives, but true freedom comes when we step down and let Jesus take the throne. This act of renouncing is not just about confessing sins but also about formally abandoning them, as highlighted in Proverbs 28:13, which states that those who confess and renounce their sins find mercy. [01:49]
Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Day 2: Confession and Renunciation
Description: Proverbs 28:13 teaches that confessing and renouncing sins leads to mercy. It's not enough to merely confess; we must also formally abandon our sins and harmful practices to break free from spiritual entanglements. Renouncing involves more than just personal sins; it also includes rejecting the negative influences and curses that have been placed upon us by others. We discussed the importance of renouncing hidden things of dishonesty, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 4:2, and went through a list of things from Galatians 5:19-21 that need to be renounced, such as sexual immorality, idolatry, jealousy, and more. [04:55]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: Think of a specific sin or harmful practice you need to renounce. How can you take a concrete step today to formally abandon it and seek God's mercy?
Day 3: Public Acts of Renunciation
Description: The Ephesians' public burning of their sorcery books in Acts serves as a powerful example of renouncing past sins and practices. This act symbolizes a complete break from the past and a commitment to a new way of life. Renouncing is a step beyond repentance, requiring us to identify and abandon specific sins and harmful practices. This act of renouncing is crucial for breaking free from spiritual entanglements and demonic attachments. It's a step beyond repentance, requiring us to identify and abandon specific sins and harmful practices. [06:28]
Acts 19:18-19 (ESV): "Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver."
Reflection: Is there a public or symbolic act you can take to renounce a past sin or harmful practice? How can this act serve as a commitment to a new way of life?
Day 4: Personal Responsibility in Renouncing
Description: While others can support and pray for us, the act of renouncing must be done by each individual. It's a personal responsibility that requires us to identify and abandon specific sins and harmful influences. We shared stories of people who struggled to renounce their past and the consequences they faced, underscoring the importance of taking this step for true freedom. Renouncing involves more than just personal sins; it also includes rejecting the negative influences and curses that have been placed upon us by others. [11:29]
Galatians 6:5 (ESV): "For each will have to bear his own load."
Reflection: What specific sins or harmful influences do you need to take personal responsibility for renouncing? How can you begin this process today, even if it feels challenging?
Day 5: God's Redemption Through Renunciation
Description: Renouncing is not just about rejecting evil but also about allowing God to redeem our brokenness. By giving our burdens to God, we enable Him to transform our lives, just as He did for Joseph and Robert. The story of Robert, a man redeemed from a life of rejection, illustrated the power of God's redemption when we renounce our past. Just as Joseph in Genesis 50:20 saw God turn evil plans into good, we too must give our burdens to God for Him to transform them. [24:32]
Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."
Reflection: What burdens or past experiences do you need to give to God for His redemption? How can you actively invite God to transform these areas of your life today?
Quotes
1. "There's only one person I do that with. That's Jesus. Let me ask you today, have you ever asked Jesus to take over the kingship of your life? The throne of your life? You see, we all have a throne of our life. And we all try to play king of our own life. We all try to be godly. We all try to be god of our own life. The question is, have you stepped down from the throne of your life?" [01:49] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Some people are awesome at confessing their sins. Like they make a list. Okay. Listen, listen carefully. Some of you have done a really good job at making your list of everybody that you've hurt, everybody you've offended, everything you've ever done wrong. Okay. That's great. That's step one. That's part of it. Confess and renounce. So when you confess and renounce, you find mercy. So this is a process of identifying specific sins. Not general, like father, forgive me for I've sinned." [04:55] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "What are the things, the attitudes, the systems that you participate with, the structures that are around you, the things that you've just been okay with? Maybe it's clubs. Maybe it's something else. What are the things that you need to get rid of hinder you, that harm you, that slow you down from your relationship with Jesus, from finding true and complete freedom? That's what we're talking about. Man. Some things that slow you down, renounce it." [08:06] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "I can't renounce things for you. I wish it worked that way because your life would be a lot easier, okay? But it doesn't work that way. I can join you. I can pray with you, for you, over you, next to you, around you, under you, but at the end of the day, you got to do it. You have to renounce it. At the end of the day, you've got to do the work. And it's hard. Truth is, it's hard. And for each person, there are things that are unique to you, man, that you got to fight through." [11:29] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you want freedom, there's renouncing that has to take place. And there's moments in your life when you come up to a moment and you have the big reveal or revelation, and it's time to renounce. And that's what happens. And that's time to deal with it. And now you need to deal. And we know, we talked about last week for a little bit, sometimes it's difficult to change. We get it. It's hard to change. You're like, Pastor Kurt, I've been dealing with this for 30 years. Well, it'd be nice not to deal with it anymore, right?" [13:01] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "You know what all that stuff is? That's all stuff you can renounce. All of it is. It's all stuff that you can do real spiritual work on. It's hard to change, and we know that you need the help of the Lord and you need the help of each other. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4, verse 2, it says, but they have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully. There's that word renounced again." [16:04] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "We all have suitcases. Some suitcases you pack, and other suitcases other people pack. The suitcases that you pack, that's on you. And we all got suitcases, and we know what's in there. And we got to give those things to Jesus. Amen. But there are suitcases that we didn't pack. But that's baggage that we need to give to Jesus too. You see, when we're doing this renouncing thing, we're not just renouncing the things that we were involved in, that we were responsible for. We're also renouncing the things that were done to us." [21:20] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "Somehow people have been deceived into thinking that we're supposed to accept the evil stuff that has taken place in to our life is somehow some part of God's unknowable plan. But the overwhelming evidence of scripture is that we are never to accept evil as anyhow part of God's plan. We are always supposed to oppose evil, not accept it. We are never to agree with evil, never to accept evil. We are always to denounce and renounce evil." [22:51] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Renounce so God can redeem. Renounce so God can redeem. Don't get it messed up. This has to be done under the power of the Holy Spirit. It's the Son that set you free, not you who set you free. You do the renouncing. Spirit does the freeing. So you do your part. God does His part. Okay? So today, maybe there's a suitcase full of baggage that you need to renounce. Maybe there's one of those things from the list. It's time to renounce." [31:25] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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