Steps to True Freedom in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Recognize Your Need for Divine Help

Acknowledging that you need help is the first step toward true freedom. Just as the prodigal son "came to himself" and realized his dire situation, we too must come to a point of self-awareness. This means admitting our struggles and recognizing that we cannot overcome them on our own. It is a humbling experience but a necessary one. Without this acknowledgment, the subsequent steps toward freedom become irrelevant. We must seek God's intervention, understanding that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. This step is crucial because it sets the foundation for the transformative journey ahead. [07:39]

Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

Reflection: What specific area of your life do you need to acknowledge your need for God's help? Take a moment to pray and ask God to intervene in that area today.

Day 2: Embrace True Repentance

True repentance involves a change of mind and heart. It is not merely about turning away from sin but also about changing how we see ourselves and God. Repentance is a continual process that should be part of every Christian's life. It requires us to be honest with ourselves and with God, admitting our faults and seeking His forgiveness. This change of mind and heart leads to a transformation in our actions and attitudes. Repentance is not a one-time event but a daily practice of aligning our lives with God's will. [10:34]

Acts 3:19 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."

Reflection: Is there a specific sin or attitude you need to repent of today? How can you change your mind and heart about this issue to align more closely with God's will?

Day 3: Renounce the Lies of the Enemy

Every bondage begins with a lie. To break free, we must identify and renounce these lies, renewing our minds with God's truth. The story of the prodigal son's older brother illustrates how even those who appear faithful can be in bondage to lies. These lies can take many forms, such as feelings of unworthiness, jealousy, or bitterness. By renouncing these lies and replacing them with the truth of God's Word, we can break free from the strongholds that keep us in bondage. This step is essential for experiencing true freedom in Christ. [20:22]

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV): "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."

Reflection: What lies have you believed about yourself or God? Identify one lie today and replace it with a specific truth from God's Word.

Day 4: Receive the Gifts of the Father

To walk in freedom, we must receive God's gifts of righteousness, authority, and power. These gifts equip us to stand against the enemy and live as true sons and daughters of God. The prodigal son received his father's gifts upon his return, symbolizing restoration and acceptance. Similarly, we must accept the gifts that God offers us, understanding that they empower us to live victoriously. These gifts are not earned but freely given by our loving Father. Embracing these gifts allows us to walk in the fullness of our identity in Christ. [30:28]

Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might."

Reflection: Have you fully received the gifts of righteousness, authority, and power from God? How can you begin to walk in these gifts more fully today?

Day 5: Bring Hidden Sins into the Light

Freedom requires bringing our hidden sins into the light. Confessing to God and others breaks the power of darkness and allows us to walk in true freedom. The older son in the prodigal story remained in bondage to bitterness and jealousy because he kept his feelings hidden. By bringing our hidden sins into the light, we align ourselves with God's will and experience His transformative power. This step proves how badly we want to be free and opens the door for God's healing and restoration in our lives. [18:57]

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: Is there a hidden sin you need to bring into the light? Consider confessing it to a trusted friend or mentor and ask for their prayers and support.

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, Harvest family! Today, we conclude our series, "Truly Free," which has been transformative for many of us. Despite recent controversies involving Pastor Robert Morris, we must remember that our faith is rooted in the Word of God, not in any individual. The Bible remains powerful and effective, regardless of who delivers its message. We continue to pray for all affected and focus on the freedom that Christ offers.

Freedom is a journey that involves both deliverance and discipleship. Today, I want to focus on deliverance and provide four steps to achieving true freedom. First, acknowledge that you need help. Like the prodigal son who "came to himself," we must recognize our need for God's intervention. Second, repent to God and to others. True repentance involves a change of mind and heart, not just turning away from sin but also changing how we see ourselves and God. Third, renounce the lies of the enemy. Every bondage begins with a lie, and we must renew our minds to break free from these strongholds. Lastly, receive the gifts of the Father—His righteousness, authority, and power.

The story of the prodigal son illustrates these steps beautifully. The younger son acknowledged his need for help, repented, and received his father's gifts. The older son, however, remained in bondage to bitterness and jealousy, despite never leaving home. This shows that even those who appear faithful can be in bondage. We must bring our hidden sins into the light to experience true freedom.

As we conclude, I invite you to stand and receive prayer for freedom. Open your hearts and minds to God's transformative power. Repent, renounce the lies, and receive the gifts of the Father. Let us walk in the freedom that Christ has secured for us, sharing this freedom with others and living as true sons and daughters of God.

###

Key Takeaways

1. K3M9GE&t=459s'>[07:39]
2. Repent to God and Others: True repentance involves a change of mind and heart. It's not just about turning away from sin but also changing how we see ourselves and God. Repentance is a continual process that should be part of every Christian's life.

3. Renounce the Lies of the Enemy: Every bondage begins with a lie. To break free, we must identify and renounce these lies, renewing our minds with God's truth. The story of the prodigal son's older brother illustrates how even those who appear faithful can be in bondage to lies.

4. Receive the Gifts of the Father: To walk in freedom, we must receive God's gifts of righteousness, authority, and power. These gifts equip us to stand against the enemy and live as true sons and daughters of God.

5. Bring Hidden Sins into the Light: Freedom requires bringing our hidden sins into the light. Confessing to God and others breaks the power of darkness and allows us to walk in true freedom. This step proves how badly we want to be free and aligns us with God's will.

### [07:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:30] - Addressing Recent Controversies
[02:42] - The Power of God's Word
[03:48] - The Journey to Freedom
[05:07] - Acknowledging the Need for Help
[07:39] - The Prodigal Son's Realization
[09:09] - The Importance of Repentance
[10:34] - Changing Your Mind
[11:57] - Continuous Repentance
[13:09] - Repentance in Revelation
[14:34] - God's Relenting and Repentance
[15:47] - Making Things Right with Others
[17:23] - Confessing to God and Others
[18:57] - Bringing Sins into the Light
[20:22] - Renouncing the Lies of the Enemy
[21:38] - The Older Son's Bondage
[23:08] - The Father's Gifts
[24:22] - God's Promises
[25:03] - The Older Son's Envy
[26:00] - Common Bondages
[27:01] - The Lie of Favoritism
[28:04] - Lies in the Family of God
[29:23] - Our New Family in Christ
[29:57] - Receiving the Father's Gifts
[30:28] - The Robe of Righteousness
[31:10] - The Ring of Authority
[32:10] - The Sandals of Power
[33:31] - Invitation to Receive Jesus
[34:21] - The Great Exchange
[35:25] - Surrendering to Jesus
[36:01] - The Enemy's Accusations
[36:25] - Confession and Salvation
[37:15] - Invitation to Surrender
[38:12] - Prayer of Salvation
[39:19] - Declarations of Freedom
[40:14] - Recognizing Bondages
[40:45] - Taking Authority Over the Enemy
[41:27] - Posture of Repentance
[42:52] - Bringing Things into the Light
[44:58] - Receiving Freedom
[46:26] - Declarations Against Bondages
[48:34] - Declaring Freedom
[50:36] - Receiving the Holy Spirit
[52:13] - Final Worship and Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 15:17-24 (ESV) — > "But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate."

2. Romans 12:2 (ESV)
> "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."

3. 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."

Observation Questions

In the story of the prodigal son, what was the first step the younger son took towards his journey to freedom? (Luke 15:17)
According to Romans 12:2, what is necessary for transformation and renewal in a believer's life?
What does James 5:16 say about the importance of confessing sins to one another?

Interpretation Questions

How does the prodigal son's realization and return to his father illustrate the concept of acknowledging one's need for help? (Luke 15:17) [07:39]
What does it mean to "renew your mind" according to Romans 12:2, and how does this relate to breaking free from bondage? [20:22]
Why is it important to confess our sins to others as stated in James 5:16, and how does this practice contribute to our healing and freedom? [15:47]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you had to acknowledge your need for help. How did this acknowledgment impact your journey towards freedom? [07:39]
In what areas of your life do you need to renew your mind? What practical steps can you take this week to start this process? [20:22]
Have you ever experienced the power of confessing your sins to another person? How did it affect your relationship with God and others? [15:47]
The sermon mentioned the importance of renouncing the lies of the enemy. Identify a lie you have believed about yourself. How can you replace it with God's truth? [20:22]
The prodigal son received gifts from his father upon his return. What gifts has God given you, and how can you use them to walk in freedom? [30:28]
How can you bring hidden sins into the light in your own life? What steps will you take to confess and seek accountability this week? [18:57]
Think about someone in your life who might be struggling with bondage. How can you share the message of freedom in Christ with them this week? [33:31]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "We don't preach the word of Robert Morris; we preach the word of God. The Bible says the word of God is without repentance. Listen to me, if an unbeliever preached the word of God, it's still sharp and powerful, right? And guys, I pray and believe and I hope that that was truly a moment of freedom in Robert Morris's life. Nobody else has come forward in two weeks and I pray now it doesn't change the fact I can't make no excuse for him whatsoever. Unfortunately, we suffer the consequences of our actions, right? Regardless, we're forgiven and I'm praying and believing for him. I mean, it's under the blood, right? But we still suffer the consequences of our actions in the earth and unfortunately, that's part of it." [01:30] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Freedom, guys, this is not something weird and spooky. This is something authoritative that comes through the power of the name of Jesus. This is a good thing. And so we're going to talk about this and we're going to talk about we need to train our minds to think differently. We talked about that a little bit a couple weeks ago about the mind, how we got to change our thoughts." [06:21] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If you left your house today, if you left a window open or door open, a thief can come in, right? He doesn't own your home. Maybe we should say it this way: he doesn't possess your home, right? But he can wreak havoc and he can steal, kill, and destroy, right? He can come in and he can take things that belong to you. In the same way, we talked about if you take a substance into your body like drugs or alcohol or something like that, as a believer, as a follower of Jesus, you take those things into your body, those things don't own you, they don't possess you, but they can influence you, right? Even though you're a Christian." [05:07] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The only people I found that can't get free of bondage and strongholds in life are the people who won't admit that they got a problem in the first place. Oh, it's not a problem, it's just, it's really not a problem. Not a problem, really. The only people who can't get free are the people who won't admit that they have a problem. Now, if you think about it, guys, it's very simple. Simply acknowledging that you have an issue, confessing it to the Lord, and recognizing that He will free you." [07:39] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you want to get right with me, go get right with your brother. Go get right with your sister first. And then, come to me. James 5:16 says, confess your trespasses. Other versions say sins. Confess your trespasses to who? To one another and pray for one another that you might be healed. Now, if you look up the word healed there, it actually means to be free, to be free from error, to be free from sin. So we could translate this scripture. Another way of saying it would be confess your sins to one another that you might be free." [15:47] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "We need to repent to God and we need to also repent to others. So the prodigal son, he goes and it says he repents to God. He repents to his father. Now, this is so important. Guys, we're quick to repent to God, but you know, it's different when it comes to a place of making things right with others. We feel like, well, I confess and I repented for God. I'm forgiven. But then we don't ever take that next step and go to others. But do you recognize how important forgiveness is? And making things right with others is to our relationship with God." [14:34] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The older son is in bondage. He was in bondage of bitterness and unforgiveness and resentment and hate and jealousy and envy. He's in bondage. And he's sitting right there at home with the father like everything is A-OK. And suddenly it takes his brother coming home to realize that he's in bondage too. And he decides he ain't going to the party. Right? And it's funny because when we tell the story of the prodigal son, there's always people that sit in church and hear that story. And we sit there in our pride and say, well, I've never backslidden. I've never been a prodigal before. I've never done this. I've never been perfect. But I've never done the things that that person sitting over there has done." [27:01] (54 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You are part of a new family. It doesn't matter what your family looked like growing up. You're part of a new family now. And you know what the Word of God says? What does it say? I started making a list. It says that you're a child of the Most High God. It says that you are born again by the Word of God. You are kept by the power of God. You're sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise. Amen? It says that you are seated in heavenly places. He has put all things under your feet. He has given you authority over all the power of the enemy. You are more than a conqueror through Him. You always triumph in Him. Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world. That's a family you're a part of now. So stop buying into the lies." [29:23] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So here's the thing. You've got to receive these gifts of the Father in order to get free and to stay free. So what are the steps to freedom? Acknowledge that you need help. Repent to God and repent to others. Renounce the lies of the enemy. Stop believing the lies and change your mind. And then lastly, receive the gifts of the Father to stand against the enemy. Authority, righteousness, and power. Amen?" [32:47] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If you believe those things, and you receive those things, you are free. The enemy and every demonic stronghold has to go. If you meant it with all your heart, if you truly repented, if you changed your mind, the enemy has to go. He has no choice. You're going to leave, and he's going to be yelling from the distance. I don't, you didn't really get free. You can never be free. You remember what you did? Say no. It's not what God's Word says. The Bible says we silence him with our praise. Begin to declare who your God is, and the enemy will be silenced, and you can live free of condemnation and guilt and shame, and you can walk in true freedom in your life, the authority of Jesus' name. Amen?" [50:36] (71 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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