True Love, Freedom, and God's Wisdom in Community

Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to reflect on the essence of true love and freedom in Christ. The church is not just a building; it is a community where we should feel the presence of God and the love of one another. True love, as described in the Bible, is a connection between God and man, and it should be evident in our interactions. We are called to experience God and each other deeply, fostering a sense of unity and strength within the body of Christ.

Freedom in Christ is another cornerstone of our faith. When Jesus sets us free, we are free indeed. This freedom is not just a legal status but a profound liberation from the bondage of sin and old ways. It is a call to live a life of deliverance and transformation, where the truth of God's word brings light into our lives, dispelling darkness and setting us free from all forms of spiritual captivity.

The sermon also emphasized the importance of knowing God intimately, not just knowing about Him. This relationship is akin to a marriage, where deep, personal knowledge and love are essential. Many people know of God but do not truly know Him, which can lead to a superficial faith that lacks the depth and power of a genuine relationship with the Creator.

Marriage, as designed by God, is foundational to society. It is a sacred union between a man and a woman, intended to be a lifelong commitment. The breakdown of this institution has far-reaching consequences, affecting the stability and moral fabric of our communities. Men, in particular, are called to step into their roles as leaders, protectors, and spiritual heads of their families. The absence of strong, godly men leads to a loss of identity and direction for the next generation.

Finally, the sermon highlighted the sufficiency of God's wisdom for all aspects of life. Everything we need—whether for health, wealth, or relationships—is found within the body of Christ. The wisdom of God requires work and dedication, and it is through this diligent application of His principles that we build strong, enduring foundations for our lives and families.

### Key Takeaways

1. True Love and Community: True love, as defined by the Bible, is a deep connection between God and man, and it should be evident in our church community. When we gather, we should feel strengthened and uplifted by each other's presence, reflecting the love of God in our interactions. This love is not just an emotion but a powerful force that binds us together and makes us stronger. [11:38]

2. Freedom in Christ: The freedom that Christ offers is profound and transformative. It is not merely a legal status but a liberation from the bondage of sin and old ways. This freedom allows us to live a life of deliverance and transformation, where the truth of God's word brings light into our lives, dispelling darkness and setting us free from all forms of spiritual captivity. [15:13]

3. Intimacy with God: Knowing God intimately is crucial for a genuine faith. Many people know of God but do not truly know Him, leading to a superficial faith. This relationship with God should be like a marriage, where deep, personal knowledge and love are essential. Without this intimacy, our faith lacks the depth and power needed to transform our lives. [19:40]

4. The Role of Men in Families: Men are called to be leaders, protectors, and spiritual heads of their families. The absence of strong, godly men leads to a loss of identity and direction for the next generation. Men must step into their roles to provide the stability and moral guidance that their families need, ensuring that their children grow up with a clear sense of identity and purpose. [45:33]

5. Sufficiency of God's Wisdom: Everything we need—whether for health, wealth, or relationships—is found within the body of Christ. The wisdom of God requires work and dedication, and it is through this diligent application of His principles that we build strong, enduring foundations for our lives and families. God's wisdom is sufficient for all aspects of life, and we must rely on it fully. [51:16]

### YouTube Chapters

1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [11:38] - True Love and Community
3. [13:41] - Freedom in Christ
4. [15:13] - Deliverance and Transformation
5. [17:37] - The Infallible Word of God
6. [19:40] - Intimacy with God
7. [21:15] - The Role of the Pastor
8. [24:11] - Accountability and Responsibility
9. [27:03] - The Importance of Doctrine
10. [29:12] - The Foundation of Society
11. [31:38] - Spiritualism and False Teachings
12. [34:10] - The Importance of Marriage
13. [38:30] - God's Design for Marriage
14. [45:33] - The Role of Men in Families
15. [51:16] - Sufficiency of God's Wisdom

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 8:36 (NIV) - "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
2. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV) - "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."
3. Ephesians 5:25-28 (NIV) - "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."

#### Observation Questions
1. According to John 8:36, what does it mean to be set free by the Son? How does this freedom manifest in a believer's life? [13:41]
2. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, what are the characteristics of true love? How should these characteristics be evident in our church community? [11:38]
3. Ephesians 5:25-28 describes the role of husbands in marriage. What specific actions are husbands called to take according to this passage? [45:33]
4. The sermon mentioned that knowing God intimately is crucial for a genuine faith. How is this relationship compared to a marriage? [19:40]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the freedom in Christ described in John 8:36 differ from the concept of freedom in the world? What implications does this have for our daily lives? [15:13]
2. Reflecting on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, why is it important for love to be patient and kind within the church community? How can these attributes strengthen our unity? [11:38]
3. Ephesians 5:25-28 emphasizes the sacrificial love of husbands towards their wives. How does this model Christ's love for the church, and what challenges might arise in living this out? [45:33]
4. The sermon compared our relationship with God to a marriage. What are the dangers of having a superficial faith, and how can we cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God? [19:40]

#### Application Questions
1. True love in the church community should be evident in our interactions. What are some practical ways you can show this love to others in your small group or church this week? [11:38]
2. Reflect on your own experience of freedom in Christ. Are there areas in your life where you still feel bound by old ways or sin? What steps can you take to embrace the freedom Christ offers? [15:13]
3. Knowing God intimately is compared to a marriage in the sermon. What specific practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to deepen your relationship with God? [19:40]
4. The sermon emphasized the role of men as leaders and protectors in their families. If you are a man, how can you step into this role more fully? If you are not, how can you support and encourage the men in your life to fulfill this role? [45:33]
5. The sufficiency of God's wisdom was highlighted as essential for all aspects of life. Identify one area in your life where you need God's wisdom. How can you seek and apply His wisdom in that area this week? [51:16]
6. The sermon mentioned the importance of marriage as a foundation for society. How can you support and strengthen marriages within your church community? [38:30]
7. Reflect on the idea that everything we need is found within the body of Christ. How can you contribute to the well-being and growth of your church community, using the gifts and resources God has given you? [51:16]

Devotional

Day 1: True Love and Community
True love, as defined by the Bible, is a deep connection between God and man, and it should be evident in our church community. When we gather, we should feel strengthened and uplifted by each other's presence, reflecting the love of God in our interactions. This love is not just an emotion but a powerful force that binds us together and makes us stronger. [11:38]

1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: Think of a person in your church community who might be feeling isolated or disconnected. How can you reach out to them this week to show God's love and strengthen the bond within your community?

Day 2: Freedom in Christ
The freedom that Christ offers is profound and transformative. It is not merely a legal status but a liberation from the bondage of sin and old ways. This freedom allows us to live a life of deliverance and transformation, where the truth of God's word brings light into our lives, dispelling darkness and setting us free from all forms of spiritual captivity. [15:13]

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

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel bound by old habits or sin. How can you invite Christ's transformative freedom into this area today?

Day 3: Intimacy with God
Knowing God intimately is crucial for a genuine faith. Many people know of God but do not truly know Him, leading to a superficial faith. This relationship with God should be like a marriage, where deep, personal knowledge and love are essential. Without this intimacy, our faith lacks the depth and power needed to transform our lives. [19:40]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: Reflect on your current relationship with God. What steps can you take to deepen your intimacy with Him, moving beyond just knowing about Him to truly knowing Him?

Day 4: The Role of Men in Families
Men are called to be leaders, protectors, and spiritual heads of their families. The absence of strong, godly men leads to a loss of identity and direction for the next generation. Men must step into their roles to provide the stability and moral guidance that their families need, ensuring that their children grow up with a clear sense of identity and purpose. [45:33]

Ephesians 6:4 (ESV): "Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord."

Reflection: If you are a man, consider how you are fulfilling your role in your family. What is one specific way you can better lead, protect, or spiritually guide your family this week? If you are not a man, how can you support and encourage the men in your life to step into their God-given roles?

Day 5: Sufficiency of God's Wisdom
Everything we need—whether for health, wealth, or relationships—is found within the body of Christ. The wisdom of God requires work and dedication, and it is through this diligent application of His principles that we build strong, enduring foundations for our lives and families. God's wisdom is sufficient for all aspects of life, and we must rely on it fully. [51:16]

James 1:5 (ESV): "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Reflection: Think about a current challenge you are facing. How can you seek and apply God's wisdom to this situation, trusting in His sufficiency to guide you through it?

Quotes

1. "There should be something different when you come to the house of God. There should be something different when you come to the gathering. I was weak until I saw Ashanti. I got stronger when I saw her. When I saw Amanda coming up them stairs, there should be something in me that is strengthened. It's like we, we've come together, but we lost the connection that we should have. Because the Bible says that true love is with God and man." [11:38] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Who the son sets free is free indeed right You can do it now. you can worship him spirit and in truth see the body of Christ we just emancipated I told you that's what we are emancipated don't mean you free I'm gonna tell you again when the slaves were emancipated we free now you can't you can't go buy nothing can't gather you can't buy no property you you can't do nothing but you free no you won't the son sets free is free indeed so when you come to Christ there should be a liberate or liberation from the old bondage you should be free you should feel what you're supposed to feel I'm free delivered." [15:13] (65 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "When you come to Christ there should be a deliverance service I'm gonna say it again when Jesus called Lazarus for he came alive he was dead surely Lord he's thinking he's been in the grave for four days and he that was dead came forth yet he was still bound he was still bound so when you get saved you you got now the recreated spirit still bound still not free still trapped still doing and watching things and being in places and doing stuff we shouldn't you're free from that to be freedom is just like love it's a choice you got people who are incarcerated more free than you they're free in their minds oh my goodness are you free in yours are you still in bondage but be free you deserve to be free died that you could be free oh Jesus my god come to church I want to I want to feel you hear the elder back there reading the word the love chapter see love is the quintessential thing it is the thing that if anything is wrong in your life anything the word of God first of all you have to establish." [17:37] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "The word of God is the infallible word of God the infallible word of God the infallible word of God that it is true if you don't come to that reality that the word of God not my emotions not my past but the word of God is the truth not your truth but the truth then it's going to be hard for you to capture the reality of the rhema the living word and we'll just stay in the logos the red word written word but he said my words are spirit and truth that means you they are alive just like you man is a spirit man is a spirit that possesses a soul he lives in a body but man is a spirit and the word of God is a spirit um inseparable this is why I said let the engrafted word let it be engrafted into you become a part of you the word of God see we we we go with this nonchalant this relationship with God." [19:40] (82 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You know why it's because we really don't know God we know of God everybody in here know Donald Trump don't you yeah you do you know no you don't know him you know of him now I know Obama no dude don't know Obama you know of him because you you walk by him you'll know him but if he walked by you would he know who you were so this is how God is we know of God we know a lot of things of God but do we actually know him are we into intimate with him intertwined with him like a marriage that's why the marriage is so important because it's a representation of the relationship that we supposed to have got a lot of people know him but we don't know him because we don't know him before we have a marriage I pray that this love is that we try finding our people love in him this is how he can say the scripture depart from me I never knew you we don't want to hear that scripture depart from me well they must've thought they were a part of him if he tells you depart from me you can't depart from anything you were never apart of hello he says depart from me I never knew and hold on wait a minute then we heal the sick didn't we prophesied then we pray and unlike God everything was souls therefore he coughing맩 raise the dead in your name yes you use my name because the power is in my name but you don't know me so a lot of us come to church we just come but we don't know God we do all the religious things but we don't know God we think we feel good because you came one time we don't know God that's not a relationship you marry you see your wife once a year that's not a relationship oh this is the truth in here I don't I don't play with God's in it in his word I have a mandate on." [21:15] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "My job description for you today that's my job I'm to feed you with wisdom knowledge and understanding come let us reason see spiritual things we don't take seriously but this is my job this is why you here today my job is to do exactly what it says now can I show you another scripture go to Hebrews you know God gave them this gift here when they were in rebellion now what kind of father is that give you a gift when you rebel that's the context of that scripture that the children of Israel were in rebellion they were serving other gods they were marrying other gods God said you know I love you so much I'm gonna show you how merciful I am you know even when you don't raise your hands even when you don't come to church even when you don't pray when you don't read your word you say I'm gonna show you how merciful I'm gonna give you a shepherd to help you amen context is everything amen you're welcome Harold you are so welcome see watch this he gonna fall right into this scripture you ready man of God." [24:11] (84 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "The attack is happening because the family, watch this, is the primary place where culture, where values, and convictions are set and develop in our homes by our parents. So when that father is not in place, now he doesn't have, that child doesn't have the identity that the father was supposed to impact on them or impart into them. That, baby, you are a girl. And, son, you are a boy. It's not there now. So when you remove him, now their identity, they can choose their identities. They can choose their identities. Because the father is there, not there. Then he overcomes it. He opens them up. He opens their child up to everything. This is just a recap. But we need to know these things. Husbands, we need to know these things. Just like I'm accountable to you, you're accountable, watch this, to your family. Naturally and spiritually. Y'all all right? Oh, you're getting a lot today. You're getting what you need today. This is what God is, this is what's going, this is what's wrong with the world. It's not politics, left, right, ring, left ring, white ring. It's not that. The issue with a society is the foundation." [51:16] (89 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "The foundation of any nation is the father. That's why they call it the founding fathers. It establishes the direction of a nation. And you are a nation. Where's our foundation? They don't condemn a house because the window is broke or there's a leak in the ceiling. They condemn a house. A house when the foundation is cracked and compromised. That's what you are. That's what you are. That's what you are. That's what you are. That's what the man is. You are the foundation. And the family is the foundation of the kingdom. God wanted a family. That's why he called us children. Y'all all right? So, of course, he's going to attack that. He attacks the foundation because that's what brings the compromise of the structure. That's what jeopardizes the stability of the structure is the foundation. Amen. Marriage is foundational to the survival of humanity because everything that you see in the world was birthed racism, the violence, the terror was birthed in the home, and now it becomes the society issue. See that? This is what we live for. This is what we're living in. I say marriage is biological, male and female." [52:00] (109 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Marriage was designed, watch this, forever. It was designed from forever. Oh, one of the things I left y'all with last week. Marriage is forever. Don't enter into marriage or that union with the idea when things get rough, it's time for you to bail out. I got an answer for the men today. I got a good answer for y'all. Y'all want help? I got help. I got help if you want help. You know, it's like you throw the ball. You throw the raff out to a person that's drowning. You did your part, but they won't go to the raff. They won't put their hand out to grab it. I'm trying to get some of the men to grab that raff today so we can get you out of ... Women, what y'all want? They know what they want. They ask their men, they be like, they know what they want. They know what they want. You know why? Because they know their job. What's making it difficult? What's making it difficult? Let me finish this, y'all. Let me tell y'all something. What's making it difficult for the women and why it seems like it's hard is because the man doesn't know his purpose, and she's designed to work with his purpose. So he's malfunctioning, which caused her to malfunction. She's just more upset than you are. She's like, I'm tired of malfunctioning, of malfunctioning. I'm tired. But marriage is forever. I'm going to help us with this, y'all. I'm going to help y'all. I'm going to help. I'm going to help you. I'm going to help y'all today. If you don't get nothing today, you don't get help. Y'all can get help." [53:06] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "I believe the wisdom of God can handle any situation in existence. Watch this. Is the part. It just takes wisdom. The wisdom of God. Listen. Takes work. That's what we don't get. Okay. Y'all know. I got side. Nose. Right. I got a. I a. Side. Second. Just a. Second. I got a closing. Now. I believe. Pastor. Rudy. Every. Situation. In. Existence. Can. Be. Answered. By. The. Wisdom. Of. God. But. Takes. Work. This. Is. The. Missing. Element. My. End. Here. Watch. This. Listen. Here's. A. Key. To. Wisdom. Whenever. You. Hear. The. Word. Wisdom. You. Must. Think. Work. Go. To. Proverbs. 24. 3. Amplified. See. Where. The. Scriptures. Life. Need. This. Oh. Jesus. There. It. Go. All. Right. I. Need. Y'all. To. Take. Birth. Into. My. Families. Avery. I. Need. This. To. Be. Birth. Inside. Of. You. I. Need. You. To. Conceive. This. Look. At. This. All. Right. Glory. To. God. I. Love. Y'all. I. Love. Y'all. Y'all. Listen. To. This. This. Is. The. Key. Prophet. Is. This. Is. What. We're. Missing. When. We. Understand. Wisdom. We're. Not. Thinking. Work. This. Is. The. Missing. This. Is. The. Missing. Key. This. Is. The. Revelation. Right. Here. When. We. Hear. Wisdom. We. Have. The. Wisdom. Of. God. We. Want. The. Wisdom. Of. God. And. We. Miss. The. Work. Element. To. Wisdom. We. Just. Want. Everything. Just. To. Follow. That. Lab. I. Got. Wisdom. Now. Listen. To. This. Man. Of. God. Read." [12:20] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?