Are You Really Free?
June 21 – 25, 2003

You might say you live in a free country and can do whatever you wish. But let me ask you a question, are you truly free?

• Are you free to worship God as you wish? Yes
• Are you free to decide on whom to vote for? Yes.
• Are you free to choose where you can live? Yes.

I could go on and on about the different questions and all would be yes, except for one:

Are you truly free?

You’ll probably give me a blank stare and look like a deer caught in the headlights. What do you mean am I truly free?

Do you live, as you really want to? I mean are you really satisfied with your life so far? Yes, but…

But what?

Not enough money, time or choices to make? Do the ways of the world get you down?

Are you enslaved to your career, home, family, wealth, and your drug of choice?

Do you try to "keep up with the Jones’," only to find yourself falling behind on your credit cards?

Then my friend you are truly free.. But you’re thinking, "How can I be free?"

Freedom for most of us is external, but many of us have not been free on the internal.

We spend too much time in things we think are important, but in the end, not eternally important.

We tend to believe that career, family and lifestyle are vital to our success. But as the Bible says, "the ways of the world are foolish."

Even Jesus warned in Luke 9:25, "What good if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul?"

We spend so much time making sure that our children go to the right school, get the right job, but hardly have any time knowing if our children are really happy.

We spend a lifetime collecting a war chest of awards and accolades and never wonder, "Will anybody care 100 or 200 years from now?"

We spend so much time wrapped up in ourselves and God is someone we hardly have any time for.

Is He the last person you ask for help, or your first?

Is He the center of your life or another person in you life?

Because without God, you are not truly free. Instead your life is controlled by the world, your peers or your pride.

In John 8:36, "If the Son of Man sets you free, then you are free."

But how do I get free?

1. Believe in Christ Jesus like Paul did. Don’t just go to church, give your money and go home. Truly believe that God has a purpose for your life.
2. Read your Bible daily. Just like your medication, if you don’t take it daily, it won’t work.
3. Ask God for direction in your life. Seek Him daily, listen to His voice. For God knows the answers that will best for you. He knows what you want before you ask.

God wants you to be free, free from fear, hatred and worry. Won’t you start today?