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19.DOC
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1994-12-16
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ESSAY 19
WHAT IS FREEDOM?
Some believe that they are free when they are really
under bondage. On the other hand, some have said that there
is no real freedom--that it is an illusion. What is the truth
of the matter?
It is apparent that many choices have been made for us.
We cannot choose our biological parents, our gender, or the
country in which we were born. And, we have been conditioned
by our parents, our culture and our own unique experiences.
However, there are certain decisions that we can make.
What is freedom? "Freedom is the gift of God. It is (1)
discovering the will of God; (2) loving the will of God; and
(3) doing the will of God as a lifestyle."
1. HOW DO WE DISCOVER THE WILL OF GOD? There are at least
three ways to discover the will of God.
1.1 Through knowing and studying the Lord Jesus Christ,
the Living Word:
God, who at sundry times and in divers manners
spake in time past unto the fathers by the proph-
ets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by
whom also he made the worlds; Who being the bright-
ness of his glory, and the express image of his
person, and upholding all things by the word of his
power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat
down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:
(Hebrews 1:1-3).
Isaiah prophesied about Jesus, who would set us free:
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the
LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto
the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-
hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and
the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and
the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all
that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in
Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil
of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for
the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called
trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD,
that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:1-3).
1.2 Through studying the written Word of God:
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto
my path. (Psalm 119:105).
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth
understanding unto the simple. (Psalm, 119:130).
Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on
him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my
disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth,
and THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE [Italics mine].
They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were
never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye
shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily,
verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth
sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:31-34).
1.3 Through the direct leading of the Holy Spirit.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the
Holy Spirit comes to live in us in a special way:
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God. For ye have not received the
spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have
received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry,
Abba, Father. (Romans 8:14-15).
The Holy Spirit will communicate the will of God to us.
2. HOW DO WE COME TO LOVE THE WILL OF GOD? If we knew the
will of God, but did not want to do it, doing it would be a
"bondage" to us.
2.1 God gives us a desire to do his will,
for it is God who works in you to will and to act
according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13,
NIV).
2.2 The will of God is the way of love,
. . .for God is love." (1 John 4:8).
God's will is to help people:
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore
love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:10).
2.3 God's will is the only right thing to do:
For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth
cometh knowledge and understanding. (Proverb 2:6).
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and
instruction, and understanding. (Proverb 23:23).
2.4 God's Word is precious:
Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counse-
lors. (Psalm 119:24).
Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy
law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy
judgments have I laid before me. (Psalm 119:29-30).
And I WILL WALK AT LIBERTY [Italics mine]: for I
seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies
also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I
will delight myself in thy commandments, which I
have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy
commandments, which I have loved; and I will
meditate in thy statutes. (Psalm 119:45-48).
O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the
day. (Psalm 119:97).
Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea,
above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy pre-
cepts concerning all things to be right; and I
hate every false way. Thy testimonies are wonder-
ful: therefore doth my soul keep them. (Psalm 119
:127-129).
Great peace have they which love thy law: and noth-
ing shall offend them. LORD, I have hoped for thy
salvation, and done thy commandments. My soul hath
kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly.
(Psalm 119:165-167).
2.5 God's Word brings life:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto
my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes;
keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are
life unto those that find them, and health to all
their flesh. (Proverbs 4:20-22).
2.6 God's Word brings freedom:
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free. (John 8:32).
3. HOW CAN WE DO THE WILL OF GOD? First, we must be
delivered from the power of sin and sinful bondage.
3.1 God sets us free:
But now being made free from sin, and become ser-
vants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and
the end everlasting life. (Romans 6:22).
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus
hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
(Romans 8:2).
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith
Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage. (Galatians 5:1).
3.2 God gives us the power to do his will. Then
we experience the greatest measure of self-actuali-
zation as we fulfill God's plan for our lives.
When we come to the end of our lives, all of us
want to look back on our lives and feel that we
have made a positive difference in our world. God
empowers us from inside:
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy
Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses
unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the
earth. (Acts 1:8).
In summary, freedom is knowing the right thing to do
(God's will); wanting to do it (loving God's will); and do-
ing it (with God's help)!
END