Freedom Series (Part 3)

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Set Free

(Part 3)

Good morning and welcome to Jesus Church

We are on part 3 in our series on Freedom (Catch up online)

• 2 weeks ago started talking about the reasons people aren’t free
  • There is a lot of bondage and people refuse to believe it
  • And while absolutely Xians can’t be possessed by demons
  • You can absolutely be in bondage to them
• But here’s the good news… you don’t have to be
  • And they have no authority to keep you there
  • Unless you give it to them
• Because if the thief is in your house… he might have control
  • But he doesn’t have ownership
  • And all you have to do is call the ultimate authority
  • And that thief gets thrown in jail
    • And that’s what this series is about
    • How to get free… and stay free

TAG: Then last week Rick continued series giving an overview of our history

If you have Bible turn to Acts 13

[Context]

Acts 13 – Paul at Antioch in Pasidia

• Not the big more famous Antioch at Syria
  • Greatest missionary new testament church
    • Different state with same city name
    • Phoenix in Oregon – not the same
• Paul preaches message about Jesus
  • Ends with a warning

Acts 13:40-41 (NKJV)

Beware therefore, lest what has been spoken by the prophets (Habakkuk) comes upon you: “Behold, you despisers, marvel and perish! For I work a work in your days, a work which you will by no means believe, though one were to declare it to you.”

• This is referencing the Gospel
  • God was going to become a man
  • Die on the cross for our sins
• Saying: The Messiah had come… but you’re blind to it
  • And the reason that you won’t believe what is being said
  • There is an enemy trying to blind you from the truth
  • Paul talking to 1^st Century church

[Context of Habakkuk]

Hab. 1:5 (NKJV)

“Look among the nations and watch– Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days, which you would not believe, though it were told you.

• He’s about to talk about a group of people called the Chaldeans
  • These people represent oppression and bondage in believers
  • And there is a parallel b/w how demons act and Chaldeans act
• And when we read remember… Possess doesn’t mean ownership
  • Means control or mastery over
  • Because they want to take territory that isn’t theirs

For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.

• Now first… we need to get past “God raising up Chaldeans”
  • Raise up in Hebrew – To carry out or give effect to
  • We talked about how we open windows to the enemy
  • This is God allowing the result of that to be carried out
• So who then is being let into the house
  • Chaldeans (Root = to lay waste; to destroy)… Wanderers
    • So a Chaldean is a Wanderer
    • Now look what Jesus says in Matthew

Matt. 12:43-45

When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but if finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ (3 things are important) When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.

Demon can come back b/c house is: Swept/In order… key word: empty

• Many people come to Christ… get saved… clean up their act
  • And then they leave their house empty
  • Jesus tells us to fill that house with Him
    • That’s why we had to do Holy Spirit before freedom
• It is SO important to not just come to church
  • Allow the Holy Spirit to thrive in your life
    • Get in the Word… Get in a Life Group
    • Come to our Men’s or Women’s groups – Thrusday Nights
    • Serve
      • This is what fills your house
• We can all think of people – Get saved… amazing story
  • Fall back to bondage – worse than before
  • FILL. YOUR. HOUSE

Remember Paul is referencing this warning to the 1^st century church

• Skeptic – Reads this would laugh at Paul b/c Chaldeans were gone
  • They were destroyed in 539 BC
  • Jeremiah 50-51 says their would be none left
  • Never mentioned again
• Paul: Beware lest what was spoken by the prophets comes on you
  • So literal Chaldeans couldn’t come upon them
  • Paul has to be speaking figuratively
• Skeptic – Paul is crazy – No more Chaldeans
  • Skeptic today would say we are crazy
  • No more demons… but yes there are!

TAG: Beware – The 1st thing to beware of…

1. The enemy is a thief

(They possess dwelling places that aren’t theirs)

Satan – Jesus tells us he’s a Theif

• Many times the Bible talks of the work of Satan
  • Not Satan himself… because Satan isn’t omnipresent
    • All places at all times
    • God is… Satan isn’t
  • But Satan has an army of demons
    • Demons do his work
  • Example: Jesus talked to a woman with Spirit of Infirmity
    • “Shouldn’t this woman be released from this that Satan had bound her with”
      • Through his demons… here’s what they want to do

`1. And the enemy wants to take your territory

• There are a ton of verses that talk about this…

V.6 – Trying to possess dwelling places that are not theirs

Ps. 83:1-4,12

Do not keep silent, O God. Do not hold Your peace, And do not be still, O God! For behold, Your enemies make a tumult (Growl, Roar of Chaos – Satan is a roaring lion); And those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty (Serpent most cunning) counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.

Who said, let us take for ourselves the pastures of God for a possession.

• And if you are pursuing God… they will come after you too
  • Why? To keep us from bringing unbelievers to Christ
  • And to keep us from having a fulfilled life in HIm

2. The enemy wants to steal our finances and the next generation

• Listen the Chaldea small nation – Territory was 40 miles wide
  • But they grew and took over Babylon and Assyria
  • Famous King Nebuchadnezzar was a Chaldean
    • Sets up 90 ft idol
  • Story of Shadrach, Meshack and Abednego (Chaldean names)
• Chaldean king came and took 2 things Satan wants to take from us

Dan. 1:1-5

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.

Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king’s descendants and some of the nobles, young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king’s palace (young future leaders), and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans.

And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king’s delicacies (bondage to lust of the flesh) and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king.

• Enemy wants to steal – The tithe
  • The Articles of the temple – Gold & Silver dedicated to the Lord
    • Mal. 3 – Trust God and tithe, He will rebuke the devourer
    • What does the Devourer sound like to you… Demon
  • Satan wants to steal Gods money
    • And Mal. 3 says he wants to use you to do it
  • If that’s not an open window allowing demons control your life
    • I don’t know what is
• Two – He wants to steal our future leaders
  • King tried to bring them under bondage in
    • What they put in their body
    • What they put in their minds
    • What they believe is most important
  • World today is trying to control our kids
    • What they put in their body
    • What they put in their minds
    • What they believe in most important
  • Trend our kids are hearing today…
    • What is truth/right for you
    • Not what is truth/right according to God

1 John 2:16

For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.

• The enemy will slowly take everything you have
  • Why – Because they are squatters
    • And they get in on back part of property
    • Slowly move to attic
    • Then more to guest room
      • Eventually they take the whole house

TAG: And we have to kick squatters out… take our house back

2. (So first a thief) They are Cunning

If you look at history… Chaldean first get in and rule Babylon

• They didn’t go as warriors… they went to Babylon as friends
  • They literally talked their way into power
  • Ruled 10 years before Assyria found out
  • Assyria would appoint kings to Babylon
    • Assyria kicked him out
• Few years later Chaldeans comes back to conquer Assyria/Babylon
  • Yes they were small but conquered through cunning
    • King Neb – 605 BC
    • Move in with something suttle
    • Blind or numb you to that
      • Completely take over your life

Verse 1:15

They take up all of them with a hook. They catch them in their net, and gather them in their dragnet. (Previous verse men = fish)

• Find
  • Bait you like
  • When to put bait in front of your face
• Even done when Satan tempts Jesus
  • 40 days without food
    • Bait bread to put in front of him
    • Satan departed for a more opportune time
      • Find another time he is weak and come after him
  • They are cunning and are studying you
    • Who else could have a beautiful woman take a bath
    • Just the right time that David would be looking
      • Knew because they studied him
      • They watched and knew
        • Satan is cunning

3. They are vicious

(Satan never has a merciful moment)

Hab. 1:7-9 – They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. Their horses also are swifter than leopards, and more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead, their cavalry comes from afar; they fly as the eagle that hastens to eat. They all come for violence; their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand.

Look at symbolism of Wolves

• • Ez.22:27 – Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people and to get dishonest gain.
  • Zeph. 3:3 – Her princes in her midst are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves that leave not a bone till morning
    • Which means they feed at night – when demons attack
    • Best thing when you can sleep – Read God’s word
  • Acts 20:29 – For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock
    • Really think this is literal wolves
    • Bought wolf traps
      • No demons – Try and come in to sheep fold
• Christian expert who studied wolves
  • Listen: Wolves & Sheep cannot co-exist

When wolves appear most casual and innocent, even interesting to watch, they are studying you, sizing you up for the attack

The more indifferent they seem, the more serious the danger. They are preparing for the pack attack. The more comfortable they appear, the more deadly they are.

• You know that this is how wolves attack you
  • They make you think
    • It’s innocent
    • It won’t hurt anyone
    • It’s just this once… it’s neve just once
  • Wolves are looking for the vulnerable and your weaknesses
    • And they will study you… attack the isolated
    • Many times those sheep aren’t noticed until its too late
    • If you are on the fray – Get involved
• Because Satan see’s you… he’s making a plan
  • Satan never gives you a break
    • Bible says: Constantly accusing brethren day and night
  • If Satan could, he’d kill every baby that was ever born
    • Same as when Moses was born
    • Same as when Jesus was born
      • Bible shows us – Demons don’t respect young or old
• These Chaldeans lived in marshes before Babylon
  • And they were expert archers
    • When people would walk through marsh
    • Pop up and shoot you
  • Same with the enemy
    • Trudging through life… its hard work
    • That’s when he shoots

Eph. 6:11 – Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

• Wiles (Odd word) – Methodea
  • Methodical – Schemes and plots
• Satan isn’t a skinny guy with red underwear, horns and pitch fork
  • Not a little guy on your shoulder
  • He’s not worlds greatest fiddle player
    • Has an army
    • Organized
    • Joel – Like army of locust set to devour
      • They’re Disciplined
      • They don’t break ranks
      • Know exactly their objective and orders
• From the beginning Satan got man to give him what he wanted

2 Peter 2:17-18,22

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, (who?) the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. (Speaking of spirit of anti-christ)

But it has happened to them (those deceived) according to the true proverb: A dog returns to his own vomit, and, a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.

One of the most obvious examples of Xians going back into bondage

• Story of Abraham: He was born in Chaldea
  • God called him out
  • Leaves the land to a promised land
  • Gives birth to the Nation of Israel
    • Descendants go back in bondage to Chaldeans
• If that isn’t a warning for every single Christians

1 Pt 5:8

Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking which he may devour.

• The word sober just means to be in control
  • Bible says don’t be drunk with wine – but filled with the H.S.
• The word vigilant just means to stay aware
  • Be aware when the enemy places traps for you to be caught
  • That new co-worker that laughs are your jokes
  • That thing your friends keep telling you to try
• We give Satan permission – Not being aware – And giving control
  • We tell the enemy to come right in
  • And he will take whatever he wants
  • And its time to take permission back

Tag: Close with this

Bad News/Good News

Bad: Sheep can’t survive around wolves

Good: Wolves can’t survive around the Shepherd

• Ps. 23 – His rod and staff comfort me.
  • Doesn’t hold a rod to hurt the sheep… or it wouldn’t comfort
    • Uses it to keep the sheep from danger
    • Beat the wolf if he ever comes close
  • If you fear that the wolves are coming for you
    • Run to the shepherd
    • Allow his rod to keep you safe
• What is the Rod
  • Rod was the weapon of protection
    • Old Testament

Is. 30:31

For at the voice of the LORD Assyria will be terrified, When He strikes with the rod.

• • Rod was weapon Moses used to bring Gods Word against Egypt
    • New Testament
      • Eph. 6:17 – “…take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”

Run to the Shepherd

Don’t live on the fringe

Be full of His Word