Freedom Series (Part 4)

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Freedom Series

(Part 4)

Good morning and welcome to Jesus Church

We are on part 4 in our series on Freedom (Catch up online)

• We need to understand that there is an enemy out to get you
  • Jesus says that he can and will attack those who believe in him
    • Jesus also says “Be of good faith – I have overcome the world”
    • And the authority Jesus has because of what he has done
    • He has give to us as well and “Co-Heirs with Christ”
  • That means that you have authority over the devil
    • Many of us think that we will always be in bondage to habits
    • That is only because the enemy has convinced you of a lie
    • You have the keys… have the authority… don’t believe the lie

Last week we talked about the ways that the enemy attacks

• • The enemy is a thief… wants to take your land/resources/children
    • The enemy is cunning and will try and lure you in
    • And enemy is vicious like a wolf… attacking you at your weakest
  • The good news is we have a shepherd to protect us
    • And although sheep can’t survive around wolves
    • Wolves can’t survive around the shepherd

And in this series my prayer is that

We wouldn’t see ourselves as just end consumers (what’s that mean)

Mk. 1:17

Then Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I’ll make you fishers of men”

• Jesus didn’t Promise they would be…
  • Learned/Educated/Successful
  • All of this happened
• But what he promised was that they would
  • Be changed to change others
  • Receive life to reveal life
  • That’s what we want to see God put in our hearts as a church

James 1:22

We would be doers of the word and not hearers only.

• A word spoken over your church years ago…

Ez. 47:9 (NIV)

Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt water fresh; so where the river flows everything will live.

So as we continue in this series… Listen for yourself

• But listen for someone else as well
  • If just for us… we aren’t disciples > we’re just students
• If you are new here and this sets well with you
  • We’d love to have you be a part of it
  • Because what we are all about… making fishers of men/women

[Pray]

Story

Nothing my kids like to think more than they are stronger than dad

• Built into every kid to love pick up dad
  • Love tackling dad
  • Joey loved jumping on my back
  • Figured out knees first will hurt me
• They want to run faster, jump higher, throw further (Be taller)
  • Dad’s love it to… until its not pretend anymore
  • One reason its just fun
  • 2^nd reason you want to prove we can make it on our own
    • And on that level it can be healthy
• Bible says “For this reason a man will leave him mom & dad”
  • I love my kids… but want to see them move out eventually
  • Have their own lives… Have kids that we can spoil
  • So independence can be a good thing
• But we tend to want that same independence from God as well
  • And I believe there is a level of self sufficiency we have with God
  • That’s why God gives us Discernment/Logic/Holy Spirit
  • It’s not good when Xians are terrified to make a decision

The problem (Paul fights this more than anything in early church)

• When we want independence from God… and it comes out as
  • We want to earn salvation on our own AND
  • We want to think our way is better than Gods way
  • To make our own rules… trust in our own wisdom/strength
• So here’s question: Do we ever give Satan permission into our lives
  • And if we do (which we do)…
  • Why would we ever do that
  • And what is the root causing us to do it

Greatest opening that Satan will walk through: Pride

When you want/think you’re better than God: Pride

• Why is that pride… because you trust you are greater than God
  • 3 ways pride manifests itself in our lives

1. Trusting in our own strength

Luke 22:31-32

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.

• Crazy story… Jesus says Satan asked permission to sift you like wheat
  • But I prayed for you
  • And you will fall but you will come back
  • Because I still have a job for you to do
• New Testament written in Greek
  • In Gk might have 3 or 4 words (English it might just be one)
• Asked – Not normal word used for “asked”
  • To ask for something AND RECEIVE what one has asked for
  • To ask for with success
  • To ask rightfully
• NASB – Satan has CLAIMED permission to sift you like wheat.
  • Other words – Satan has the right
  • There is a window in your life that you have opened
  • Allowing the enemy to walk in through that place

The open door in Peter’s life was pride… Relying on his own strength

• Right before the story Jesus says this…

Mk. 14:27-31

Then Jesus said to them, All of you will be made to stumble because of me this night for it is written (Going to happen) I will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.

Peter said to Him, Even if all are made to stumble; yet I will not be. Jesus said to him, Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.

But he spoke more passionately (Arogantly) If I have to die with You, I will not deny you! And they all said likewise.

• Jesus saying – What part of all do you not understand
  • All of you will deny me
    • Not me!
    • These wimps might – but not me
  • Jesus says you’ll do it tonight – AND THREE TIMES!!!
    • Peter says “NO WAY”
    • Jesus saying – There is a scripture in OT saying you will
      • Peter say “Not listening”
• That is pride (I’m too strong)

Lets read another spot…

Matt. 16:21-23

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised the third day.

Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You.

• • • Gotta be feeling pretty good about yourself to rebuke God.

But He turned to Him and said to Peter, Get behind me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of man.

It’s pride in Peter’s life to trust in his own strength… over God

• Jesus says because of this pride in your life
  • Satan is coming and has a right
  • Why… because you’ve opened up a way for him to get in
• Peter does something totally out of character
  • Like we talked about in week 1
  • Strong disciple – take on fleet of soldiers
    • Yet h denies Jesus to a teenage waitress
    • Curses and swears at the association
• And the truth is… many mature believers fall into this trap
  • Walk with God their whole life
  • Begin to trust in own strength to resist temptation

1 Cor. 10:12 – Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

TAG: So pride is opening when you trust in your own strength

2. Pride: Also trusting in your own righteousness

Job 1:6-12

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come? ”So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.” (Satan is a roaring lion walking to and fro…)

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Difficult passage to understand unless you read the whole story

• For 31 Chapters
  • Job has friends who show up (bad friends)
  • Speak truth: Job are you sure there isn’t something in your life
  • Something the enemy is using against you
    • Job lists the things He hasn’t done… and has done
• In Chapter 32 – Young guy named Eliju speaks up after listening
  • I didn’t say anything because you are all old
  • Figured eventually you would get right answer
  • None of you have figured it out so I’ll tell you

Job 32:1-2

So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.

Job 33:8-9

Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the sound of your words saying, I am pure without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.

• For that to be true… you would have had to be Jesus – Right?

Job 36:3 – I will ascribe righteousness to my maker.

What was the open door in Job’s life – Own righteousness

• He thought he was righteous because of what he did
  • Not because of who he knew
  • Comes up with a list of all the things
    • I’ve done this, this and this
    • I haven’t done this, this or this
• Mature believers fall prey to pride in this area
  • Get saved… and know where your righteousness comes from
  • 10 years later – all based on what I do
• Listen: The only reason that we will ever be righteous
  • By the sacrifice of Jesus
  • Grace that comes from Christ and Christ alone

Moment you believe you’re the source of your righteousness

• You are opening a door to the enemy… for 31 chapters Job says
  • Compare me to anyone and you’ll see
  • My acts make me righteous
  • No one has anything on me including God
• Problem: Then God shows up
  • Wouldn’t have wanted to be Job on that day

Job 38:1-6,12

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said; who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you and you shall answer me. Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? (sarcasm) Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone.

Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place.

Job 40:8

Would you condemn Me that you may be justified. (Job repents)

• Many mature believers start to trust in own righteousness
  • And they really are righteous in their living
  • I Believe in righteous living
  • Because unrighteous living opens door to demonic
  • But righteous living doesn’t make us righteous
    • Only blood of Jesus does

Tag: Pride is trusting in own strength, righteousness

3. Pride: Trusting in your own wisdom

1 Kings 22 (CONTEXT)

Ahab is king of Israel… marries Jezebel

• Jezebel had 850 false prophets… Ahab had 400 false prophets
  • Kept them happy so they would always tell him good things
  • Many leaders keep people around who won’t say “no”
    • Not wise leaders
• Jehosephat (Judah) visits Ahab (Good/Bad King)
  • Ahab says lets attack Syria and get back this city we lost
  • Jehosephat says we should ask a prophet
    • Ahab brings 400 yes men – Say yes go and God will be there
    • Jehosephat asks for a different prophet

1 Kings 22:7-8

And Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil.”

• Bring him out of prison Ahab threw him in there for speaking truth

1 Kings 22:15-19

Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king!”

So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” (Micaiah saying you’re gonna do it anyways) Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master. Let each return to his house in peace.’” (Don’t go to war with this king, go home)

And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.

• Host of heaven refers to angels (sometimes fallen)

[Lets back that up with scripture]

Remember what Jesus said about His throne (Standing on right and left)

• To those on the right
  • Come, you blessed of My father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
• To those on the left
  • And these will go away into everlasting punishment meant for Satan and his demons, but the righteous into eternal life
  • Significance to right and the left of God’s throne

Another scripture shows host of heaven can refer to demons

2 Kings 21:1-6

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.

For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem I will put My name.”

And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums.

• What is this… They were worshiping Demons
  • Micaiah: Host of heaven standing on right and left
  • Important to know fallen angels were there
    • Because of what you are about to read
    • Doesn’t make any sense without knowing this
      • Also remember in Job
      • Satan was in the throne room of God

1 Kings 22:20

 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’ So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner. Then a spirit (Type of Spirit) came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’

The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit (not a holy spirit – evil spirit) in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him, and also prevail. (God gives orders to demon) Go out and do so.’ Therefore look! The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

• Ahab heard all of this… yet he trusted his own wisdom
  • Not the wisdom of God
  • And this was his pride

James 3:14-15

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

• Translation: That’s a demon talking to you
  • You think it’s God
  • Because you trust in your own wisdom
• Would God ever grant the enemy permission to attack a believer
  • Yes he would (Peter/Job/Ahab)
  • Understand who is in control – Satan isn’t 50/50 with God
• But if you open a door to the enemy
  • You are giving him permission… and God will honor that
  • BUT also… He’ll try and use it to bring you

1 Cor. 5:5

Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

• There is no length God won’t go to show you that you need him
  • Always for your good – Always to show you a better way
    • Peter repents – Greatest followers of Christ
    • Job repents – Gets back double for trouble
    • Ahab did not repent – God spoke thru a prophet to Ahab
• Ahab could have repented
  • Ahab repented on something else
  • God extended life 3 years
• After all of it he thinks he can outsmart God… Goes to war
  • Ahab doesn’t wear his king armor – Tells Jehosephat to
    • Tells Jehosephat to wear king armor
    • Thinks I’ll get away… he dies (I’ll be king over Israel/Judah)
    • Doesn’t work… Jehosephat gets away

1 Kings 22:34

Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.

• Pride: Rely on my strength, righteousness, wisdom
  • Effects the strong
  • Effects the righteous
  • Effects the wise
• If you don’t trust in the Lord for all of these
  • It’s time to repent
  • To turn around
  • To shut that door