Find Freedom.
Definition
2 Corinthians 3:17 teaches us that where the spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. As followers of Jesus we are to find freedom from the three enemies of the soul: the devil, the flesh, and the world. We do this through confession that leads to accountability that leads to breakthrough, and in breakthrough we find freedom.
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The Devil is the master of lies and feeds us deceptive ideas. When we believe these deceptive ideas, they direct the course of our lives in a way that is deforming us from the image of Jesus.
The key to freedom is finding truth amidst the lies and to break the deception cycle over our lives.
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The flesh is our basic desire for self-gratification through making good things (such as sex, food, money, etc.) into God things. We give into the flesh when we desire God’s creation over Him as creator. When this happens, our desires become disordered and these disordered desires drive our lives.
The key to finding freedom is disciplining ourselves to choose our deepest desires over our strongest desires.
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The world is the system of ideas and norms in our society that tell us how we are to live in order to achieve “the good life.” We give in to the world when we let culture and the people around us dictate our life instead of looking to God.
The key to finding freedom from the world is through finding our identity in Christ and not in the world around us.
Practices/Tools to grow in this area:
Deception Cycle
The Devil tries to shape us through lies. When we believe lies about ourselves it greatly affects our lives.
Sin Confession and Accountability
James 5:16 teaches us that we are to confess our sins to one another in order to find freedom. In order to receive forgiveness for our sins, we only need to confess our sins to God but if we stop there, we may miss the crucial step of finding freedom. Finding freedom becomes so much easier when we confess our sins to community and seek accountability on the journey. We are not any better off if we overcome our sins on our own and it is much more difficult to do so, we need each other!
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Be VULNERABLE with your small group and open about your struggles. After confession the group should speak life over each other as we are forgiven and set free because of Jesus.
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Have someone ask you about how you’re doing with struggle areas often and encourage you when you mess up.
Fasting
Fasting is a great way to learn how to tell yourself no. Fasting is refraining from food for a meal, a whole day, or an extended period of time in order to spend that time with God. Fasting teaches discipline and helps you find freedom.
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Choose one day each week to fast until sundown and spend your lunch time praying!
Questions to think/talk through:
How do you think other people would describe you?
Where do you find your identity?
What is sin? Why should we obey Jesus?
In what ways does your life displease Jesus?
What are your deepest desires for your life? Do your actions help you fulfill those desires?
Whose opinion of you matters most to you besides God? Why?
What do you think would make a good life?
Is there anything Jesus teaches that makes you uncomfortable?
What do you think Jesus teaches that goes against what society teaches?
Recommended Reading:
Live No Lies by John Mark Comer
Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller
Scriptures to Study:
2 Corinthians 3:17
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
Galatians 5:13-17
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.