Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Hebrews 12:1

The Natural

In everything we do in the Kingdom there is a God side and a man side. God can’t do your part for you and you can’t do God’s part. God always does his part, in fact in the area of bondage, addiction, and sin – He’s already done something (Sending Jesus). Now we have to freely receive that in walk in wisdom by living our lives based on the Word of God. Here are some natural and practical things you can do to get free:

RUN – Remember Joseph? What did he do when Pharaoh’s wife try to seduce him? He Ran! You need to learn to run from bad situations! If it’s a bar – don’t go there any more. If it’s porn, get anti-porn software on your computer, if it’s a bad relationship – run from that relationship.

Get Away from Your “Friends” – There is nothing I’m more passionate about . . . friends who only like you if you go to the bars, get wasted, pick up girls, etc…. aren’t really your friends. Get around people who want to see you free and help you in the process. One quote sums it up: “Friends love you the way you are, REAL FRIENDS love you enough to not let you stay where you are”

Confess It – This is natural, but very spiritual! Literally confess that you’re free as often as you can. Even while you’re doing it… (i.e. Smoking – Say “I’m free from smoking” while you have cigarettes in your hand, while you’re lighting one, while you’re puffing on one.) Confession works… do it often and don’t quit until you’re free!

More Importantly – Fix Your Eyes on Jesus – Get in the Bible, Go to church, get some Christian friends, seek some Christian mentors… do everything you can to grow in your relationship with God. He’s all you need!

What are some other things you can do?

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³

Hebrews 12:1-2

Yesterday we said the first step to getting free from sin, addiction, and bondage is to draw close and actually have a relationship with God. Today I want to focus on the spiritual side of being set free. We’ve already been set free by the grace of God, now you just need to get that in your heart and recieve your freedom! How do you that?

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus\

He Endured the Cross so You Could Live Free – I love this verse… because of the JOY before Jesus, He endured the cross. Jesus, in the flesh, did not want to go to the cross, but when He thought of you living the life God intended you to live, living a life of freedom, he endured it. Don’t go another day without focusing on Him.

When You’re Focused on Him, Everything Else Fades Away – You’re either going to focus on one of two things – Jesus or Your Bondage… Focus on Jesus and you’ll be set free. Focus on the bondage… you’ll be bound.
The more you focus on Him, the more you’ll become like Him and the less desires you’ll have for whatever is binding you.

Fixing Your Eyes on Him is the Answer  to Every Problem You’ll Ever Have – I remember when I got free from drinking, drugs, etc. I thought “I just beat the toughest battles I’ll ever face! I’m invincible!”  Not true at all… once I beat those “little” things, there came an entirely new set of issues to deal with – pride, my thought life, etc.. There will always be things you need to overcome in your life, even after you’ve had a few victories. The great news – Jesus did all the work for you, all you need to do is Fix Your Eyes on Him!

Thoughts?

Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Wash your hands you sinner; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. -James 4:7, 8

God First, Freedom Second

When I talk to people who are in bondage and I tell them to start pursuing God, I hear things like this:

• “I need to quit drinking, smoking, having sex, etc. before I come to God”
• “If I walked in a church it would burn down”
• “God could never like me with all this junk in my life”

People that say things like this seem to always stay in bondage…

The reality is that God loves you regardless of what you’ve done, what you’re doing, or what you will do. He longs for you to come to a place where enough is enough and you start to rely on Him.  He loves you right where you are! Notice the what the verse says – Draw Close to God, and He’ll draw close to You. THEN wash your hands and purify your hearts.

The first and most important step in getting free from any bondage or addiction is to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and start drawing close to Him.

God First, Freedom Second - More tomorrow