Be Free in 2003 part 1
Thesis: We need to be free in 2003 with God’s help and His E.S.P.
We need to be free in our emotional - soul realm. We need to be free in our spiritual realm and in the physical realm.
Text: 2 Corinthians 3:17, 18 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
Movie Clip: Brave Heart at the end when he cries for freedom!
Introduction:
The church of Jesus needs to experience the transforming power of God which comes from the presence of His Spirit in our lives. The more we let Him control our lives the more transformation we experience in it. The less we let him control our lives the less transformation happens to our lives. It’s the law of increase allow God to influence and control more the more you get from him. The less influence you allow from him the less transformation you get.
We need to use our God given ESP to be set free.
We need to be free in our emotional realm- our soul realm
We need to be free in the spiritual realm
We need to be free in the physical realm
E = Emotional (soul)
S = Spiritual
P = Physical
What is ESP? Webster says its Extrasensory perception!
The Christian becomes free when he allows the Spirit of the Lord to dwell in Him and to lead guide and direct his life. Then he gets the ESP which is extrasensory perception into the spiritual realm. This God given ESP helps him or her to see into the spiritual realm of this world.
It’s able to produce the great divide into a person’s life to help them see whether they are being lead by their soul realm or their spiritual realm.
Christians need to realize whether they are being led by their soul or by their spirit.
Introduction: The Word of God is the energy force that shows Christians whether they are living by their spirit or their soul. Hebrews 4:12 reveals to us that the Word of God is a living energy that penetrates to the dividing of the soul and spirit. It is the energy force that shows Christians whether they are living, or motivated by their soul or by their spirit.
Hebrews 4:12, 13 "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."
The Word pierces through the body and lays open the heart of man, reaching into the innermost recesses of the soul, the spirit and the physical realm finding out the intents of their innermost being. (Hebrews 4:12).
The Word of God is more un-measurable in power because of it’s unlimited energy explodes between the spirit and soul, revealing the will of man and opening up a revelation of God’s energy.
The Word splits the seams of the heart and shows whether it is soul ruled or spirit ruled. The word reveals to the soul that he is all flesh and that they are inadequate in their own wisdom and they need to be led by the Spirit.
John 3:6: "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to Spirit."
T.S. To better understand this revealing surgery by the Spirit,, let us take a deeper look into what the soul does and what the spirit does in the trichotomy of man.
I. The Soul’s function in our lives.
A. The soul realm is the part of man that loves and hates in the natural realm. It is the seat of the emotions, and its man’s self-consciousness. It consists of the senses of man in the natural realm, his/hers natural thinking or reasoning.
1. A Case in reason
a.) Reason is a function of the soul, it is of considerable service in all things relating to the present world.
b.) Reason is in a sense the same as understanding. It means the quality of the human soul, that quality which exerts itself in three ways:
1.) By simple apprehension
2.) By judgment
3.) By discourse
c.) Reason helps us do carpentry, trades, math, sociology, and etc.
d.) Natural soul realm has good in it but it needs the Spirit to function properly in this life:
Romans 8:6-8 "The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."
T.S. - We learn that reason, man’s thinking, is valuable to the trichotomy of man but what happens when man moves to the higher realm, the spirit.
II. The function of the Spirit in this life.
A. The spirit is to be the highest part of man. It is the spirit that makes man God-conscious.
1. It is the part of man that trusts God and steps out in faith.
2. It is not natural but spiritual. (John 3:6)
B. The Word of God penetrates into the deepest and most hidden parts of a man’s life and dissects his lower animal life with its desires, interests and affections. It penetrates into his higher spiritual life with it’s aspirations for spiritual communion with God.
1. The Word is like a two edged sword which cuts through the bone and marrow of a physical body.
a. Marrow - the soft, vascular fatty tissue that fills the cavities of most bones it is the innermost essential, or choicest part. It gives the bone its strength. Without it the bone would break or rot away.
- Same with the body w/o the spirit.
2. The Word does not look upon the outward appearances but is skilled in judging the thoughts and intentions of the inside.
a. The Word knows what is on the inside. God knows why you want to be a deacon, pastor, elder, teacher. He knows why you do what you do.
Brandt states, "Bitter envying and selfish ambition in the heart does not show. You can be very hostile toward a man, and walk up to him and put your arm around him and say, Hi, friend." You can hide the inner thought of your soul by developing your acting ability. If you practice looking like a Christian, you will look a lot more like one a year from now than you do now. But your spirit may not have changed. The Christian life does not depend on your ability to act right but to "be" right. You may kid the world, but you will not fool yourself or God" (52).
b. James 3:14-16 " 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. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there."
c. Note I. Cor. 3:11-15:
11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
C. This is where reason (soul realm) has its limits and the spirit is to take over. The soul will always tell you that you’re justified and correct even when you are dead wrong. It’s called the act of denial!
1. I Cor. 2:14 states, 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
D. The Bible reveals to us that reason has its limits.
1. Reason cannot produce faith, only the spirit can in man.
a.) Reason is thinking it out while the dimension of faith is the evidence of things not seen.
1.) For instance, people who are agnostics. They believe that the human mind (the soul) cannot know whether there is a God, or anything beyond material phenomena.
- For them this is true it takes the Spirit to understand God’s plan.
b.) The spirit of man is capable of faith. Faith is believing in divine evidence brought through the spirit which brings full conviction of an invisible eternal word.
1.) II Cor. 4: 6 & 7 "For God, who said, ’Let light shine out of darkness, made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
2.) Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
2. The natural man and some born-again Christians are soul controlled and soul ruled. But they should be spirit controlled and ruled --
(Illustration with hands.)
a.) For example Galatians 4:21-31:
"Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. For it is written: "Be glad, O barren woman, who bears no children; break forth and cry aloud, you who have no labor pains; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband." Now your brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. But what does the Scripture say? ’Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman’s son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman’s son.’ Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
1.) Abraham’s two sons
a.) Ishmael is that which is born of the flesh and leads to bondage.
b.) Isaac is that which is born of the spirit and leads to freedom.
Remember John 3:6 "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit."
2.) The Nations of Israel & Judah.
a.) Israel was financially more prosperous but Judah spiritually more prosperous and they lasted longer but eventually fell because of their wicked ways.
3.) The kings of Judah & Israel- reveal who was soul controlled and who was spirit controlled.
T.S.- We learn through the word and through life lessons that we need to allow the Spirit to control our soul realm because it will draw closer to God. But we also need to allow the Spirit to control our physical realm as well for God’s honor.
III. The physical realm’s function
A. This realm is the area of our physical bodies
a. It’s our five senses:
i. Smell
ii. Taste
iii. Touch
iv. See
v. Hear
1. This is our sensory tools for this world.
B. This area can and will cause us problems in our life if it is not controlled by then Spirit. Listen to 1 Timothy 4:8 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
a. Our bodies need to be disciplined by the spirit. The truth is the soul will discipline some but not like the spirit will and should. The Spirit will direct us to take care of our bodies – it has some value! 1 Cor. 6:19 & 2 Cor. 6:16:
i. 1 Cor 6:19,20 “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you where bought with at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
ii. 2 Cor. 6:16 “…For we are the temple of the living God.”
b. Our bodies need proper care and maintenance.
c. Our bodies will eventually wear out but if we take care of them they will last longer to serve the Spirit of God.
d. Our bodies undisciplined – not kept in control by the Spirit will do the following:
i. Over eat
ii. Over drink
iii. Sexual immorality affects the body
iv. It will form addictions:
1. Caffeine
2. Alcohol
3. Nicotine
4. Drugs
a. Many have suffered in this area of our lives because we have not let the Spirit control this part of our lives.
b. Many here today need to be free in 2003 in one these physical areas.
T.S. -The truth is we need to allow the Spirit to control our lives because he will control the soul and keep it on track and he will control the physical body to keep it healthy and vibrant for the Lord.
Conclusion:
The Word of God is to be actively energized in the Christian’s life through their spirit. It is time for Christians to be spirit controlled and not soul controlled or physically controlled. Christians need to recognize that the devil is still our enemy, and if he cannot devour and damn our souls, he will do his best to destroy our testimony and render us useless in the service of the Lord. We must walk each day by faith, yielding soul, spirit and body sanctified wholly to Him. (I Corinthians 10:10-11; II Peter 1:5-10).
QUESTIONS TO PONDER!
* Are you still clinging to the soul?
* Do you enjoy it?
* Do you live in denial?
- Even now the HS is convicting you, but you are not sure that you want to give up.
* Are you soul ruled and controlled?
* Are you allowing your physical body to control and rule?
* Is it getting you in trouble?
All I can do for you is reveal the truth to you. I can promise you that there is a power available from above that can set you free. All you need to do is to ask for it receive it and learn what he will teach you about control in your life. YOU HOLD THE KEY--IT"S YOUR CHOICE! To say yes I want set free or no I will stay where I am.
"He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy." (Proverbs 28:13)
LET ME REVEAL SOME INWARD WICKED THOUGHTS OF THE SOUL!
* If they do not do it my way I will not use my gift then!
* If she does not promote me I will not help anymore!
* They did not help me so I will tell everyone how bad they were!
* I hope he fails then I can say I told you so!
* I disagree with him so therefore I will work behind the scenes to undermine him!
* They hurt me so every chance I get I will remind them what they did!
* I know more than they do!
* He deserved to fall and get hurt!
* I told them this needs to be done but they will not listen so I will talk to others to force them to do it!
* I will not stop causing problems and complaining until they do what I told them!
* I am not responsible for my rotten life or financial condition its their fault!
The physical messages of some of us:
* It’s okay to drink 12 cups of coffee a day we need it.
* It’s okay to eat 4 and five times a day we need that much food.
* It’s okay to drink until you drop its fun and we like it.
* It’s okay to do drugs we have to have them to deal with the pressure of life.
* It’s okay to smoke and smoke and smoke it will be okay our body will not be affected.
* Its okay not to exercise we don’t need it.
The Spirit thoughts we should have:
* I do all to the glory of God and do not have to have my way!
* I forgive because they know not what they do, turn the other cheek!
* I will speak well of all people or not speak at all!
* Even though I would do it different I help them succeed so God gets the glory!
* I will forgive their past sins just like God forgave mine and did not hold it over my head!
* I don’t know it all and God may have given them that plan or vision!
* I pray for Joe falling Lord help him be successful!
* I will be a faithful servant not a rebellious rebel causing chaos!
* I will choose to lose!
* It’s my fault Lord this happened please forgive me and help me do it right!
* My body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit so I will honor it for God and my own personal health.
Brandt states, "We must accept our behavior (our soulish behavior – our physical habits) for what it is and confess it to God. Then that behavior (habit) needs to be forsaken. We must admit to God, ‘Yes, I am sorry.’ ( Help me overcome in this area oh Lord!)
People who approach God on this basis will find the peace and joy available only from God" (pg., 56).
WHEN WE DECIDE TO BE SPIRIT RULED AND NOT SOUL RULED AND PHYSICALLY CONTROLLED WE WILL TRUELY PROSPER IN GOD AND BE SPIRITUALLY TRANSFORMED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD.
We Need to allow God’s ESP to control and direct our lives.
