THE FOUR FACES OF FREEDOM

TEXT- GALATIANS 5:13-15

INTRODUCTION


JAMES DOBSON TELLS THE STORY OF HOW HE HAD BEEN LOOKING OVER A SWING SET ON DISPLAY IN A TOY STORE. IT WAS SHINY AND WELL CONSTRUCTED, SO HE PURCHASED IT FOR HIS CHILDREN.

HOWEVER, WHEN THE DELIVERY MEN ARRIVED AT HIS HOME, THEY LEFT HIM WITH A LONG BOX CONTAINING 6,324 PIPES, 28,467,651 BOLTS, 58,487,650 NUTS AND A SET OF INSTRUCTIONS THAT WOULD MAKE ALBERT EINSTEIN SWEAR AND BITE HIS NAILS.

FOR 48 HOURS HE STRUGGLED TO ACCOMMODATE BENT PARTS, MISSING PARTS, AND PARTS FROM A 1948 FORD THROWN IN JUST TO CONFUSE HIM.

FINALLY, THE WOBBLY SWING SET WAS FINISHED, THOUGH BY THIS TIME HE HAD SCRAPPED THE MEAT OFF THE KNUCKLES ON HIS RIGHT HAND, TRYING TO FORCE A 1/2 INCH BOLT THROUGH A 3/8 INCH HOLE. THE FINAL BLOW CAME HOWEVER, WHEN HE READ THE LAST LINE PRINTED ON THE BACK OF THE INSTRUCTIONS; IT READ, "PLEASE BE SURE TO RETIGHTEN ALL NUTS, BOLTS, AND SCREWS ON THIS SWING SET EVERY TWO WEEKS TO ENSURE ITS SAFETY AND DURABILITY."

ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE HE HAD TO REMEMBER TO DO, HE NOW HAD TO DEVOTE EVERY OTHER SATURDAY TO THIS PIPE MONSTER, OR ELSE IT WOULD EAT HIS CHILDREN ALIVE!

WHAT BETTER EXAMPLE OF MATERIALISTIC SLAVERY COULD THERE BE.

THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH SLAVERY; SLAVERY TO ALCOHOL, SLAVERY TO DRUGS, SLAVERY TO SEX, SLAVERY TO VIOLENCE, SLAVERY TO WORK, SLAVERY TO RECREATION, AND MANY OTHER FORMS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE WORLD IS CRYING OUT FOR AND DEMANDING MORE FREEDOM, TO DO AS THEY PLEASE.  LET’S FACE IT WE LIVE IN A HEDONISTIC SOCIETY.

IN A SPEECH TO CONGRESS, PRESIDENT FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT SHARED HIS VISION OF THE KIND OF WORLD HE WANTED TO SEE AFTER WORLD WAR II. HE ENVISIONED FOUR BASIC FREEDOMS ENJOYED BY EVERYONE: FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, FREEDOM FROM WANT, AND FREEDOM FROM FEAR.

SINCE THAT SPEECH, ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED TO SOME DEGREE, BUT THE WORLD TODAY IS STILL IN NEED OF ANOTHER FORM OF FREEDOM; A FIFTH FREEDOM.  TODAY THE WORLD NEEDS TO BE FREE FROM SIN.

THE BOOK OF GALATIANS EMPHASIZES THE SPIRITUAL FREEDOM WE CAN HAVE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

PAUL STATED IN VERSE 1, "IT WAS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST SET US FREE; THEREFORE KEEP STANDING FIRM..."

SPIRITUAL FREEDOM THROUGH CHRIST IS THE GREATEST GIFT ANYONE COULD EVER RECEIVE. BUT THE QUESTION IS, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE FREEDOM THAT YOU HAVE?”

HERE IN OUR TEXT PAUL DESCRIBES FOR US HOW TO USE THE FREEDOM WE HAVE IN CHRIST.

FREEDOM IS INTANGIBLE. IT’S LIKE LOVE. YOU CAN’T ACTUALLY TOUCH IT, BUT YOU CERTAINLY KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE AND LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE IT.

THE SAME THING IS TRUE ABOUT FREEDOM. I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO WRAP MY ARMS AROUND FREEDOM, BUT I CAN TELL YOU WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN I SEE IT.

HERE IN OUR TEXT PAUL DESCRIBES FOR US FOUR FACES OR CHARACTERISTICS OF FREEDOM WHEN IT IS FOUND IN OUR LIVES.