I Chronicles 9.1
1 Chronicles 9:1 All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah. They were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
Freedom and captivity are words that are used to describe certain states.
They are misunderstood, greatly misunderstood.
The safeguards I was given as a child growing up were good for my soul as well as my body.
Take cigarettes. I have never smoked one in my life! I did not have much peer pressure with this issue because of running track and our coach. I had parents that held me to a high standard. The young man at Target this week- dealt with him with the money first $10 a pack, 2 packs a week, $80 a month, $1,000 a year- 10 years, $10,000 dollars plus your lungs.
Proverbs 13:11 Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow. Dishonest- vaporous, empty, meaningless, vain
Speaking of empty money...
I have never bought a lotto card or gambled at all. I don't know how to play cards! My grandfather had a gambling problem. I dare not open the door.
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Mark 10:22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Sad, because of great wealth. Never met a person who came into money quick that were happy. 35 years ago, mother telling me the worst thing that happened is when those boys inherited all that money... more recently lotto winner regrets winning... a few years ago hostility between family members over inheritance
Many other addictions today...
Like the demoniac in Gadarenes, sin enchains you.
It is pitiful.
Mark 5:5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
1. Captivity is not only a punishment by the LORD to the unfaithful. It is their state.
captive to do his will
2 Timothy 2:26 that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
captive=to hunt, to take by hunting, catch, pursue eagerly
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
Sinful habits are of the devil. These all have guilt and a feeling of hopelessness.
He enslaves people with them. Jesus can deliver us!
To be free from the guilt and power and penalty of sin is the most wonderful thing in the world.
2. Freedom is not doing whatever I want.
It is doing whatever the LORD wants.
Isn't this slavery? No, it is servanthood. Sin is slavery.
When you do for others as unto the LORD you are doubly blessed and it is full of joy.
Benefits of servanthood:
*You get to see the water that is turned into wine.
John 2:9 the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.
Some of the things I have seen just this year alone!
*You get to yoke up with Jesus.
Matthew 11:29-30 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
*You get to cooperate with the Holy Spirit- joint venture partner
*You get to store up treasures in heaven.
Matthew 6:20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.
* Your house will be filled with treasures here on earth, the kind that are out of this world.
Proverbs 3:33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
Proverbs 15:6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
Bettina's picture, Gifts from all over from missionaries- just a few- the Scotts when they served in Romania, The Mezas from Columbia, John Anderson from India, my friend and Bible College classmate, Christian Sarmiento from South America, Agiar Valvasorra from Campinas, Sao Paolo Brazil, Missionaries from Africa, Madagascar, Dr. Perkins who served in Mozambique and others.
It is living in God's Kingdom now!
Just think of the power of this two sentences of the prayer Jesus taught us.
May Your Kingdom come. May Your Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
in Heaven... we are to be in tune with heaven, in touch with it continually. I believe we can get overwhelmed by the evil in the world today. And we know what Paul wrote to the Romans in 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Psalm 71:15 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long—though I know not how to relate them all.
It is joy unspeakable.
1 Peter 1:7-8 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Henry Ford said that the church was the only argument he needed for the existence of God. "No other organization could be run so poorly and still survive!"
I think in my 35 plus years as a pastor I have probably validated his view. We have our problems, we have made mistakes, we have made errors over the past 2,000 years.
Yet whether you are in northern Iraq where refugees are flooding in from fleeing from ISIS or you are in Haiti where the poverty is extreme and earthquake recovery is still taking place 5 years later or you are in a hospital in Africa today, if you are in Malawi where floods have devastated the land, or in Madagascar where children are abandoned or in China or Cuba where gatherings are illegal, you will find the church helping others and doing it out of love.
The Methodist Missionary to India, Dr. E. Stanley Jones said it best, "The Church with all her faults is still the best serving organization on the earth, so get into and serve!"
3. Freedom and Captivity are misunderstood.
The person who is addicted to alcohol is not free. He is in capitivity. He has no choice in the matter. He has to drink.
The person who is free from alcohol addiction is free from many things. He has the freedom to drink but chooses not to. Freedom from cirrhosis, brain cell damage, odor, disrespect.
Proverbs 8:32-36 “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise;do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me,watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find lifeand receive favor from the LORD. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
Safeguards by God are for our own good. The Ten Commandments are to give us a life with boundaries. The boundaries make sense. They provide order in a chaotic world.
As our nation goes further down the path of breaking down the boundaries of moral absolutes we see the impending destruction getting closer.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.
Sin puts to shame.
1 Chronicles 10:13-14 Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord; he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, and did not inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.
Saul of Benjamin. Benjamin, Israel's youngest son. Started off in humility. Died because of pride.
David of Judah but birthplace was Bethlehem, smallest clan in Judah. Started off in humility and remained there his whole life. Was amazed God chose him and his family.
Be completely humble. Pray to God about your struggles.
1 John 1:8-9 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Jude 1:20-23 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
