Sunday's Message (Freedom in Christ: Freedom That’s Empowered)

On July 4, we'll celebrate our 250th anniversary as a country. And even though we haven’t been perfect, we’ve served as an example of freedom for the rest of the world. But as important as that is, the Bible teaches that true freedom is a spiritual reality found through Jesus Christ that transforms how individuals live, serve, and interact with the world. With that in mind, during the six weeks between Pentecost and Independence Day, we’ll explore six key things the Bible says about our freedom in Christ:

• May 24 - Freedom That’s Empowered
• May 31 - Freedom That’s Liberating
• June 7 - Freedom That’s Enlightened
• June 14 - Freedom That’s Limited
• June 21 - Freedom That’s Active
• June 28 - Freedom That’s Challenging 

Since Sunday, May 24 was Pentecost, we discussed how our freedom in Christ is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Below are a YouTube video and the text of the sermon. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT).  You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page. 

Now, as y’all may know, today is special for two reasons, and contrary to what Debbie might tell you, neither have anything to do with the Indianapolis 500. Of course, today is Pentecost, in my opinion, the third most important day on the Christian calendar, behind only Easter and Good Friday. Now I know what you’re thinking; yes, I believe Pentecost is more significant than Christmas, because I don’t think we’d be able to appreciate the importance of the birth without the coming of the Holy Spirit, something that the Evangelist Luke described in the second chapter of Acts:

On the day of Pentecost all the Lord’s followers were together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting. Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there. The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak. [Acts 2:1-4, CEV]

You see, today is Pentecost, and that’s one reason I think it’s special.

But for me, that’s not the only reason, because today we also start a new series entitled Freedom in Christ. And you know, I think this topic is really appropriate right about now. I mean, on July 4, we’re going to celebrate our 250th anniversary as a country. And even though, during that time, we certainly haven’t been perfect and we’ve made plenty of mistakes, we still have served as an example of freedom for the rest of the world. But you know, as important as that’s been, the Bible teaches that true freedom isn’t expressed in a declaration or won through a war. Instead it’s a spiritual reality found in Jesus Christ, something that transforms how we live and serve and interact with the world. And so, with that in mind, between Pentecost and Independence Day, we’re going to explore six key things the Bible says about our freedom in Christ. And today we’ll start by talking about how it’s a freedom that’s empowered. 

And I’ll tell you, it’s right here where the two days sort of come together. You see, I think it’s the Holy Spirit that empowers and inspires and grounds the freedom we have in Christ. As a matter of fact, without those fiery tongues that rested on them also rests on us, I’m not sure we’d be able to understand much less to handle or to use this liberty we have through Jesus. You see, as I look at scripture, I think God’s Holy Spirit empowers our freedom in three ways, and let me share with you what they are. 

You see, first, I believe the Holy Spirit empowers our freedom by opening our minds, you know, by clarifying our vision and sharpening our focus. And I’ll tell you, I think that’s exactly what it was always intended to do. I mean, just listen to what happened during the last conversation between Christ and his disciples right before the crucifixion. 

Jesus replied:

If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. But anyone who doesn’t love me, won’t obey me. What they have heard me say doesn’t really come from me, but from the Father who sent me.

I have told you these things while I am still with you. But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you.

I give you peace, the kind of peace only I can give. It isn’t like the peace this world can give. So don’t be worried or afraid. [John 14:23-27, CEV]

Now, according to John, that’s what Jesus said.

You see, for him, the Holy Spirit, this gift from God, would help the disciples after he’d gone. In fact, it would do for them the same kind of thing he’d done. For example, it would teach and remind, you know, teach them all the stuff that he’d taught and remind them of everything that he’d said. And it would guide and declare by guiding them into all truth and declaring things to come. And it would advise and comfort, sort of like a special helper or advocate might do, while glorifying the Son and convicting the world. Now, for Jesus, that was what the Holy Spirit would do. In other words, it was his promise to them. But you know, for us, well, what was a promise then is a reality now. Our minds have been opened. 

And you know, since that’s the case, thanks to the Holy Spirit, we’re able to understand what our freedom in Christ is all about. As a matter of fact, personally, I think this whole series would be irrelevant without the Spirit, because left on our own, I don’t think we’d be able to understand how our freedom in Christ can release us from shame and guilt and sin and can instruct us by showing how it’s grounded in God’s word. You see, without God’s spiritual help, I doubt we’d ever understand that our freedom should never be an excuse for bad behavior and that it’s intended for loving service and that it must be carefully guarded and constantly appreciated, because it’s really fragile; therefore, it’s easy for us either to fall back into old-fashioned legalism or to use it to neglect doing the very things Christ told us to do. I’m telling you, all this we can understand because the Holy Spirit has opened our minds. And for me, that’s the first thing it does.

And second, I believe it also empowers our freedom by shaping our character. In other words, it makes us the kind of people God created us to be, living the kind of life we have the opportunity to live. It’s like what Paul wrote to the Galatians:

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. But don’t be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are. [Galatians 5:22-26, CEV]

Now this is the work of the Spirit.

In other words, this incredible gift can shape our character in two ways. I mean, on one hand, we now have the opportunity to develop some positive qualities that can surely help us as we go about our living. And I’m talking about traits that were also reflected by Jesus Christ and that can enable us to live the kind of life he lived. That’s what we got on one hand. On the other hand, that same spirit also drives a stake through some of those old selfish feelings and self-centered desires that seem to get in the way of our relationship with God and with one another. You see, in those ways, according to Paul, the Holy Spirit shapes our character. 

And I’ll tell you, I think that’s particularly important given the freedom we have through Christ. I mean, let’s get real, when you’ve been set free, how you handle that freedom is going to be based on the character that you have. And I think we all know that. For example, you tell me, how many folks do you think get convicted or people get fired or kids get suspended, because they misused the freedom they thought they had? I mean, how many do you think decided, somewhere down the line, to play fast and loose with the law because they thought they could get away with it or to goof off at work even though they knew it was wrong or to allow their moral compass to be guided by greed or pride or jealousy? You know, maybe the singer Prince was right when he said that “too much freedom can lead to the soul’s decay.” Now that’s what he said. And, in my opinion, it sure can, if we don’t possess the right kind of personal qualities to handle it. But you know, I don’t think we have to face decay, not when the Spirit is working within us, enabling us to be loving and happy and peaceful, to be patient and kind and good, and to be faithful and gentle and self-controlled. You see, I think we’ll be able to handle the freedom we have in Christ, because the Holy Spirit is shaping our character. And for me, that’s the second thing it does.

And third, I believe the Holy Spirit empowers our freedom by strengthening our relationships. In other words, the Spirit draws us together so that we can become more than we ever could be on our own. And I think that’s what Paul was getting at when he wrote this to the Corinthians:

The body of Christ has many different parts, just as any other body does. Some of us are Jews, and others are Gentiles. Some of us are slaves, and others are free. But God’s Spirit baptized each of us and made us part of the body of Christ. Now we each drink from that same Spirit. [1 Corinthians 12:12-14, CEV]

Now that’s what he wrote.

And I’ll tell you, I think that’s exactly what we are. You see, every single one of us here this morning is different. We come from different backgrounds. We’ve had different experiences. And because of that, we’re guided by different values and priorities, hopes and dreams, fears and frustrations. And let’s face it, in this room, man, we’re pretty homogeneous. Drop us out in the world, well, it’s no wonder that some folks are afraid of diversity. And yet, it’s the Holy Spirit that draws us together. It’s the Holy Spirit that created a new community in which it shouldn’t matter whether you’re Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. We are now part of the one body of Christ, sharing a common faith and a shared mission. And in this place, our relationship with each other is strong.

And I’m telling you, I think that relationship can enable us to use our freedom actively and effectively. You see, given all the differences we have, left on our own, it’s easy and tempting to use our freedom to divide into smaller and smaller groups, where everybody sure seems to be the same, with the same opinions and the same assumptions and the same prejudices, that is, until something comes up, and it always does, that causes folks to leave so they can find another group where everybody is even more the same. Left on our own, that’s what we do. But the Spirit changes things, doesn’t it, because it enables us to view our diversity as a strength. In other words, instead of being an unmarked white board, as the Body of Christ, we’re more like a puzzle with a whole lot of different sized pieces or a tapestry with a whole lot of different colored threads, coming together to create something far greater than the individual pieces or threads. And because of that, because we’re divers, when we work together, man, we can do amazing things as we go out into our world, demonstrating our love for God through our love for others. You see, I think we’re able to use our freedom in Christ, because the Holy Spirit strengthens our relationship. And for me, that’s the third thing it does.

Now next week, as we move past Pentecost and move toward our national celebration, we’ll focus on some of the other aspects of the freedom we have in Christ. But before we put this day aside for another year, let’s remember that the Holy Spirit really provided the basis for what we have in Christ. You see, it’s the Spirit that opens our minds, enabling us to understand our freedom. And it’s the Spirit that shapes our character, enabling us to handle our freedom. And it’s the Spirit that strengthens our relationships, enabling us to use our freedom. In other words, it’s the Holy Spirit that empowers our freedom in Christ.