Managing Your Freedom

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

our lives so that we can live freely the newness of Christ. When Jesus sets us free, we are free without question (John 8:36). Now that we know we are free, we must learn to manage our freedom. This week, we will focus on ways to manage our freedom in Christ, choosing the power, love and self-discipline that is found in God’s Spirit over the fear that fosters a culture of sin. At the root of all sin is fear and fear creates a desire to control everything and everyone around us. However, control is a nothing mirage in a desert of sin.

Since the fall of man, we’ve seen sin ravage the earth, causing death and pain in every place. Sometimes that pain comes through heartbreak, the loss of a loved one, betrayal or rejection. Each of those feelings are devastating and are typically avoided at any cost. However, the cost we often choose is control in a fruitless attempt to protect our flesh. Ways in which we try to protect ourselves are lies, manipulation, and intimidation. The truth is, we were not freed to indulge in the flesh, but to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). Therefore, I want to help you learn to manage your freedom. We were not created to control the freedom of others, but to control our own.

God has given us power and that power has come through His Spirit. In our focus text, 2 Timothy 1:7, it tells us that the Spirit that God has gifted us does give us fear, but it does give us power, love and the ability to control ourselves (my paraphrase). As Apostle Paul writes these words to his spiritual son, Timothy, he specifically states that the first thing that comes with God’s Spirit is power. Paul isn’t saying anything new or fresh, he’s only repeating what Jesus told his disciples just before he returned to heaven. In Acts 1:8a, Jesus says “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you…” Friends, it’s important to know that when we receive God’s Spirit, we will receive power because power comes with the Spirit of God.

There’s a song our choir sings at the church that’s led by Chanell’s grandmother, Mother Melve Lee. It’s called “Holy Ghost Power.” The church would rock back and forth with hands clapping as she would sing these words: “I’ve got it, the Holy Ghost power! Do you want it? The Holy Ghost power?” As you can see, the song is asking the listener a question to ensure that we’ve received the free gift of God’s Spirit. If we’ve accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we shouldn’t move any further without receiving God’s Spirit. Why? Because with His Spirit, we receive power!

You may wonder, what do we need the power of God for? There are so many reasons that I can list but one key reason that we need the power of God for is this flesh.

Imagine that you’re driving your car and realize that it is becoming difficult to make turns. You find yourself having to put all your strength into every turn as you try to steer this metal box on wheels that weighs thousands of pounds. More than likely there’s a problem with the power steering system. Sometimes the car will tell you that it’s low on power steering fluid because the car will begin to whine as you drive it around. In order to regain the power to steer that vessel or vehicle, you must refill it with power steering fluid. In the same way, if we are trying to operate our physical bodies without the Spirit of God, it is very hard to steer. It is difficult to wield our flesh without the power of God’s Spirit. I encourage you to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and use the power of the Spirit. Don’t try to do this alone, don’t try to manage your freedom all by yourself. Use your power! Use the power of the Spirit of God to make your decisions. Use the power of the Spirit in every area of life. Don’t tire yourself out trying to use everything you’ve got to wield your flesh. Instead allow your vessel to be filled with the Spirit of God and use His power!

Even in the Old Testament, God promised us that He would fill us with His Spirit. In Ezekiel 36:26 NIV, God says “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” So don’t be fooled to believe that you possess enough power to wield your flesh on your own. It’s not by might, not by the power of your flesh, but by the Spirit that gives us supernatural power to live right. Power that gives us the ability to manage your freedom.

If you have not been filled, I encourage you to ask God to fill you with His Spirit. Consecrate your life, meaning set your life apart for His use and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit so that you will have power—power to manage your freedom. If you’ve been filled before, ask God to fill you again. In the history of the church recorded in the book of Acts, we see where those who believed were filled initially on Pentecost in chapter two and then filled again in chapter four. Each time they were filled, they received power.

You’ve been called to freedom, but don’t use it to indulge the flesh. Instead, use it to serve others in love (Galatians 5:13). However, in order to serve others in love through this flesh, we must use the power that’s found in God’s Spirit.

I get the feeling that you read yesterday’s devotional telling you about the power you have in God’s Spirit. Yet, as you look at the task before you, there’s a voice that’s telling you that you can’t. My message for you is, yes you can! Let’s look again at our focus text, 2 Timothy 1:7, "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline" (emphasis mine). The word used for power in the Greek language is dynamis, which means strength power and ability. It’s the power for performing miracles. This is the power that God has given you!

The word dynamis is where we get the word dynamite — yes, the explosive! Maybe you didn’t realize it, but you have an explosive power within you! You may feel like you don’t have enough, you’re ready to quit or close the door, but I want you to know that there’s a power in you that you haven’t tapped into yet. You don’t have to worry about the pressure to perform because God has given you the power to perform. This power is not limited to one area of your life, it can be applied to every area of your life! God has given you power for your marriage! Power for your family! Power for your business! Power for your health! Power to complete that degree! Power to finish what was started!

So no matter how persistent that voice is that says you can’t, I’m telling you today “YES, YOU CAN!” You’ve got a fresh wind coming! You will do more than you ever thought possible! Not by your might, but by the power of God’s Spirit!

God has given you the Spirit of love. This love is called agápē. It’s the active love that God has for his Son and for his people. It is also the active love that his people are to have for God, each other and even enemies. This love is without conditions, there are no requirements to receive this love and none should be required to give it.

As we manage our freedom, we should do so with the Spirit of Love. I want you to read Galatians 5:13-15 in The Message:

“It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then?”

We’ve been made free without question by the blood of Jesus, but we must decide daily how we use that freedom. We can use it for the pleasure of oneself, or we can use it to serve others in love. Each of us have a choice. Yet, I stand with Apostle Paul and encourage you to choose love.

Why love? It’s simple, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). God’s love is everlasting and unconditional. He demonstrated his love to us through giving his only Son for the salvation of the world (John 3:16). This was His plan from the beginning (Genesis 3:15). God didn’t wait for us to love him. Instead, He proved his love by making the first move. We know this because, with an eternal view of the world, God gave his Son while we were still deeply stained by our sins (Romans 5:8). Knowing this makes love the easy choice.

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus answered and said “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31 NIV). The priority God has set for mankind is that we would love him and love people. However, there’s another that’s implied in the text that we often overlook and that’s loving self. If I am to love others as I love myself, this means that how I treat people is a reflection of how I treat myself. If I’m unkind to myself, I’ll be unkind to others. If I’m a perfectionist with myself then I’ll be a perfectionist with others. However, if I give myself grace, then I’ll give grace to others. If I forgive myself, I’ll forgive others. However it is that I treat myself, it will translate into my relationships with others.

Perhaps you feel especially challenged with loving others, I would encourage you to reflect on how you perceive God’s love for you and the way you love yourself. If your view of God is one that shows him as unforgiving of your mistakes and waiting for a chance to punish you, then it’s possible you are living with a twisted perspective of God’s love. Reflect on the truth of his love found in his word and live from that place. An accurate picture of God’s love will affect how you love yourself and those around you.

From birth even into adulthood, we’ve grown accustomed to discipline coming from an external source such as our parents, guardians, teachers and supervisors. While discipline is not something that’s desired, it’s needed for our growth. Merriam-Webster defines discipline as training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character. In other words, discipline is the tool that’s used to shape and align us with what’s right. As children, we are monitored closely and disciplined by our parents for unapproved behavior. But as adults we are not monitored or corrected nearly as much. While the discipline of a person may lessen with maturity, the need will never go away. Instead, the responsibility of correction has been placed into the hands of oneself.

In Genesis 4, the writer narrates a story two of brothers, Cain and Abel. They were the first two children born into civilization. Each had been assigned areas to work on their family’s farm. Abel kept the flocks and Cain worked the soil. They both presented an offering to the Lord from their area of responsibility. Cain brought fruit and Abel brought fat portions form the firstborn of his flock. Abel’s offering was received by God, however Cain’s was not. This made Cain very angry and he could not hide it as it was written all over his face. God spoke to Cain and said these words:

“Why are you so angry? And why do you look annoyed? 7 If you do well [believing Me and doing what is acceptable and pleasing to Me], will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well [but ignore My instruction], sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you [to overpower you], but you must master it.” — Genesis 4:6-7 AMP

Unfortunately, Cain did not heed to God’s warning and instruction, and this resulted in the first murder and the death of his brother, Abel. What we see with Cain is the tragic outcome of the mismanagement and abuse of one’s freedom when influenced by sin.  Cain was a part of the first generation of people who were born into a sinful world as a result of the disobedience of his parents, Adam and Eve. Now he was being hunted by an enemy that he could not see—an enemy that whispered through the wall of his heart, influencing both his thoughts and emotions. It was an enemy that was as close as the skin he was in.
As God saw sin stalking the heart of Cain, he warned him. He told him that he must master sin, otherwise sin would master him. The mastery of sin requires the mastery of oneself. Like Cain, each of us were born into sin and shaped in iniquity. If we desire to become masters of sin, we must learn to discipline ourselves.

I want to share four exercises that will help you on your road to self-mastery through self-discipline.

Submission—It’s a voluntary act of surrendering your heart to the will of the Father. Because we are free and possess free will, we will never be forced to submit to God. Instead, submission is a decision that we must make daily. We submit to God through prayer, worship, study and meditation. Through submission, we immerse ourselves in God’s presence and love which empowers us for the next exercises. For some reason we believe that submission to God makes us weak, however it’s where we find our strength. James 4:7 says “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Reflection—Similar to what we will see when we look in the mirror, reflection is an act of self-examination. I’ll go ahead and say it, this part can be very uncomfortable and feel difficult at times. But it’s completely necessary in order to achieve self-mastery. If changes are desperately needed in my character, I will never see them unless I look in the mirror. Paul encourages the believers in Corinth to “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5 NIV). This must be done with honesty and without fear. For years I was afraid to look in the mirror out of fear of what I may see. So, I avoided it at all costs, convincing myself that I was ok. The problem is that I wasn’t. When someone finally pointed it out, I felt offended and rejected. Then I looked for myself at the trash that had built up in my heart over the years and I immediately felt overwhelmed. However, I was reminded by a mentor that my what I saw was not the definition of who I was and all of it could be changed. I had to receive God’s grace and give myself grace concerning the mess I’d made in my life. I want you to know that reflection is not meant to lead you into depression. Instead, it’s meant to prepare and position you for correction. Reflection is an exercise that allows us to look within our hearts to identify what is there and understand why it is there, so that we don’t allow it back in once it’s gone.

Correction—When we have completed the reflection exercise, we are now empowered to make corrections. This includes proactively changing thoughts and habits to align with God’s word, apologizing to those we’ve hurt and regularly maintaining what was previously ignored. Reflection is not an opportunity to expose and pour salt on an open wound. Instead, it’s an opportunity to heal and change. This exercise requires both commitment and determination as it’s challenging to go against the grain or forge a new path in a mind that’s used to operating a certain way. Whether the correction comes from self or an external source, it’s important to know that correction should not be mistaken as rejection. Correction from God is an expression of his love (Proverbs 3:12). We can also trust that correction from ourselves or trusted friends are acts of love and care.

Perfection—it’s the continual effort towards improvement and maturation. Our goal is not to become perfect in the sense of being absent of flaws, but to grow into a mature follower of Jesus. One who is able to discipline their self. Perfection is not so much of an exercise as it is the commitment to regularly repeat the first three.

At some fitness gyms, the membership includes sessions with a personal coach. The coach is there to guide you through workouts, putting you on the path to success. As believers, we have a spiritual coach, known as the Holy Spirit. He leads and guides us through the work of self-discipline. The challenge with a fitness coach is they can only train the person that shows up. If you don’t show up, they cannot train you. In the same way Spirit of God can only lead us if we submit His leadership.

You’ve been given freedom in Jesus. Manage your freedom through self-discipline by the world’s greatest Coach #HolySpirit.

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