title freedom
Contents
Text: John 8:31-32
Lent started on March 9th (Wednesday).
Lent is a period of carrying up our cross with the Lord for 40 days excluding Sundays until Easter on March 27th. This year, in preparation for Easter, a special early morning prayer meeting is held for two weeks from March 14th to 16th. When it comes to the members of the Shepherd Church with breathing, it is a morning prayer meeting where everyone from adults to infants gather, so I hope you will pray and prepare for victory. At this special morning prayer meeting, think of Jesus’ suffering, ① repent of all our sins (original sin, self-crime, sins committed unconsciously) ② have the self-denial that the Lord of the dead and resurrection lives ③ pray to live with an attitude of service will be Lent is the period when I die and the risen Lord rises in me. In Luke 9:23, Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Freedom from oppression and disease is precious, but “spiritual freedom” is even more precious. I pray that the Christian spirit of fighting the good fight for the freedom of the soul by inheriting the spirit of the March 1st Movement, which sacrificed their lives for the nation, will be filled in all of us during the season of Lent preparing for the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus came to this earth to give us spiritual freedom.
1. When Jesus enters Jerusalem in Matthew 21:8-9, a large crowd welcomes Jesus as the Son of David, as the king and savior of this earth. But Jesus did not want to be the King of this world, but chose death on the cross to become the Lord of salvation to save all mankind from sin, that is, for the spiritual freedom of all mankind. Jesus, who obeyed God's will to the end, is the way, truth, and life for all mankind.
2. In Acts 1:6-8, the resurrected Lord speaks to the disciples who ask about the restoration of Israel. “It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The greatest hope of the nation of Israel was liberation and freedom of the nation. But Jesus said that it is more important to set the soul free from sin, so you must risk your life to save it. The salvation of souls is the greatest command on earth that Jesus gave us.
The entire nation is in shock due to the recent suicides in the military base and in the entertainment industry. Although the reasons are given by mentioning depression and various stories, suicide is an extreme option chosen by those who have not attained spiritual freedom under the control of the devil. It proves that the evil Devil behind him continued to influence and control his thoughts and actions. Our lives must be free with the truth.
As John 8:32 says, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” To enjoy spiritual freedom, you must know the true truth. The three characteristics of truth are ① eternity ② immutability ③ vitality.
A. God's Word is the truth.
In John 17:17, Jesus said, “Sanctify them by the truth, for your word is truth.” Why? Is God's Word true? ① Eternity: “The word of the Lord endures forever” (1 Peter 1:25) ② Immutability: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (Matthew 24:25) ③ Life: “The word of God is alive and has no force there is... ” (Hebrews 4:12). It is true because it has these three characteristics.
B. Jesus is the truth.
In John 14:6, “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life… “He said. ① Eternity: Jesus existed from eternity (John 1:1-3) ② Immutability: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8) ③ Life: I am the bread of life (John 6) :48; 6:35)
C. The Holy Spirit is the truth.
John 14:17 says, “He is the Spirit of truth… In John 16:13, he said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the truth.”
In other words, the truth is the Word of God, the Word came as Jesus in the flesh, and the Spirit of truth, who came in the name of Jesus, is with the saints and enables them to defend Jesus.