John 8:36 NLT

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

• The key to Freedom is your intimate relationship with the One who created you. So if we know that having an intimate relationship with God is possible, what blocks our entry into His Presence?

1) Sin is the first obvious answer.

2) Unhealed and unresolved issues of our past

Isaiah 61:1-3 ESV

”The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.“

• Jesus offers freedom and healing that will enable us to move into a fulfilling relationship with Him and others.

John 10:9-10 ESV

”I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.“

• Man cannot effectively change his behavior without also changing his heart. Man’s heart cannot be changed except by the Spirit.

Proverbs 4:23 Passion

So above all, guard the affections of your heart, for they affect all that you are. Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being, for from there flows the wellspring of life.

• To be TRULY FREE, you must go through the freedom journey and complete all stages successfully.

#1) THE STAGE OF REALITY

Reality 1: Our perception of reality may be wrong.

Exodus 23:1 NIV

“Do not spread false reports. Do not help a wicked man by being a malicious witness.

1 Peter 2:1 Passion

So abandon every form of evil, deceit, hypocrisy, feelings of jealousy and slander.

• When you can come to the point of admitting the fact that you could be wrong and need Jesus to minister His truth to you, you are then at a point of receiving freedom.

Psalm 35:20-21 Passion

They are the ones who would never seek peace as friends, for they are ever devising deceit against the innocent ones who mind their own business.  They open their mouths with ugly grins, gloating with glee over my every fault.  “Look,” they say, “we caught him red-handed!  We saw him fall with our own eyes!”

Colossians 3:15 NLT

”And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.“

Reality 2: Only God has the truth.

John 14:6 Passion

Jesus explained, “I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the Life. No one comes next to the Father except through union with me. To know me is to know my Father too.

• If you’re not sure the Bible is true or you believe that competing voices in the world may have a better answer than Jesus, you’re not ready for the stage of reality.

• Remember this: The price of allowing the truth into your life is temporary discomfort followed by a lifetime of freedom and joy.

• The price to pay is the price of truth. God’s truth. When you pay the price, you are ready to proceed to the next stage.

#2) THE STAGE OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Our experiences in life don’t have complete control over our destiny—our responses to life’s events are a factor. Even though other people have a responsibility before God for how they treat us, we are ultimately responsible for our behavior.

Cain & Abel

Genesis 4:4 Message

Abel also brought an offering, but from the firstborn animals of his herd, choice cuts of meat. God liked Abel and his offering,

Genesis 4:3 Message

Time passed. Cain brought an offering to God from the produce of his.

Genesis 4:5 Message

but Cain and his offering didn’t get his approval. Cain lost his temper and went into a sulk.

Genesis 4:6-7 Message

God spoke to Cain: “Why this tantrum? Why the sulking?  If you do well, won’t you be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin is lying in wait for you, ready to pounce; it’s out to get you, you’ve got to master it.”

• God makes three powerful points in His words to Cain that we all must recognize and understand:

1. We are responsible for our own behavior.
2. Our obedience or lack of obedience to every situation leads to happiness or unhappiness.
3. Satan preys upon the irresponsible.

• Regardless of how people treat me or what life does to me, I am responsible for my behavior and attitudes toward God, others and myself. My ultimate responsibility is to God, to do what He commands and to turn to Him for my answers.

• We cannot let a person’s lack of character control our decisions.

• In order to be healthy and to be set free from the pains and pitfalls of your past, you must hold tightly to the attitude that, no matter what life or people do to you, you will take the responsibility to do what you know is right; and when you don’t, you will take the responsibility to repent and turn back to God.

#3) THE STAGE OF RECONCILIATION

• Webster’s Dictionary defines the word ‘reconcile’ as: “to make friendly again; to settle.”

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Passion

And God has made all things new, and reconciled us to himself, and given us the ministry of reconciling others to God. In other words, it was through the Anointed One that God was shepherding the world, not even keeping records of their transgressions, and he has entrusted to us the ministry of opening the door of reconciliation to God.

Matthew 18:15 Passion

“If your fellow believer sins against you, you must go to that one privately and attempt to resolve the matter. If he responds, your relationship is restored.

Ephesians 4:32 Passion

But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.

• One thing is true of every person with a painful past—the pain will never go away until you have dealt with it properly.

• For you to be FREE INDEED you need to reconcile your past. You need to let go of your past.

Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

• Even though painful experiences and memories shouldn’t be glorified or prolonged, they do need to be honestly admitted and dealt with.

CONCLUSION

• Let me summarize the essence of what you need to take with you from the Freedom Journey that will help you greatly as you address the issues of your past.

1) Freedom demands honesty. REALITY

2) You must take responsibility for your own thoughts and actions. RESPONSIBILITY

3) Reconciliation of your past requires settling accounts. RECONCILIATION

• The key to being TRULY FREE is to allow God to heal you and set you free.

John 8:36 NLT

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.