Sunday, January 13, 2019

Out of Slavery and Into Freedom - Part 1



Exodus 12:24-32 “Obey these instructions as a lasting ordinance for you and your descendants. When you enter the land that the Lord will give you as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask you, ‘What does this ceremony mean to you?’ then tell them, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the Egyptians.’” Then the people bowed down and worshiped. The Israelites did just what  the Lord commanded  Moses and Aaron. At midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. Pharaoh and all his officials and all the Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a house without someone dead. During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the Lord as you have requested. Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”

We just crossed over into year 2019 AD. AD is short for the Latin “Anno Domini”, translated as "Year of the Lord." Every time someone speaks or writes the date, they acknowledge Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior of the world. This last Sunday, Pastor Kyle started  a new sermon series and preached a message that was applicable for starting a new year in our lives.

As we entered into a new year, it’s natural to take inventory and make an analysis of where we stand, then formulate a plan and construct appropriate changes to create corrections and meet goals for improvement, growth and maturity. Just as faith in God’s plan of salvation through the Christmas gift of the blessed Redeemer Jesus by grace set us free from the bondage of sin, we need to constantly be moving from slavery to freedom. In order to do so, we need to remember that first and foremost, freedom isn’t free. There is a cost in our freedom. Understand your personal bondage to sin. There was suffering and sacrifice in God’s promise and redemption paid by the Lord. Blood had to be spilled to pay for those sins. Our sin and associated death were passed over and we need to feel that loss and appreciate what God has done.


1 Corinthians 5:7 says, “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

Secondly, in order to move out of slavery and into freedom, we need to act accordingly and take steps to move towards greater freedom. God wants us to cast off the things that weigh us down in slavery (physically, mentally and spiritually). Fallen sinners saved need t recognize the items and issues in their lives that are not pleasing in the eyes of the Lord. Healing moment need to led to a healing process. Admit wrongs and repent because sin creates a slave mindset pattern. Church is one major healing element, so make the assembly of the sanctified a priority.

Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message on "freedom" in the next post.
In Christ, Brian

No comments: