"Freedoms"(Romans 13:1-5)

Romans 13:1-5

We all want freedom, but we don’t usually understand what that means. The freedoms that we desire may put us into bondage. Many young people will complain about not having enough freedom, but when they become adults and are no longer under the constant supervision of teachers and parents, they may start to miss the authority they were under. This is because the freedom they are pursuing is not aligned with God’s authority and ultimately leads to regret and bondage. It can be hard to exercise your freedom to follow God if you have never been given the chance, but true freedom come to submitting to God’s rule. 

Most people do not understand true freedom and bondage and try to gain freedom through some selfish practices. True freedom does not mean we can do whatever we want whenever we want. It is not about making ourselves the most important thing our lives. True freedom is not resisting the call of submitting to authority except your own. Also, it is not found in writing your own moral code. Finally, it is not the result of getting your own way. Attempting to gain freedom through those methods will eventually lead to bondage. 

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 

Romans 13:1

God puts people in authority, and we need to acknowledge this. There is an order in this world, and some are in authority, and we all must behave in a manner that God has ordained. When we do not behave in this manner, we go into bondage, and no one will see freedom. Just like a bird in a cage, or a dog kept on a short leash, no one will look at a caged bird or tied up dog and say they have freedom. Both the bird and the dog are not living in the way God had created them to live.

In Romans 13, Paul addresses this very problem of true freedom and in verse two, Paul tells us what happens when we do not submit.

Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 

Romans 13:2

Although Paul is talking about the rulers and governments of this world, he is also talking about submitting to God and the kingdom of God. Our submission is not just in this world, it goes to heaven. By submitting to the authorities of this world which God has established, we are submitting to God. God is the creator of this world and expects us to be under his laws. Judgement will come on us in the physical world as well as with spiritual grief.  

Freedom and authority are not our enemies. If we try to come out from authority, this is not freedom. When we try to achieve freedom from, money, relationships, or fame, we will go into bondage. 

When we find ourselves going into bondage, we need to go back under God’ authority. The church is the gift of God that will help us to live as good Christians. We cannot do things on our own outside of the church. We need to encourage each other and support each other to do good works and stay in authority under God. The church is also to remind us of the importance of grace. It is only by grace that we are saved.

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

Romans 6:22

Freedom does not come from coming out of authority. If we want to experience true freedom, we need to submit to God’s authority like slaves of righteousness.

"Given"(Judges 1:1-7)

Judges 1:1-7

 

As the leader of the Israelites, Moses appointed Joshua to be his successor after they crossed the River Jordan.  Moses had led the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness for 40 years, but Moses was not allowed to enter the promised land and could only see it beyond the River Jordan.

 

Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

Deuteronomy 34:4

 

Moses was not allowed to enter, and Joshua led the children of Israel into the promised land instead. This was not because Moses was less of a leader than Joshua. We know Moses as very special to God and the greatest prophet.

 

'Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, ' 

Deuteronomy 34:10

 

 Joshua was Moses’ successor so that the work God had started with Moses would be continued through Joshua in the way God wanted it to be done.  Both Moses and Joshua led the children of Israel to serve and love God.

 

'For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. '

Deuteronomy 30:16

 

Although Moses and the children of Israel had failed God, God never abandoned them. Moses learned through his mistakes that he had to serve God completely.  Moses learned that his role was to led the people to God's love. This is what a leader is in the biblical sense. Moses started off his leadership with excuses on why he should not be the leader. For God it did not matter that Moses was slow to speak or eloquent. God wanted Moses to lead them to know and love who God was.

 

Joshua was able to lead the Israelites into success and conquered enemies, but this was not because Joshua was a good leader. Joshua understood that victories came from God. Joshua won battles because he asked God for the victories and God gave them.

 

These days Christians feel that adults must be responsible for their lives. A responsible adult has the resources and strength to work at their success. Yet, Jesus tells something very different.

 

'Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. '

Matthew 18:3-4

 

The adult in this case is not a physically grown person, but that person who is arrogant and does not see a need for God. Jesus clearly tells us that a person who does not believe they need God is someone who cannot enter the heaven. The people who will enter heaven are the people like children who constantly seek God and ask what they should do or ask for His gifts.

 

We see the Israelites being humble like Children and asking God for His guidance and blessings.

 

'After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” '

Judges 1:1

 

Today, we still need to seek God's direction and love. We cannot do things in our own strength; we need to rely on God like children and put God first in our decisions. However, we do need to be responsible.

 

'The Lord answered, “Judah shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.” '

Judges 1:2

 

Although God gives Israel the victory, Judah still needs to go and claim that victory through battle. Yes, we God to God in all things, but we still need to act and be responsible for the church. This responsibility is not selfish or self glorifying, but it is the responsibility of looking out for others, our love for God and building up the church.

 

Because of God's love, Moses could relinquish his responsibilities to Joshua and allow someone else to complete God's work. The Israelites were able to cross the Jordan because of God's love and mercy and not because of anything they had done. We do have work to do, but it is God who allows us to do the work and it is God who completes the work.

 

'Then Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back for what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there. '

Judges 1:7

 

We read here, that God punished Adoni-Bezek for his arrogance. This was a mighty king who had defeated seventy other kings, and God wanted to teach the children of Israel that God was in charge and it was God who defeated this might king.

 

In our lives, we must ask God for direction. God wants us to have a genuine relationship with Him. Asking for trivial things will probably not result in great prayers, revelations or answers, but God does want to be in control of our lives. The truth is that we can make great plans, but it is God who will allow these plans to manifest or give us different direction all together.

Our God

 Our God

CCLI Song # 5677416

Chris Tomlin | Jesse Reeves | Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

Verse 1

Water You turned into wine

Opened the eyes of the blind

There's no one like You

None like You

 

Verse 2

Into the darkness You shine

Out of the ashes we rise

There's no one like You

None like You

 

Chorus

Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is healer

Awesome in power our God our God

 

Verse 2

Into the darkness You shine

Out of the ashes we rise

There's no one like You

None like You

 

Chorus

Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is healer

Awesome in power our God our God

[X2]

 

Bridge

And if our God is for us

Then who could ever stop us

And if our God is with us

Then what could stand against

[2X]

(Then) what could stand against

 

Chorus

Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God You are higher than any other

Our God is healer

Awesome in power our God our God

[2X]

 

Bridge

And if our God is for us

Then who could ever stop us

And if our God is with us

Then what could stand against

[2X]

(Then) what could stand against

 

what could stand against

Our God - Chris Tomlin Lyrics and Chords | Worship Together 

크신 내 주님

"Blindness"(John 9: 1-11)

John 9: 1-11

In John 9, we read about a man who was blind from birth. The disciples ask Jesus who was responsible for the man's blindness. People like the disciples believed at that time that blindness was the result of a direct sin. It would be bad enough being blind and never being able to see, but even worse to have everyone look down on you because they believed you were being punished for some sin.

His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

John 9: 2

Jesus gives an answer that surprises everyone and angered a few.

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

 John 9: 3

Jesus tells the disciples that God has chosen this person to reveal his glory and that his blindness was not a result of someone's sin, but an opportunity to show God's healing power. Jesus then makes mud with his own saliva and applies it to the blind man's eyes. Jesus then tells the blind man to wash in the pool of Siloam which the blind man does and his sight is restored. 

The blind man's closed eyes were open, and Jesus wants to open our closed eyes as well. Our closed eyes are our spiritual eyes, and being blind spiritually is much worse than physical blindness. Being blind means being lost in the darkness and never being able to see the dangers that are in front of us. A physically blind person or someone with poor vision can use tools or operations to improve our sight. Satan blinds our spiritual eyes so that we cannot see the dangers of sin.

Mount Sinai is a place where pilgrims will go to experience what Moses felt when he met God. The pilgrims go up the mountain in the dark with lanterns and flashlights and when they reach the top it is still dark. Finally the sun comes up and the light reveals all the beauty and majesty that was hidden in the darkness.

While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

 John 9: 3

Jesus is the light that takes away the darkness. We later read that the blind man confesses that he believes in Jesus. The Pharisees question the blind man and accept that Jesus healed the blind man but then start to criticize Jesus had healed on the sabbath. The Pharisees miss the main point of the man being healed and argue why Jesus could not be sent from God. They fail to realize that Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and is above those laws.

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Matthew 12:8

Jesus did not need to obey the Laws from Moses whereas people need to obey Jesus. We often act like the Pharisees do. We feel we are above God's laws and criticize the laws .

“For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

John 9:39

The people who could open their eyes were the ones who understood they were blind and need Jesus to open their eyes and be their savior. The Pharisees did not accept that they were spiritually blind. In fact, they believed they were seeing things in the true light. They remained in spiritual darkness. They could accept that they might be blind. Many people insist that because they have attended church for a long time or know the scriptures they cannot be blind.

Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

John 9: 40-41

God wants us to live a life with open spiritual eyes that sees the truth. It is only then we can see the work that God wants us to do and see His working power. Our physical eyes may see beauty in things that are not beautiful to God. We must realize that we cannot do anything without Jesus to please God. We cannot see the truth without Jesus' light. As the world becomes darker we must humbly rely on Jesus to be our light.