Rise Up And Walk

Set Free to Work

Provision for life

This was his only way of making a living.

2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;

Set Free to Witness

Not only did he restore his dignity but he restored his testimony. I mean what did he have to tell before.

8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task”. 2 Corinthians 2:15-16

Set Free to Worship

He could not worship in the temple because he was broken. Not just physically but spiritually. Oh the shame he must have felt when he watched them go into the temple.

8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them; walking, leaping, and praising God. 9 And all the people saw him walking and praising God.

Conclusion

For some of you today your feel as if you walk, your purpose has been taken away. You see no purpose or reason to be. I want to tell you God can restore that joy in your life. God can take what is lost and renew it.

For some it is your work. You are wrapped so tight in doing the things of this world. You are just working from pay check to pay check. You are coming to church trying to live for God yet overwhelmed by the pressures of this world

Freedom in Christ

Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty (freedom) to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty (free) those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

2Co 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

His purpose is to bring freedom. His purpose is to proclaim freedom. His purpose is to “set at liberty them that are bruised” “to preach deliverance to the captives”.

We don’t have to live in bondage. We don’t have to live under the curse of sin or the law. We don’t have to live as if there is no way out. Jesus said again in

John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

verse 36 as if to clarify his freedom he said

36 "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Freedom has been proclaimed and the price has been paid? Was the price worth it? Yes for our freedom

That is what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Paul is telling those in Corinth that when the spirit of the Lord comes he brings liberty. The word liberty here also means “freedom”.