Where The Spirit Of The Lord Is, There Is Liberty.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

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

The Spirit of God is always the spirit of liberty; the spirit that is not of God is the spirit of bondage, the spirit of oppression and depression. The Spirit of God convicts vividly and tensely, but He is always the Spirit of liberty. God who made the birds never made birdcages; it is men who make birdcages, and after a while we become cramped and can do nothing but chirp and stand on one leg. When we get out into God’s great free life, we discover that that is the way God meant us to live "the glorious liberty of the children of God." - Oswald Chamber

Imagine being given a check for a million dollars and never cashing it.

Imagine having a freezer and cupboard full of food and never eating.

Imagine dangling precariously on a rope when there is a ladder within your grasp.

Imagine living a life of defeat and despair when there is no reason to do so.

And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

If you read 2 Corinthians 3 you will discover that God does not want us under the bondage of law keeping or self-effort. Instead He wants us to have the freedom of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Because the Holy Spirit is present within us, all we need to do is reach for it by faith. We live such self-defeating lives that God never intended us to live.

I. FREEDOM TO BELONG -

(Rom 8:15 KJV) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Rom 8:16 KJV) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Rom 8:17 KJV) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

You are a child of God and therefore part of the family of God.

II. FREEDOM TO SERVE - (2 Cor 3:5 KJV) Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; (2 Cor 3:6 KJV) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

We are ministers of God. His sufficiency to serve comes from God.

III. FREEDOM TO BE GUIDED - (Rom 8:14 KJV) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Psa 32:8 KJV) I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Liberty is the right to discipline ourselves in order not to be disciplined by others.

IV. FREEDOM TO WITNESS - (Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

The gospel is not something we go to church to hear; it is something we go from the church to tell. When Christians live the gospel, sinners will listen to the gospel. Let’s reach out to a world in need with the Word it needs.

V. FREEDOM TO LEARN - (John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:14 KJV) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. (John 16:15 KJV) All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.

VI. FREEDOM TO PRODUCE - (Gal 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (Gal 5:23 KJV) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Love is the key. Joy is love singing. Peace is love resting. Long-suffering is love enduring. Kindness is love’s touch. Goodness is love’s character. Faithfulness is love’s habit. Gentleness is love’s self-forgetfulness. Self-control is love holding the reins. Donald Grey Barnhouse

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