Freedom in Jesus: Jesus, The Door to Freedom (John 10:9)

Series: Freedom in Jesus

Sermon Title: Jesus: The Door to Freedom

Scripture: John 10:9

Date: July 8, 2018

 

I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  (John 10:9)

 

JESUS: THE DOOR TO FREEDOM

 

The good news tonight is that Jesus is the door out of our mental and spiritual prisons.  He is the one who sets us free.

Some doors are opportunities and some are traps.

How does God get you out of prison?  How does God set upa a jail break?

1. Shakes things up
   • Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations.  All the prison doors flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off and they were set free!  (Acts 16:26, NLT)
2. Plugs you into the power of the resurrection
   • I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him.  this is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms.  (Ephesians 1:19-20, NLT)
   • "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has annointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind."  (Luke 4:18)
   • "If you live as I tell you to, you are truly my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free....  And if the Son sets you free, you will be truly free!"  (John 8:31-32, 36)
   • Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!  (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV)
   • "The more of God you have in your life the more free you will be."  -Rick Warren

 

Here are three prisons God wants to set you free from - we've all been in all three.

1. The prison of pretending
   • What causes you to fall into the trap of pretending?  2 things: people pleasing and perfectionism
   • Two causes of falling into the trap of pretending:
     1. People pleasing
        • The fear of human opinion disables; but trusting in God protects you from that.  (Proverbs 29:25, MSG)
        • Even God can't please everybody.
        • You don't have to have other people's approval to be happy.
     2. Perfectionism
        • Feeling you have to be perfect in order to be loved.
        • You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart.  The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned.  (Luke 16:15, CEV)
        • "How do I walk through the door of freedom from pretending?  Switch your focus to what God thinks."  -Rick Warren
        • I will live in freedom, because I only pay attention to what you say (Lord).  (Psalm 119:45)
2. The prison of unforgiveness
   • We all need forgiveness.  We need to ask for it, give it, and accept it.
   • We all hurt people and get hurt.  Unforgiveness will become a prison if you don't receive, accept, and give forgiveness.
   • 3 reasons to let it go:
     1. because God has forgiven me
        
        • There is now no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ Jesus.  For the power of God's life-giving Spirit - and this power is mine through Christ Jesus - has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.  (Romans 8:1-2, LB)
     2. because resentment makes me miserable
     3. because I'm going to need more forgiveness in the future
        • If you refuse to forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.  (Matthew 6:15, NLT)
3. The prison of fear
   
   • That evening, the disciples met behind locked doors out of fear of the religious leaders.  Suddenly, Jesus stood among them! "Peace be with you," he said.  (John 20:19, NLT)
   • Helps for being delivered fromt he prison of fear:
     1. Remember how much God loves me
        • God is love.  whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him...There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear.  (John 4:16, 18)
        • The more you invite God's love into your life, believe it, accept it, and receive it, the less fear you will have.
     2. Remember God has a good plan for your life
        • God's plans are too good to miss.  -Charles Stanley
        • And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, and have been called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28, NIV)
        • God used the greatest bad thing to be the greatest good thing.
        • It makes no difference who you are or where you're from - if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the DOOR IS OPEN!  (Acts 10:35, MSG)

 

God, I bring these things that have imprisoned me, and I give them to you.  You are the door of freedom, and I come to you through Jesus.  I am walking through the door to freedom; as best as I can, I give my life to you, Lord Jesus, and I want to live with, for, and through You.  I want to walk through the doors of opportunity You have for me.  Take my life.