Sermon Notes

“Steps to Spiritual Freedom”

By Associate General Pastor Edward J. Thomas

September 27^th, 2009

 Click here to download printable sermon notes in pdf format.

Who we are is not determined by what we do; what we do is determined by who we are.  Pastor Thomas commented that certain types of plastic can’t be recycled, neither can plastic people.  We have all been exposed to the lie that one’s performance or status makes one complete.  Adam and Jesus were the only two men who have ever been truly complete:  All the rest of us must press our way into that way of life.  We must conform ourselves to the image of God. 

Pastor Thomas also gave us an illustration of the way that we should be:

When the Spirit of God is at the center of our lives, He will uphold us and sustain us.  Without Him, the pressures of this world will crush us.

Adam was significant, and he had purpose and security.  God provided everything he needed; he had a sense of belonging.  There was only one thing that Adam needed; God said that it was not good for Adam to be alone, so God created a companion for Adam.

After the fall, Adam’s connection to God was severed.  Man has tried to uphold his existence by himself.  We have been exposed to the empty promises of the world, we try to dress and act based on the perception that others have of us.  The pressures of life implode on us.  Some people suffer depression because of a chemical imbalance, and we understand that, but many more people suffer depression just because of external circumstances.  These people suffer because they have nothing inside to support them when things go wrong. 

When one is Spiritually alive, then one has union with God, and He has His angels camped about us.  There has no temptation taken you…

After the fall, Adam was physically alive, but Spiritually dead.  Before the fall, he could have eaten of the tree of life, but afterwards, he was Spiritually dead, which is worse than being physically dead.  Some of the effects of that were that he had way too many choices.  In the garden, he had lots of right choices, but only one wrong choice.  Outside the garden he had lots of wrong choices. 

Human nature is that we want what we can’t have.  We are dominated by negative emotions.  We have lost our knowledge of God.  We have way too many choices.  We feel fear, but perfect love casteth out fear.  We suffer guilt and shame, and if those emotions dominate us, then we cannot have an intimate relationship with God.  We feel anger, and anger isn’t necessarily a negative emotion; God feels anger, but when He gets angry, it is for restoration:  He is angry until (or unless) we repent; when we get angry, we want to destroy, or get over, or put down.

Adam and Eve lost their knowledge of God.  They tried to cover themselves up, but their cover was not good enough; God had to cover them.  They also tried to hide from God.  Can you imagine having had a personal relationship with your Creator, having seen all the things that He had created, and knowing that He created them, and then trying to hide from Him?

Adam lost his intimate relationship with God; we need to find that relationship.  That requires absolute surrender of our lives to Christ; God doesn’t save half-way. 

Knowledge is essentially a collection of data.  People with knowledge tend to become arrogant, but people with Godly knowledge become intimate with God.  If you really love someone, you will try to learn what makes them happy.  We don’t read our Bibles or study nearly enough because the enemy finds ways to keep us busy so that we won’t.  The truth shall make us free, though.  Love edifies; knowledge doesn’t.

Adam had attributes; things that God gave him.  These are things that we seek to fulfill ourselves; they are needs.  We need to belong:  That’s why there are so many social clubs and organizations today, but people will always disappoint you.  God will never leave us nor forsake us.  We need purpose, legitimacy.  Our significance hinges on God being in us.  Do you suppose that the colt that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday thought that he was important? 

Jesus said that no man comes to the Father but by Me.  He was our perfect example, but even He did not live independent of God.  We have been given Grace, but if you don’t live in Grace, then the Law will condemn you.  When we gave our hearts and lives to Christ, we were still the same people we always were, we just had new goals and new joy.  The old man is still back there, trying to take over.  God has given us the power to overcome those things, but I can of mine own self do nothing. 

Remember that when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, He defeated Satan with Scripture. 

We must care about the salvation of other people.  We must stand Spiritually free, not being afraid to share the Gospel.  So many times what we do is determined by what happens to be on TV, or how tired we feel.  Do you think that you are more tired than Jesus was when He carried the cross for you?

Pastor Thomas also gave us a list of affirmations, and encouraged us to read these every day for twenty-one days:

Who am I in Christ?

I Am Accepted

John 1:12                                 I am God’s child.

John 15:15                               I am Christ’s friend.

Romans 5:1                             I have been justified.

1 Corinthians 6:17                   I am united with the Lord and I am one spirit with Him.

1 Corinthians 6:20                   I am bought with a price.  I belong to God.

1 Corinthians 12:27                 I am a member of Christ’s body.

Ephesians 1:1                          I am a saint.

Ephesians 1:5                          I have been adopted as God’s child.

Ephesians 2:18                        I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:14                       I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

Colossians 2:10                       I am complete in Christ.

I Am Secure

Romans 8: 1, 2                        I am free of condemnation.

Romans 8:28                           I am assured that all things work together for good.

Romans 8:31-34                      I am free from any condemning charge against me.

Romans 8:35-39                      I can not be separated from the love of God.

2 Corinthians 1:21, 22             I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.

Philippians 1:6                         I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected.

Philippians 3:20                       I am a citizen of Heaven.

Colossians 3:3                         I am hidden with Christ in God.

2 Timothy 1:7                          I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

Hebrews 4:16                          I can find grace and mercy in time of need.

1 John 5:18                              I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

I Am Significant

Matthew 5:13, 14                    I am the salt and the light of the earth.

John 15:1, 5                             I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life.

John 15:16                               I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

Acts 1:8                                   I am a personal witness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:16                   I am God’s temple.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21             I am a minister of reconciliation for God.

2 Corinthians 6;1                     I am God’s co-worker (see 1 Cor 3:9)

Ephesians 2:6                          I am seated with Christ in the Heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:10                        I am God’s workmanship.

Ephesians 3:12                        I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Philippians 4:12                       I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

                           Sermon notes by Pete Shepherd

Pastor Thomas has also preached several more messages on the Steps to Spiritual Freedom at our home church in Norfolk:

click here for Sermon Notes from October 4th -- "Understanding Who We Are"

click here for Sermon Notes from October 11th -- "Gaining Control of Your Spiritual Life"

click here for Sermon Notes from October 18th -- "Gaining Control of Your Spiritual Walk"

click here for Sermon Notes from October 25th -- "Winning the Battle for Your Mind"