Freedom in Christ - Part 3
Walking as Children of God

The Natural Man what we were
	The natural man is separated from God (because of sin), therefore he has learned to live independently of God. He can think and choose what to do. I.e. His behaviour has no sense or little sense of right or wrong. He tries to find purpose and meaning in life independently of God. His emotions - can affect the body's health He struggles with his feelings He is without Christ
Man's spirit is dead to God

Once you were dead, doomed forever because of your many sins. You used to live just like the rest of the world, full of sin, obeying Satan, the mighty prince of the power of the air. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God's anger just like everyone else. (Ephesians 2:1 NLT)

The Spiritual Person Perfect Christian, God desires us to be like this
	Transformed through faith Our spirit unites with Gods spirit Our minds are renewed NKJ Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 2 Peter 1:3 I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.
Diagram represents the perfect Christian

Fleshy Person us now
	Christian - who instead of being directed by the spirit, lives by the flesh. We still choose to sin. The flesh wages war against us If we feel inferiority - God will never forsake or leave us If we feel guilty - there is no condemnation in Christ If we feel worried - cast our anxieties on God - who will give us peace and wisdom.

2 Peter 1:3
I can pray this because his divine power has bestowed on us everything necessary for life and godliness through the rich knowledge of the one who called us by his own glory and excellence.

•  We can live as victorious Christians every day
•  God puts a red carpet out for us and does not want us to grovel. He loves us.
•  Past is used by Satan to hurt us.
•  Satan is our enemy.
•  We cannot afford to be ignorant of Satan.

The Spirit Filled Walk

God wants us to be a POWER house. He wants us to change from lawnmower to JCB.

Praying to God is not the last option when we want something. It should be the first thing WE DO.

The Holy Spirit will constantly talk to us.

We are free to live a responsible and moral life

The commandments of God are not restrictive, they are protective.

Romans 7:5
For when we were in the flesh, the sinful desires, aroused by the law, were active in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

2 Corinthians 3:6
who made us adequate to be servants of a new covenant not based on the letter but on the Spirit, for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Unfortunately some churches rules of do's and don'ts have a bad affect on a Christians spirituality.

The law is a tutor that leads us to Christ. We are justified by faith, not self effort.

If temptation didn't look good, we wouldn't bother. Giving into temptation has serious consequences.

If we live under the law - Satan will give us no rest.

NLT 1 Peter 5:8
Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

The devil prowls around in churches, our only sanctuary is in Christ.

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

God has created us to fulfil a part of the jigsaw. We are all unique.

•  Human nature - is people wanting to be above others.
•  God created us as individuals, we are unique and don't have to live up to anybody or any expectations. We are free to be with Christ.
•  Just be ourselves - stop looking at others - concentrate on God.
•  We need to lookup, through Gods eyes, and then back down on us.
•  God gives us permission to fail.

James 2:14-18
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can this kind of faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm and eat well," but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith without works and I will show faith by my works.

Ephesians 3:10
The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms.

We are making the wisdom of God known to the spiritual realms

Our prayers move in the spiritual realms with power

We must Walk with God
not sit - not run - walk

Satan will keep us busy with good works

•  Which will burn us out
•  Keep us from time with God
•  Keep us from our family

Matthew 11:28-30
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and my load is not hard to carry."

Take My 'yoke' upon you

A young ox wants to run, an old ox knows to go slow.

Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths get tired and weary;
even strong young men clumsily stumble.
But those who wait for the Lord's help find renewed strength;
they rise up as if they had eagles' wings,
they run without getting weary,
they walk without getting tired.
We are yoked with God - He knows the pace, the direction, the way to go - He's in control.

The Spirit Filled (walk) Life

John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Romans 8:14
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.

We are led, not driven by God. He leads us

Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity, idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissension's, factions, envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things.

If we sin, we should confess, say sorry - then keep walking, not stand still - every day keep moving - Gods forgiven us, so don't ponder on it, leave it and move on.

•  We must realise when we are walking according to the flesh.
•  Don't blame someone else for our anger. Examine ourselves.
•  Ask God to fill us with His Holy Spirit and walk on.
•  Satan will trip us up - we must get up and - keep walking
•  God promises to walk with us, we must learn to rest in God and trust Him.

Scripture quoted by permission. NET Bible® copyright © 1996-005 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. www.bible.org . All rights reserved.