“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” (2 Cor. 3:17)

Freedom: the quality or state of being free, such as the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action; liberation from slavery or restraint, or from the power of another; the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous. 

People sometimes become trapped by things which exert power over them. It may be an addiction to a chemical substance such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or something like pornography, gambling, food, electronic games, or anything else that gains control (fill in the blank). Whatever it is, large or small, God has provided a way of escape to get totally free from its control. 

God provides a way out for you

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 NIV)

“…call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” (Psalm 59:15) 

You are free indeed

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

Therefore…

 “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the fruit you reap leads to holiness, and the outcome is eternal life.” (Rom. 6:22)

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 NIV)

“Live in freedom, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.” (1 Pet. 2:16)

“For you, brothers, were called to freedom; but do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh. Rather, serve one another in love.” (Gal. 5:13)

Quote:

“In almost everything that touches our everyday life on earth, God is pleased when we're pleased. He wills that we be as free as birds to soar and sing our maker's praise without anxiety.” - A. W. Tozer

“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:4 NKJV)

Patience: the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like.

Bring forth fruit with patience 

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)

Patience is better than pride 

“The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.” (Eccles. 7:8 NIV)

Be patient in affliction

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Rom. 12:12 NIV)

Therefore…

“In your patience you will gain your souls.” (Luke 21:19 NKJ) 

“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” (James 5:7 NIV)

Quote:

“He that can have patience can have what he will.” - Benjamin Franklin

“A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another.” (John 13:34)

Love comes from God

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

Love each other from the heart

“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.” (1 Peter 1:22:23)

God’s love is perfected in us as we love others

“No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.” (1 John 4:12)

Love the brotherhood of believers 

“Treat everyone with high regard: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:17)

Quote:

“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” - Saint Augustine

“Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.”  (Matt. 22:37-38 NIV)

 Give God your heart

“My son, give me your heart and let your eyes delight in my ways.” (Prov. 23:26)

God will change your heart so that you will love Him

“The LORD your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live!” (Deut. 30:6 NLT)

Therefore…

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Col. 3:1-2)

“Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21 ESV)

Quote:

“Loving God – really loving Him – means living out His commands no matter what the cost.” – Chuck Colson

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Col. 4:2 ESV)

Watch and pray so you won’t fall into temptation 

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matt. 26:41 NIV)

Watch and pray for Christ’s return

“Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” (Mark 13:33 NKJV)

 “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. (Matt. 25:13 NLT)

 Watch and pray that you be counted worthy

 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:34-36)

 Therefore…

 “Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Luke 12:37-40)

 Quote:

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had no where else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.” - Abraham Lincoln

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7 NASB)

Our prayers are an offering brought before God’s throne

“Then another angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.” (Rev. 8:3 NLT)

God answers prayer

 ‘You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.” (Psalm 75:2 NIV)

Ask in Jesus’s Name 

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24 NIV)

“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:14)

If you will believe…

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)

The Holy Spirit will help you as you pray 

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Rom. 8:26 NLT)

Therefore…

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” (Eph. 6:18-19)

Quote:

“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” - Oswald Chambers

“For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Eph. 4:12-13)

Perfected: conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type. 

Be conformed to Jesus

 “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Rom 8:29 NIV)

We are perfected by Jesus’s sacrificial offering 

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” (Heb. 10:14 NASB)

Therefore…

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:1-2 NIV)

 “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” (2 Cor 7:1 NIV)

Quote:

“Great and glorious God, and Thou Lord Jesus, I pray you shed abroad your light in the darkness of my mind. Be found of me, Lord, so that in all things I may act only in accordance with Thy holy will.” - Francis of Assisi

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”.” (Mark 10:45 ESV)

The greatest among you serve

“The greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matt. 23:11 ESV)

 Be a servant of all

“And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35 ESV)

It is more blessed to give than receive

“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35-36 ESV)

Therefore…

“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” (Heb. 5:13 NIV)

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” (Heb. 6:10 NIV)

Quote:

“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” – Booker T. Washington

“Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.” (Prov.16:20 NIV)

Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something; to have confidence, faith. 

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jer. 17:7-8 NIV)

Therefore…

“Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.” (Psalm 37:31 NIV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6 NIV)

Quote:

“We must cease striving and trust God to provide what He thinks is best and in whatever time He chooses to make it available. But this kind of trusting doesn't come naturally. It's a spiritual crisis of the will in which we must choose to exercise faith.” – Charles Swindoll