Maintaining Maintaining Dependent Dependent

StatusStatusTrue dependency=freedomTrue dependency=freedom

The nature of The nature of independenceindependenceO Independence is not, in itself, Independence is not, in itself,

sinfulsinfulOHow we exercise it, and what How we exercise it, and what

motivates it, determines its motivates it, determines its potential for good/evilpotential for good/evilO A child learns to walk A child learns to walk O A child learns to disobeyA child learns to disobey

Independence: Any act that Independence: Any act that defies the intentions of God, His defies the intentions of God, His created order or His charactercreated order or His character

How’d we get there?How’d we get there?

OThe seed of independence The seed of independence was planted at the fall thru was planted at the fall thru pridepride

O It came w/a 2-prong spirit of It came w/a 2-prong spirit of fear which the enemy uses fear which the enemy uses to keep us independentto keep us independentO Fear of losing controlFear of losing controlO Fear of being revealedFear of being revealed

Independence Independence =freedom=freedom?

O It is a lie of the enemyIt is a lie of the enemyO It is in the Western psyche (the It is in the Western psyche (the

“less than” mentality)“less than” mentality)O It can only be broken thru It can only be broken thru

ChristChristOHe gave all He gave all controlcontrol over to the over to the

will of His Fatherwill of His FatherOHe became utterly He became utterly revealedrevealed in in

His deathHis death

Where the Spirit of Lord Where the Spirit of Lord is, is,

there is freedomthere is freedomO1. We are dependent on HS to 1. We are dependent on HS to

bring us into salvation AND bring us into salvation AND lordshiplordshipO Mt 16:16 – “ Who do they say I am?”Mt 16:16 – “ Who do they say I am?”O Jn 20:22 – He breathed on Jn 20:22 – He breathed on

them/salvation & establishes them/salvation & establishes Lordship thru resurrectionLordship thru resurrection

O Titus 3:5 – saves us….thru the H.S.Titus 3:5 – saves us….thru the H.S.O Acts 4:12 – salvation ONLY thru JesusActs 4:12 – salvation ONLY thru Jesus

Dependency on HS Dependency on HS cont’dcont’d

O2. The H.S. teaches us God’s Word 2. The H.S. teaches us God’s Word for growth, guidance/directionfor growth, guidance/directionO 1 Pet 2:2 – crave the Word1 Pet 2:2 – crave the WordO Jn 8:31; 16:13 – Know the truth & Jn 8:31; 16:13 – Know the truth &

be set free; guides us into be set free; guides us into truth/santifiestruth/santifies

ORom 8:14 – mature sons are led by Rom 8:14 – mature sons are led by HSHS

O Jn 17:17 – we are “set apart” by Jn 17:17 – we are “set apart” by truthtruth

Dependency on Dependency on one anotherone another

O1 Cor 12: 7,11 – gifts are for 1 Cor 12: 7,11 – gifts are for common goodcommon good

O1 Pet 4:8-11 – we express 1 Pet 4:8-11 – we express God’s grace toward one God’s grace toward one anotheranother

ORom 12:3-8 – we bring Rom 12:3-8 – we bring motivation by HS to each motivation by HS to each otherother

Dependency on one Dependency on one another cont’d…another cont’d…

O1 Cor 14:3 – we prophesy to 1 Cor 14:3 – we prophesy to strengthen, encourage and strengthen, encourage and comfort each othercomfort each other

O1 Thes 5:14 – maintain a 1 Thes 5:14 – maintain a code of conductcode of conduct

ORom 8:26-27 – we help each Rom 8:26-27 – we help each other win the victory thru other win the victory thru prayerprayer

The Challenge…The Challenge…OWho’s directing the work of Who’s directing the work of

your hands and the desires of your hands and the desires of your heart?your heart?

OHow are you “partnering” How are you “partnering” with God to achieve Kingdom with God to achieve Kingdom purposes?purposes?

OAre you advancing God’s Are you advancing God’s Kingdom or your own agenda?Kingdom or your own agenda?

The The Encouragement…Encouragement…OGal 5:1 “It is for Gal 5:1 “It is for freedomfreedom that that

Christ has set us free.”Christ has set us free.”O Freedom – emphasized by its Freedom – emphasized by its

position in the Greek sentence, position in the Greek sentence, meaning freed from the meaning freed from the burden/yoke of the law, as in burden/yoke of the law, as in yoke of slaveryyoke of slavery

O2 Tim 1:9 “…who called us 2 Tim 1:9 “…who called us with a holy calling…by grace”with a holy calling…by grace”