What is freedom?

1. Scotland’s Youth Conference What is freedom?

2. Objectives • Why freedom? • What is bondage? • What is freedom? • How to attain it? • Sources of stuckness. • Structure of the conference • Tips to make best use of the conference

3. Why Freedom? • For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Gal 5:13. • Because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. Rom 8:21

4. Why Freedom? • Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 2Cr 3:17

5. Why Freedom? • “He has sent Meto heal the broken-hearted, To proclaim libertytothecaptives And recovery of sight tothe blind, Toset at liberty those who areoppressed. Luke 4:18 • “that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage”. Hbr 2:14-15

6. What is Bondage? • A state in which one does what another is dictating/demanding. • So liberty is to do what you want! • Addicts will say that’s what I want to do! • They have the option to choose. • This deception stops people from seeking true freedom.

7. What is Freedom? • Is it free from following instincts and feelings? • How about bondage to people? • Is it having the mind in full control?

8. BUT!! • But the mind itself can become slaveto ego, thinking patterns, social pressures…etc!!! • Is it about getting out of yourself and mind? • Therapies acknowledge that we are relational beings and freedom is deeper concept.

9. True Freedom • State of detachment and insight (seeing and opening of eyes) in which you see the reality of temptations. • State of inner strength and steadiness in which you resist pressures and they cannot make you do things. • Active state of spiritual increase and advance.

10. No Master? • “Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” • You cannot have no masters!

11. Psalm 46 • God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. • God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.

12. St Macarius • By being born of God from above, and being privileged to be children of God in truth and efficacy, and by having arrived, through many conflicts and labours spread over a long time, at a fixed and settled condition (state) of freedom from disturbance and (condition) of rest, no longer sifted and wave-tossed by unquiet and vain thoughts.

13. St Macarius • Therefore their longing is towards that love of the heavenly King, and having Him only before their eyes with great desire, they detach themselves for His sake from all worldly affection, and withdraw from every earthly tie, that they may be free always to cherish in their hearts that one longing, and to mix nothing else with it.

14. How to attain Freedom? • The Son will set you free. • He will give you your own freedom.

15. My Role • Let Him set you free! • I need to discover my bondages.

16. Discover My Bondage • Am I addicted to some behaviours? • Am I addicted to people’s approval? • Am I driven by certain feelings? • Is my body in control? • Do I do what I want to do? • Is what I want to do really what I want to do? • Am I totally consumed with myself? • Am I exposed to another person?

17. Repentance and Confession • Admit we are powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. • Believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. • Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

18. Sources of stuckness • Some are still stuck on the path of freedom!

19. Sources of Stuckness • You like it: • I will still gain something • You fear it: • I will not be able to resist • You underestimate it: • I will lose nothing

20. You Like It • Believing that lying will make you succeed. • Believing that unholy scenes can give you enjoyment and satisfaction. • Believing that money can give you Joy. • Believing that fear is good for you. • Believing that alcohol will relive your anxiety. • Believing that people’s approval is the source of confidence.

21. You Fear it • I will never be able to resist lustful thoughts. • I can never say no to this person. • I will never be able to resist pressure from my feelings. • I can never say no to my flesh. • I can never overcome my bitterness or anger towards her.

22. You Underestimate It • I can listen to or watch whatever I want and not be corrupted. • I can associate with bad company and not be corrupted. • I can sin then quickly repent, there will be no loss whatsoever. • I can try and find out myself, there’s no harm in trying.

23. Tips for the Conference • You are not here by accident. • This topic is not there by chance. • The Lord is more than willing to set you free. • The Spirit yearns to give you freedom. • Call the Lord personally expressing your wishes and dreams of freedom. • Expose yourself admitting wrong choices.

24. Structure of the Conference • Nature of emotions and passions. • Common worries and tackling them. • Freedom from fear. • Discussing fear of failure. • Freedom from seeking approval. • Freedom from self glorification. • Summary and practical points.