(Preach 6-28-98 SM by Dr. Rickey Honea @ College Heights Baptist Church - Lubbock, TX)

SERMON: Liberty without Freedom

(? Yes, you have been saved, but are you truly FREE?
or are you still in bondage to your old ways, old thoughts, old concepts, etc..)

John 11:38-46
Lazarus was raised from the dead by the power of God. All who trust Christ have been given
new life and lifted out of the graveyard of sin.

Many today at one point in their life have confessed themselves to God as sinners in need of a Savior.
Yes those same people today are still with out freedom.

Let us look into the scriptures today for some soul searching spirit filled truths.

I. Lazarus was resurrected ( v. 44) (LIFE) "He who had died came forth...."

A. The life-giving power of Jesus Christ was made manifest in the case of Lazarus.

1. (describe the tomb scene, dead coming to life)

2. No doubt, Christ brought that which is dead to life, proven in the case of Lazarus.

3. Life could be seen, heard, emotions were running wild with this event.

     Excitement everywhere, that which was dead now liveth.

4. You say, you were saved! If so, where is the LIFE in your life?

B. Christ Jesus came into the world to SAVE sinners.

C. Jesus would receive NO glory if He had called a live man out of a tomb.
    BUT, when He called a dead man to come alive and step out of the tomb.

WOW, you could feel the GLORY of God, See the Glory of God,
Shout the Glory of God, Rejoice in the Glory of God.

1. You could NOT help but give Christ the GLORY!

2. You could here "Praise His Name" Alleluia! Glory to God! by the crowd.

3. Same today, Jesus would receive NO glory for salvation by saving a saved person. The
glory  comes from saving a lost person. From Hell to Heaven!

D. Resurrection life can ONLY come where there has been death.

1. To want to be saved, you must first know that your lost. To be lost is to be dead to the things
    of God. To be saved is to want to be ALIVE to the things of God.
       "Passed from death to life" the Bible tells us.

E. John 12:24 tells us that we must die to self if we would live unto God.

II. Lazarus was restricted ( v. 44) ( Liberty )"Jesus said, loose him and let him go"

A. Lazarus was raised from the dead when Jesus called him.

B. Although he was raised - notice he was still bound.

1. many are still bound today

C. Think about it. Bound head to tow, how did he walk to the door of the tomb.
        Answer, He was carried by the POWER OF GOD.

Many today are still trying to live for God on their own power, when we need to
be carried by the POWER of God's presence.

? Have you ever been empowered by the POWER of God? It will change your life,
you will never forget it! God's power must have carried Lazarus along, for he could
not walk to the door by himself.

POINT: God did for Lazarus what Lazarus could never do, Jesus brought him into the
very presence of God. He did not have the power to overcome death, sin and the grave
until Jesus Christ called him forth! It took the power of God to do these things.  That is
why we too today need the power of God in our own lives.

? Can you ever remember a time when God brought you into the very presence of God?
Maybe the day you were saved? Dedicated your life to full time service? To teach? Etc ...

D. Lazarus experience LIBERTY but not FREEDOM.

1. Captivity was over, but he was still bound.

2. Death's grip had been defeated and broken, but he was still bound.

E. It is unbecoming of one who has been raised by the power of God from the death
(spiritually) to be walking around in grave clothes.

1. Bound by past failures of sin.

2. Bound by guilt

3. Bound by materialism

4. Bound by finances

5. Bound by tradition, customs, habits of men.

F. Where there is fullness of life there should be the breaking loose from old dead forms and habits.

    1. Only the dead still wear their grave clothes.

    2. You bury the dead among the dead, but that which is alive walks with living.

    3. Are you dead? or Alive? Your lifestyle is your clothes. The ways of the world - or the ways
       of God. You can only wear one or the other. Not both.

G. If you have been liberated from Death, don't be hindered by any fashion of Grave clothes
     you now have your own GRACE clothes.

    1. Define our new wardrobe:

    A. Not bound by sin, newness of life, new outlook on life, God, sin, worship, loving,
         balanced, kind, caring, serving etc.

H. Those whom Jesus has set free the Bibles tells us is "FREE INDEED".

III. Lazarus was released (Loosing)

A. Lazarus was set free from the grave clothes and given a new liberty which involved freedom ( Col. 3:1)

B. Lazarus was seated with Christ at the table. ( John 12:2)

1. He walked with God, talked with God, Ate with God, Worship with God Etc..

C. Ephesians 2:6 "All believers are seated with Christ in heavenly places and are enjoying the
    spiritual food of fellowship"

D. Christ gives abundant life, joy overflowing.

1.     Many so called Christians today show anger, un kindness, greed, etc.

2.     A true believer should show the attributes of Christ in their life.

3. WHERE IS THE JOY in our churches today? Our Homes, Our lives?

Conclusion:

God has so much more than many of you are experiencing. Don't let Satan keep you bound,
don't let the past of yesterday's failures rob you of today's fellowship and joy.
Shed your old lives - get rid of your old grave clothes and come forth unto Christ NOW!
Listen for His call in your life. Is God calling you today?
Why not come by the power of God right now.
NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION!!!!!

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