Luke 15:17-22 (NLT) 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.” ’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet.
Sandals for his feet: 1. Sandals are a basic necessity for a journey.
2. Sandals were used in covenants.
3. Sandals indicate the restoration of sonship.
“Servants have responsibilities but not rights.”
John 8:31-36 (NIV) 31 To the Jews who that believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 They answered him, "We are Abraham's des”endants and have never “een slaAbraham’syone. How can you say that we shall be set free?" 34 Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a“slave to sin.35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. Three areas of bondage 1. Sin John 8:34(NIV) "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
“Anything you can’t say no to is bondage.”
Romans 8:12–14 (NLT) You have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
2. Fear
Romans 8:15–16 (NLT) 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
“Fear is failure to trust.” Things that won’t help our fears:
Hardness of heart
Masquerading fear as faith
Worrying
Whining
Control
3. Performance “If you are obeying Jesus out of a burden, you are operating as a slave, not a son, a hireling, not an heir, and a laborer, not a lover.”
3 Breakers 1. Encountering, Knowing & Following Jesus. John 8:31-42 (NIV) 31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
2. Trusting that Abba is good, perfect, and loving.
“ A child-like faith is not something we must not grow out of but that we continue to grow into.”
Mark 10:15 (NLT) I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”
1 John 4:18 (NIV)There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.
3. Simple, joyful obedience.
Hebrews 11:8 (NLT) It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.
