Tony Evans - Releasing God's Freedom

May 17, 2026 | 27:29

Dr. Tony Evans is known as a relevant expositor and is a pastor of pastors and a father in the faith.

Closed captions

Show Timecode
Dr. Tony Evans | Tony Evans - Releasing God's Freedom | May 17, 2026
  • ...
  • 00:00:00.633 --> 00:00:01.317
  • Tony evans: i wanna to submit to you today
  • 00:00:01.785 --> 00:00:02.986
  • That god wants you unbound, he wants you free,
  • 00:00:03.119 --> 00:00:05.655
  • He wants you released to maximize your created,
  • 00:00:05.789 --> 00:00:08.825
  • Converted potential.
  • 00:00:08.958 --> 00:00:09.292
  • He says it was for freedom christ has set us free.
  • 00:00:10.560 --> 00:00:14.097
  • He didn't unlock the jail cell so that you
  • 00:00:14.097 --> 00:00:16.599
  • Can make the cell your home.
  • 00:00:16.599 --> 00:00:18.468
  • It was for freedom he set you free,
  • 00:00:18.468 --> 00:00:21.071
  • And that's always to maximize your created,
  • 00:00:21.071 --> 00:00:24.040
  • Converted potential.
  • 00:00:24.040 --> 00:00:30.847
  • Tony: in galatians chapter 5, verse 1,
  • 00:00:34.717 --> 00:00:39.622
  • Paul says, "it was for freedom that christ set us free.
  • 00:00:39.622 --> 00:00:44.727
  • Therefore keep standing firm
  • 00:00:44.727 --> 00:00:46.096
  • And do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery."
  • 00:00:46.096 --> 00:00:51.601
  • Don't be satisfied to be a slave.
  • 00:00:51.601 --> 00:00:55.205
  • Because if you've been created and then converted,
  • 00:00:55.205 --> 00:00:58.374
  • You are converted for freedom.
  • 00:00:58.374 --> 00:01:02.812
  • He says in verse 13, "for you were called to freedom,
  • 00:01:02.812 --> 00:01:05.882
  • Brethren.
  • 00:01:05.882 --> 00:01:08.151
  • Only do not turn your freedom
  • 00:01:08.151 --> 00:01:09.853
  • Into an opportunity for the flesh,
  • 00:01:09.853 --> 00:01:13.389
  • But through love serve one another."
  • 00:01:13.389 --> 00:01:15.959
  • Over and over again, freedom: to not be held hostage,
  • 00:01:15.959 --> 00:01:22.265
  • Slavery, to anything that is illegitimate
  • 00:01:22.265 --> 00:01:27.704
  • That is holding you from becoming what you
  • 00:01:27.704 --> 00:01:30.406
  • Were created and now converted to be.
  • 00:01:30.406 --> 00:01:35.912
  • Freedom.
  • 00:01:35.912 --> 00:01:38.848
  • Now, the word is thrown all over the place
  • 00:01:38.848 --> 00:01:43.019
  • By different people
  • 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:44.654
  • With different idiosyncratic nuances that uses the term,
  • 00:01:44.654 --> 00:01:54.664
  • And so sometimes we're not sure what it means.
  • 00:01:54.664 --> 00:01:59.602
  • Your teenagers wanna be free from you
  • 00:01:59.602 --> 00:02:05.241
  • While they eat your bread, sleep in the bed you bought,
  • 00:02:05.241 --> 00:02:08.444
  • And live under the roof you pay for.
  • 00:02:08.444 --> 00:02:12.882
  • So, what do we mean by freedom?
  • 00:02:12.882 --> 00:02:21.291
  • Well, man didn't create that word.
  • 00:02:21.291 --> 00:02:26.262
  • The word freedom was first spoken by god.
  • 00:02:26.262 --> 00:02:33.937
  • And like all other subjects, you start theologically
  • 00:02:33.937 --> 00:02:38.975
  • And spiritually before you deal with anthropologically
  • 00:02:38.975 --> 00:02:43.846
  • And physically.
  • 00:02:43.846 --> 00:02:45.615
  • In other words, you start with god, not man,
  • 00:02:45.615 --> 00:02:49.919
  • And when you get god, you can apply it properly to man.
  • 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:55.024
  • Once you start with man,
  • 00:02:55.024 --> 00:02:57.527
  • You're going to enter into the realm of confusion
  • 00:02:57.527 --> 00:03:03.533
  • Because men will think differently.
  • 00:03:03.533 --> 00:03:08.972
  • Hermeneutics is the science and art
  • 00:03:08.972 --> 00:03:12.508
  • Of biblical interpretation.
  • 00:03:12.508 --> 00:03:15.245
  • It's how we interpret the scriptures.
  • 00:03:15.245 --> 00:03:17.313
  • It's called hermeneutics.
  • 00:03:17.313 --> 00:03:20.216
  • One of the rules of biblical interpretation
  • 00:03:20.216 --> 00:03:23.119
  • Is called the law of first mention.
  • 00:03:23.119 --> 00:03:27.023
  • The law of first mention simply says look at where
  • 00:03:27.023 --> 00:03:30.059
  • A term or a concept is used first in the bible,
  • 00:03:30.059 --> 00:03:36.399
  • And wherever it's used first,
  • 00:03:36.399 --> 00:03:39.602
  • Derive its meaning in that first location.
  • 00:03:39.602 --> 00:03:44.274
  • Once you get the meaning in the first location,
  • 00:03:44.274 --> 00:03:47.710
  • You must be consistent with that meaning
  • 00:03:47.710 --> 00:03:50.546
  • Unless the bible itself gives you
  • 00:03:50.546 --> 00:03:52.382
  • Permission to change it.
  • 00:03:52.382 --> 00:03:54.684
  • So it's the hermeneutical law of first mention.
  • 00:03:54.684 --> 00:03:59.922
  • See, it's the law of first mention
  • 00:03:59.922 --> 00:04:01.257
  • That lets us know that there are only two genders.
  • 00:04:01.257 --> 00:04:04.994
  • God created them male and female.
  • 00:04:04.994 --> 00:04:06.829
  • That's the law of first mention.
  • 00:04:06.829 --> 00:04:09.299
  • And since the bible had-- never gives you permission
  • 00:04:09.299 --> 00:04:12.602
  • To add a third gender,
  • 00:04:12.602 --> 00:04:15.972
  • You have to stick with what the law of first mention says
  • 00:04:15.972 --> 00:04:19.142
  • While working people through the challenges of life.
  • 00:04:19.142 --> 00:04:24.714
  • While using the law of first mention,
  • 00:04:24.714 --> 00:04:28.384
  • We find the word freedom.
  • 00:04:28.384 --> 00:04:31.988
  • In genesis chapter 2, the word free is used,
  • 00:04:31.988 --> 00:04:36.292
  • And it's used by god.
  • 00:04:36.292 --> 00:04:40.797
  • He says in genesis chapter 2, verse 15, "then the lord god
  • 00:04:40.797 --> 00:04:46.969
  • Took man and put him in the garden of eden
  • 00:04:46.969 --> 00:04:49.706
  • To cultivate it and keep it,
  • 00:04:49.706 --> 00:04:51.341
  • And the lord commanded man," verse 16, "saying,
  • 00:04:51.341 --> 00:04:54.177
  • 'from any tree of the garden you may eat freely;
  • 00:04:54.177 --> 00:04:58.614
  • And from the tree of the knowledge
  • 00:04:58.614 --> 00:04:59.949
  • Of good and evil you shall not eat,
  • 00:04:59.949 --> 00:05:01.751
  • For in the day that you eat it thereof you shall surely die.'"
  • 00:05:01.751 --> 00:05:05.655
  • So verses 15, 16, and 17, we have the word free
  • 00:05:05.655 --> 00:05:10.927
  • Used by god with only one human being
  • 00:05:10.927 --> 00:05:14.397
  • In existence, adam.
  • 00:05:14.397 --> 00:05:17.266
  • So the question is, what did god mean
  • 00:05:17.266 --> 00:05:20.970
  • When he used it?
  • 00:05:20.970 --> 00:05:22.372
  • 'cause that's the law of first mention,
  • 00:05:22.372 --> 00:05:24.674
  • Which is how we should use it.
  • 00:05:24.674 --> 00:05:26.943
  • Well, let's look at it.
  • 00:05:26.943 --> 00:05:29.011
  • He says, first of all, freedom is broad.
  • 00:05:29.011 --> 00:05:33.116
  • "from every tree of the garden, you may freely eat."
  • 00:05:33.116 --> 00:05:36.953
  • So freedom is to be very broad.
  • 00:05:36.953 --> 00:05:42.125
  • There is one restriction.
  • 00:05:42.125 --> 00:05:45.528
  • "from the tree in the midst of the garden,
  • 00:05:45.528 --> 00:05:48.064
  • You shall not eat it."
  • 00:05:48.064 --> 00:05:50.099
  • So freedom was broad and restriction was narrow.
  • 00:05:50.099 --> 00:05:54.137
  • There's only one restriction.
  • 00:05:54.137 --> 00:05:56.506
  • Freedom is broad, one restriction,
  • 00:05:56.506 --> 00:06:00.877
  • But then there was a dire consequence.
  • 00:06:00.877 --> 00:06:03.012
  • "you shall surely die."
  • 00:06:03.012 --> 00:06:05.381
  • So there was broad freedom, limited restriction,
  • 00:06:05.381 --> 00:06:08.451
  • Dire consequences for breaking the limited restriction
  • 00:06:08.451 --> 00:06:11.754
  • In light of the broad freedom that freedom gives.
  • 00:06:11.754 --> 00:06:17.160
  • What was the reason that god gave this freedom?
  • 00:06:17.160 --> 00:06:23.166
  • He said to adam, "i want you to take the garden,
  • 00:06:23.166 --> 00:06:27.370
  • Cultivate it, and keep it.
  • 00:06:27.370 --> 00:06:29.806
  • I want you to bring out its potential."
  • 00:06:29.806 --> 00:06:33.643
  • So the goal of freedom is for you
  • 00:06:33.643 --> 00:06:36.012
  • To maximize your created potential.
  • 00:06:36.012 --> 00:06:39.615
  • He says, "it was for freedom," galatians 5:1,
  • 00:06:39.615 --> 00:06:44.320
  • "that i have set you free."
  • 00:06:44.320 --> 00:06:45.721
  • In other words, "i didn't die on the cross
  • 00:06:45.721 --> 00:06:48.558
  • For you to remain a slave: a slave to yourself,
  • 00:06:48.558 --> 00:06:54.630
  • An illegitimate slave to others, a slave to evil in the society."
  • 00:06:54.630 --> 00:07:01.270
  • He says, "i died so that you might be free."
  • 00:07:01.270 --> 00:07:09.679
  • Freedom can only be maximized
  • 00:07:09.679 --> 00:07:13.449
  • Within the context of legitimate boundaries.
  • 00:07:13.449 --> 00:07:19.155
  • So freedom never means no boundaries.
  • 00:07:19.155 --> 00:07:23.759
  • Freedom means maximizing your potential
  • 00:07:23.759 --> 00:07:26.863
  • Within legitimate boundaries.
  • 00:07:26.863 --> 00:07:29.565
  • So the question is, are there boundaries
  • 00:07:29.565 --> 00:07:32.301
  • And are they legitimate, not whether they are
  • 00:07:32.301 --> 00:07:35.037
  • Or are not boundaries?
  • 00:07:35.037 --> 00:07:36.572
  • Once you remove boundaries, you now have chaos
  • 00:07:36.572 --> 00:07:40.376
  • In your own life or in a society.
  • 00:07:40.376 --> 00:07:44.714
  • So god gave them a boundary, and it is an important boundary.
  • 00:07:44.714 --> 00:07:48.584
  • "every tree of the garden you may freely eat
  • 00:07:48.584 --> 00:07:50.520
  • Except the tree in the middle of the garden.
  • 00:07:50.520 --> 00:07:52.955
  • You may not eat it, lest you die."
  • 00:07:52.955 --> 00:07:55.224
  • He says, "here's one boundary.
  • 00:07:55.224 --> 00:07:57.326
  • It's a google tree.
  • 00:07:57.326 --> 00:08:00.997
  • It's an information center, the tree of the knowledge.
  • 00:08:00.997 --> 00:08:05.468
  • So, this tree has data.
  • 00:08:05.468 --> 00:08:07.703
  • You can google any subject on the google tree,
  • 00:08:07.703 --> 00:08:12.475
  • But i don't want you to mess with the google tree
  • 00:08:12.475 --> 00:08:15.645
  • Because i don't want you to get your information
  • 00:08:15.645 --> 00:08:18.347
  • Independently of me.
  • 00:08:18.347 --> 00:08:20.550
  • I want you to live by revelation, not by reason.
  • 00:08:20.550 --> 00:08:23.886
  • I don't want you to have to figure this out.
  • 00:08:23.886 --> 00:08:25.755
  • 'oh, this good, this good, this bad, this bad.'
  • 00:08:25.755 --> 00:08:27.723
  • No, no, i'm gonna give you revelation,
  • 00:08:27.723 --> 00:08:30.493
  • So don't try to get knowledge and leave me out,
  • 00:08:30.493 --> 00:08:34.564
  • 'cause you're gonna reintroduce yourself
  • 00:08:34.564 --> 00:08:36.132
  • To slavery."
  • 00:08:36.132 --> 00:08:38.100
  • And as we lead ourselves away from god,
  • 00:08:38.100 --> 00:08:41.370
  • As our culture leads itself away from god,
  • 00:08:41.370 --> 00:08:44.240
  • What you're gonna find out is slavery,
  • 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:48.477
  • Chaos, confusion because we're not operating
  • 00:08:48.477 --> 00:08:52.048
  • On the biblical definition of freedom.
  • 00:08:52.048 --> 00:08:54.951
  • Biblical freedom, god's freedom is the unimpeded opportunity
  • 00:08:54.951 --> 00:09:00.723
  • And responsibility to choose to righteously and justly
  • 00:09:00.723 --> 00:09:07.964
  • Maximize your created potential.
  • 00:09:07.964 --> 00:09:13.269
  • It is your unimpeded--
  • 00:09:13.269 --> 00:09:14.837
  • It means it's not illegitimately being blocked to responsibly--
  • 00:09:14.837 --> 00:09:21.177
  • Because he had to cultivate the garden--
  • 00:09:21.177 --> 00:09:25.615
  • Choose because freedom always involves a choice.
  • 00:09:25.615 --> 00:09:30.219
  • You have to choose to be free so that you
  • 00:09:30.219 --> 00:09:35.157
  • Maximize your potential in a righteous and just way.
  • 00:09:35.157 --> 00:09:40.997
  • So god's goal for every person in creation
  • 00:09:40.997 --> 00:09:45.134
  • But now every believer in conversion,
  • 00:09:45.134 --> 00:09:49.405
  • Since people won't necessarily follow god
  • 00:09:49.405 --> 00:09:52.274
  • In creation, but we ought to follow him in conversion,
  • 00:09:52.274 --> 00:09:55.745
  • God's goal in conversion--
  • 00:09:55.745 --> 00:09:57.780
  • As paul writes, "he has set you free.
  • 00:09:57.780 --> 00:10:01.617
  • Now be free.
  • 00:10:01.617 --> 00:10:05.488
  • Don't accept slavery."
  • 00:10:05.488 --> 00:10:08.190
  • That is, don't accept illegitimate bondage.
  • 00:10:08.190 --> 00:10:14.897
  • Now, in order for that to happen--we're all familiar
  • 00:10:14.897 --> 00:10:16.866
  • With john chapter 8, verses 31 to 36.
  • 00:10:16.866 --> 00:10:20.803
  • Says, "you shall know the truth,
  • 00:10:20.803 --> 00:10:22.238
  • And the truth shall set you free."
  • 00:10:22.238 --> 00:10:25.274
  • So freedom assumes a knowledge of the truth.
  • 00:10:25.274 --> 00:10:31.414
  • "you shall know the truth, and the truth
  • 00:10:31.414 --> 00:10:33.049
  • Shall set you free," which means only the truth you know
  • 00:10:33.049 --> 00:10:36.986
  • Can set you free,
  • 00:10:36.986 --> 00:10:38.454
  • Which means if you don't know the truth
  • 00:10:38.454 --> 00:10:40.122
  • You might be a slave and you don't even know it
  • 00:10:40.122 --> 00:10:42.625
  • 'cause the truth has not been given to you.
  • 00:10:42.625 --> 00:10:46.328
  • And we're not talking about your truth,
  • 00:10:46.328 --> 00:10:49.231
  • We're talking about the truth,
  • 00:10:49.231 --> 00:10:51.233
  • Which means god's perspective on whatever the subject is.
  • 00:10:51.233 --> 00:10:55.738
  • "you shall know the truth, and the truth
  • 00:10:55.738 --> 00:10:57.339
  • Shall set you free."
  • 00:10:57.339 --> 00:10:59.575
  • You see, the thing you need to know,
  • 00:10:59.575 --> 00:11:01.310
  • Paul says, is that you must choose to be free.
  • 00:11:01.310 --> 00:11:09.485
  • He tells them stop being a slave,
  • 00:11:09.485 --> 00:11:12.955
  • Which means you've got to decide this is not for you,
  • 00:11:12.955 --> 00:11:17.293
  • That you've been created for more than this.
  • 00:11:17.293 --> 00:11:20.529
  • You have to decide that you've been owned
  • 00:11:20.529 --> 00:11:22.965
  • By this problem, this person,
  • 00:11:22.965 --> 00:11:25.735
  • This circumstance, this system too long,
  • 00:11:25.735 --> 00:11:29.305
  • It's held you hostage too long,
  • 00:11:29.305 --> 00:11:31.607
  • And i want to be free, which means
  • 00:11:31.607 --> 00:11:36.679
  • You're no longer decorating your cell.
  • 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:39.882
  • You can have a pretty jail cell.
  • 00:11:39.882 --> 00:11:42.551
  • You can put up pictures on the wall of your jail cell.
  • 00:11:42.551 --> 00:11:45.621
  • You can write things on your wall of your jail cell.
  • 00:11:45.621 --> 00:11:48.991
  • You can be comfortable shackled 'cause you
  • 00:11:48.991 --> 00:11:53.262
  • Just been there so long.
  • 00:11:53.262 --> 00:11:56.298
  • I wanna submit to you today that god wants you unbound,
  • 00:11:56.298 --> 00:12:00.336
  • He wants you free, he wants you released
  • 00:12:00.336 --> 00:12:02.938
  • To maximize your created, converted potential.
  • 00:12:02.938 --> 00:12:09.411
  • He does not want you to keep giving excuses
  • 00:12:09.411 --> 00:12:14.116
  • For deciding to remaining a slave.
  • 00:12:14.116 --> 00:12:19.021
  • He says it was for freedom christ has set us free.
  • 00:12:19.021 --> 00:12:24.160
  • He didn't set you free, he didn't unlock the jail cell
  • 00:12:24.160 --> 00:12:27.930
  • So that you could make the cell your home,
  • 00:12:27.930 --> 00:12:31.567
  • Make the problem your lifestyle, make the addiction normal,
  • 00:12:31.567 --> 00:12:37.673
  • Accept it as something that will never change,
  • 00:12:37.673 --> 00:12:42.178
  • That you will never get better.
  • 00:12:42.178 --> 00:12:44.446
  • It was for freedom he set you free,
  • 00:12:44.446 --> 00:12:47.183
  • And that's always to maximize
  • 00:12:47.183 --> 00:12:49.318
  • Your created, converted potential.
  • 00:12:49.318 --> 00:12:54.290
  • I love what he told adam.
  • 00:12:54.290 --> 00:12:56.225
  • He said, "i want you to name the animals."
  • 00:12:56.225 --> 00:13:01.664
  • You talk about maximizing your mental--
  • 00:13:01.664 --> 00:13:04.300
  • Every kind of animal was named by this man, every kind.
  • 00:13:04.300 --> 00:13:10.573
  • Not every species, but every kind
  • 00:13:10.573 --> 00:13:12.241
  • Was named by this man.
  • 00:13:12.241 --> 00:13:13.809
  • He says, "i wanna set you free so much that i want you
  • 00:13:13.809 --> 00:13:16.779
  • To give things their identity.
  • 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:22.718
  • I want to set you free."
  • 00:13:22.718 --> 00:13:25.988
  • Yes, some of us are enslaved because of things around us,
  • 00:13:25.988 --> 00:13:29.525
  • But some of us are enslaved
  • 00:13:29.525 --> 00:13:30.893
  • 'cause we've gotten too used to the cell.
  • 00:13:30.893 --> 00:13:34.396
  • We've just decided to hang out there.
  • 00:13:34.396 --> 00:13:35.898
  • That's just the way it's always been.
  • 00:13:35.898 --> 00:13:40.236
  • So the first thing you must do, i must do, we must do
  • 00:13:40.236 --> 00:13:43.606
  • Is make the choice to be free.
  • 00:13:43.606 --> 00:13:47.376
  • God will not make the choice for you.
  • 00:13:47.376 --> 00:13:51.447
  • He will respond to releasing you when you make the right choice.
  • 00:13:51.447 --> 00:13:57.586
  • That's why freedom always involves a choice.
  • 00:13:57.586 --> 00:14:01.323
  • He told them in deuteronomy 30.
  • 00:14:01.323 --> 00:14:03.459
  • He says, "choose life, choose death; choose blessing,
  • 00:14:03.459 --> 00:14:07.463
  • Choose cursing, but you choose.
  • 00:14:07.463 --> 00:14:10.199
  • I'm not gonna choose for you.
  • 00:14:10.199 --> 00:14:12.601
  • You have to want me.
  • 00:14:12.601 --> 00:14:14.503
  • I'm not gonna impose myself on you.
  • 00:14:14.503 --> 00:14:17.539
  • You must make the choice."
  • 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:20.109
  • Perhaps you're here today and you've not made the choice.
  • 00:14:20.109 --> 00:14:24.146
  • You thought about it, you may have even prayed about it,
  • 00:14:24.146 --> 00:14:28.751
  • But you've not made the choice that this illegitimate thing,
  • 00:14:28.751 --> 00:14:34.590
  • Whatever that is, "i'm not gonna allow
  • 00:14:34.590 --> 00:14:37.826
  • To hold me hostage any longer.
  • 00:14:37.826 --> 00:14:40.129
  • My choice."
  • 00:14:40.129 --> 00:14:43.766
  • He says in galatians 5, "only do not use your freedom
  • 00:14:43.766 --> 00:14:50.572
  • As an opportunity for the flesh, but through love
  • 00:14:50.572 --> 00:14:54.910
  • Serve one another."
  • 00:14:54.910 --> 00:15:00.182
  • He says the quickest way to get free
  • 00:15:00.182 --> 00:15:05.187
  • Is to become a freedom fighter.
  • 00:15:05.187 --> 00:15:08.991
  • The quickest way to become free is to free others.
  • 00:15:08.991 --> 00:15:17.032
  • Don't use your freedom as an opportunity
  • 00:15:17.032 --> 00:15:20.636
  • For self-aggrandizement.
  • 00:15:20.636 --> 00:15:23.272
  • Don't use your freedom just so you are better off.
  • 00:15:23.272 --> 00:15:27.943
  • Yes, you wanna be better off.
  • 00:15:27.943 --> 00:15:29.979
  • "but use your freedom to free because the more i see you
  • 00:15:29.979 --> 00:15:36.618
  • Freeing somebody else, the more i'm gonna release
  • 00:15:36.618 --> 00:15:39.621
  • Freedom for you.
  • 00:15:39.621 --> 00:15:43.759
  • The more i see that you--" he calls it
  • 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:47.896
  • Through love serve one another, that you are coming alongside
  • 00:15:47.896 --> 00:15:52.201
  • And you are helping other people get out of the hole
  • 00:15:52.201 --> 00:15:54.970
  • That they're in as god helped you
  • 00:15:54.970 --> 00:15:57.039
  • To get out of the hole you're in.
  • 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:00.342
  • That's what makes this christian approach
  • 00:16:00.342 --> 00:16:03.245
  • To freedom so rich, that jesus wants to set you free
  • 00:16:03.245 --> 00:16:07.016
  • As you are a freedom fighter,
  • 00:16:07.016 --> 00:16:10.819
  • As you are setting other people free.
  • 00:16:10.819 --> 00:16:14.556
  • American slavery would've been over
  • 00:16:14.556 --> 00:16:16.091
  • With one verse.
  • 00:16:16.091 --> 00:16:17.793
  • One verse would have changed it forever, one verse.
  • 00:16:17.793 --> 00:16:25.467
  • Exodus 21:16, it says anybody caught
  • 00:16:25.467 --> 00:16:30.005
  • Kidnapping another person and then selling them
  • 00:16:30.005 --> 00:16:38.847
  • Will receive capital punishment.
  • 00:16:38.847 --> 00:16:41.784
  • You will be killed if you kidnap somebody
  • 00:16:41.784 --> 00:16:45.654
  • And if you sell them.
  • 00:16:45.654 --> 00:16:48.991
  • American slavery was based on kidnapping and selling folk.
  • 00:16:48.991 --> 00:16:54.797
  • If that one verse was taught and preached and applied,
  • 00:16:54.797 --> 00:16:58.100
  • Slavery would have been over 'cause everybody
  • 00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:00.202
  • Was subject to death since the old testament
  • 00:17:00.202 --> 00:17:02.404
  • Was being used to promote it.
  • 00:17:02.404 --> 00:17:09.578
  • But because of greed, which means i want the profit,
  • 00:17:09.578 --> 00:17:15.150
  • I want the benefit, i want the income,
  • 00:17:15.150 --> 00:17:18.153
  • I want the power, i want it--because of greed,
  • 00:17:18.153 --> 00:17:23.325
  • People were held hostage by kidnapping and selling
  • 00:17:23.325 --> 00:17:27.329
  • While the church was silent.
  • 00:17:27.329 --> 00:17:32.701
  • Because when you abandon god and his word,
  • 00:17:32.701 --> 00:17:35.904
  • Slavery rules on all levels.
  • 00:17:35.904 --> 00:17:43.479
  • God wants us to be free from illegitimate bondage,
  • 00:17:43.479 --> 00:17:48.684
  • Not from all rules, because freedom has boundaries,
  • 00:17:48.684 --> 00:17:52.020
  • But free from anything illegitimately
  • 00:17:52.020 --> 00:17:55.691
  • Holding us hostage.
  • 00:17:55.691 --> 00:17:57.593
  • If god didn't okay the rule,
  • 00:17:57.593 --> 00:17:59.728
  • Then it's an illegitimate hostage
  • 00:17:59.728 --> 00:18:02.564
  • 'cause remember, freedom is maximum.
  • 00:18:02.564 --> 00:18:08.904
  • And so it is absolutely critical that we are freedom fighters
  • 00:18:08.904 --> 00:18:14.576
  • Because we ourselves need to be set free,
  • 00:18:14.576 --> 00:18:18.147
  • Need to be released.
  • 00:18:18.147 --> 00:18:19.515
  • In chapter 5 and he says in verse 15,
  • 00:18:19.515 --> 00:18:24.586
  • "but if you bite and devour one another,
  • 00:18:24.586 --> 00:18:27.222
  • Take care that you are not consumed
  • 00:18:27.222 --> 00:18:30.325
  • By one another."
  • 00:18:30.325 --> 00:18:32.327
  • He says when you want freedom
  • 00:18:32.327 --> 00:18:34.630
  • And are unwilling to give freedom,
  • 00:18:34.630 --> 00:18:37.065
  • Chaos is going to erupt and you're going to
  • 00:18:37.065 --> 00:18:39.735
  • Eat each other up, devour one another.
  • 00:18:39.735 --> 00:18:43.705
  • The civil war was primarily the responsibility
  • 00:18:43.705 --> 00:18:47.776
  • Of the church.
  • 00:18:47.776 --> 00:18:49.211
  • The church's failure was the foundation
  • 00:18:49.211 --> 00:18:52.147
  • That led to the civil war, where brother
  • 00:18:52.147 --> 00:18:54.950
  • Was devouring brother, north was devouring south,
  • 00:18:54.950 --> 00:18:58.620
  • Brother was killing brother.
  • 00:18:58.620 --> 00:19:00.522
  • And all of this chaos, why?
  • 00:19:00.522 --> 00:19:03.192
  • Because people who wanted freedom from england
  • 00:19:03.192 --> 00:19:06.228
  • Were not willing to give freedom in america,
  • 00:19:06.228 --> 00:19:09.431
  • And because they wanted freedom
  • 00:19:09.431 --> 00:19:11.433
  • But refused to give freedom, it led in the 1860s
  • 00:19:11.433 --> 00:19:16.471
  • To a civil war where people were devouring
  • 00:19:16.471 --> 00:19:19.942
  • And eating up and killing one another
  • 00:19:19.942 --> 00:19:22.644
  • Because the biblical principle of freedom
  • 00:19:22.644 --> 00:19:25.681
  • Had been abandoned.
  • 00:19:25.681 --> 00:19:28.083
  • And when you abandon god's biblical principles,
  • 00:19:28.083 --> 00:19:31.253
  • He says you will devour one another.
  • 00:19:31.253 --> 00:19:34.156
  • Husbands will devour wives.
  • 00:19:34.156 --> 00:19:36.024
  • Brothers will devour sisters.
  • 00:19:36.024 --> 00:19:38.026
  • Parents will devour children.
  • 00:19:38.026 --> 00:19:39.895
  • Black will devour white.
  • 00:19:39.895 --> 00:19:41.363
  • White will devour black.
  • 00:19:41.363 --> 00:19:43.799
  • Democrats will devour republicans.
  • 00:19:43.799 --> 00:19:46.034
  • Republicans will devour democrats.
  • 00:19:46.034 --> 00:19:47.936
  • It will go on and on and on and on.
  • 00:19:47.936 --> 00:19:51.573
  • "because if you don't want my definition,
  • 00:19:51.573 --> 00:19:54.543
  • Then you're gonna have to have the consequence of your chaos
  • 00:19:54.543 --> 00:19:57.579
  • And confusion."
  • 00:19:57.579 --> 00:20:04.386
  • He says, "you will devour one another
  • 00:20:04.386 --> 00:20:09.691
  • If you abandon you choosing to be free
  • 00:20:09.691 --> 00:20:13.795
  • And you willing to set other people free."
  • 00:20:13.795 --> 00:20:20.469
  • So god says that he wants all of us
  • 00:20:20.469 --> 00:20:24.873
  • To maximize our potential so that we can experience
  • 00:20:24.873 --> 00:20:29.311
  • More of him in every aspect of our lives.
  • 00:20:29.311 --> 00:20:35.317
  • I love the way john f. kennedy said it in another vein.
  • 00:20:35.317 --> 00:20:39.054
  • "ask not what your country can do for you
  • 00:20:39.054 --> 00:20:42.157
  • But what you can do for your country."
  • 00:20:42.157 --> 00:20:44.426
  • Ask not only what the freedom is you want,
  • 00:20:44.426 --> 00:20:47.929
  • But what is the freedom you've had the opportunity
  • 00:20:47.929 --> 00:20:50.165
  • To give to somebody else, and was that freedom denied?
  • 00:20:50.165 --> 00:20:57.539
  • Most christians say, "let me cruise
  • 00:20:57.539 --> 00:20:59.207
  • Into the house of the lord
  • 00:20:59.207 --> 00:21:02.944
  • So that the preacher can serve me,
  • 00:21:02.944 --> 00:21:04.413
  • So that the music can serve me, so that the ushers can serve me,
  • 00:21:04.413 --> 00:21:07.082
  • So that the greeters can serve me,
  • 00:21:07.082 --> 00:21:08.517
  • So that the parking lot can serve me,
  • 00:21:08.517 --> 00:21:10.052
  • 'cause i'm here cruising in worship."
  • 00:21:10.052 --> 00:21:16.725
  • Kingdom of god is a battleship, battleship.
  • 00:21:16.725 --> 00:21:23.465
  • See, on a battleship, everybody doing something.
  • 00:21:23.465 --> 00:21:29.304
  • On a battleship, everybody helping out.
  • 00:21:29.304 --> 00:21:31.340
  • On a battleship, everybody's contributing.
  • 00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:33.608
  • On a battleship, everybody's making things
  • 00:21:33.608 --> 00:21:36.044
  • Because they are there for a bigger purpose.
  • 00:21:36.044 --> 00:21:38.113
  • Now, there are some services
  • 00:21:38.113 --> 00:21:39.715
  • On a battleship, but they understand
  • 00:21:39.715 --> 00:21:41.883
  • That on this ship we are called to function,
  • 00:21:41.883 --> 00:21:44.953
  • Not just to cruise.
  • 00:21:44.953 --> 00:21:47.589
  • God did not save us to cruise our way to heaven,
  • 00:21:47.589 --> 00:21:50.692
  • God saved us to make a difference
  • 00:21:50.692 --> 00:21:52.294
  • On earth on our way to heaven.
  • 00:21:52.294 --> 00:21:58.166
  • And he says--and if that is your mindset,
  • 00:21:58.166 --> 00:22:01.903
  • You are a freedom receiver because you are
  • 00:22:01.903 --> 00:22:04.840
  • A freedom fighter.
  • 00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:06.208
  • That is, you are a servant of god
  • 00:22:06.208 --> 00:22:08.577
  • That is seeking to improve the lives of others.
  • 00:22:08.577 --> 00:22:12.147
  • He says then--he calls it greatness in his kingdom,
  • 00:22:12.147 --> 00:22:17.586
  • Say, "then you're gonna be great."
  • 00:22:17.586 --> 00:22:19.354
  • He told them in matthew chapter 10, verses 25 to 35,
  • 00:22:19.354 --> 00:22:23.024
  • "your service is your road to greatness.
  • 00:22:23.024 --> 00:22:26.194
  • You're coming to the aid of others
  • 00:22:26.194 --> 00:22:28.296
  • To improve their lives, i will improve yours.
  • 00:22:28.296 --> 00:22:32.067
  • I will release you because you releasing
  • 00:22:32.067 --> 00:22:35.337
  • What i give you outside of you."
  • 00:22:35.337 --> 00:22:39.174
  • So you wanna be free from that thing,
  • 00:22:39.174 --> 00:22:40.909
  • Whatever that thing is, and you're begging god,
  • 00:22:40.909 --> 00:22:43.745
  • "free me, free me, free me, free me, deliver me, deliver me,
  • 00:22:43.745 --> 00:22:46.181
  • Deliver me, give me victory, victory, victory,"
  • 00:22:46.181 --> 00:22:50.152
  • God is saying, "let me see what you're offering
  • 00:22:50.152 --> 00:22:52.454
  • To somebody else 'cause i don't want it to stop with you.
  • 00:22:52.454 --> 00:22:59.094
  • I want a conduit, not a cul-de-sac."
  • 00:22:59.094 --> 00:23:05.901
  • And so he tells them, "for the whole law,"
  • 00:23:05.901 --> 00:23:07.903
  • Verse 14, "is fulfilled in one word,
  • 00:23:07.903 --> 00:23:10.539
  • In this statement:
  • 00:23:10.539 --> 00:23:11.873
  • 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself."'
  • 00:23:11.873 --> 00:23:16.311
  • 1 john chapter 3, verses 14 and 15 says
  • 00:23:16.311 --> 00:23:20.048
  • If this is not your mindset,
  • 00:23:20.048 --> 00:23:22.617
  • You will live in the realm of death,
  • 00:23:22.617 --> 00:23:24.219
  • And he's writing to christians.
  • 00:23:24.219 --> 00:23:25.554
  • He says you will not be abiding in life.
  • 00:23:25.554 --> 00:23:28.457
  • In other words, you will not be experiencing god.
  • 00:23:28.457 --> 00:23:30.892
  • That's what that means.
  • 00:23:30.892 --> 00:23:32.894
  • "you won't be experiencing me if you don't choose to be free
  • 00:23:32.894 --> 00:23:36.932
  • And if you don't become a freedom fighter.
  • 00:23:36.932 --> 00:23:39.935
  • That is, use the opportunities i afford you
  • 00:23:39.935 --> 00:23:43.405
  • To make a difference in the lives of others."
  • 00:23:43.405 --> 00:23:46.241
  • Oh, but if you can get a congregation of people
  • 00:23:46.241 --> 00:23:48.410
  • Who think this way, if you can get men
  • 00:23:48.410 --> 00:23:50.445
  • And women of all stripes and races and colors
  • 00:23:50.445 --> 00:23:53.615
  • And cultures to think this way
  • 00:23:53.615 --> 00:23:55.817
  • So that wherever they go, people are running into people
  • 00:23:55.817 --> 00:23:58.687
  • Who are helping them to get set free,
  • 00:23:58.687 --> 00:24:02.057
  • Whether it's praying for them, encouraging them, serving them,
  • 00:24:02.057 --> 00:24:04.893
  • Supporting them in a responsible way.
  • 00:24:04.893 --> 00:24:07.462
  • No matter what it is, when you
  • 00:24:07.462 --> 00:24:08.797
  • Get thousands of people doing that, man,
  • 00:24:08.797 --> 00:24:12.133
  • You get something god can work with.
  • 00:24:12.133 --> 00:24:13.902
  • You know, turkeys waddle.
  • 00:24:13.902 --> 00:24:16.338
  • They act like they wanna fly, but they ain't going nowhere.
  • 00:24:16.338 --> 00:24:21.042
  • They ain't going nowhere. they're just gonna waddle.
  • 00:24:21.042 --> 00:24:22.544
  • They're just gonna waddle.
  • 00:24:22.544 --> 00:24:23.879
  • You know, they'll bounce up a little bit,
  • 00:24:23.879 --> 00:24:25.580
  • But they're not going nowhere.
  • 00:24:25.580 --> 00:24:26.915
  • They're too fat. they're too fat.
  • 00:24:26.915 --> 00:24:30.185
  • They're not going nowhere.
  • 00:24:30.185 --> 00:24:32.721
  • They got the look like they wanna go somewhere,
  • 00:24:32.721 --> 00:24:34.489
  • But they ain't going nowhere.
  • 00:24:34.489 --> 00:24:35.824
  • All they're gonna do is waddle 'cause all they wanna do is eat.
  • 00:24:35.824 --> 00:24:41.162
  • Folk come on sunday to eat. "feed me, feed me."
  • 00:24:41.162 --> 00:24:45.534
  • So they waddle in the church. they waddle in the church.
  • 00:24:45.534 --> 00:24:47.736
  • They waddle in the church.
  • 00:24:47.736 --> 00:24:49.070
  • They act like they gonna fly for jesus,
  • 00:24:49.070 --> 00:24:50.839
  • But they ain't going nowhere.
  • 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:52.374
  • They just waddling, waddling, waddling.
  • 00:24:52.374 --> 00:25:00.315
  • God wants to set you free to soar,
  • 00:25:00.315 --> 00:25:03.652
  • To maximize your potential,
  • 00:25:03.652 --> 00:25:05.654
  • To become all he's created you to be.
  • 00:25:05.654 --> 00:25:07.422
  • And don't settle for anything less.
  • 00:25:07.422 --> 00:25:10.759
  • Don't think because you're a certain gender
  • 00:25:10.759 --> 00:25:12.427
  • Or you're a certain race that somehow it isn't for you.
  • 00:25:12.427 --> 00:25:17.232
  • If god created you and saved you,
  • 00:25:17.232 --> 00:25:19.401
  • What's for you is for you.
  • 00:25:19.401 --> 00:25:22.404
  • You choose to be free and maximize your potential.
  • 00:25:22.404 --> 00:25:28.243
  • In closing, you know, they've--you buy an appliance,
  • 00:25:28.243 --> 00:25:32.447
  • They give you a warranty.
  • 00:25:32.447 --> 00:25:36.284
  • That warranty says, "we're gonna stand
  • 00:25:36.284 --> 00:25:37.619
  • Behind this product."
  • 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:39.721
  • Most of the times they allow you to get an extended warranty.
  • 00:25:39.721 --> 00:25:42.691
  • That means, "more time for us to stand
  • 00:25:42.691 --> 00:25:44.793
  • Behind this product.
  • 00:25:44.793 --> 00:25:46.127
  • We're gonna stand behind this product
  • 00:25:46.127 --> 00:25:48.997
  • Because we want it to maximize its created potential.
  • 00:25:48.997 --> 00:25:52.667
  • We want this product to do what it was created to do.
  • 00:25:52.667 --> 00:25:55.770
  • And we understand stuff happens
  • 00:25:55.770 --> 00:25:58.473
  • So that sometimes it may not be doing
  • 00:25:58.473 --> 00:26:00.675
  • What it was created to do, but don't worry about it
  • 00:26:00.675 --> 00:26:03.511
  • Because if it was doing-- not doing
  • 00:26:03.511 --> 00:26:05.313
  • What it was created to do, we're gonna stand behind it
  • 00:26:05.313 --> 00:26:08.950
  • 'cause it's under warranty,
  • 00:26:08.950 --> 00:26:11.052
  • Which means we gonna enter into it
  • 00:26:11.052 --> 00:26:13.054
  • And we're gonna correct it so that it is repaired
  • 00:26:13.054 --> 00:26:16.491
  • 'cause it's under warranty."
  • 00:26:16.491 --> 00:26:19.561
  • Now, if you take a hammer
  • 00:26:19.561 --> 00:26:22.263
  • And start banging on the toaster and banging on the stove
  • 00:26:22.263 --> 00:26:25.400
  • And buying on-- banging on the refrigerator,
  • 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:27.435
  • Guess what you just did?
  • 00:26:27.435 --> 00:26:28.770
  • You voided the warranty.
  • 00:26:28.770 --> 00:26:31.306
  • The warranty is no longer available
  • 00:26:31.306 --> 00:26:33.942
  • Because you're not using the equipment in a way
  • 00:26:33.942 --> 00:26:36.511
  • That it was created to be used.
  • 00:26:36.511 --> 00:26:38.613
  • And since you're not using the equipment
  • 00:26:38.613 --> 00:26:40.415
  • In the way it was created to use, you
  • 00:26:40.415 --> 00:26:42.550
  • Can't call on the manufacturer to resolve the problem
  • 00:26:42.550 --> 00:26:46.054
  • Because you're now out of warranty.
  • 00:26:46.054 --> 00:26:48.189
  • Too many of god's people are out of warranty.
  • 00:26:48.189 --> 00:26:50.959
  • They wonder why when they call heaven,
  • 00:26:50.959 --> 00:26:52.460
  • Nothing is happening.
  • 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:53.895
  • Because you're using a hammer on your life.
  • 00:26:53.895 --> 00:26:55.930
  • You're using the life in a way that god never prescribed it,
  • 00:26:55.930 --> 00:26:59.567
  • And so you're out of warranty
  • 00:26:59.567 --> 00:27:01.936
  • So that--we've got to get back into warranty
  • 00:27:01.936 --> 00:27:04.673
  • So that we can experience the freedom god has for us.
  • 00:27:04.673 --> 00:27:08.610
  • As we allow it to be used--to be allowed
  • 00:27:08.610 --> 00:27:11.946
  • For others so that we are under warranty
  • 00:27:11.946 --> 00:27:14.849
  • So that when things break down in our lives,
  • 00:27:14.849 --> 00:27:17.452
  • Things are not going like we need them to go,
  • 00:27:17.452 --> 00:27:19.821
  • We can call the manufacturer
  • 00:27:19.821 --> 00:27:21.856
  • 'cause he not only got us under warranty,
  • 00:27:21.856 --> 00:27:24.092
  • He's got us under extended warranty.
  • 00:27:24.092 --> 00:27:24.092