Pastor Jim & Lori Bakker and the Students from Morningside Master’s Media discuss Freedom for Day 7 on The Jim Bakker Show.

Quotes

Freedom that puts us in bondage, isn’t freedom. It’s destruction. -Pastor Jim Bakker

Sexual freedom isn’t freedom. It becomes disease. It becomes hell. It becomes soul ties. – Pastor Jim Bakker

Narrative

In the final part of his series on Freedom, Pastor Jim returned to Galatians 5 and revisited some activities that people engage in to express their freedom, but that only lead them to bondage; things like sexual encounters with numerous people, use of drugs and alcohol and addiction to social media outlets. He focused on verses 23-24 of The Message translation, which read: “. . . Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good—crucified.”

He said that for young people, the necessities spoken of relate to things they see others, or “everyone else” with, like cars, iPads or other electronic gadgets, or the latest fashions. He cited a news report about how a riot over release of the latest Nike shoes caused the shutting down of a shopping mall. He called the mass infatuation with tennis shoes “manufactured hype,” noting that it costs less than $10 to produce such shoes, which are then sold for many hundreds of dollars. He explained there exists a large supply of Nike shoes, so no threat exists that they will run out, yet people will fight to get into a store to buy a pair before somebody else does.

Lori pointed out that a very small group of people, a “handful,” decide what all the fashion trends will be. Pastor Jim used the ripped jeans of his grandson James to describe how this group of people originated the idea to mass manufacture jeans, all of which have a rip in the same exact spot and follow the same design pattern. “People think they are so original,” he said, adding that few realize just how much they fall under the control of others.

He then focused on verses 25 and 26 of Galatians 5, which speak of : “. . . [not comparing] ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.”

He broke down how jealousy and comparing oneself with others leads many people astray, and can spark the rise of a spirit of criticism; one of the symptoms of pride. A Christian lifted up with pride, for example, finds it easy to judge and condemn others who live differently. As though they believe their manner of dress, style of speaking, or way of expressing things comprise the law that all must follow. Such thinking leaves no room for the acceptance of the statement that, “Each of us is an original.”

Pastor Jim reminded that Scripture says pride comes before a fall, and to illustrate the point, he called his grandson to stand up on a high stool. He warned Christians to resist the temptation to set themselves up on a pedestal because such position makes it easier to get knocked down. He noted how easy it would be for him, standing on the ground, to remove his grandson from the stool, but pointed out how the difficulty factor increases when the two stand side by side on level ground. He shared that, since his release from prison, he has emphasized remaining humble and not giving anyone reason to think he is about elevating himself or grandstanding. “Humble yourselves,” the Bible instructs, and then gives aassurance that God will do the elevating in His own time and manner.

Scriptures

Galatians 5:21 MSG the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom.

Galatians 5:22-23 The Fruits of the Spirit

Galatians 5:23-24 MSG not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for good – crucified.

Galatians 5:24 NCV Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do.

Luke 9:23 NIV Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Galatians 5:25 MSG Since this is the kind of life we have chosen, the life of the Spirit, let us make sure that we do not just hold it as an idea in our heads or a sentiment in our hearts, but work out its implications in every detail of our lives.

Genesis 2:24 NIV That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Matthew 18:19 NCV Also, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about something and pray for it, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.

Romans 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Galatians 5:26 MSG That means we will not compare ourselves with each other as if one of us were better and another worse. We have far more interesting things to do with our lives. Each of us is an original.

Proverbs 16:18 KJV Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

James 4:10 KJV Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

John 8:36 KJV If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

John 8:36 MSG So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.