Christian Con Carne

John 8:31-36  (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.”

33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, 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.

Christian Con Carne

Galatians 5:17 (NIV)

17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

1.  Don't be an unspiritual person. 

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)

14 The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

2. Be a spiritual person.

1 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)

15 The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,

3. Don't be a worldly person.

1 Corinthians 2:1-3 (NIV)

2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 

The Problem and the Solution

Let's declare our dependence on God and make Him first. 

1. Ask for forgiveness of any wrong actions and attitudes.

2. Refocus on the spiritual.

3. Invite the presence of God into our lives.  

4. Believe God for specific answers.

Matthew 17:14-18 (NIV)

14 When they came to the crowd, a man approached Jesus and knelt before him. 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son,” he said. “He has seizures and is suffering greatly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 I brought him to your disciples, but they could not heal him.”

17 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy here to me.” 18 Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

1. Let's not be unbelieving any longer, but be connected to God.

2. Let's not be perverse or too connected to the world.   

Matthew 17:19-21 (NIV)

19 Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

1. Prayer reconnects us to God.

2. Fasting disconnects us from the world.

21 Days of Fasting (check with your Doctor, first) 

1. Set your objective.  What do you want to be free from.

2.  Decide what you will do. 

A. A complete fast is all food.

B. A selective fast is some types of food.

C. A partial fast is part of the 21 days.

D. A soul fast is an elimination of media. 

3. Expect results.

Isaiah 58:8-9 n (NIV)

8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

https://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/message/christian-con-carne