Know your identity in Christ.
[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Rev. Dr. David Entry. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.
[0:13] Be blessed. Praise God. The next one I want to talk about today is we have been set free from the bondage of sin.
[0:24] Sin is bondage. Sin paralyzes. We have been set free from the bondage of sin.
[0:39] Let's look at John chapter 8 verse 31. Then Jesus said to the Jews, those Jews who believed him, if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth you know shall set you free.
[1:05] The fruit shall make you free. They asked him, we are Abraham's descendants and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say you will be made free?
[1:18] Are you following the dialogue? They said you are talking about freedom. Why are we not in bondage? So why are you talking about freedom? And verse 34, Jesus answered them, Most assuredly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.
[1:36] So you see, you are thinking about physical shackles. But Jesus is talking about emotional shackles, spiritual shackles, psychological shackles, moral shackles.
[1:53] The worst of all shackles is not the physical shackles. As for the chains, the chains on your feet or your hands, it can always be broken off.
[2:05] But when people see you are free man, but you are still in bondage. Free, but not free. So Jesus says that, most assuredly I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.
[2:18] Those days when we got born, we used to evangelize on the streets with tracks. There was a particular track that it was a big alcohol bottle. And it's with a chain tied to it.
[2:31] And it has hooked somebody by the neck. And the alcohol big bottle was leading the person. The person is not free. Alcohol has held them captive.
[2:44] You know. And there are people who have found themselves in all forms of slavery and bondage. All forms of slavery.
[2:57] But Jesus says that. So it was on that premise. Oh, thank you, Jesus. It was on that premise Jesus was talking to them. He says that if my word abides in you.
[3:08] Verse 31 again. Jesus said to them in verse 31. Then Jesus answered and said, if you abide in my word. And that you are my disciples indeed. Then verse 32 said, and you shall know the truth.
[3:22] Who will know the truth? Who are the you? Believers. But from the context 31. The people he's talking about in the 31 are those who know the truth.
[3:36] Who will know the truth? Jesus said to the Jews who believed him. If you abide in my word. That's why we cannot trivialize teaching of God's word.
[3:48] Because that is what defines your limits or dimension of your liberty and freedom. Because it says that if you abide in my word. Then you are a disciple indeed. And it is disciples indeed who are free.
[4:02] That's why he said go into the world and make disciples. Not just believers. No, you can believe and still be in bondage. What's the difference between a believer and a disciple? A believer is someone who has accepted the lordship of Jesus Christ.
[4:15] But a disciple is someone who has been taught the ways of Jesus and is now beginning to practice it. So a disciple is like an apprentice. He's looking at what the master is doing and doing it.
[4:26] It's in what we do. So long as God's word is the word we know is concerned. That's just as free. So you see, that's why we can't afford not to teach the word. Because your freedom is at the point of the entry of God's word which you practice.
[4:41] So if you don't practice the word you hear. First of all, Paul puts it this way when he was making his argument about winning the soul. Romans chapter 10. Paul says that how can they hear. No, before then he starts by saying that as many as shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
[4:55] Romans chapter 10 verse 13. As many as shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Then he raises this question, this argument. But how can they call on him of whom they have not heard?
[5:06] And then he says that, but how can they hear if there is not a preacher? And then he went to say, how can they preach if they have not been sent? So he starts from sending.
[5:17] So you see, if anyone who has not been called and sent comes to preach to you. The preaching that brings the blessing is the preaching based on the sending. The preaching of a sent one.
[5:32] Not the preaching of a learned, someone who has learned, that has studied. Some people have studied, they have PhD in theology, but they haven't been sent. So when they preach, they can preach anything to you, but they are just reasoning with your mind and it will still keep you in bondage.
[5:50] He said, how can they preach except they'll be sent? Now, when you are sent and you preach, and when you preach, then somebody can hear. Now, you cannot call on God if you have not heard of God.
[6:02] It's so important someone tells you something. You've been listening to music a lot of the time. Listen to some preaching. So something can get into your system.
[6:12] And once you hear, it empowers you to call on God. There are not much of the time, as everything says that, the Bible says that, faith comes by hearing and hearing. And so if you don't hear, faith ain't God can.
[6:25] And God can help you if you don't have faith. Did you see that? God just shall live by his faith. Faith is very personal.
[6:41] John, Jesus said, if my word abides in you, you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth. If you continue in my word, then you are you my disciples indeed, and you know the truth.
[6:54] And the truth shall set you free. Then they said, but we are not slaves. Abraham is our father. We are not slaves. So how come he said we shall be set free? And Jesus said that anyone who sinned, commits sin, is a slave to sin.
[7:09] So watch this. So that means that the freedom Jesus was talking about was freedom from slavery of sin. Do you understand what I'm saying?
[7:19] So freedom from the power of sin. So how many of you have tried not to do something before and you find yourself still doing it? I know some of you are wonderful people.
[7:34] You look so good in church. You've tried not to do some things. And Paul puts it this way. For the sin I do not want to do.
[7:45] That I find myself doing. Then he goes, oh, wretched man. I like that. Who helped me from this body of sin? Because I said, the right things I want to do, I can't do. And anytime I want to do the right thing, there is sin lives in my members.
[7:59] You know this members thing. Members. Sin lives in my... Romans chapter 7 from verse 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Then we're there. It talks about sin lives in my members. When I want to do the right thing, the sin that lives in my members is not allowing me to do it.
[8:18] Sin dwells in me. I was preaching one day and I said that sin lives in you like you are a hotel. Hotel. For sin. Sin is traveling. That's his abode. You know. Now.
[8:30] Not the born again believer. That sin is living in you like Jesus lives in you. But. The flesh. So you can be born again and still some things are still in your body.
[8:42] Say the body. The body. That's why you have to yield your members as instruments of righteousness. Amen. You've got some wild members.
[8:58] Wild. Wild. Somebody say wild. Wild. You know those who have got to can't say. Say wild. Wild. Wild. Wild. So it says that.
[9:08] If you continue in my way. Then are ye my disciples. And you will know the truth. And the truth. That you know. Shall set you free. Okay. And Jesus said. It shall set you free.
[9:19] From slavery. Of sin. Now. Where am I going with this? When we are in Christ. We are free. From the bondage of sin. You know the truth.
[9:33] No unbeliever can claim freedom from bondage of sin. You can't. On one premise. On one. You can be morally good. And most. Every unbeliever is good to one thing.
[9:45] Sometimes depending on your nature. And your character. And personality. You can look very good like an angel. But you know. In fact. Some of. I was a master. I was a master. I was a master. I wasn't doing anything wrong.
[9:58] I wasn't going bad places. You know. I didn't. No no no. I would never. I mean. As I stand here. I got born again. I think at the age of 17. Yeah. At the age of 17. And.
[10:08] I never smoked. I never drank alcohol. Up to now. I've never drank alcohol. I wasn't born again.
[10:20] Even though I was not born again. I never did that. I never. Had. Slept with. Any woman. Even though I wasn't born again. See. So. So. From the look of that. I was a master.
[10:31] But always in church. So. From the look of things. Ah. Then I'm fine. But. I was lost. And sin got me somewhere else. Your face changed.
[10:45] Sin will get you somewhere else. Maybe your. Your attitude towards maybe parents. Or friends. Or anger. Or you know. Um. What do you call it. Greed.
[10:57] Or something. Somewhere. You'll be good in a lot of places. But there's this one place. That you are struggling. And you say. Oh. Wretched man like me. Who will save me.
[11:08] So. When you are in Christ. You are set free from the bondage of sin. That is the truth. So. Let's go. John chapter 8. Verse 35. It says that.
[11:18] Slaves do not abide in the house forever. But a son abides forever. When you are a slave. It's Jesus that you don't abide in the house forever. But a son does.
[11:29] Then go to. I like the next verse. Let's all read the next verse together. Let's go. Therefore. If the son makes you free. You shall be free. One more time. Therefore.
[11:40] If the son makes you free. You shall be free. Some of you are not reading. Read it aloud. Therefore. If the son makes you free. You shall be free. I want somebody with guts and audacity.
[11:53] Lift up your right hand and shout. I'm free. I'm free. Show it again. I'm free. I'm free. One more time. I'm free. I'm free. If the son makes you free.
[12:05] You are actually free. properly. Truly free. Now. Identity. So some people are truly free.
[12:16] But they don't know. They don't know. Let me see if I can remember the story about this man who had an aquarium. And had some small, small fish.
[12:27] And brought a big thing. Snapper or something. Bigger fish. And this fish was eating all the small ones. Kept eating them. So he built a glass. To divide the aquarium.
[12:41] So he's searching from the other small fish. He's searching. And so he didn't see the glass. The bigger fish. Every time he's going there. He hits. Bumps this. You know.
[12:52] He goes to hit the glass. Then turns back. And he did that. And he started getting hurt. And so he goes. Guess what. After a long time. He didn't go around. Because. He knew that there was a glass there.
[13:02] Though it sound invisible. It was invisible. Anytime he goes. Tries to go beyond. Sees there little fish. Want to go for them. KAM. Then he got there. Every time he sees those little fish. Want to go for them. KAM. He kept doing that.
[13:13] And then he realized that no. You don't have to eat little fish. Because you attempt to eat little fish. It's always met with something. And so. After a long time. The man now removed the glass.
[13:24] The little fish will come and swim around. Even in Bada Bada. He won't try eating them. He requires. Just change his mindset. About how to. Eat little fish. There are people.
[13:35] Who are set free from prison. And they go. And they still feel like. They are still in prison. So. You can be set free. From prison. But still remain in prison.
[13:47] In your mind. Slave trade has been abolished. Years ago. But there are people. Who are still in slavery. Slavery. You are not free.
[14:02] How can you always be free? Think about it. If you lose your job. You will be so worried. Not because of the money.
[14:13] You won't get. But. It's because of the bills. That phone. That you are making so much noise about. It's not your phone. Praise God. I understand what I'm saying.
[14:26] That's why. If you can. Always try and buy. Without. Getting into debt. Apart from. Positive debts. Like. Mortgage. But even that. You have to believe God.
[14:38] To pay it off. Quickly. Bible says that. Train up a child. The way it should go. In Proverbs 22. And you know what Bible says. So when a child grows.
[14:49] He will not depart from it. Then the very next verse. You know what he said. He said that. The borrower. Is a servant. To the lender. It has to be.
[15:00] We have to teach our children. When you go borrowing. You are a slave. To the one who is lending you the money. You are wondering. But what are you. How can I be free.
[15:11] You can be free. You see. It's a mental thing. It's a mental thing. You are wearing. A shoe. On credit card. And so. With all this noise. You are walking around.
[15:23] It's credit. You are wearing. A wig. On credit. Ah. Don't you have hair. God. It didn't go. At least. Hey. Comb it. At least.
[15:33] Thank God for fashion. Nowadays. If you can just natural hair. And just comb it nice. And put something like. I mean. And it's okay. Do you understand what I'm saying.
[15:44] Also. I mean. If you want your hair to flow like. I think that pop singer. What's her name. Beyonce. Has she got long hair? She used to. Has she scat it.
[15:55] That lady was telling me. That in Czech. When they saw. They thought. Every black woman. Hair was natural. So. They said. Wow. Beyonce. Had a lot.
[16:17] I think. I'll go to freedom. I wanted to say something. But. I think that freedom is very important. so this just was talking about spiritual liberty but permit me to digress a little bit into because some of us are raised with this borrower mentality now we must change our thinking and push it into our children that's not good to all some of you if you can go if you are doing a course investing and you can do it without taking loan do it i'm not saying don't loan or don't borrow i'm not saying that but i think people don't realize that when you are borrowing you are making yourself you are willingly submitting yourself into slavery hello can we move on from there that's better isn't it so that people can feel comfortable jesus what was jesus talking about so i heard john maxwell say this sometime ago which i like he said that if you find yourself in a pit the first law is to stop digging before you start but you are still digging you're hoping to come up but you're keeping it so if you find yourself in debt the first thing is stop borrowing am i talking to somebody yes you hear a knock at your door you don't want to open some of us when when that letters come you don't want to open the letters because you know the mobile phone company o2 is coming after you you went you went for that porsche phone you didn't want to pay o2 o2 and bt those guys know how to chase me chase people from this previous those times when you call and your phone not for non-payment they said this phone has been suspended for non-payment of you remember those times now they've changed it says that the phone is not available now yes john chapter 8 verse 36 jesus says that then you shall know the truth as who the son sets free is free indeed say i'm free indeed all right so your identity in crisis you are freed man you are freed woman don't walk in bondage free from what remember the the the the premise was sin okay but once you ah oh this is cool jesus healed somebody from sickness and said go and see no more think about it heal them he said go and see no more sin can be the foundation of every human frustration adam and eve were cool they were okay till sin entered the garden and messed everything up so sin in your life can be the response that can be the cause for every other frustration that follows do you get it and so once you are free from sin other things also follow but remember your identity in christ is that you are actually free from sin i keep saying this before you become born again you are you are you are not able not to sin you are not able not to sin you hear what i'm saying you are not able not to sin but after you become born again you are able not to sin before you became born again it is difficult not to sin but after you become a christian i'm talking on christian yesterday i was telling them here i met a lady in a shop and we are having a chat a conversation she is an attendant shop assistant and i told her i'm in church i go to church and she said oh really church i've never i've never been to a church before though i'm a christian she said i'm a christian no don't get me right i don't get me wrong i'm a christian i was christian so but i've never been to church before and i was saying you see i don't blame you i blame the one who christianed you you can't you can't you can't christian you can't make a child christian no one is born christian
[20:20] you see what i said no one is born christian you must be born again then you become a christian so you are the first birth always is defective you have everybody was born into slavery of sin but when you are born again you are born again out of slavery of sin amen so he who the son sets free the lady said i'm a christian but i've never been to church before in my life very strange very interesting very interesting i have a phd i've never been to school i've never written any exam i've never been to a phd i've never written any exam never studied that's why we christians have to wake up and help people out there because people are so lost that their level of understanding their level it's astounding their level of thinking is so imbecile you know something somebody can say something excuse me my language something that sounds so stupid and he didn't realize that he said something so stupid for instance i'm a christian but i've never been to church i mean it sounds so you understand what i'm saying think about it but they say it with impunity and confidence because they actually don't know that they are advertising their ignorance in a stupid way and she said that she was smiling and yet they say oh me i know church i know i'm a christian i don't see why christians make noise about all these things i'm a christian but they are not in effect when you are born again bible says that you are self-free one of your identities in our identity in christ is we are self-free from sin say i'm self-free from sin say it again i'm free from sin say for the last time i'm free from sin so we are free from the bondage of sin and then let me say the last one quickly um no let me add to this since we are if we are free from the bondage of sin look at romans chapter 6 verse 18 romans chapter 6 verse 18 and having been set free from oh it's in the bible you see you see you see you see that thing there's nothing like watch this listen to this very carefully there's nothing like absolute freedom there's nothing like absolutely you are waiting oh i can't wait when i finish school and i get my job i'll leave my mom's house i leave my dad's house i'll get my own flat so you are free from your mother always tell you go watch the dishes but as soon as you get your own you are not bound to be paying your own bill light bills bound to be cooking your own food but you see so there's nothing like total freedom you are free from one thing and then you are bound to another thing no no there's nothing like total freedom okay i i have it every time i have to wake up early morning go to work and one day i'll be free when i get my own company i can go when i want as soon as you are free from that one to your be you become bound to dealing with our overheads and so many things by yourself dealing with employees doing so many employees depending on how many of them you've got there's nothing like absolute freedom there's nothing like absolute freedom so jesus said that if you are free from sin then you are a slave to righteousness amen that's why he said that listen come on to me all you who are who labor and are heavy laden in matthew chapter 11 verse 28 and i will give you rest then he goes on in verse 29 to say that take upon yourself my yoke so you can't say that that's why you are yokeless there will definitely be yoke either you are the yoke of christ or you are the yoke of the devil you can't say i mean i don't i don't want to be i want to be free you can't be telling everything
[24:26] i have to go to church yeah you can be free from no from going to church free and stay there and then you will be bound to something else some form of addiction or some form of struggle and some form of all kinds of dreams and attacks and you are not happy you i don't know what's wrong with yeah you won't know because you are running away from god you are a yoner when you are running away from god have you realized that you are not happy it doesn't matter the kind of music you listen to you can listen to all the best music and be done after you finish that some people are dancing the midst of dancing they stop and start crying they don't know why i don't know why are you okay yes you are sitting with your friends and with behind the bar or the restaurant everybody's happy and why is it i don't know why i'm not happy yeah yeah that that bondage is worse jesus's bondage is good i mean i'm bound to be praying i'm bound to be praising god but when i finish i feel good people don't know what we have in church she says she's been to nightclubs am i right she's been to nightclubs she's been to parties she's been to all you know i tried everything and when she came to church she realized that this is far better than all so i have a problem with you if you are still in church one leg is in church the other one is out you are too out to be in and yet you are too in to be out jesus said i will spill you out of my mouth but the point i'm making here is that once you are free from one thing you must hold on to the new thing that you are bound to slaves of righteousness your friends are running around doing all sort of things and you you it feels like you can't do that most of us see we compare that to um i need a new job i haven't got a job and my friend are not going to church and look they even got a better job no see job is different from freedom change on yeah so what in christ it's not so much about a miracle you are getting the real miracle is liberty you are a free man you are a free man you are a free man that's what you actually got you are a free man but they can get all the car they can buy all the houses they can get all the jobs which is good god will give you to you as the bible said seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these other things will be added so he's coming say he's coming say he's coming but once is yet on the welcoming don't be frustrated don't compare yourself to the people who use ah we all we we all went for the interview and we wrote the exam they don't go to church i go to church every time but look i failed i didn't get a job and they see me don't compare yourself to a slave you are free man shut i'm free shut i'm free shut i'm free i'm free galatians chapter 5 verse 1 in niv it says that it is for freedom while christ has set you free so stay free amen he said it is for freedom that christ has set he actually set you free to be free so stay free don't go and entangle and then stand firm then and do not let yourself be burdened again with the yoke of slavery don't go back to your vomit don't go back there's nothing there for you and don't deceive yourself okay okay i'll have black and white just add a little bit of this add a little bit so take the best year the best year there's nothing
[28:28] there for you stay in christ because bible says that we are complete in him freedom shut and free when you we wake up in the morning you feel all kinds of things you feel down just encourage yourself know that after all i am free in christ sin cannot have dominion but romans chapter 8 verse 17 says that sin cannot we are set free from sin free from sin freedom from sin no one can buy it for you no education can give it to you no politician can give it to you even he himself is looking for it no employer can give it to you no material possession can give it to you you that's what he says says that what does a man gain if he gains the whole wealth and loses your soul when you are it's time for you to die your car cannot say oh please spare her life let me stay because i have a she saw a nice car your paycheck cannot do it for you the woman the man died a millionaire he died he said i want to be buried with my money and at the funeral when they put him in the casket before they lowered it the husband the wife came and with it it says that my husband said we should he wants every money of his to be buried with him so i've made sure i've made sure i have to honor it he said so are you going to say don't worry i've written a check of several billions i'm going to put it in the coffin when you go you can go and cash it they'll bury you with your check nothing listen no amount of material things can guarantee good life can i say something good life is not in the watch good life is not in the shoe neither is it in your suit good life is not in the car you drive there are people who are driving very old car and yours is maybe so push and you are more miserable miserable sitting in a fine car and they are so happy sitting in the normal normal they as i said they are mobile happy people outside i'm not saying money is no good it's good now if you have christ and you have money too it's better can't imagine double barrel you have christ and you have money and so money is coming once you have christ by start with christ oh you are on your way to your wealthy place amen but do you think this brother will be like this always no i mean so long as he's working this thing will be like this no no stay in christ and get keep giving yourself to work you can't be like that because then all these things shall be added if he doesn't add it to you he's alive to you seek ye first see actually even happiness is not based on marriage there are people who get married and they get worse frustrated in life but when you have christ and you do it in christ hey yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah when you ask christ jesus is the answer answer and he's the center of my joy because i'm a free man i'm a free man i don't owe any devil i'm a free man i am free and you are free that's who we are in christ say i'm free we are free from the bondage of sin and free the last thing i was going to say is free from the consequences consequences of sin so god does not hold your sin against you anymore that's why he taught us to pray that and forgive us our debts so it is part of your covenant rights to be forgiven once you ask for forgiveness
[32:36] so the consequences of bible says the wages of sin is death who remembers where that is romans what god bless you romans 6 23 what does it say some people are wondering what i put you on the screen already the wages of sin is death so once you sin payday is coming payday is coming but the good news is that we have been freed from the consequences of sin free from the consequences of sin say i'm free from the consequences of sin bible says romans chapter 8 verse 1 now there is now therefore no condemnation to those who are in christ jesus i'm free jesus said where are all your accusers they are nowhere he said therefore i also do not have anything against you go and sin no more can you imagine do you know what it feels to be forgiven yesterday i was watching the news this actor who was in court for a few weeks now i forgot his name yes and i saw newspaper review i said i'm a free man and he was drinking do you know what it feels to really be free from all this thing and finally you are quitted you are no more guilty the liberty you have in the same way the consequences of sin are no more held against you when you are in christ you are actually free by the justice of heaven the justice of heaven has discharged you from the death of sin i'm free i'm free that's what we are in christ we thank god for using his servant reverend dr david entry to share this awesome world if this message has blessed you in any way please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at karen's dot org remember to stay connected with us on facebook instagram youtube and twitter for regular updates on what god is doing here at karen's ministries stay blessed