Being Released to Know and Reflect Christ in Abundance
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Knowing Freedom Being released to know and reflect Christ in abundance a workbook from City Central Church Knowing Freedom a workbook by City Central Church Copyright © 2020 by City Central Church All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced—mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying—without the written permission of the publisher. Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Any bold or underlining within the text has been added for emphasis) Published by: City Central Publishing 2520 6th Ave Tacoma, WA 98406 For more copies of this workbook reference our website at citycentral.org Printed in the USA Introduction 7 Knowing Jesus 14 God’s Original Design 21 The Believer’s Authority 29 Enemy Strongholds 34 Effects of Injustice 43 The Power of Forgiveness 49 Blessings & Curses 54 Walking in Freedom 61 Worksheets Resource Hearing God’s Voice 102 Insignificance 68 Intro to Spiritual Warfare 105 Passivity 73 Walking in the Opposite Spirit 109 Fear 78 Generational Patterns 111 How Can I Be Saved? 114 Injustice 83 Shame 93 Introduction: What is Freedom? Freedom is About Transformation Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this God has an incredible purpose for us in this life. We get to know and love the world, but be transformed by the renewal very Creator of the cosmos, and even participate in his plans! If we ponder of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is this truth for even a moment, it awakens us to the reality that the ordinary good and acceptable and perfect. Christian life should not be ordinary. Knowing Jesus should produce an abundant life within us that brims with excitement, joy, abundance, trust, and Philippians 1:6 And I am sure of this, that gratitude. he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Yet life in this fallen world is harsh, and trouble abounds. It is easy to become weighed down with worries, defeat, past hurts, hopelessness, and other 2 Corinthians 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the bondages. These hindrances can dull or block our intimacy with Christ and Lord, are being transformed into the same make us feel stuck. We can carry past hurts into our new life in Christ. Our image from one degree of glory to another. spirits are renewed; yet we fight a battle in our mind, will, and emotions. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. Thanks be to God that the same grace that saved us is the grace that is transforming us! Freedom is the natural outworking of our relationship with Jesus Christ. It means every chain can be broken in Jesus’ name. Every sin can be overcome by his power. Every demonic scheme can be uncovered. Instead of being stuck, we can be continually transformed into his likeness daily. Instead of feeling distant from God, we can live in vibrant partnership. Freedom is about being released to know and reflect Christ in abundance. 7 Freedom is About Restoration God sent Jesus to restore relationship with you. At its very heart, the gospel Psalm 23:1–3 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not is restorative. Not only does Christ restore our relationship with the want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my Father at salvation, he also is able to restore every area of our lives. soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his Many biblical characters and people throughout history have gone name’s sake. on to be used by God powerfully despite profound moral failure Isaiah 58:12 And your ancient ruins shall be and weakness. Think of Moses the murderer who was used as God’s rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many deliverer of Israel. Or the Apostle Paul who started off as a murderous generations; you shall be called the repairer of the zealot and enemy of the church. God loves to restore his people, to breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. take what is a broken vessel and mend it for his glory. And it is these 1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little very restored vessels that end up being his agents of restoration and while, the God of all grace, who has called you reconciliation to the world! to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. There are car enthusiasts who travel great distances searching for rusty old vehicles they can lovingly restore to their former glory. While other people see junk, they see tremendous value. God is one such enthusiast. But what he loves to restore is broken people. He meticulously reverses the damage caused by a world of pain and sin (some of which is admittedly self-inflicted). THE LORD DESIRES TO RESTORE: 1. Your identity: Everyone who is in Christ is a new 6. Your wasted years: I will restore to you the years that person (2 Cor. 5:17). God restores our true purpose in the swarming locust has eaten (Joel 2:25). God restores relationship with him—no longer living in shame and the time that we spent living contrary to his truth. separation but in acceptance and union. 7. Your health: In Jeremiah 30:17, the Lord says He will 2. Your soul: Psalm 23 declares that God “restores my soul; “restore health to you and heal you of your wounds.” He leads me in the paths of righteousness...” Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb.13:8). He has the power to restore your health 3. Your life: "And may he be to you a restorer of life and today. a nourisher of your old age" (Ruth 4:15). God restored Naomi’s life after her husband and sons died. He wants to do the same for you. You can cling to the promise that if you have suffered and are feeling broken, God will mend you. He 4. Your spiritual life: Galatians 6:1 describes that if anyone will turn your mourning into dancing. He will comfort is caught in sin, the spiritual community is to restore that your heart, restore your mind, and give you the person in a spirit of gentleness. confidence to live an abundant life of freedom and rest. 5. Your joy: David’s cry in Psalm 51:12 is that God will restore the joy of his salvation. God is praised in the Psalms as the restorer of joy. 8 Knowing Freedom You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you. - Augustine 1 Freedom is About Rest Freedom doesn’t come from us—it radiates from Jesus Christ. If the son sets Matthew 11:28–30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you you free, you are free indeed (Jn. 8:36). This freedom is not something that rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from we can strive for, or make happen by the sheer force of our will. Jesus has a me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and universal appeal to all humankind, “Come to me all who are weary and I will you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke give you rest.” Is there any sweeter phrase to hit the ears of a weary sinner or is easy, and my burden is light.” saint? For Jesus not only takes our burden at salvation, he continues to be our John 15:4–5 Abide in me, and I in you. As rest throughout our life. the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the As we live as disciples of Christ we are yoked with him (learning his ways). branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, There is work to be done, but the work is done with internal rest and the he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from knowledge that Christ is yoked with us, empowering us. Our attempts to live me you can do nothing. the Christian life in our own power betray an unfounded confidence in our own abilities. It is the difference between attempting to do great things for Psalm 131 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not God and allowing him to do great things through us. Freedom does not come occupy myself with things too great and too by trying harder or resolving to do more in our own strength. True freedom marvelous for me. But I have calmed and comes through abiding in Christ, which is an internal reality of trust—the quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within only place where true spiritual fruit can originate. me . What Must be Understood to Live in Freedom? In this manual we will cover these 10 key elements necessary to understand freedom: 1. Salvation includes both forgiveness of sin and transformation of life. 2. Knowing and abiding in Christ are the foundations of freedom. 3.