>> AND GOD SAYS: THIS FREEDOM BUSINESS ALWAYS STARTS NOW AND ALWAYS STARTS WITH YOU >> THE BEST TIME TO PRACTICE AND PARTICIPATE IN GOD'S FREEDOM FOR YOU AND THE WORLD AROUND YOU IS NOW, IT'S TODAY. >> GOD'S CONCERN IS NOT AS MUCH WITH OUR ABILITY AS IT IS WITH OUR AVAILABILITY. ♪♪ DAUGHTER GO IN PEACE YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WHOLE ♪♪ THIS IS LIVING TRUTH >> GET READY FOR AWAKEN 2020 AND EXPERIENCE AN EVENT THAT HAPPENS JUST ONCE A DECADE! JOIN THE LIVING TRUTH FAMILY, FROM SEPTEMBER 10TH TO THE 22ND, 2020, AS WE CRUISE GERMANY ON THE HISTORIC RHINE, ABOARD OUR LIVING TRUTH CHARTERED RIVER BOAT. OUR JOURNEY TAKES US TO THE WORLD FAMOUS PASSION PLAY AT OBERAMMERGAU, GERMANY. IMAGINE A CELEBRATION OF BEAUTY AND FAITH, SHARED WITH LIKE-MINDED TRAVELLERS. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE CLASSIC ALLURE OF GERMANY AS WE SAIL THE RHINE RIVER. IGNITE YOUR FAITH WITH RICH FELLOWSHIP AND BIBLICAL TEACHING FROM BRETT MCBRIDE AND OTHER LIVING TRUTH SPECIAL GUESTS. WE CONCLUDE OUR JOURNEY WITH A 2-DAY VISIT TO THE PICTURESQUE VILLAGE OF OBERAMMERGAU, GERMANY, NESTLED IN THE BAVARIAN ALPS. EXPERIENCE THIS ONCE-A-DECADE EVENT, THE PASSION PLAY. >> I THINK TRAVELLING WITH LIVING TRUTH IS JUST PHENOMENAL WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE EFFORT AND TIME AND PLANNING THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS, IS MIND-BOGGLING. >> TRAVELLING WITH LIVING TRUTH, FOR ME, WAS A VERY BLESSED EXPERIENCE I WOULD DO IT AGAIN ON A HEARBEAT. >> TRAVELLING WITH LIVING TRUTH HAS BEEN A VERY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE, I HAVE ENJOYED SO FAR EVERY ASPECT FROM THE ACCOMODATION TO THE TRAVEL ITSELF TO THE CHOICES OF THE SITES THAT WE'VE SEEN BECAUSE I'M ADMINISTRATIVE LOGISTIC SMOOTHNESS, HOW EVERYTHING HAS GONE-ON HAS BEEN VERY, VERY PLEASANT. TRAVELLING WITH LIVING TRUTH HAS BEEN A REALLY POSITIVE EXPERIENCE FOR ME. GETTING TO KNOW THE PEOPLE ON THE BUS HAS BEEN REALLY COOL, DON'T MISS THIS INCREDIBLE TRIP OF A LIFETIME AWAKEN 2020 - A RHINE RIVER BOAT CRUISE AND THE PASSION PLAY. TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW, SIMPLY VISIT MYAWAKENJOURNEY.COM FOR DETAILS OR CALL 1-877-465-3442 AWAKEN 2020: THE PASSION PLAY - IT'S YOUR TIME >> WE ARE WEIGHED DOWN AND HELD CAPTIVE BY SO MANY THINGS IN LIFE. WE MIGHT BE OPPRESSED EXTERNALLY DUE TO RACE, GENDER, STATUS, OR RELIGION OR OPPRESSED INTERNALLY BY GUILT, SHAME AND FEAR. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT CHRIST CAME TO SET US FREE. HE CREATED A WAY THROUGH THE CROSS AND INVITES US TO PARTNER WITH HIM TO BRING ABOUT FREEDOM ON EARTH. THIS IS LIVING TRUTH. >> IN MARK 16, JESUS COMMISSIONS HIS DISCIPLES TO "GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL TO ALL CREATION." IN ORDER TO GET TO ALL THE WORLD AND REACH ALL CREATION, GOD USES ALL OF HIS PEOPLE, IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS. HE CALLS EACH OF US TO USE THE PASSIONS, ABILITIES, GIFTS AND INFLUENCE WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. GOD'S CONCERN IS NOT AS MUCH WITH OUR ABILITY, AS IT IS WITH OUR AVAILABILITY. WHEN WE ARE FULLY SURRENDERED TO HIS KINGDOM WORK- HE WILL DO THE REST. I'VE INVITED SOME GUESTS TO SHARE THE WORD WITH US. GOD IS USING EACH OF THEM TO DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS IN THIS WORLD. DANIELLE STRICKLAND HAS BEEN SERVING THE MARGINALIZED WITH 'AGGRESSIVE COMPASSION' IN COUNTRIES ALL OVER THE WORLD, FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS. DANIELLE ESTABLISHED JUSTICE DEPARTMENTS FOR THE SALVATION ARMY, AND CO-FOUNDED THE ORGANIZATIONS INFINITUM, AMPLIFY PEACE AND BRAVE GLOBAL. SHE IS AN ACCOMPLISHED AUTHOR AND POPULAR PODCAST HOST. DANIELLE TRAINS, ADVOCATES AND INSPIRES PEOPLE TO LIVE DIFFERENTLY. >> NOW, WHAT AN ABSOLUTE DELIGHT AND AN HONOR TO BE WITH YOU. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JESUS HAS REALLY BEEN SPEAKING TO ME OVER THE LAST COUPLE DECADES OF MY LIFE IS A MESSAGE OF FREEDOM. IT'S A MESSAGE OF FREEDOM; IT'S A MESSAGE OF HOW PEOPLE NOT ONLY GET FREE, BUT STAY FREE. ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO I WENT TO HAITI TO VISIT A FAMILY I AM PARTNERING WITH THROUGH COMPASSION. AND THEY ARE HELPING ME IN MY QUEST FOR FREEDOM, AND MY QUEST FOR FREEDOM IS FROM INDULGENCE AND APATHY AND INDIFFERENCE, KIND OF FEELING PARALYZED TO CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT THE WORLD. AND THEY ARE HELPING ME WITH THAT. AND THEIR QUEST FOR FREEDOM LEADS THEM TO FIGHT AGAINST EXTREME POVERTY AND A LACK OF EDUCATION AND A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY FOR THEIR FUTURE. SO AS THEY FIGHT THEIR BATTLE FOR FREEDOM AND I FIGHT MY BATTLE FOR FREEDOM, WE END UP BEING FANTASTIC PARTNERS IN FREEDOM. AND I WAS ALSO EXCITED TO GO TO HAITI NOT ONLY JUST TO MEET EMERSON AND HIS MOM JASMINE, BUT I WAS ALSO EXCITED TO GO TO HAITI BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST BLACK REPUBLIC IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD. AND I WAS EXCITED TO VISIT THE FIRST BLACK REPUBLIC THAT THAT REPUBLIC, THAT UPRISING, YOU KNOW, 700,000 ENSLAVED AFRICANS IN A FRENCH COLONY IN THAT TINY LITTLE ISLAND, AND ONE OF THEM HAD AN IDEA. AND IT IS THE MOST SACRED AND MOST ORIGINAL IDEA ON THE PLANET, AND THE IDEA WAS THIS: MAYBE WE WEREN'T BORN TO BE SLAVES. MAYBE WE WEREN'T BORN TO BE SLAVES. I MEAN IT'S LIKE THAT IDEA AND THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT IDEA UNLEASHED A SACREDNESS IN HUMANITY. AND THE REPERCUSSIONS OF THAT OF COURSE UNLEASHED ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN FRANCE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN ENGLAND AND THE FIGHT AGAINST THE TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS IN AMERICA AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS AROUND THE WORLD. I WAS EXCITED TO VISIT THE NATION THAT KIND OF BEGAN THIS REVOLUTIONARY IDEA THAT PEOPLE WERE CREATED FOR FREEDOM. AND HONESTLY IT'S STILL A BAFFLING THING. BUT WHEN I WENT, ONE OF THE THINGS I REALIZED IS THAT THE OPPRESSION OF SLAVERY IN THAT FORM HAD GONE BUT THE OPPRESSION OF SLAVERY IN OTHER FORMS HAD TAKEN ITS PLACE. LIKE POVERTY FOR EXAMPLE BECOMES A SLAVE MASTER OVER A NATION'S LIFE. LIKE CORRUPTION BECOMES A SLAVE MASTER IN PEOPLE'S LIVES. AND I WAS STAGGERED TO UNDERSTAND THAT ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CRIMES IS CHILD SLAVERY IN HAITI, THIS BASTION OF FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE. AND RIGHT WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO JUST KIND OF DESPAIR AND SORT OF THINK ABOUT THAT AND EVEN JUDGE THAT, THE LORD SPOKE REALLY QUICKLY TO ME IN A SERIES OF PICTURES EVEN IN MY OWN LIFE WHERE IN AREAS WHERE I HAD ONCE BEEN FREE, OPPRESSION AND SLAVERY HAD RETURNED IN A DIFFERENT FLAVOR. FOR EXAMPLE, YOU KNOW, KICKING AN ALCOHOL ADDICTION AND THEN DISCOVERING SUGAR, RIGHT? OR KICKING ONE RELATIONSHIP THAT IS TOXIC AND JUST ONE OF THE VERSES IN SCRIPTURE THAT IS SO POWERFUL IN THIS REGARD IS THE ONE I WANT TO TALK ABOUT, IS FOUND IN GALATIANS. AND PAUL, THE APOSTLE; HE IS SPEAKING TO THE CHURCH IN GALATIANS 5:1 AND IT'S JUST SIMPLY THIS. IT SAYS, "CHRIST HAS COME TO SET US FREE." WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WE JUST CELEBRATED EASTER SO IT'S THIS RETURN TO LIKE THE WHOLE PURPOSE, THE ACT, THE CULMINATION OF WHAT JESUS HAS DONE IS TO BRING FREEDOM, TO BRING A RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, RIGHT? TO ACTUALLY SET US FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH AND DESPAIR AND LIKE TO BRING IN THE SALVATION, THIS FREEDOM, THIS NEW HOPE FOR A NEW POSSIBILITY OF LIVING A NEW WAY. AND THAT'S WHY CHRIST HAS COME. AND THEN IT DOESN'T STOP THERE THOUGH, AND THIS IS WHAT IS SO FASCINATING TO ME BECAUSE PAUL IS SPEAKING; HE SAYS, "IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST SET US FREE," (COMMA) "SO BE FREE AND DON'T LET SLAVERY RETURN." NOW THIS IS A FASCINATING THING FOR PAUL TO SAY. "SO BE FREE, AND DON'T LET SLAVERY RETURN." IN OTHER WORDS, OPPRESSION ALWAYS COMES BACK. THAT'S THE NATURE OF OPPRESSION. IT GETS KNOCKED DOWN BUT IT GETS UP AGAIN. AND YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO KEEP IT DOWN BECAUSE IT IS AN ACTIVE FIGHT AGAINST OPPRESSION TO THE VERY END. SO OPPRESSION WILL COME BACK. IT HAS A THOUSAND DIFFERENT FLAVORS. OPPRESSION COMES BACK AS APATHY. OPPRESSION COMES BACK AS INDIFFERENCE. OPPRESSION COMES BACK IN PORNOGRAPHY. OPPRESSION COMES BACK IN SEXUAL EXPLOITATION. OPPRESSION COMES BACK IN HUMAN TRAFFICKING. SO PAUL IS TALKING TO A CHURCH IN GALATIANS WHERE HE IS NOT EVEN JUST SAYING, "BE FREE" IN THE SENSE OF FIGHTING AGAINST SOMETHING LIKE SLAVERY OR FIGHTING AGAINST COMMODIFICATION OF HUMAN BEINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT; HE IS JUST SAYING AGAINST RELIGION. EVEN RELIGION, WHICH HAS THE CAPACITY TO FREE PEOPLE OF COURSE, IT HAS A SYSTEM AND A STRUCTURE BY WHICH PEOPLE CAN BE FREE; EVEN RELIGION CAN BE USED IN AN OPPRESSIVE WAY. SO I SAID TO THE LORD, YOU KNOW, "HOW DO WE DO THIS THING?" AND THIS IS A REALLY FASCINATING THING. FIFTY YEARS AGO MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAS ASSASSINATED. AND I WAS RE-READING THIS WEEK A BOOK OF SERMONS IN A LITTLE BOOK CALLED "STRENGTH TO LOVE". IT IS AMAZING - I WAS JUST AMAZED IN THE REVELATION THAT GUY HAD. AND I WAS READING ONE OF THE SERMONS AND HE TALKS ABOUT THE TWO CAMPS OF CHRISTIANS. THIS REALLY FITS GALATIANS 5:1 SO WELL. HE TALKS ABOUT HOW THERE IS THIS SUPER SPIRITUAL HOLY CAMP. THESE ARE THE FOLKS THAT JUST GET TOGETHER AND SAY, "UNLESS GOD DOES IT, IT CAN'T BE DONE." THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PRAYING ALL THE TIME; THEY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE IN THEIR HUDDLING. THEY ARE FANTASTIC, THEY ARE AMAZING AND THEY ARE JUST BELIEVING THAT GOD HAS TO SOVEREIGNLY DO WHAT GOD HAS TO DO AND THERE IS NO TWO WAYS ABOUT IT. AND HE SAID THAT THERE IS THIS OTHER CAMP WHICH ARE KIND OF SOMETIMES DISMISSED BY THE HOLY CAMP AND THEY ARE DEFINITELY THE CAMP THAT DISMISSES THE HOLY CAMP BY SAYING, "LOOK, SOMEONE'S GOT TO GET THIS JOB DONE. LIKE, I'M STARTING THE SOUP KITCHEN. LIKE, I'M STARTING AN ADVOCACY CAMPAIGN. LIKE, SOMETHING'S GOTTA HAPPEN WHILE YOU GUYS ARE PRAYING, I'M GOING TO GET TO WORK BECAUSE THIS THING NEEDS TO HAPPEN AND IT NEEDS TO HAPPEN STAT. HE SAYS WHAT IS AMAZING ABOUT JESUS AND WHAT IS AMAZING ABOUT THE GOSPEL AND WHAT IS AMAZING IF YOU THINK ABOUT GALATIANS 5:1, WHAT IS AMAZING IS THAT PAUL IS SAYING THERE IS A THING CALLED FREEDOM THAT ONLY GOD CAN DO AND ONLY GOD CAN BRING. THERE IS THIS SUPER SPIRITUAL WORK THAT ONLY JESUS COULD HAVE POSSIBLY DONE. THERE IS A WAY THAT HAS BEEN MADE WHERE THERE WAS NO WAY. AND THAT IS THE WORK OF JESUS ON THE CROSS, THAT'S THE WORK THAT HE HAS DONE FOR US. COMMA. BUT THERE IS THIS HUMAN CAPACITY CALLED FREEDOM. THERE IS THIS WAY YOU HAVE BEEN MADE BY GOD HIMSELF. THERE IS THIS SACREDNESS ABOUT YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU WERE CREATED TO BE FREE AND TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE BE FREE. THIS IS A SACRED IMAGE OF GOD IN YOU. YOU WERE NOT BORN TO BE A SLAVE TO ANYTHING. YOU WERE NOT BORN TO BE A SLAVE. AND THAT IMAGE, THAT FREEDOM, HAS TO BE WORKED OUT. SO CHRIST CAME TO SET YOU FREE, SO BE FREE AND DON'T LET OPPRESSION AND DON'T LET SLAVERY AND DON'T LET FEAR AND GUILT AND SHAME AND RELIGION AND ANYTHING THAT WILL BEAT YOU DOWN ACTUALLY BE IN YOUR LIFE AGAIN. SO HOW DO WE DO THAT? NOW THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION. AND THIS IS A WHOLE LIFETIME WORTH OF WORK BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I MOST LOVE ABOUT JESUS IS THE SAME THING THAT I LOVE ABOUT FREEDOM, IS THAT JUST WHEN YOU GET A LITTLE BIT FREE, YOU REALIZE THERE IS MORE AND YOU JUST GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FREE AND YOU REALIZE, OH, THERE'S MORE. AND THEN YOU GET A LITTLE BIT MORE FREE AND YOU REALIZE THERE IS MORE! AND THEN UNTIL EVERY, EVERY SINGLE PERSON IS FREE. SO HOW DO YOU DO THIS? I AM GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT FOUR PRINCIPLES THAT I HAVE LEARNED IN THIS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM. ABOUT TWENTY YEARS I HAVE BEEN HELPING WOMEN GET OUT OF SEXUAL EXPLOITATION AND STOP HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CYCLES OF EXTREME POVERTY AND TRYING TO LIKE REALLY STICK IT TO THE PRINCIPALITIES AND POWERS OF OPPRESSION. BUT ALSO INTERNALLY IN MY OWN LIFE I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET MORE AND MORE FREE IN MY OWN THINKING, IN MY OWN LIFE, IN MY OWN SPACE IN MY HEART FROM A HISTORY OF ADDICTION, A FAMILY TRAJECTORY OF PAIN AND POVERTY AND CYCLES OF VIOLENCE AND FEAR. I AM GOING TO SHARE WITH YOU A FEW PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY, NOT ONLY HELPING OTHER PEOPLE BUT ALSO HELPING LIVE A LIFE OF FREEDOM. SO HERE'S PRINCIPLE NUMBER ONE: BELIEVE IT'S POSSIBLE. THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS, BY THE WAY, YOU CAN IDENTIFY OPPRESSION IN YOUR LIFE, BY THAT SPACE FOR WHAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. LET ME EXPLAIN THIS TO YOU. MANY, MANY YEARS AGO I WAS ON A PLANE COMING FROM A MISSION TRAINING THING I WAS A PART OF IN AFRICA. AND I WAS READING A BOOK CALLED, "THE END OF POVERTY" BY A GUY NAMED DR. JEFFREY SACHS. AND IN THAT BOOK THE IDEA IS PRESENTED THAT WE COULD END EXTREME POVERTY IN OUR LIFETIME. AND THEN HE PRESENTS THE ECONOMIC MODEL BY WHICH THAT COULD HAPPEN THAT THE UN HAS USED FROM MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS. SO HE IS WRITING ABOUT THIS BOOK AND I'M FASCINATED. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THIS BOOK I REALIZE THAT WE COULD END EXTREME POVERTY IN OUR LIFETIME. NOW AS SOON AS I REALIZED THAT, HERE'S WHAT THE OTHER THING THAT I REALIZED. I REALIZED THAT I HAD BELIEVED UP UNTIL THAT POINT ON THAT PLANE, ON THAT DAY, THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO END EXTREME POVERTY. AND I CALLED MYSELF A CHRISTIAN. AND I PRAYED LIKE JESUS TAUGHT ME TO PRAY THAT HIS KINGDOM WOULD COME AND HIS WILL WOULD BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN. AND YET I STILL BELIEVED IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP EXTREME POVERTY. IN OTHER WORDS I HAD COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH THE ENEMY THAT SAID THAT LITTLE KIDS HAVE TO DIE OF STARVATION AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. AT THE SAME TIME I WOULD PRAY THE LORD'S PRAYER SINCERELY IN MY HEART. DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN? AND THAT'S HOW OPPRESSION DOES ITS WORK. IT BEGINS WITH OUR MINDSET. IT BEGINS WITH THE WAY OF THINKING THAT SAYS IT'S IMPOSSIBLE, THAT IT CAN'T BE DONE. AND BY THE WAY, EVERYTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT IS DONE, RIGHT? EVERYTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT'S DONE UNTIL WE'VE REALIZED IT. SO IF JESUS SAYS THAT FREEDOM IS POSSIBLE, THEN FREEDOM IS POSSIBLE AND WE COME OUT OF AGREEMENT WITH OPPRESSION AND INTO AGREEMENT WITH WHAT GOD SAYS. YOU WILL FIND THAT WHATEVER YOU THINK IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CHANGE IS WHERE OPPRESSION LIVES IN YOUR LIFE. I WILL NEVER FIND A HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE I COME OUT OF A DYSFUNCTIONAL BACKGROUND - OPPRESSION. RIGHT? I WILL NEVER ACTUALLY BE FREE FROM THIS ADDICTION. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO KICK PORNOGRAPHY. I WILL NEVER ACTUALLY EVER BE ABLE TO...YOU KNOW, YOU FILL IN THE BLANK. I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ACTUALLY LOVE MY BODY OR HAVE A DECENT SELF-IMAGE OR I WILL NEVER BE A CONTRIBUTOR, I WILL ALWAYS BE A VICTIM, OR WHATEVER IT IS, WHEREVER THAT OPPRESSION LIVES IN YOUR MIND, THAT'S WHERE GOD WANTS TO ESTABLISH FREEDOM. IT IS POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO BE FREE. THAT'S STEP NUMBER ONE. HERE'S STEP NUMBER TWO: DON'T BE AFRAID. FEAR IS THE ENEMY OF FREEDOM. NOW HERE IS WHAT I MEAN. IN EXODUS CHAPTER 1 THE BIBLE SAYS - AND I ALREADY KNEW THAT FEAR KEEPS PEOPLE IN CAPTIVITY, SO FEAR, THE ISRAELITES WERE AFRAID OF EGYPT AND SO THEY WERE OPPRESSED. HERE'S WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW THAT WOULD REALLY CHANGE SOME THINGS FOR ME. THE SCRIPTURE SAYS IN EXODUS 1 THAT BECAUSE PHARAOH WAS AFRAID OF THE ISRAELITES, HE OPPRESSED THEM. IF FEAR IS A MOTIVATING PART OF YOUR DECISION, SO IF YOU ARE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON FEAR, YOU WILL EITHER BE OPPRESSED OR YOU WILL BE AN OPPRESSOR. NOW HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT - THIS IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW BECAUSE WHAT GOD WANTS TO DO IS SET EVERYBODY FREE FROM OPPRESSION. HE WANTS TO SET THE OPPRESSED FREE AND HE WANTS TO SET THE OPPRESSORS FREE - YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT. HE DOESN'T WANT ANYONE SUFFERING FROM OPPRESSION ANYMORE. SO HERE'S THE DEAL: HOW DO WE DO IT WHEN WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS SO FILLED WITH FEAR? I MEAN IT'S LIKE WE BREATHE IT IN. I MEAN, WATCH THE NEWS AND TRY NOT TO BE AFRAID. WE ARE TAUGHT TO BE AFRAID; OUR KIDS ARE TAUGHT TO BE AFRAID. I HAVE BEEN LIVING IN AMERICA FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND I JUST; LITERALLY, IT'S LIKE BREATHING FEAR IN EVERY DAY. EVERY SINGLE ENCOUNTER THAT A HUMAN HAS WITH GOD, THE FIRST THING OUT OF GOD'S MOUTH IS "DON'T BE AFRAID. DON'T BE AFRAID. DON'T BE AFRAID. DON'T BE AFRAID. AND WHY IS THAT SUCH A KEY THING? IT'S SUCH A KEY THING BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ALLOWING FEAR TO DOMINATE YOUR THINKING AND DOMINATE YOUR ACTIONS, IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK INSTEAD OF WHAT GOD TOLD YOU TO DO, IF YOU ARE CONSTANTLY SHIRKING FROM YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES BECAUSE YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN LIVE UP TO THEM OR YOU ARE SCARED ALL THE TIME, THEN YOU EITHER BE OPPRESSED OR YOU WILL BE AN OPPRESSOR. AND I SAID TO THE LORD, "HOW CAN WE LIVE A DIFFERENT WAY?" PERFECT LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR. AND THIS HAS BEEN SO CENTRAL IN MY LIFE BECAUSE HERE ARE THE TEMPTATIONS THAT WE HAVE. WE THINK IF WE JUST AVOID THE PLACES WHERE WE ARE AFRAID, WE'LL BE FINE. NOT TRUE. WE JUST END UP AVOIDING PLACES THAT PROBABLY NEED OUR HELP AND PROBABLY NEED OUR ATTENTION. OR WHAT WE DO IS WE PUT LITTLE LIKE FINGERS IN OUR EARS AND WE TELL OURSELVES, LIKE WE PSYCH OURSELVES UP (CHRISTIANS DO THIS REALLY WELL), "I'M NOT AFRAID, I'M NOT AFRAID, I'M NOT AFRAID, I'M NOT AFRAID" WHEN REALLY YOU'RE AFRAID OBVIOUSLY OR YOU WOULDN'T BE SAYING, "I'M NOT AFRAID, I'M NOT AFRAID, I'M NOT AFRAID" ALL THE TIME LIKE IT'S A MANTRA. NO, IT'S OKAY. FEAR IS A PART OF A HUMAN CONDITION. IT'S OKAY. WE ARE AFRAID. I GET AFRAID. I AM AFRAID SOMETIMES EVEN OF MYSELF. BUT HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS AND HERE'S THE THING: IT'S NOT LIKE THIS DENIAL OF FEAR, IT'S NOT PRETENDING YOU'RE NOT AFRAID, IT'S NOT AVOIDING PLACES WHERE YOU ARE AFRAID; IT'S CONFRONTING FEAR, IT'S ACKNOWLEDGING FEAR, IT'S IDENTIFYING WHERE THE FEAR IS AND INVITING JESUS, WHO IS NOT AFRAID AND WHO IS ABLE TO TAKE THAT FEAR OUT OF THE PICTURE BECAUSE HE IS PERFECT LOVE. AND IT IS INVITING JESUS INTO THOSE SPACES IN OUR LIVES WHERE OPPRESSION HAS ITS GRIP, WHERE FEAR IS A DOMINATING FACTOR, WHERE WE ARE TERRIFIED TO CHOOSE A DIFFERENT WAY. IT IS INVITING JESUS INTO THOSE SPACES. DO NOT BE AFRAID. HE IS HERE AND HE IS WITH US. AND HERE IS A PRINCIPLE THAT I HAVE LEARNED THAT IS SO HELPFUL TO ME IS THAT FREEDOM ALWAYS STARTS NOW AND IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH ME. FREEDOM ALWAYS STARTS NOW AND IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH ME. HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE IT TO BE: I WOULD LIKE FREEDOM TO COME AT A MORE CONVENIENT TIME AND I WOULD LIKE IT TO COME THROUGH SOMEBODY ELSE. YOU TALK TO ANYBODY GOD INVITES IN THE SCRIPTURES - MOSES IS THE CLASSIC EXAMPLE WHERE GOD COMES TO HIM AND SAYS, "CAN YOU HEAR THE CRIES OF MY PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN HEAR", WHICH BY THE WAY, IS AN AMAZING GOD, A GOD THAT HEARS THE CRY OF HIS PEOPLE. ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL? "I AM THE GOD WHO HEARS IT. CAN YOU HEAR MY PEOPLE" HE SAYS TO MOSES. AND MOSES IS JUST LIKE, "WELL, I TRY TO..." AND GOD SAYS, "NO, NO, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SET THEM FREE." AND MOSES STARTS WITH A LIST OF REASONS WHY HE IS THE WRONG GUY. AND MOSES ISN'T ALONE. EVERYBODY ALMOST DOES THAT WITH GOD. THEY ARE JUST LIKE, "I'M THE WRONG COLOR, I'M THE WRONG BACKGROUND, I'M THE WRONG SIZE, I DON'T SPEAK WELL ENOUGH, I'M NOT GOOD LOOKING ENOUGH, NO ONE WILL BELIEVE ME, I'M NOT GONNA BE SUCCESSFUL ENOUGH, I HAVE THE WRONG BACKGROUND, I HAVE A DIFFERENT DEGREE, I'M NOT THE RIGHT COLOR, I'M NOT FROM THE RIGHT...I DON'T HAVE MY MONEY TOGETHER YET, I DON'T EVEN HAVE A SPOUSE; HOW COULD I POSSIBLY GO ON THE MISSION FIELD?" I MEAN ON AND ON AND ON THIS GOES. AND GOD SAYS THIS FREEDOM BUSINESS ALWAYS STARTS NOW AND ALWAYS STARTS WITH YOU - ENOUGH OF THE EXCUSES. AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AND YEARS, EVEN FROM THIS SERVICE THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO ARE GOING TO SAY, "IF ONLY I HAD DONE IT AT PEOPLES CHURCH. IF ONLY I HAD DONE IT ON THAT SUNDAY. IF ONLY I HAD DONE IT WHEN THE SPIRIT GAVE ME THAT UNCTION AND I HAD THAT IDEA THAT I HAVE GOT TO GET FREE. IT'S URGENT AND IT'S STRATEGIC AND IT'S GOD'S INVITATION FOR YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE FREEDOM ALWAYS STARTS NOW. AND IT ALWAYS STARTS WITH YOU. DON'T DELAY. HERE'S THE FOURTH ONE: NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER GIVE UP. FREEDOM IS HARD. FREEDOM IS COSTLY. FREEDOM IS A STRUGGLE. FREEDOM IS A PARTICIPATION THAT WILL REQUIRE ALL THAT YOU HAVE." HAVE YOU EVER DONE DETOX WITH AN ADDICT? PROBABLY DAY 3 OF DETOX IS NOT THE DAY TO GO, "ISN'T THIS AWESOME?" DAY 3 OF THAT DETOX THAT ADDICT IS GOING, "FREEDOM SUCKS, MAN. THIS IS KILLING ME. THIS IS HARD. THIS HURTS MY BODY. MY BRAIN HURTS. ALL I WANT TO DO IS USE AGAIN." AND YOU HAVE TO SAY, "WAIT FOR IT. WAIT FOR IT. WAIT FOR IT. IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT. IT'S GONNA BE WORTH IT. HANG IN THERE. LEARN SOME NEW PRINCIPLES. PUT YOUR EFFORT INTO IT. IT'S GOING TO BE OKAY. HANG IN THERE." A SPIRIT OF ENDURANCE. NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, NO MATTER HOW DISCOURAGED YOU ARE OR HOW INJURED YOU HAVE BECOME OR WHERE YOU ARE IN THIS JOURNEY, PLEASE DON'T EVER GIVE UP. >> MY MOM IS... >> CURLY. >> TALL. >> HUGGABLE. >> GRACIOUS. >> LIKE A CUTE LITTLE PACKAGE OF HUMAN. ...YEAH. >> TOUGH AND SMALL. >> BEAUTIFUL. >> BEAUTIFUL >> ELEGANT. >> MY MOM IS SHORT. >> CUTE. >> MY MOM IS BIG. SHE'S LIKE... SHE'S PRESENT. SHE'S VIVACIOUS. ANYWAYS, YEAH. >> GENTLE. >> PATIENT. >> FUN. >> FUN. >> FUN. >> GENEROUS. >> I SEE HER AS AN ICON OF SACRIFICE. >> MY EARLIEST MEMORIES OF MY MOM... >> WOULD BE SINGING TO ME. >> WE'D GET ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR WITH MINIATURE HOCKEY STICKS AND WE'D ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM. >> TAKING ME CHRISTMAS SHOPPPING AND SPEAKING IN FRENCH SO I WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT SHE'S GETTING ME. >> THE KITCHEN IS HER DOMAIN. >> TUCKING ME INTO BED EVERY NIGHT. >> SHE WAS ALWAYS THERE. >> THE FIRST THING I REMEMBER MY MOM TEACHING ME WAS... >> HOW TO PLAY TENNIS. >> SHE TAUGHT ME EVERYTHING. >> THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A GOOD SENSE OF FASHION. >> WE USE TO BAKE THINGS TOGETHER. >> THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I'VE LEARNED FROM MY MOM IS TO ALWAYS FIND THE FUN IN LIFE EVEN IN HARD SITUATIONS. >> MY MOM TAUGHT ME HOW TO LOVE PEOPLE, THAT LOVE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE. >> MY MOM TAUGHT ME TO BE CAREFUL WITH MONEY. >> IS TO TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT. >> TO BE KIND TO OTHERS. >> MY MOM HAS TAUGHT ME TO BE A GOOD MOM. >> MOM, YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ALL MY LIFE, YOU HAVE ENCOURAGED ME, YOU HAVE LED ME IN THE LORD. AND I THANK YOU SO MUCH. >> I AM WHO I AM PARTLY BECAUSE OF YOU AND I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY. >> MOM I LOVE YOU AND EVERYDAY I THANK THE LORD FOR YOUR LIFE. >> YOU'RE A ROCKSTAR, MOM! I LOVE YOU! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! >> THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR US, WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU. >> I WOULD LOVE TO BE LIKE YOU WHEN I GET TO YOUR AGE. >> MOM, THANKS FOR LOVING ME AND THANKS FOR BEING MY BEST AND GREATEST FAN, YOU ARE AMAZING. >> HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! >> THE BEST TIME TO PRACTICE AND PARTICIPATE IN GOD'S FREEDOM FOR YOU AND THE WORLD AROUND YOU IS NOW - IT'S TODAY. WE ALL FACE DISCOURAGEMENTS AND CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY BECAUSE FREEDOM IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY, NOT A DESTINATION. THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID, "IT IS FOR FREEDOM THAT CHRIST HAS SET US FREE...NOW MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY FREE." JOIN US NEXT TIME FOR MORE CLEAR, BIBLICAL TEACHING HERE ON LIVING TRUTH. >> OUR PROGRAM IS RECORDED AT THE PEOPLES CHURCH IN TORONTO, CANADA. IF YOU LIVE IN THE GTA, OR PLAN ON VISITING, PLEASE JOIN US, AND EXPERIENCE GOD'S WORD WE'D LOVE TO MEET YOU. >> TO WATCH THIS MESSAGE AGAIN VISIT OUR WEBSITE, DOWNLOAD TRANSCRIPTS, ORDER DVDS AND CDS AS WELL AS OUR DAILY DEVOTIONAL OR SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER. ONLINE YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR PODCASTS. YOU CAN ALSO JOIN US ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE. JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR THE CONCLUSION OF OUR GUEST SERIES THIS IS LIVING TRUTH ♪♪ THERE WAS A WOMAN WHO HAD AN ILLNESS FOR MANY YEARS SHE WAS CALLED UNCLEAN SHE KNEW THAT JESUS HE COULD HEAL HER SO SHE WENT TO HIM, BUT DIDN'T WANT TO BE SEEN. SO SHE PRESSED ON THROUGH THE CROWD SHE TOUCHED HIS GARMENT THEN HE TURNED AROUND DAUGHTER GO IN PEACE YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WHOLE THESE ARE THE SWEET WORDS THAT HE SAID DAUGHTER GO IN PEACE YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WHOLE AND ALL SHE DID WAS TOUCH THE GARMENT THAT HE WORE THERE WAS A WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY SHE WAS BROUGHT TO JESUS, THROWN AT HIS FEET THE CROWD ACCUSED HER AND THEY SHAMED HER HOPING TO TEST JESUS AND CAUSE DEFEAT THEN HE STOOPED DOWN, WROTE IN THE GROUND HE SAID, "THOSE WITHOUT SIN, CAST THE FIRST STONE" WOMAN ARISE AND GO AND SIN NO MORE THESE ARE THE SWEET WORDS THAT HE SAID WOMAN ARISE AND GO AND SIN NO MORE FOR THERE IS NO ONE LEFT HERE TO CONDEMN I WAS A WOMAN LOST AND BROKEN I WAS SO DISCOURAGED, I FELT ALONE I COULDN'T CHANGE THIS LIFE I MESSED UP I HAD DUG A DEEP PIT FROM THE SEEDS I'D SOWN THEN I HEARD HIM, SAY TO ME, YOU ARE A DAUGHTER OF THE KING DAUGHTER I AM HERE AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE THESE ARE THE SWEET WORDS THAT HE SAID DAUGHTER I AM HERE AND YOU ARE NOT ALONE YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO WANDER ANYMORE DAUGHTER ARISE AND GO AND SIN NO MORE ♪♪
