Walking FreeWalking Free

Doesn't step backDoesn't step backAnd catch it…And catch it…

Yeah, but I ain't happy about it…Yeah, but I ain't happy about it…

Intransigent and angry…Intransigent and angry…

Brokenness and scarsBrokenness and scars

Jesus died Jesus died because of because of our brokennessour brokenness

Jesus died Jesus died for for our brokennessour brokenness

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Church= his ideaChurch= his idea

Engage…to heal, restore, make wholeEngage…to heal, restore, make whole

Problem= Engage…Problem= Engage…

Shaped by People-pleasingShaped by People-pleasing

Rather than transformedRather than transformedBy God's SpiritBy God's Spirit

How do we change without falling intoHow do we change without falling into

Self-effort and People-pleasing?Self-effort and People-pleasing?

““To what then shall I compare To what then shall I compare the people of this generation? the people of this generation?

They are like They are like children children sitting in the marketplaces and sitting in the marketplaces and

calling to one another…calling to one another…

“‘“‘We played the flute for you, We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;and you did not dance;

we sang a dirge, we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’and you did not weep.’

Dance for us!Dance for us!Weep for us!Weep for us!

Be what we want you to be!Be what we want you to be!

For John the Baptist has come For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking eating no bread and drinking

no wine, and you say, no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’‘He has a demon’

The Son of Man came eating and The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, drinking, and you say,

‘Look at him! A glutton ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ tax collectors and sinners!’

Yet wisdom is justified by her children”Yet wisdom is justified by her children”- Luke 7:31-35- Luke 7:31-35

"I won't be what you want"I won't be what you wantme to be. So you aren't going me to be. So you aren't going

to be happy with me.to be happy with me.But just watch the outcome But just watch the outcome

of my life"of my life"- Jesus- Jesus

"Do not be conformed"Do not be conformedto the pattern of this worldto the pattern of this world

But be transformedBut be transformedBy the renewing of your mind"By the renewing of your mind"

- Romans 12:2- Romans 12:2

Who do you knowWho do you knowwith those same standards?with those same standards?

Who do you knowWho do you knowwith those same standards?with those same standards?

(If you can't name anyone…(If you can't name anyone…it might be you!)it might be you!)

"Accountability is not about calling "Accountability is not about calling people out on their stuff. people out on their stuff.

It's about calling people up It's about calling people up to their real identity"-to their real identity"-

Graham CookeGraham Cooke

Responses to the Conformists:Responses to the Conformists:

- Keep trying to become what- Keep trying to become whatThey want you to beThey want you to be

Responses:Responses:

- Keep trying to become what- Keep trying to become whatThey want you to beThey want you to be

And live in the prison And live in the prison of my own makingof my own making

(I won't be happy and it'll never be enough…)(I won't be happy and it'll never be enough…)

Responses:Responses:

- Cut people out- Cut people out

Responses:Responses:

- Cut people out- Cut people out

And miss the blessingAnd miss the blessingOf engaging them for their own goodOf engaging them for their own good

Responses:Responses:

- "Forget 'em all!"- "Forget 'em all!"

Is a lie I tell myselfIs a lie I tell myselfWhile I feel aloneWhile I feel alone

We were made to careWe were made to careAbout what people sayAbout what people say

- It helps me grow- It helps me grow

- Checks my Six- Checks my Six

- Keeps me from becoming - Keeps me from becoming a psychopatha psychopath

How do I balance?How do I balance?

Being engagedBeing engagedWithout being manipulatedWithout being manipulated

JesusJesus

Lived life on purposeLived life on purpose

Without being swayedWithout being swayedBy the manipulation of peopleBy the manipulation of people

Jesus says,Jesus says,You want us to danceYou want us to dance

Or mournOr mourn

To be your puppetsTo be your puppets

Very next thing…Very next thing…

PhariseePharisee

Sinful womanSinful womanOil of NardOil of Nard

“If this man were a prophet, he would have known who

and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,

for she is a sinner”- Luke 7:39

What does he wantJesus to be?

How would we respond?

- Withdraw from her (People-Please)

- Angry at the Pharisee (Forget him!)

- Try to explain it away (Compromise for Peace)

How did Jesus respond?

How did Jesus respond?

Her sins are many, but she's forgiven

Your unforgiveness is seenIn how you treated me…

So which one is Truly unclean?

Jesus doesn't changeto please the Pharisee

He doesn't back downfrom declaring her "many" sins

He speaks the truth in love to both

"God, help me to recognize the difference between being

Engaged for my growth

And being manipulated byTheir need to control"

How can you tell?

"God, help me to Seek you for change

Instead of my self-effortWhich is only to my glory or shame"

Set your mindsSet your minds on things that are above, on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For not on things that are on earth. For

you have died, and your life is you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. hidden with Christ in God.

When When Christ, who is your life Christ, who is your life appears, then you also will appear appears, then you also will appear

with him in glorywith him in glory- Colossians 3:2-4- Colossians 3:2-4

God loves and values youAs you are

So you don't have to changeFor someone else

(Or try to change others…)

God loves and values youToo much to let you stay

Just like you are

God wants more for usThan we want for ourselves

God loves and values youToo much to let you stay

Just like you are

So staying the sameIs not an option

The only questions are:

- Who is changing you?- Why?

What do you desire in me, Jesus?

I don't have to beI don't have to beWhat you want me to beWhat you want me to be

But I do have to allow you to But I do have to allow you to Engage me in ways that Engage me in ways that

Glorify ChristGlorify Christ

In what ways am I bendingIn what ways am I bending

To what others want for meTo what others want for meThat doesn't glorify Christ?That doesn't glorify Christ?

In what ways am I bendingIn what ways am I bending

To what others want for meTo what others want for meThat doesn't glorify Christ?That doesn't glorify Christ?

It's not in their best interestIt's not in their best interestto let them get away with that!to let them get away with that!

Am I allowing God to transformAm I allowing God to transform

Or am I simply trying to beOr am I simply trying to beWhat someone else wants for me?What someone else wants for me?

Am I being controlling and manipulativeAm I being controlling and manipulativeTowards people in my life?Towards people in my life?

If so, will I repent NOW?If so, will I repent NOW?

God wants more for youGod wants more for youThan you want for yourself…Than you want for yourself…