To proclaim the gospel… heal the brokenhearted,  preach forgiveness to the captives, to set at liberty those who are oppressed Lk 4:18

I. Jesus Offers Freedom and Fruitfulness to His Followers who Abide in His Word

Jn 8:31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples truly. 32  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you FREE. 33  They answered "We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be made free’?" 34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

Eph 4:15  speaking the truth in love, may grow up …16 every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Jn 15:7  If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.  [permanent mental lifestyle,  with obvious results ] Rm 12:1-2

II. Freedom From Dumb DeceptionSee “Deceived by Dandelions” and  “Lies We Believe” on Truthbase.net”

Mt 22:29  Jesus answered, "You are mistaken/deceived, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God.”  1Cor 6:9  Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. 15:33  Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits. Gal 6:7  Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Js 1:16 

Jn 15:11  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.  12  This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7  But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Deceived about: nature of God (good), man (redeemable), life (exchange), and righteousness;  purpose (gratify desires vs glorify God);
It’s my life (control);   It’s about me (selfishly ego-centric vs sacrificially other-centered);
I need/want it now to be happy (temporal vs eternal focus; a bitter root cannot yield contented fruit; source of  Worth and Value);
I can live as I please (no consequences vs accountable; independence is the essence of sin)

III. Freedom From Delusions (of grandeur/adequacy/self-sufficiency/independence)

Jn 15:5 I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Js 4:4 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 6  But He gives more grace. "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 7  Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

1Cor 12:12 The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ  21 The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" NIV     Eph 5:21   submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Col 2:19 He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its parts… grows

Lk 9:23  He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

IV. Freedom From Defeat

Jn 17:17  Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
Rm 6:11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.16  Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
17  But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18  And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. If freedom is not only possible but part of God’s plan, why don’t more people experience it?
2. What are the consequences of a person having a belief system that is not based upon reality?  How do you know if you’re deceived?
3. What are some of the lies that people commonly believe which make their lives (and the lives of those around them) miserable?
4. Exactly how does truth set people free? Can someone be believing the correct things yet not experiencing freedom, contentment, etc?
5. How could your thinking be brought into greater accord with the Truth? What would be the results of thinking more Biblically and accurately?