Introduction: Breaking Free from the Sunday Routine
Many of us wake up on Monday morning feeling like we have to perform. We treat our faith like a rigid checklist. We think that if we pray enough or attend enough services, we might finally earn a sense of peace. But the message shared by Pastor Ken and Pastor Elijah this past Sunday challenges that way of thinking. They reminded us that true liberty in Christ is not something we invent through our own efforts. It is a divine design established by the Father.
We often get stuck in a cycle where we know the truth, but we live as if we are still bound by religious performance. It feels safer to keep our heads down and our mouths quiet, but that only leads to a self-imposed sentence of loneliness. Breaking free starts with recognizing that our identity is not found in what we do for God, but in what He has already done for us.
It is time to move past the superficial and pursue Authentic faith rather than settling for a routine that leaves us feeling empty and disconnected from the power we were promised. When we stop trying to earn our way into heaven, we finally have the space to actually live in the freedom we have been given.
The Design: Why Freedom is God’s Idea
Liberty in Christ is not a license to live however we please. It is a true freedom from the bondage of sin and the weight of constant, self-imposed pressure. When we understand that Christ has already secured our freedom, we stop looking at our faith as a series of rules to follow. Instead, we see it as a relationship to enjoy.
“Freedom wasn’t man’s invention. It’s all the Father. It’s by his design.”
Pastor Ken
In Acts 2:22-24, we see that Jesus was not a victim of circumstance. He was delivered by the set plan of God. As Pastor Ken noted, “He created it. And so the sovereign creator who demonstrates his love through watch this, not war, but sacrifice.” We often think we need better resources or stronger strategies to fix our problems. We might look to our own efforts or the systems of the world, but real freedom comes from the sovereign Creator who demonstrated His love through sacrifice.
War and strong-arming tactics do not have our best interests at heart. God’s tactic, however, was designed so that everyone stands to win. This is the foundation we build upon. The Father chose us before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. This means your current struggle does not define your future. You are not a random accident. You are fearfully and wonderfully made by the one who holds all authority.
The Daily Practice: Submission as a Path to Peace
The daily practice of this freedom requires submission. We do not like that word, but we already practice it every day. When you go to work at your scheduled time or follow the rules of the road, you are submitting to a system because you know the consequences of not doing so. The Holy Spirit invites us to submit our daily decisions to Him, not through a document, but through a relationship. Our liberty in Christ is not bondage against our will or forced submission, but something we have to choose to experience what true freedom in Him is really like.
See, I had the freedom to do whatever I wanted to do, but I had boundaries that guarded my decision.
Pastor Elijah
If you have made a decision to follow God, you do not have to battle that choice every hour of the day. You simply stay the course. For men in our community, this often means we must kill pride to lead our families effectively. It is the small, daily decisions that define our walk, not grand gestures. Pastor Elijah reminds us that we often fall into the trap of using checklists to measure our spiritual worth.
He observed, “I know that if I don’t lie, I please God. If I don’t steal, if I don’t kill, if I don’t commit adultery, if I don’t do those things, I can please God. It gives me a checklist.” As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:12, all things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. Just because you can do something does not mean it is beneficial for your walk with Christ. When we walk in a way with Christ that follows strict guidelines, it is not liberty in Christ, but a law-based, transactional relationship. Liberty in Christ has true freedom to make the decision to live for and with Him.
The best way I can define freedom is the ability to choose. If there is no choice, there is no freedom.
Pastor Elijah
In Galatians 5:16, we are told to walk by the Spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the flesh. This is a practical, hourly decision. We cannot simply try to follow a list of rules like the Pharisees. God wants our hearts. He wants us to be so close to Him that we know His expectations without needing a checklist.
Community Impact: Living Out Loud in St. Louis
This is especially important for us in St. Louis. We often get caught up in the hustle of life, but we are called to be a witness. When you are busy being a witness for the King, your mind does not stay stuck on the desires of the flesh. Being a witness means we step out of our comfort zones. Whether in our marriages or in our local outreach, we are called to be a gathered fire. Just as a single fireplace provides warmth, our collective worship and service together create a heat that is much more effective.
This is how we begin restoring St. Louis to the vision God intended. We must stop letting fear dictate our steps. Pastor Ken encourages us to stand firm in our protection: “Whatever weapon you send my way, you were stinking in vain when you was thinking about me and a weapon.” The challenge is that we often feel like we are not interesting enough or wanted enough to truly fit in. We keep our mouths quiet to stay safe, which leads to a self-imposed sentence of loneliness. But the Bible tells us that we were chosen before the foundation of the world. You have a vital role in our local community.
When we come together as a body, we do not just attend church. We embody the Kingdom. You have the liberty in Christ to not underestimate the power of your witness in your neighborhood, your workplace, and your home. Your transparency is the catalyst for others to find their freedom, too. When you choose to live openly for God, you provide a roadmap for the lost to find their way home.
Starting Your Week in Freedom
Stop worrying about what you can control tomorrow. You were not promised tomorrow. As 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is true freedom. We have to live out loud for Him right now, today. Pastor Ken reminds us of the practical application of our liberty in Christ: “I’m no longer condemned. I don’t care what anybody else hold me guilty to. I had a check with my Father. He said I’m no longer condemned.” When you walk by the Spirit, you will find that sin has no more power over you. It becomes dead and powerless.
This is the transformative process of sanctification. You will fall at times, but the expectation is that you do not stay down. Get back up, resubmit your heart to Him, and keep moving. God’s desire for us is described in Jeremiah 31:31. He promised a new covenant where His law is written on our hearts, not on stone tablets.
This means intimacy. To know the Lord and have true liberty in Christ is to have a deep, personal connection that goes beyond theological definitions. You learn His character by walking with Him, just as you learn to love your spouse through the daily, messy, beautiful process of being together. You do not need a manual when you know the heart of the one you are with. You know what pleases Him because you have spent time in His presence. Your guilty stains are washed away, and no shame can stay. You are free to live the life He intended for you.
