Freedom must be maintained         

By now we know that freedom is not free; it cost Jesus Christ His life to make you free. We know that freedom from addictions is hard earned through applying yourself to the spiritual truths that you have been learning. This truth is a vital part to remember: If you go back to the old way of thinking and the old deeds, you will be drawn back into the old sins that had you bound. You must maintain a consistent walk with God to enjoy the freedom that He has given you. 

Proverbs 4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

KEEP - The word ‘keep’ has to do with guarding and maintaining.

HEART - The heart the center of our being. It is not merely the seat of affections, but the seat of our mind, our will, and our integrity. As this text says, 'the issues of life' flow from it in various forms. Our heart regulates our conduct. Many times, we try to change a person’s conduct without changing the heart. Freedom from various entanglements is maintained through the heart. Our heart requires diligent maintenance.

I heard about a person who got a new or almost new car, and it drove well for a few years. When an engine light appeared on the dashboard, some black tape was used to cover it up, so it couldn’t be seen. After a while, the car stopped running. The car had never gotten an oil change or any maintenance. Our heart must be maintained daily.

Our heart can be unruly. It is like a teacher trying to manage an unruly class. We have all seen or heard stories of teachers who are unable to manage their classrooms. I’ve also seen teachers who manage their classrooms well, keeping the students enraptured. A great teacher begins with self-management. Our heart needs management.

ISSUES OF LIFE - Our heart constantly receives outside impulses and desires that we must say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to. As we hear from missionaries this week, our hearts should be bent towards blessing our missionaries and the work of God to the world. But other times, we must say ‘no’ to temptations that would harm us and others.  During times that our heart is not in communion with God, we are liable to return to old ways of thinking, old deeds, and old sins. They all proceed from the heart. We must maintain our hearts. Otherwise, we lose our freedom.

LAW AND GOSPEL – KEEPING AND KEPT - Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.'—1 Peter 1:5

The law tells us what we must do. We must guard over and maintain our heart. But this we cannot do on our own. Our heart is weak. Jesus said, Mark 14:38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.

This ‘keeping’ is something that we do, and what God does. Our part includes ‘faith’. We must take heed and not forget God’s Word. Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Jesus paid the penalty for our sin on the cross. We are saved from the wrath of God through the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus also saves us from the power of sin.

Rather than maintaining the heart, it might seem easier to just battle each little sin on its own. For many it is hard to keep the heart clean. It requires spending time with God in His Word and in prayer. God works by faith through our conscience and inner man to give us spiritual strength for victory. However, this is the only way we will maintain victory over entanglements. Let's not be like that broken down car.

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.