CONTENTS INTRO WHY DON T WE LIVE FREE PAGE 2 DAY ONE FREE IN JESUS PAGE 4 DAY TWO FREE BY GRACE PAGE 8 DAY THREE FREE FROM THE LIES PAGE 11

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2 CONTENTS INTRO WHY DON T WE LIVE FREE PAGE 2 DAY ONE FREE IN JESUS PAGE 4 DAY TWO FREE BY GRACE PAGE 8 DAY THREE FREE FROM THE LIES PAGE 11 DAY FOUR FREE FROM THE LAW PAGE 14 DAY FIVE FREE TO REST PAGE 17 DAY SIX FREE FROM SINFUL DESIRES PAGE 20 DAY SEVEN FREE TO LOVE PAGE 24 DAY EIGHT FREE TO GROW PAGE 28 DAY NINE FREE FROM YOUR PAST PAGE 32 DAY TEN FREE FOR RESTORATION PAGE 36 SCRIPTURE REFERENCE PAGE 40

3 WHY DON T WE LIVE 2

4 INTRO Here in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, we have a lot of freedom. We have freedoms of religion and speech. We can live where we want, do what we want, and be what we want. Our country is maybe the freest place on earth. So why don t we feel free? Why don t we live free? Even with these rights, there is a law; there are still limits. Ironically, the law protects our freedom. That s sort of how God interacted with people for a long, long time. The very first people on earth broke the only rule God gave them, and because they broke that rule, God had to make a way for the relationship to be right again. The solution was the law a long list of things that people had to do to experience a healthy relationship with Him again. The people that kept all of these rules became kind of an exclusive group, and you can read all about them in the Old Testament portion of the Bible. Fortunately for us, and people all throughout history who weren t part of this exclusive group, Jesus (God s Son) came and did something to give everyone the opportunity to have a relationship with God. Sounds pretty amazing right? Unfortunately, when Jesus showed up, it created tension between the people who had been following the law for a long time and the new followers of Jesus. It was during this period of tension when a guy named Paul wrote a book called Galatians. Over the next ten days, we ll look at this book and prepare for an incredible weekend at Women s Conference 2017 at Traders Point Christian Church. Each day will focus on a different freedom we have because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. If you love what you re reading, share it with your friends and invite them to join you at the conference! We hope you are excited for the conference and find encouragement 3

5 IN JESUS 4

6 DAY ONE May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Jesus gave his life for our sins, just as god our father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live. (Galatians 1:3-4, NLT) The book of Galatians is a letter written by Paul to a church he helped start. This church was divided up into two groups at the time: Christian Jews and Christian Gentiles. Christian Gentiles 1 believed in Jesus just as the Christian Jews did, but they didn t participate in Jewish cultural traditions, like the Old Testament law 2. Despite many differences that were brought about by this distinction, a belief in Christ was the unifying bond above everything. Whether one had grown up Jewish or not, they could all agree on a belief in Jesus Christ. But over time, differing opinions and selfishness began to break this unity and caused a new wave of influence to change what they believed. This new influence had them thinking everyone should obey the Mosaic law 3 to be considered one of Christ s followers. They twisted the gospel from simply faith in Jesus to faith in Jesus plus obedience to the law. Think of it as a math equation: DIVE DEEPER 1. A Gentile is anyone who isn t Jewish. 2. The Old Testament contains the first 39 books of the Bible and generally refers to the time period before Jesus. This law was the list of rules the Jews followed to stay clean before God. 3. This is just another name for the Old Testament law. You can read about how God delivered the law to a guy named Moses in the book of Exodus (chapter 34). 4. Maybe you re wondering why FAITH IN JESUS + = ACCEPTANCE IN GOD S FAMILY anybody needs to be saved. In another one of Paul s writings it says, For everyone has sinned; we all fall Paul doesn t buy it, and he steps in to set things straight. He passionately disputes having to add anything at all to faith in Jesus. Faith in Jesus Christ is the only thing needed to be saved 4 and welcomed into God s family. short of God s glorious standard. (Romans 3:23, NLT) Jesus came to save us and make up the difference between God s standard and what we ve done. 5

7 You see, Paul was a Pharisee, which means he was a Jew who followed the Mosaic law very closely. Everyone knew how Paul ruthlessly persecuted Christians because he thought Jesus teachings went against the Law. Then, Paul met Jesus 5, and everything changed. When people meet Jesus, when they experience His gift of grace, it s like waking up from a dream. They open their eyes and see for the first time there are no supplements or extra requirements to being a part of God s family; all you need is Jesus 6, to know Him and follow Him. FAITH IN JESUS = ACCEPTANCE IN GOD S FAMILY Paul shows us in Galatians that the law is no longer a source of guidance in a Christian s life like it was before Jesus. It is now the Holy Spirit 7 that produces love, faith, and peace to those who believe. DIVE DEEPER 5. You have got to go read this story in Acts 9:1-19. It s pretty wild, and it will help you understand how crazy it was for a guy like Paul to start following Jesus. 6. Check out Ephesians 2: One of the fascinating things about God is how He reveals Himself all throughout the Bible to be one being in three different persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Whether you d call yourself a Christian or not, couldn t you use some more love in your life? When is the last time you felt real peace? 6

8 PRAY God, I can t believe you want me to have more peace and love. That s amazing. I m sorry for adding things to your simple gospel. It s hard to believe that you love me so much and would send your own Son to die for me. Help me to have faith. Help me to see that Jesus is all I need. I want to be a part of your family. 7

9 BY GRACE 8

10 DAY TWO But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace. (Galatians 1:15, NLT) Grace isn t a common idea. It s too simple for any person to think up. Undeserved favor, limitless second chances that s not how we operate. We're consumed with how fair life is, especially when it seems the world hasn t been fair to us. The comparison gets a hold of us, and we find ourselves feeling envious and bitter. It s not fair to get cancer or have a friend betray your trust. It s not fair that she got the promotion when you put more hours on the clock. It s not fair that he gets a break from the kids all day. WHAT IF GOD ISN T FAIR? Of course, God isn t responsible for all of the injustice in the world. The evil in our hearts, the same pride and selfishness that caused Paul to persecute and hate all those Christians it causes us to hurt each other, make destructive comparisons, and fight only for what seems fair in our own eyes. God s idea of fair is wildly different from ours. He loves us so much that even before we were born, He wanted to give us His grace. Even today, He wants to give you freedom from the need to get even. If God s idea of fair is so different from ours, if people don t define grace, maybe it s time we stopped trying to please them instead of Him. Maybe it s time to stop managing the perceptions others have of us. It s time to throw off the rule-following and people-pleasing. BY GOD S GRACE, YOU ARE FREE FROM WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU. Do you often compare yourself to others? Are you always worried about how other people see you? 9

11 PRAY God, sometimes I struggle with control and comparison. It s hard not to let what others think of me get in and cause doubt. Remind me how You see me. Remind me of Your marvelous grace and how You love me. 10

12 FROM THE LIES 11

13 DAY THREE some so-called believers there false ones, really who were secretly brought in. They sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to enslave us and force us to follow their [rules]. But we refused to give in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you. (Galatians 2:4-5, NLT) Paul came from a religious, rule-following background. He was part of an exclusive group, and being different came at a cost. If you didn t act like everyone else, you could expect to be shamed and separated. But remember, everything changed when he met Jesus. When Paul met Jesus, he finally began to see the truth. For so long, Paul was lied to and made to believe good behavior would save him. Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever found yourself thinking Christians are a bunch of self-righteous rule-followers? If we aren t careful, we might start believing the lie that says, If only I could get my stuff together, maybe then God would love me again. Paul reminds us of the truth. He knew Jesus grace is free for all who believe in Him, and there is nothing we could ever do to earn it. JESUS LOVE FOR US IS SO GREAT, AND IT S FOR EVERYONE. IT S NOT JUST FOR RELIGIOUS PEOPLE OR THE ELITE. In fact, those types of people often have a tougher time trusting in Jesus instead of their own power. Grace is a gift for all of us, even as we struggle and make mistakes. You are freed from the lies. You are free from the lie that you aren t good enough, that Jesus couldn t love someone like you. HE LOVES YOU, AND HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. 12

14 PRAY God, I ve believed the lies. I keep listening to the voices that tell me I m not good enough, but I m starting to see the truth. I hear You telling me I m loved just as I am. Thank You for freeing me from the lies. 13

15 FROM THE LAW 14

16 DAY FOUR Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the law. (Galatians 2:16, NLT) In chapter two of Galatians, Paul tries to help his friend 1, Peter, steer away from getting trapped by legalism and comparison. Peter refused to eat with the Gentiles because he was afraid of what his Jewish friends would think. He was treating the Gentiles differently because they didn t follow the same rules and traditions. Can you think of a time when you treated someone differently because they didn t have the same beliefs as you? DIVE DEEPER 1. Find this story in Galatians 2: Remember the Old Testament law discussed on Day 1? It s easy to think our beliefs and perspectives are superior. We probably wouldn t believe them if we didn t see them as the best, right? We should be careful not to set standards for others on how they should think, speak, and act. In Jesus grace, He offers freedom from the law 2. Jesus gave his life so that we wouldn t have to follow these rules. Jesus replaced the law with love. So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. (John 13:34, NLT) It's no more complicated than that. Who can you love like this today? YOU ARE FREED FROM THE LAW. YOU ARE FREE TO LOVE! 15

17 PRAY God, thank You for sending Your Son to replace the old law with love. Thank You for the grace I don t deserve. I m sorry for all the times I don t love people the way I should. I start to think my opinions are the best and everyone should think like I do. Help me give freedom and grace to others who are different from me. 16

18 TO REST 17

19 DAY FIVE How foolish can you be? After starting your new lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort? (Galatians 3:3, NLT) Sometimes, letting go is the best way to take control of your life. The calendar fills up, jobs and families grow more demanding, and all of our best efforts to keep things in order lead only to more chaos and busyness. The same thing happens when we try to schedule and checklist our relationship with God. Go to church; check. Volunteer; check. Read your devotional; check. These things are not bad. In fact, they are all part of what we need as humans connection with God, connection with each other, and a purpose or way to contribute. Problems arise when we do these things to please other people or try to earn God s approval. You can t earn God s approval. His love for you is unending and unmerited, and He just wants a relationship with you. NOTHING YOU CAN DO WILL MAKE HIM LOVE YOU ANY MORE THAN HE ALREADY DOES. STOP STRIVING AND STRUGGLING. Rest in that simple truth. God is for you, and you are made new only by His power not your own. Do you believe that? It takes faith to let go of control and rest in Him. For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26-28, NLT) Through faith, you are freed to rest. Take a deep breath, and let go of what you can t control. Trust God to take care of it. What is it you need to let go of today? 18

20 PRAY God, give me the faith to rest in You. I know Your Word is true, and it is only Your power that saves me. Sometimes I try to become perfect by my effort, but I m learning to trust in You. I know You love me, and there s nothing I can do to change that. 19

21 FROM SINFUL DESIRES 20

22 DAY SIX that s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were like children; we were slaves to the basic spiritual principles of this world. (Galatians 4:1-3, NLT) Let s recap our time in Galatians so far: We started by getting to know who Paul is and why he wrote this book. Then we discovered how Jesus gospel of grace frees us from the judgments of other people. We ve seen how rule-following can be destructive, and it s only by faith in Jesus that we can be free to rest in a relationship with God. Does that mean the rules don t matter anymore? What about sin? Doesn t the Bible tell us not to sin? Yes, it does, but maybe not for the reasons you often think. HOW YOU SEE SIN IS A GOOD INDICATION OF HOW YOU SEE GOD. If you treat sin as a list of things you can t have or do, you probably think God is out to get you and take away what makes you feel good. If you think of sin as something harmful to yourself and others, it s likely you know God as loving and caring. SIN IS TRICKY LIKE THAT, THOUGH. IT PROMISES SO MUCH, ASKS FOR EVERYTHING WE HAVE, AND IN THE END, ROBS US OF TRUE JOY. Sin is bankrupt of any real meaning. The world often screams at us to find the shortest route to happiness or comfort, but it s a trap. When we choose not to trust God, we re choosing to remain a slave to sin. 21

23 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-20, NLT) You see, Paul was a Pharisee, which means he was a Jew who followed the Mosaic law very closely. Everyone knew how Paul ruthlessly persecuted Christians because he thought Jesus teachings went against the law. Jesus gave us freedom from sin by going to the cross and taking the punishment for us. He has given us His Spirit, and we can discern what sin is and what it isn t. HIS VICTORY IS OUR VICTORY, AND WE NO LONGER HAVE TO LIVE ENSLAVED TO THE BASIC SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES OF THIS WORLD. What sinful behavior or thoughts are you having trouble letting go of? Give it to Jesus. He died so you don t have to go on hurting from the sin in your life. You are freed from your sinful desires. 22

24 PRAY Thank You, Jesus, for dying for my sins. Thank You for the freedom I now have to say no to my desires. I know I don t always want what s right, but I want You to teach me. Give me a desire for Your ways. Let me see how destructive sin is, and help me not to be tempted by it anymore. 23

25 TO LOVE 24

26 DAY SEVEN For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Galatians 5:13-14, NLT) Remember when we said love is the new law? We ve been freed from the Old Testament law and from sin, but not just for our good. ALL THIS FREEDOM COMES WITH DIVE DEEPER 1. Can you think of someone you know who fits this description? A PURPOSE AND MEANING; IT S ALL FOR THE SAKE OF LOVE. Yesterday, we read about the results of sin. Paul showed us how sin leads to all sorts of dysfunction and heartache, but when we follow Jesus, when we embrace the power of the Holy Spirit, it produces something different in our lives. This section of Paul s letter to the Galatians has become known as the fruits of the Spirit. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23, NLT) Don t you want these things for your life 1? 25

27 Be careful not to make these things the new law of your life. When you struggle to be patient or kind, don t punish yourself. DIVE DEEPER 2. John was one of Jesus close REMEMBER THE JOURNEY WE HAVE BEEN ON; REMEMBER THE FREEDOM YOU HAVE TO REST AND THE FREEDOM OF GRACE. followers, and he wrote an account of Jesus life. It s one of the four gospel accounts all of which are great starting points if you want to learn more about the life of Christ. The point here is not to make more checklists and ways to measure our spiritual life. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control this is what people look like when they get close to Jesus. You might be tempted to focus on results, but the fruit often takes care of itself. All you need to do is keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. He says this in the book of John 2 : Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me. (John 15:4, NLT) He frees you to love yourself and others in unimaginable ways, if only you remain in Him. How will you connect with Jesus, the True Vine, today? Are you thinking of ways to show love to others? 26

28 PRAY Give me your Spirit, God. I want to be more like your Son. I want to be more like love. Show me how I can better love and serve my friends and my family. If I lack peace, patience, kindness, or goodness, teach me how to increase them. When you can t find faithfulness, gentleness, or self-control in me, open my eyes to opportunities for growth in each. 27

29 TO GROW 28

30 DAY EIGHT You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn t God, for He is the One who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. (Galatians 5:7-10, NLT) As you follow after Jesus and live in His freedom, there will be people in your life who have a difficult time seeing you change. One lie Satan loves to tell is this: People can t change. Some of us struggle with the same sin all our lives because change seems impossible. Somehow, we get fooled into thinking our sin is part of who we are our identity. Do you sometimes think you re incapable of change? Do you believe change is possible but don t know where to start? You re right. You can t change on your own. You need Jesus help. HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN BRING LASTING, MEANINGFUL CHANGE TO OUR THOUGHTS AND BEHAVIORS. Remember all that you re free from the lies that whisper you aren t good enough, pleasing other people, the law and rulefollowing, and the pain of your sin. Isn t that freedom like a breath of fresh air? Don t stop now; don t let anyone or anything get in the way of your growth. 29

31 It might take some hard conversations and a few difficult decisions, but you ve come too far to turn back now. Push through. Finish strong. It may seem like work now, but Paul says this about those who stick with it: So let s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don t give up. (Galatians 6:9, NLT) YOU ARE FREE. IT S OKAY TO GROW. IT S OKAY TO CHANGE. In what area of your life does it seem Satan is working hardest to keep you from being free? 30

32 PRAY God, I m starting to feel the world push back. It seems like maybe not everyone wants me to be free like You do. Give me the endurance to keep choosing good, to keep choosing You. Even when it gets hard, I want You right here with me. Thank You for growing and changing me. 31

33 FROM YOUR PAST 32

34 DAY NINE He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. (Psalm 103:12, NLT) We all want to think of ourselves as an exception. You might be thinking, All of this freedom stuff, the grace and love, it s all really great. But you guys don t know what I ve done. You don t know how bad I ve been. Let s talk about the past for a minute. We all have parts of our history we d rather hide. Whether from three decades ago or three days ago, these past mistakes can haunt us with immense shame and guilt. What does it mean for Jesus to free us from the past? IT MEANS YOU ARE FREE FROM ANY SHAME OR CONDEMNATION TIED TO YOUR PAST. In another one of Paul s letters, he writes this: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. (Romans 8:1-2, NLT) Not only has He separated us from who we once were, but because of Jesus, our pasts don t have to dictate the future. 33

35 HIDE YOUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST AND STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE OR WILL DO. Just because you have made mistakes in the past does not doom you to a dark, guilty future. Have hope! It gets better still. Jesus freed you from your past, gave you a new identity, and now He wants to give you purpose. He wants to redeem all of the pain and hurt you ve endured. IN HIS GRACE, GOD CAN TAKE YOUR BROKEN STORY AND MAKE IT AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY HIS MERCY AND REDEMPTION. Your past has a purpose to show God s mighty power and love to a hurting world. There is freedom in Christ, even freedom of your past. Where does your mind go when you think of your past? How could God use your experience to help others? 34

36 PRAY God, thank You for freeing me from my past. Thank You for sending Jesus and giving me a new identity. Help me extend your grace to others. Give me Your eyes. Let me see the purpose You have for my broken past. Do what only You can do. 35

37 FOR RESTORATION 36

38 DAY TEN Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world s interest in me has also died. It doesn t matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation. (Galatians 6:14-15, NLT) BECAUSE OF THAT CROSS,. Go ahead, and fill in the blank. Put anything you want in there. BECAUSE OF THAT CROSS, I DON T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK. BECAUSE OF THAT CROSS, I CAN STOP TRYING TO EARN GOD S LOVE. BECAUSE OF THAT CROSS, SIN CANNOT CONTROL ME ANYMORE. BECAUSE OF THAT CROSS, I DON T HAVE TO BE ASHAMED OF MY PAST. BECAUSE OF THAT CROSS, I CAN FINALLY REST. BECAUSE OF THAT CROSS, I CAN BE RESTORED. 37

39 Think about a carpenter who builds a kitchen table. The carpenter draws plans, makes measurements, and crafts the table for a specific purpose. He pours himself into the project, sanding it down and polishing it for meals and parties and conversations that will someday take place around it. Everything seems to go according to plan until someone forgets to use a coaster. The kids make the table a canvas for a permanent marker masterpiece. Then there was the card game incident, and one of the legs broke. What s left is a scratched up, stained, threelegged piece of scrap wood. Can you relate to the table? DO YOU FEEL USED UP, ABUSED, OR BROKEN? Jesus wants to restore you. HE WANTS TO GIVE YOU BACK THE WONDERFUL PURPOSE YOU HAD FROM THE BEGINNING. Like a carpenter replacing a table leg, sanding scratches away, and applying a fresh coat of polish, Jesus can make you like new. Will you let Him? Who knows, the Carpenter might want to use you as His sanding block or polish on all the broken, beat up tables out there. 38

40 PRAY I don t know how all of this works, and I sometimes doubt if any of it is real. Help me not doubt, God. Be my strength and guide. Thank You for the cross. Thank You for sending Jesus to free me. Amen. 39

41 SCRIPTURE GUIDANCE The Bible is God s living Word, given to us as a gift. It is full of wisdom, help, and encouragement. Some call it God s love letter to humanity, and it contains the truth about who He is and who we are. No matter what you are facing, God has something to tell you. AFFLICTIONS: Are often providential God will deliver Psalm 119:67,71,75 Psalm 34:18-19 ANXIETY: Relieved through prayer God cares for you Philippians 4:6-7 1 Peter 5:6-7 ASSURANCE: Eternal life promised You can be sure John3:16 1 John 5:11-13 COMFORT: Jesus is the Good Shepherd He will never forsake you God of all comfort Psalm 23 Hebrews 13:5-6 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 DEPRESSION: Jesus yoke is easy Put your hope in God Matthew 11:28 Psalm 42:5-6 DISCOURAGEMENT: Don t give up God will help and strengthen Galatians 6:9 Isaiah 41:10 EMPTINESS: Christ can satisfy He will fulfill your desires Psalm 107:8-9 Psalm 37:4-5 FEAR: Trust in God The Lord is our help Psalm 56:3-4 Hebrews 13:5-6 40

42 SCRIPTURE GUIDANCE FORGIVENESS: Forgiveness promised Psalm 32:5; 1 John 1:9; Mark 11:25 GUIDANCE: This is the way Ask for wisdom Isaiah 30:21 James 1:5 GUILT: No condemnation No sin too great Romans 8:1 Isaiah 1:18 JUDGMENT: Everyone accountable Romans 14:12; Hebrews 9:27 LONELINESS: His presence promised In His presence there is joy Hebrews 13:5-6 Psalm 16:11 SUFFERING: It deepens faith God s grace is sufficient 1 Peter 1:6-7 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 TEMPTATION: It deepens faith God s grace is sufficient Matthew 26:41 James 1:13-14 VICTORY: It deepens faith God s grace is sufficient God s grace is sufficient Philippians 4:13 1 John 4:4 1 Corinthians 10:13 WORRY: God will provide Have faith in Him Claim His promises Philippians 4:19 Romans 4:20-21 John 5: