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00:00:01 Throughout history, 00:00:02 mankind has been in a constant struggle 00:00:05 for freedom. 00:00:06 Men have fought for freedom of religion, 00:00:09 freedom of speech, freedom of the press, 00:00:12 and freedom from bondage and slavery. 00:00:16 Man’s perception of freedom 00:00:18 is shaped by his environment, 00:00:21 his personal situation, 00:00:23 and even his age. 00:00:26 While growing up, I remember the boys in my neighborhood getting together 00:00:31 on the final day of summer vacation 00:00:33 to enjoy what we called “our last day of freedom” baseball game. 00:00:38 We called it that because school started the next day. 00:00:43 But this matter of freedom is not a game. 00:00:46 Our view of freedom 00:00:49 is a matter of life and death. 00:00:53 No matter what our personal feelings or needs are regarding freedom, 00:00:57 we must recognize one fundamental fact. 00:01:01 Basically, there are only two kinds of freedom: 00:01:05 true freedom from Jehovah 00:01:08 and false freedom 00:01:10 that is offered by Satan and his world. 00:01:13 Every person must make a choice 00:01:16 between these two freedoms. 00:01:18 Let’s consider what each of these freedoms represents 00:01:22 and how our choice affects our prospect 00:01:25 for eternal life. 00:01:27 Please open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 7. 00:01:30 We’re going to read verses 13 and 14. 00:01:34 And here we read an illustration 00:01:37 that Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:01:40 and in the illustration he speaks about two gates and two roads. 00:01:44 And this also relates 00:01:47 to the two freedoms that we’re discussing this morning. 00:01:49 Matthew 7:13, 14 00:01:54 —he said: “Go in through the narrow gate, 00:01:57 “because broad is the gate and spacious 00:02:00 “is the road leading off into destruction, 00:02:03 “and many are going in through it; 00:02:05 “whereas narrow is the gate and cramped 00:02:08 “the road leading off into life, 00:02:10 and few are finding it.” 00:02:15 At first glance, this “spacious” road 00:02:19 may appear to be the road to true freedom. 00:02:22 Why? 00:02:23 Because it’s easy to travel. 00:02:25 Travelers on this road can go where they please, 00:02:29 think as they please, and live as they please. 00:02:32 There aren’t any restrictions 00:02:34 —no rules, no commitments. 00:02:37 And it’s not surprising 00:02:39 when we realize that one definition of “freedom” 00:02:42 is “the ability or capacity to act without undue hindrance 00:02:47 or restraint.” 00:02:49 But this is the freedom 00:02:51 that Satan and his world have to offer. 00:02:55 But is it real freedom? 00:02:57 Please open to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:03:00 We’re going to read verses 2 and 3. 00:03:05 This scripture describes the situation of people 00:03:08 who choose to enter that broad gate 00:03:11 and then walk the spacious road. 00:03:13 Ephesians 2:2, 3 00:03:16 describes them this way: 00:03:18 “In which you at one time walked according 00:03:21 “to the system of things of this world, 00:03:23 “according to the ruler of the authority of the air, 00:03:27 “the spirit that is 00:03:29 “now at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:03:33 “Yes, among them we all at one time 00:03:35 “conducted ourselves in harmony with the desires of our flesh, 00:03:39 “carrying out the will of the flesh 00:03:42 “and of our thoughts, and we were naturally children of wrath 00:03:47 just as the rest.” 00:03:50 Did you notice that the ones walking on this road 00:03:54 are not free at all? 00:03:56 They have a ruler, 00:03:58 “the ruler of the authority of the air,” Satan the Devil. 00:04:02 And they also have a master. 00:04:05 They carry out the will of the flesh; 00:04:08 they are slaves of the flesh and its desires. 00:04:12 Please turn to 2 Peter chapter 2, 00:04:16 and we’ll read verse 19. 00:04:18 These words confirm 00:04:21 that Satan’s promise of freedom 00:04:23 is a false promise that results in slavery. 00:04:28 Second Peter 2:19 says: 00:04:32 “While they are promising them freedom, 00:04:34 “they themselves are slaves of corruption; 00:04:38 “for if anyone is 00:04:40 overcome by someone, he is his slave.” 00:04:46 Satan’s road is not the road of true freedom. 00:04:50 Also, it’s not a freeway. 00:04:54 In fact, it’s a toll road, 00:04:57 and the toll to walk on this road 00:05:00 is very heavy. 00:05:02 This permissive, broad road takes its toll 00:05:05 in sexually transmitted diseases, 00:05:08 broken homes, bodies and minds 00:05:11 that are sick with drug and alcohol abuse, 00:05:15 and acts of violence. 00:05:18 This toll is way too expensive 00:05:21 just to walk on a dead-end street 00:05:25 that ends in destruction. 00:05:28 But now, what about the other road that Jesus talked about? 00:05:32 He said ‘the gate is narrow’ and ‘the road is cramped.’ 00:05:36 Why do so few people choose to walk this road? 00:05:41 Primarily because very few people today 00:05:43 want God’s laws and principles to govern their lives. 00:05:48 True, this road has boundaries, 00:05:51 but those boundaries help the ones who walk the road 00:05:54 to avoid wrongdoing, 00:05:56 to fight wrong desires, to resist peer pressure 00:05:59 and the fear of ridicule that may come 00:06:01 as a result of walking this road. 00:06:05 The broad road is centered on self 00:06:09 —self-indulgence, self-awareness, 00:06:12 self-fulfillment, and self-interest. 00:06:15 In contrast, 00:06:17 this narrow road calls for self-control, 00:06:21 self-denial, hard work, 00:06:24 and respect for authority. 00:06:27 But this is the road to true freedom. 00:06:32 Interestingly, some scriptures that talk about the freedom 00:06:35 that Jehovah gives may appear to be a little bit confusing. 00:06:39 For example, let’s open to 1 Peter chapter 2 00:06:43 and verse16. 00:06:45 And as we read it, notice 00:06:48 the contrasting expressions in this scripture 00:06:52 —1 Peter 2:16. 00:06:56 It says: “Be as free people, 00:06:59 “using your freedom, not as a cover for doing wrong, 00:07:03 but as slaves of God.” 00:07:07 How interesting that we can be free 00:07:11 and be a slave at the same time! 00:07:14 For most people, the idea of becoming a slave to anyone or anything 00:07:18 is not appealing. 00:07:20 However, there are positive aspects 00:07:23 to being a slave. 00:07:25 Let’s consider an example. 00:07:28 In Israel, a man who fell into debt 00:07:31 could sell himself as a slave to pay off his debt, 00:07:34 but this wasn’t a permanent arrangement. 00:07:37 He was to be freed after seven years 00:07:40 or in a Jubilee year, whichever came first. 00:07:44 While serving as a slave, 00:07:46 he was treated like a hired man; 00:07:48 he was protected from abuse. 00:07:51 And when he was released, his master gave him a gift 00:07:55 to help him get back on his feet. 00:07:58 This was Jehovah’s arrangement, 00:08:01 so it gives us a glimpse of what it’s like 00:08:04 to be a slave for Jehovah. 00:08:07 The life of an Israelite slave 00:08:10 could be so secure that the slave could choose to remain 00:08:14 with his master for life. 00:08:16 This arrangement is described 00:08:19 at Exodus 21:5, 6, where it says: 00:08:23 “But if the slave should insist and say, 00:08:25 “‘I love my master, my wife, and my sons; 00:08:28 “I do not want to be set free,’ 00:08:31 “his master must bring him before the true God. 00:08:34 “Then he will bring him up against the door or the doorpost, 00:08:37 “and his master will pierce his ear through with an awl, 00:08:41 and he will be his slave for life.” 00:08:46 We are like that slave. 00:08:48 Our love for Jehovah 00:08:50 and our appreciation for the true freedom he gives 00:08:54 are so strong that we give our lives to him. 00:08:58 We identify ourselves as Jehovah’s slaves, 00:09:01 not by getting our ears pierced, 00:09:04 but by dedication and baptism. 00:09:08 When it comes to freedom, we all must make a choice. 00:09:12 Do we take the broad road of false freedom 00:09:14 offered by Satan and his world? 00:09:16 Remember, it’s literally a dead-end street. 00:09:21 Or do we take the narrow road of true freedom? 00:09:25 That road is defined 00:09:28 by God’s righteous standards, 00:09:30 and this is the road that leads to everlasting life. 00:09:35 Even now, we’ve been freed 00:09:37 from fear of the future and the superstitious fear of death. 00:09:40 We’ve been freed from the pains that result from a lifestyle 00:09:44 that ignores God’s standards. 00:09:47 The freedom that Jehovah provides 00:09:49 will eventually give the human family 00:09:51 all of the basic freedoms 00:09:54 that honest-hearted people long for today 00:09:57 —freedom from fear, freedom from crime, 00:10:00 freedom from hunger, from poverty, 00:10:03 pollution, sickness, and war. 00:10:05 May we continue to walk on the road of true freedom ourselves 00:10:10 and help others to find the true freedom 00:10:14 that only Jehovah can give.
00:00:01 Throughout history, 00:00:02 mankind has been in a constant struggle 00:00:05 for freedom. 00:00:06 Men have fought for freedom of religion, 00:00:09 freedom of speech, freedom of the press, 00:00:12 and freedom from bondage and slavery. 00:00:16 Man’s perception of freedom 00:00:18 is shaped by his environment, 00:00:21 his personal situation, 00:00:23 and even his age. 00:00:26 While growing up, I remember the boys in my neighborhood getting together 00:00:31 on the final day of summer vacation 00:00:33 to enjoy what we called “our last day of freedom” baseball game. 00:00:38 We called it that because school started the next day. 00:00:43 But this matter of freedom is not a game. 00:00:46 Our view of freedom 00:00:49 is a matter of life and death. 00:00:53 No matter what our personal feelings or needs are regarding freedom, 00:00:57 we must recognize one fundamental fact. 00:01:01 Basically, there are only two kinds of freedom: 00:01:05 true freedom from Jehovah 00:01:08 and false freedom 00:01:10 that is offered by Satan and his world. 00:01:13 Every person must make a choice 00:01:16 between these two freedoms. 00:01:18 Let’s consider what each of these freedoms represents 00:01:22 and how our choice affects our prospect 00:01:25 for eternal life. 00:01:27 Please open your Bibles to Matthew chapter 7. 00:01:30 We’re going to read verses 13 and 14. 00:01:34 And here we read an illustration 00:01:37 that Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:01:40 and in the illustration he speaks about two gates and two roads. 00:01:44 And this also relates 00:01:47 to the two freedoms that we’re discussing this morning. 00:01:49 Matthew 7:13, 14 00:01:54 —he said: “Go in through the narrow gate, 00:01:57 “because broad is the gate and spacious 00:02:00 “is the road leading off into destruction, 00:02:03 “and many are going in through it; 00:02:05 “whereas narrow is the gate and cramped 00:02:08 “the road leading off into life, 00:02:10 and few are finding it.” 00:02:15 At first glance, this “spacious” road 00:02:19 may appear to be the road to true freedom. 00:02:22 Why? 00:02:23 Because it’s easy to travel. 00:02:25 Travelers on this road can go where they please, 00:02:29 think as they please, and live as they please. 00:02:32 There aren’t any restrictions 00:02:34 —no rules, no commitments. 00:02:37 And it’s not surprising 00:02:39 when we realize that one definition of “freedom” 00:02:42 is “the ability or capacity to act without undue hindrance 00:02:47 or restraint.” 00:02:49 But this is the freedom 00:02:51 that Satan and his world have to offer. 00:02:55 But is it real freedom? 00:02:57 Please open to Ephesians chapter 2. 00:03:00 We’re going to read verses 2 and 3. 00:03:05 This scripture describes the situation of people 00:03:08 who choose to enter that broad gate 00:03:11 and then walk the spacious road. 00:03:13 Ephesians 2:2, 3 00:03:16 describes them this way: 00:03:18 “In which you at one time walked according 00:03:21 “to the system of things of this world, 00:03:23 “according to the ruler of the authority of the air, 00:03:27 “the spirit that is 00:03:29 “now at work in the sons of disobedience. 00:03:33 “Yes, among them we all at one time 00:03:35 “conducted ourselves in harmony with the desires of our flesh, 00:03:39 “carrying out the will of the flesh 00:03:42 “and of our thoughts, and we were naturally children of wrath 00:03:47 just as the rest.” 00:03:50 Did you notice that the ones walking on this road 00:03:54 are not free at all? 00:03:56 They have a ruler, 00:03:58 “the ruler of the authority of the air,” Satan the Devil. 00:04:02 And they also have a master. 00:04:05 They carry out the will of the flesh; 00:04:08 they are slaves of the flesh and its desires. 00:04:12 Please turn to 2 Peter chapter 2, 00:04:16 and we’ll read verse 19. 00:04:18 These words confirm 00:04:21 that Satan’s promise of freedom 00:04:23 is a false promise that results in slavery. 00:04:28 Second Peter 2:19 says: 00:04:32 “While they are promising them freedom, 00:04:34 “they themselves are slaves of corruption; 00:04:38 “for if anyone is 00:04:40 overcome by someone, he is his slave.” 00:04:46 Satan’s road is not the road of true freedom. 00:04:50 Also, it’s not a freeway. 00:04:54 In fact, it’s a toll road, 00:04:57 and the toll to walk on this road 00:05:00 is very heavy. 00:05:02 This permissive, broad road takes its toll 00:05:05 in sexually transmitted diseases, 00:05:08 broken homes, bodies and minds 00:05:11 that are sick with drug and alcohol abuse, 00:05:15 and acts of violence. 00:05:18 This toll is way too expensive 00:05:21 just to walk on a dead-end street 00:05:25 that ends in destruction. 00:05:28 But now, what about the other road that Jesus talked about? 00:05:32 He said ‘the gate is narrow’ and ‘the road is cramped.’ 00:05:36 Why do so few people choose to walk this road? 00:05:41 Primarily because very few people today 00:05:43 want God’s laws and principles to govern their lives. 00:05:48 True, this road has boundaries, 00:05:51 but those boundaries help the ones who walk the road 00:05:54 to avoid wrongdoing, 00:05:56 to fight wrong desires, to resist peer pressure 00:05:59 and the fear of ridicule that may come 00:06:01 as a result of walking this road. 00:06:05 The broad road is centered on self 00:06:09 —self-indulgence, self-awareness, 00:06:12 self-fulfillment, and self-interest. 00:06:15 In contrast, 00:06:17 this narrow road calls for self-control, 00:06:21 self-denial, hard work, 00:06:24 and respect for authority. 00:06:27 But this is the road to true freedom. 00:06:32 Interestingly, some scriptures that talk about the freedom 00:06:35 that Jehovah gives may appear to be a little bit confusing. 00:06:39 For example, let’s open to 1 Peter chapter 2 00:06:43 and verse16. 00:06:45 And as we read it, notice 00:06:48 the contrasting expressions in this scripture 00:06:52 —1 Peter 2:16. 00:06:56 It says: “Be as free people, 00:06:59 “using your freedom, not as a cover for doing wrong, 00:07:03 but as slaves of God.” 00:07:07 How interesting that we can be free 00:07:11 and be a slave at the same time! 00:07:14 For most people, the idea of becoming a slave to anyone or anything 00:07:18 is not appealing. 00:07:20 However, there are positive aspects 00:07:23 to being a slave. 00:07:25 Let’s consider an example. 00:07:28 In Israel, a man who fell into debt 00:07:31 could sell himself as a slave to pay off his debt, 00:07:34 but this wasn’t a permanent arrangement. 00:07:37 He was to be freed after seven years 00:07:40 or in a Jubilee year, whichever came first. 00:07:44 While serving as a slave, 00:07:46 he was treated like a hired man; 00:07:48 he was protected from abuse. 00:07:51 And when he was released, his master gave him a gift 00:07:55 to help him get back on his feet. 00:07:58 This was Jehovah’s arrangement, 00:08:01 so it gives us a glimpse of what it’s like 00:08:04 to be a slave for Jehovah. 00:08:07 The life of an Israelite slave 00:08:10 could be so secure that the slave could choose to remain 00:08:14 with his master for life. 00:08:16 This arrangement is described 00:08:19 at Exodus 21:5, 6, where it says: 00:08:23 “But if the slave should insist and say, 00:08:25 “‘I love my master, my wife, and my sons; 00:08:28 “I do not want to be set free,’ 00:08:31 “his master must bring him before the true God. 00:08:34 “Then he will bring him up against the door or the doorpost, 00:08:37 “and his master will pierce his ear through with an awl, 00:08:41 and he will be his slave for life.” 00:08:46 We are like that slave. 00:08:48 Our love for Jehovah 00:08:50 and our appreciation for the true freedom he gives 00:08:54 are so strong that we give our lives to him. 00:08:58 We identify ourselves as Jehovah’s slaves, 00:09:01 not by getting our ears pierced, 00:09:04 but by dedication and baptism. 00:09:08 When it comes to freedom, we all must make a choice. 00:09:12 Do we take the broad road of false freedom 00:09:14 offered by Satan and his world? 00:09:16 Remember, it’s literally a dead-end street. 00:09:21 Or do we take the narrow road of true freedom? 00:09:25 That road is defined 00:09:28 by God’s righteous standards, 00:09:30 and this is the road that leads to everlasting life. 00:09:35 Even now, we’ve been freed 00:09:37 from fear of the future and the superstitious fear of death. 00:09:40 We’ve been freed from the pains that result from a lifestyle 00:09:44 that ignores God’s standards. 00:09:47 The freedom that Jehovah provides 00:09:49 will eventually give the human family 00:09:51 all of the basic freedoms 00:09:54 that honest-hearted people long for today 00:09:57 —freedom from fear, freedom from crime, 00:10:00 freedom from hunger, from poverty, 00:10:03 pollution, sickness, and war. 00:10:05 May we continue to walk on the road of true freedom ourselves 00:10:10 and help others to find the true freedom 00:10:14 that only Jehovah can give.
