True freedom is found not in self-mastery but in surrender to Christ as Lord and Captain of one's soul. The sermon contrasts the world's view of freedom with the Christian understanding, using poetic illustrations and biblical references to show that submission to Christ is the ultimate liberation. The core lesson is that becoming a "bond-slave" of Christ, through His constraining love, leads to true freedom and joy. The message concludes by emphasizing that like the Apostle Paul, believers can live lives of purpose and faithfulness, resolving to know Christ, magnify Him in life or death, and dedicate themselves to winning others to Him.
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Romans one and one. Galatians one and ten. I am a bound slave to belong what he told them, spirit, and to third. You have a master. One of your master, even Christ. And all ye are brethren. You remember the old master that you said? You remember that poem you used to recite when you were a high school boy or girl, imagining in so doing you were rather smart? I am the light that covers me. Black as a pick from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.
In the felt such a circumstance, I have not wince nor cried aloud under the grudgeoning of chance. My head is bloody but unbowed. It matters not how straight the gate, how charged it with punishments of scroll. I am the master of my faith. I am the captain of my soul. Remember that? Are you the master of your faith, the captain of your soul? You have both a fool and a knave for a captain and a master. Get rid of him as quickly as you possibly can. Jump him as soon as you possibly can. I like Dorothy a day's lovely parody. Out of a light that dazzles me, bright as a sun from pole to pole, I thank the God I know to be, for Christ, the conqueror of my soul.
Since his display of circumstance, I would not wink nor cry aloud, under that rule that men call chance, my head with joy is humbly bowed. It matters not how straight the gate. He cleared from punishment to scroll. Christ is the master of my faith. Christ is a captain of my soul. Or George Matheson's lovely poem. Every Christian should memorize this. Make me a captive, Lord. And then I shall be free. Help me to render up my soul. And I shall conquer me. I sink in like the alarm when by myself I stand, imprisoned me within mine arms. Then strong shall be my hand.
My will is not mine own, till thou hast made it thine. If it would reach a monarch's throne, it must its crown resign. He only stands on death amid the cracking strike, when on thy bosom it has laid, and found in thee this life. The service? No more delightful occupation on earth than to be a bond-slave of the Lord Jesus, for no man is really free until he wears upon his wrists an ankle. the chains of those constraining love of Christ. The reward. Well done, thou good and faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.
Upon glory. Six. I'm a teacher. First Timothy two and seven. I'm a teacher, says the apostle. I'm a teacher to instruct, a teacher to build up, to exhaust, to warn, to rebuke, to discipline, to train, and eventually to present my pupil. mature in Christ Jesus. And we find the apostle Paul very engaged at this. The last we read of him in the Acts of the Apostles. Almost the last verse. And Paul is in an hired house in the city of Rome, very engaged in teaching and preaching concerning the kingdom of God. Now there's a difference between preaching and teaching. And the difference is this.
Preaching is proclaiming the word. Teaching is explaining the word. That's the difference between teaching and preaching. The preacher proclaims the gospel. The teacher explains the gospel and the word of God. Now that's it. I'm a father. I'm a father. First Corinthians, Paul, fifteen. He wrote to the proud Corinthians, Oh, yes. You have ten thousand instructors in Christ. But you've only got one father. And I'm your father. I begat you in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Two men listened to a preacher at a certain conference.
As they left after the preacher got through, one said to the other, concerning that preacher, he's nothing but a pope. Nothing but a pope. The other said, didn't that preacher lead you to Christ? Yes, that's true, but he's nothing but a pope. Well, of course he's a pope. To you, he ought to be a pope. What do you mean? Well, what is the meaning of the word pope? It means papa. It means father. Are you a pope? Are you a popeess? It's such an expression to be used. I hope you're all pope and all popeesses. I hope you all have spiritual tools. My how nice it is to sit in an assembly of God's people and look upon one and another and say, my, I remember when God used me to lead that one to Christ.
I never forget the night when that person was born into the family of God. All the joy. There's no joy comparable to the joy of becoming a spiritual father and having spiritual children who do your credit and walk in the way that are pleasing to him. I have no greater joy, said the Apostle John, than to know that my children are walking in the tree. I'm a father. I'm a father to beget, to care, to nourish, to love, and to provide. I'm a father. So here then are these seven words. that connotes Paul's responsibility. Apostle, get-all, trustee, witness, conclave, teacher, father.
Now briefly, a word on the resolution. First, his resolution as to the Savior himself. Philippians three and ten. We'll answer that. that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering being made conformable unto his death if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection from amongst the dead ones. His resolution as to the Savior, to know him with increasing intimacy, to experience his power with ever increasing measure, and to share the partnership of his suffering with ever increasing degree. This is what it means.
to take the cross, to share the rejection that the world gave to our Lord and man. Second, his resolution as to himself. You'll find out in Philippians chapter one, verses thirty and twenty-one. According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. That was his resolution as to himself. Third, his resolution as to his service. We read that in First Corinthians nine. I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
It's motivating force, love for Christ. It's fair, it's true, all things to all men. It's one aim that I may gain some, win some for the Lord Jesus. Is it every wonder that Paul became the man he did? Speak to it high. He touched the sky. And you and I, by God's grace, may become great in the true real sense of that thing. Not realizing our greatness, of course. Ten thousand times more. Our greatness consists in being servants in a cause that is greater than ourselves.
Paul lost himself in Christ. And in so doing, gained what? Ah, but the crowns will be his. in that way. May it be yours or mine at the end of our lives to be able to say immeasurately what Paul to say. I have fought a good fight. I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. I've entered into vital relationship with the Son of God. I've assumed the responsibilities that are incumbent upon me as a child of God. And I've resolved And I'm seeking to carry out those resolutions and the power of the Spirit of God that shall cause Christ to be glorified in my body, whether it be by life or by death.
May he be gentle for his name, please. All those in him number one, eighty-six. Number one, eighty-six. Once I go and lend his hand, I bow my ear. Thank you.
Come on, let us pray for the Lord. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, The poet verse to you.