New Freedom

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

(9)  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

(10)  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

(11)  And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Lamentations 3:18-23

(18)  And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

(19)  Remembering mine affliction and my misery, the wormwood and the gall.

(20)  My soul hath them still in remembrance, and is humbled in me.

(21)  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.

(22)  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

(23)  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I woke up this morning

Took a look around

Listened for a minute

I didn’t hear a sound

As I lay alone and wait

For the fog upstairs to fade

Regret comes flooding in

As I remember yesterday

I didn’t want to choose that street

There’s a hole there I know well

I can’t seem to stay out of it

Since the first time that I fell

If only there was a way

To B-Free from the place I’ve come

If only there was a place

Where I could find New Freedom

I drag myself out of bed

Walk across the floor

Knowing what is waiting

The other side of the door

The voices screaming so loud

Locked inside my head

Telling me there is no hope

I’d be much better off dead

I push the voices down again

As I start another day

Wishing I could end it all

There seems to be no other way

If only I could B-Free

From the voices in my head

If only there was a place

With New Freedom from my dread

“We saved you a seat.” I heard him say

as I passed him on the street

“Some of us were where you are now

New Freedom is where we meet

We learn about the love of God

I wish you would come and see

I know if He can help me change

He can help anyone B-Free!”

I took his card and turned to go

“Whatever!” Was the thought I had

"What I’ve done and where I’ve been

No one has been half as bad

If only there was a way

To B-Free from the failures of my past

If only there was a place

New Freedom? How long could it last?"

“What have I got to lose?”

“I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

“Maybe they won’t mind

If I show up in a dirty shirt.”

I make my way down a new street

Hoping this will be the day

I make a change for good

I choose a better way.

I can tell you now with certainty

Because I made the choice

To walk down a different street

To hear a different voice

There is a way to B-Free

New life is waiting for you

There is a place of New Freedom

We saved a seat for you too!

The church I pastor, New Freedom Apostolic Church, in Lebanon, TN has a recovery program called B-Free Lebanon. It is a 20 week faith based addiction recovery program put together by Beth D. Bauss. You can find more information about the B-Free program on her website at ourhealthyfamilies.org.

As a delivered alcoholic I understand the dark side of addiction. We use Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 6:11 to say, “And such were some of us.” Thank God we have been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus and by His Spirit.

Our church is called New Freedom because we believe that relapse is a part of recovery. Knowing this helps us understand that no matter how bad we have failed today, there is hope that tomorrow holds New Freedom in that His mercy and compassion is new every morning. We hold on to the Apostle John’s words when he wrote;

1 John 1:9

(9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There is a place of New Freedom!

If you are in the Lebanon, TN area we would love to have you join us!

www.Acts19.com

Pastor Marc Wood