JULY 4TH

Freedom comes at an expense.

Proverbs 14:34, Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

I am reminded on this July 4th, of the men and women who have given their lives so that we can be free. Thousands of heroes and heroines have sacrificed their lives so that America can remain free. I am thankful for the free country I live in. I am thankful for those who have made it possible.

What would all this freedom be if we were not free in Christ though? I’m not so sure we truly understand freedom until we understand the freedom from sin we received when we believed and trusted in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

Hey friend, freedom comes at an expense. Thankful for us, many have given their lives for that freedom. Even more so, freedom from sin has been made possible to anyone who believes by God’s only begotten Son—Jesus. Have you repented of your sins and trusted Him as Saviour? If not, why don’t you do that right now and it will be the best July 4th you have ever had!

LIVE IN FREEDOM

Freedom is one of those gifts that is taken for granted by those who don’t understand what Christ has done on the Cross.

Romans 6:6-7, Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

Our freedom in Christ does not give us liberty to live in sin. No friend, what it does is give us a reason to live a righteous life. It frees us from the bondage of sin. It sets us at liberty from the consequences of sin.

            Christian, live in that freedom that Christ has given today! Don’t take it for granted. Listen to the Apostle Paul when he penned Galatians 5:1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

CHRISTIANS FORGIVE

"I can forgive, but I cannot forget," is only another way of saying, "I cannot forgive." -Beecher

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

            One of the most basic things Christians can do is forgive one another. Forgiveness isn’t natural but should be for the Christian. It isn’t easy but it should be easier for the Christian. It isn’t popular but should be exemplary for the Christian. Forgiveness is what is needed to move on for the glory of God.

            Child of God, God’s mercy shines when we forgive as Jesus has forgiven us. God’s grace is on display when we love one another. We exalt Jesus in our lives when we get out of the me, mine, myself, attitude and forgive those who have deeply wounded our hearts! When we don’t forgive, we give way to the enemy and He has a field day! He enjoys wrecking friendships and destroying families.

            Christian, who are you yielding your life over to when you don’t forgive that spouse that abused you? Who are you yielding your life to when you will not forgive that spouse who walked out on you and the kids? Christian, who are you yielding to when you will not forgive?

FREEDOM IN SALVATION

Those are no friends of Christ and his disciples, who make that to be unlawful which God has not made to be so. -Henry

John 8:36, If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

           When talking about freedom, it has been said many more times than I have probably ever said, “Freedom isn’t free!” It not only cost us financially, it costs us the blood of friends and family. To maintain freedom, it continues to cost us the same today and it will cost the same in the future.  

           When we received our freedom from sin, shame, and the guilt of sin, it costed Jesus His blood! Our freedom was bought with the price of God’s own darling Son. God gave His best for our worst. What a blessed thought, Jesus’ blood was given to set us free! Don’t take the freedom you have in salvation for granted friend! Nurture it! Rejoice in it! Share it!

FREEDOM IS ERODING

Freedom should not be given away it should be fought for!

1 Corinthians 7:23, Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

            I’m going to meddle a little today! I am for freedom! I am for the freedom I have in the country I live in. I am for the freedom men and women have given their lives for. I do not believe I need to give any more of those freedoms away for the sake of someone’s feelings! I don’t care if you don’t feel like I need to own a gun! I have the Second Amendment to the Constitution that gives me the right to own a gun. If I decide I want another or three, I’m going to get it! That’s just one of the freedoms our Constitution gives us!

            I also don’t care if you don’t like it that I preach against sin! Friend, Hell is real and God has called me to share the Good News of the Gospel. Part of the Good News is that you’re a sinner in need of Jesus Christ as your Saviour! I don’t care what color your skin might be. I don’t care what nationality you are. I don’t care how rich or poor you think you are. The sin you commit against God requires a payment! Scripture says that payment is death! But praise be to the Saviour of the world Jesus Christ! He paid that sin debt with His blood! He bought your redemption at Calvary and all you have to do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!

            Friend, stand for freedom; Freedom we have in the world and freedom we have in Jesus! Will you stand up for Him? Will you stand up for the freedom you have in this country? Or will you give them away? Will you give them away for money? Will you give them away for benefits? What would it take for you to give up and be enslaved to this world? Freedom is eroding, will you stand?

CRIPPLED BY FEAR

            The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. -F.D. Roosevelt

2 Timothy 1:7, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

            Elijah had just won a great victory slaying four hundred and fifty of Baals prophets but with just a few words from one of Jezebel’s messengers, he ran and hid under a tree. He was crippled by fear but God sent him an angel to comfort and encourage him. He got up and went some 400 miles to Mt. Horeb. What should’ve taken between ten to fifteen days took Elijah 40 days and nights to travel. Why did it take him so long? I believe you find the answer in the question the Lord asked him, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” Elijah was still crippled by fear, ended up hiding in a cave. Elijah came face to face with his problem and as he stood there gazing out the entrance of the cave. God asked him once again, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” I am glad God doesn’t give up on His children! He pursues them. He comforts them. He encourages them. He wants them to be courageous and fight on!

            Are you crippled by fear? Fear of the unknown? Fear of what’s next? The fear of being left alone? Be reminded that this fear DOES NOT come from the Lord! Its source is Satan. He loves for you to fear because it keeps your mind wondering around for days in the wilderness making you feel all alone in your life.

            Hey friend, GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH this morning before you find yourself wasting time trapped inside your own house crippled by fear! Just remember what the Lord said in Isaiah 41:13, For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

BE FREE

            Freedom isn’t free, it costs somebody something! – Jay O’Dell

Galatians 5:1, Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

            Americans have certain unalienable rights; life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights didn’t come without a cost. For over 240 years, men and women have given their lives so that Americans can enjoy these freedoms. Beginning at the Battles of Lexington and Concord until modern day wars of Iraq and Afghanistan, we see lives that have fallen so men and women can be free!

            Christians have been set free as well. We have been set free from our sin and shame because Jesus gave His life so we can be free! Over 2,000 years ago Jesus laid down His life, got up on a tree, and gave His life so that all could come to repentance. He gave His life so you and I could be saved! He gave His life so we could be free!

Are you free? Have you been set free from your sin and shame? If not, you can be! GET UP, GET READY , and GO TO CHURCH with this verse on your mind: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Romans 10:9

BE FREE

Freedom isn’t free, it always cost someone something!

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Nothing is free! The free light bulbs some people get cost someone. The free cheese that is given out cost someone. The free college cost someone. The free things you get for buying a extra value meal isn’t free, it’s included in the cost.

Not even salvation is free for it cost Jesus Christ His blood! It cost Him His life! It cost Him everything for He does everything in salvation! We get all the benefits of salvation if we live for Him! We get the benefit of being delivered from the wrath of God– Romans 5:9. We get the benefit of being delivered from condemnation – Romans 8:1 We get the benefit of being delivered from death and Hell – John 5:24 We get the benefit of being delivered from the power of sin – Romans 6:13-14 We get the benefit of being delivered from the power of Satan – 1 Peter 5:8

Have you been set free or are you still in the bondage of sin? You can be free and free indeed if you repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ as Saviour!

BE FREE

The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time. –Jefferson

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

One of the founding factors in our country are these three Inalienable Rights every person has; Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. These Inalienable Rights are the very thing in which many other Nations hate America for. Why, because they want control, corruption, and calamity. They want control of their people to do their bidding. They want corruption in order to fill their bank accounts. They want calamity because they know there is strength in a group of people set out for one goal. (Just ask Great Britain.)

The Inalienable Rights, like much in our government, were found in the Word of God. How did the Founding Fathers come up with such a brilliant contract of sorts? I believe many of them had tasted the freedom found in Christ and they knew the Scriptures. They knew what it meant to be free from sin and shame. They knew what it meant to chose. They knew what true liberty meant and wasn’t afraid to stand up for it.

How is your Spiritual stand? Are you standing in the freedom Jesus brought when you got saved? If not, maybe it’s time to open the Word of God and get busy reading to find out how to be FREE!

SEPARATED AT BIRTH

Christ and we will never be one until we and our sin are two.–Spurgeon

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. Ephesians 5:11

            At our spiritual birth, we are separated from our sin. We do not have to continue to live in sin because Jesus set us free from it. We are a new creation, created in Christ Jesus! How is this possible? We have a new nature and that nature is God’s righteousness!

            Child of God, quit sinning! You have been set free from sin and you don’t have to continue therein! I am reminded what Paul said, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Romans 6:15