Born To Be Free

Introduction: Independence Day, Memorial Day, and Veteran’s Day, which we celebrated yesterday, all remind me of our freedom and the cost of that freedom. We as Americans are surrounded by many symbols of the freedom we enjoy as citizens of this country. Yet, many of us have become so comfortable in our blanket of freedom that we often forget how much discomfort is involved in the purchase of that freedom.

"One such symbol is located in Washington D.C. High atop Capital Hill sits the Capital Building of the U.S.A. The cornerstone of that building was laid in 1793, but the crowning touch, is the statue that stands on top of the rotunda which is called the “Freedom Lady”. The Freedom Lady was placed there in 1863. She stands nearly 20 feet tall with a crest of stars framing her face and a shield of stars and stripes in her left hand.

Freedom Lady was sculpted in Rome and brought to America by ship. During her trip across the Atlantic Ocean she found herself in the midst of a terrible storm. As the storm beat against the ship its captain began to order the crew to scuttle the cargo in order to lighten the load so that they may be able to stay afloat. In the heat of the moment the crew desperately wanted to through “Freedom Lady” over board since she was the heaviest object on board. But, the Captain, shouting over the wind said, “No! Never!” We will flounder before we throw ‘Freedom’ away. And so, Freedom was saved because of one man’s willingness to sacrifice everything he had, even his own life, for Freedom’s cause. And today she stands Proudly atop the center of world freedom - the Capital of the U.S.A.(Source: Sermon Central Contributor Richard Burkey’s Sermon "Freedom"; also visit http://www.lib.virginia.edu/etext/fourmill/statue.html)."

Oh how we have forgotten the preciousness of Freedom in this generation. We live in a world that is increasingly be littling the very cost of that which we flippantly enjoy every day.

On July 4, 1776 the fabric of this world changed because a group of people believed that God had given them the inalienable right to live as free men and women. They believed that so much so that since the Revolutionary War to the present day war in Iraq nearly 3 million American’s have paid the price of freedom for this country and for the world with their life’s blood.

I believe today as they believed then and many still believe today; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among them are Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In other words man kind has the God given right to freedom.

This truth is not only evident because of our history, but because of His Story. From the very beginning of time God had freedom in mind, The very example of nature exudes with freedom. God created the first human beings with the right to freedom. Adam and Eve had the freedom to choose right from wrong. They had the freedom to either follow God or follow their own desires.

God throughout history has painted a picture of freedom. He sent Moses before Pharaoh and said set my people free. He instituted in the laws of Israel the year of Jubilee in which He instructed them to let every slave sold into slavery go free. God through His Son came to set every captive free. God has woven into the fabric of this universe the thread of freedom. He has placed within the genetic structure of His Creation the very hope of freedom.

I am here today to tell you that God wants you to be free. Jesus said "I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly." He also said, "you will know the truth and the truth will set you free." Then He said, “I am the truth .. And if the Son makes you free you are free indeed." This morning God wants to set you free. I want to share three critical areas of freedom that God wants to give to you today.

1st God wants you to experience Physical Freedom .

- He created you for freedom- in this world and in worship(1 Cor. 7.21-22).

- He has called you to freedom from the flesh and filth (Romans 8.2).

- He wants you to be a champion of freedom in this world (Luke 4.18).

2nd God wants you to experience Fiscal or Financial Freedom.

- I like how Dave Ramsey says it, "you need to live like no one else so that one day you can live like no one else."

- Yet it seems as though we want to live like everyone else so that one day we will have to live like everyone else, broke and desperate unable to do anything for the kingdom of God.