Freedom

Freedom

Text: John 8:34-36, II Timothy 3:1-5

-Historical Background: On Thursday this week we will be celebrating Independence Day, known as the Fourth of July. July 4th is a national holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was approved by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

-On July 2, 1776 the Founding Fathers of the Second Continental Congress voted to approve their independence by passing a resolution made by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. They declared together that the Thirteen Colonies were no longer subject to or under the rule of King George III of Britain, and were now united, free, and independent states. Two days later, on July 4th, they adopted the actual document called The Declaration of Independence.

-July 4,1776 was the birthday of the United States of America and July 4, 2024 will be our 248th Birthday! It’s a day of joyful celebration of our freedom and a remembrance of the God who gave it to us.

-The 4th of July is a holiday for the whole nation and is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, family reunions, political speeches, and ceremonies.

-July 4th is meant to be a peaceful celebration of the freedoms we’ve been blessed with as a nation. And yet July 4, 2024 our nation seems to be filled with civil unrest and polarization. This morning I want us to think about true freedom and how we can come back to enjoying this God given gift to us.

Show Video: “4th of July”

-In Psalm 32:12 the Bible says: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord.” -More than ever we need to be a people of prayer that our nation would turn back to God so that we might be blessed by Him again.

Pray: Dear Father in Heaven,

-Thank you for establishing and making us a great nation. More than ever in these days of turmoil and strife we realize how much we need you and how we cannot survive without you.

-Forgive us for how far we’ve strayed from the intentions of our Founding Fathers who put their hope and trust in You. We’ve sinned greatly and have gone astray. For this we beg Your forgiveness.

-In Jeremiah 29:13 You said: “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Give us that “heart after God” we’ve been so lacking these days! Holy Spirit speak to us this morning in ways that we can understand. Motivate us and put new hunger and desire in us, I ask in Jesus’ mighty name, Amen!

-This morning I want to talk about:

-What Freedom is and What Freedom is not

-I also want to talk about independence we can only achieve through dependence upon God.

I. What Freedom is and What Freedom is not.

-Freedom meaning in the Dictionary:

a. The condition of not being in prison or captivity.

b. The condition of being free of restraints, especially the ability to act without control or interference by

another or by circumstance.

c. The condition of not being a slave

-And yet, true freedom -the freedom we have in this nation and with God is more like a paradox. Here’s what I mean by that:

-It’s true that we are a free nation, but it’s also true that we’re a nation of laws and rules that must be kept. The truth is: our freedom cannot endure unless we obey the rules and laws of our land.

-Our nation and it’s laws were founded on Biblical principles. As we follow those principles we are blessed. But when we choose to go our own way, our world begins to fall apart. This is what we see happening in the world today.

-a. What Freedom is Not:

Freedom doesn’t come from having no boundaries, rules, or guidelines. Freedom comes from restraining our impulses and choosing to obey the rules God established for humanity.

Illustration: As a kid you might have heard the story of the beautiful kite who wanted to fly higher and higher but felt it was being restrained by the kite string. “Let me go! Let me go!” the little kite shouted in the wind. I want to fly higher and you’re holding me back!”

-Meanwhile the little boy, holding the spool of string down on the ground, continued to let out more and more string as his beautiful kite flew higher and higher -until finally, there was no string left to let out.

-“Let me go! Let me go!” the kite still shouted, pulling with all his might. Suddenly the string snapped and the kite saw he was finally free of any restraint. “Hurray!” shouted the happy kite! “Now I’m going to go higher than any kite has ever gone before!”