"Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death"

Subject: Freedom

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 7.21

Sermon: “Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Death”

Scope: This sermon is designed to challenge Christians to use their freedom to advance the Kingdom of God.

Summary: With our freedom we are given greater responsibility to share God’s message.

Segue: I want to share four truths concerning our responsibility to serve God in light of our freedom.

Introduction: I read an introduction to a Bible study on patriotism the other day and the author said that while in the midst of a patriotic service she felt guilty about singing patriotic songs in front of her friend who was from another country. My question is, Why? Why should we as Americans feel guilty fro loving our country and our freedom? Many of you have probably herd that Natali Mains, of the Dixie Chicks, while in a foreign Country said that she did not get patriotism. She did not see the need for it. My friends we are living in a generation that has forgotten what this country was founded upon and the price it has cost throughout history to keep this country free.

We have forgotten that 231 years ago the landscape of the world was changed, both politically and physically. Of those day’s Thomas Pain said:

These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; ‘tis dearness only that gives everything its value.’ Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated …”

In that same year the 2nd Continental Congress comprised of 56 delegates from the thirteen Colonies scribed their own “John Hancock’s” after the original John Hancock’s signature on a document that changed a nation and a world forever. We know that document as the Declaration of Independence. By signing this document these delegates showed their willingness and ensured that they would pay the high price of Freedom if their efforts failed. This document contained the principles that would and has shape the character and direction of the greatest country on the face of the earth, for those of you who may not know, I mean America.

In the preamble of the Declaration of Independence we read the core of these principles:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

The men that wrote these words and signed their names in agreement with these words were called patriots. They loved their country. By signing this document they in essence made a:

Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

And to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God,

Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

By the words found in the Declaration of Independence every liberal argument against God and Government are refuted. By these words our founding fathers did what Roy Moore did, they acknowledged God. Furthermore, they acknowledge that the world and those who live on it are created by God. By virtue of our creation the founding fathers understood that every man was granted some basic rights by their Creator. Among them was the right to life, which flies in the face of every argument for abortion. God is a God of life. He said “I came that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly”. So, not only do we have the right to life we have been afforded the opportunity of abundant life. By virtue of our right to life we intern are granted the right of liberty or freedom by the One who created us. In fact God is a God of freedom. He sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to “Let My people go.” He sent His Son to “proclaim freedom to the captive.”

God is all about freedom, and He has afforded every person in this room the opportunity to live free. Because, of this opportunity we have as Christians in this country we also have an awesome responsibility to use our freedom for the good of the Kingdom of God and His creation. This morning I want to share four truths concerning how we can use our freedom for the Kingdom and Glory of God.

I. Use your freedom to serve God (1 Peter 2.16).