Honoring Freedom's Warriors

Honoring Freedom’s Warriors

Text: Heb. 11:1-2, 24-27, 32-33, 37-40

Opening:

1. In two days, we will celebrate, Independence day, July 4th.

It is right and fitting that we celebrate and honor those who were willing to lay down their lives for the cause of freedom.

2. While we celebrate this, we do not forget it was our father God who blessed their endeavors.

We do not forget, these men drew upon a higher power, for the ordeal they must endure.

I honor our National heroes

A. The signing of that great document- The declaration of Independence.

1. A declaration that declared boldly and plainly- our stand for freedom, and the willingness to lay down their lives for it

2. 230 yrs. ago our founding fathers signed such a document.

Giving up cushy jobs, positions of power, loss of reputation.

B. They forever sealed their fate as rebels to the crown- as long as the British were in control

1. The last paragraph of the declaration of independence reads…

“And for the support of this Declaration… we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

C. Faithful to the cause- the marines call it Semper Fi- forever faithful

1. Have you ever wondered what happened to the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For several months he hid in forests and caves.

Five of the signers were captured by the British during the war. Captains Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, and Arthur Middleton (South Carolina) were all captured at the Battle of Charleston in 1780;

Richard Stockton was captured and imprisoned by the British. He was not released until several years later, badly treated and in very poor condition. He lost all of his extensive library, writings, and all of his property during the British invasion. He died a pauper at the age of fifty- one.

Others lost family, sons and property as well for the cause.

D. Why did they do it? What would make them willing to give up everything that was dear to them?

1. They dared to dream of a free nation of people- not limited by social class

They dreamed of differing classes of people sitting as one…

Jesus had told of it, The aspostel Paul had sought to fleshi it out- make it happen.

These men were students of the BOOK! Hold up the Bible- they saw all men were created in God’s image

2. They were men with vision- They were visionary

a. These men lived with an eternal perspective- looking down the road.

They lived and died for the future.

I honor the heroes of faith

A. The Men of the Old Testament

1. Men like Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;" "Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"

(Hebrews 11:24-25)

2. Men like Daniel, who would not bow to political pressure

3. Men like Joseph, who would sit is prison for years because he would not com-pro-mise principles and morality.

4. These men lived… having not seen that which they llived so diligently for

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

(Hebrews 11:13, KJV)

I honor the heroes of faith

B. The men of the New Testament

1. Men like the apostle Paul

a. Whose testimony was the thought of persecution did not bother him….

Acts 20:24- "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God."

b. Who just weeks before his beheading, was asking for writing parchments

"The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments." 2 Timothy 4:13

Why did he want the writing tablets? To encourage the church and the brothers!

2. Men like Peter, who said I must shortly lay down this old body in death by martyrdom like my Lord said.

a. He would not even allow himself to be crucified upright, so unworthy thought he to be crucified like his Lord.