"Keep Me Walkin"

“Keep Me Walk-in” Galatians 5:13-25

We hold these truths to be self-evident,” wrote Thomas Jefferson, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable (impossible to take away or give up) Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Freedom has been a difficult progression through our history consider the past of some who had to keep walkin to gain freedoms. •

•Richard Allen was born a slave in Philadelphia in 1760. He became a Christian at the age of 17 after hearing a white Methodist minister preach against slavery. The experience was so powerful that he later wrote, “My dungeon shook, my chains flew off, and glory to God, I cried. My soul was filled.” He purchased his freedom for $2,000 and started preaching to white and black congregants in South Carolina, New York, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. Richard Allen was praying but because he was Black was dragged out of church because he prayed at the altar. Allen although Christains segregated him from Gods Altar He just kept on walkin walk in

•Sojourner Truth is best known for being one of the most prominent 19th century leaders fighting against slavery and fighting for women’s rights and human rights. She herself was born a slave . Truth was a deeply spiritual person, having experienced a vision of Jesus that inspired her to become a preacher. In her iconic “Ain’t I A Woman” speech at the 1851 Women’s Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio, Truth used her faith to argue for women’s equality, saying: “That little man in black there, he says women can’t have as much rights as men, ‘cause Christ wasn’t a woman! Where did your Christ come from? Where did your Christ come from? From God and a woman! Man had nothing to do with Him.” Despite much opposition Sojourner Truth She just kept walkin walkin

•Sitting Bull, Lakota chief and a holy man who fought to preserve his people’s way of life. The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 officially prevented whites from settling the Black Hills of Dakota Territory, which many Native American tribes considered sacred. But the treaty was set aside after gold was discovered in the area. Fortune seekers began rushing in, and the government attempted to purchase the land. When the tribes refused to give up their sacred space, the government demanded that all Lakota in the area resettle into reservations.

•True to his name, Sitting Bull wouldn’t budge. Instead, he called neighboring tribes to his camp and led them in a sun dance ritual dedicated to the Great Spirit. It was during this ritual that he saw a vision predicting that he would triumph over the white soldiers. Sitting Bull went on to wipe out Gen. George Custer’s troops during the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. It would take several more years before the chief surrendered to the U.S. Even then, he did so begrudgingly, saying, “I wish it to be remembered that I was the last man of my tribe to surrender my rifle.” Sitting Bull Kept walkin.

Lord Keep me Walk-in Galatians 5:13-25

1. The devil keeps calling us back to the following,: These will put us in spiritual Bondage

• sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery(wickedness); 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, Jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like

• 15If you keep on biting and devouring each other, you will be destroyed by each other.

• . 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. (Lord each day Keep me Walkin)

2. When the Devil is calling us back to the old Path. Paul declares we will find spiritual freedom when keep walk-in.

• 22i n in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

• Lord Keep Me walking by setting my mind on the heavenly

3. Lord Keep me Walk-in Walk-In in The Spirit of Equality “that all men are created equal”

• God created all men in the image of God Imago Dios

• In The eye of God there is no foreigners no there is no segregation

• We have segregated Black and white in our history

• We have segregated Rich and poor as non-equals

• We segregate gay and straight in our societies and in our churches God wants all people in his house.

• Our Church says Open hearts Open minds Open doors

4. We encounter freedom when we keep Walk-in in the Spirit of Service

• 13You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful natureA; rather, serve one another in love.