Free Indeed
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING:- According to Wikipedia Slavery is any system in which principles of property law are applied to people, allowing individuals to own, buy and sell other individuals, as a form of property. An enslaved person is unable to withdraw unilaterally from such an arrangement and works without remuneration. Many scholars now use the term chattel slavery to refer to this specific sense of legalized, slavery. In a broader sense, however, the word slavery may also refer to any situation in which an individual is forced to work against their own will. Scholars also use the more generic terms such as unfree labour or forced labour to refer to such situations.
Passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified (sign or give formal consent to a treaty, contract, or agreement, making it officially valid) on December 6, 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in the United States. The 13th amendment, which formally abolished slavery in the United States, passed the Senate on April 8, 1864, and the House on January 31, 1865. On February 1, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln approved the Joint Resolution of Congress submitting the proposed amendment to the state legislatures. The necessary number of states ratified it by December 6, 1865. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
However; there is a statement that causes us to pause and do a little inspection and that phrase is “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”.
QUESTION:- So if an amendment abolishing slavery has an exception clause in it did it really abolish slavery or just change the name of it. Slavery under any other name is still slavery. Remember slavery is any situation in which an individual is forced to work or live against their own will. Freedom according to the 13th amendment is iffy at best, based upon interpretation and circumstance, but the Bible says in John 8:36 “Whom the son hath set free is free indeed”
Today we are going to talk on the subject “Free Indeed”
PRAYER:-
SCRIPTURE:- John 8:31-36 “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We are Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”.
There are 124 occurrences in the New Testament of the word doulos, which means “someone who belongs to another” or “bond-slave with no ownership rights of his own.” Unfortunately, most modern Bible versions, as well as the King James Version, most often translate doulos as “servant” or “bond-servant.” Which causes one to believe that the situation isn’t as serious as it really is. A servant is one who works for wages, and who, by virtue of his work, is owed something from his employer / master. A slave is not payed anything and if forced to work and perform duties against their will.
DEFINITION:- Freedom, generally, is having the ability to act or change without constraint. Something is "free" if it can change easily and is not constrained in its present state. A person has the freedom to do things that will not, in theory or in practice, be prevented by other forces.
Political & Economical freedom are important, but don't bring true freedom. Freedom of the will which philosophers discuss is also a form of freedom that we enjoy, yet it doesn't make one free indeed.
Free Indeed:- People claim political freedom, but are in reality are the subjects of Governmental rule. There are those that claim religious freedom, but they are slaves to Religion and Rituals. Some claim moral freedom but are in the bondage of sin. The freedom which Jesus proclaims is true freedom, for it was the freedom of true life delivered from the thralldom of sin and brought into atonement with God.
The word Free in scripture as defined from the original Greek text is this: unrestrained (to go at pleasure), i.e. (as a citizen) not a slave (whether freeborn or released from slavery), or (genitive case) exempt (from obligation or liability):—free (man, woman), at liberty.
WATCH THIS:- There is incredible hope expressed in the promise that Jesus can set people free. Unless you have lived a sheltered life, you have probably experienced an enslaved soul or have known loved ones or maybe you yourself may have or currently be struggling to break free from the chains of spiritual captivity. Bound by chains like addiction, rather that is to alcohol, drugs, pornography, adultery, fornication, idolatry, homosexualism, or any other lasciviousness. You may be bound by the chains of fear, greed, poverty, worldliness, doubt, anger, bitterness, religion, legalism, racism, insecurity, despair, and depression. Whatever has you bound in slavery and is causing you the failure to experience life more abundantly as promised by Jesus Christ is slavery.
Luke 4:18 says “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised”.
To those living in bondage, Jesus offers Spiritual freedom which is being Free Indeed!
This freedom that Jesus offers is not a political freedom, He is not going to rearrange the political system. The freedom Jesus offers is not about changing your outward circumstances but is about freeing you where you are. The 3 Hebrew boys were in the fiery furnace when God set them free. Daniel was in the Lion’s den when God set him free. The Samarian woman was drawing water from a well all alone when Jesus set her free. The thief was on a cross when Jesus set his soul free! Do not think your circumstances have to change for you to be free Jesus is willing and able to set you free right where you are right now. So, there is no need to wait. Your circumstance is not a hinderance for Jesus to set you free.
Sure, we may need to make, and Christ may lead us to make, some physical or circumstantial changes for His word says in 2 Corinthians 6:17 “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. But Jesus is more concerned about setting your soul free than changing the political infrastructure or your circumstantial surroundings.
TEXT:- In John 8:31 says “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed”. Jesus gives an If – Then clause. An if – then clause, contains a condition if this is done then this will be the result. Understand that the little word "if" is a big concept in the kingdom of God. The word represents an invitation to. If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray seek my face and turn from their wicked ways (that’s an invitation) then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive their sin and heal their land (that’s promise / result). Freedom will never usurp itself upon you however, we must respond to God's invitation to accept His complete freedom.
This If – Then clause is not to be confused with any ritualistic or legalistic formula. Jesus never says, If you abide to the A.B.C’s of religion Attendance, Buildings, and Cash then you can be free. If you pray 30 minutes 5 times a day, preform penance, and only miss Sunday School or Bible classes twice a year, then you can be free. That’s religion and rhetoric Jesus said if you abide in me and my word abide in you ask what you will and it shall be given. If is a mighty small word but a gigantic concept.
UNDERSTAND:- Jesus does not prescribe a ritualistic formula that must be performed however, His word does reveal a way in which things operate in His kingdom, there is a premise and a promise. The promises of God are true however, to receive that promise there is something that you must do. For example, I live about 7 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean I can see the sunrise over the ocean every morning if I want to, God has established and ordained for the sun to rise over the ocean every day, but in order for me to see that sunrise and behold the beauty it offers every morning there are a few things that I must do. I must first get up early in the morning, get to the beach, then I must make sure I am facing East in order to see what God has ordained. If I sleep until 9 o’clock and don’t go to the beach, I will miss the sunrise even though I am free to watch it. Why? Because there is a way that things work.
So, the thing here is to continue in His Word. To continue in His word, or teachings, is to abide, to stay, to endure in. WATCH THIS:- If it’s raining and you are under the umbrella you are covered from getting wet, but if you come from under the umbrella and the rain is still falling you will get wet. If we are to truly be His disciples, we will stay under the covering of His Word.
A disciple is one who is taught, one who follows a discipline, or teaching of another. Therefore, it is fundamentally implied that unless we continue in Jesus’ teaching, we are not His disciples and if you are not Hs disciple then you are bound in sin.
UNDERSTAND:- Freedom is not a lack of restraint that allows one to fulfill any selfish desire, but indeed freedom takes place in Jesus and a relationship with Him. As we abide in Christ we are released from the chains of the world and free to be all that God created us to be. We were created to walk in fellowship with God, but sin hinders that relationship by enslaving us in a separated life from God. Jesus Christ is the only one who can set us free to enjoy the life as a child of God instead of living as a slave of the world.
John 8:38 says “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed”.
Someone may say ok Bishop but what are we free from?
Free from the Bondage of Sin - The very definition of a captive is one who is confined. That’s exactly what we were. You and I were prisoners held under the bondage of sin. We were held captive by the impulses of sin, controlled but the lust of the eye, lust of the flesh and the pride of life. We had no power to overcome the influence of sin. Sin was our ruler and it held us captive. Whatever sin wanted that is what we gave it. Romans 6:16 says “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness”. We were bound by the things God hates a lying tongue, a proud look (prideful), a mind that devised wickedness, a sower of discord.
However, when you were born again, something beautiful happened old things pass away and all things become new. God gave you a new nature and more importantly filled you with his Holy Ghost so now you are no longer under the control of your sinful nature, you have been set free. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Because the Holy Ghost lives in you, you are free, free from the bondage of sin. Those things you used to do you don’t do them anymore because you have been set free.
Free from the Penalty of Sin - Romans 6:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Without of Christ we have an eternal death sentence. Sadly, people do not understand that because of our sin, you and I were on a road of eternal separation from God. This was the eternal penalty or liability of our sin. Thank you Jesus that’s not the end of the story. Paul states that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus. When Jesus set you free, he took away your death sentence. The penalty you and I deserved has been removed and you now we have eternal life.
Today you can rejoice because if you have Christ then you have eternal life. You no longer have to pay the penalty for your sin, and you will never be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Free from the Guilt and Shame – Have you ever experienced the feeling of guilt? Have you ever felt shame for things you have done in your past? Have you ever repented but felt like you need to repent again because you feel so bad that you want to make sure God really forgave you. We have all done things that we are ashamed of. Things that we wish we could take back. So many times, we often relive a past moment asking ourselves why did we do that? However, when you do this all you are doing is creating guilt and shame that haunts and keeps you bound and steals joy and peace in your life. This is one of the biggest weapons of our enemy Satan: encouraging you to look back at the shameful moments of your past. The Bible says in 1John 3:20 says “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things”.
Once Jesus Christ has set you free you are free to.
Free to Live Abundantly – You cannot have an abundant life, loving relationship with God or with anyone else for that matter, bound by guilt and shame of your past or bound by the penalty of sin. John 10:10 says “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”.
Free to Serve – Ephesians 2:10 says “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” One of the other reasons Christ has freed you and me is because he has work for us to do. He has a plan for your life, remember Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Free to become a Son of God: Galatians 4:1-7 says “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ”.
Let me stay here for a minute. When it says we become sons that includes woman as well – the reason it says sons WATCH THIS is because the seed to reproduce is in the man so when we become the sons of God we are free to reproduce which is make disciples.
Now that we are free from slavery and have become sons we are free to receive an inheritance. Inheritance was the gift of honor and support given by a patriarch to his sons (and sometimes daughters). It was meant for the provision and status of the family.
Because of this inheritance we are:-
Free to have Peace – Peace that passeth all understanding. Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. The Hebrew word for peace, šalôm, and has a wide semantic range including the notions of totality or completeness, success, fulfillment, wholeness, harmony, security and well being.
Free from fear – God has not given us the spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.
Free to have Joy – Joy unspeakable and full of glory. 1 Peter 1:8 “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory”
Free Indeed – Free without a doubt; certainly, in all reality, I win.
Milton Brunson wrote the song “I’m Free”.
Lyrics:- I'm free.
Praise the Lord, I'm free.
No longer bound.
No more chains holding me.
My soul is resting.
It's just a blessing.
Praise the Lord, hallelujah, I'm free.
CLOSE:- If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
