AN UNCOMMON FREEDOM
As you know, this weekend we celebrate the 224th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence that was signed on July 4th, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
56 men from 15 states laid down their lives, their fortunes, their homes, their honor and the welfare of their own families for a cause – the grand cause of Freedom from tyranny.
Thus began the long struggle with King George III of England and the mightiest army and navy in the world. A struggle ensued to Free America from the clutches of a greedy King and taskmaster that exacted a heavy toll upon the citizens of the colonies of the new world.
The second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence contains some of the most stirring words ever penned by man:
“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 . . .”
At that moment, a nation was born that guaranteed, under its Constitution and Bill of Rights, that all men would be FREE from oppression of other men.
True, we have seen those freedoms erode, slowly but surely.
The right to bear arms has been severely limited and continues to be limited more.
The right to Life has been nearly destroyed with the passage of Roe vs. Wade and the right to choose death for another human being was passed.
Other rights have seemed to spiral out of control to the point of almost destroying our land and its freedoms.
The right to pursue happiness has led many to be believe that their own personal happiness is their right at any cost, including the right to infringe upon someone else’s happiness to get it.
The right to freedom of religion has led many to believe that it also means freedom from religion and has caused those like Madeline Murray O’Hare and others to have prayer removed from our schools, public displays of scriptures and anything to do with Jesus to be removed from public buildings and even now are trying to rid the air waves of the preaching of the gospel.
Many have decided that it is their right to expect someone else to pay their bills, take care of them and feed them while they sit at home doing nothing. They seem to forget that the scriptures say - “If a man won’t work, he shouldn’t eat.” What kind of nation have we become when, according to some statistics, it takes 10 people working two jobs and putting in a lot of hours so that just one of those who refuse to work can be supported by the government through tax dollars.
The idea that all men are created equal has been cast aside in order that some may receive preferential treatment based on color, race or ethnic background.
Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream of freedom for all men regardless of their race. He preached and taught equality and freedom from oppression.
I believe that he would roll over in his grave if he were to see the vast injustices done in the name of equality and what people think they have a right to.
I too have that same dream. A DREAM OF EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY. A DREAM OF EARN IT AND YOU CAN HAVE IT.
A DREAM OF BECOME THE BEST YOU CAN BE LIMITED ONLY BY YOURSELF.
You see: The Dream of Freedom in 1776, and the Dream of Equality for all men come from the same source. That source is GOD!
Only God can give real freedom.
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
Jesus Christ is the source of real FREEDOM AND EQUALITY.
If you were to ask anyone on the streets whether they are free they would say YES!
BUT ARE THEY REALLY FREE?
Like it or not, there is no such thing as absolute freedom.
We may live in a free society, given the right of freedom by our constitution and protected from outside intervention by other nations but the fact is WE ARE NEVER REALLY FREE WITHOUT CHRIST.
In a free society, men, women, boys and girls are able to move about and do what they want to do. Sadly, within each of us, there is a heart that chases after the bondage of sin.
Sin, rebellion against God, brings us into the awful bondage of darkness.
It places us under the condemnation of the Law of God.
It sentences us to eternal punishment.
We are free to commit our sin but our sin then determines our destiny and our freedom is gone.
Satan does not allow you to have freedom.
He does his best to steal your joy, life, and your ability to pursue happiness. He will take your home, job, family, soul and leave you bound and afflicted every time.
He doesn’t give you a choice of what you will do next. He takes your ability to choose away and leaves you with only one course to follow. We are powerless within ourselves to get away from his grip and to change our own heart.
WE ARE SLAVES TO OUR OWN DESIRES.
SLAVES TO OUR OWN SIN
SLAVES, BOUND BY SIN AND CONDEMNED BY SIN
SLAVES POWERLESS TO BREAK FREE
SLAVES IN THE MIDDLE OF WHAT WE CLAIM AS FREEDOM.
SLAVES AND UNABLE TO EVEN BELIEVE THAT WE ARE SLAVES
There are many who claim to have no one controlling their lives. They claim to have all the money in the world. They claim to have the ability to control every circumstance around them. But they are blind to the fact that they are controlled by the Devil.
Don’t be deceived. You will be a slave to someone or something. You have little choice.
We can either refuse to be controlled and surrender to the will of God and be controlled by the Devil, or we accept the Lord and surrender to Him and be controlled by God.
Those are your ONLY options.
WHAT ABOUT THE SCRIPTURES WE READ?
JESUS SAID THAT THE TRUTH WOULD MAKE YOU FREE.
He said that if the Son has set you free then you are free indeed.
Are these a lie? Is there no real FREEDOM?
WHAT IS THE UNCOMMON FREEDOM WE SPEAK OF?
When we come to Jesus, confessing our sin and accepting Him as Lord of our Life that’s when real freedom begins.
Only in Jesus do we have a real choice.
Jesus loves us so much and yet He will allow us to make the wrong choices if we want to.
The Blood of Jesus will break the Yoke of Sin that hangs about our neck.
The Blood of Jesus will break the chains of oppression that binds us.
The Blood of Jesus will wash away every sin and stain that is on our heart and soul.
THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB, JESUS CHRIST WILL BREAK EVERY POWER OF HELL THAT BINDS US.
When we come to know Jesus – Jesus who is the TRUTH, the LIFE, and the WAY – that’s when we really learn what FREEDOM REALLY MEANS.
WHEN JESUS MAKES YOU FREE YOU ARE FREE INDEED!
WHEN YOU COME TO KNOW TRUTH (JESUS), HE SETS YOU FREE!
When you are under Satan’s bondage you don’t have a choice of whether to live in sin or not. Satan is a hard taskmaster. He will take you deeper, farther, longer than you want to go.
But GOD, gives you the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE whether you will continue to walk with Him or not.
All to often, Christians choose to stray.
BUT GOD IS GRACIOUS AND LOVES US AND IS WILLING TO ACCEPT OUR CRY FOR REPENTANCE AND SALVATION AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.
You see, there is the real Freedom of choice, the real right to life, the right to pursue happiness and its only found in Christ.
Jesus wants you to feel free from sin and the bondage of oppression.
Jesus wants you to enjoy life – He has even given us all of eternity to enjoy that life.
Jesus wants you to be happy – Happy in the knowledge of Him and in having a real purpose for living.
JESUS PROVIDES THAT UNCOMMON FREEDOM.
A freedom that can only be experienced through His saving grace.
A freedom that can give you a greater liberty than any law or constitution of man.
A freedom that no man can take away, that no law can stop, that no power of earth or power of hell can destroy.
THAT’S AN UNCOMMON FREEDOM
Whether we are rich, poor, sick, well, old, young, or any other circumstance of life, we can still have the freedom that Jesus gives.
DO YOU HAVE THAT UNCOMMON FREEDOM THIS DAY?
DO YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND MASTER?
HAVE YOU SURRENDERED YOUR LIFE TO HIM?
Give Jesus the RIGHT TO YOUR LIFE.
Give Jesus the RIGHT TO YOUR HAPPINESS.
Give Jesus the RIGHT TO MAKE YOU EQUAL TO HIM IN THE INHERITANCE OF HEAVEN.
Are you really free? Or are you really bound by sin and rebellion?
Are you really free? Or are you trapped in a lifestyle that keeps dragging you down.
Give up your freedom to Jesus today. Accept Him as Lord of your Life. Confess Him as master of your destiny. Surrender your will to His once and for all.
YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH WILL MAKE YOU FREE.
ONLY WHEN YOU KNOW JESUS CAN YOU BE TRULY FREE.
WHEN YOU MEET JESUS, THAT IS YOUR REAL INDEPENDENCE DAY.
