OUR FREEDOM July 3, 2025 By: Ruby Chisholm What does your freedom mean to you? Let’s talk about how we gained our freedom and from whom. The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783) eight long years, also known as the American War of Independence, was initiated by the thirteen colonies against the Kingdom of Great Britain, over what they deemed as excessive taxation and the absence of colonial representation in parliament, ultimately resulting in the overthrow of British rule and the establishment of the United States of America. The US celebrates the day that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4,1776 when they gained freedom from Great Britain. The United States Independence Day is a very important celebration for all Americans. As the United States of America celebrates Independence Day on July 4th, it’s worth noting the nation was founded upon the idea that God created human beings to be free. The Declaration of Independence states that people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” “Unalienable Rights are personal rights held by an individual which are not bestowed by law, custom, or belief, and which cannot be taken or given away, or transferred to another person. Religious Liberty shall be interpreted to include freedom to worship according to conscience and to bring up children in the faith of their parents; freedom for the individual to change his religion; freedom to preach, educate, publish and carry-on missionary activities; and freedom to organize with others, and to acquire and hold property for these purposes. The loss of physical freedom was often tied to spiritual disobedience like worshiping false gods. But time and again, the one true God forgave His people and rescued them. When God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He was foreshadowing the arrival of Jesus Christ, who came to free humanity from sin—the spiritual slavery that leads to death. Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Good News—the best news ever—is that faith in Jesus frees us from the death we deserve for sinning against God. It frees us from the punishment that would be inflicted upon us at the end of our lives for the evil things we’ve thought and done. True and ultimate freedom is found in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We are told this in John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, ”I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Galatians 5:13 – For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. What does “Liberty” mean to you? Liberty is freedom to do as you wish as long as it is according to God’s Holy Word, attend church were you wish, raise your children under your faith, etc. John 8:31-32 - 31. Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” In Scripture, Jesus spoke often of being free in Him. But exactly what does it mean to be free in Christ? This spiritual freedom is the ability to obey God and choose His will for our lives over any temptation. And this is the freedom that sin had long denied us. Jesus shocked the Pharisees, the spiritual leaders of His day, when He stated, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). Colossians 1:13-14 – 13. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Each and every person must take responsibility for their life and growth by asking the Lord to show them any area in their life where an issue needs to be resolved. They then choose to repent of everything the Lord shows them thus removing any grounds the enemy may have had in their life. This is based on James 4:7, “submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Very simple and gentle – but amazingly effective! We need to learn to trust the Holy Spirit to direct our lives and empower us daily. In order to do this, we must have a daily time when we read our Bibles and pray. Galatians 5:16-17 – 16. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. Acts 1:8 says - But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. |
