Independence Day Wesleyan
INDEPENDENCE DAY
INDEPENDENCE DAY
SCRIPTURE: JOHN 8:34-36, ROMANS 8:2
JOHN 8:34-36 (NIV)
34 JESUS REPLIED, “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, EVERYONE WHO SINS IS A SLAVE TO SIN. 35 NOW A SLAVE HAS NO PERMANENT PLACE IN THE FAMILY, BUT A SON BELONGS TO IT FOREVER. 36 SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.
THEME: IT IS ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS THAT WE FIND TRUE FREEDOM
PURPOSE: HELP BELIEVERS TO RECOGNIZE THE FREEDOM THEY HAVE IN CHRIST AND MOTIVATE SEEKERS TO
ACCEPT CHRIST AS LORD AND SAVIOR OF THEIR LIVES.
NEXT SATURDAY IS GOING TO BE THE 4TH OF JULY.
AND ON THAT DAY AMERICA WILL BE 233 YEARS OLD.
WE BEGAN OUR NATION BASED ON THE IDEALS OF LIBERTY, RESPONSIBILITY, GODLINESS,
AND THE FREEDOM TO BECOME WHAT GOD INTENDED FOR US TO BE.
THIS WAS A NEW AND REVOLUTIONARY IDEA.
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WHEN WE CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY
WE'RE ACTUALLY CELEBRATING
THE PRECIOUS GIFT OF FREEDOM THAT WE HAVE.
AND AS WE CELEBRATE OUR FREEDOM,
WE NEED TO REMEMBER THAT FREEDOM ISN’T FREE.
FREEDOM IS EXPENSIVE, IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE.
IT HAS COST SOME PEOPLE EVERYTHING THEY HAD, INCLUDING THEIR VERY LIVES.
FREEDOM MAY NOT BE FREE,
BUT IT IS VERY VALUABLE.
THE IDEAL OF FREEDOM IS AN IDEAL
THAT OUR FOUNDING FATHER’S THOUGHT WAS
VALUABLE ENOUGH TO RISK EVERYTHING FOR.
THEY RISKED THEIR FORTUNES, THEIR FAMILIES,
THEIR REPUTATIONS, AND THEIR HONOR.
THEY RISKED THEIR VERY LIVES AND MANY OF THEM PAID FOR OUR FREEDOM WITH THEIR OWN BLOOD
AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THEIR CHILDREN.
TODAY AS WE WORSHIP IN OUR SECURITY AND COMFORT,
IT'S BECAUSE THOUSANDS OF YOUNG MEN
HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES AND SHED THEIR BLOOD
BOTH HERE AND ON FOREIGN SOIL.
THEY DIED IN FORSAKEN PLACES WITH NAMES THAT WE DON'T REMEMBER
SO THAT WE COULD HAVE THE JOY
AND RESPONSIBILITY OF FREEDOM.
THOMAS JEFFERSON WROTE, IN A LETTER TO
WILLIAM SMITH DATED NOVEMBER 13, 1787,
THE “TREE OF LIBERTY MUST BE REFRESHED FROM TIME TO TIME WITH THE BLOOD OF PATRIOTS & TYRANTS”
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FREEDOM, MY FRIEND, IS NOT FREE,
AND THE PRICE IS ALWAYS PAID IN BLOOD.
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THE BLOOD THAT WAS SPILLED IN IRAQ, WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME BLOOD HAS BEEN SPILLED FOR OUR FREEDOM.
THE BLOOD THAT WAS SPILLED IN THE WAR FOR INDEPENDANCE WAS NOT THE FIRST TIME THAT BLOOD WAS SPILLED FOR OUR FREEDOM.
NO!
2,000 YEARS AGO A YOUNG MAN’S BLOOD WAS SPILLED ON THE GROUND
SO THAT WE COULD ALL EXPERIENCE FREEDOM.
JESUS CAME TO EARTH, IN ORDER TO BRING US FREEDOM FROM ALL KINDS OF HUMAN PROBLEMS.
JESUS HIMSELF, SAYS IN
JOHN 8:34-36 (NIV)
34 JESUS REPLIED, “I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, EVERYONE WHO SINS IS A SLAVE TO SIN. 35 NOW A SLAVE HAS NO PERMANENT PLACE IN THE FAMILY, BUT A SON BELONGS TO IT FOREVER. 36 SO IF THE SON SETS YOU FREE, YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED.
LATER ON, THE APOSTLE PAUL WROTE THESE WORDS ABOUT JESUS AND HIS MISSION TO SET US FREE.
READING FROM THE MESSAGE
ROMANS 8:1-2 (THE MESSAGE)
TITLED: THE SOLUTION IS LIFE ON GOD’S TERMS
1–2 8 WITH THE ARRIVAL OF JESUS, THE MESSIAH, THAT FATEFUL DILEMMA IS RESOLVED.
THOSE WHO ENTER INTO CHRIST’S
(BEING-HERE-FOR-US) NO LONGER HAVE TO LIVE UNDER A CONTINUOUS, LOW-LYING BLACK CLOUD.
A NEW POWER IS IN OPERATION. THE SPIRIT OF LIFE IN CHRIST,
LIKE A STRONG WIND, HAS MAGNIFICENTLY CLEARED THE AIR,
FREEING YOU FROM A FATED LIFETIME OF BRUTAL TYRANNY AT THE HANDS OF SIN AND DEATH.
THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO BE CELEBRATING INDEPENDANCE DAY.
CELEBRATING OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM THE TYRANNY AND BONDAGE OF AN OPPRESSIVE FOREIGN GOVERNMENT,
WE'LL BE CELEBRATING AN INDEPENDENCE THAT WAS WON 233 YEARS AGO.
BUT THE INDEPENDANCE DAY THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO CELEBRATE
IS AN INDEPENDENCE, THAT IS ONLY TEMPORARY.
THERE IS A DAY THAT IS COMING WHEN WE WILL NO LONGER ENJOY THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE NOW.
WE CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE AS A NATION
EVERY 4TH OF JULY.
BUT SHOULDN'T WE AS CHRISTIANS,
ALSO CELEBRATE OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM
THE TYRANNY AND BONDAGE OF
SIN, GUILT, FEAR, AND DEATH;
OUR INDEPENDENCE WAS WON OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO?
SHOULDN'T WE CELEBRATE THIS INDEPENDENCE THAT WILL LAST FOR ALL OF ETERNITY?
IF YOU WANT TO BE TRULY FREE,
FREE FROM ALL THAT HAS TIED YOUR LIFE DOWN
>>>
AND BURIED YOU UNDER A MOUNTAINOUS WEIGHT OF FEAR AND GUILT, THEN THIS MESSAGE IS FOR YOU.
TODAY WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THREE WAYS
THAT JESUS SETS US FREE.
WE ONLY HAVE TO HAVE FAITH TO BELIEVE HIM
AND FAITH TO BELIEVE IN HIM.
THE FIRST FREEDOM THAT CHRIST GIVES IS:
I. FREEDOM FROM GUILT
OUR PAST CAN’T HAUNT US ANY MORE.
HAVE YOU BEEN DRAGGING YOUR PAST AROUND WITH YOU?
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. YOU’VE DONE THINGS IN THE PAST THAT HAVE HURT OTHERS AND HAVE HURT YOU.
AT TIMES YOU’VE FAILED MISERABLY.
YOU MAY HAVE FAILED AT MARRIAGE.
YOU MAY HAVE FAILED AT PARENTING.
MAYBE YOU’VE FAILED FINANCIALLY
BECAUSE OF YOUR OWN IRRESPONSIBILITY.
MAYBE YOU’VE FAILED AT RELIGION – IT’S JUST TOO HARD TO KEEP ALL THOSE RULES.
YOU’VE FAILED AND FAILED AND FAILED
AND THE GUILT OF YOUR FAILURES IS CHAINED TO YOU.
THE GUILT IS HEAVY AND IT'S THERE ON THE FLOOR BEHIND YOU, HOLDING YOU DOWN
YOUR PAST SINS ARE A WEIGHT THAT HOLDS YOU DOWN WHEN IN YOUR HEART
WHEN YOU LONG TO SOAR INTO THE SKY.
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE FREE FROM THAT GUILT?
THE KEY WORD HERE IS YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN.
IN A SINGLE STROKE, ALL THREE ARE GONE
--SIN, GUILT, AND DEATH--ARE GONE,
1 CORINTHIANS 15:56-57 (NIV)
56 THE STING OF DEATH IS SIN, AND THE POWER OF SIN IS THE LAW. 57 BUT THANKS BE TO GOD! HE GIVES US THE VICTORY THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
THE GIFT OF JESUS CHRIST
IS VICTORY OVER THE POWER OF SIN.
PRAISE THE LORD!
EPHESIANS 1:7b (NLT)
HE PURCHASED OUR FREEDOM THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS SON, AND OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN.
BECAUSE OF THE WORK JESUS DID IN WINNING OUR FREEDOM,
WE DON’T HAVE TO CARRY OUR GUILT AROUND ANY MORE.
WE CAN RELEASE IT AND WE CAN BE FREE.
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IN THE MOVIE "THE MISSION" THE STORY IS TOLD OF CAPTAIN RODRIGO MENDOZA.
MENDOZA WAS A SLAVE TRADER IN THE MID 1700’S.
MENDOZA AND HIS MEN WOULD GO INTO THE JUNGLES OF BRAZIL AND ECUADOR AND RAID THE INDIAN VILLAGES
THEY'D TAKE PRISONERS TO SELL AS SLAVES.
HE EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO RAID THE CATHOLIC MISSIONS TO TAKE PRISONERS FROM THE INDIANS THAT WERE THERE.
IN A DUEL OVER A WOMAN, CAPTAIN MENDOZA KILLED HIS OWN BROTHER
AND THEN HE FELL INTO A REMORSE-FILLED DEPRESSION, HE BELIEVED THAT GOD COULD NEVER FORGIVE HIM.
BUT THERE WAS A PRIEST FROM THE MISSION SAN CARLOS, WHO OFFERED MENDOZA A CHANCE TO ASK GOD FOR FORGIVENESS.
MENDOZA ACCEPTED THE OFFER OF THE PRIEST.
AND OF GOD, AND WAS GLORIOUSLY FORGIVEN.
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JUST AS RODRIGO MENDOZA FOUND FORGIVENESS AT THE HANDS OF THOSE HE HAD VIOLATED,
SO WE TOO CAN FIND FORGIVENESS IN THE NAIL SCARED HANDS OF THE ONE WE HAVE VIOLATED AND BETRAYED.
JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE THAT MENDOZA HAD SINNED AGAINST
WERE ABLE TO CUT HIS GUILT AWAY FROM HIM
AND SET HIM FREE WITH FORGIVENESS,
SO THE GOD WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST CUTS OUR GUILT AWAY
AND SETS US FREE WITH THE FORGIVENESS HE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
WOULDN’T IT BE NICE TO KNOW THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO DRAG YOUR PAST AROUND WITH YOU?
WOULDN’T FORGIVENESS BE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR?
YOU CAN HAVE THAT FORGIVENESS.
JESUS, THE SON OF GOD, OFFERS IT TO US.
WHEN WE COME TO JESUS AND ASK HIM SET US FREE,
WE ARE SET FREE INDEED…
WE'RE FREED FROM OUR GUILT.
BUT THERE IS ANOTHER FREEDOM THAT HE OFFERS TO US.
THE SECOND FREEDOM THAT CHRIST GIVES IS:
II. FREEDOM FROM CONSEQUENCE
BECAUSE CHRIST DIED IN OUR PLACE
WE ALL KNOW THAT WHEN THE LAW IS BROKEN
THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.
SOMETIMES WE ESCAPE THE LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR MISDEEDS,
BUT THERE ARE STILL CONSEQUENCES.
GUILT IS A CONSEQUENCE OF OUR SIN.
AND THERE ARE OTHER CONSEQUENCES AS WELL.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT OTHER CONSEQUENCES THERE ARE,
THERE IS ONE CONSEQUENCE THAT,
NO MATTER HOW HARD OUR HEART IS.
AND NO MATTER HOW SEARED OUR CONSCIENCE IS
WE MUST ALL FACE.
THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE FOR OUR SIN IS DEATH.
NOT JUST PHYSICAL DEATH, BUT ETERNAL SPIRITUAL DEATH.
THE BIBLE TEACHES US THAT WE'RE ALL GOING TO FACE THE JUDGEMENT ONE DAY.
HEBREWS 9:27 (NIV) SAYS
MAN IS DESTINED TO DIE ONCE,
AND AFTER THAT TO FACE JUDGMENT,
“EVERYONE HAS TO DIE ONCE,
AND THEN FACE THE CONSEQUENCES”
WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF OUR SIN?
ROMANS 6:23 PUTS IT CLEARLY
23FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.
THAT’S A SEVERE CONSEQUENCE.
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ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE THIS ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE FOR OUR SIN IS ONE THAT WE CANNOT PAY.
BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO.
THE PENALTY FOR OUR SIN HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID.
OUR ACCOUNT HAS BEEN CREDITED AND WE ARE,
AS WE SAW A MINUTE AGO, NO LONGER GUILTY.
THE KEY WORD HERE IS SUBSTITUTE
THIS MEANS THAT THE WORK IS DONE BY ONE PERSON SUBSTITUTING FOR ANOTHER
CHRIST HAS DEALT WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SIN.
IT’S NOT THAT THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE ISN’T REQUIRED,
IT’S THAT SOMEONE ELSE ALREADY PAID IT FOR YOU.
YOU SEE, WHEN JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS HE WAS RECEIVING THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SIN.
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THE DEATH OF JESUS CHRIST IS RECORDED IN JOHN 19.
AT THE END OF THE STORY, JUST BEFORE HE DIED,
HE CALLED OUT “IT IS FINISHED.”
AT LEAST THAT IS HOW IT'S TRANSLATED IN MOST BIBLES TODAY.
BUT "IT IS FINISHED” ISN'T THE MOST ACCURATE TRANSLATION.
IN THE ORIGINAL TEXT THE WORD TRANSLATED "FINISHED" IS ACTUALLY A COMMERCIAL WORD THAT MEANS,
"IT IS PAID, THE DEBT IS PAID IN FULL!"
WHEN JESUS DIED UPON THE CROSS,
HE PAID OUR DEBT IN FULL
AND SET US FREE FROM THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE OF OUR SIN.
NOW PLEASE, DON’T MISUNDERSTAND ME.
THERE CAN STILL BE CONSEQUENCES FOR OUR SIN.
WHEN WE CHOOSE TO SPEED OR RUN THAT RED LIGHT,
WE COULD STILL GET A TICKET
AND WE WOULD STILL HAVE TO PAY.
WHEN WE CHEAT ON OUR TAXES THERE ARE STILL PENALTIES.
WHEN WE BREAK OUR MARRIAGE VOWS
AND COMMIT ADULTERY,
THE TRUST IN OUR RELATIONSHIP IS STILL BROKEN;
THE MARRIAGE MIGHT STILL COME TO AN END.
THAT’S A CONSEQUENCE.
WHEN WE SIN, THERE ARE GOING TO BE CONSEQUENCES.
THAT'S THE NATURE OF LIFE.
WHAT YOU SOW, THAT SHALL YOU ALSO REAP.
YOU CAN'T SET SOMETHING INTO MOTION AND EXPECT THAT THERE WILL BE NO REPERCUSSIONS FROM IT.
BUT WHEN JESUS SETS US FREE,
HE FREES US FROM THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE.
WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY GOD FOR OUR SINS.
WE'RE MADE RIGHT WITH HIM.
ETERNAL DEATH AND ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD ARE CONSEQUENCES WE WON’T HAVE TO FACE IF JESUS HAS SET US FREE.
IN JESUS CHRIST WE HAVE FREEDOM.
FIRST; FREEDOM FROM GUILT: OUR PAST CAN'T HAUNT US.
SECOND; WE'RE FREE FROM THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE OF OUR SINFUL LIVES: BECAUSE CHRIST PAID OUR DEBT.
THE THIRD FREEDOM THAT CHRIST GIVES US IS:
III. FREEDOM FROM ACCUSATION
WE NO LONGER HAVE TO LIVE IN FEAR
COLOSSIANS 1:22 (NIV)
22 NOW HE HAS RECONCILED YOU BY CHRIST’S PHYSICAL BODY THROUGH DEATH TO PRESENT YOU HOLY IN HIS SIGHT, WITHOUT BLEMISH AND FREE FROM ACCUSATION—
HOW NICE IT IS TO NOT HAVE TO RUN AND HIDE?
HOW NICE IS IT TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY THAT SOMEONE ELSE WILL FIND YOU OUT?
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE TO BE FREE FROM ALL ACCUSATIONS AND THE FEAR THAT YOUR SINS ARE GOING TO BE DISCOVERED?
THAT WOULD CERTAINLY BE A FREEING EXPERIENCE.
HOW WOULD IT FEEL TO BE FREE FROM ALL ACCUSATION?
WOULD YOU HAVE A SENSE OF RELIEF?
WOULD YOU HAVE A SENSE OF RELEASE?
WOULD YOU FEEL AS THOUGH A WEIGHT HAD BEEN LIFTED FROM YOUR SHOULDERS?
WOULD YOU FEEL FREE?
HOW WOULD IT FEEL TO KNOW THAT THERE WAS NO ACCUSATION THAT COULD BE BROUGHT AGAINST YOU?
THERE'S A REASON THAT JESUS SETS US FREE FROM ACCUSATION.
IT'S BECAUSE, WHEN WE SURRENDER TO HIM AND LET HIM HAVE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES,
HE MAKES US BLAMELESS. THAT’S THE KEY WORD HERE.
KEY WORD: BLAMELESS
BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS DID FOR US ON THE CROSS, WE'RE BLAMELESS BEFORE GOD IF WE KNOW HIS SON, JESUS.
THE WORD BLAMELESS MEANS FREE OF GUILT;
WE'RE NOT SUBJECT TO BLAME.
AS I SAID A MINUTE AGO, JESUS TOOK CARE OF THE ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SIN.
BUT HE DID MORE THAN THAT.
HE ALSO TOOK CARE OF OUR GUILT.
HE SATISFIED THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAW.
WHEN THE LAW WAS BROKEN A DEATH WAS REQUIRED
AND HE PAID THAT REQUIREMENT FOR US.
THEREFORE, NOT ON OUR OWN MERIT– BUT THROUGH HIM,
WE'RE FOUND FREE OF GUILT
WE'RE NOT SUBJECT TO BLAME.
SO, WE'RE FREE FROM ACCUSATION
AND WHEN A MAN IS FREE FROM ACCUSATION,
HE IS FREE FROM A GREAT DEAL OF THE FEAR THAT THIS LIFE OFFERS.
WE CAN STAND BEFORE GOD AND OUR FELLOW MAN
AND NOT FEAR ACCUSATION FROM GOD.
NOW, BEING FREE OF ACCUSATION DOES NOT MEAN THAT NO ACCUSATION WILL COME.
WE WILL CERTAINLY FACE ALL KINDS OF ACCUSATIONS IN THIS LIFE.
MANY ARE WELL DESERVED BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE DONE IN OUR PAST.
PEOPLE HAVE SEEN OUR SINS AND OUR MISTAKES AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHY WE NOW CLAIM TO BE DIFFERENT.
THIS SHOULDN’T THREATEN US.
IT SHOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE WITH THEM
THE TRANSFORMATION THAT JESUS BRINGS INTO OUR LIVES.
BUT WE DON'T NEED TO FEAR ACCUSATION.
WE'RE NOW FREED FROM OUR GUILT.
WE'RE NO LONGER SUBJECT TO BLAME.
THE ACCOUNT HAS BEEN LAID TO REST
AND WE CAN LIVE WITHOUT THE FEAR
OF A HIDDEN PAST BEING BROUGHT TO LIGHT.
BECAUSE IT HAS ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT TO LIGHT AND IT'S BEEN DEALT WITH.
ILLUSTRATION
THERE ONCE WAS A BOY NAMED BILLY.
HIS GRANDFATHER HAD A SLING SHOT.
ONE DAY HE ASKED HIS GRANDFATHER IF HE WOULD TEACH HIM HOW TO SHOOT THE SLING SHOT.
HIS GRANDFATHER TOOK INTO THE BACK WOODS AND BEGAN TO TEACH THE BOY.
THE GRANDFATHER TOLD BILLY TO GO AND PRACTICE FOR A WHILE.
BILLY WAS IN THE WOODS, ALONE, AND KEPT MISSING EVERYTHING HE SHOT AT.
BILLY, ON HIS WAY BACK TO THE HOUSE, SAW HIS GRANDFATHER’S DUCK AND DECIDED TO TRY HIS AIM WITH THE SLING SHOT ONCE MORE.
BILLY TOOK AIM AND SHOT THAT DUCK DEAD!
HE TOOK THE DUCK, BURIED IT IN THE GROUND.
AS HE LOOKED UP HE SAW HIS SISTER, SALLY STANDING THERE WATCHING HIM ATTEMPTING TO HIDE HIS DEEDS. SALLY AND BILLY WENT BACK INTO THEIR GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE.
AS THEY DID SO, BILLY TOLD SALLY NOT TO SAY ANYTHING. SALLY SAID, SURE, NO PROBLEM.
THE KIDS’ GRANDFATHER TOLD SALLY TO GO INTO THE KITCHEN AND HELP HER GRANDMOTHER WASH THE DISHES.
SALLY SAID, "BILLY IS THE BEST DISH WASHER IN THE FAMILY, HE WOULD LOVE TO WASH THE DISHES.
REMEMBER THE DUCK?’ BILLY WASHED THE DISHES THAT NIGHT.
THE NEXT DAY BILLY’S GRANDFATHER SAID, "BILLY, LETS GO FISHING TODAY.
SALLY, YOUR GRANDMOTHER NEEDS YOUR HELP AROUND THE HOUSE, SO STAY HERE AND HELP HER OUT."
SALLY RESPONDED," BILLY HATES FISHING BUT LOVES HOUSEWORK. ISN’T THAT RIGHT BILLY?"
BILLY STAYED AT HOME THAT DAY WHILE SALLY WENT FISHING.
THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
SALLY BLACKMAILED BILLY INTO EVERY UNPLEASANT CHORE AROUND THE FARM
AND OUT OF EVERY ENJOYABLE OPPORTUNITY.
FINALLY BILLY HAD HAD ENOUGH AND HE DECIDED TO CONFESS HIS CRIME.
MUCH TO HIS SURPRISE, HIS GRANDFATHER SAID,
"I KNOW YOU KILLED THE DUCK. I SAW YOU THROUGH THE WINDOW.
I ALSO SAW YOUR SISTER STANDING THERE WATCHING YOU.
I FORGAVE YOU WHEN IT HAPPENED BECAUSE I LOVE YOU.
I JUST WANTED TO KNOW HOW LONG YOU WOULD LET YOURSELF BE YOUR SISTERS SLAVE."
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YOU SEE, WHEN WE DON’T TURN TO JESUS AND CONFESS OUR SINS AND LET HIM CLEANSE US,
WE'RE SLAVES TO OUR PAST
SLAVES TO OUR GUILT
AND WE ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ACCUSATION.
BUT ONCE WE COME CLEAN,
WE'RE FREE FROM ACCUSATION.
WE'RE NO LONGER A SLAVE.
WHEN WE COME TO JESUS, THE SON OF GOD
AND LET THE SON SET US FREE,
WE'RE SET FREE FROM GUILT.
WE'RE SET FREE FROM THE ULTIMATE CONSEQUENCE OF OUR SINFUL LIVES WHICH IS DEATH.
AND WE'RE SET FREE FROM ACCUSATION.
APPLICATION:
THIS WEEK WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE FREEDOM OF OUR NATION.
BUT MORE THAN THAT, WE'RE GOING TO CELEBRATE THE SACRIFICE THAT WAS NECESSARY TO GIVE US THE FREEDOM THAT WE SO DEARLY LOVE.
BUT REMEMBER; THERE'S A GREATER FREEDOM THAN POLITICAL FREEDOM.
THERE'S A FREEDOM WE CAN HAVE IN JESUS CHRIST IF WE WILL PLACE OUR TRUST IN HIM, IF WE WILL SURRENDER OURSELF TO HIM.
JESUS BLED AND DIED;
HE GAVE HIS LIFE, SO THAT YOU AND I COULD BE FREE.
IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED HIS SACRIFICE AND THE FREEDOM IT BRINGS, WILL YOU DO IT TODAY?
[CLOSE IN PRAYER]