Liberty or Death

-Wars and Rumors of War

Right now in Europe, we are facing a grand dilemma. The likes of which most of us in here have never seen in our lifetime.

From a prophetic, Biblical point of view, it certainly seems as if the end times are definitely upon us.

Where there are wars and rumors of wars. This is certainly the case today

Jesus also said there would be pestilence. We who are alive here today and watching on the screen are currently living in a nuisance post pandemic world that doesn't want to leave.

Thereby being a pest. The root of the word pestilence is pest!

-Identity at stake

When we look at what is going on in Ukraine at the moment what do we see?

We see a nation of people, who stand in solidarity, convinced they have an identity.

They are the nation of “UKRAINE”

But we also see another nation, claiming that they don’t have an identity apart from the “bigger stronger nation” that used to govern them. They claim they are bound to them.

These people are now at war for their very freedom. They aren’t willing to be identified by their oppressors.

They are NOT Russian, and they are fighting to the death and will not allow that which oppresses, be what identifies them.

We should pray for victory in their quest for freedom from an oppressor.

We have seen this before. Case in point, our very own nation right here in America.

Those who came before us recognized that freedom was attainable and they fought to the death to achieve it.

England claimed we were all under English Rule but, the early Patriots of this nation threw off the shackles of bondage and claimed their freedom and the right to identify as a “FREE” nation.

And they did it, albeit through much sacrifice, despair, discouragement, strife And plagues, pestilences.

Ukraine is certainly going through its share of sacrifice, loss, Despair, discouragement, and also through the rigors of the current pestilence.

So, I ask you, here today Is it worth it?

-Is Identity worth the cost of war?

Is war against that which oppresses you worth the cost of freedom? Absolutely it is!

When the pilgrims came to this nation, landing on Plymouth Rock what were they looking for?

They were looking for freedom from the bondage of where they came, at all cost.

Wouldn't it be awesome if we had some of that same tenacity today?

-We are in danger of losing our identity.

Today It seems we are all in danger of losing our identity.

It's all around us. You are no longer an American, now you are a pro-lifer, Pro choicer, gluten-free, Lactose intolerant, Lactose-free, depressed, anxiety-ridden, recovering addict, straight, gay, A-sexual, binary, non-binary, soon to be tri-nary, baby boomer, Ex, millennial, Gen Z’r.

Even in the medical field, you are also identified by your infirmities.

If you happen to have diabetes, you are labeled as a Diabetic Or you are a this or a that.

In religion, you are either an atheist, a Catholic, a Baptist, a Mormon, A Buddist, etc.

Then even among those, you are charismatic, a fundamentalist, etc.

All of this serves to mask your true identity.

-So, what then is our True Identity?

So then what is our True Identity?

To answer that question, let's look at the most common denominator.

First, we are all humans, (of mind and soul).

Regardless of race, creed, religion, size, weight, etc.

What ultimately unites us all is our humanness.

Because we were created in the imago Dei. In the image of God. So, we share in that.

Also, Since we are all human, we all came from the same man and woman, Adam and Eve.

They sinned and lost their perfect identity in God, and took on the Identity of a sinner. A slave to sin.

Now, to be human means to share in this identity. All of the worldly identities that we have duped ourselves into accepting, have only masked the true identity of that which we truly are.

-A Sinner in need of a redeemer

A Sinner in need of a redeemer!

John 3:16–21 (CSB)

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God. 19 This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Now, if you truly believe this, that you are a human being, created in the image of God then, I’ve got news for you.

Because this same Jesus, that came and died for you to be redeemed, (we are told in Luke that when Jesus spoke in the synagogue He was handed a scroll),

Luke 4:16–21 (CSB)

16 He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. As usual, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him, and unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written:

18 The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me

to proclaim release to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free the oppressed,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

20 He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today as you listen, this Scripture has been fulfilled.”

-Our Afflictions don’t define us!

He has also set you free from all of the things of this world that want to Claim & Control you, like Sin!

That’s right, you are no longer a slave to sin. If you are still bound to your sin, you still wear the brand of a sinner,

the ring in the nose,

the awl pierced ear,

These are all ways in which slaves were identified by their ruler.

So, according to God who made us, we who believe in Christ, are no longer identified with sin, but with God.

So, that means, you are a blood-bought human being.

You are no longer a diabetic.

You are a child of God who happens to have diabetes

You are no longer a depressed person You are a person who deals with depression.

You are no longer an anxious person, you are a person who gets anxious

You are no longer a FAT person, you are a person with a few extra pounds

You are no longer a gay person, you are a person who deals with homosexual tendencies

You are not Cancer, you are a person who is dealing with cancer

You see, you are NOT defined by your affliction, you are a person created in the Imago Dei, in the image of God, bought and paid for with the Blood of Jesus, that suffers afflictions from time to time.

When we place these identities on us we give them power over us,

Diabetes does not own you.

Cancer doesn't own you

Depression, anger, anxiety doesn’t own you.

Sickness doesn’t own you.

Anger does not own you.

Fear does not own you.

These are all effects of a fallen world.

Jesus said in this world we will have trouble, but to be of good cheer He has overcome the world.

That means He has declared victory over every vice,

sickness,

addiction,

emotion,

& even finances,

-You were bought with a price.

Sin is lying at your door, its desire is to rule over you, but you must master it.

(Genesis 4.7)

You are not defined by this life’s issues. You were bought with a price.

(1 Corinthians 6.20)

Jesus came that we may have life and have it more abundantly.

(John 10.10)

You have been set free from all of the bondage of this world.

Its a glory to the Lord when you find a righteous pleasure.

Enjoy it, that's why you have it.

But mindful of the freedom you have been given

Paul tells us in

1 Corinthians 6:12 (CSB)

12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be mastered by anything.

So, with what Paul is saying here, you are free to enjoy your lives.

Go, experience all that God has righteously offered on this planet.

But, don’t let any of it become a master over you.

The Bible is filled page to page explaining to us how He continuously called people back from the bondage they were in.

He called Cain when he was about to sin. “Don’t do it. It will rule you.”

To Noah, He freed him from a soon to be destroyed world.

Israel from the bondage of Pharaoh.

Jesus said He was the one who is come to set the captive free.

And he said in

John 8:36 (CSB)

36 So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.

So, don’t allow this world or its wicked problems to define you any longer.

Whatever it was that you were.

Whatever held your body ransom.

Whatever held your mind ransom.

Whatever held back your financial wisdom & blessing ransom.

And whatever held your spirit ransom.

You are no longer that person.

Know this when you walk out of these doors, you are a child of the living God.

You don't belong to anything except to God.

Your sickness doesn’t own you.

Your problems don’t own you.

And Your emotions don’t own you.

Peter speaking about false prophets and teachers of the world said this

2 Peter 2:19–20 (CSB)

19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption, since people are enslaved to whatever defeats them. 20 For if, having escaped the world’s impurity through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in these things and defeated, the last state is worse for them than the first.

-Give me liberty or give me death

In that case then, give me liberty or give me death

Don't let your worldly problems overcome you, especially if you are a believer, Peter says, your next state will be worse than at first you get re-entangled in that snare.

You must, Master over them.

You have the victory over it already because Jesus gave it to you on the cross.

God owns you, and it is His spirit that is in you

2 Corinthians 3:17 (CSB)

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

-You have been redeemed!

You have been redeemed!