The Spirit of Freedom

Introduction

Naimbag a bigat (Ilocano)

Mayap a abak (Kapampangan)

Maayong Aga (Ilonggo)

Maayong Buntag (Bisaya)

Buenas Dias (Chavacano)

Mabuhay tayong lahat! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!

Today is Philippines Independence Day. (photo)

We commemorate the declaration of Philippine independence from Spain that happened in 1898.

Independence was the freedom from the control, influence, support, aid or the like. But did you know that our country had its real independence in July 4, 1946?

I read an article written by Ricardo Trota Jose who is a professor of history at the University of the Philippines, Diliman. This article was published in the National WWII Museum of New Orleans. The title of the article was “July 4, 1946: The Philippines Gained independence from the United States”

What really happened during that time when we Filipinos fought for our independence in 1898, led by Emilio Aguinaldo with the help of the Americans, resulted into a treaty that was made between the Spaniards. That was the treaty of Paris. That treaty was decreed that Spain would give up the Philippines and turn it to be a colony of the United States. Filipinos were not consulted about that treaty. So the fight for our independence had war continued against the US for two years and then we were under the colony of the US. That day established the Philippine commonwealth regime which was led by Manuel Quezon.

Time passes until the World War II ended in 1945, many efforts of Filipino leaders proposed an independence. And it happened during the time of Manuel Roxas.

The Philippines had its independence in July 4, 1946. here are the images during the ceremony.

(Souvenir program)

(Manuel Roxas taking oath as the President of the Republic of the Philippines)

(The raising of the Philippine flag and the lowering of the US flag)

“A new nation is born. Long live the Republic of the Philippines. May God bless and prosper the Philippine people, keep them safe and free.” Paul V. McNutt

So, our true independence happened in 1946 not 1898. But the one that was declared is still June 12, 1898 just to avoid a confusion with the independence day of the US, it was revert back to June 12 during the administration of Pres. Diosdado Macapagal. July 4 was declared as the Philippine-American Friendship Day.

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

We will talk today about the true freedom that is given by God. The message is about the Spirit of Freedom. At the end of this day, our aim is to understand that...

Proposition: The ministry of the Spirit of life brings true freedom to all followers of Jesus.

Interrogative sentence: How did the ministry of the Spirit of life brought true freedom to all followers of Jesus?

Transition sentence: The ministry of the Spirit…

A. Comes with surpassing glory that lasts forever. (3:7-11)

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

In this passage, Paul compared the old covenant (external law) with the new covenant (internal Spirit). Paul referred this to Exo. 34:29-35 where Moses came down from Mt. Sinai carrying the two tablet stones in his hands. Moses' face was shining with the glory of God. It was the Shekinah glory that manifested in the time when Moses requested to see God face to face in Exodus 33. Shekinah means "he caused to dwell" signifying that it was a divine visitation of God. The children of Israel could not look at Moses' face because of the radiance of God's glory. But Paul stated that the glory of the Spirit is much greater than the glory of that old covenant. Paul compared the old and the new covenants. The old brought condemnation because of it revealed the sins and the fallenness of the people of Israel. The new covenant brought righteousness because Jesus was the propitiation of God's righteous requirement. Jesus did not only died for us for the redemption of our sins but also to satisfy the righteous requirement of His Father. To propitiate His holy, just, and righteous nature.

Illustration: Why did Jesus have to die? by Josh Mcdowell (photo gavel)

This happened a number of years ago where he read in a newspaper account in Los Angeles, California. Just north of L.A. there is a stretch of highway that goes through a county where they are very strict on speeding. And this young lady, maybe 18-19 years old, was picked up for speeding. Well in that segment of that highway there when you're picked up for speeding you're not ticketed. You are ticketed and taken right to the court 24/7 where it was in session. And so she was taken to the court. She sat in the court for a while and when it is her turn and her name was called she went and stood before the judge. The judge read off the citation and said, "Guilty or not guilty?" Well she was caught red handed. And so she said, "Guilty." And the judge brought down the gavel and said, "I find you guilty." The penalty during that time is around $100 or one day in jail.

But then an amazing thing happened, probably have never happened before, the judge stood up, took off his judicial robe, laid it over the back of the chair, walked down around the front, and stood next to the young lady. He took out his bill folded and paid the fine. Everybody in the court was stunned. Why did the judge did that?

The judge was her father. And now here's the situation. Her father loved his daughter probably more than anyone else in the world, but he was a just judge. Think of that, a just judge. So he couldn’t say "I love you so much, I know you did not mean to do it. You're forgiven this time."

What would everybody in the court yell out? I would yell out, "Hey that's not fair! I want justice!" So no matter how much he loved her, because he was a just judge he had to fine her $100 or a day in jail. But he loved her so much he was willing to set aside his judicial robes and come back down to her and stand next to her as her father instead of seated before her as her judge and he took the penalty upon himself.

So no one could say, "I want justice." The requirements of the law was met.

You might say that you and I were brought before God and he brought down and say, "Guilty or not guilty" and I said, "Guilty. I am a sinner." And brought down the gavel and said, "I fine you--The wages of your sin is death." But God loved us so much and he took off His royal robes, and he came down in the form of His Son Christ Jesus. And instead of standing before us as our judge, he stood next to us as our Savior. And He took the penalty upon Himself. He took the holy, just, righteous wrath of God upon Himself. And when Jesus said, "It is finished." all the requirements of the law was satisfied for those who believe in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Now isn't that glorious?! The glory of what God has done to us paved the way for us to receive the righteousness that is in Jesus Christ. We are no longer slave of sin and death. We were set free from the law of sin and death and now living in the law of the Spirit of life. That is how far glorious the ministry of the Spirit than the ministry of the law is.

Transition: Now, the next thing that the ministry of the Spirit brought freedom to us is that it…

B. Comes with everlasting hope and boldness to enter God's presence. (3:12-16)

Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

Here, Paul talked about the comparison of Moses' veil that covers his face so that the people of Israel will not see the glory that was passing away. Moses covered his face with veil because the hearts of the people of Israel was so hard. They were hard-headed and they always fall from the standards of God's law. Apostles James confirmed in his epistle,

"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it." Jas. 2:10

In a metaphorical sense, whenever the people of Israel reads the law, their hearts are veiled. They are still separated from the glory of the law of God. Truly it is not obeying the law can they be saved because of the fallen nature of man. No man on earth could ever satisfy the requirements of the law of God. But when Jesus Christ was on the cross and said "it is finished" and gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. Matthew 27:51-52. (photo of the torn veil) The veil that separated the holy place to the most holy place was torn apart. Which before only the High priest could enter, today all of those who became of true followers of Jesus has gained access to the presence of God. And that temple is not physical anymore, it is this body, the temple of the Holy Spirit where we can be filled with the presence of God.

Charles Spurgeon said, "When Jesus died on the cross the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom so that big sinners like me might fit through."

Jesus tore the veil so that all of us sinners can enter His presence. Jesus is our High Priest and we are his royal priesthood. 1 Peter 2:9, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

We can freely enter in His presence with praises and thanksgiving, full of hope and boldness that comes from the Holy Spirit reminding us our role as royal priests. No more condemnation and no more bondage to sin because of His grace and the power of His Spirit.

So, since we have that access to God, we need to take care of this temple. This temple is His dwelling place and He wants us to be holy because He is holy. This should not be abused. The freedom that we had from the Spirit sets us free from the law of sin and death. That holiness can only be achieved by the work of the Holy Spirit in us, transforming us to becoming more like Jesus our Lord and Savior of our lives.

Transition: The last thing that the ministry of the Spirit brought freedom to us is that it…

C. Comes with complete transformation into God's image (3:17-18)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

In the passage, Paul declared that ultimately it is the Spirit of the Lord that gives freedom. Freedom is deliverance from the slavery of sin, the curse of eternal death, and the curse of the old covenant. We did not contributed anything to make that freedom. It is only God that initiated, implemented, and consistently providing that freedom to all who believes and follows His Son.

John 8:36 says, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Jesus also said in verse 31-32, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Testimony: How God transformed me > family with unclean lips (like the prophet Isaiah) and prideful > because of the Lord's guidance, discipline, and love, He set me free from that old life and continued to be transformed daily according to His ways.

Paul said, we will be transformed by the Holy Spirit from glory to glory. It His work not ours because we really cannot do it. So this is true freedom. The freedom that the world cannot offer. The key is to continually follow and keep Jesus' teachings and be renewed and led by the Spirit every day of our lives. If we want this church to bring the Spirit of freedom to all the people here in LA and the rest of the world, this church should be touched by the Holy Spirit. A touch of renewal of passion to serve the Lord and His Kingdom. We can be able to bring change and transformation to all people (LGBTQs, drug addicts, homeless, the marginalized, etc.) through the mighty work of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, let us all receive this Spirit of Freedom and let it rain upon our lives today and forever.