Celebrate Freedom

Introduction:

Before we pray. Let’s take a moment and discuss what we mean by “celebrate freedom”

Discussion with my son about why we shoot fireworks.

- Fireworks many hundreds of years before.

- In 1777 the fireworks would have only been one color; orange

- Fireworks as we know it were invented in 1830

Letter from John Adams to Abigail Adams written on July 3rd, 1776

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

My grandfather was given a nickname. His name was Johnnie Albert Nelson. He served in WW2. When they announced the end of the war he was on the back of the bus with his platoon in Germany. People got off the bus and shot their guns in the air. He did not know they had just announced the war was over and he rollover under the bus and took his position.

- Tell you this (1) Good story (2) Proud of my father (3) Remember that freedom always comes at a price.

Nearly 80 million people died. I like to think if it wasn’t for people like my grandfather willing to fight for others freedom the number would have been higher.

Tonight as we watch the fireworks go off I will think about the things my grandfather saw the 5 nights he stayed in a foxhole. I will consider if I am using the freedom that I have been given in a way that honors God and shows respect to my grandfathers sacrifice.

Tomorrow we will meet and celebrate what Jesus did for us on the cross.

No one, and no system of rules could do for us what Jesus did.

Worse than the famous oppressors of history - Ivan the Terrible, Vlad the Impaler, Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein, Pol Pot, Leopold II, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Genghis Khan

We are all born into captivity of sin and death.

John 8:36 “36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

This is the greatest war story that will ever be told. This is the greatest demonstration of love the world will ever know.

Jesus not only died for us who were without out hope.

Jesus died for us while we were yet his enemies

We all had chosen to go out own way and do things our way.

We all have sinned against a holy and righteous God

Some day we will stand before Him as the judge of the whole world.

Before that day. Jesus came here and lived a perfect life and died for every one of us.

You can be free indeed today.