As we celebrate the Birthday of our Great Nation – let’s look back at exactly where real Liberty and Freedom comes from –
The Prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament wrote – “The Spirit of God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim LIBERTY to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
Quite a statement for those in his day – and also quite a statement for us today, several thousand years later -- because we all face forces that would entrap us and lead us into bondage.
THIS IS NOT a political statement but rather a wake-up call for all Americans to open their eyes – regardless of political affiliation or religious background – to see the creeping enslavement of socialism and its first-cousin atheistic communism.
It seems like every day the news media is carrying items of bigger and bigger government – more and more national debt – and impossible programs that will tax the average American (and his children and grandchildren) out of existence.
The quote from Isaiah ends with the word “bound” – and that is the direct opposite of our leading word “LIBERTY.” The Apostle Paul says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit – and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY” (2 Corinthians 3:17). So, the secret of being free from bondage is only found by having a proper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are also admonished by Paul, “Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY by which Christ has made us FREE -- and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
He goes on in this same chapter to warn us, “For you have been called to LIBERTY – only do not use this LIBERTY as an opportunity for the flesh, but through Love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
We are FREE – we have LIBERTY – and we must not use this selfishly, but to help and serve others. The Apostle James reminds us, “But he who looks into the perfect law of LIBERTY and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).
The Apostle Peter tells us, “For this is the will of God that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – as FREE, yet not using your LIBERTY as a covering for vice, but as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16).
This real FREEDOM and LIBERTY can only come to us by the finished work of Christ on the Cross – by Him working in and through us – and we applying His truth in our every-day lives. “And you shall know the Truth – and the Truth shall make you FREE” (John 8:36). “And having been set FREE from sin – you became servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18) – “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me FREE from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
It is very important to remember – FREEDOM is based on sacrifice. Throughout the 200 plus years our nation has been in existence there have been thousands of our military in their prime years who have sacrificed their lives on the battle fields of the world that we might be FREE today – and the most significant sacrifice of a life is when Jesus Christ hung on a Cross to give us FREEDOM from sin – sin that we inherited from Adam and Eve – and the sin each one of us has personally committed, “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23) – and – “The wages of sin is death – but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God loves us so very much that He gave His only Son – Jesus Christ – to die as a sacrifice for our sins – to forgive us – and to make the way for us to enjoy Heaven with Him for Eternity. Believe in Him – Trust Him – Receive His Gift of Life Eternal.
In closing I would like to give a brief personal testimony – I was born on the 4th of July, a real “Yankee Doddle Dandy” and proud of it – a Fundamental Born Again Christian – a Missionary to South Africa for 38 of the past 40 years -- a WWII Navy Vet – a Member of the NRA -- and I love the Lord Jesus Christ, the United States of America, and my dear loving wife of 60 years (a fuller testimony is in a recently published book available by contacting the OBM Office below).
Recieve freedom and liberty today- as a gift from God!
For more information or counseling – contact – Pastor Bruce R. Burke, Open Bible Ministries,263 Edgefield Road, Lake Ariel, PA 18436; phone (570)698-7890; cell (570)470-3760; e-mail openbiblemin@verizon.net.
|
|
|
As we celebrate the Birthday of our Great Nation – let’s look back at exactly where real Liberty and Freedom comes from –
The Prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament wrote – “The Spirit of God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim LIBERTY to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1).
Quite a statement for those in his day – and also quite a statement for us today, several thousand years later -- because we all face forces that would entrap us and lead us into bondage.
THIS IS NOT a political statement but rather a wake-up call for all Americans to open their eyes – regardless of political affiliation or religious background – to see the creeping enslavement of socialism and its first-cousin atheistic communism.
It seems like every day the news media is carrying items of bigger and bigger government – more and more national debt – and impossible programs that will tax the average American (and his children and grandchildren) out of existence.
The quote from Isaiah ends with the word “bound” – and that is the direct opposite of our leading word “LIBERTY.” The Apostle Paul says, “Now the Lord is the Spirit – and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is LIBERTY” (2 Corinthians 3:17). So, the secret of being free from bondage is only found by having a proper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are also admonished by Paul, “Stand fast therefore in the LIBERTY by which Christ has made us FREE -- and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).
He goes on in this same chapter to warn us, “For you have been called to LIBERTY – only do not use this LIBERTY as an opportunity for the flesh, but through Love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
We are FREE – we have LIBERTY – and we must not use this selfishly, but to help and serve others. The Apostle James reminds us, “But he who looks into the perfect law of LIBERTY and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:25).
The Apostle Peter tells us, “For this is the will of God that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men – as FREE, yet not using your LIBERTY as a covering for vice, but as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16).
This real FREEDOM and LIBERTY can only come to us by the finished work of Christ on the Cross – by Him working in and through us – and we applying His truth in our every-day lives. “And you shall know the Truth – and the Truth shall make you FREE” (John 8:36). “And having been set FREE from sin – you became servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:18) – “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me FREE from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2).
It is very important to remember – FREEDOM is based on sacrifice. Throughout the 200 plus years our nation has been in existence there have been thousands of our military in their prime years who have sacrificed their lives on the battle fields of the world that we might be FREE today – and the most significant sacrifice of a life is when Jesus Christ hung on a Cross to give us FREEDOM from sin – sin that we inherited from Adam and Eve – and the sin each one of us has personally committed, “For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God” (Romans 3:23) – and – “The wages of sin is death – but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
God loves us so very much that He gave His only Son – Jesus Christ – to die as a sacrifice for our sins – to forgive us – and to make the way for us to enjoy Heaven with Him for Eternity. Believe in Him – Trust Him – Receive His Gift of Life Eternal.
In closing I would like to give a brief personal testimony – I was born on the 4th of July, a real “Yankee Doddle Dandy” and proud of it – a Fundamental Born Again Christian – a Missionary to South Africa for 38 of the past 40 years -- a WWII Navy Vet – a Member of the NRA -- and I love the Lord Jesus Christ, the United States of America, and my dear loving wife of 60 years (a fuller testimony is in a recently published book available by contacting the OBM Office below).
Recieve freedom and liberty today- as a gift from God!
For more information or counseling – contact – Pastor Bruce R. Burke, Open Bible Ministries,263 Edgefield Road, Lake Ariel, PA 18436; phone (570)698-7890; cell (570)470-3760; e-mail openbiblemin@verizon.net.
