Free

07/04/2011

Good Morning! And Happy Fourth of July!!!

We celebrate the 235th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence today. Actually, on this date 235 years ago, only two people signed the Declaration of Independence – John Hancock as President of the Continental Congress and Charles Thomson as Secretary of the same Congress. The document was then sent to a printer to have 500 copies printed and delivered to the members of Congress and to King George III in England. Why they printed 500 copies is a mystery … as are most expenditures by Congress. I guess it was a harbinger of the waste we see in government today.

The actual signing of the document took place on August 2, 1776. Nevertheless, we celebrate our “freedom” today.

But are we really free? Here are some things Jesus said about freedom:

John 8:31-47 New International Version (NIV)
Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, 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. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. 38 I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.[a]”
39 “Abraham is our father,” they answered.
“If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would[b] do what Abraham did. 40 As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. 41 You are doing the works of your own father.”
“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Footnotes:
a. John 8:38 Or presence. Therefore do what you have heard from the Father.
b. John 8:39 Some early manuscripts “If you are Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then

True freedom comes when we are freed from the curse of sin. Until that time we are enslaved by the evil desires that sin creates in our lives. In this encounter, Jesus was talking with Jews who BELIEVED in Him … not to the Pharisees. Why did Jesus bring this confrontation on? Because the Jews who believed in Him also believed that their salvation lay in their being a descendant of Abraham. In short, they had a cognitive belief rather than a complete belief. They believed that Jesus was a prophet or perhaps even the long awaited Messiah … but their trust was still in their bloodline.

Unfortunately, there are many who profess to believe in Jesus today who have a cognitive belief and not the trust that leads to salvation. Many know ABOUT Christ Jesus but do not really KNOW Him as Lord and Savior. And thus they remain enslaved to sin. True freedom comes when a person realizes that he or she is a sinner and incapable of redeeming themselves and cries out to Jesus to save them.

Wouldn’t it be a true Independence Day if someone did that today?

Agape’


Mr. Jim


Prayer Need:

My friend, Tom Futch asks for prayer as he has been suffering from heat exhaustion.

Also, Gina Moore asks that we remember the Crosswalk Ministry as it is on tour.

She also asks that we pray hard for Karissa this month as she is scheduled for parole. You have been praying for her and her family for many months … and I am ready to post a praise … aren’t you?