Ah to be free!
According to the encyclopedia, Independence Day is the National Day of the United States. July 4th, 1776, declared independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain.
During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the American colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2nd, 1776. In June, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia voted to approve a resolution of independence. It was proposed at the Second Continental Congress.
Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4th. Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, carnivals, picnics, concerts, baseball games, political speeches and ceremonies, and various other public and private events. It celebrates the history, government, and traditions of the United States.
Americans believe we are independently free. We are free to choose how we live, what we say and how we believe. Some of us choose to live as husband and wife and others choose to live in same-sex relationships. Others choose not to marry at all and live life alone.
Some practice freedom of speech, through radio and TV broadcasts, books and pulpits. And others choose to keep their opinions to themselves. Some choose to worship the moon and stars, idols and Satan. And others choose to worship and follow God.
Today we all have the right to vote for our leaders and exercise our political freedoms. Our parents taught us to do as we please, live the way we want (within the law) and be whoever we want to be. The sky is the limit! Right? Are we really free? We have earthly freedoms and declared independent however are we truly happy?
What does the bible say about being free?
In the book of Exodus, God chose Moses to lead the Israel people out of Egypt as slaves of Pharaoh. They desired to become set free after hundreds of years. God heard them by answering their prayers.
Exodus 6:6-7 says, “Therefore, say to the Israelites: “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.”
This scripture resembles the similarities that the people from the American Colonies felt when they were held in bondage by Great Britain. They were allowed to legally separate from them, in order to practice their religious freedoms.
We can also refer to this scripture when African-Americans were freed as slaves. They were held in bondage for over two hundred years by a race of people who felt superior over them. This scripture represents being physically enslaved resulting in freedom.
But what about our spiritual freedom?
When God created us, he gave us freedom of choice. We can choose to believe in him or not. To sin or not. There is no gray area. To live in sin, is to be a slave to sin. When we continue to make bad choices or do evil against others, we choose sin. When we live for God, we are free from sin and spirits renewed.
Romans 7:5-6 says, “For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.”
We can also be free of fear. God didn’t give us the spirit of fear. We are to trust him with all of our problems, concerns and worries. Once we put our faith and full trust in him, then he will provide a way out of them.
Romans 8:14-15 says, …”because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship.”
We are created for freedom…
Those who belong to Jesus Christ, are released from sinful passions and desires. If we truly live by the Spirit, we should do what the Spirit requires of us. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. If we allow the Spirit to control us, we will experience true spiritual freedom.
For Galatians 5:13 says, “You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.”
A great way of showing others love and respect is to treat them the way you want to be treated. Believing in God is the only way we can truly be free in this world. Not believing is a form of spiritual slavery and God is the only one who can release the chains.
For Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
If we choose not to believe in God, we will remain in confusion, sadness and darkness. This world is a Satanic world. Satan’s job is to keep us enslaved, by not knowing the truth and the eternal life, we can receive through Jesus Christ.
If we only believe and become tired of living un-fulfilling lives, God will truly set us free. We can have a joyful life even in these trying times.
“For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:13-14
Receive freedom through Jesus Christ! Inviting him into your life, will give you the true independence you are looking for today!
Do you know God? Free yourself today…