Breakthrough To Freedom! Series

Breakthrough to Freedom!

Thesis: We cannot allow fear to rob us of our freedom to worship God. We have to choose freedom over fear and safety because our only allegiance is to God and that’s what makes us really free. Men died giving up their safety to give you the freedom you have today in this country. They choose freedom over safety! This is why we celebrate Memorial Day today! To honor their sacrifices for our freedoms!

Scripture:

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

• 1 Peter 2:16: Live as free men, but do not use your freedom to cover-up for evil; live as servants of God.

• Galatians 5:1: 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.

Memorial Day reminds us that there is a time for all things under the sun - See Ecc. 3:1-8 – “A time for war and a time for peace” Ecc. 3:8 and also a time to remember the sacrifice of others!

Introduction:

God’s Agenda – page 6 of Miracles of the American Revolution – divine intervention and the birth of the republic. By Larkin Spivey

Spivey states, “Since the creation, God’s agenda for humanity has been freedom. By his own design he made human beings with the mental capacity to wonder about the heavens and infinity and even about God himself. The human mind is also capable of making choices and decisions in everyday life. In biblical terms, God made us in his own image, and our highest purpose it to experience God through a relationship with him. Freedom is integral to his design…God considers the concept of a person’s relationship to him, or faith in him, meaningless without the freedom to choose.”

God designed us with the freedom to choose! Man cannot take that away!

Quote: John F Kennedy “The rights of men come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.”

Throughout history, and particularly the history of Western Civilization, governments and religious institutions have routinely ignored this fundamental aspect of human nature in the establishment of authority in the world. Civil and religious liberty have been rare conditions. The thrust instead has been toward the concentration of power, usually for the sake of order and collective security.”

…The freedom of the individual to personally find God was not the agenda of many or even some church or civic leaders. Even so, it continued to be God’s Agenda” (Page 6, 7).

America was founded for Freedom – “Many of the American colonies were founded specifically as a refuge for those unable to live and grow spiritually under conditions existing in Europe”

Most notably freedom of Christian religious practices. People came wanting to worship freely without political interference from the state or politicians – or from established church government influence or even the forbidding of religious practices. The message was clear God works individually through the people! He wants connection with them personally – not just through Kings – Priests – Popes or political leaders.

WHAT IS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM EXACTLY?

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that everyone in the United States has the right to practice his or her own religion, or no religion at all.

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”

Our country's founders -- who were of different (Christian) religious backgrounds themselves -- knew the best way to protect religious liberty was to keep the government out of religion. So, they created the First Amendment -- to guarantee the separation of church and state…

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits government from encouraging or promoting ("establishing") religion in any way or stopping it. That's why we don't have an official religion of the United States.

The Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment gives you the right to worship or not as you choose. The government can't penalize you because of your religious beliefs. The above from https://www.aclu.org/other/your-right-religious-freedom

So where is the ACLU today – they are not defending our religious freedom – instead they are siding with politicians!

But our forefathers stated the following:

Benjamin Franklin stated, “Those than can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Why was the 1st Amendment 1st and placed in the Constitution?

This message is a challenge to us to have us look into our past as a nation and to see the signature of God all over her and see that our founding Fathers formed a nation for religious freedom.

News Alert: That religious freedom is being taken away today by political leaders on political agendas - who are using the safety over freedom argument to promote their political agenda – it’s about power and control – not about the people – some have an agenda to shut down religious freedom altogether because they do not see our services as essential. Did you hear that phrase?