THE GREATEST INDEPENDENCE DAY
Introduction: As we come together today we are looking forward to a national holiday, the Fourth of July. Picnics, BBQ’s, watermelons and Kids but it’s not really what it is and that’s the sad part. I want to look at that and also I want to look at the greatest indipendence day of them all.
Luke 23:33-46
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
35 And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
I. Freedom has its cost
A. This country has paid dearly in the past for it’s freedom
1. It has cost money
a. During the revolutionary war men provided their own weapons and ammunition
b. Today you and I contribute to the protection of thins great nation with a contribution called taxes
2. It has taken a lot of time
a. Wars and battles didn’t get fought over night.
b. Countless hours have been spent defending this great nation
3. It has claimed many lives/ The biggest sacrifice of all
a. No war ever fought has ever been without casualty
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion.
This holds true for the war for souls. Yes many have died to keep you free but there is a price that was paid to get your soul and keep it free.
B. It cost God his only begotten Son
1. God not only gave His only begotten Son He allowed Him to suffer
a. He was scourged
b. He was beaten beyond recognition
c. He was mocked
2. God knew what it would take to bring us back to a right relationship with him.
a. It would take the perfect blood of Jesus to save us
b. It would take the sacrificial blood of Jesus to atone for our sins
C. It Cost Jesus His life.
1. Dying on the cross was the hardest thing for Jesus to do.
*He spent long hours in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane
*He agonized so much that He sweated drops of blood.
2. There is not one hear that I believe would pay the price that it would take
a. Wait a min. Bro. Miles, many have died to keep criminals like those who hung on the cross free
1. But if they would have really known.
2. Would it really cross your mind in a combat zone?
3. You see, Jesus knew the sin He had become and yet was still willing to give all He had.
II. Some have never been able to recognize the cost while others have
A. There are many who will never understand the sacrifice it took to secure freedom in this country and to keep it that way.
1. There are selfish people and groups of people who still miss the sacrifice.
a. People walk around, caught up in the world and never recognize the freedom they have.
b. History is something for the old, the young don’t want to see a
c. This country wasn’t founded and fought for, for every nasty, filthy, sinful way of life to prosper.
French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, "I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests--and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning--and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution--and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!"
1. They don’t respect themselves
2. How can they respect you and I?
3. This country has to have something in it to bring it back around
a. Godly men and women with Godly families living Godly lives
*We need a revival in this nation like it’s never seen before.
B. Two men hung next to Jesus on the cross
1. One refused to recognize the price that was being paid
a. He just couldn’t accept the gift
*Sin had such a hold on him he actually mocked Jesus in his final breaths
b. When sin takes Hold you have to be careful because it always, and I do mean always, destroys
2. One recognized and was saved forever
a. He gained his freedom from Sin reaped the benefits from it.
1. When you confess your sin and believe in Jesus as your savior, you will always, and I do mean always, be saved.
Rom 10:8-11, 13
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
3. It is the same for you and I
a. We can refuse
b. We can accept the payment
C. We don’t have to recognize but everyone recognize the cost
Rom 14:11
11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
1. Not just the rich, not just the poor, everyone
2. We will either accept the payment or reject the payment but it will be reconized.
III. God still needs freedom fighters in this world and it’s never to late to start
The First Amendment has erected a wall of separation between church and state, but that wall is a one directional wall; it keeps the government from running the church, but it makes sure that Christian principles will always stay in government.
Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States January 1, 1802 in an address to the Danbury Baptists.
It is time to fight the battle!!! It’s time to be a warrior, a true Christian Soldier
A. He wants us to join the battle
1. What is God’s desire this independence day.
Luke 14:23
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
a. He wants His house to be full.
2. We see in this parable a feast in which many were invited yet some refused.
a. what did the master say, forget about those who refuse to come, go and invite more to come in and feast with me
3. Jesus is saying the same to us today.
a. He is looking for freedom fighters to go into the world and fight for Him/ listen to what Jesus said
Matt 9:37-38
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
b. He’s wants real fighters
*How do you know a soldiger/ by his uniform, equipment, demeanor/ His actions.
*How does God know when your a freedom fighter.
James 2:17-20
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
B. Works can’t Get you to heaven
1. There is only one way to heaven.
a. It’s got to be through Jesus
2. I will never tell you “you get you to heaven”
*I will tell you that God and the world will know who you are by works of faith that you do.
Matt 12:33
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
Matt 7:17-20
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
3. Not only will they know you by the statement you make but it is how they will be saved.
Rom 10:14-17
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
a. you and I have to preach it
Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Help us see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is right.
Peter Marshall, Before the U.S. Senate.
*And God’s word says how beautiful you are for being obiedient and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ
C. The question to ask then “are we fighters and does the world know we are”
1. The rewards for the freedom fighters is great
a. eternal life
2. It’s really easy to become a freedom fighter
a. You have to accept Jesus and turn your back on the world
b. Remember the rich young ruler who asked how to get to heaven
c. Lets hear what Jesus has to say on the subject of being a freedom fighter
Matt 16:24-27
24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
*No matter the battle Jesus promises safety, peace and eternal life
d. Jesus also asked the question “what do you get if you measure your success by the world’s standards.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
e. I’ll tell you this, your fight for the Kindom and the King will get you greater rewards than this world can provide.
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Conclusion: As we get ready to close today and we remember the cost of our freedom lets remember that we have an even greater freedom in Jesus. Freedom from the death sentence of sin.
Today don’t be left behind, If you’ve already had that life changing experience with Jesus then join the fight. There is a war being raged in this country and in this world. It’s raging in our communities and in our families and God is looking for and activly recruiting freedom fighters. It’s time to answer the call.
If your sitting hear today and something is stiring inside of you, It’s the Holy Ghost, The very spirit of God, it’s time to answer. You see, in Romans 3:23 God’s word says that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God. You know, one thief realized that he had done bad things and one didn’t. You see that’s what it boils down to, we’ve all done bad things. But just like the theif on the cross, we can be forgiven and have eternal life. It is our choice. We can be like the other thief and refuse and suffer eternal torture and seperation from God. It is strictly up to us.
And of course, If there is something seperating you and preventing you from being the freedom fighter that God really wants you to be then just give it up to Today and join in the fight and have the time of your life in total freedom.
