There is Freedom
Message by: Jodi Lenker
We started off by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. We recite this not to worship the USA, but as means of showing honor to this great Nation that was built as a Christian country - built for and to God.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
The Holy Spirit had Jodi start this week’s message in 1 Samuel…
1 Samuel 8:1-22
[1] As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. [2] Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. [3] But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. [4] Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. [5] “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” [6] Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. [7] “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. [8] Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. [9] Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” [10] So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. [11] “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. [12] Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. [13] The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. [14] He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. [15] He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. [16] He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. [17] He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. [18] When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” [19] But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. [20] “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” [21] So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, [22] and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.
1 Samuel is actually a perfect reflection of where our Nation’s start began. In 1774, the king of England was doing much of what Samuel warned Israel of…
Taxation without representation
Interference with local government
Citizens were forced to house British soldiers
Denial of fair trials
Standing armies to impose military rule over civil power
In order to establish the new and free United States of America, our Nation was founded as a Christian nation.
The founding fathers met for over a month because they were not moving forward until they brought God into the work and discussion, and Reverend Jacob Duche lead the first prayer of the first meeting of the continental congress:
“O Lord, our Heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings and Lord of lords, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers on earth, and reignest with power supreme and uncontrolled over all kingdoms, empires and governments, look down, we beseech thee, on these our American States, who have fled to thee from the rod of the oppressor, and thrown themselves on thy gracious protection, desiring henceforth to be dependent only on thee – to thee have they appealed for the righteousness of their cause – to thee do they now look up for that countenance and support which thou alone canst give. Take them, therefore, Heavenly Father, under thy nurturing care, give them wisdom in council, and valor in the field. Defeat the malicious designs of our cruel adversaries. Convince them of the unrighteousness of their cause, and if they still persist in their sanguinary purpose, O let the voice of thine own unerring justice sounding in their hearts constrain them to drop the weapons of war from their unnerved hands in the day of battle.
Be thou present, O God of wisdom, and direct the councils of this honorable Assembly. Enable them to settle things on the best and surest foundation, that the scene of blood may be speedily closed – that order, harmony, and peace may be effectually restored, and truth and justice, religion and piety may prevail and flourish amongst thy people. Preserve the health of their bodies and the vigor of their minds. Shower on them and the millions they here represent such temporal blessings as thou seest expedient for them in this world, and crown them with everlasting glory in the world to come. All this we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son, our Savior. Amen.”
Washington ordered all of his commanders to attend Sunday church. Our founding fathers prayed fervently and read scripture when they were establishing this country.
Our Nation’s identity is under attack.
Many social media personalities and people from across the world (visiting for the World Cup) are saying the same thing: “If you want to hate America, turn on the news. If you want to love America, drive through it.”
“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” - George Orwell
The book of Romans was written when Paul hadn't been to Rome yet, but is writing to them… It explains why we are seeing the opposition to the truth of America’s Christian founding that we see today.
Romans 1:18-23
[18] But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. [19] They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. [20] For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. [21] Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. [22] Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. [23] And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
We have to remember who we are fighting. It isn't the men who say ungodly things or try to pull our Nation from God…. It is the powers that are controlling them.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
We need to arm ourselves with the armor of God and history - real and true history.
Our founding fathers disagreed about denominations, but they came together knowing and agreeing God was the center of it all.
All of the freedoms we have in America we have to thank soldiers.
The ten commandments helped us understand what is right and wrong, but we can never live up to a perfect life. So, the freedom we have in Christ saves us from the death that we deserve. it is the true freedom, our freedom in Christ, sets us apart.
2 Corinthians 3:17
For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
We must keep the commands of the law, but when we don't, we have Christ to free us.
Currently, Satan has dominion over the earth, but as Christians, we don't have to give dominion to him.
“Where the Spirit is Lord, there is freedom.” - John Bevere
We have the right to bear arms, but we usually don't openly carry to not make others uncomfortable… We do that as Christians too. We have the right to worship Christ, but how often do we keep our faith quiet as to not make others uncomfortable?
The Preamble to the Constitution reads:
We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
John 3:16 reads:
For God so loved the world, He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
Jodi and the Holy Spirit married the two: “For God so loved the world, He sent His son as an atoning sacrifice to form a more perfect union with us and Him.”
2 Corinthians 3
[1] Are we beginning to praise ourselves again? Are we like others, who need to bring you letters of recommendation, or who ask you to write such letters on their behalf? Surely not! [2] The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves. Your lives are a letter written in our hearts; everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. [3] Clearly, you are a letter from Christ showing the result of our ministry among you. This “letter” is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on tablets of stone, but on human hearts. [4] We are confident of all this because of our great trust in God through Christ. [5] It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. [6] He has enabled us to be ministers of his new covenant. This is a covenant not of written laws, but of the Spirit. The old written covenant ends in death; but under the new covenant, the Spirit gives life. [7] The old way, with laws etched in stone, led to death, though it began with such glory that the people of Israel could not bear to look at Moses’ face. For his face shone with the glory of God, even though the brightness was already fading away. [8] Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory under the new way, now that the Holy Spirit is giving life? [9] If the old way, which brings condemnation, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new way, which makes us right with God! [10] In fact, that first glory was not glorious at all compared with the overwhelming glory of the new way. [11] So if the old way, which has been replaced, was glorious, how much more glorious is the new, which remains forever! [12] Since this new way gives us such confidence, we can be very bold. [13] We are not like Moses, who put a veil over his face so the people of Israel would not see the glory, even though it was destined to fade away. [14] But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. [15] Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. [16] But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
