Yesterday we celebrated our independence, our freedom as a Country! But what’s our freedom for? We are free – we have our independence!  Now what? How does God want us to live with the liberty we all enjoy? 

LET’S TALK…

1. Let’s use our freedom to pray.

Let’s first and foremost take time to pray. Paul expressed it very clearly:  “The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live” (1 Timothy 2:1)

We are free to pray! It’s called freedom of speech. And the best words we can say are in prayer. Too often we take praying for granted. Prayer is talking to God. The greatest privilege we have.

“When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a-praying.” Matthew Henry

2. Let’s use our freedom to live for Jesus.

Some people think that freedom is about themselves. I’m free to be me!! Old Singer – Frank Sinatra sang it, “I did it my way.” As Christ followers, we are free, not to be like everyone else, but to be like Jesus! Our freedom is not to go with the flow, but live a holy life!

Ultimately our freedom is a gift of God. Jesus put it this way: “…everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free!” (John 8:34-36). Jesus taught that you can be “free” on the outside, but a prisoner on the inside. We can be free politically, but enslaved spiritually.  Real freedom comes from only one place – Jesus Christ! Let’s live for Him!

We have our independence
to be dependent on God!

3. Let’s use our freedom to serve others.

We have an entire industry in our country called “the service industry.” It focuses on our desire to be pampered. We love to be served, rather than serve.

The Bible says “You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:13-14

In fact, we are not only to serve, we are called servants. Jesus said, If you want to great in God’s kingdom, you must be a servant (see Matthew 20:26).

Are we really willing to serve? Are we really willing to be servants? Someone said that you’ll know if you really are a servant when others treat you that way.

In our country, we are free to be selfish and we are free to be sacrificial. Let’s use our freedom to “serve one another humbly in love!”

4. Let’s use our freedom to share the Good News.

The Christian message is a message of freedom.  In fact, the roots of our freedom in America come from our Christian Faith. Even when Jesus publicly announced his ministry he talked about freedom: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come” (Luke 4:18-19).

Paul willingly gave up his freedoms to share the Good News. He wrote, “Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible” (1 Corinthians 9:19-20).

The gospel sets people free! One of the reasons that we don’t share the Good News is that we forget how good it really is. It is the greatest news ever!

BEFORE YOU GO…

Hope you had a great 4th! So what does it mean for you? As Christ-followers, what else is our freedom for? I’d love for you to add to this list.