The Fourth of July in the United States it is also known as
Independence Day. Independence Day has been a federal holiday in the
United States since 1941, but the tradition of celebrating Independence
Day goes back to the 18th century and the American Revolution (1775-1783).
In June 1776, representatives of the 13 colonies accessed a resolution
that would declare their independence from Great Britain. On July 2nd,
the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days
later its delegates adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted by
Thomas Jefferson. From 1776 until the present day, Independence Day has
been celebrated as the birth of American independence, with typical
festivities ranging from fireworks, parades and concerts to more casual
family gatherings and barbecues. Although the United States celebrates
Independence Day as a day of freedom from Great Britain's oppression,
one is not truly free until they confess with the mouth the Lord Jesus
Christ and receive Him as Savior.
Today in the United Stated we often forget that, in declaring
independence from an earthly power, our forefathers made a forthright
declaration of dependence upon Almighty God. The closing words of the
Declaration of Independence solemnly declares, "With a firm reliance on
the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other
our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor." The fifty six courageous
men who signed that document understood that this was not just high
sounding rhetoric. They knew that if they succeeded, the best they could
expect would be years of hardship in a struggling new nation. If they
lost, they would face a hangman's noose as traitors. But notice, their
dependence was not upon their abilities, but upon Divine Providence.
They knew that without divine intervention, their desire for freedom
would never happen. History reveals that all the signers of the
Declaration of Independence had a Christian background; 32
Episcopalian/Anglican; 13 Congregationalist; 12 Presbyterian; 2 Quaker; 2
Unitarian or Universalist; 1 Catholic.
Of the fifty six, few were long to survive. Five were captured by the
British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes, sacked,
looted, occupied by the enemy, or burned. Two lost their sons in the
army. One had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six died in the war,
from its hardships or from its bullets. Whatever ideas you have of the
men who met that hot summer in Philadelphia, it is important that we
remember certain facts about the men who made this pledge. They were not
poor men, or wild-eyed pirates. They were men of means, prosperous men,
wealthy landowners, substantially secure in their prosperity and
respected in their communities. But they considered liberty much more
important than the security they enjoyed. They pledged their lives,
their fortunes and their sacred honor. They fulfilled their pledge. They
paid the price. And freedom was won.
Someone once said, "To be born free is a privilege. To die free is an
awesome responsibility." Yet freedom is never free. It is always
purchased at great price. Take a moment and ponder the greatest price
ever paid for freedom. The price that was paid at Calvary nearly two
thousand years ago by Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to purchase man's
freedom. In a similar way, the forefather's of this country were also
ready to pay a great price for freedom not only for themselves, but for
all who would come to the United States to become citizens of "One
nation under God." Little did John Adams know how significant his words
would be when he spoke to his wife, Abigail, on the passing of the
Declaration of Independence, "I am well aware of the toil, and blood,
and treasure, that it will cost to maintain this declaration, and
support and defend these states; yet, through all the gloom I can see
the rays of light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than
all the means."
To those who sacrificed for our freedom,
the end was worth the painful means. Where would we, who are citizens
of the United States of America, be today if there had not been those
who counted the cost of freedom and willingly paid for it? Where will we
be tomorrow if men and women of integrity do not come forward today and
once again pay the price to reclaim a dying America? The only way this
can be accomplished is for the church in the United States to what the
Lord spoke to Solomon, "If My people who are
called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and
turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will
forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14) We may
look at the American revolution and think that it was a struggle against
natural forces, but the reality is, "We wrestle not against flesh and
blood." I believe the forefather's recognized this. I pray that the
church in the United States would also recognize this and respond to
God's call, 2 Chronicles 7:14.
I believe that a great awakening is coming that will fulfill the prophecy of Habakkuk, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Habakkuk 2:14) I also believe God is
calling every believer
to change because He wants to take us into another dimension or level of
glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) There are dimension of glory that exist
that we do not of or have entered into. Areas of creative miracles where
we will
see body parts grow where there were none; Birth defects instantly
healed; Dominion over the forces of nature; People raised from the dead;
and more salvation's than the world has ever experienced. I believe a
time is coming where we will
enter into these dimensions of glory and they will be the norm. I say
these things because like me, I
want to stir you up to seek God and His glory.
But change is an
individual choice. We must ask the Holy Spirit to give us
the grace, that is, the desire and ability to do God’s will, to help us
change. It may take some time, it may even be painful or difficult
process for some, but it is worth the effort, because with
God all things are possible. Food for thought: Change is not really
change until it is genuine and lasting. So, let us do like the
forefather's of this country who were willing to give up all and trust
that God would bring freedom. Let us no longer be conformed to the
world, remain
stagnant and frustrated with life trying to please man? But, let us let
God’s Word transform us into the
image of Christ from glory to glory to please God? As we choose the
latter, not only will we understand true freedom, but God will also use us to set the captives fre
Monday, June 28, 2021
True Freedom
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