Enduring Freedom : Bishop Tony Samuels
As we celebrate freedom today, let us remember that someone paid the price for the freedom we enjoy. We must remember that this great nation was started by people who were seeking the freedom to worship God, free from government intrusion…and this nation rests on that foundation. As you look at the condition of our nation, you can see that the foundations of freedom are being attacked. Psalms 11:3 says, If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do?
The foundation that is being attacked is truth. The enemy knows that there will be no freedom if he can remove the Truth of God. There is a connection between truth and freedom. John 8:32 says, …and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. So exposure to truth, and then living in truth, will produce freedom in your life.
One thing I have learned as a Christian is that my freedom started as an event, through an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. He brought freedom into my life, from a place of being on my knees and asking Him to set me free; and when I stood up, I was completely set free by the power of God. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty [emancipation from bondage, true freedom]. An encounter with God through His Spirit brought freedom into my life. The Lord knew that even though I was free in a moment, He had to show me how to maintain the freedom He had given me…and to do that, He had to expose me to His Truth.
Galatians 5:1 says, At last we have freedom, for Christ has set us free! We must always cherish this truth, and firmly refuse to go back into the bondage of our past. Without truth, we will be lured back into bondage.
There are many people in society who think they speak the truth. But if the truth we speak and hear is not based on the Word of God, it is not truth; it’s merely an opinion. What is an opinion? An opinion is: a belief or judgment that rests on grounds insufficient to produce complete certainty; a personal view, attitude, or appraisal.
John 17:7 says, Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. So the attack against this nation is not happening with rockets, missiles, and bullets. The attack is to remove the Truth of the Word of God, and replace it with the opinions of men. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 explains the battle well: The weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood]. Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying sophisticated arguments and every exalted and proud thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought and purpose captive to the obedience of Christ.
I believe that the only hope for this great nation is Jesus Christ through His Church. As long as we are here, and as long as we remain steadfast in His Truth, freedom will still remain; freedom will endure.
I leave you with these instructions from Philippians 2:14-16: Live a cheerful life, without complaining or division among yourselves. For then you will be seen as innocent, faultless, and pure children of God, even though you live in the midst of a brutal and perverse culture. For you will appear among them as shining lights in the universe, holding out the words of eternal life.
