THE ROOTS OF FREEDOM!

 

Friday, July 3, 2026

 

THE ROOTS OF FREEDOM!

 

John 8:32-36

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?

34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

 

What has come to be called The Great Awakening was led by George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards and Gilbert Tennant. It swept the mid-Atlantic colonies in the 1730’s and 1740’s. This sweeping spiritual revival focused on those who were already church members! It challenged their rituals, their piety and their self awareness.

 

Jonathan Edwards’ most famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” was based upon Deut 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.” It is said that those who listened to this sermon held onto the pillars of the meeting house for stability fearing the floor would open and hell would swallow them up!

 

While some discount its importance, the impact upon the American Revolution seems clear. The American Revolution was less about tea and taxation than it was about tyranny, freedom and man’s inalienable rights handed down by the Creator. Just as Jesus said, “the truth shall make you free.” The foundation of the truth preached by Whitfield, Edwards and Tennant created the air in which freedom could breathe.

 

The need today is not so much a return to political conservatism and integrity but a spiritual revival which would produce a climate in which government reform could take place. Without a spiritual revival political reforms will only serve to replace one tyrant with another. The most important thing I can do for my country is to be a godly citizen!

 

Prov 29:2

2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

 

Dear Lord, our nation needs you desperately! Create in us a thirst for godliness and return to us in great strength. Hear us when we pray! Restrain evil in our land. Oh Lord, revive us again! AMEN

 

FREEDOM’S SAFEST PLACE!

 

Thursday, July 2, 2026

 

FREEDOM’S SAFEST PLACE!

 

Acts 22:27-28

27 Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.

28 And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.

 

          Paul was about to be whipped by a Roman guard when he mentioned that he, himself, was also a Roman. It meant something! It meant that he had rights and immunity of a Roman citizen. He had freedom! It kept him safe!

 

          The word “freedom” in verse 28 is the Greek politeia preceded by the definite article ho. You will probably notice that it forms the basis of our word “politics.”

 

          The captain said that his freedom was purchased at a great cost, but Paul said that he was “free born.” The original literally means “countryman.”

 

          Being born again places us in the family of God. We are adopted and given rights and privileges the unsaved do not have. It was purchased for us at a great price.

 

Eph 2:18-19

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the [very] household of God.

 

Dear Father, my safest place is in YOU. Thank you for the great sum spent at Calvary so that I might be free born. AMEN

 

REPENTANCE!

 

Wednesday, July 1, 2026

 

REPENTANCE!

 

Ps 51:1-3

51 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 

          Merriam-Webster says that “repentance” is an intransitive verb that means “to turn from sin and dedicate oneself to the amendment of one’s life.” That’s pretty good from a non-theological source.

 

          Repentance has assumed a cultural transformation. Today repentance often means one of two things. [1] “Lord, I’m sorry that I got caught. I’ll be more careful in the future.” [2] “Lord, I feel guilty about this and will work harder so I can relieve myself of this guilty feeling.”

 

          Repentance denies certain natural tendencies and desires. Paul acknowledged the struggle of the two natures in Romans chapter 7. It is not easy to truly repent.

 

          Repentance means “to change your mind and amend your actions.” It requires one to agree with God regarding sin and to follow God in a new pattern of behavior.

 

 Jer 18:11

…return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

 

Dear Lord, every day is a struggle to agree with you regarding sin and to follow you in my behavior. Please give me your Holy Spirit for guidance and your grace for cleansing. AMEN