FREEDOM & INDEPENDENCE

 

2 Corinthians 3:17 (AMP)

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom). [Isa. 61:1, 2.]

 

Isaiah 61:1–2 (AMP)

THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, [Rom. 10:15.]

2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord [the year of His favor] and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, [Matt. 11:2–6; Luke 4:18, 19; 7:22.]

isa 61:1-2

 

Today we celebrate our independence as a nation but yet are we truly spiritually and physically free and abiding in the sovereignty of our Creator honoring Him through His son Christ Jesus?

 

How do “lawless” people live in a land where new laws are constantly being legislated?  Have laws become our savior or is Christ Jesus our savior?  The laws should show us just how obscured, lost and misdirected each of us are upholding ourselves to a moral standard rather than a Godly standard to the Word of God.  I am a believer and advocate of “free will”; as we are created by God as beings of “free will”.  Legislating free will doesn’t solve problems it creates problems because much of what is written is according to man’s fallen nature and not based on the Word of God.  We even legislate common sense because most people are self-centered feeling entitled, superior and above others in society.  It’s as if free will has become law in the hearts, minds and daily living in our fallen nature exalting oneself above others and the Word of God.

 

Independence day is a wonderful holiday as we celebrate our nation and those that have stood, faught and gave their own lives to protect our nation and Godly principles;  “One Nation Under God”.

 

 

The Word of God tells us that the “Spirit Leads To All Truth” and “Blessed Are Those That Hunger And Thirst For The Lord’s Righteousness”.  The truth shall set you free!

 

John 8:32 (AMP)

32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

 

John 14:6 (AMP)

6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

 

John 16:13 (AMP)

13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future].

 

Matthew 5:3–12 (AMP)

3 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! 

4 Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted! [Isa. 61:2.]

5 Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth! [Ps. 37:11.]

6 Blessed and fortunate and happy and spiritually prosperous (in that state in which the born-again child of God enjoys His favor and salvation) are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (uprightness and right standing with God), for they shall be completely satisfied! [Isa. 55:1, 2.]

7 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy! 

8 Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God! [Ps. 24:3, 4.]

9 Blessed (enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the makers and maintainers of peace, for they shall be called the sons of God! 

10 Blessed and happy and enviably fortunate and spiritually prosperous (in the state in which the born-again child of God enjoys and finds satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of his outward conditions) are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake (for being and doing right), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven! 

11 Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. 

12 Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great (strong and intense), for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you. [II Chron. 36:16.]

 

So as we celebrate this 4^th of July Independence Day we must ask ourselves if personal independence/liberties is better than dependence upon the Lord Jesus and living free in the Spirit of The Lord.  

 

As we celebrate this wonderful holiday let us give God the honor and glory for without His grace many would not have had the stamina, courage and fortitude to give their lives sacrificially to keep the USA a Godly nation.  Let us thank all of the veterans, citizens and those that stand for freedom as a Godly Nation.

 

John 15:12–14 (AMP)

12 This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. 

13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends. 

14 You are My friends if you keep on doing the things which I command you to do. 

 

Have we become a nation bound by humanistic laws, morals and methods rather than Godly principles?  We have laws upon laws but we are unable to follow two commandments above all the laws!

 

Matthew 22:37–40 (AMP)

37 And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). [Deut. 6:5.]

38 This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. 

39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. [Lev. 19:18.]

40 These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.

 

 

Are we still “One Nation Under God”? Have we forgotten that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.  There is only one way to heaven and that is Christ Jesus.  All of creation yearns for the sons/daughters of God.

 

Romans 14:11 (AMP)

11 For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. [Isa. 45:23.]

 

Romans 8:19 (AMP)

19 For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].

 

John 14:6 (AMP)

6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.

 

Surely just as the newly ammended pledge of allegiance has omitted God as seen in this picture below we must repent and turn our hearts back to God so that the Lord can heal our land.

 

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 (AMP)

14 If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

 

 

Those in Christ Jesus and abide in Christ Jesus shall overcome the world just as Christ overcame the world.  All the honor and glory to the Lord!

 

John 16:33 (AMP)

33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

 

 

Revelation 3:21 (AMP)

21 He who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant him to sit beside Me on My throne, as I Myself overcame (was victorious) and sat down beside My Father on His throne.

 

True freedom and liberty is only found in the Spirit of the Lord while being submitted and dependent upon the Lord Jesus.  We are in the world but not of this world and the Glory of the Lord is for the here and now!

 

John 17:16 (AMP)

16 They are not of the world (worldly, belonging to the world), [just] as I am not of the world.

 

Romans 12:2 (AMP)

2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

 

 

Have a safe, blessed and Godly Independence Day and God Bless America.  “ONE NATION UNDER GOD”!