Favorite word …
Text: John 8:31-36
Recently, one of our fearless leaders was asked what her favorite word was. Her answer was foolish but let me pose the question to you. Think about it. My favorite word is … Liberty. It is not necessarily the word but the wonderful meaning. As an American, it rings even more true.
Liberty is not easy nor is it free. You should study, if you have not already, on what liberty cost those who went before us. Many of those who fought for American liberty lost everything. Children were killed in battle, home and fortunes were destroyed, personal savings were all used up. It cost all they had, but those who made it through were able to rebuild because of liberty. It was costly.
Spiritual liberty comes at even a higher price. Just as those who fought for liberty over 200 years ago, we were bound spiritually before liberty set us free, Eph. 2:1-5, Col. 2:13. We had to become a child of the King to know liberty. The bringer of liberty is Christ and Him alone, II Cor. 3:17, Rom. 8:2. We must be a citizen of heaven to know true liberty.
Once we are citizens of heaven, we can go back and dabble in bondage if we want, Gal, 5:1, Rom. 8:18-22. We do not loose our salvation, for that is unbiblical, but there is a great price to pay. We have the choice. Let me ask you, how foolish would it be for someone to taste freedom and liberty at its core, and then choose to go back into bondage? Why then are we so tempted to do so spiritually?
There are blessings to liberty if we stick with it and continue to fight for it. John 11:25, 26; John 8:30-36; James 1:25. We will have life and blessing as we journey through this world. There will still be hardships and tribulation, but we will have the Lord and we will be at peace with Him.
Because of liberty, we as Americans have a job to uphold and defend it. Spiritually we also have a job and there is no higher calling than to be a freedom fighter for Christ, Is. 61:1, II Peter 2:19-f.f., :Luke 4:18, Gal. 5:13. In these passages we see our job to Christian Liberty.
Liberty is not free and it costs dearly. The debt was paid years ago both as an American and as a Christian. However, liberty is constantly under attack. The enemy hates liberty and the freeing power that goes along with it. We have fallen asleep and liberty has been taken away. Now, God is calling his church to wake up both spiritually and physically. Will you heed the call or hit the snooze one more time. Will we get out of “bed” or toss and turn as the alarm is sounding. May men and women hear the call and rise with the Almighty to stand together against bondage for the cause of Liberty!