Jump Start # 887

Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners.”

Our passage today, from the prophet Isaiah, is a description of the work of the Messiah. This verse is quoted by Jesus and applied to His work as He began His ministry. Tomorrow is the fourth of July—a time for fireworks, picnics and the celebration of freedom in this country. Freedom—it came with a cost. There is a cost to maintain it. Those born in this country often take this freedom for granted—we know nothing else but this. We can marry whom we want. We can have as many kids as we want. We can go to any school we can afford. We can live where we want. On many street corners throughout this land sits different kinds of churches. We are allowed to say what we want. Freedom—we’ve come to expect it, like it, and make it a part of our fiber.

Religious freedom is one of the core reasons this country was established. The state and national religions of Europe forced citizens to worship a certain way. That’s a problem if a person didn’t believe that way. Oppression and persecution tried to stamp out those who resisted. A movement started and spread over the country side. Freedom—freedom to read the Bible for ourselves. Freedom to worship as we want, not as someone else tells us. Freedom. What we do in this country religiously is something unique for a huge part of the world, even today. This freedom is a privilege that comes with a responsibility.

Our passage is talking about another type of freedom. It is the freedom that comes only through Jesus Christ in the form of forgiveness. Jesus said in the Gospels, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” Free from what? Free from Satan. Free from sin. Free from shame, guilt and the coming punishment from God for sin. Freedom.

Freedom comes with a price—the blood of Jesus. Freedom requires a price to keep it—obedience to Jesus. We follow the Lord. We walk with Christ. Freedom doesn’t mean there are no rules and you can do as you please. Freedom does not mean that we sit upon the throne. Freedom is to be released from the prison of despair, hopelessness, fear, and guilt.

Christians are a free people in Christ. Our past has been changed. Our present makes sense. Our future is revealed. We are headed somewhere. We are going to Heaven. Freedom, salvation, makes all of that possible.

Freedom to worship. Freedom to tell others about Jesus. Freedom to write and remind others about the way of God. Freedom to help others. Freedom to assemble.

How do we use that freedom? Do we neglect it? Do we utilize it? Do we take full use of it? Our freedom can make us lazy. Our freedom can make us be silent.

Consider this:

• You can pray to God any hour of the day you want without a permit, permission or having to tell anyone about that. FREEDOM.

• You can own as many Bibles that you want. Most homes have more than one Bible. In many homes, each person has their own Bible. These were given or purchased without a government form, without signing documents, without any interference from anyone else. God’s word, the Bible. Big Bibles. Little Bibles. Old Bibles. New Bibles. Pretty Bibles. Functional Bibles. There is no limit to how many you can own.

• You can have friends in your home and sing hymns, have a Bible study, discuss questions and even pray together. You don’t have to get permission to do this. You don’t have to meet in secret and whisper. I’ve witnessed folks singing hymns around camp fires, praying in the woods, reading the Bible while sitting on a rock in the great out doors. I’ve seen people bow their heads before they eat in restaurants, in fast food places, in waiting rooms of a hospital, and in funeral homes.

• You can assemble with the church as often as the doors are open. Often a congregation will have special classes during the week or preaching on week nights. After a long day of work, you can meet with others down at the church house and end the day with thoughts of God. You don’t have to have a card stamped allowing you to do this, get permission or file papers to be able to do this. Anyone can show up when the doors are opened.

Freedom. Freedom to follow God. Do you see what a blessing it is? Those who have traveled to other parts of the world have witnessed a real hunger for what we have here, religious freedom. They’d love to sit in a church building like you get to do. They’d love to be able to afford a Bible like you can. They’d love to live in a land where you can praise God every day. They’d love to trade places with you.

Freedom—it comes with a price. There is a price to keep it. There is a responsibility that comes with it. Freedom.

Roger