Sermons
Independence Day Message
This week America celebrates its 233rd birthday. On July 4, 1776 fifty-six members of the Continental Congress, representing thirteen colonies, signed the Declaration of Independence proclaiming autonomy. It was the culmination of a political process that began as a protest against Britain’s oppression of colonial trading, manufacturing, and political liberty. Ultimately, the signing of that Declaration led to a revolutionary war and the birth of the United States.
If you’ve studied American History you know there’s no question that the colonists were justified with their grievances. The British Redcoats were stealing from the American settlers, abusing them, and imposing exorbitant taxes. And there wasn’t much help from the courts because they were corrupt and influenced by bribes. That’s why the colonists revolted and chartered the Declaration of Independence.
The stand these fifty-six signers took against British oppression isn’t well known, but it should be. I want to read one sentence from the last paragraph of the Declaration: “And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
To most of us that statement seems benign and doesn’t raise our blood pressure one point. But to the signers of that Declaration it did more than raise their blood pressure. Let me tell you what happened to these fifty-six signers of the Declaration of Independence.
“Five signers were captured by the British as traitors and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the revolutionary army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.” (Information supplied by Gary Hildreth, Endnote [1].)
Do you know why our forefathers were willing to risk their lives by signing the Declaration of Independence? They believed freedom was infinitely more desirable than slavery and bondage. Freedom was worth fighting for.
And just as those colonists opposed the King of England 233 years ago for their freedom, Christ opposed Satan for our freedom. And every sinner that accepts Christ signs a spiritual Declaration of Independence that declares war on the enemy of their soul.
(Transition) I’m not talking about a battle with scud missiles and nuclear weapons. I’m talking about spiritual warfare.
There is no place in the Christian life for spiritual pacifism. You and I are at war against the devil and he will defeat and repress us if we refuse to engage him. Maybe someone here is thinking of the Scripture that says, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” but those that understand Scripture know peace isn’t obtained without action. It’s obtained by taking up spiritual arms and claiming your territorial rights.
That’s why Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household.”
You know how scenarios like this play out. One member of a family accepts Christ as their Savior and because Christianity sets forth a completely different set of values than the world, arguments and even persecution occur from unsaved members of the family. That’s because conflicting ideas create controversy!
Listen to what Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:3-5: “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
Paul described one part of the Christian life as “destroying” the works of the devil! He said we are called to tear down “speculations . . . knowledge [and] thoughts” that conflict with the teachings of Scripture. It’s a battle for the mind, and, as a direct result it’s a battle for the souls of men.
You and I cannot ignore that we are at odds with much of what the world perceives as truth. And it’s amazing how diametric secular thought is to Christian thought. For example:
It’s perfectly normal for a Christian to think everyone should attend Church. The Bible teaches that. But there are many non-believers that classify fundamental Church-going people as intolerant, homophobic, culturally deranged bigots that menace society.
Christians believe that human life is created in God’s image and sacred. And because we believe in the sanctity of human life we cannot condone the indiscriminate aborting of unborn babies. But to the world, abortion is but a ‘choice.’
Christians believe in the morality revealed in the Ten Commandments and Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. On the other hand, the world writes its laws in the sand and is willing to reprise them as often as necessary. Even the Supreme Court exercises its liberality in upholding the Constitution and what was unlawful twenty years ago is permissible today.
Saints of God, we are in a war of ideas. And we must never forget to uphold the standard as set forth by God’s Word.
(Transition) But secondly, like our country’s Declaration of Independence indicates, A Christian’s conversion is a Declaration of Separation.
Conversion is a Declaration of Separation
In the Declaration of Independence, the colonists made it clear that they wouldn’t be tied to Britain. The document reads:
“We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved.”
The Patriots of the American Revolution knew they couldn’t be free and yet remain colonies of the British Empire. They had to overthrow England’s tyranny if they were to be fully free. And that’s what they did. They declared their sovereignty and under the leadership of George Washington fought against the forces of British oppression until they won separation.
That’s how it is with Christians and their posture toward the world. When we accept Christ we have to break with sin and everything God considers unclean or wrong. And this is done by a willful, continual resistance to Satan. Paul wrote in Galatians: “It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” (6)
How do you stand firm and reject the yoke of sin?
1. You pray! (The Lord said to pray, “Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.”)
2. You make up your mind to reject and resist sin whenever it appears!
3. You read the Scripture and allow its power to seep into every part of your being—your spirit, soul, mind, and body!
4. You invite the living presence of the Holy Spirit to envelope and empower you.
The only way to obtain freedom in your soul is to make full allegiance to Christ and constantly resist the encroachment of sin. If you don’t break from evil, then evil will break you!
I want you to notice the warning Jesus issued to the Church of Laodicea in Revelation 3. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” (5) They were lulled into a condition that couldn’t resist evil!
The greatest threat to the Church’s welfare isn’t atheism, communism, or political oppression.
The greatest threat to the Church losing the culture war isn’t lack of money or fronting the right spokesman for prime time TV.
The greatest threat to repressing revival and preventing God’s glory from filling the church isn’t liberal theologians or even carnal Christians that don’t believe in the divine inspiration of Scripture.
The foreboding threat to the Christian Church is do-nothing, lethargic, complacent Christians!
Christians must stand up and take their place in the kingdom of God! Each person has a place in the kingdom and the Church marches forward in power when we are all working together under the Spirit’s anointing.
(Illustration) I read the story of an eagle that was captured at a young age. It’s captor put a restraint on it so it couldn’t fly, and then let it roam the barnyard. It wasn’t long till the eagle began acting like the chickens, scratching and pecking at the ground. This bird that once soared in the air was satisfied to live like a chicken. One day a shepherd came to the farm. Seeing the eagle he said, “It’s a shame to keep that bird hobbled here in your barnyard! Why don’t you release it?” The farmer agreed and they cut off the restraint. But the eagle continued to wander around, scratching and pecking as before. The shepherd picked it up and set it on a high stone wall. For the first time in months, the eagle saw the expanse of blue sky and the glowing sun. Then it spread its wings and soared into a tremendous flight upward. At last it was acting like an eagle again.
If you’re going to be free to soar and do what God intended, you have to break with the barnyard. You cannot live in both places. You have to “Come out from their midst and be separate,’
Conclusion
(Illustration) There was once a sage that lived a secluded life in the mountains. Two foolish men plotted a scheme to discredit him in the eyes of his followers. Coming before the wise man they tested his wisdom. “Old man, I hold a sparrow in my closed hand. If you’re so wise is it alive or is it dead?” Their plan was that if he answered “alive” they would crush it to death. If he answered “dead” they would release it. The audience was silent as they awaited the old man’s answer. Finally, he answered, “Son, its life is in your hands.”
The life of freedom in Christ Jesus is in your hands. You can crush it or set it free. You can kill it with mediocrity and lukewarmness, or you can possess it with courage and conviction. It all depends upon the action you take.
Some of you made that declaration at conversion and some here haven’t. I call you to sign the declaration. I call you to enlist in the war and break with sin. Get out of the barnyard and get up in the air where you belong! What better time than now to make your declaration? As Pam Shaw so rightly has said, “If you take too long in deciding what to do with your life, you’ll find you’ve done it.” How true it is.
Endnotes
Much material was taken from Dave Redick’s sermon “Independence Day,” Church of Christ, Sweet Home, OR
Copyright © 2009 by Pulpit Today
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