THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

SERMON STARTER

 

          Liberty is purchased by the blood of precious lives that are willingly laid down to preserve freedom in our country and across the world. It’s not just these brave heroes that have paid the price of freedom. What about the parents of these precious daughters and sons?

          I must confess that all my time and energy for the past two weeks has been focused on our Annual Sheepfold Freedom Party which occurred on July 3rd. We had over 60 guests attending and together we consumed all the burgers and most of the hot dogs. My grill master was sweating it because we came close to running out of supplies. Needless to say, by day’s end at 10:30 pm, I was dragging. I didn’t have mood nor energy that night to write a sermon.

          I presumed upon God that night as I prayed, “Lord give me a word from You.” As I got out of bed Sunday morning July 4th I heard the whispering of the Holy Spirit, “Freedom.” So I submit to you the basic outline and material I presented that morning. If you wish to hear it on streaming audio, go to

www.sheepfold-ministries.org

 

Pastor Phil   <><<

July 4, 2010 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM

John 8:31-38

“If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

 

I. THE CONSEQUENCE OF FREEDOM

        A. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness Quote

               Thomas Jefferson, July 4, 1776

              “We hold these truths to be self–evident,

                That all men are created equal,

                That they are endowed by their Creator

                with certain unalienable Rights,

                That among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.–

                That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men,

                Deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

        B. Everything We Enjoy has been Purchased – John 15:13

               "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for                        his friends.”

                        1. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors

                        2. They’ve laid down their lives for our Freedom to Enjoy

 

II. THE PRIVILEGE OF FREEDOM 

        A. Some things you can’t take for Granted

                        1. Physical Human Life is paid for with a Price

                        2. The Sacrifice of Mother and Father         

        B. Our Freedom has been bought by the nation’s fathers / Mothers

                        1. Soldiers on the battlefields

                        2. Sweat and Work Ethic of our ancestors

                        3. The Ingenuity and Genius of Great People

 

III. THE PRICE OF FREEDOM IS BLOOD

        A. We abide in Jesus and His Word, He abides in us – v. 31

          “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in

                My word, you are My disciples indeed.”

        B. Freedom is found in Truth – v. 32

                 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

                        1. Jesus told His Disciples in John 14:6

                           "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father

                            except through Me.”

                        2. He has come to set us free – v. 38

                           "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”

        C. He shed His Blood to Free us from the Tyranny of Sin – Heb. 9:22

               ”And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and

                 without shedding of blood there is no remission. (of sin)

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, Text:

JOHN 8:31-38

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

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

33  They answered Him, "We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?"

34  Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.

35  "And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.

36  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

37  "I know that you are Abraham's descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.

38  "I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father."

 

DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE CLOSING:

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 the 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; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. 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.

 

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM CLOSING Illustration

 

SIR WILLIAM WALLACE – 1272 – 1305

MEL GIBSON portrays Wallace. . .Resisting the occupying British troops and British appointed Lords. . .Led Scottish resistance for a number of years until his capture and execution.

In Gibson’s portrayal, Gibson is captured, humiliated before the British people, drawn and quartered, eviscerated and finally beheaded.

Just before the final knife thrust, Gibson yells,

“FREEDOM!”

 

 

 

THE PRICE OF FREEDOM             Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed 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 serving in the Revolutionary Army, another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War. They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they???

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners; men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts, and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinnett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton.

At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr., noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months.

John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning home to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. THE PRICE OF FREEDOM, cont.

 

Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates. Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education.

They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall, straight, and unwavering, they pledged:

 

"For the support of this declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."

 

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The History books never told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted! So, take a couple of minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots.

 

Have a Wonderful Fourth of July holiday weekend!

 

 

FREEDOM ISN’T FREE

 

I watched the flag pass by one day, It fluttered in the breeze. A young Marine saluted it, And then he stood at ease. I looked at him in uniform So young, so tall, so proud, With hair cut square and eyes alert He'd stand out in any crowd. I thought how many men like him Had fallen through the years. How many died on foreign soil How many mothers' tears? How many pilots' planes shot down? How many died at sea How many foxholes were soldiers' graves? No, freedom isn't free. I heard the sound of Taps one night, When everything was still, I listened to the bugler play And felt a sudden chill.

I wondered just how many times That Taps had meant "Amen," When a flag had draped a coffin. Of a brother or a friend. I thought of all the children, Of the mothers and the wives, Of fathers, sons and husbands With interrupted lives. I thought about a graveyard At the bottom of the sea Of unmarked graves in Arlington. No, freedom isn't free.