MESSAGES
The United States of America is the greatest country on the face
of the earth. We have more freedoms and more privileges than any other country on
this planet. If we, as a people, would take a moment to stop and think, we would
realize we have been blessed beyond measure. The reason for this is because we have
not turned our back on God. However, I must qualify that statement by
saying we haven't
turned our back completely on God. But the way things are going it won't be
long until we do.
Though we are the greatest country on the face of the earth and
are free from the tyranny of countries outside, we seem to be destroying ourselves
from within. Just like Rome, America is falling apart from within. We are destroying
ourselves. We are a wealthy and healthy nation materialistically speaking. But we
are a dying nation spiritually speaking. The enemy, without a shot even being fired
is destroying us.
Every year we as a nation celebrate what is known as Independence
Day. A day to remember the freedoms we have, and why we have the freedoms we
have. We have the freedoms we have in this country because Almighty God has chosen
to bless us. One way He has blessed us is through men and women such as yourselves
willing to serve and protect our freedoms, and to die if necessary. The greatest
freedom we have is the freedom to worship God.
It was on July 4, 1776, that the Second Continental Congress came
together and came up with the Declaration of Independence. In it we read,
"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..."
As wonderful as this statement is, is it true in your life? Are
you honestly experiencing life the way it was designed to be? Are you truly
at liberty? Are you genuinely happy as a person?
Our nation has survived for 220 years because it was established
on Christian principles. Unfortunately, people have been trying to do away with these
principles and truths ever since the beginning of this nation's existence. For the
last few decades they've been accomplishing their agenda quite well. What do I mean?
In 1962 3% of the people of this nation were atheist. 3% of the
nation had no belief in God, and guess what! Because of the 3%, we saw prayer removed
from school.
In 1963 we saw Bible reading removed from the school. It was
determined "If portions of the New Testament were read without explanation, it could be psychologically
harmful to the child." In other words, God's Word in man's eyes is
harmful to children.
In 1965 it was ruled that students could not pray out loud over
their lunch at school.
In 1980 the 10 Commandments were removed from the classroom. The
philosophy was and still is "Our children should not read the 10 Commandments
because they might obey them." Think about that for a moment. To obey God's
Word is just not permissible.
Man's philosophy is, "Forget prayer forget Bible reading
forget God." Has this philosophy made a difference in our country? You be the
judge. Since the early 60's, violent crime continues to soar sexually transmitted
disease continues to escalate illegitimate birth continue to increase divorce rates
are sky-rocketing teenage suicide continues to rise. This is all the result of doing
things mans way. The Bible says, "There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12). Is it any wonder that
we are spiritually dying as a nation?
Was it wise to expel God from our classroom and other areas of
society? Of course not! Let me ask you again. Are you honestly experiencing life
the way it was designed to be? Are you truly at liberty? Are you genuinely
happy as a person? Are you experiencing the freedom that God has planned
for you?
We as a nation continue to boast of our civil freedom,
but even though we might think we are free we are not. We are born into captivity.
I find it interesting that the very thing we are willing to take
up arms to defend nationally and internationally freedom we are willing to give up
spiritually. We, like everyone else in this world are under captivity. We are slaves
to sin and until we have an encounter with the Living God through Jesus Christ we
will not be free. Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits
sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son
abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed"
(John 8:34-36).
Perhaps you're wondering how are we under bondage. Let me give
you 4 ways. First we're under bondage because we're under the curse of the law.
God's law requires perfect obedience to it and yet we all fall way short of that
mark. The Bible says, "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory
of God" (Romans 3:23). And yet we're told we don't need the 10 Commandments.
Get rid of them, our children might just obey them.
This attitude is nothing more than an outright in-your-face
statement to God. We're telling God, "We don't need You any more. We don't care
what You say! We know what's best!" This attitude is an open invitation to Divine
judgment.
Second,
we're under bondage because we're under the power of sin.
The Bible says that sin has infected our body and our soul, and that, "There
is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10).
Third,
we're under bondage because we're under the rulership of
Satan. I'm not suggesting we're all Satan worshippers, but I am saying we are
each under a spiritual influence (Ephesians 2:2). The Bible says that until we give
our life over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ we are under bondage to the devil himself
(2 Timothy 2:26).
Fourth,
we're under bondage because we're under the penalty of
death. The Bible says, "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered
the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned"
(Romans 5:12) … "… those who through fear of death were all their lifetime
subject to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15).
The Bible says we are under the curse of the law, the power of
sin, the rulership of Satan, and the penalty of death. We are under bondage.
So far things look pretty bleak and hopeless, but there is good
news, there is hope. We can each be delivered from this bondage. The Bible says,
"Christ has made us free", and we do not have to be entangled with
a yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). You and I are not free from this captivity until
we allow Jesus Christ to free us. The Bible says that the blood of Jesus Christ can
set us free from the bondage of sin (Hebrews 10:4,11,12,14).
The Bible says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
You cannot save yourselves. You can go to church, but that will not save you! You
can read your Bible and you can pray, but that will not save you! You can be the
most moral person on planet earth, but that will not save you! You can have a degree
in theology, but that will not save you! You can be children of Christian parents,
but that will not save you! As someone once said, "These things might keep you
out of jail, but they will not keep you out of hell."
You cannot save yourself. You cannot pick yourself up by your own
bootstraps. You cannot set yourself free from this bondage. It's impossible! Only
Jesus Christ can set you free.
The Bible says that Jesus Christ and Him alone has the power to
save mankind. He alone has the power to deliver you from the bondage of sin, to set
you free. The Bible says, "... for there is no other name under heaven given
among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
You cannot free yourself from your bondage, but Jesus can, and
He will if you allow Him. Not only is He able to deliver you, He's willing to deliver
you. He wants to set you free, but you must come to Him. Life liberty happiness
and freedom, in the truest sense of the word, comes only through Jesus Christ.
Jesus came into the world to give us life. The Bible says,
"He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not
have life" (1 John 5:12; emphasis added).
Jesus came into the world to give us liberty. The Bible
says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free
..." (Galatians 5:1; emphasis added).
Jesus came into the world to give us happiness. The Bible
says, "Happy are the people whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 144:15;
emphasis added).
Jesus came into the world to give us freedom. Jesus said,
"…the Lord has…anointed Me to preach good news to the poor; He has sent Me
to heal the broken hearted, to preach freedom to the prisoners…" (Luke 4:18;
emphasis added – niv). It's been said, "Life without Jesus Christ is a hopeless
end, but life with Jesus Christ is an endless hope."
Jesus will not withhold this blessing of life liberty happiness
and freedom from anyone. The Bible says, "Whoever calls upon the name of
the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13; emphasis added). When we come to
faith in Jesus Christ we receive a glorious liberty.
The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ frees us from all our bondage;
that we are no longer under the curse of the law; no longer under the penalty of
the sin; no longer under the power of Satan (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13; Heb 2:14,15);
and no longer need we fear death (1 Corinthians 15:55).
When we come to faith in Christ, He introduces us into a state
of perfect freedom. When we come to Christ we become the "Lord's freeman"
(1 Corinthians 7:22).
Let me ask each of you one more time. Are you honestly experiencing
life the way it was designed to be? Are you truly at liberty? Are you
genuinely happy as a person? If not, then make a change today and give your
life totally and completely over to Jesus Christ.
He loves you, and He demonstrated His love for you by going to
the cross at Calvary and dying for you. There He paid the penalty for your sins and
for mine. Not only did He die, but He was buried and on the third day He rose from
the grave, thereby gaining victory over death.
Jesus loves you and He wants to forgive you of your sin, and to
give you the hope of heaven. But you must come to Him. He wants you to experience
life liberty happiness and freedom as He intended it
to be. But you must come to Him by placing your faith and trust in Him, and the work
He did for you on the cross.
God said, "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against
you, that I have set before you life and death … therefore choose life"
(Deuteronomy 30:19). God offers to you salvation, He offers you forgiveness of sin,
He offers you the hope of heaven. He offers you life liberty happiness
and freedom. But you must come to Him in order to receive it.
Another great man by the name of Martin Luther King said years
ago, "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God All Mighty I'm free at last."
When we come to Jesus Christ we can say, "Free in Christ! Free in Christ! Through
God All Mighty I'm free in Christ."
Only as you come to Christ and allow Him to set you free can you
experience life liberty happiness and freedom the way God has always
intended you to.
God bless you,
Pastor Steve |
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| SHIELD OF FAITH |
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For more information,
call (951) 687-6902
Attention Juanita
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