A FORTNIGHT OF PRAYER

DAY 14

FOR FREEDOM - HE SET US FREE

The following are the dictionary definitions of FREEDOM:

1. The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint.
2. Exemption from external control, interference, regulation, etc.
3. The power to determine action without restraint.
4. Political or national independence.
5. Personal liberty, as opposed to bondage or slavery: a slave who bought his freedom. (Source)


On the day we celebrate the biggest Birth of Freedom the world has ever seen, it would serve us well to take another look at what Freedom really means. It was more than just the removal of crazy King George III by the Continental Army, General George Washington and some rag-tag peasants. It was a dawn of a new day where the governed would govern themselves according to a set of Principles and not under some "divine right" of corrupt kings and queens. These principles were all based on the Bible.

Patriot  Preacher Rev. Sam Cooper

It was a novel concept, a new paradigm. It was not to create another theocracy like Rome, but a land where non-believers in God would not just have the same rights and freedom to live peacefully, but could prosper as well. After all, the rain does really fall equally on the righteous and the unrighteous.  During the American Revolution, it was America's pastors who were the conscience of the burst of Freedom and I would even venture to say that the First Great Awakening - the biggest Revival in the world at the time, had something to do with it. This Awakening was spurred by men like Jonathan Edwards - who preached the greatest sermon still in this country (Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, July 1741). George Whitefield and John Wesley fired up America for the Gospel and people saw that there was Freedom in the Gospel, through Christ our Lord, for the first time in their lives.


Edwards and Whitefield, two great Calvinists, preached and preached and preached until hundreds of thousands came to real salvation in their souls. They showed that it was Christ Jesus Who had the way to TRUE personal freedom and once their own souls were delivered from bondage, these new converts were so emboldened and passionate about spreading the Gospel, they mentored other men to do the same. This preaching and fiery evangelism took place for decades before the War of Independence actually happened. 

George Whitefield Preached Freedom in Christ

I think the colonists, through learning about the True Gospel for the first time in their churches discovered the definition of Freedom, similar to Item 1 above (The state of being free or at liberty rather than in confinement or under physical restraint). They discovered what you and I already know in our own souls, and that is - Men who are in the grips and chains of sin and depravity are not free because Sin is crouching at their doors and will devour them in their bondage.


But Jesus Christ came to show us the only way, a better way, where we could defeat those personal transgressions and live in true victory. It is the Way of the Cross - the Way, the Truth and the Life. 


It requires men, women and children to realize that we cannot save and make ourselves free, but God can. It requires us to come to the realization that we MUST change course (REPENT), agree with God we're going down the wrong path to destruction, and ask forgiveness for our sins. Then we accept the work, the finished work on the Cross, and turn to the Savior, trusting and obeying Him as LORD and Savior. Don't believe those guys coming out of seminaries like Dallas Theological, Fuller, Hartford or other free grace schools of higher learning, where they say all a person has to do to be saved is "TRUST" in the Jesus and say a prayer! This is a recipe for a false decision and convert. Salvation is an orderly process which requires  Repentance. Jesus wants us to be truly free, and know that we are free so that we can show others how to live free!

Galatians 5:1 says "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery". This yoke of slavery is not just going back and committing the same sin which we were forgiven of, but not allowing ourselves to have our freedoms and liberties chipped and chopped away by men who do not serve the same God as we do. In the modern era, whenever  tyrants wanted to lord it over a people, the first thing to go was religious liberty. The French Revolution was  a good example where pagans like the Jacobins backed by the philosophies, from another world in the Illuminati, and men who hated God like Voltaire and Tom Paine, tried to wipe out Christianity from France. Karl Marx said that "religion was the opium of the masses". His spiritual children - the socialists and communist still have their heathen societies in place in Cuba, China and parts of the old Soviet Union. Even there, God has a small remnant who can still bring hope to the few they are allowed to.


So my friends, on the last day - Day 14 of 14 Days of Prayer and Fasting for America and religious freedom, we should remember a couple things:
1. Religious Freedom came at a price when ordinary men did extraordinary things in the late 1700's, so that they could have a chance to govern themselves, according to a unique system set up by the foundations of Godly principles.
2. Religious Freedom first begins with personal freedom - freedom from your own past and sins, into a life of true peace, joy, happiness and contentment. 


Sure there are many of our citizens, then and now, who did not believe as we do. These men and women did, and some still do, contribute to the Great Experiment called America. However, as time and events move closer to the end of all things, we will see increasing evidence of them versus us. It is only by usurping our God-given and Christ-bought-at-the-Cross Freedom they can achieve whatever plans they have to serve themselves. Always remember, the power of men to lord it over others is only temporary and here for a brief time on this earth. But we, our calling, our destination, our Salvation, is permanent. We are set free for eternity and while we may have troubles and tribulation, hold fast - help is not only on the Way, but He is with us always, my fellow Christians! Greater is He Who is in us, than he who rules the current world, for a short time. Sure pray for those who are lost and who oppress other, and pray them into His capable Hands, but always keep our eyes on the Greater Prize - Christ, our Hope and the Glorious Day coming when we see Him Face to face! WHAT A DAY THAT WOULD BE!


Thank you to the wonderful saints in the United States, Canada and South Africa who stayed and prayed these past fourteen days as we purposed on this mission for Religious Freedom and Personal Freedom in Christ! The Lord heard our cries of repentance, submission and intercession for the lost, hurting and the oppressed. If you wish to join a group of prayer warriors on Twitter sometime, usually every Wednesday morning, you can pray with some mighty prayer warriors from the US, UK and South Africa there, by using the hash tag #EuropeAfricaUS.


May God bless and keep us all and may God continue to shine His Mighty Face on the United States of America! Father, in the Mighty Name of Jesus, thank You so much for the privilege of being in Your Presence and for the honor and duty You gave us to pray for Your Grace, Mercy, Righteousness and forgiveness, not just these past two weeks, but each and every day of our lives. Thank You for the Freedom to do this, and for the country You allowed me to set up over 230 years ago, which has allowed Your saints not just to flourish here in the US, but to spread that love and the bountiful goodness of this land around the world to others in need!

Thank You for Your Awesome Son - the Savior - the Lord Jesus - the God Who became a man that He may see and live like we did, so He would be our High Priest, Intercessor, Prophet and King before the Throne daily, as we pray to You, through Him. It is He - the Lord - Who has set us free. It is He - the Lord- who has given us Eternity.  It is He - and He only - to Whom we bow the knee, in reverence, submission and hope to live a life free from the flesh, and one full of the Spirit of the Living God Who has sealed us until the Day of Redemption.


Father, make Your Face to shine once again upon America, remove the dross and let the true jewel shine. Cleanse us from all unrighteousness and forgive us for participating in the sinful evil culture of not just Hollywood, but the filth of an MTV generation through music, books, films and theologies which have now corrupted churches and millions of people who have deceived themselves into thinking You are pleased with this Laodecian-like behavior. 


We pray today for the return of Preachers, Evangelists and prophets like Whitefield and Edwards and Moody who would stand on the Gospel and not run megachurches like businesses with their private jets and million dollar houses and clothes. 


We pray for a rising up of the Body in a movement of prayer, sacred assembly and revival like Ezra did as the remnant returned to rebuild Jerusalem 2600 years ago.


We pray for leaders now and in the future who will follow Your will and conduct themselves accordingly...and Lord leaders who not just appear in churches during election season with a christian mask on, but men and women who live and govern, in they forget, is their temporary stewardship, according to the Word of God. Even if they do not believe as we do, Lord, You have already written Your Law in their hearts and they are doubly accountable because of their higher position of authority and their consciences should dictate their conduct. Lord, show those, who follow the broad road and lead others into things You did NOT ordain in Your Word, show them their works will be judged accordingly, if they do not repent and turn to the Savior.


We pray finally Lord for this country, that it will return to You before it is too late. You have given us ample warnings in these natural disasters, which the lost have taken to calling "Global Warming". 

We pray most of all for our children - that they may be protected from a corrupt society which seeks to educate them in every manner of depravity and ungodly conduct dressed up in the sheep's clothing of tolerance and alternate lifestyles. Bring Godly intervention to the sleeping church, which has allowed this to happen and not say a word about it.


Father God, bless this day, give us strength and hope, most of all give us the Perseverance of the saints of God to make it through these days so we can not only flourish as a Body spiritually, to the end, but we can lead many to a saving knowledge of Christ, in Whose Name I pray, amen.

(images by google & ndptf, co springs)