Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day and praise the Lord for His Church and His Kingdom. The reason that Jesus came is to set the captives free. He came proclaiming release to the bound; He came bringing the healing to the wounded. In John 8:36 our Lord makes an audacious claim, “if the Son sets you free, you are free indeed.” The world defines freedom as the license to do whatever we want. God (on the other hand) says it is the ability to do whatever is right. Human freedom flows from obedience. Many folks think of freedom like jumping off a tall building without a parachute. For a while, the adrenaline rush courses through our bodies. But the pavement races to confront us with a reality that cannot now be avoided: no one has the freedom to break the law of gravity. Creaturely freedom submits to the laws of the universe. In Isaiah 61:1, God promised that Messiah would “proclaim liberty to the captives.” Jesus offers us that freedom in John 8:36. Students of American history know well of Patrick Henry’s 1775 speech urging military action against British troops. Henry ended with these stirring words: “Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
The hope of freedom fills human history, thrills our souls, and unites us in a common cause. But we are not the only people to long for freedom, or the only ones to be defined by it. Israel, the people chosen by God, dated their calendar from the day of independence, the day in which they were delivered from slavery. And when Jehovah gives the law that sets them apart from all other nations, he begins the same way: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2). I believe it is accurate to say that freedom is a universal desire. It is good news, therefore, that for freedom Christ has set His people free (cf. Galatians 5:1). But what is true freedom? How do we walk in it? How do we hold to it so as not to slip into moral relativism or sinful rebellion? Just before this teaching on freedom, Jesus sharply rebukes the Pharisees, the religious leadership. They were enslaved by what is called, “legalism,” placing their hope in their obedience to the law. Then, rather than fail, they lowered the standards and counted themselves righteous. Legalism always produces pride and self-exaltation. Jesus condemns it harshly. But Jesus does not promote the opposite error which leads to licentiousness, living without standards. The law is not our enemy; it is perfect, good, and holy, therefore, it must be my friend. It exposes my true nature and drives me to my Lord as my hope. There I find that He kept the law both that we might love it and love His keeping it through and in us. Our hearts ache for the freedom Jesus offers. Not the freedom to sin, but to live as God intends.
We find true Freedom in submission to Jesus (John 8:31-32). Jesus offers the incomparable blessing of freedom in His gospel. John Calvin: “All feel and acknowledge that slavery is a most wretched thing. Since the Gospel delivers us from this, it follows that the treasure of the blessed life comes from the Gospel.” But what kind of liberty does Jesus offer? Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his "Cost of Discipleship", wrote, “The demand for absolute liberty brings men to the depths of slavery.” Bonhoeffer understood that created beings cannot have absolute liberty. We must submit either to the God who gives freedom or to sin which tyrannizes. A letter written to Ann Landers from a miserable woman reveals the same. She committed adultery, and in the process destroyed every relationship around her. She cannot enjoy the new relationship, because it is full of guilt, lies, and manipulation. Neither can she go back, for what once was, is lost. Additionally her friends and family are forever affected by this evil. She wrote Ann wanting to know whether to leave the new man or convince him to divorce his wife. What was unusual was that she admitted in the letter that her future held only pain and misery. Why? She refused the truth and her freedom to live was lost. The world defines “freedom” as the license to do whatever we want. But sin causes us to want that which destroys. The alcoholic wants to be drunk; he will lose his health in so doing and, one day, will lose the freedom to stop drinking. Or the parent who wants to re-live her failures through her daughter; she will one day drive away what is most important to her and lose the freedom to love and be loved. The world’s definition of freedom will not work because our sin nature causes us to want that which will destroy us. God defines freedom as the ability to do whatever is right and only Jesus gives that freedom. We must abide in Jesus’ Word. Freedom is not simply being released from the guilt of sin in conversion; it is victory over the power of sin in you daily walk. Many people make a great beginning of the faith, but fall under sin’s tyranny when the freshness of the feelings have worn off, when the world and the devil begin to tempt and tease, and when the desires of our sinful nature rise and announce their preferences. It is not so much beginning, but abiding in Christ’s word that marks a true work of God’s grace. Creatures cannot have “absolute” freedom; there is no true freedom apart from submission to God.
We find true freedom in admission of slavery. So Jesus makes clear the spiritual application: “Everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.” Could there be any worse task-master? Sin prompts behavior which hurts self and others. Sin promises freedom but gives guilt. Sin holds out the hope of reward, then punishes instead. The Puritan Pastor Thomas Brooks called sin the bait on the fishhook—you taste the treat but end up caught in its sharp, steel grip. So we have two options—will we admit to the power of sin and its enslavement over us, or will we continue to profess our pretended liberty? Only those who admit their need come to Christ for His solution. That is why we find true freedom in admission of our slavery. We find true freedom in possession of Sonship. Every person to whom Jesus spoke knew first-hand the difference between a son and a slave. If they did not personally own a slave, a neighbor did. Slaves had no rights, no inheritance, no ability to do the things he or she wanted. Slaves were controlled by another and would be thrown out when used up. Not so the son; he has freedom to treat the house as his own, for one day it will be so.
God offers us these same blessings. In the gospel, God adopts people into His family. “Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we become His sons and have a right to all the privileges of being His.” When Jesus says “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed,” he offers to you as a gift everything that is His “by right.”
• Freedom from guilt, for He never sinned.
• Freedom from the demands of the law, for He perfectly obeyed.
• Freedom from punishment, for He has taken the pain.
• Freedom from death, for He has won victory over the grave.
• Freedom from sin’s power, for He has broken its reign.
• Freedom from Satan’s terror, for He has crushed the enemy.
• Freedom from fear, for He brings you into the Father’s family.
• Freedom from the ceremonial law and the traditions of men, for He has fulfilled all the types and shadows that separate man from God.
• Freedom from trying to measure up, for God accepts us in His beloved Son.
Have you been adopted into God’s family? Is your faith in the Son, in His perfect obedience, in His promise of freedom? Many people set their hearts on physical freedoms. We agree that wherever the gospel goes, freedom should ring—freedom from tyranny, freedom of religion, economic and educational freedoms. But these shadows exist only because true freedom is present—that which Christ gives. The only truly free man is he who is free from sin. If you would be truly free, you must come to the One who holds the key to the great chain that binds all souls, victory over sin won at the Cross. Whether the film Braveheart was accurate or not, the last scene illustrates a beneficial truth. Mel Gibson acted as Sir William Wallace, the Scottish Patriot who fought for his country’s liberty and independence. In the last scene, after Wallace was betrayed, he is to be executed. But before he is killed, they give him a chance to admit he was wrong and seek mercy. So they ask him, do you have a last word? Wallace takes a breath and screams, “Freedom!” He was saying that you can chain his body to the rack and take away even his life, but it is better to live free, or die. Jesus is saying that no matter what your situation—you can have freedom. Admit to sin’s mastery, a mastery you cannot free yourself from. Come to Jesus for adoption into God’s family. And abide in His Word and truth, and so be free indeed.
Praise the Lord for many answered prayers!
Irene Boyer is home after her rehabilitation.
Thank you for praying for my sister-in-law in India, she is home after being hospitalized for malaria and other complications.
Pray for my brother-in-law, Prasant’s father, Mr. Digal, back in India. He is 90 yrs. Old. He was a staunch Hindu priest he became to know Christ through the witness of his sons. He was baptized at the age of 80, he is in poor health.
Pray for Joyce Henry, a veteran missionary in India. She is back in England with poor health. She is close to 90 yrs. Old. Pray for her husband, Bruce, and her family.
Pray for the family of Jonathan Brown, Jonathan died at the age of 31 yrs. Old leaving behind his young wife and young daughter.
Pray for Jack Hoppes, he is back at the hospital with some complications.
Pray for Mike Wingard and other business men who are traveling abroad, the Lord might use them to share the Good News of Jesus in the business world.
Pray for Gail Wellborn and her husband who are in China with a multi-national corporation and are moving to Singapore.
Pray for Sunita who will be coming back to Washington, DC tomorrow after spending a fruitful two weeks in Uganda.
Pray for the short term mission team that is going to Orissa, India, my hometown. This team is led by Dr. Tim Divine and Dr. Todd Mansfield.
We praise the Lord for Palm Sunday. Our choir will be presenting an Easter Cantata during the morning worship services at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. For Holy Week we will meet Wednesday for our mid-week service.
Maundy Thursday Rabbi Ron Goldberg will be with us.
Good Friday we will have combined service with the Nazarene church of Endicott at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday our children will gather for an Easter egg hunt at 11:00 a.m. followed by a meal at noon.
Easter Sunday: Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed. We will have Sunrise services starting at 6:30 a.m. followed by a family breakfast. We will meet for Easter celebrations at 8:30 and 11:00 a.m. Those who live around the area, bring your family and friends and join us.
In Christ, we are free indeed, how blessed we are, thanks be to Jesus.
Brown
Police Humor
So you thought police officers didn't have a sense of humor....The following were taken off of police car videos around the country.
"Relax, the handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile."
"If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."
"So you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?"
"Yes, Sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh. Did I mention that I am the shift supervisor?"
"Warning! You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket."
"The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not.
Was Mickey Mouse a cat or a dog?"
"Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven."
"Just how big were those two beers?"
"No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want."
"I'm glad to hear that Sheriff Tom Ariss is a good personal friend of yours. At least you know someone who can post your bail."
"You didn't think we give pretty women tickets? ...... You're right, we don't... sign here."
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