I read the Declaration of Independence this week. Declaration Of Independence I found it enjoyable. Those men were so intelligent. Early in the document it is written concerning what God entitles men. I believe that is what has made this country great. It was founded by God fearing men. Now, spiritually, they had downfalls like all of us but read these great historical documents and you will see God all through them. We want this nation to flourish again; we must have God fearing men leading it! Today we are going to take a look at The Declaration of Independence and how we need to employ the things inside that historical document to get our freedom from sin!
3 THINGS MUST HAPPEN TO HAVE SEPERATION!
I. RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM
Before anyone will change something in there life they first must have a need! We always NEED this or NEED that! We will pursue the things we feel we need! Generally, we don’t realize we have a need until a problem or a struggle makes a need obvious! EXAMPLE: We need money! We must work to get money. We must travel to get to work. Therefore, we need transportation! PEOPLE SPEND A TON OF MONEY ON THAT TRANSPORTATION.
A. LIST/ENUMERATE advantages and disadvantages!
In Ben Franklin’s Philosophy of Choice we are told to make a list of pros and cons of difficult decisions! See which side is bigger or longer and it will aide in decision making. I have done this with decisions in my life!
I ask you today, what is #1 in your life? What can you absolutely NOT DO WITHOUT? What would make your life crumble? That is what your master is!
2Pt 2:19 For you are a slave to whatever controls you.
***We say we love and know Jesus but we live like Satan! Look at your life this month. List your actions! ONE SIDE IS FOR JESUS. THE OTHER IS FOR ANYTHING ELSE! Which one will have the most entries? That is what dominates your life!
A very similar thing takes place in the Declaration of Independence (D.O.I) Right before they list several struggles they had with Great Britain. This is written, “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”
When we see from that list we made that maybe we are not pursuing Jesus like we should. We need to “throw off” whatever it is!
B. The HEAD of all this.
You see Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Hancock & the other 53 men who signed the D.O.I. knew who was at the head of their struggles! After they list their struggles on the D.O.I. This is written, “A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people”
I find it ironic that the Bible says Eph 2:2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Satan is not your friend! The Bible says he is our ENEMY! If you are outside of Christ, Satan still is not your friend! He wants you to burn with him! He wants your heart to be evil continually!
Jn 8:34,35 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35“The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever
SATAN WANTS US SO PREOCCUPIED WITH OTHER THINGS THAT MAY NOT BE SINFUL; THAT WE NO LONGER HAVE TIME FOR CHRIST!
We are slaves to sin outside of Christ! REPEAT: CHRIST CAN SET US FREE! REMEMBER The D.O.I. “But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security”
We need to “throw off” what makes us slaves! SATAN and SIN
We need to get a “new guard for our future security! CHRIST
II DECIDE TO CHANGE
Once we look at our list we made! Once we realize who or what is at the head this list! WE MUST MAKE A DECISION! To continue on this current path or change our path!
A. We must OPPOSE our current path!
Slight dissatisfaction IS NOT ENOUGH! WE MUST STRONGLY OPPOSE OUR PATH!
ILL: If we go to a restaurant and do not like any aspect of the experience we say, "I WILL NEVER GO BACK THERE AGAIN!" If we go to a restaurant and find a few problems with that place we say, "WEEL, I DIDN'T LIKE THIS OR THAT BUT I WOULD GO THERE AGAIN!" DO YOU SEE THE DIFERENCE?
When we strongly oppose something, we will be self disciplined to make the necessary adjustments to change what we are doing!
In the D.O.I they listed their problems, they realized who was the head of their problems, & THEY MADE A DECISION! this is written, “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”
They severed all ties! We must do the same! We must reach out to God!
2Ch 7:14,15 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15“Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place
III. TAKE ACTION
Let’s see where we are in our pursuit of freedom from sin! WE HAVE RECOGNIZED A PROBLEM. SO WE MADE A LIST OF ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES. WE REALIZE WHO IS AT THE HEAD OF OUR PROBLEMS. WE ARE OF STRONG OPPOSITION OF WERE WE ARE; SO WE HAVE DECIDED TO MAKE A CHANGE. IN TAKING ACTION, WE MUST
A. REMOVE our old ways and thoughts.
D.O.I. 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.
They were removing all they felt they were forced to do. That’s what makes serving God so great. He will NEVER force us to do anything! You see when we take action in moving away from our old selves we must put away our old things that shape our lives. Often this ends up friends and other things that seem to be a big part of our lives.
Lk 12:51-53 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53“They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Many people today are forced into a decision. FOLLOW CHRIST OR FOLLOW ME?
People are always forced into a corner when making decisions for Christ! Eve experienced it. Christ experienced it. YOU MAY HAVE, MAY BE, OR MAY KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS EXPERIENCING IT!
ILL: IRENE REYNOLDS’ FAMILY DISOWNED HER FOR FOLLOWING CHRIST!!
B. REPLACE the old with the new
Do you know what historical document came after the D.O.I. They took action and removed all ties with Great Britain. They replaced their former rules and laws they were forced to follow with a document that started like this, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
CONSTITUTION OF THE US
Rom 6:3,4 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
Jn 8:31,32 “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Gal 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another
Today, I want to give take this opportunity to put away your old self and learn how to walk in the “newness of life!” Today, I want you to become obedient to Christ’s Gospel. Today, I want God to add you to his church!
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