HAPPY 4th of JULY 2011

Pastor Todd Christopherson
Mid American Stock Car Series
June 30, 2011

On this day and weekend we fire up the grills, attend parades and watch fireworks and have a great time together. We may even say, “Happy Fourth of July”, but sometimes lost in the fun is the reason we celebrate this day. It is the day we remember our independence, our freedom from England. Not that England is bad, but at the time they wanted to rule one way and the people of this land wanted some freedom they were not allowed.

This day can be a day to reflect on political issues and the freedom or lack thereof depending on different circumstances. However, we are still a country of abundance and much freedom. I hope you take a moment and are thankful. I always think of the cost of the freedom too, and try to thank the soldiers and those that served, so, “Thank you!” to those that are serving and have served.

I also think of Scripture as there are several passages that talk about freedom and we know that Israel was often not free. I would ask that as you think about the 4th and what it means to you that you would ponder on these two passages

· Hebrews 12:1-4 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

· 1 Peter 2:16-17 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.

In Hebrews it speaks of being entangled by sin. You may think you are free but sin can trap you and you can miss freedom. We see cases of that all around us and even some of us are trapped. We also see in this passage that we are to struggle against sin. IT is not a one time event, “Ok, I’m done with that.”, and not sin again. We have to work at it and prepare to fight against sin. The price of freedom is blood that is shed. Jesus shed His blood on Calvary as a payment for my sin, for your sin. We need to acknowledge that and then repent of our sin and seek His forgiveness. God expects a change of heart and life style as we repent. Salvation is not just a free pass and we get keep living in sin as we were. The 1 Peter passage tells us that. We cannot cover up sin. God sees is and knows our sin. We may be able to fool some around us but not the LORD.

So do you have the freedom I talk about? Or are you trapped by your sin hoping that somehow you will get freed so as to come into the presence of God in Heaven? I hope if you realize that you are entangled, ensnared, trapped by sin that you would today have a true independence day. Your steps to independence are seeing yourself as a sinner in need of a Savior and that the LORD needs to be first in your life; repenting (turning from sin) and the calling out to God to be forgiven and saved. If God is prompting you, act NOW!

Happy Independence Day and see you at the track soon and have a great day in the SONshine,

Todd