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ARE
YOU INDEPENDENT?
1 Peter 2:9-17
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out
of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in
time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not
obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you
as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly
lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among
the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may
by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of
visitation. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's
sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or
unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of
evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of
God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish
men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke
of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour
all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour
the king.”
I. Progression of American Independence.
A. Revolutionary War - bow to no
KING.
1) Free to make own choices.
2) But freedom limited to white
male property owners.
B. Civil War - bow to no PERSON.
1) Trip to Gettysburg, most famous American battle.
2) War began to preserve Union, period.
a) No intent to free slaves
of South.
b) As war intensified, Lincoln saw a larger
picture.
3) New birth of freedom.
a) Freedom is broader,
extends to all people.
b) Beyond reality of 13
colonies - bow to no PERSON.
II. Dependencies in our culture that kill
freedom.
A. Dependent on letting others lead us by nose.
1) Mormons - people don't want
freedom.
Utah was Brigham Young's community.
He was absolute master of
its every detail.
He knew every Mormon in Salt Lake City, his
name and family,
his
assets and problems.
When he visited St. George,
the Mormon settlement near the
southern Nevada border, he entered every home,
embraced
every
Mormon.
When he ordered a thing to be
done, it was done: Tabernacle,
temple
towns, schools, roads, library....
Plays appearing in the theatre
had to have his approval.
Marriages required his consent, and courtships as well.
If a man wanted to enter a
business or trade, Brigham Young
had
to approve.
When he told a man to enter
into plural marriage, that man
took
another wife.
Whatever Brigham Young said
was the religion of the Mormons.
When he said that a man or
group was apostate that man or
group
was excommunicated.
Heber Kimball, Young's first
in command, told the
congregation:
"If Brother Brigham tells
me to do a thing, it is the same
as
though the Lord told me to do it."
Mormons were not overburdened
with personal decisions.
Sir Richard Burton, who
visited Salt Lake in 1860, said
that Brigham Young
explained his policy this way:
"Liberty is to mankind in
general, is a burden far heavier
than
slavery."
2) Many still depend slavishly on
leaders, especially religious
ones.
B. Dependent on blaming others.
1) Letter from Roy Medley - too
many are "victims," when we
are
the ones responsible.
2) Families, environment, gov't
blamed for our problems.
3) Even God blamed - he could change
things, why doesn't he?
4) Situations can be bad, but we
can rise above them.
C. Dependent on handouts.
1) Gov't welfare creates
dependency. (Manahan village, 4 gen.s)
2) Not just inner city anymore.
3) Bible: Provide for your own family with work of
your hands.
III. Christians should be
free.
A. Dead-end of rigid predestination
theology.
1) Sounds holy: God is in control, I am just an empty
vessel.
a) Result is fatalism.
"I can't do
anything about my destiny.
b) (recent visit)
2) Belief leads to living anyway
you want, no responsibility.
B. Bible is clear, Christians are
free. John 3:16
1) We are free to make real
choices.
2) We are free to choose
God. "Whosoever will..."
3) We are free to turn our lives
around.
a) Not just God's doing. Mystery, in that we cooperate.
C. Freedom is not "licence."
1) Peter - not free to sin. 2:16
2) We are free to do what is
right. Do wrong, and God punishes.
a) "Choose
life." (clerk in Penn. Arby's) Deut 30:19
b) Do wrong, and God punishes.
IV. Declare your independence!
A. Independent in
responsibility.
2:15
1) We can make real choices, and
need to.
2) Only we can make them, not
passed on to others.
3) Abstain from sin. (Jesus
is more powerful than any addiction.)
4) Not given credit? Good living will silence critics. 2:15
B. Independent in love.
1) We choose to love, even if we
are not loved back.
2) Our greatest freedom is giving
love for hate.
A Christian construction
contractor was almost wiped out
by
an embezzling employee.
He prosecuted the guy, but
gave aid to his family, visited
him prison, and
found him a job upon release.
Others thought he was nuts,
but he said, "I knew God had
given
me loving grace and forgiveness for my sins.
But here I was harboring
hatred and vengeance for a man
who
sinned against me.
I was trapped in a worse
prison than my ex-employee."
C. Independent in faith.
1) Only we can decide how close
we'll be to God.
2) God is not a dependency for Christians,
but a dynamic
enabler.
Jeris
Bragan was convicted of first degree murder and
sentenced
to 99 years in prison.
He is a strong Christian, and
claims he is innocent.
Instead of becoming bitter, he
has grown in his faith.
He finds the story of Joseph
in pharaoh's prison to be
especially
meaningful.
Joseph's faith freed him in
the midst of painful
circumstances because he knew
by faith that God held
his
future securely in His hands.
Bragan
discovered that he was a free man.
-Free to accept his
circumstances.
-Free to choose how he
would respond.
-Free to act. (College degree)
V. Expanding your freedom.
A. Freedom is an evolving concept in America.
B. Christian freedom is also dynamic.
1) Many believers are still
slaves of sin and hatred.
2) They have "blessings,"
but not the big picture of God.
C. Grow in your faith.
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