On August 14th, 1947, a country was raised on the map of the world. It was called The Islamic Democratic Republic of Pakistan. Many, many sacrifices were made to secure this country. Through these sacrifices, this country got their Independence from Great Britain, and the Muslims of the subcontinent got their freedom, also.
Today, there are two hundred million people living freely, in this (now) free country, free from external pressures. Today, as a country, we are politically independent, with a standing among the international community.
Every person in the world wants to have independence. Freedom is a divine gift that must be valued. And, this freedom is not secured or achieved free of cost. It is very costly; sacrifice, passion, struggle, determination and solidarity are necessary to achieve freedom. Also, for freedom to be achieved, one has to shed his blood.
Today, the present generation enjoys the freedom that their great grandparents sacrificed greatly in order to achieve. Indeed, freedom is a gift.
It is very natural to dislike slavery or submission. Even children enjoy a great deal of freedom, epically when their parents leave them home alone in order to visit friends.
Freedom comes with responsibility. We believe that freedom makes us happy to do as we like to do, but it does not. There was once someone who was beating the air with his hands and he hit the nose of another person, wounding him badly. The wounded man asked him: “what have you done; “why have done this”; why did you hit me on my nose?” The free-man answered, “Because I am free!” The wounded man then responded, “You are right. You are free. But where my nose begins your freedom comes to an end.
Our freedom has boundaries. We must consider the freedom of another person. And, we should not interrupt another person’s freedom.
When weak nations are under slavery of strong and powerful nations, the powerful nations assert their will over them and take hold of their thinking and resources.
God created Adam and Eve and He created them to be free. He kept them in the Garden of Eden, totally free. But, with certain limitations. God the Almighty, the Creator, had warned them;
“But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”
Genesis 3:3 KJV
But they did not follow the will of God but instead fulfilled their own will and fell into sin and they became slaves of sin. Today man is slave of sin. He is a slave of his own conscience. Although he lives as a free person, he is still a slave. He is free to eat and drink, to travel in expensive cars, to fly in huge airplanes, to live in big mansions, to travel around the world, to rule over other people, but still he is a slave. He is imprisoned due to his own sin. He is a slave of his own desires; some people are slaves of evil habits.
“Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you; Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”
John 8:34 KJV
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
John 8:36 KJV
The slavery of Satan, sin and evil habits
Now here another freedom is mentioned. There is an inner freedom. This is the freedom of conscience – the freedom from sin, the devil, evil and bad habits. This is the freedom from the hand (grip) of Satan.
Once upon a time a young man was badly entrapped by addictions. He talked for a long time with the pastor and he promised that he would say good bye to his addictions. He went back to his home, met his friends and after some time passed, he fell again into the same bad habits. After many days, he went back to the same pastor, and he confessed…that although he had promised that he would not repeat this wrong habit, he did not realize that when he returned to his home, he would once again be overwhelmed and controlled by this habit. He said that as the habit overcomes him, he is forced again back into the addiction.
This young man wanted to have freedom; deliverance from this addiction. But the addiction made him a prisoner and a slave, and then this young man was forced again to practice the addictive behavior. The son of God, Lord Jesus Christ can set a person free from such a curse and slavery.
Deliverance from evil habits.
I knew a young man when he was a student who was badly enslaved to smoking cigarettes. He could not survive without this evil, abominable habit. Throughout the day, he smoked a lot. It seemed that he would never get rid of this evil habit. The only time that he did not smoke was when he was in his bed. But then he personally accepted Lord Jesus Christ, and all this smoking business came to an end. The habit of smoking was gone.
The act of smoking cigarettes made him a slave, but Lord Jesus Christ, through His great power, set him free.
Freedom from the fist of the devil, the accuser.
Satan has made some people his slaves. In some people, Satan resides and from time to time he manifests his presence in them. All the work is done by the fallen angles of Satan. When such people come to the Lord Jesus Christ, receive him as a personal Lord and Savior, and they ask God’s people to pray for them, God hears the prayers of His people. He shows His grace and favor unto such people and they get healed. Some patients truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ from the depth of their heart. It is very sad and tragic to say that some people see the power of the living Lord Jesus Christ and receive healing but they still don’t surrender their lives to the Him. Instead, they go back to the yoke of the enemy once again. They have the freedom from the fist of the enemy but still they choose to go back into the capacity of the enemy by their own free will or choice. Lord Jesus Christ grants them protection, those who give their heart to Him. Even then, if they go through a difficult time, God will still deliver them and grant them freedom from evil habits and evil spirits. But, the most important thing is to have freedom from sin by receiving forgiveness of sin.
Freedom from sin
This freedom is the greatest freedom in the world. When a person is set free from all his past sins, then he experiences a very special kind of joy. A joy that cannot be secured by any amount of wealth.
Saint John says,
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32 KJV
The truth will set you free from which things? From sin, the control of Satan, evil habits, and from sin and death.
Who is “truth”? Lord Jesus Christ is truth. He Himself is truth and He appeared or manifested Himself in the flesh, to identify with human beings, to set me and you free from sin. He went to the cross and offered atonement, the shedding His blood. He suffered death and rose again from the dead on the third day.
The freedom from sin is not available to every human being. To get this freedom, the door is open but it depends on the free will of man, weather he accepts it or rejects it. Jesus Christ, this truth, was incarnated and lived among us.
Lord Jesus Christ said;
“I am the way, the truth, and the life:”
John 14:6 KJV
I’m the way, the truth and life, anybody who will follow me, who will walk along with me, he will receive the truth and the truth will set him free. Freedom will be his portion. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. I am the way, the truth and the life.
“Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.”
John 14:17 KJV
God’s Spirit, the Spirit of truth, lives inside of the believer. The believer does not need the call the Holy Spirit from outside, because He lives inside of the believer.
“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?”
1Co 3:16 KJV
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
John 16:13 KJV
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Gal 5:1 KJV
Today our loving country is celebrating its day of Independence. And it is a good, important thing. But these things…are the most important things:
Are you set free from evil habits?
Are you free from the fist of Satan?
Are you free from sin?
It is very sad that there are still many people who are slaves of Satan. There are many people who are slaves of sin. When you are free from bad habits, from the fist of Satan and free from sin, then it is a great joy and you are a blessed person.
But God forbid if this is not so, then you need to get this freedom. The real freedom is only attained by receiving Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, confessing your sins and giving up your sins with the sincerity of your heart. This freedom is received by faith. If you are without this freedom, then may the Lord show you His grace and may you enjoy the real freedom. And, if you have already received this freedom, then may you gradually keep moving forward in this freedom and help others to see that they may enjoy this freedom as well.
Do you wish people happy independence?
What is the true meaning of happy Independence Day?
Wishing Independence Day to all of you who are free!
Happy Independence Day.
Blessings
