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Guest Corner
Joyce Stevens
SPIRIT OF LIBERTY
by Joyce Stevens
2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is the
Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from
bondage, freedom).
On July 4, 1776 the United States Declaration of
Independence declared that the Thirteen Colonies were now independent of the
Kingdom of Great Britain.
In1862 an executive order called the Emancipation
Proclamation was given by President Lincoln. This proclamation declared freedom
for all slaves.
Over 2000 years ago another proclamation was made
on an old rugged cross, Jesus cried, “It Is Finished”. This proclamation made a
provision for all those who will call upon the name of Jesus our Lord and Savior
to be free.
As we celebrate July 4th independence Day let us
remember what true liberty and freedom are really about.
Freedom does not come without cost. Throughout
the history of our great nation, men and women have paid a great price for our
freedom. Many have given their lives that we might experience freedom and live
where there is liberty and justice for all.
Matthew 20:28 Just as the Son of Man came
not to be waited on but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many [the
price paid to set them free]. AMP
Jesus gave His life that we might experience an
even greater freedom
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free. KJV
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make
you free, ye shall be free indeed. KJV
The Greek definitions for the words make and free
are; Make: to set at liberty: from
the dominion of sin; Free: freedom
to go wherever one likes, free from bondage or slavery, freeborn; in a civil
sense, one who is not a slave
I was born free as a citizen of the United States
in a little plantation in Maine in 1943. But I was born again and made free by
the blood of Jesus when I knelt at an old fashioned alter and asked God to
forgive me of my sins and accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior in 1971.
This liberty is maintained by the continued
indwelling of the Holy Spirit and obedience to God’s Word. This freedom is not
a license to do what I want to do, but to do the will of God. This liberty
prepares us for service to God and others.
Whom the Son makes free is free indeed.
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