Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There is Freedom
This is President’s Weekend when our nation remembers… to buy cars and go on vacation. In addition to those things, we also remember the births of two of our greatest presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both Washington and Lincoln were instrumental in America being the land of freedom that it is today.
February 17, 2013
2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Where the Spirit of the Lord Is, There is Freedom
Doug Scalise, Brewster Baptist Church
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It was 152 years ago, this past week, on February 11, 1861, when Abraham Lincoln gave his Farewell Address at the Great Western Depot in Springfield, Illinois, before departing for Washington D.C. and the overwhelming challenge of being President of a Union that was coming apart. In that speech he said, “My friends, no one, not in my situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place, and the kindness of these people, I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter of a century, and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have been born, and one is buried. I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever, I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested upon Washington. Without the assistance of the Divine Being who ever attended him, I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail. Trusting in Him who can go with me, and remain with you, and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell.” Lincoln never saw his home in Springfield again. His blood was shed and his life sacrificed for the cause of freedom and the United States of America.
Last month on January 1 our nation celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in which President Lincoln declared all those enslaved in Confederate territory to be forever free, and ordered the Army (and all segments of the Executive branch) to treat as free all those enslaved in the ten states that were still in rebellion, thus declaring free 3.1 million of the 4 million slaves in the U.S. Freedom is great when we know what we have been freed or emancipated from and what it cost. The Apostle Paul wrote about the freedom we have in the Lord because of what Jesus did for us is shedding his blood on the cross and sacrificing his life for our sake.
“Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, 13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside. 14 But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. 15 Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; 16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit. Therefore, since it is by God’s mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God’s word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.”
Prayer: “Lord Jesus, thou who art the way, the truth, and the life; hear us as we pray for the truth that shall make all free. Teach us that liberty is not only to be loved but also to be lived. Liberty is too precious a thing to be buried in books. It costs too much to be hoarded. Help us see that our liberty is not the right to do as we please, but the opportunity to please to do what is right.” Peter Marshall, Before the U.S. Senate.
To enjoy our liberty in the Spirit we need to be mindful of the areas where Christ has freed us from slavery and released us from our captivity. Let’s consider a few of these areas so we can continue to use our freedom for the greatest service, glory and will of God in our lives:
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from sin and all of its self-destructive power. The Spirit of God releases us from the suffering that sin creates. The Spirit releases us from all forms of bondage. The Spirit gives us a continual infusion of new life, liberty and the message to share to release other captives to sin. This is reason to live as thankful people all our days. In the “Proclamation of Thanksgiving” (October 3, 1863), President Lincoln wrote, “I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility and Union.”[1]
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom through Christ who paid for our freedom on the cross and conquered death in his resurrection and ascension.
Now we are given authority over the forces of evil. We may ask the Lord to help us overcome evil with good instead of choosing to be overcome by evil in all of its manifestation. The Spirit allows us to go on the offensive instead of having to play defense to all the forces that would try to discourage our hearts. God that He has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7)
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom through the renewing of our mind, will and emotions with power through Christ Jesus. The liberty given by the Spirit of God enables us to live above what 1 John 2:16 calls “the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes,” and “the pride in riches” which come “not from the Father but from the world” because we’re no longer slaves to our own sinful appetites. Without the Spirit of liberty we are captive to unrighteousness of all kinds that can lead to destruction.
Speaking to a large audience, D.L. Moody once held up a glass and asked, “How can I get the air out of this glass?” One man shouted, “Suck it out with a pump!” Moody replied, “That would create a vacuum and shatter the glass.” After numerous other suggestions Moody smiled, picked up a pitcher of water, and filled the glass. “There,” he said, “all the air is now removed.” He then went on to explain that victory in the Christian life is not accomplished by “sucking out a sin here and there,” but by being filled with the Holy Spirit.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from ignorance by helping us find all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Jesus. The Spirit has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Christ. (2 Peter 1:3,4) The Spirit propels us to greater faith, goodness, love, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and Christian love. Let the Spirit of God help you grow to higher levels of maturity as He desires.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from sin and guilt and shame. The Lord takes away our self-condemning attitudes by allowing us to hand all of our sins of omission and commission over to the Lord and know He will forgive us and make us free from the shackles of the past.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from the grip of the law that we could never hope to keep. Praise God that he frees us from the obligation to have to comply with all of the procedures, policies and processes that are needed to make one perfect. Thank God that we find our hope, liberty, faith and love through our intimate communion with Christ Jesus and His word.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from the burdens of criticism, judgment and misunderstanding people. It is so liberating to know that we are no longer subject to the judgments of people. Paul wrote, I care very little if I am judged by you or by anyone else. I do not even judge myself, but judgment is from the Lord. (2 Cor. 4).
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from bad habits. We are no longer slaves to our past upbringing, culture or habits. Christ has thrown off the chains that we might have been under with our past problems, predicaments or influence by certain people. We are no longer required to feel that we have to get our needs and wants met using our old habits. Instead, we can find new ways to recharge, renew and replenish whatever has been spent.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom through the assurances that the Lord provides in the promises of God’s word. Abraham Lincoln wrote, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”[2]
The Apostle Paul wrote in the midst of his own difficult circumstances, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am in. I can do everything God asks me to do with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.” (Philippians 4:12,13) Thank God for His power that frees us from all the chains, restrictions and inhibitions that held us prisoners.
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom not in release from all restraint but in submission to a new master Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 7:22, “For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.” Thank God that we don’t have to use our freedom for selfish purposes but through love we are free to serve one another in love. Thank God that there is joy in serving Jesus that helps us be freed from the monotony of work that is done only to earn a paycheck. The great 19th century American preacher Phillips Brooks said, “No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man conceivable.”
Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom from the fear of death, hell and judgment. Many people live in fear of death. Thank God for taking away our imprisonment to fear, uncertainty and doubt about our eternal future. We have a home in heaven and it’s because we have believed in and trusted Jesus who said in John 8:31-32 “Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Blessing: Galatians 5:1, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”