In 3 days we will celebrate the 4th of July, Independence Day. There will be parades, hotdogs on the grill and plenty of fireworks. On July 4th, 1776 the United States declared their independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain; we were no longer being controlled by them. As Christians we should have an Independence Day every time we worship our Lord and Savior; we are no longer controlled by outside influences that can lead us astray.
Yesterday we had a good group working here at the building preparing Summit to remain a place where Christians can declare their independence from the things of the world, study God’s word and worship Him. We also want it to be an inviting place for others who are looking for peace and independence.
After the worship service today, we will have our fellowship meal, then this afternoon we have our MRM meeting which will lead us right into our Sunday evening worship. What a way to celebrate a Sunday.
In Acts 8 we have the conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch, who was reading a passage of the Bible from Isaiah, when Philip started telling the eunuch the good news about Jesus. The scripture said after the eunuch was baptized he went on his way rejoicing, he was no longer a slave to sin, but was a new babe in Christ. We could say his baptism was his Independence Day.
In Acts 2 we have Peter preaching the first gospel sermon and over 3000 were baptized on that day. They were filled with awe, and all the believers sold their possessions, giving it to anyone who was in need. They were no longer under the control of “Keeping up with the Jones”. They ate together with glad and sincere hearts, celebrating their independence from the things of the world.
2 Cor. 5:17 says that if we are in Christ, we are a new creature, old things are passed away, we have a clean slate. Our past has been forgiven, but we must change our habits, we can no longer be slaves to sin.
Galatians 5 tells us that Christ has set us free, and not to let ourselves be burdened by yoke of slavery in sin.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
We have so much to be thankful for!!!
Happy Independence Day Brothers and Sisters in Christ!
