Independence
(Luke 15:11-24) And he said, A certain man had two sons: -12. And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. -13. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. -14. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. -15. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. -16. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. -17. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! -18. I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, -19. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. -20. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. -21. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. -22. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: -23. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: -24. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
Our subject today is independence. As our nation will this week celebrate the Declaration of Independence that led to this great nation, so I will celebrate my declaration of independence that brought me into the Kingdom of God. We in the United States of America are very proud to be a part of the nation of the free for we are free of government oppression. In the Kingdom of God, we celebrate the freedom from sin. This freedom of sin is what we will center our message on today. In order to have it, you must declare your independence from the oppressive tyranny of Satan. As the United States had to fight and win the Revolutionary War to gain independence, so you will then need to fight a war to gain your independence for Satan will not simply give you away.
And so let us begin by first considering the young man in our text. Instead of declaring his independence, he yielded to the peer pressure of the sinful crowd and made his choice to follow them in riotous living. When you yield to the peer pressure of the sinful crowd, you are not making any declaration of independence. You are saying that you are too weak to govern your own life and therefore will simply follow the orders of your government. You will follow those orders no matter how much they cause you to suffer and no matter how foolish they really are. Remember that when you commit sin, you are a servant of sin. (John 8:34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Sin always brings suffering to the sinner. No matter how beautiful a picture the devil may paint of people enjoying sin, sin always brings a bitter sting. Consider for a little some of the aspects of our lesson this day. The young man wasted his substance in riotous living. What are the elements of riotous living? No doubt partying, using drugs, drinking alcohol, and sex orgies were a part of that life style as they are today. Where did this kind of living lead our young man? To the hog pen. Where does this kind of living lead people today? To the hog pen, in the gutters, on the streets, in early graves, in hospitals, and no telling where else. For the more you sin, the more sin drives you on to commit more sin. The devil takes you by the nose and leads you where ever he chooses.
You are going to have a great time Satan says. Drink up, shoot up, do it, laugh and have fun - don't think about the headache that you will soon have. Don't think about how sick you will soon be. Don't think about the disease that you may have soon. Don't think about how happy and good people feel that live Christian lives. Yes, as long as the devil can keep you from good common sense, he has you hooked and will drag you down to whatever depth he chooses. Since the devil is a liar and the father of lies, he does not worry about the lies he tells you. Nor does he worry about the lies that his followers tell you. In fact he is laughing with glee at the foolishness of every sucker that is fool enough to swallow some of his tales.
Well, praise God! the young man in our lesson had once lived in the father's house. He remembered that even the servants were better off than he was now that the party was over. He was in the hog pen reaping the rewards of riotous living. As he thought of the foolish choice that he had made, he came to his right mind. He decided that he would declare his independence from that hog pen and its' owner and he would return to his father's house and see if his father would not let him be one of the servants. Well the father represents God and we see that His mercy went out to his son and He welcomed the son home and restored him to his position in the family.
Now we know that Jesus told us this story to let us know how God, our heavenly father would welcome home every sinner that would declare his independence and return to God. This is what I and many million have done thru the ages of time. We have declared our independence from the rule of Satan. We have declared that he will no longer rule over us. We will not be suckered in by his lies for we have a heavenly father that is the God of truth and He will teach us the truth. We have learned that the way to enjoy life is to serve God.
Even though you may declare your independence, it does not mean that you will easily live the right way for your old master, the devil, will do his very best to fight and drag you back into the quagmire of sin. The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the holy ghost. The devil does not want you to live right and to have peace and joy. He will do his very best to prevent you from possessing the Kingdom of God. Jesus said to press your way into it. (Luke 16:16) The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
You need to put forth the effort to obtain it and to keep it.
(Eph 6:11-18) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. -12. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. -13. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. -14. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; -15. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; -16. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. -17. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: -18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
This is the armour of God that you will need to secure your independence for sin. You need every part to win this war against Satan. Start out with the truth. The devil is feeding people lies by the shovel full and you need to know the truth to shut out the lies. The devil tries to tell people that they have to commit sin and God says that we should be holy. Which are you going to believe? (Prov 14:34) Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. (Titus 2:11-12) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, -12. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; These and many other parts of the scriptures clearly teach us the truth. We do not have to sin and God expects us to live righteous, godly lives. Who are you going to believe? If you are going to be a Christian, you must believe God. He will teach you the truth and the truth will set you free from the power and dominion of sin. (John 8:34-36) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. -35. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. -36. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
Yes, the truth will free you from sin and you can then put on the breastplate of righteousness. You cannot put on righteousness as long as you are controlled by sin and if you have to commit sin, then you are a servant of sin. Sin controls you. But, praise God! by obeying the truth and through the power of God, you can be free from sin and wearing the breastplate of righteousness.
In order to fight this war, you need combat boots. The writer says that your feet should be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Now that is the path to walk in. The path of peace. That is the message to preach - the gospel of peace. We are talking about the inner peace that comes to every soul that lives the way God wants them to live. (Isa 48:22) There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked. (Isa 57:20-21) But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. -21. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. Once again we see where the Word of God gives us the truth. The devil is trying to tell us that being wicked is no big deal and that it is fun to live in sin while God tells us that there is no peace to the wicked and that the wicked cannot rest. Let me tell you there is no peace that can compare to the peace of God that flows through the heart and mind and soul of the Christian.
The next part of the armour is the shield of faith that you can quench all the fiery darts of the wicked with. (Heb 11:1) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
(Heb 11:2-40) For by it the elders obtained a good report. -3. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. -4. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. -5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. -6. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. -7. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. -8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. -9. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: -10. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. -11. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. -12. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. -13. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. -14. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. -15. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. -16. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. -17. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. -18. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: -19. Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. -20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. -21. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. -22. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. -23. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. -24. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; -25. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; -26. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. -27. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. -28. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. -29. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. -30. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. -31. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. -32. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: -33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, -34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. -35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: -36. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: -37. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; -38. (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. -39. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: -40. God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
(Heb 12:1-4) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, -2. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. -3. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. -4. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
Maintained by: Brian S. Rexroth, Sr.
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