Articles
Remember the Struggle for Freedom
Remember the Struggle for Freedom
By Paul R. Blake
“A generation has arisen that does not know the Berlin Wall, who have taken the collapse of communism as a simple fact of societal development, who did not witness the civil rights conflicts, to whom the Khymer Rouge sounds like an exotic face powder, and to whom the cold war sounds like a winter military exercise. Freedom isn't taken for granted by them; they have known nothing but freedom. They are not to be blamed, for they are the blessed beneficiaries of hundreds of years of struggle, suffering, and strife in the battle for freedom in this world. We have won the war against unreasonable oppression by government. But, as Alexis de Tocqueville warned in his dissertations on American democracy, those who have never known the hardships endured to obtain freedom will eventually suffer the loss of that freedom, as they do not have a true appreciation for it. Learn the history of your nation; it is essential to preserving it.” (AP)
So it is in Christ. Know trials and conflicts borne by those who labored to bring us liberty in Jesus Christ, lest we forget and lose that freedom. Remember what others have suffered to bring you liberty in Christ, so that you will treasure that freedom and engage yourself in the struggle to preserve that freedom in your life, and labor to bring that same freedom to the rest of the world.
What did the prophets go through to bring freedom to you? Hebrews 11:36-40 - “Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”
What did the Savior go through to bring this freedom to you? Isaiah 53:4-6 - “Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”
What did the apostles and writers of the inspired word of God go through to communicate this freedom to you? 2Corinthians 4:8-12, 15 - “We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death is working in us, but life in you… For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”
What have those who have preached the gospel or served as shepherds in the local church gone through so that you can enjoy freedom in Christ? Philippians 2:30 - “Because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.” Hebrews 13:7 - “Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.”
The Savior, the prophets, the apostles, elders, and evangelists have labored, often sacrificially, so that you can have the opportunity to live in the liberty that is in Christ Jesus. You are under obligation to remember their struggle and to continue the struggle to preserve that freedom. Do not forget or take for granted the blood, sweat, and tears that were shed on your behalf to bring you freedom from sin and death, or you will lose it.
Galatians 5:1 - “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.” John 8:32 - “’And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’ They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham's descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say, 'You will be made free'?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.’”
Adorning the Doctrine of God
By Lily Anna Suddoth Rudolph (1919 - 2017, a precious sister and friend who passed away at the age of 98 after a lifetime of godly living)
Webster defines the word adorn as follows: “To deck with ornaments; to embellish, to beautify.” Paul says in Titus 2:10 that we are to adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. I believe that means in our lives, in all that we do and say, to deck it with ornaments, to embellish and to beautify. Not decking with ornaments literally, but to live our lives as Christians beautifully so that the world may know we truly do believe the doctrine of God. It will show in our lives if we are living godly, leaving a good example of what we believe. We can make the doctrine of God look beautiful so that others will want to adorn themselves with it also, and that to the saving of their Souls, and ours.
If I adorn myself with new clothing, I wear that clothing. Why not do the same with the doctrine of God? To wear it, to wrap ourselves in it as a garment. The garments protect our bodies from the elements, so, the doctrine of God worn constantly will protect us from the evils of the world.
We must keep it spotless, as it was given to us, as it is pure by the blood of Christ. We must keep it as pure and beautiful, never let become dull or take second place in our lives. Let us adorn the doctrine of God as a bride adorns herself for her husband, pure chaste, unspotted, beautifully adorned.
A Moments Wisdom
--He who would be a mover of the world must not be moved by the world.
--More men fail through lack of purpose than through lack of talent.
--Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
--Nothing is permanent in this wicked world, not even our troubles.
--If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?
--True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it is lost.
--Success is dependent upon the glands -- the sweat glands.
--Facts are facts and will not disappear on account of our likes or dislikes.
Upcoming Sermons
11/19/23 AM - Psalm 90: Moses’ Last Prayer; PM - King Manasseh: You Can’t Undo the Past
11/26/23 AM - “By Your Patience, Possess Your Souls”; PM - “But, I Want It Now!”
12/3/23 AM - Appointing Scriptural Elders and Deacons, Lesson One; PM - Worship in Song: A Firm Foundation
12/10/23 AM & PM - Appointing Scriptural Elders and Deacons, Lessons Two & Three
12/17/23 AM - Appointing Scriptural Elders and Deacons, Lessons Four & Five
12/24/23 AM - “Baptism: Not the Removal…”; PM - “When People Bring Up Your Past, Tell Them Jesus Dropped the Charges.” (Requested)
12/31/23 AM - Agents of Salvation; PM - Guest Speaker
