Monday, June 21, 2010

Forty Hour Fast For Freedom

Independence Day, True Freedom


July 2, 1776 Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain.

July 3, 1776 John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail: “The second day of July, 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty" (my emphasis).

One of the best known sentences in the English language comes from the Declaration of Independence. It says: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Thomas Jefferson is remembered as the man who was delegated with the task of writing the Declaration of Independence. But he isn't the Real Champion of Freedom. Nor was it John Adams or Ben Franklin. No the Real Champion of Freedom is none other than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Jesus Christ; because it was his precious blood that bought our freedom.

1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (NKJV throughout).

1 Cor. 6:19-20 ...you are not your own. For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

All who have died with Christ have been raised up with him in the newness of life (Rom. 6:1-11). Thus we are free from the law of sin and death but live by a new law of the Spirit of Life in Christ (Rom. 8:1-3). Life in Christ has set us free from sin and death (John 8:32,36). Now we use our freedom to serve one another in love (Gal. 5:13).

Therefore, I invite you to join with me in celebrating true independence, freedom in Christ. My prayer is that everyone will experience true freedom. Tell your friends, tell your family, tell those you know who are hurting, that you will be joining in this celebration, and that you will be remembering them through prayer and fasting.

If you would like to participate in this event, start fasting (abstain from food and drink) at 4pm Friday, July 2 through Sunday, July 4 at 4pm (or sometime in between). I'm calling it the “Forty Hour Fast For Freedom”. You can fast for one hour or all forty hours (please use wisdom if you're weak or sick you don't need to fast for all forty hours).

“ The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed (Luke 4:18).