Finding Freedom
And The Remembered His Words • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsA brief message examining prayer in light of Veteran's Day.
Notes
Transcript
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Introduction
Introduction
This past Thursday we celebrated Veteran’s Day.
The Rev. Jim Munroe, an Episcopalian priest, is a veteran who served in Vietnam. He tells the story of two friends who also served together there in the Marine Corps: “One of the friends was wounded and fell to the ground. The other friend was behind shelter and saw him. He wanted to go get his friend but his lieutenant wouldn’t allow it because of heavy enemy fire. The Marine went anyway. He got to his friend, carried him back and he was wounded in the process. When he placed his friend on the ground, he saw that he was dead. The lieutenant said, ‘What a waste and now you are wounded.’ The Marine said, ‘No sir, it wasn’t a waste. When I got to him he was alive and he said, I knew you would come.’” Jim goes on to say, “For me, Veteran’s Day is a time of praying for all veterans, that they might be able to say, “I knew you would come’ to all those men and women, famous and obscure, who will bring healing and reconciliation and peace.”
Today’s message helps understand just what these men were fighting for Freedom. Real Freedom comes from a personal relationship with God.
Body
Body
I. The People of Freedom
I. The People of Freedom
If my people, which are called by my name
If my people, which are called by my name
Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me;
Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
II. The Process of Freedom
II. The Process of Freedom
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways;
1. Humble themselves –
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
2. Pray –
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
3. Seek My Face –
But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
4. Turn from their wicked ways – Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
III. The Promise of Freedom
III. The Promise of Freedom
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Conclusion
Conclusion