I never know what direction Pastor Chuck’s sermons are going to take. Today’s was no different. The topic was Liberty/Freedom, but not what you think. It’s Jesus freeing us from sin, addictions, death, etc. An excellent message, but not exactly on how Christian should vote, until we think about what Jesus did for us on the cross to liberate us from the hell we were bound for. With that in mind, we can easily throw it away by not voting or at least not praying and asking God for direction before we vote.
Let’s start with today’s message…
Let’s go first to Philemon…
Philemon is a 1-chapter book towards the end of the Bible. It’s a letter written by Paul while he was in prison in Rome…
1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.
I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.
3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer
4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.
Paul’s Appeal for Onesimus
8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus.
10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11 Onesimus[c] hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.
13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15 It seems you lost Onesimus for a little while so that you could have him back forever. 16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, PAUL, WRITE THIS WITH MY OWN HAND: I WILL REPAY IT. AND I WON’T MENTION THAT YOU OWE ME YOUR VERY SOUL!
20 Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.
21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! 22 One more thing—please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.
Paul’s Final Greetings
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.
25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Philemon 1 NLT
Slaves for Christ
I’ve had the honor and pleasure of knowing many people who found Jesus in prison. Many will testify that being in prison changed their lives for the better. It usually happens when they realize they can’t fall or be humbled any further and the only way to go is up. Once these folks are out of prison, they want to serve the church. They want to serve Jesus. They’ve become slaves to Christ. They’ve gone from being slaves to crime, sin and addiction to freedom, but, like Pastor Chuck said, “Being Christ’s slave sets us free!”.
There’s another quote from Chuck’s sermon that stood out for me…
“Christian practice has taken a long time to catch up with Christian teaching.”
Pastor Chuck Foreman
Our Problem as Christians in Today’s Culture
If you are a true Christian, then you should value your freedom — all your freedoms! One of the scripture passes quoted was…
23 God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.
1 Corinthians 7:23
That’s our problem. As a born-again Christian, Jesus paid the price for our sin once and for all. (If you haven’t grasped that yet, please check out my series on the Book of Hebrews.) Since Jesus set us free, we can’t give away or lose our freedoms that we have a citizens of America.
I firmly believe that if Trump is re-elected we will have 4 more years of prosperity and peace. If Biden wins, first, I don’t think he’ll finish the first 6 months, then we get Kamala Harris as President. We’ve opened the door to Socialism. There will be 4 years of increased anarchy, riots, and may be even civil war. We’ll lose the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom to bear arms and protect ourselves and our families. Taxes will skyrocket. Even though they say they’ll tax the rich, it will trickle down to the rest of us in the way of higher rents, and prices for household goods and necessities. And folks, you do not want socialized medicine!
Though Pastor Chuck doesn’t want to get political, I can. It’s my voice and I have the freedom to share it. At least for now. Hey, I admit it — I used to be a Democrat — a Kennedy Democrat. I walked away. The Holy Spirit convicted me.
Please understand that today’s culture is as far away from God as it can get. Voting is a privilege that we have as American Citizens and it should not be ignored nor given away to non-citizens.
Please, if you consider yourself a Christian, silence your TV and phone and earnestly and wholeheartedly, right now, pray for guidance and wisdom as you vote in this election. And choose carefully who you follow on social media.
Also, I pray for a spiritual and moral awakening in America. I pray for a revival that spreads like wildfire, igniting the hearts of any and all halfway Christians. Open the eyes of those attending churches where they preach a watered-down Gospel. Make them seekers of the Gospel Truth of the fullness of Jesus’ true salvation. Sir the searching soul!
If you’re not sure if you’re saved or not, if you truly want to be born again and have the assurance of salvation, receive the Holy Spirit, feel His Shalom — a peace that surpasses all understanding, and get a 1-way, non-stop ticket to Heaven after you die, or that you won’t be left behind at the Rapture, which can happen at any moment, this is what you have to do…
