Celebrating Our Independence! - Luke 4:15-30

Celebrating Our Independence! – Luke 4:15-30
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 29, 2008 AM

What does independence mean? For some it is the ability to do what you want, when you want to do it. For others it means the ability to vote, to peacefully protest or assemble. Still others see it as a means to be able to speak your mind openly and honestly about any issue or the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. And there are those that see it as a means to worship as one desires without the government telling you where to go to church, what to believe, or by taxing you to support a state-run church. No matter how we view independence it could not have been possible without one man, and that is the man Jesus. Why would I say that?

When we as Americans celebrate our independence we are celebrating our nation’s decision to free itself from the tyranny of a king and to have a government that was of the people, by the people, and for the people. This is why the Declaration of Independence states, “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.” Where did our forefathers get the crazy notion that this ideal was true? From the Bible and specifically from Jesus’ own words and the words of those who He spiritually changed. Independence for the Christian means so much more than a free government of the people. It means a celebration of spiritual freedom! Let’s discover what this means as we celebrate our independence…

READ: Luke 4:15-30

How would you like to follow a strict set of rules in order to try and please God? The clothes you wear, the food you eat, the way you wear your hair, the very steps you take and the offerings you make would all be bound by a strict code. And if you broke just one of the least of the rules, you would be held accountable for all of them! The weight of the legal system would fall on you like a ton of bricks and you would feel its burden day in and day out. You would live your life in fear that perhaps you had not done enough for God to love you or that you had somehow someway broken or displeased Him. Welcome to the horrible world of legalism. However, here in this passage of Luke, Jesus teaches us about independence from all of that. In fact we learn that in celebrating a believer’s independence it means…

I. Independence from legalism!

1. Liberty is secured not in the rules you follow, but in the One you believe in! Jesus proclaimed that God had sent Him “to preach the good news to the poor.” What does He mean by this? (The words “heal the broken hearted” are not found in many manuscripts and this is why the NIV and others do not retain it as the KJV does.) The “good news” the gospel was a message of hope to the impoverished souls of the day. Those who were caught up in Jewish legalism that had left them begging at God’s door for freedom from all the rules and regulations the priests and scribes had tied around their necks. Jesus offered a new hope. A hope that was based on the grace of God. Which He had already planned in Jesus and not on what man could do for Him. Legalism binds men’s souls to the false system of trying to appease God. Of making sure every jot and tittle is accounted for and that every “t” is crossed and every “i” dotted of manmade spiritual law. People in our day and age still think that by somehow following a set of rules they will please God. Jesus related that “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.” (Mark 2:21) After all “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:27) Jesus said that those who the rules to be followed instead of believing in the grace of God, “tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4) Liberty is secured not in the rules you follow, but in the One you believe in! Celebrating a believer’s independence means independence from legalism!

EXAMPLE: H. W. Robinson wrote that “We are all accustomed to contracts. We are often required to sign them, whether we're closing a business deal, taking out a bank loan, buying a car, leasing an apartment, or purchasing a major appliance. Contracts, formal or informal, specify what happens if one of the parties fails to live up to an agreement. When we put our trust in Christ for salvation, however, we do more than sign a contract [or by following a set of rules.] We enter into a binding relationship with God whereby He makes us His children by the new birth and by adoption (1 Peter 1:23; Ephesians 1:5). Because of this close family relationship, we are permanent heirs of an eternal inheritance reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4). Contracts can be broken if one of the parties fails to keep his part of the promise. Fortunately for us, our eternal destiny is based on more than some legal agreement we make with God. Rather, we are secure because of our family relationship with Him. If a youngster fails to show up for dinner, the parent's obligation isn't canceled. The parent starts a search for the child. One member's failure doesn't cancel the relationship. How thankful we can be that eternal life is based on our relationship with God through Christ.” Liberty is secured not in the rules you follow, but in the One you believe in! Celebrating a believer’s independence means independence from legalism!

There are those in our world who actually think that good looks, brains, or brawn make them better people that others around them. Some believe that because of their ‘talent” they have arrived. The idea of celebrity has so influenced our world, conversation, and outlook on life that even children as young as preschool use it to get what they want. However, let me share with you something, God sees everyone in sin. It does not matter to Him how fast, strong, smart, or good looking you are – you are in sin. The Bible teaches, as does reality, that all mankind is depraved and full of sin. When Jesus stood up in that synagogue and read the passage from Isaiah He was proclaiming mankind’s freedom. He knew that celebrating a believer’s independence means…

II. Independence from sin!

1. Freedom is found when your sins are forgiven! The NIV relates that Jesus came to “proclaim freedom for the prisoners.” All people everywhere are prisoners of sin. Paul would say, “As it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one… for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God!” (Romans 3:10-12, 23) However, we “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” (v. 24) When Jesus proclaimed freedom for the prisoners, He meant that sin no longer held its sway over mankind! We had a choice! Jesus told those who refused to believe in Him, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins.” (John 8:24) We now can choose: Freedom or slavery! Paul would declare, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Choose this day whom you will follow is the echo from the past to the present. It is the choice every freethinking individual must make for themselves. No one can make it for you. Not a parent, politician, or professor. The choice is yours and yours alone. You will stand on your word of faith or you will die for lack of it: “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:37) Freedom is found when your sins are forgiven! Celebrating a believer’s independence means independence from sin!

EXAMPLE: Julie A. Link writes that “After being kidnapped, held hostage for 13 days, and released, New Zealand news cameraman Olaf Wiig, with a broad smile on his face, announced, “I feel more alive now than I have in my entire life.” For reasons difficult to understand, being freed is more exhilarating than being free. For those who enjoy freedom every day, Olaf’s joy was a good reminder of how easily we forget how blessed we are. This is also true spiritually. Those of us who have been Christians for a long time often forget what it’s like to be held hostage by sin. We can become complacent and even ungrateful. But then God sends a reminder in the form of a new believer who gives an exuberant testimony of what God has done in his or her life, and once again we see the joy that is ours when we are “free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2). If freedom has become boring to you, or if you tend to focus on what you can’t do, consider this: Not only are you no longer a slave to sin, but you are freed to be holy and to enjoy eternal life with Christ Jesus! Celebrate your freedom in Christ by taking the time to thank God for the things you are able and free to do as His servant.” Freedom is found when your sins are forgiven! Celebrating a believer’s independence means independence from sin!

Why is it we can look right at something and not see it? I do it all the time. Perhaps there is a disconnect between my brain and my recognizer or something. As funny or sad as that can be, it is a horrible thing to look at the truth of God, recognize it and yet refuse to believe it. It is called spiritual blindness. Jesus related to His listeners that day in the synagogue that they had been looking intently at the Scripture and were now blind to its truth standing right in front of them. Were they glad to be given the spiritual spectacles they needed? Nope. Quite the opposite happened. Jesus relates that celebrating a believer’s independence means…

III. Independence from Spiritual blindness!

1. Independence is found in the sovereignty of God! Most people would never choose to be blinded, yet this is exactly what many do. Jesus came not just physically heal people, that really was a secondary occurrence in His ministry. Rather, he came “to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." (v. 19) The favor of the Lord shown on the darkness of mankind. Light had come into the world, but the world loved darkness instead. Jesus related that He came to “proclaim… recovery of sight for the blind.” Why then would people love the shadows? Jesus said that “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19) Why would they continue to love darkness after seeing the truth of God in Jesus Christ? John wrote that “In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:4-5) The idea here is that they deliberately misunderstand it because they love the darkness instead! WOW! How stupid is that? This is why John would later declare that “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” (1 John 1:6) However, the wonderful truth is that “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) when Jesus stood up in the dusty stuffy little synagogue and spoke this truth it startled the people who heard it. He calmly rolled up the scroll of Isaiah and told them “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:21) From this day on they could be free from spiritual blindness. Celebrating a believer’s independence means independence from Spiritual blindness!

EXAMPLE: We will be taking a trip to Ape Caves in August. There in the complete darkness of the cavern one little match lights up the entire darkness, but the same light of a small match would be lost in the brightness of the sun’s light. That is the way it is with spiritual blindness. When the light of the truth of the gospel of Christ shines even a little, many run from its glare. They fear their lives will be exposed for what they truly are, darkness. They do not realize that the One who shines the light also knows their lives. Every intimate detail. Every word, action, and thought is exposed in the light of the Savior Jesus. Yet, when we come to the light, as he is in the light then the truth floods our soul and overpowers the darkness and in that light thee is no fear. Celebrating a believer’s independence means independence from spiritual blindness.

Conclusion:
Celebrating our independence means, independence from legalism, independence from sin, and independence from spiritual blindness!
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NOTE: This article is copyrighted by Pastor Lee Hemen © 2008 and the property of Pastor Lee Hemen. You are welcome to copy it, email it, or use it but please if you copy it, email it, or use it you must do so in its entirety.

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