Joy in this Journey By: FaithLine

Freedom in Christ: More Than a National Celebration

• Jessica Berrios • Season 2 • Episode 6

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Freedom comes in many forms, but are we truly experiencing it as God intended? On this Independence Day episode, we dive deep into the contrast between the political freedom we celebrate as Americans and the spiritual liberation Christ offers to all humanity. 

Through exploring Jesus's profound words in John 8:31-36, we uncover a startling truth: many people who consider themselves free are actually living in bondage. The flags wave and fireworks burst across our free nation, yet countless souls remain captive to bitterness, greed, fear, pride, and various forms of sin. Jesus challenges our understanding when He declares "whoever commits sin is a slave of sin"—revealing that true freedom isn't about doing whatever we want, but about liberation from the things that secretly control us.

The enemy's deception began in the Garden of Eden with the suggestion that freedom means unlimited self-determination without consequences. This same lie persists today, masquerading as personal liberty while actually representing chains. Our spiritual freedom requires something more powerful than constitutional rights or political systems—it requires the truth of Jesus Christ. As He promised, "If you hold to my teachings... you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." The Apostle Paul demonstrated this reality by experiencing profound spiritual freedom even while physically imprisoned, showing that our circumstances don't determine our liberation.

Whether you're celebrating Independence Day or listening to this message later, I invite you to discover freedom on a deeper level—freedom from the bondage of sin, freedom from bitterness toward others, freedom from worldly fears, and freedom to walk in God's light. Share your journey toward true freedom by taking a screenshot of this podcast and tagging us @MyFaithLine on social media. Remember, if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!

Thank you for listening! Please follow us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Youtube @myfaithline to stay updated about our weekly episodes. Let us help you Find Joy in Your Journey Today!! To support our journey please visit our web page at www.myfaithline.com God Bless!

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Joy in this Journey podcast by Faithline. Join us as we bring you weekly episodes on Bible devotionals to empower you to live in faith. By faith, through God's grace, find joy in your journey today. Through God's grace, find joy in your journey today.

Speaker 2:

God bless you all and welcome to another podcast episode of Join this Journey by Faithline. God bless you all again. It is such an honor to be here. Happy 4th of July. I'm praying amen that this word can be received on this day. If you are not getting to this podcast today and you are listening to it after 4th of July, we are still celebrating Amen, not only on this day, but every day.

Speaker 2:

The freedom that God has given us to be able to serve him, to honor him and glorify him, and especially in these last days. This is a word that the Lord has placed in my heart. He brought me to these Bible verses and I invite you to amen. Join me in the word of the Lord today. And we're going to be reading in the book of John, chapter 8, verse 31 through 36. And it says Thenesus said to those jews who believed him if you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. They answered him. We are abraham's descendants and we have never been in bondage to anyone. How can you say you will be free? Jesus answered them. Most assuredly. I say to you whoever commits sin is a slave of sin, and a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore, if the son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. And so, on this day of independence day, as we celebrate our freedom in the us and people might find this strange for me to say but not everyone is free in this country, and not only in this country, amen, but goes for other ones as well. And I'm not speaking only, you know, politically, but I'm talking spiritually in this moment.

Speaker 2:

And we see people here in America and they're celebrating, you know, with their colors and and celebrating with the fireworks, and really in their lives they're not really free. And if we look around and we, we just give ourselves, you know, to the Lord and let him touch our eyes, our sight, amen. And if we see in the spirit, we can see. It is so obvious and so vivid that around us, in a free country, we see bitterness, we see anger, and that is not freedom. We see a constant struggle to have more money and more material things, and that is not freedom. We see people with fear, fear living in fear, fear of death, fear of sickness, and we see people spending whatever they have possible to stay alive and seeking solutions to feel better, and that is not freedom. We see around pride and sin through the streets and that is not freedom. And this is something that we need to understand that even though we live in a country that is free, still majority are not living free. And it's sad because we can say we are free but still not free.

Speaker 2:

At the same time and this is what Jesus is dealing with the disciples at this moment we see that the Jews, in that day, in his day, in Jesus's day, they were very proud and they were proud of their freedom, as you and I are. You know, not to only be Americans but to also live in the in the United States. And you know many are, you know, with that proudness of living in the United States. And, as they said, we are Abraham's descendants and have never been slaves to anyone and that, if you stop and look at it, that sounds very American because we see how we say we're no one's slaves, we walk around with freedom. You know we have our flag and that represents amen, our freedom in the United States, but people are not living free and a lot of us walk around with that pride, proudness, just like the Jewish people saying we've never been slaves to anyone, saying we've never been slaves to anyone.

Speaker 2:

But if you listen to Jesus's response here, he says very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sins, amen. So those Jews were wrong about the freedom, because the real master in our world isn't a foreign country, isn't a country that's trying to come against us, because we're just so focused on the war and everything that's happening around us and we're so concentrated of people trying to master over us, master over our country, master over our freedom. But we're missing. You know where it's all coming from, and the bible says everyone who sins is a slave to sin. And it's hard for people to agree. But if we, if we could just dig a little deeper and understand sin, what is? What is the sins he's talking about? And in the sins that he's talking about is when greed grabs your heart. In a free country, greed can grab your heart, and when greed grabs your heart, it controls your life. That means you're being controlled by something and you're not free. When bitterness fills your mind and it guides your tongue, you are not free. When alcohol or lust controls your body, you are not free. So everyone who sins is a slave to sin, and you can argue all you want, but you, living in a free country, you're still not living free. So we God brings us here to make us understand Amen, and we need to take a moment and realize that true freedom is not only living in America or the United States. True freedom, and that's a blessing. I'm not knocking and I thank God for that honor and those who have fought for our freedom, and God bless them, amen.

Speaker 2:

But in our lives many of us are not living free. We say it's a free country and we take that excuse oh, I can, can do whatever I want, and we are not free. People say, oh, I got the age, I can do whatever I want, and we are not free. So we can have all those thoughts in our minds. But if you want to stop, just take a minute and stop and ask yourself where did this all begin? And it all began. It all started, amen, in the garden of eden, when the enemy came through the snake amen and he says you can do what you want, you can eat this fruit and then you will be free, then you will have the knowledge of good and evil. He comes with a lie. Do whatever you want. You have the age, you have the freedom. It it's your decision.

Speaker 2:

And so here in the US, we see that. We see you have freedom. You have freedom to drink as much as you want. You have freedom to commit adultery as much as you want. You have freedom to save as much money as you want. You have freedom to hate and despise and boost as much as you want. And that is not freedom. Remember, you can be free and still not be free at the same time, the more you get what you want, the more you are being a slave in your life. And it's very true and, as hard as it is, it brings sin, because then we are open to do what we want. We have an attitude to say well, god, you're second in place and well, I'll get to you when I can because I'm doing what I want to do. And everyone who sins is a slave to sin.

Speaker 2:

So if we really want to be free, we have to listen to Jesus, we have to listen to his word and he speaks right to the Jews, and I love that about Jesus because he was never, never intimidated by them and he came to them. He says to the Jews who have believed in him. He says if you hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free. If you hold onto my teachings, are you holding onto God's teachings, are you holding onto his word? We call ourselves Christians and disciples of Christ, but we're living bound to sin, bound to pride, bound to greediness, bound to hate, bound to bitterness, and we're not living free. But if you hold on to Jesus's teachings, then you are really his disciples and then you will know the truth, because the teachings of Jesus will set you free. It would bring light, it would bring truth, so you are not bound to sin, so you're not bound to what the enemy wants to do in your life. That you can truly not only say I am free in this country, but I am free. Amen, as a child of God.

Speaker 2:

Getting our way isn't freedom and not in Jesus's sight, freedom doesn't come from a country or a political party. Getting our way isn't freedom and not in Jesus's sight, freedom doesn't come from a country or a political party. It comes from the truth. The truth, what truth? The truth of Jesus. And that truth will set you free.

Speaker 2:

Set you free from what? The lies of the devil, the lies that he's come to bound you with and that's all. He's come is to bound our lives, to stop us from living in truth and in true freedom. He comes with. The life of freedom is doing what you want. No freedom is living in the truth. Freedom is living in the freedom, knowing that Jesus is for us and what Jesus did for us and what did Jesus do for you and me. He came to die on that cross and if the sun sets you free, you will be free. Indeed, there is nothing to hold you back, there is nothing to bring you into darkness, there is nothing for you to make you disobey God. The light of God is there to help you live in a free, free life. First John, chapter one, verse seven, says but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another.

Speaker 2:

There it is fellowship and that's that's through the truth of Jesus Christ and the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleans us from all sin. God has called us to be in fellowship with one another and we are not free because all we are is bickering with each other, bitterness with each other, anger with each other. There is so much hate in this world, so much going on in this world, that the enemy is using to have a field day going on in this world, that the enemy is using to have a field day. But god says if you walk in the light which I am in the light you will have fellowship with one another. We're not here to be each other's enemies. We're here to unite because in unity there is strength and through unity we are united in christ, and whoever is in christ has received amen, the blood of Jesus Christ, which cleans us from all our sins. We don't have to carry guilt anymore because Jesus amen has died for you and me, and that truth will set you free, will set you free from not being enemies with your brother and sister anymore, will not be enemies with anyone in your home anymore, with your family. It will not let you be enemies anymore, because now you're walking in the light, in the truth. The truth brings light and the light is jesus christ and he has come to set you and me free. The apostle paul minding you in which is not free, that doesn't count as freedom. He knew he was still free and the Apostle Paul wrote amen in Philippians 1, verse 21 says for me to live is Christ and to die is gain, and he wrote this as he sat in a prison is gain, and he wrote this as he sat in the prison, but he was free Even in prison. The truth will set you free. Why? Because we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good work, says Ephesians 2.10. And that truth will set you free. Being in the word of God, it sets you free because it is the word of God, it is truth that has come to set you free.

Speaker 2:

So, if we take a moment today celebrating the 4th of July, celebrating this freedom in our country, what do we need? Not only do we need freedom in this country, we need freedom, freedom, freedom in Jesus Christ, not in a certain political party, not in changes of law. What we need is truth and what we need is freedom. And we need that and we can only get that through God's word, through God, amen. He is here to change our lives and being in him. We need more of God and being in him and his word. It changes our hearts, it changes our minds.

Speaker 2:

Whenever you feel down by life, whenever you feel down by everything that's happening in this world, or sin, god's truth will set you free. Whenever you are feeling trapped by worry, god's truth will set you free. Whenever you are feeling trapped by worry, god's truth will set you free. Whenever you feel surrounded by sadness, god's truth will set you free. Jesus says if you hold on to my teachings, hold to my teachings, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. So, if you really want to celebrate your freedom, read the word. If you really want to celebrate your freedom, come on, ask Jesus to take his place in your heart. If you want to celebrate freedomesus, the son of god, is the one to set you free.

Speaker 2:

So not only that, we celebrate amen, the freedom in our country, the protection that we have in our country. We are to celebrate our freedom in christ, freedom from sin, freedom from this world, freedom from everything that sin produces. We are free through jesus christ. And I am here today, amen, to give you this word that it's not only one day and it's not only just about, amen, the united states, even though we pray every day that god bless america, that god bless our lives, that God bless our lives, that God bless our freedom, but this is also our freedom, amen, in the spiritual. And so I don't know what's holding you back. I don't know you know what your fight is today, but I know that you can find freedom in the blood of Jesus Christ. Father, god, we come before you in jesus name and I thank you, god, for your love and your mercy. Thank you, god, for another day that you have blessed us, and in this day, god of fourth of july, we celebrate now, beginning with you, lord, but not only our freedom in the united states, but we, god, celebrate the freedom that we have received through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Speaker 2:

You have called us, lord, to be free from this world, to be free from the bondage of sin. God, you have seen, god, how the enemy has risen to attack us, lord, so we can be chain and bound to the ways of this world, lord, but you have called us. Out of that. You have called us, god, to walk in the light. You have called us, god, to be example of Jesus Christ. Help us, lord. Help us to call upon you, god, to rebuke all of the enemy, to rebuke sin, to rebuke the ways of the world, god, god, you have called us into the light, god, may we hear your voice and respond. Lord, because, god, you have called us into freedom. You have called us, god, to live free, free from bitterness and hate that is working in this world. God, you see how the enemy has lifted up God to bring one against the other, to bring families against each other, god, you have seen how he has tried to corrupt the homes in the hearts and minds.

Speaker 2:

But I call upon you, lord, in the name of Jesus, that whoever listens to this word God can surrender to you, god, that they can be the beginning God of freedom, not only for their lives, god, but for those around them. Lord, because you have called us, god, to be instruments. We are the body of Christ. We are your hands, god, we are your feet, god, we are the mouth, lord, to preach the word and the good news. In this day, god, let us not forget not only the freedom in this wonderful United States, but you are the freedom, god. Hallelujah. In our lives, in our spiritual lives. May we open God the way, god, because you are the truth, you are the way, you are the light, god, may we open the way, let us be instruments to be. God, the way to you. Bring freedom into our lives, and not only in our lives, but in our homes, in our hallelujah. In our marriages. May you bring freedom, god, in the children. God, may you bring freedom and peace, god.

Speaker 2:

In the name of Jesus, god in the churches, lord, god, that we stand together in Jesus to rebuke all lies of the enemy, to rebuke all darkness. In the name of Jesus, we call upon you, lord, because there is power in the blood of Jesus. Cover us, lord, cover our families, cover our marriages, cover our homes, god. Cover us, god. Cover our minds, cover our hearts, god.

Speaker 2:

We need you, jesus, in a country that is free, lord, god, people are not living free. They're living in fear, god, they're living in bitterness and anger, they're living in confusion. But, god, you have come today to set us free and may everyone that is listening now be free. In the name of Jesus, may homes be free. May you break the chain of the enemy, god. May they fall today, god, and may we celebrate not only freedom in this country. May we celebrate freedom in our lives, freedom, god, around us, and freedom in our homes and freedom in our churches.

Speaker 2:

God in the name of Jesus, because you are God. You are God above other gods. You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You are God. Hallelujah, oh, the Lord of the way, you are the God of the universe, lord, and there is no other like you, and we pray that you move in this moment through your Holy Spirit. Cover us, god, wrap us, lord, in the name of Jesus, I pray and we celebrate God today, the freedom you have not only given this country, but you have given our lives.

Speaker 2:

We declare it, we hold on to it as we hold on to the teachings. We hold on to the light, we hold on to your truth, we hold on to your power. We hold on to you, lord, in the name of Jesus, and we thank you, god, thank you for this day and for the days that you are going to gift us. God, before your coming, glorify yourself in this world, glorify yourself through our lives, for we are open to you and we thank you, god, for your love in Jesus Christ. May you receive all the honor and glory in the name of Jesus, amen. I pray that this podcast has been a blessing to your life. Celebrate today, amen, your freedom in this country. And celebrate today, amen, your freedom in Jesus Christ, because we have been set free through his blood, amen.

Speaker 1:

God bless you all and until next time. This is your host, JJ. God bless you. Review in the podcast app and tell us your story and how we assisted you in finding joy. Don't forget to reach out to us by taking a screenshot of any of our podcasts and posting it on your Instagram or Facebook, tagging us in at MyFaithLine, and we will comment back. Join us next week for more episodes on finding joy in your journey through faith. Until next time, remember to live in faith by faith, through God's grace. God bless you.