I Shall not be moved!

Sermon Title: I Shall Not Be Moved

Theme: Freedom

Text: “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” – Psalm 55:22

Introduction: Freedom in Christ

Freedom is one of the greatest desires of every human being. We celebrate freedom in our country, we fight for freedom in society, and we long for freedom in our souls. But true freedom—lasting freedom—can only be found in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:1 says, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Freedom in Christ means we are no longer enslaved by sin, fear, shame, or even the opinion of others. But with freedom comes a firm foundation—a confidence that no matter what comes our way, we shall not be moved.

Psalm 55:22 gives us this powerful promise. When we cast our burdens upon the Lord, He will sustain us. That’s freedom! Freedom from worry, fear, and instability. In a shaking world, we can say with assurance: I shall not be moved.

Illustration:

A man once visited the redwood forests of California. These trees are some of the tallest on earth—up to 350 feet tall—but their roots are surprisingly shallow, only going down 6–12 feet. How do they stand so strong?

Because they grow in groves. Their roots intertwine underground with other redwoods. When storms come, they hold each other up.

That’s how we are when we’re rooted in God and connected to the body of Christ—we are sustained, supported, and we shall not be moved.

Main Points

1. Freedom From the Weight of Burdens (Psalm 55:22)

• “Cast thy burden upon the Lord…”
• Many people are walking in bondage to burdens—stress, anxiety, past mistakes.
• Jesus offers freedom from this weight: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” (Matt. 11:28)
• You’re not free if you’re still carrying what God told you to cast.

2. Freedom Through Divine Sustaining Power

• “…and he shall sustain thee.”
• True freedom isn’t about doing everything ourselves.
• It’s about trusting the One who holds us together.
• Illustration: Like a bridge held by cables and beams—you don’t have to hold yourself up, God will sustain you.

1. The Bondage of Slavery in America

From the early 1600s until the late 1800s, millions of Africans were brought to America as slaves. They were stripped of their freedom, families, language, and culture. They worked long, brutal hours in fields, homes, and plantations under harsh conditions with no pay, little food, and no legal rights.

Yet in the midst of bondage, many held on to faith in God.
They believed in the God of Moses, who delivered Israel from Pharaoh. The God who hears the cry of the oppressed.

2. The Role of Faith in the Struggle

Though they were denied education and dignity, many enslaved people learned about God from portions of the Bible and secret church services known as "hush harbors." These hidden gatherings were where they prayed, sang spirituals, and encouraged each other with Scripture.

They sang songs like:

·       “Go Down Moses” — identifying with Israel's deliverance.

·       “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” — hoping for rescue and eternal rest.

·       “I Shall Not Be Moved” — declaring stability in a shaking world.

Even though everything around them was shaking,