Sunday Morning Sermon Series - Pastor Jeff Shipley (Date:07/04/2021)

Liberty Comes Only Through Jesus Christ

Now, I want you to pay attention. It wasn't anything in Israel, it wasn't their military styles, it wasn't the type of people they were down here with.

John chapter 8. We're going to be talking a little bit about some liberty. Now guys, you know I don't do Mother's Day sermons and Father's Day sermons and all these other silly things. I don't do those things because I believe it is the gospel of Jesus Christ and that alone which must be heralded.

But I believe that the effects of the gospel should also be heralded and that is why I'm going to allude to that grand old flag and that grand beautiful republic that we know as the United States of America.

Not as a cheerleading routine, but as the cause and effect of submitting to the sovereignty of Almighty God. 245 years ago today, 245 years ago today, a group of 56 men got together and signed what became the Declaration of Independence.

Now yes, some of you history nerds like me are going to say, well it wasn't fully ratified and signed until August and that is true. But it's framers started signing on July 4th, 245 years ago today. Now the question I have, in fact it's the question that every person should have, were we declaring independence from tyranny or were we declaring dependence on God?

And I say, much like Iron Man said, is it too much to ask for both? Because here's the reality, the reality is you can't have independence from tyranny unless you have dependence on God. You can swap codependency, you can swap one sin for another, but to be truly free, to have true liberty, it only comes from the source of Jesus Christ our Lord.

America, Christian Education, and the Biblical Roots of Government

Now people say, well pastor, the United States isn't a Christian nation. Okay, that's your opinion, I understand that. But let me give you just a few facts. And I don't want to accuse or offend, especially out there in liberal TV land, I don't want to offend anybody with facts or confuse you with facts.

But it is a reality that in 1782, our Congress made a proposal and voted to suggest and advise that every school in every colony, in every state at that point, would use God's holy word as a textbook in every class.

Now you may say, well yeah, that was bad. I'm telling you how we started. Do you realize that all the liberal elite universities, all those Ivy League schools, Dartmouth, Brown, William Mary, Columbia, Harvard, Princeton, were all started by pastors and or churches for the sole purpose of educating youth in the name of Jesus Christ.

In fact, on Harvard's motto today, it still mentions the name Christ. Here's another reality. The other reality is, do you realize that our very form of government, our three branches of government, can someone name them?

Right, judicial, legislative, and executive. Read Isaiah chapter 33 verse 22 sometimes, it says this, for the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king shall be able to save us. That's where we got, that's not a mistake, that's where the original framers of our government got that idea from.

Do you understand that? 53 of the 56 signers of our Declaration of Independence were God fearing men. Now you may say, okay, yeah, we've heard that, but times change. I agree times change, but my question is, are we trying more to be independent of something than dependent on God?

Have we lost our way because we have shunned God and his word, and are we now in a state of entropy and degradation as a nation? Now some people say, no, we're better than we've ever been. How do we keep the liberty God gave us?

Continuing in Christ's Word as the Test of True Conversion

Look at John chapter 8, and Jesus is speaking to a group of people. Now let me set the scene for you. They are in Jerusalem, and Jesus has just finished delivering a sermonette, and it says in John chapter 8 verse 30, and many believed on him.

So in this group right here, let's say Jesus was standing here, and Jesus preached. Let's say everybody on this side of the room believed, and now let's just say that row over there believed, and everybody else was like, who is this punk telling us?

We're Jews, man. We're God's elect people. We are right-wing, conservative, libertarian, republican, God-fearing white people. Who are you to tell us how we need to be, right? That's how the Jews were.

We are God's chosen people. All you other people are losers. And so the new believers are sitting there. So Jesus, post-conversion, begins to help them in a little bit of discipleship. So read with me John chapter 8.

We're going to start here in verse 31. So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, notice that right there. He is speaking so everyone could hear him, but he is addressing the new believers. It's a good point for election, God, but anyways, we'll get to that some other time.

If you continue in my word, you are really disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. Guys, listen to me. Some of you have walked down an aisle, and you have taken that preacher by the hand, and you have said, dear Jesus, come into my heart and save me, amen.

And you had that warm fuzzy feeling, maybe it was at VBS camp, or youth camp, or maybe something bad had happened to you, or you were scared about something, and you got that Jesus mentality. You might have had a religious experience, but notice what Jesus says here.

What is the litmus test of true conversion? It's not sinless perfection. Notice what he says. If you, speaking only to those who had made that confession, if you continue in my word. Well, Brother Jeff, I know I'm a Christian, because my preacher told me, once saved, always saved.

Well, once saved, always saved ain't found in scripture. The doctrine of eternal security is in there, but you're basing once again, notice what you think. My preacher says, in other words, the source of your comfort is your religion, denomination, or understanding, rather than the word of God.

And then you wonder why you flip-flop. You wonder why your spiritual life looks like this, or looks like this. It's because you are making a choice to believe in something other than the everlasting word of God.

Understand this. If you are going to keep your liberty, you have to understand post-conversion, it boils down to a daily choice. Guys, let me tell you something. Before you were a Christian, you had no choice.

You were dead. Dead people don't have a lot of choices. You were dead in your sins and trespasses, Ephesians 2. But that's the beautiful thing about God's grace and His salvation. It's so much more than God forgave me.

Guys, if you think your salvation is about forgiveness, you're missing everything else. You've just got fire insurance. You don't understand the power you have as God's people. But let me not get too far off onto that.

Understand this. You have to make a choice daily. If you wish to come after me, Jesus said, you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me. Man, how many of y 'all have left that day about five years ago?

Some of you, the last choice you made is the last time the praise and worship music made you feel good. Oh man, if that praise and worship music, if that just stirs my soul, I'll get physically strong.

Wow. Wow. After so many years, you're still that childish and immature and infantile in your spiritual life? Oh, if Brother Jeff preaches a good sermon and it makes me feel emotional, well, then I'm right with God.

That lasts about as long as you walk out that door, don't it? See, it's a daily choice. Ain't no Rocky Balboa music. Ain't no Calvary coming over the hill. It's in the grit and the grind. Your Christian life is a life measured by inches, not miles.

And it has to happen every day. You young men making that choice. I ain't even gonna address some of you young men because some of you older men, you best watch your eyeballs or I'm gonna start smacking you in the head.

Some of you older men in here, you're doing the whole thing. And I know I look good in these jeans, but please stop looking at me because you're making me feel awkward. You need to watch your eyes, man.

That's a choice. Some of you guys on www .hotfatpastors .com. You know what I'm saying? That's a daily choice. That's a daily choice. And then here's what you do. You try to rely on guilt to motivate you the next time.

Don't rely on guilt. Rely on God's Word. Get that maturity level up where you say, no, this is not for me today. And it ain't just men. You women, some of you gossiping tongues out there. Some of them little wagging tongues you got going.

Some of you Baptist prayer requests. Did y 'all hear about Vicki Sneed? We need to pray for her. Man, right? She's not here today. Let's talk about her. Man. What, Tara? Yeah, it's horrible. Did y 'all hear about it?

Oh, yeah, let's pray. Stop that gossiping tongue. And here's what will help you in that choice. You realize that your gossiping tongue and that street walking whore is the same sin. See, we'll talk about that more in a minute.

But the first thing you need to make a choice of is recognize the truth and it needs to be a choice that happens daily. Second thing. Keeping liberty is not just about a choice. Here's the power to make that choice.

It comes with humility. Alright, so Jesus is sitting there. Keep reading. Jesus is sitting here talking and he's addressing this group. Y 'all are too heathenish. Y 'all are the same people. Y 'all are lost, going to hell.

These are the same people. I like these better over here. So Jesus is sitting there. Well, you got Shirley and Verbal over here. I mean, you know. Of course, you got Bill. He's going to lose it. But guys, here we are.

Jesus is talking to the saved folks right here. Now notice here in verse 32. Look what he says. He sits there and hold on. It says this. As he sits there and says, you will know the truth, you truth will set me free.

These guys over here jump in the conversation. And they say this. We are the descendants of Abraham, Jesus. Who are you talking to? They answered him. And we have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say you will become free?

The irony, you have to picture this now. And I know it might be hard because some of y 'all don't realize this. But watch this. They are sitting in Jerusalem. In the shadow of Solomon's temple. But above Solomon's temple to the north is a building three stories higher called the Antonia Fortress.

And inside that fortress is a garrison of 600 Roman soldiers who are there to keep the Jewish people enslaved. Arrogance will bring you to a point where you.

Will believe lies.

In the face of facts because you refuse to submit to something greater than yourself. Guys, A, B, P, G I know I can't sing. A, B, P, G, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Germany. Name a nation or culture that hasn't used Israel as a doormat.

Say it. Someone said it over there. United States of America. So far. Guys, you know how arrogant these Jews are? Nobody has enslaved us ever. You remember Moses? That whole Egypt Red Sea thing? Really?

You crack smoking heathen? Arrogance will take you to a place where.

You will believe lies as absolute fact. Well, no, I would never do that, Brother Jeff. Okay. Doctor Ph .D.

Listen to this. Good morning, children. Good morning, young people. I never went to college. Guys, I just want to talk to you a little bit about micro and macroevolution. Guys, there is no God. There's no God.

Here's the next one. You can be fluid. If you're born a girl, you can be choosing to be a boy. I agree. Does that offend some of y 'all? I'm sorry. I feel convicted all of a sudden. That was gas. I'm good to go.

Listen to me today. Listen to me today. Facts are facts. Facts are facts. Have you ever sat down and talked to someone who has been jacked up with lies? I hear them say this all the time. I wish someone would have told me.

You know what keeps you from not telling me? It's the pride and arrogance and the codependency of being accepted by a culture of going to hell rather than standing for the truth. Humility is standing for truth.

Listen to me. Meekness is not weakness, church. And until the church of God stands up and quits equating silence with reverence, we're going to keep being whooped because our arrogance wants us to be accepted rather than to stand alone, stand firm.

We were designed, the entire principle of the church was designed to be standing on Christ and nothing else. That's how it's going to be. You rely on anything or anyone else, you're already sliding into the abyss of liberalism, humanism, and lies.

Guys, humility takes strength. It takes strength. Guys, look here. Watch this. And you can, I put other little things on your little papers you can read somewhere else other. Read it later but look at this.

Jesus sat there when they say, we have never been a slave to everything. You see, they were thinking he was giving them a history lesson. Look what Jesus said to them immediately after. Verse 34. Jesus went, hold on Christian peoples.

Y 'all hold on right there. Hey dorks. We, Jesus responded, I assure you everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in the household forever but a son does remain forever. Therefore, if the son sets you free you will be really free.

I know you are descendants of Abraham but you are trying to kill me because of my word is not welcoming among you. I speak what you have seen, I speak what I have seen in the presence of the Father therefore you do not know, I'm sorry, therefore you do what you have heard from your Father.

Now we'll get into the other part some other time. But understand this. Jesus is not speaking about nationality. Wait a minute, hold on. Let me use the word. Jesus ain't talking about races. He ain't talking about races because there ain't no races y 'all.

There ain't no races. There's the human race, scientifically homo, do you realize that science is quiet on stuff that violates science when it's not about God? Have you ever wondered that? I mean, I don't want to like have black helicopters coming down but do you realize that there's kind of like this elitism that has now come in place that anything that is of God is shunned and rejected and anything that's against God is accepted.

Kind of like what was happening right there. Right there. Guys, I'm gonna be dead relatively soon. Listen to me. If you don't remember anything I say to you, remember this. You people being a member here has more to do with being there for each other than it has to do with some stupid paper or some moral ethos.

You kids listen to me. You leave God and his family at your own peril in the years coming up. There's coming a day when each other is all you're going to have. Mark my words. Rather than that, mark scripture from which those words are based.

The reason I harp on unity so bad is not so we can be happy and skippy. It's to realize that I want the may-mays. I want the Naomi's. I want the Caden's. I want them to have a place in which godly, mature adults are guiding them to the next level because it'll never come from school, society or the government.

It's in critically important people. Call me a nutcase if you want to but I'll be right. Guarantee it because the word of God has already said it. Last thing. It's not just a choice that you have to make every day.

Freedom Only Comes from the Son, Not from Nation or Institution

It's not just empowered by humility. The segue that I just gave leads to this point. It's still got to come from a singular source. Guys, look what Jesus says. He sits there and says if the Son sets you free, you will be really free.

John 8, 36. Therefore, the Son sets you free. Welcome to Witton Baptist Church. Witton Baptist Church ain't this stupid building. It's these peoples. And these people can love you to death but you'll never know freedom from a church even as strong as this one.

Guys, AA won't set you free. It can help. Ain't nothing wrong with AA. It can help. Our accountability groups, they'll help you. They won't heal you. Pastorial counseling will help you. It will guide you.

It cannot heal you. Only if the Son sets you free will you be free indeed. Jesus, once again, pointed back to himself as the only source of liberty that exists. Guys, we have unalienable rights according to our Declaration of Independence.

We have, according to our Constitution, a Bill of Rights. And we have gotten so jacked up we think those Bill of Rights have to do with us. Do you realize that the Bill of Rights exists not for us? In other words, they're not empowering us.

They're designed to limit the government. That's the whole idea of the Bill of Rights. The whole idea is not empowering people because that's redundant. God has already empowered the people. The rights and liberty you have were not bestowed upon you by a government or an organization.

They were bestowed to you by God and his sovereign creation. God has given you a soul and it's the regeneration of the Holy Spirit you should matriculate to a level of conversion and you will, a level of conversion and sanctification.

But, understand this, you owe allegiance to nothing or nobody except that source which truly made you free. What do you allegiance to? Like today, I'm going to go home. And in my neighborhood, one guy has a flag that's weird.

It's like black green. The stripes are like black green red or something and it's upside down or something. I got some gangbangers that live over here. They do some drive-bys every once in a while. I'm not joking.

That's kind of fun. I got another guy over here. He's Peruvian you know and he was telling me one time, you know, yeah, America's good but, you know, it's evil too. You know what I'm going to do today?

I'm going to stick Old Glory on the side of my house. I'm going to do that next American thing with Old Glory waving in the wind. I, the bonfire of liberty, will be lit in my grill. And I will do that absolute epic thing of grilling out some ribs.

Oh yeah. I don't really care what anybody else says. I really don't. But I'll be honest with you. I love the United States of America. I do. My blood spills red, white, and blue. I do. I'm more libertarian than anything.

But I'll be honest with you. I love the USA. But I realize where did it go? Oh, there it is over there. I realize Old Glory is just a silly piece of cloth. I can sing Pledge Allegiance all day long to it.

It really don't matter because I'm going to be honest with you. I know the end of the story and the United States is gone. We're going to live for it. No, you're not. We're going to be here forever. No, you're not.

London is Fallen or one of those movies. I love those movies. You've got to watch the soldier's language in them. But I love those movies. He was sitting there and he's beating the terrorist dude and he goes that's one thing you people would know and understand.

We're not a flag. You will still be here when y 'all are dead and gone. And I'm like God bless America. It's like when William Wallace that movie and the English guy slit that girl's throat. If someone was speaking in a British accent right then I'd be climbing over pews and jacking her head.

It's not that. Guys, we're not going to be here forever. America is not going to exist. The only thing that's going to be left standing upon the rubble of human arrogance is the kingdom and the foundation of the kingdom of the Word of God.