Game –· Protect the President 

Video sermon – http://youtu.be/R6zvvdHATrs

Text Sermon – 

 4th of July weekend

That certainly was a fun game wasn’t it. You know what was cool for me was watching how much effort the bodyguard put into protecting the president. For those of you who got to play the bodyguard? What did that feel like? Being the protector? What was cool about it, was as the protector, you are willing to sacrifice yourself for your president. Now why would we do that? Well as far as the game goes we do it because were told were supposed to come but what about the real bodyguards in the Secret Service. The ones that serve the real president of the United States. Why do you think that they sign on to do that job? Do you believe it is a difficult job? I personally believe that it is because they believe in that president. They believe in this country. They sign on in order to protect someone who is going to make a big difference in this world. They sign on willing to sacrifice their own lives for the cause that they believe in. Now this is not everyone. I know there are some who would not go to these lengths in order to protect our liberties and our freedoms. We on the Secret Service this makes me think of all the women and men who have served this country. In one way or another. Some who have given their lives in the pursuit of freedom. Now why would someone do that. Why would they be willing to give their lives for freedom? It’s because they believed in. They believe that they are making a difference. That they are doing their civic duty. That they are playing their role in keeping America free. We’ll great deal to these people. I would like to take a quick moment of silence for all those who are serving our country currently and to all those who’ve died fighting for our freedom.
 
And then there’s the president. Who among you have the opportunity to be the president in this game? What about feel like? To be protected. To have someone completely willing to jump in front of you to keep you safe. To take a bullet for you, or in this case a dodgeball. We talked about why they did it, but for you it must us felt pretty special to feel that someone cared about you that much even if just for a moment.
 
You see this is a lot like how Jesus gave himself up for us. He was the Secret Service member. He was the one willing to make the sacrifice in order to protect the president, or us in other words, at all cost. He died on that cross so that we could live. And we’ll get to that in just a little bit. But first I have a few more questions for you.
 
Now we are here today to celebrate something. Something very special. So let me ask you this, and I want you to be very honest with me. I want you to share with me what first comes to your mind, not what you believe the right answer would be for church. Be honest.
 
What comes to your mind when you think of the 4th of July?
 
For me when I think of the Fourth of July the following things come to my mind, fireworks of course, barbecue by the pool and family. That was the typical Fourth of July for me. I’m sure that you all have stories much like this. They may be slightly different than mine, but you probably have some sort of routine that happens during this holiday.
 
Much like some of you may have, my family has tradition. We grew up and we did the same thing every single year for as long as I can remember. As far as Fourth of July goes, that was also the case. We would get together at my great uncles house have a barbecue and the kids would play in the pool. The adults would sit around chatting and talking about what’s been going on in their lives until eventually we go outside and watch the five works. Nothing too crazy special.
 
But that was wrong of me. Not the whole have fun with family and celebrate the things that you have. That was right. But I’ll tell you what I did wrong. I’ll tell you what I still do wrong to this day most the time. I forget about what this day is really all about
 
You see there is nothing routine about this specific holiday. This holiday is not just about barbecue and family. It’s about so much more. It’s about celebrating one word
 
Anyone want to guess what that word is. Freedom.
 
Unfortunately a lot of us take advantage of this holiday. We brushed past the idea of freedom. This day is a day where we remember how our country was formed. And there’s nothing routine about that. There were men that died and sacrificed their lives for us to be able to have the freedom we have here today. There are men and women still to this day fighting for this country so that you have the ability to live in freedom. You see freedom is not something that is just given it’s earned through the sacrifice of others. You’re all lucky, I’m lucky. We were handed down this freedom just by being born. If you were born in the United States of America you are automatically given the freedom that go along with that.
 
Well much like forgetting that the Fourth of July is not just about barbecues and family when we are handed things without having to do any work for them, it becomes very easy to forget sacrifice that was made so that we could have those things. I would like the name off a few people who have made an ultimate sacrifice for their country.
 
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Article Name: THEY PAID THE PRICE
You know the 56 men who signed our Declaration of Independence that first 4th of July–you know they were risking everything, don’t you? Because if they won the war with the British, there would be years of hardship as a struggling nation. If they lost they would face a hangman’s noose. And yet there where it says, “We herewith pledge, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor,” they did sign. But did you know that they paid the price?
 
Of the 56 signers of the Declaration, few were long to survive. Five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes–from Rhode Island to Charleston–sacked and looted, occupied by the enemy or burned. Two of them lost their sons in the Army; one had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 died in the War from its hardships or from its more merciful bullets. I don’t know what impression you’d had of these men who met that hot summer in Philadelphia, but I think it’s important this July 4, that we remember this about them: they were not poor men, they were not wild-eyed pirates. These were men of means, these were rich men, most of them, who enjoyed much ease and luxury in personal living. Not hungry men– prosperous men, wealthy land owners, substantially secure in their prosperity. But they considered liberty–this is as much I shall say of it–they had learned that liberty is so much more important than security, that they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And they fulfilled their pledge–they paid the price, and freedom was born.
 
AUTHOR: Paul Harvey:
SOURCE: Paul Harvey, News and Commentary. July 4, 1974
July 2, 2001. http://www.genealogyforum.rootsweb.com/specials/July4/TheyPaid.htm.
http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-stories-freedom-sacrifice-america-8386.asp
 
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You see it is because of these men that we are free in America today. Our freedom in Amerca is because of them. Our citizenship has been made through their sacrifice.
 
However there is another form of citizenship that we need to be grateful for.
Our citizenship in the eternal realm.
Now Just like the freedom that was handed down to us was something that we were just blessed with, the same goes with God.
In order for America to become what it was, men had to give their lives to the cause. They died in the pursuit of freedom.
 
Our Savior Jesus Christ died in the same way. You see Jesus shed the blood that should have been ours. Jesus paved the way for us to be given citizenship in heaven. He gave us the ultimate freedom. The freedom that comes from knowing that by believing in him we will be given eternal life in heaven.The freedom from sin.
 
You see we are all sinners separated from God. And until Jesus came along we were a slave to that sin. We were guilty with no opportunity for parole. And for many of us what we did was we allowed that guilt and that sin to eat us up inside, But not anymore. Not with Jesus. With Jesus we can be accepted for exactly who we are. He takes us in despite all of our sins and our flaws.
 
John 8:32-36

32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[a] to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed

John 3:36
“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
Romans 8:1-2

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Ephesians 2:1-3

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Without Jesus we don’t have freedom. Jesus wants you to lay down your guilt and your shame at the foot of the cross. For he made the ultimate sacrifice so that you would not live as a slave to sin. So that you may live forever with him free !
 
These are the things we celebrate today. We celebrate FREEDOM! We acknowledge that their was a price to be paid for that freedom and Jesus gladly paid that price for us. You know when I think about Jesus one of the craziest things that comes to my mind is how humbly he came to the cross. How he allowed himself to die the most gruesome death for us. And he did a gladly in those final moments of the cross after being tortured and persecuted, Jesus forgave. He said father forgive them for they know now what they do. What an amazing attitude. What it spectacular way to live out your life. I tell you one thing if I was on that cross I don’t think I would had the courage and strength to speak the way he did. And I have a theory has to why he did it’s because he understood. He understood how difficult it is to live in sin. He spent most of his ministry catering to the worst of the centers. And he did so without any judgment he did so that they might be free in him.
 
So, ask yourself these questions:
Have I truly been set free from sin in my life or am I continuing to do things that I know God doesn’t approve of? That is slavery. Slavery to sin Do you let worry, fear or anything else stop you from being free in Christ and his power?
That is NOT FREEDOM, and as a Christian, it is like you are living in a prison cell that has been unlocked.
Jesus does not condemn you. He wants you to be free. Free in every sense. Free to proclaim his good news and freedom to those in the world who are still captive. He is calling each of us to fight with him to free people from the chains of despair. He is calling us to join him in setting people free to truly live. But it has to begin with you being free. If you are not free in Christ, let’s ask that he would open your eyes and you would have the courage to accept the freedom that is yours.
 
Let us Pray!