Message for July 23, 2023 from Pastor Shirley

On July 4th we celebrated Independence Day.  We recognize the freedom we have in this nation.  Freedom is not free. There have been many who have paid their ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  May we never forget and let us continue to pray for those who are still defending our nation today.  

A greater independence day came and that was the day we accepted Jesus Christ as Savior.  John 1:12-13 “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  Jesus Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice giving his life so we could be free.  We are no longer in bondage to sin.  Whom the Son has set free is free indeed!  The Bible tells us that Jesus died and rose again not only so that we could receive forgiveness but even more so he died and arose again so that we might have life.  I John 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.  Our eternal life is secured.  This life is the journey we are on right now.  Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)”.  John 10:10.  

How do we live this life that we have been given the freedom  to live?   Paul tells us in Galatians 2:20 “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. This life I live now,  I live by faith in the Son of God who loved and gave his life for me”.