Our nation… Our responsibility! | 2021 – Year of the Lord’s Favour | Aug 15, 2021

We welcome you all on this very important day if our nation. The 75th Independence Day of India. We thank God for national freedom we have and we thank God for the blessings. May God lead our nation towards prosperity and citizens’ safety.

Today on the occasion of Indian 75th Independence day, today’s topic will be “Our nation… Our responsibility!“

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

What is our responsibility towards our nation as a citizen?

Here we see the first task of Church of God is to pray for our government. Prayers brings breakthrough and our nation will be blessed. Another inportant subject to pray is to pray for our leaders.

We know our nation will be blessed because our God is a prayer answering God. When we pray for our t nation and for our leaders, our nation is blessed. When we pray, hearts of people who are in leadership, change.

Second thing we need to do is that we must respect and obey  our government. We must love our country and honor the leadership.

Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

As a faithful and honest citizen, it is our duty to duly pay our taxes and honor the decisions of our government.

The only exception is given in the book of acts…

So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.

“Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Salt isn’t very cheap to buy, however in those days, salt was very precious thing. Here God suggests that we need to be salt to kur nation, i.e. be a good example of a good citizen. And how do we do that? By showing Christ like character through our attitude, speech and actions.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

One of the good examples is the lamp. Nobody keeps the lamp on the ground or at the bottom of the corner. It is supposed to be kept on its stand at a height so people can see the light. Likewise, with your actions, attitude and speech, you bcome the light

Freedom isn’t something that you are free to do anything you desire, but through love serve one another.

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.”

Many people are under bondages however it is only Christ who can grant true freedom from any kind of bondages.

And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Let me tell you and affirm, only Jesus can set you free. We are celebrating freedom today, but freedom in Christ is the reality which no one can take away because God has granted freedom in our hearts.

He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13‭-‬14

Many people are under bondage and cannot do many things. We need to be thankful to God that you and I are able to live with freedom in Christ, i.e. emotional, mental and spiritual freedom.

We must thank God for the freedom we have. Freedom to walk freely, freedom to worship and much more. However there are people who aren’t free, not that someone has kept them away, but due to their own bondages.

In Christ, people aren’t under bondages. Bondage of anger, hate and all the actions which holds one doen.

Martin Luther King once said…

Jesus–“I come not to bring peace but a sword”–King insists that peace “is not merely the absence of some negative force–war, tension, confusion, but it is the presence of some positive force–justice, goodwill, the power of the kingdom of God.”

If you feel you are under bondage or something is holding you down, then today is the time. On this occasion of Independence day, pray and ask Christ to set you free from anything that is holding you down and God will surely grant you freedom.

Once again, Happy Independence day to you and we look forward to see you all next Sunday. God bless!