Title: Free At Last

Date: 2009-07-05

Reference: Acts 9: 1-12

Luke Air Force Base, West of Phoenix, is being surrounded by development complete with complaints about noise from the planes. Recently the local paper printed a caustic letter to the editor complaining about an early morning fly over. The letter concluded by demanding an explanation from someone at the airbase. An officer gave this explanation. ”The fly over that day was in honor of an Air Force Officer who was killed in Iraq on Memorial Day.” He concluded his explanation by saying. ”Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you. Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul and the other for your freedoms.” I hope that answer was helpful to the person whose early morning was interrupted by fly over.

The nations of Eastern Europe have been observing the 20th anniversary of freedom and the fall of the Iron Curtain. Many don’t even remember the Berlin Wall which once surrounded the entire city of West Berlin. 100 miles long, complete with concrete guard towers, Police dogs, barbed wire, electric fences, floodlights, trip alarms. Hundreds risked their lives in an attempt to cross the wall and escape to the West. For years we wondered what kind of nation would keep its own citizens prisoner. American Troops stood in the gap and protected a fragile peace. A similar situation still exists in Korea. Today we recognize our freedom is so precious because freedom is so costly. We sometimes take our freedom for granted. Ours is to pray for our defenders and to do our part in protecting the freedoms they insure.

Free at last, Free at last, Thank God Almighty we’re free at last, was a very meaningful expression of our American Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights Movement had it’s beginnings in the church. People understood that ultimate freedom comes only from God. The freedom movement in Europe began in the churches of Poland, Hungary, Romania, and East Germany. Christians have always known and believed that true and lasting freedom is a gift from God.

Saul of Tarsus thought he was a free man. As a Roman Citizen he was able to travel anywhere he wanted to go. He was protected by Roman law. Saul had received the very best education available. At an early age he became a leader among the Jewish people. But something was missing. When he finally met Jesus on the road to Damascus he discovered what it was that was missing in his life: a personal relationship with God through Christ. Saul who became Paul ended up his days as the Apostle in Chains. He wrote from a Roman jail cell, “I’ve never been so free, because I have found freedom in Christ.”

There was a news article this past week that reported the first ever scientific test on what are believed to be the remains of St. Paul. Archeologists unearthed and opened his tomb under the Basilica of St. Paul. Tests on bone fragments confirmed they date from the first Century. The Pose said: “This seems to confirm the tradition that they are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul.” Whether or not they are Paul’s bones, it’s interesting that after all these years Paul is still making news.

Next to Jesus himself, Paul is the most important human being who has ever lived. Paul led the church into a worldwide movement.

Paul formulated the theology of the church, and helped shape it’s destiny. Without Paul the infant church would not have grown into the spiritual and intellectual maturity which changed the course of human history. The only explanation of Paul’s dynamic leadership is the Spirit. Saul knew about Jesus’ ministry and crucifixion. He believed Jesus was a political anarchist and a religious rule breaker. He set aside everything else to try and rid the country of Jesus’ followers. Saul had the best of both worlds. He was a Hebrew Pharisee and a Roman citizen. He had the benefit of Jewish tradition and Greek Culture. Saul studied under the greatest Hebrew teacher of his time. Early on he distinguished himself as a scholar and a natural leader. He became a member of the strict sect of Pharisees. Saul spoke fluent Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic. He was exactly the kind of man Jesus needed to lead His moment.

The first half of the book of Acts deals with the birth of the church. The 2nd half of the book is occupied with the expansion of the church to the far reaches of the world. The most important event in the history of the church was the coming of The Holy Spirit. The 2nd most strategic event was the conversion of Saul of Tarsus. Paul led the church to new frontiers. God was continuing to work out His plan to bring freedom and the Gospel to the whole world.

Saul was on the way to Damascus to arrest the Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. Saul thought these followers of Jesus were rule breakers. He thought he was doing God a great favor by depriving others of their freedom to worship. Through out the years, Religious fanatics of every faith have done the same. In spite of his great learning Saul was spiritually blind.

Later he said: “I tripped over the cross because I was depending on my own goodness and not on the Grace of God. There are many self righteous religious people today who do not see themselves in need of a Savior and who resent being told they are sinners.

Suddenly Saul, one of the most important men in the country, found himself on the ground. It was not heat stroke or a seizure as some have suggested, but a personal meeting with the Lord Jesus Christ. At midday he saw a bright light and heard a voice from heaven speaking his name.

Saul made several wonderful discoveries that day. First of all he discovered to his total and absolute surprise that Jesus was actually alive. This forced Saul to change his mind about Jesus and His message. Saul had to repent which is difficult for anyone especially a proud, self righteous Pharisee.

He also discovered he was in need of God’s Grace for forgiveness. Later Paul said: “I discovered that when measured by God’s Grace, all my good works looked like a pile of filthy rags.” Paul said, “Finally I was free. I understood what the Apostle John meant when he wrote, “so if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” What a wonderful message for us this 4th of July weekend.

God had special work for Saul to do. This Hebrew of Hebrews would become the Apostle to the Gentiles. The persecutor would become a preacher. The legalistic Pharisee would become the great proclaimer of the Grace of God. Saul was on his way to deprive others of their freedoms when the Lord arrested Saul. Saul had to let go before he could become truly free.

Many years later Paul wrote to Timothy saying: “My conversion is a great encouragement to every sinner seeking freedom. If I, the chief of sinners can be saved, surely anyone can be saved and set free.” Paul’s life, message, and ministry were all about Grace. Paul said: “I did not choose Jesus, Jesus chose me.” Paul became God’s vessel and God would work in and through Paul to accomplish his purposes. Paul took the good news to the Gentiles, to Kings, and to commoners. Later Paul would suffer for the sake of Christ.

From the time of His conversion until His death the message of St. Paul was consistent. Because of our sins we are anything but free people. The Grace of God through Jesus Christ will make us free.

We are so appreciative of our freedom this weekend. Again we recognize that many over the years have made the ultimate sacrifice to insure our freedom. We know freedom is not free. Freedom is and has always been very costly. Someone has said “Democracy is based on the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” And so, in gratitude we hope to do our part to protect the freedoms we have been given by previous generations.

The hope of our nations is in the people. Our lives become channels through which God can bless our nation and the world. This Independence Day we are affirming our Dependence upon God. Without God’s help we will never become free productive people.

We need to come to the cross as Paul did in order to experience true freedom. The greatest expression of Patriotism is Prayer.

As the words on our currency proclaim: ”In God we Trust.” Those words were not written by chance. I would like to close by sharing three verses from the 144th Psalm. This is a prayer for our nation...”May our young sons grow like strong plants and our daughters as lovely columns in the corner of a palace. May our barns be filled with all kinds of crops. May our fields be covered with sheep and cattle. May our city be safe and may sorrow never be heard in our streets. Our Lord God will give these blessings to all who worship Him.”

May we come to God and be Free at Last.