As we are celebrating the United States independence from Great Britain. I make the parallel to our lives as Christians. On July 4, 1776 our nation declared our independence. That declaration started a war.

On Wednesday August 14, 2002 I declared independence from sin by submitting to baptism for the remission of my sins (Acts 2:38) in which my sins were washed away (Acts 22:16). By so doing I was baptized into Christ and put on Christ Galatians 3:27.

I started a war with satan by declaring my independence from that which enslaves (John 8:34; Romans 6:16). This war I intend to win. By myself it would be a losing war. However we have help. God gives us assurance that it is in our power to resist ANY temptation that comes our way. He guarantees that (1 Corinthians 10:13). Praise be to God!

So when did you declare your independence?

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1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. -ESV

I never looked at it that way. You are so right, it is a war. I started my war with satan in November of 1993.

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"Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Cor. 13:5).

Lee, you've made a great analogy. The good news is that unlike physical wars of this world, we are told that thanks be to God, the victory (only made possible through Christ) is already ours, if we remain faithful. (1 Cor. 15:57, I Jn. 5:4)

July 9(I think, it's kind of fuzzy at the moment), 1979 - 30 years ago!

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3Jn 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

Yes! The victory is guaranteed! Christ assured that when He conquered satan and death in His resurrection. We just have to pick the right side and stay the course.

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1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. -ESV

Can't remember the month, but it was 1963.

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"that in all things he might have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18

Hmm, not to make you feel old or anything, but that was the year that I was born.

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3Jn 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."

They say, "You're only as old as you feel," Joy. I still feel I'm 18. Sadly, sometimes I behave like that, too!

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"that in all things he might have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18

I have determined to remember my day as if it were my birthday. Not with cake and presents, but I wish to keep my "independence day" in my mind. Perhaps I will be less likely to turn my back on God if I keep it in memory.

Presented a lesson on this topic this morning. I think it went over well. We should call it VC Day (Victory in Christ Day).

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1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. -ESV

Great idea, Lee. Shoot me an outline copy at grandblancminister@att.net.
Please? Thanks.

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"that in all things he might have the preeminence." Colossians 1:18

Lee using outlines? Lee can give a 45 minute sermon off the cuff any day!

Seriously though, we did have a brother come conduct a gospel meeting several years ago who didn't use outlines on paper at least. He didn't take anything up there with him except for the bible. I asked him for a copy of an outline on an amazing lesson he presented (kid wasn't behaving well and I missed some of it) and he said he left them all in Arkansas. He said if I'd get a pen and piece of paper he would tell it to me and I could write it down. He did and I did right down to every scripture he used. He said God had blessed him with a photographic memory and he could visualize every outline he had ever presented. Talk about using your talents for the Lord! I can look at my notes and still not remember exactly what I wanted to say sometimes...

I do talk too much!

Would that have been G.W. Allison? I believe I remember him saying something about photographic memory.

I have a photographic memory too, I just can't find the film.

John, I will fancy you up an outline and shoot it over to you tonight!

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1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. -ESV

My VC Day was in the spring of 1986. I was 10 years old and I remember it like it was yesterday. I had been studying with Clif Fox, our preacher at the time and I knew exactly what I needed to do and why I needed to do it. It was either a Monday night or Tuesday night and we went down to the building so I could be baptized. Just a small group gathered there to witness it. I remember shaking because I knew it would be the biggest event of my entire life. Best decision I ever made!

Yea, me too, April 14, 1963!!!

Great post Lee!!!

I agree, that is a great idea! Sadly I don't remember the month and day anymore, however, it was in 1982, about 27 years ago when I was 19 years old.

I cannot remember the day anymore but it was in March 1966. The preacher kept preaching sermons directly at me even though there were over 100 others in the auditorium. I finally got the message that not everything was right in my life.

You folks sure know how to make an old man feel even older! Birthdays of 1984, 1982, etc, etc. I had been married almost 20 years by then. I had children born in 1967 and 1970 so that really makes me feel old. I agree that sometimes I feel like I'm 18 and my wife says that I act it too! Kind of childish?

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For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. 1 Tim 2:5 (U-NASB)

Thank you so much for adding your thoughts to this thread! This has made my month! Kevin, I didn't know that! Of course I was two at the time .

Brother Bill, I had sermons like that thrown at me for YEARS. How I resisted for that long I cannot explain. They were aimed right at me, and I had brethren confirm that was the case. The only sermon I ever aimed at ONE person had a successful outcome she responded, but not me. It took years.

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1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. -ESV

I never really drew a comparison between the United States' Independence Day and our being liberated from sin, but that's a great way of looking at it! I was baptized by my dad into the Kingdom on September 18th, 2000. What a blessing to know that we are on the winning side, no matter what the world may do!

Excellent post and well said!


1989 on a Wednesday Morning at 1 AM. I was baptized by Max Lucado- yep, you read that right- and have loved the Lord's Church ever since. I have been in the Lord's Church for 20 years and have been in the pulpit for 17 of those years.

Humbled By The Blood Shed For Me,
Don

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preacher@hydeparkcoc.org

I was baptized in July 1994 when I had just turned 21 years old. I began preaching eight months later at a nearby congregation.

Amen to that! From pew to pulpit is an exciting journey to make.

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preacher@hydeparkcoc.org

Yeah, but as we were discussing this morning following my preaching for the church I grew up in, I was picked WAY too green for preaching. I look back at some of the things I said and it's like, "Wow. Why did they let me live??" Not to mention some of the terrible sins I got myself in while in my youthfulness. Those things really tend to eat at me at times. I wish they were in unsaintly past. But, God promises forgiveness, praise the Lord!

Great comparison, I had never thought of it like that. I was baptized into Christ by my Dad on October 10th 1999. It was the best day in my life and the best decision I have ever made! It was in a cold creek in northern AL, so I think I will remember it for a long time!

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But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quite spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 1 Peter 3:4

God began a good work in me way back in 1943, long before most of you were born, I suspect, but \
I wasnt always victorious, but God has been.

At the age of 14 I turned my back on God, after Mom abandoned us, then later sent me off
to deal with life, I didnt know how to deal with!

I blamed God, for she was my first representative of him.

I can tell you today, God never leaves us, nor forsakes us, even if we do him.
He is always faithful.
He brought me back, and knew all along right where I was, even if it was in
Laundstuhl Germany.

I came home with the determination to seek him again, and he has led me through many rough roads, and His mercies are indeed new, every morning.

He is worthy to be praised, and I do. Praise his name, Forever!

Hello again Keturah. Truly God is great! I am glad that you are determined to please Him.

I wonder if you would tell us if you have ever put Christ on in baptism? (Galatians 3:27) That baptism is not an outward show, but it is for a specific purpose Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16. And it isn't a sprinkling or pouring but a full on immersion, as this is the true meaning of the Greek word that is translated baptism we see this spelled out in Acts 8 long about verses 38 and 39. As well Romans 6:3-6. You see we put on Christ in baptism Galatians 3:26-27.

1 Peter 3:21: Thank you again for participating. Hope you consider these scriptures.

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1 Peter 5:6-7: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. -ESV

Good afternoon Lee,

I didnt get in to my e-mail right away, so sorry I am just now replying!

I smile at some of the different terminology we use.......I put on Christ when I accepted him as my Savior, and followed in obedience when I was baptized by full immersion.
You do not have to doubt that I have been born again, for God has redeemed me, and made me his own, now, and forever.
We might tend to differ on a subject as I do not believe baptism saved me, but the blood of Christ, shed for my sin, and confession of that is more important than the water baptism.
For Gods word says; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth, the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Roman 10:9

I say that because in 1 Corinthians 1:17 Paul confessed he didn't come to baptize but to preach the gospel.....If baptism was part of salvation it would be equally important to preach that also.

Not that we shouldn't be baptized, for we should. It is part of walking in obedience to him, and his word.

It is a free gift, and I have accepted it......now because he loved me so much, I desire to be his servant for all eternity.
It is a love thing, not a earn thing, or owe thing, but Love, and that eternal.

For God, so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

He said it, I believe it, and we have entered a love relationship.
Praise his name forever, and may we forever bring glory to his name, alone. Keturah