Live-streaming service of PMPPKN (Indonesian Christian Student and Youth Fellowship (PMPPKN) was held on Monday, August 17, 2020. The service was streamed on Facebook and Instagram. The Word of God was delivered by Hendro and Pati, taken from John 8:30-36.
Today is a very special day for us because we commemorate Indonesia’s 75th Independence Day. Even though the commemoration of our Independence Day feels different this year, but let us keep the spirit of nationalism and independence be burned in our hearts as Indonesians.
Indonesia is so beautiful. The sea is so beautiful, the mountains are so charming, and the land always produces what we manage. Whatever we plant, it thrives on Indonesian soil.
John 8: 31-36
Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (NKJV)
God’s Word today tells about the truth that sets us free. Freedom means free from slavery and bondage. And we are free from it all. Just like Indonesia that gained its independence from the colonialism of Portuguese, Dutch, and Japanese. Thank God that now Indonesia has the right to make the foundation of its country, its motto, and many other things.
However, this time we are not only talking about national independence, but personal freedom in our lives, as clearly stated in John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” God clearly states that the meaning of the word freedom is not physically, but spiritually in our lives. We used to be slaves of sin. In the past, we were bound and shackled by sin. We often hear people say or we often say “I am a sinner. I can’t escape. Every time I want to escape of my sins and do good deeds, I fall back into sin. I really want to, but I cannot because I will commit sins again”. If we feel this way, it means that we have not been free. Even though our country is already free, but in our personal life, we are not yet free.
On this particular day, let us have no fear and no anxiety. Why? Because Jesus has guaranteed that He will provide and give us that freedom. God gives freedom to us through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, through His Son Jesus Christ who was born on this earth to become like humans and died on the cross to atone for our sins humans, so that we are no longer the slaves of sin.
We are no longer chained by sin. That freedom is provided for all of us who believe in Him. But there is one problem. Independence has been provided, but, is it already ours? In order to receive freedom, we must take it. How? We can receive the freedom by inviting Jesus who gives us freedom so that we become free people. We are no longer shackled, bound, and enslaved by the devil. But we have become free people because the Lord Jesus made us free.
Therefore, on this special day, let not only our country be independent, but let our lives be free as well. Let us be someone who is free from all evil bonds. If we desire to be someone who is free, then let us invite Jesus into our hearts to become Lord and Savior and make our lives free. So that we can be free from all the shackles of sin.
What a joy it is when we are set free because we are no longer bound by sin. When the Word of God lives in our lives, we will be free. Let us live our lives as free people. Do not let ourselves be enslaved by sin anymore, but let us surrender our lives to Jesus and be led by Jesus.
