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06.27.06: Light for the Day - "A Statue of Liberty" (Viet)  (C)  (S)  (F)

-- John 8:31-36
31 Jesus said to the people who Believed in Him, 
     "You are Truly My disciples if you keep Obeying My Teachings.
32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you Free."
34 Jesus replied, "I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin.
36 So if the Son sets you Free, you will indeed be Free."

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During the national observance of the anniversary of the Statue of Liberty
in New York Harbor, I was struck by the great emphasis on the number of 
immigrants who had often left everything behind. Coming to America with 
nothing but the clothes on their backs, they risked their lives for something 
they valued more highly than everything they had left behind: Freedom. 
They did not take their adopted country's hard-won Freedom for granted -- 
and neither must we.

Their experience is a picture of what we must do when we come to Christ. 
We must forsake our allegiance to this world, leave behind all that is offers, 
and become citizens of a new kingdom -- the Kingdom of God. 
His statue of liberty is in the form of the Cross.

The statue in New York Harbor lifts her lamp "beside the golden door." 
The statue of liberty on that hill outside Jerusalem lights the way into eternal life.

-- Billy Graham

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-- 2 Corinthians 3:17 
   Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, 
   there is Freedom.

-- Galatians 5:1
   It is for Freedom that Christ has Set us Free. Stand Firm, then, 
   and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

-- Romans 8:1-2, 5-10
1 There is therefore now No Condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, 
   who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2 For the Law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me Free 
   from the law of sin and death.

5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on 
   what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit 
   have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind of sinful man is death, 
   but the mind controlled by the Spirit is Life and Peace;
7 the sinful mind is hostile to God. 
   It does not submit to God’s Law, nor can it do so.
8 Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, 
   if the Spirit of God Lives in you. And if anyone does not have 
   the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, 
     yet your spirit is Alive because of Righteousness.

-- Galatians 5:13-26
13 For you have been called to Live in Freedom -- not Freedom to satisfy 
     your sinful nature, but Freedom to serve one another in Love.
14 For the whole Law can be summed up in this one command: 
     "Love your neighbor as yourself."
15 If you keep on Biting and Devouring each other, 
     watch out or you will be Destroyed by each other.
16 So I advise you to live according to your New Life in the Holy Spirit. 
     Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, 
     and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. 
     They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
18 But when you are directed by the Holy Spirit, 
      you are no longer subject to the Law.
19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, your lives will Produce 
      these evil results: sexual immorality, impure thoughts, 
      eagerness for lustful pleasure,
20 idolatry, participation in demonic activities, hostility, quarreling, 
     jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, divisions, 
     the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group,
21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other kinds of sin. 
     Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life 
     will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
22 But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit 
     in us: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness,
23 Gentleness, and Self-Control. Here there is no conflict with the Law.
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and 
     desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
25 If we are Living now by the Holy Spirit, 
     let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.
26 Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, 
     or be jealous of one another.

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-- Romans 6:18 
    You have been Set Free from sin and have become slaves to Righteousness.

-- 1 Peter 2:16 
    Live as Free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; 
    Live as servants of God.

-- Psalms 19:13 
   Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. 
   Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

-- Psalms 119:32 
   I run in the path of Your Commands, for You have set my heart Free.