“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH
THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED…”

Luke 4:18

Today is the day in America that we set aside to celebrate freedom. Our forefathers established three documents declaring such, the first of which is The Declaration of Independence. Millions have fought to establish and keep that freedom. We are so grateful for their sacrifice because one of the greatest freedoms they secured for us is the freedom to worship our God without the threat of persecution.

We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed by their Creator
with certain unalienable Rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

“They are endowed by their Creator…” Yes, our Creator, our God, desires us to live in freedom. It is God who endows or provides the way to true freedom. He came to proclaim release to the captives and to set free those who are oppressed. Jesus secured for us a freedom that trumps all other freedoms—Peace with God. And He did so because He loves us.

Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life of righteousness, and laid down His life as a sacrifice for us—shedding His blood to pay for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2) He forgave us and through His forgiveness gave us the way to Peace, true Peace with God.

But we have an enemy who desires for us to live in captivity. Satan wants to steal our freedom. He knows he cannot steal our Life in Christ, but he can steal our freedom—if we let him. He can steal our peace, our joy, and our trust in God, just to name a few. And he does so through unforgiveness.

We recently met with a couple who were struggling in their marriage. Life was falling apart for them. They told us that they felt like everything good they had known was being “stolen” from them. In the physical losses they experienced, they clung to unforgiveness. They had embraced the enemy’s lies which resulted in the loss of their peace and joy. But God, in His mercy, led them back to freedom. As the Holy Spirit led, we coached them to forgive the wounds of loss they had suffered at the hands of hurtful people. As they applied the blood of Jesus to their wounds through forgiveness, they once again experienced peace and joy.

We encourage you on this Independence Day to experience true freedom by receiving God’s forgiveness and by extending that forgiveness to those who have wounded you.

Forgiveness is the way to freedom!

For more information on how to forgive, please click the link below to receive a free copy of the Forgiveness Guide.

As this blog is being released, we are on a plane heading toward Costa Rica for the second half of our summer international tour. We are teaming with Life Change Ministries, who have served in Costa Rica for several years. We will be sharing Forgiving Forward with 120 pastors and their wives at a Minister/Wives Conference, as well as several churches and prisons. Others on the team will be leading revivals in churches, Marriage and Family Training, a worship concert, children’s (soccer) activities in 6 locations, prisons, rehab, and a trip to an island to minister to men, women, and children.

Please join us in praying for strength, wisdom, and safety for the team and that 100’s of people will put their faith in Jesus and learn to experience the freedom of the Gospel through the power of forgiveness.