While things are gearing up for the celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary on July 4, this year we as Christians celebrate our 1993th Independence Day this coming Sunday with Pentecost.

Pentecost was always symbolic of God’s plan. It is believed that Moses received the Ten Commandments on this day. It was also observed annually by the Hebrew as the Feast of First Fruits where the first harvest was offered to God symbolic of what was to come. Then in Jerusalem in 33 AD several people were in a room. Received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. From there forward the world had changed. Jesus Christ paid for our sins and we as Christians have God’s Spirit in us as a way to regenerate and become more like Him in the end. It is a down payment of our place in His family as His children.

In doing so we were freed from the bondage of sin and freed from the wrath to come. Freed from the power and the life and cares of this world. Even freed from the cares and carnality we have in us For the Christian our Independence Day came nearly 2000 years ago and will last forever.

Someday the whole world will also be freed from the oppression that plagues it at this present time.

Romans 5:15 Shows we are part of His family in the Spirit and even though we still suffer from the thing of this life someday we will see the fulfillment of the adoption in the completion of His kingdom:

15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

In Christ always,                                                                                                           

Steve Koenig

Lakeshore Fellowship