The Price of Freedom
Spiritual freedom is won through the grim contentions of battle and the sacrifice of blood.
Dr. J. H. Jowett preaches about the intense spiritual battles we face in our journey towards spiritual freedom, emphasizing that evil does not easily let go of its hold and that we must be prepared to fight through blood and tears to claim our inheritance in God's kingdom. He reminds us that true transformation and growth come through tribulations and challenges, not in comfortable settings, and that we must embrace the struggles as opportunities to draw strength and deepen our faith. The hymn 'Faith of our Fathers' echoes this sentiment, celebrating the unwavering faith of those who endured persecution and remained steadfast in their commitment to God, inspiring us to stay true to our faith no matter the circumstances.
Text
"And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him" (Mark 9:26).
Evil never surrenders its hold without a sore fight. We never pass into any spiritual inheritance through the delightful exercises of a picnic, but always through the grim contentions of the battle field. It is so in the secret realm of the soul. Every faculty which wins its spiritual freedom does so at the price of blood. Apollyon is not put to flight by a courteous request; he straddles across the full breadth of the way, and our progress has to be registered in blood and tears. This we must remember or we shall add to all the other burdens of life the gall of misinterpretation. We are not "born again" into soft and protected nurseries, but in the open country where we suck strength from the very terror of the tempest. "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." Dr. J. H. Jowett
"Faith of our Fathers! living still,
In spite of dungeon, fire and sword:
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear that glorious word.
Faith of our Fathers! Holy Faith!
We will be true to Thee till death!
"Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free;
How sweet would be their children's fate,
If they, like them, could die for Thee!"
Sermon Outline
- The Price of Freedom
- The cost of spiritual freedom
- The nature of spiritual growth
- We are not born again in soft nurseries
- We enter the kingdom of God through tribulation
Key Quotes
“Evil never surrenders its hold without a sore fight.” — Charles E. Cowman
“We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” — Charles E. Cowman
“Faith of our Fathers! living still,” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- We must be willing to struggle and sacrifice in order to achieve spiritual freedom.
- Our faith must be strong enough to hold us through the darkest of times.
- We must remain faithful to God, even in the face of adversity.