International Gospel Hour

Guest (Male): Many lives have been given for freedom and to preserve freedom. Yet, there was one life given, the greatest price paid for our freedom. Freedom is not free. It comes with a cost. Let's think about this today. That's coming up from the International Gospel Hour.

J. Webb: Hi, this is J. Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: As always, we are appreciative to our J. Webb for his kind words. Greetings and hello everyone. Once again, I'm honored that you have joined me today for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour.

Since the inception of our great nation, brave men and women have been fighting for a principle summed up in a simple word: freedom. However, with the battles that have been fought in the name of freedom, we have often times seen the greatest of prices paid: the life of a soldier. With this price being paid, it is easy to see the truthfulness as we consider the subject today: freedom is not free. In fact, freedom is probably the most costly of principles.

From personal experience, I can tell you the idea of freedom is one many take very seriously. It is one our founding fathers saw fit to fight for and to instill. Even now, many hold that freedom in such regard that they fight and die for it. I have stood side by side with some of the bravest men and women in the world who have done just that.

The time that probably stands most prevalent in my mind, however, came in January of 2007. I remember waking up that day as normal. Sirens, diesel engines, generators, and explosions formed a melody of background noises. Searching through my locker for a uniform, I would get dressed, lace up my boots, and then step outside to brush my teeth and shave with a bottle of water.

I would finish up, head back inside, grab my vest, helmet, bag, and rifle, and make my way to the hangar. It's interesting how all of this, after many months in the desert, had become the norm. Nevertheless, I'd begin my daily walk, hoping it would be an uneventful one. As I approached the hangar, it was no different than normal. Many of my friends were in and out, flying missions, testing aircraft, or on recovery. No one knew today would be different, that we would be changed forever.

However, as if out of nowhere, after a year of minor incidents and no loss, we hear "Fallen Angel." To many who are listening to this broadcast, this term probably seems obscure. You are probably more familiar with the term "Black Hawk Down." The next event seemed foggy to my memory as our downed aircraft recovery team, known as DART, scrambled to lead a running aircraft and provide support. Only this time, support wouldn't be needed. Shot in the fuel cell, Black Hawk crew Easy 40 and her passengers were gone.

At our debriefing following these events, we stood in front of our commanders and heard that, though our friends had sacrificed and died an honorable death, we still had a mission to carry out. I tell you this story for this reason: this is the price paid on a daily basis for us to be blessed with the liberties in which we indulge daily. We certainly are blessed to have freedom to worship without having to worry about losing our lives in America, being arrested, or having property confiscated. We should be grateful for the right of freedom of assembly and freedom of the press.

However, as men and women continue to fight and die for these freedoms to be maintained in America, we must remember that there is an even more crucial freedom: the spiritual freedom that God gives us. His freedom is ours for the taking regardless of our external environment, even if we are in jail or in a country where dissenters are tortured, arrested, or killed. This freedom cannot be taken away by man because it is implanted in our spirit through His spirit.

Look at what the Apostle Paul says concerning freedom from 2 Corinthians 3:17: "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty," or freedom. God blesses us with many freedoms gained in Christ. First, freedom from death or a victory over death through Jesus, as taught in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

God blesses us with many freedoms. How about the freedom from the fear of death? From Hebrews 2:14-15: "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." How thankful we are that the Lord would destroy the one who has the power of death.

How about a freedom from slavery to sin? In John 8:34-36, Jesus, in teaching, said, "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." Along that line of being a servant of sin, remember what Paul said in Romans 6:17-18: "But God be thanked that though you were the servants of sin, yet you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness."

Oh, what beauty is the freedom from the slavery to sin. How about freedom from anxiety? In 1 Peter 5:7: "casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." What if, indeed, when we're struggling, we cast our care upon the Lord to help us? That is similar to what Paul said in Philippians 4:6: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."

When we are anxious, when we have cares upon us, then we must cast them upon the Lord. With prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known, and God will provide for His children. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil (2 Timothy 3:12). Let's also keep in mind that when we are struggling, we can as Christians rejoice in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer. At that tribulation, that trouble we have in the middle, we just keep pressing it with hope and pressing it with prayer and attacking it.

What about the freedom from being timid? God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7), to grow in our boldness and our strength toward Him. May we never forget that Jesus died for our freedom as Christians. In Galatians 5:1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Christ is our freedom, and friends, freedom is not free.

I am indebted to a brother I've never met by the name of Andy Chavarilla. I'm grateful for this article that he penned well over close to 15 years ago from the Christian Worker of Austin, Texas. Andy did a wonderful job. To read of what he experienced that day and what he heard, we are reminded, indeed, that freedom is not free. I'm grateful to those that serve in our armed forces and grateful for such men as Andy and multiple other men and women who have served and who continue to serve our nation.

May they be protected, may they be guided, may they be strengthened with the reading of Romans 13 to be the ministers of God for good. And now, friends, we want to pause as we do in each broadcast. I'd like to share with you material that you can study in between broadcasts. For the longest, we've offered and still do a free Bible course that's available by mail. We have online options and have a number of different options, but this free Bible study course we've offered for a number of years.

Maybe you've heard me talk about it and you've never tried it. I'd like for you to give it a try. Just request it and see what you think. The way to receive that, our J. Webb has those details of how you can receive your free Bible course by mail.

J. Webb: Our longtime free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say "Home Study." That's it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab, and leave us the same information: name, address, and type "Home Study" in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it's free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

Jeff Archey: And again, friends, if you've never received our Bible study course by mail, we'd like for you to reach out, and we'd love to send that to you. Please give it a try. Multiple people have used that study for years. As a matter of fact, we're thankful to our friends from the Mt. Leo Church of Christ of McMinnville, Tennessee, who have been sending those courses out since 1970. That's amazing. Thousands upon thousands have studied those courses, and we want to add you among that group.

So again, always request our free Bible study course by mail. Again, our number: 855-444-6988. And if you don't want the course, give us a call and tell us where you've heard our broadcast from today. We're always honored for you, our listeners, for without you, well, we wouldn't have a program. We're thankful for the great number of folks that tune in each week. I appreciate you studying with me today this wonderful subject. Again, we'll do it at another time, but for now, thanks again joining me here on the International Gospel Hour. I'm Jeff Archey and friends, keep listening.

J. Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.