The Liberty Only God Can Give

Over two centuries ago, in a small church in Virginia, during a time of turmoil and division, a group of men gathered to seek God and direction. Among them was a man named Patrick Henry. The year was 1775, and tyranny loomed over the American colonies. Henry stood up—not just to speak, but to awaken hearts. He believed liberty wasn’t man’s invention—it was God’s divine gift. As Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 3:17, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”

Henry’s fiery speech stirred the soul of a young nation. He declared, “Give me liberty, or give me death.” He wasn’t calling for mere political freedom—but for spiritual and moral courage. He understood something we need to remember: that real freedom is more than a human right—it’s a sacred responsibility, entrusted to us by our Creator. And with it comes the call to live out our faith boldly.

He confronted the voices urging patience and compromise. He challenged the illusion of safety. He refused to be seduced by the lie that peace can come from passivity. Instead, he cried out that it was time to act, time to fight—not out of hate or pride, but because freedom, when it is denied, demands resistance.

And he was right.

He said, “The God of Hosts is all that is left to us.” He believed—and we must too—that there is a God who oversees the destinies of nations. A just God who raises up people to defend liberty. Henry’s words echo today not just as a relic of history, but as a call to remember where our true freedom comes from—and what we must do to keep it.

Today, as we celebrate America’s birthday, let’s not forget why this nation was born. People still flee tyranny to come here. Why? Because even with our flaws, America remains the greatest place on earth to live in freedom. And that freedom wasn’t man-made. It was built on truth—and truth came from pulpits that preached the Gospel.

John 8:36 says, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” That’s more than salvation from sin—that’s a freedom that transforms every part of your life. Once you’ve been set free by Jesus, you can’t help but live differently, speak boldly, and stand with courage.

Our founding fathers knew that.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “God who gave us life gave us liberty.” He warned that if we ever forget that liberty is a gift from God, we will lose it. And John Adams, in his inaugural address, prayed that the Supreme Ruler of the universe would continue to bless this nation—not because of our goodness, but by His providence.

His son, John Quincy Adams, believed the hope of the world rested on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration and America’s first Surgeon General, boldly declared that if human morality alone could save us, then Christ never needed to come. But He did—and that changes everything.

Patrick Henry later wrote: “This great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians—not on religions, but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” That Gospel made room for all faiths and even for those who believed in none. Why? Because truth is never afraid of lies. Light is never threatened by darkness. And freedom, when it’s real, welcomes others—not because we’re weak, but because we’re strong enough to stand on truth.

Today, we need to stop apologizing for what God has given us. We must protect the gift. Because liberty doesn’t survive without righteousness. And nations don’t last long when they forget God. Samuel Adams warned that the greatest threat to our freedom wasn’t from outside forces—it was our own loss of virtue. Once we let go of morality, liberty fades quickly.

But it’s not too late.

Our hope is in Christ. Our mission is eternal. We don’t just live in a free country—we are part of an unshakable kingdom. And while we still have the freedom to speak the Gospel, we must not waste it. We can’t fall asleep in a land full of opportunity. We can’t let the next generation believe the lies of socialism or confusion that promise freedom but deliver chains.

Let us remember what true freedom is. It’s not just having rights—it’s knowing the Truth that sets you free. That Truth has a name. His name is Jesus.

So tonight, let’s give thanks. Let’s be bold. Let’s pray like never before. Because we have something the world still longs for—freedom not just of the body, but of the soul.

And that kind of freedom… only God can give.

Amen.