Independence Day Message

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

Hey everybody, welcome to Evangel's online campus. We're so thankful to have you here this 4th of July weekend. My name is Naomi. We've got Pastor Logan here from the Dickinson Campus and Pastor Dylan from the Bismarck Campus and we've got you from wherever you're joining us. We're so looking forward to just getting to be together this weekend and this is not something that happens very often. You know, we're a lot of times at our separate campuses and kind of spread out, but today we get to come together in one spot and celebrate together and worship together here via the online campus and so we're excited. We're excited to get to do this together. All together as one big church family this weekend. We also have to say hi to those of you joining on Beck TV. We know you guys are out there. You don't have a way to comment and let us know. That's okay, but there's people literally like all over the state who are joining on Beck TV and we've also got a lot of friends joining from correctional centers. So we've got the fam out at North Dakota State Penitentiary and then other correctional centers as well. So people joining from literally all over, from probably all kinds of unique places, especially this weekend and so yeah,

just excited about that. Pastor Logan was so bummed that he didn't get to have his Patriotic Stars shirt this weekend. Yes, sorry if I'm disappointing any of you, but as Naomi mentioned, we do get to be together here online, but we might not get to see each other in person, but we can still engage and interact with one another through the comments. And so we wanna invite you to jump into the comments and really just let us know maybe where your regular campus that you attend is, what location you normally attend, even where you're watching and joining us from right now. Like I'm sure a lot of us are in interesting places and we were just talking a little bit before we started and even a fun thing would be like, what is one of your favorite 4th of July traditions or what's something that you've always done or what's one of your greatest memories? I know for me, like we're kind of in this season of a new city. And so I always used to go to the Capitol and watch the fireworks at the Capitol, but now I'm in a new place. And so we're still discovering what that looks like. And it's been a lot of fun as we start a family too. So yeah. And fun fact slash sad fact, they don't even do that anymore

at the Capitol here in Bismarck. So I know, so now you're not missing it. Yeah, you go for it. I was thinking about when I think of the 4th of July, I mean, we always like to make a point to watch fireworks somewhere, but for me distinctly, specifically, I love the smell of fireworks. Like the aftermath of the finale and you get the smell of all the like gunpowder or whatever they're using in those things. There's something super nostalgic about the smell of fireworks. So that's one of my favorite things from the 4th of July. Yeah, yep. Mine, when you mentioned that, Pastor Logan, right away I thought about this memory as a kid. My grandparents lived in Minnesota, close to all the lakes outside of Fargo. So we would always go there. We would like play in the lake. And then we'd always go over to this like big field where there was this huge fireworks show. People would like camp out in the back of their pickups or their cars and like wrap up in blankets. And it was so fun. Like so many fun memories. The Capitol was always a fun memory too, watching fireworks here. Yeah, so much fun stuff.

Yeah, and we hope that you're making new memories wherever you're at this weekend. Really the heart of this coming together on the online campus is that this would be more than just something you're watching on a screen, but that you would have an experience with the presence of God today. And some of the ways to just continue to engage and interact through the service is to maybe take notes. You can sing along with the worship. Really just keep your eyes fixed on Jesus because although we're in all of these different places today, some of them may be really unique. Wherever you are, it's also the case that the presence of God is there with you and he has something for you today. And so we're expectant, we're excited to engage and receive from God's word together. And we hope that you have an incredible weekend wherever you're at, that God would bless you on this 4th of July weekend. ♪ Oh beautiful for spacious skies ♪ ♪ For amber waves of grain ♪ ♪ For purple mountain majesty ♪ ♪ Above the fruited plain ♪ ♪ America, America ♪ ♪ God shed his grace on thee ♪ ♪ And crown thy good with brotherhood ♪ ♪ From sea to shining sea ♪ Ah, America, America God shed His grace on thee

And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea Welcome to church on this Independence Day weekend as we celebrate the 250th birthday of our nation. We are glad you're joining us today, whether it's from the lake, from home, or you're visiting family and friends, wherever you are, we expect God to move as we gather together with our online campus today. We know Holy Spirit is not contained to a church building or within the church walls, and the Lord will meet you right where you are. Soon we will enter a time of worship followed by a message from Pastor Josh. Before we do, we want to share our heart behind this online-only Sunday and the purpose of Sabbath. At Evangel, we have so many, hundreds of Dream Team members who serve week after week, even multiple services Sunday after Sunday to create environments where people can encounter Jesus. And today we want to provide that team with an intentional day of rest by clearing their schedules so they can refill. Scripture gives us a reminder of where true rest is found. In Psalm 62, verses 1 and 2, it says, Truly, my soul finds rest in God. My salvation comes from Him. Truly, He is my rock and my salvation.

He is my fortress. I will never be shaken. Rest is not just stopping from work, but it's a return to God as our source, our strength, and the one who steadies us. Sabbath is an invitation to slow down long enough to see that God has been working, even in the unseen moments. It is more than rest. It's realignment. It's choosing to center our lives on the presence of God, trusting that He provides what we cannot produce on our own, and He instructs us in Scripture that actually, apart from Him, we can do nothing. When we slow down and enter His presence, God brings and begins to do a work of internal restoration. This rhythm of rest allows us to step away from the noise so God can break chains, heal wounds, and bring true transformation to our hearts. At Evangel, we say that we find freedom in groups, and we see that restoration happen through our Connect groups where people step out of isolation and into biblical community. True rest leads to true freedom, and today we want to share a story with you about how God brings that freedom to life. Listen in as I read this testimony from Charlie, who experienced firsthand how God transformed his story through our Freedom Connect group. He says, I grew up in California, never really knowing my dad and watching my mom struggle for many years. When I was 10 years old, my life changed dramatically.

I was removed from my mother's home and placed in an overcrowded foster care system after being severely abused by her boyfriend. From that point on, I carried a lot of pain, confusion, and brokenness. As I grew older, I searched for ways to cope with the hurt, but nothing seemed to fill the emptiness inside of me. For most of my life, I walked around believing there was no real hope for me. I was lost, battling drug addiction, and not knowing where to go or who to turn to for help. For years, I sat in my struggles, feeling trapped and believing I had to face them alone. I never believed in God, but thankfully, he never stopped believing in me. Eventually, I surrendered my life to Jesus and started attending Evangel Church. To my surprise, despite all my problems and struggles, the staff and the members of the church welcomed me with open arms. I've grown to love this church and the people here and the many programs that it offers, especially the Connect groups. When I first walked into Freedom group, I had no idea what I would find. What I found was exactly what the name promised, freedom. Freedom through Christ. Surrounded by a great group of men, fellow believers, amazing leaders, and mentors, Ken and Marshall, I found strength, hope, courage, and faith in the Lord.

Going through freedom has greatly impacted my life. Not only did I meet incredible people and make lifelong friends, but I also gained a deeper understanding of Jesus and the sacrifice he made for each one of us. Surrendering my heart to Jesus did not make my life perfect, but it did mean that I no longer have to walk through life alone. Now, when I face difficulties, I trust that God is in control and working all things together for my good. Surrendering my life to him was the best decision I have ever made. Today, I am grateful for the mercy and grace Jesus has shown me. Because of his faithfulness, I can be who I am. I can proudly say that I am 17 months sober from drugs. I have a healthy relationship with my two children, and I have the privilege of serving as the house manager at The Waters Sober Living, where I help disciple other men and encourage them to find freedom through Christ. My prayer is that others would come to know the love of Jesus, experience His forgiveness, and discover the hope that is found only in Him. If you are feeling lost, broken, hopeless, or struggling in life, I encourage you to reach out to the church, join a connect group, and allow God to work in your life. You may be amazed by how He can transform your story,

just as He has transformed mine. ♪♪♪ ♪ We thank You for freedom ♪ ♪ We thank You for freedom ♪ ♪ I'm shaking off the heaviness ♪ ♪ I'm dancing out of my regrets ♪ ♪ I'm throwing caution to the wind ♪ ♪ No, I am not ashamed to praise like this ♪ ♪ Some would say it's foolishness ♪ ♪ But I say it's worth the risk ♪ ♪ I can't forget what Jesus did ♪ ♪ No, I am not ashamed to praise like this ♪ ♪ Where are those chains that once held me? ♪ ♪ I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free ♪ ♪ My sin is gone, how can it be? ♪ ♪ I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free ♪ ♪ And look at what the Lord has done ♪ ♪ I'm never going back to the way I was ♪ ♪ I'll sing, I'll dance, cause I believe ♪ ♪ I'm free, I'm free, thank God I'm free ♪ ♪ I'm a friend that never quits ♪ ♪ No other love's as good as this ♪ ♪ And I don't care what anyone says ♪ ♪ I'll never be ashamed to praise like this ♪ ♪ Where are those chains that once held me? ♪ ♪ I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free ♪ ♪ My sin is gone, how can it be? ♪ ♪ I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free ♪ ♪ And look at what the Lord has done ♪ ♪ I'm never going back to the way I was ♪

♪ I'll sing, I'll dance, cause I believe ♪ ♪ I'm free, I'm free, thank God I'm free ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ You took the cross and you broke your body ♪ ♪ You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see ♪ ♪ My debt is paid and my record is clear ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ Where are those chains I once held me? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free ♪ ♪ My sin is gone, how can it be? I'm free, I'm free, I'm free, I'm free ♪ ♪ Looking with the Lord as I, I'm never going back to the way I was ♪ ♪ I'll sing, I'll dance, cause I believe, I'm free, I'm free, thank God I'm free ♪ ♪ You took a cross and you broke your body You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see ♪ ♪ My debt is paid and my record is clean I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ You took a cross and you broke your body You shed your blood, now the sinner can't see ♪ ♪ My debt is paid and my record is clean I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ You did it for me, you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ I couldn't do it so you did it for me ♪ ♪ And looking what the Lord has done ♪ ♪ I'm never going back to the way I was ♪ ♪ Look up to the Lord, look up to the Lord God I was ♪ ♪ Looking what the Lord has done ♪ ♪ I'm never going back to the way I was ♪ ♪ And looking what the Lord has done ♪

♪ I'm never going back to the way I was ♪ ♪ And looking what the Lord has done ♪ ♪ I'm never going back to the way I was ♪ Hey everybody, happy Independence Day weekend. It's the 4th of July weekend, and I know that many of you are celebrating, whether you're with family or at a lake cabin or on the river or at the rodeo or in Medora or at the parade, wherever you're celebrating this weekend. We wanted to just join together as an Evangel family and just share in talking about freedom, talking about independence and the dependence actually that we have on Jesus. I love history, and I've been thinking about 1776. I've been thinking about the years of the Revolutionary War, and I actually listened to a podcast about it recently, and I was struck by something that I didn't actually know, which is that on July 4th, 1776, which we don't actually know if all the guys signed it on the 4th, some believe it was on the 2nd, some on the 8th, it doesn't matter, we're celebrating anyways, but when the founders signed the Declaration of Independence, they were essentially signing a death warrant. And I don't know that we always think about the cost, that each one of them really put on the line in ultimately committing high treason against the crown for the independence of our country, the independence of our nation. This is a special anniversary to you,

the 250th anniversary of our nation and the signing of that Declaration of Independence. And when they signed it, they literally wrote at the bottom, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor. And it wasn't just like a symbolic kind of signature, but this was like them really, if they didn't win the war, they literally would have lost their honor. They would have lost their wealth. They probably would have lost their lives as well for putting their names down on this document. And what's very intriguing about it is America wasn't even really winning the war when they chose to do this. Like the Continental Army was outmatched, supplies were low. You've probably heard about the terrible winters that they endured, their training was limited. They were facing the most powerful military in the world. And so they really weren't even signing a sure thing. They were taking a huge step of faith, believing that they were gonna be able to win independence. And it's an interesting contrast, you know, as Americans, but also followers of Jesus, because the message of Independence Day weekend, the message of the 4th of July is be independent. But today we're talking about the gospel, the message of Jesus, which actually says be in dependence. So we're thankful for our freedom. And we also know that true freedom

doesn't come through independence. It comes through dependence on Jesus. In fact, in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve commit the first sin in the garden, the main problem with what they did is that they declared their independence from God. They essentially said, you know, it's better for us to determine what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil, rather than leaving that to the Lord. And in their streak of independence that they went on, they introduced sin into their lives and into the world that we live in. And ever since then, Jesus has been setting a new course from humanity, giving us a way out of that sin and putting that relationship that was broken with our heavenly father back together. Jesus actually taught the opposite of independence. In John 15, five, he says, apart from me, you can do nothing. And we know at the very foundation of that is our salvation that we can't save ourselves. We can't, I don't know if you've ever tried to fix yourself and you come to an object or an issue or a challenge in your life. And you think I can't fix this. I can't fix myself. This is the whole crux of the gospel that we couldn't save ourselves. We couldn't fix ourself.

We can't be independent enough, despite what the world says to find our own freedom and our own salvation. The world says, stand on your own feet, be self-made, don't need anybody else. But Jesus says, abide in me, remain in me, depend on me. on me. And so he doesn't teach us to be independent. He teaches us to be in dependence on him. And that's really the conversation that if you're sitting at a late cabin or if you're with family this weekend, it's a great conversation to have. What does it mean to be in dependence on Jesus? We're thankful for our freedom. We love the freedom that we have in our country, but we also live to be dependent on Christ. And America won independence through self-sacrifice, and we gained salvation through Christ's sacrifice, through our total dependence on him. This message is being pre-recorded. I don't know if it's this windy on the 4th of July, actually, wherever you are today, but it is windy today, so Jesus help it not be windy while people are sitting on the river on the 4th of July. But I think about these men, the founders of our country, saying we're willing to lay down our lives, we're willing to lay down our fortunes, we're willing to lay down our sacred honor. They laid down everything for political freedom. And we, certainly, there's been generations of people since then, through these 250 years, who have sacrificed, who have laid down their lives. And we're so grateful for everybody who served our country, for everybody who's lost their life for our country. We're so grateful for that. And we also know that Jesus did something even greater, because he didn't merely risk his life or lay down his life for political freedom. He laid down his life so that we, as people, would have true spiritual freedom. And many of you know, there's people who outwardly, like, are free. You know, we're Americans. We're free. We feel free. And you can be externally free and internally in bondage, and internally not free. And the whole point of pulling up on a sandbar and recording this message for you today is just to remind you that there's an

internal freedom that Jesus offers. So if you're here, and maybe the Fourth of July is not a celebration for you, maybe you've been walking through some anxiety, or maybe you've been walking through some challenges in marriage or parenting, or maybe you're even walking through grief this weekend. There's been things in your life that you don't feel free to have joy, or you don't feel free in the life that you're living. I want to just remind you that Jesus gives us an internal freedom for our souls, that you can come to him, that you can abide in him, that you can ask him. And maybe the one thing that you do this weekend, apart from the fireworks and apart from the celebrations and the parades and the rodeo and all those things, maybe the one thing you do is you take the area where you don't feel free, and you give it to Jesus. And you say, Jesus, I want to, just like the founders laid down so much for political freedom, Lord, I'm gonna offer my concern, I'm gonna offer maybe even my very existence, my very life, to what you want to do in me, and what you want to do through me. I'm gonna offer you the challenging situation that I'm walking through in my life. And I'm just grateful today that our freedom in America was won by brave men and women, and also that our freedom spiritually was won by a loving Savior who gave his life for each and every one of us. And the thought I just want to leave you with today is that the strongest Christians, the strongest followers of Jesus, are the most dependent, the ones that are the most dependent on him. And so even as we celebrate independence, maybe we can grow our dependence on Jesus this weekend. Second Corinthians 12, 10 says, when I am weak, then I am strong. See, weakness isn't actually an enemy. Self-sufficiency is the enemy. Weakness is actually where we can find Jesus and depend on Jesus. The Christian life doesn't mean that you try harder, or that you should just be stronger, or that you got to figure it out for yourself, or you got to try to, like, appease God or make him happy. The Christian life is the invitation to trust deeper. It is the invitation to surrender more. It's the invitation to stay connected to Jesus, even when life is difficult. It's the invitation to grow day after day in a greater dependence on Jesus. So whether you're at the beginning of that journey, and today is the first

day that you say, Jesus, I want to depend on you, or you've been in that journey for a long time, and every day is growing a little bit more dependent on Jesus. Let's celebrate our founders declaring freedom from a king, but let's also celebrate that we get to put our dependence on the King of all kings, and on our eternal King Jesus Christ, and our Savior Jesus. So, you know, in 1776, 250 years ago, a group of men stood and declared, we will govern ourselves, no taxation, without representation. And now, 2,000 years after Jesus died, we need to before him and we say, I can't save myself. I can't make a way on my own. Jesus, I am totally dependent on you. And man, I'm so grateful as I just think about what this weekend and this time represents that I get to live even in a place where I'm free to express that dependence and to be dependent more and more every day on Jesus. And so this July 4th, celebrate the gift of freedom that you've been given. Thank God for the courage of those who came before us. But also remember that the freest people in the world are not those who are independent of everyone or independent politically. The freest people in the world are those who are completely dependent on Jesus, despite what the world around them looks like. Because true freedom isn't found in ruling yourself or not letting others rule over you. True freedom is found in embracing Christ's rule and his plan and his perfect plan for you and for your family. And so from Janae and me and the kids, from our evangelical staff, from the whole evangelical family, we say happy Independence Day and we invite you into this journey of being more dependent on Jesus. Lord, I thank you for every person who's joined us today. And even now, God, let them feel a prompting from your spirit into a greater dependence on you. Let them put their hope and their trust and even their trial and their tribulation on you today. And let them walk away from this 4th of July weekend grateful, but even stepping into a greater freedom than they've ever experienced before. Ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. God bless you and God bless our great country. you