Independence: A New Day of Transformation

“Independence: A New Day of Transformation”

by Reyhad Kazmi

July 5, 2020

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

• 1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

“When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.”

• Proverbs 11:10 (NIV)

Independence means freedom from outside control, not depending on another's authority. In 1775, the American colony was determined to shake off England’s oppression and presented the Declaration of Independence, which was approved on July 4, 1776. 

How do we get independence from whoever or whatever our oppressor is? We, as a church, need to seize this moment of transformation; we need to take up our faith and use it to lead our community and our country. No matter our age or our finances, our faith will lead us to be part of the answer.

There are several examples of courageous resistance in the Bible. When these individuals exercised their independence and lived out their faith, they saw miraculous results. 

1. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego rose to royalty. 

Daniel was a Jew being held in captivity by the Babylonians, who wanted to get rid of the Jewish culture. Daniel went days without eating anything because he did not want to eat the food of the Babylonians, which was considered impure in his Jewish tradition. Instead, he lived on his faith. 

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were mentees of Daniel, and they were being forced by King Nebuchadnezzar to worship an idol god. When they refused, they were placed in a fiery furnace. They entered the furnace, full of faith, and not only did they survive, but not even a hair on their clothes was singed. They exercised their independence, lived on faith, and because of God’s protection, they ended up rising to royalty in Babylon. Remember, the Lord is faithful, strengthening us and protecting us (2 Thessalonians 3:3). 

2. Queen Esther saved her people. 

Esther was a Jewish woman whose land was conquered by Persians. Although King Xerxes fell in love with and married Esther, his right-hand man, Haman, wanted to kill all the Jews. When Haman convinced King Xerxes to sign an order to kill all the Jews, Esther risked her own life by asking King Xerxes to retract the order and not kill her people. Esther acted on her independence, her faith, and as a result, she saved her nation. This should remind us of God’s promise that we would live and increase, as we keep God’s commands and obey him (Deuteronomy 30:16). 

3. David became one of the greatest kings of Israel. 

David was the youngest and smallest of Jesse’s eight sons, and he was rejected by his own family and sent out into the fields to herd sheep. When the country was being attacked by the Philistines, King Saul was looking for someone to fight the Philistine giant, Goliath. On behalf of the king, the Prophet Samuel visited Jesse’s house, looking for a man to fight Goliath. As Samuel assessed all of the other sons, the Lord told him that none of them had been chosen to fight the giant. When Samuel discovered there was one more son, he found David in the fields, and God tells him that he is the chosen one. 

David’s oppressors were his own father and brothers who looked down on him, and now the Philistines. David acted on his independence. He lived in faith, not fear, and because of God, he killed a giant. Eventually, David was brought into King Saul’s court, and one day he would become one of the greatest kings of Israel, even though he was not a part of the bloodline. This should remind us that the Lord is a fortified tower and that we are safe when we run to God. (Proverbs 18:10).

4. Timothy became a leader in the church. 

Timothy was an assistant to the Apostle Paul who gained favor because he served and listened well. Timothy’s oppressors were the other elders in the church, but he acted on his independence by staying faithful in his calling. Because of God’s faithfulness, Timothy became a leader in the Corinthian church. 

For us to have a new day, we’ve got to make a change in our lives. Whether we are oppressed by fear, anxiety, depression, a relationship, a job, a lack of opportunity, intolerance or racism, God wants us to act on our independence because he wants us to be attached to him, not our oppressor. It doesn’t matter our age, status, or how much money we have; it is our heart, our faith and doing what is right that will position us for God to promote us into our purpose. 

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

1. What/who are the oppressors in your life right now?

2. How do you plan to act on your independence and live out your faith in this season? 

3. Identify influences in your life that encourage you to stay faithful to God’s calling. 

4. What would you most like to accomplish by acting on your independence and faith?