House of Hope Online

July 5, 2026

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Happy 4^th of July weekend to all of you!  Independence Day this year holds a special significance as it represents the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, signed by our country’s founders in 1776.  On that day, the thirteen colonies declared themselves an independent nation under God, free from the unfair taxation and control of Great Britain.  The Declaration of Independence boldly declared, among other things, that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is my opinion that the founders’ acknowledgement of God as Creator is responsible for the favor and prosperity that this country has enjoyed.  While the USA has been far from perfect in establishing freedom and happiness for its citizens, there is no denying our country was founded to stand against oppression, which gives it something in common with our Lord and Savior Jesus.

Another Birthday

In our family, the 4^th of July is a day we celebrate my wife’s Nancy’s birthday.  So, happy birthday Nancy! 

It is appropriate that her birthday falls on this holiday every year because she stands as the matriarch that has witnessed to our family about the great and perfect freedom that Jesus brings when we commit our lives to Him.  In the early days of our marriage, Nancy’s dad died.  Nancy had a deep love and respect for her dad, a man whose faith in Jesus moved him to pray on His knees for the Lord’s protection over his family.

A week before his passing, the Holy Spirit spoke a word into Nancy that prepared her for the overwhelming grief she was about to face.  It was a grief that the devil would have undoubtedly used to oppress her, but the love of Jesus Christ stepped in and provided freedom from that darkness.

A More Perfect Freedom

The Bible tells us the freedom we find in Jesus far exceeds what a government or any person can provide.

John 8:36 “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

The word “indeed” in the Greek means really, certainly, clean, truly, and verily.  This means the freedom from Jesus is real freedom, true freedom, not limited by the prejudice of individuals or the limitations and compromise of government negotiation.

There are many examples of being “free indeed” in the scriptures.  The one the Lord has for us today is in Acts12.  Peter was in prison for preaching the Gospel, until the Spirit of God did for Him what He did for Nancy.

Acts 12:

 1 ¶ Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them.

 2 And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.

 3 And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread.

 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people.

 5 ¶ So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.

 6 And on the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains; and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison.

 7 And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared, and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter’s side and roused him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And his chains fell off his hands.

 8 And the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and put on your sandals.” And he did so. And he *said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”

 9 And he went out and continued to follow, and he did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

 10 And when they had passed the first and second guard, they came to the iron gate that leads into the city, which opened for them by itself; and they went out and went along one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.

 11 And when Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent forth His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

There are great lessons for us from Peter’s encounter with freedom indeed.

1. Discern the Oppressor

Peter was facing serious governmental oppression from King Herod, who was intent on mistreating the new Christian Church.  He had already killed James, the brother of John, and now he had Peter in his clutches.  Peter was heavily guarded by four squads of soldiers.

Our country was established to end governmental oppression, yet many still feel oppressed by the laws of this nation.  The truth is that while oppression may come through the government, or through your employer, or through your enemies, its origin is in the devil, and especially the spirit of the antichrist.  It is the devil who wants us oppressed, and he will use whatever means possible to accomplish that.

• Fervent Prayer Is Essential

Notice in verse 5 that prayer for Peter was being made fervently by the church to God.  If you are feeling oppressed, fervent prayer is key to your lasting freedom.  So, instead of becoming angry and fighting oppression in your own strength, heed the words of the Apostle Paul in Ephesians 6:12: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual [forces] of wickedness in the heavenly [places.]” 

Fervent prayer will lead you to that place in the Spirit where your pathway to freedom begins.

• The Reason for Chains of Oppression

Peter was subjected to heavy oppression.  Verse 6 says he was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains.  In addition, there were guards in front of the door watching over the prison.  It was important to Herod to keep Peter under heavy oppression, just like it is important to the devil to keep us oppressed.  Keep in mind that Peter was guilty of spreading the Gospel and sharing the baptism of the Holy Spirit.  An ungodly king wants to oppress that.  If you have a heart for Jesus and spreading the Gospel, the devil wants to oppress you!

If you feel trapped in your current situation, like everything is going against you and there appears no way out, then you have a lot in common with Peter.  If you have been wondering if your sin has caused the chains of bondage, or you think your lack of strong faith has caused it, know that the opposite may be true.  It could be your oppression is coming due to your dedication to the Gospel, not your lack of it.  Stay with this passage for some encouragement.

• The Light Is Striking & Uplifting

In verse 7, an angel appeared, and a light shone in the cell.  The angel poked Peter in his side to lift him up.  Peter was sleeping in his oppression, like we often do.  We become so used to the oppression that we can sleep in chains.

Jesus is the Light of Life who lifts us up as well.  He will get your attention.  He will come as a Light into your situation and poke your side if He must.  Verse 7 says He roused Peter from his sleep, saying “Get up quickly.”  Likewise, the Holy Spirit will enter our cell of oppression and quicken us to move out of it.

• Chains Fall

Verse 7 also says that when Peter was roused by the angel, his chains fell off his hands.  In the same way, if you will follow the light of Jesus, when you arise from your oppression, you will feel the chains fall off.

On Father’s Day, I gave a testimony of how the Holy Spirit freed me from the oppression of an orphan spirit.  That spirit was able to oppress me because I was carrying unforgiveness toward my father, who had died when I was only two years old.  I was in a church service, and an altar came for anyone who was fatherless.  I responded, and the light of Jesus entered my prison cell, and the Holy Spirit empowered me to forgive my father posthumously.  Immediately, I felt a lifting in my chest.  I felt measurably lighter because the chains of oppression are heavy.

When we respond to the urging of the Holy Spirit, we will feel the chains fall from us, as they did for Peter.

• Follow the Holy Spirit

Verses 8 and 9 hold key lessons for us.  The angel of the Lord had specific instructions for Peter.  He told Peter to gird himself and put on sandals. He also said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.”  The word “gird” there means to prepare for action.  It implies binding your clothing to be ready to get on the move, i.e., put on your belt or fasten your sword.  In other words, the angel was telling Peter to prepare to battle this oppression.  But the key instruction was “…follow me.”

When the Holy Spirit leads us, it is important that we follow Him immediately.  The scripture tells us Peter went out and continued to follow, even though he was not sure if the angel was real or if he was seeing a vision.

Peter was not sure, but he followed immediately.  He did not say: “Hold on, let me think about this…what happens if I get caught?  Herod will have no mercy.”  Peter did not say: “Let me talk this over with my friends and family.”  He kept walking with the Spirit of God.

The word for us today is to follow the Holy Spirit, even if you are not sure.  Trust Him to lead you, to protect you.  If you feel the chains fall off, keep following Him!

• Locked Gates Open

Verse 10 says that they walked by the guards and came to the iron gate that leads out of the prison and into the city.  That gate, which obviously was locked to keep prisoners in, miraculously opened for them by itself, and they walked out of the oppression of that place.

When the chains come off for you, you will walk by those who held you captive, and doors to your freedom that were closed to you will now miraculously open.  This is all the result of fervent prayer, responding to the rousing of the Holy Spirit, and following the instructions He has for your next steps.

• You Will Know God Delivered

Verse 11 has an important closing thought.  After the angel departed, the scripture says Pater “came to himself” and knew for sure that the Lord had sent forth His angel and rescued him from the hand of Herod.

When the Holy Spirit visits you, there will be a lifting when He departs.  There is a palpable difference between the Spirit realm and the natural realm.  You might feel physically tired, but the important thing is you will know you were visited by the Holy Spirit, and you can trust it.

When the Lord delivered me from unforgiveness of my father, I felt the lifting of the Holy Spirit and like Peter, I knew the Lord had rescued me from oppression.

Happy Independence Day

In closing then, let me say that oppressors come in all shapes and sizes, but the real source of all oppression is Satan.  He wants to kill, steal, and destroy your freedom.  He is the one who wants to oppress us so that we do not enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  Therefore, our freedom cannot come from our government or our employer, and it cannot come from friends or family because they are not the true source of oppression. 

The good news is that we have an Advocate who will shine His light into our prison cell, awaken us, and give us instructions for the pathway to freedom indeed.  His name is Jesus and He will send the Holy Spirit in response to our fervent prayer.

So, stop sleeping through your oppression.  Stop settling for it.  Pray for the Light to come through, listen to His instruction, and walk on by the oppression, through the previously locked gate, and onto the freeway into the city of His favor.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for the United States of America and the many blessings You have bestowed on us.  We pray that You would continue to use this great nation in accordance with Your will as we move forward in these end days.  We pray fervently for freedom indeed from all forms of oppression that imprison us.  Send Your Light into our cell and rouse us from slumber, that we might rise and follow the Holy Spirit’s steps to freedom.  Unlock the gates to our freedom and Your favor in Your city.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

If anyone has not yet received the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart, and desires to do so, please repeat this prayer after me:

Father God, I repent of my sin and ask for forgiveness today.  I confess and declare with my mouth that Jesus is Lord, and I believe with all my heart that You raised Him from the dead for the forgiveness of sins.  Jesus, please come into my heart and change me.  Send the Holy Spirit to guide and direct me in wisdom and to enable me to overcome temptation from this day forth.  Thank You for my salvation.  I look forward to the day of the Rapture when I can be with You forever.  Amen.