Steps To Undo The Bindings That Hinder Us and Rewrap The Bindings That Strengthen Us So We Can Better Serve The Lord
INTRO: The word bound is found in the New Testament 39 times. It is used in varying ways to deal with several different ideas. Last week I looked at the idea of how we are bound. Today I intend to deal with the steps of being delivered from those things we are bound with. Having said that, as we saw last week, not all things that bind us are bad.
We saw in Acts 20, in verses 22-27 and see how Paul was bound by the Holy Spirit to do His bidding. May we all become an instrument of the Holy Spirit to do His bidding for the work of the Lord.
Acts 20:22 - 27 22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
As we look at Paul's testimony we see his declaration that he is bound or required, constrained, drawn, etc. to go to Jerusalem. He is later warned that he would be bound, literally tied up and imprisoned if he went. Paul, trusting the Lord and knowing it was His will, was determined to go regardless of the consequences.
How can we become more like Paul? What can we do to increase our ability to serve God to the max?
Romans 6:11-23 KJV 11Likewise
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should
obey it in the lusts thereof.
13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of
unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are
alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God.
14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the
law, but under grace.
15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but
under grace? God forbid.
16Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience
unto righteousness?
17But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have
obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of
righteousness.
19I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your
flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to
iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to
righteousness unto holiness.
20For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from
righteousness.
21What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?
for the end of those things is death.
22But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye
have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is
eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Don’t think about it
Don’t desire it
Be obedient
Be a servant of righteousness
A common sense rule to live by:
If the Bible tells us it is sin – it is sin!
If the Holy Spirit shows us it is wrong – it is wrong
If our conscience warns us - it is sin
1 John 3:20-21 KJV 20For if
our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we
confidence toward God.
Even though an act is in itself a sin, If it brings us to sin and we sin because we followed that action, then it is wrong for us to do that item.
Example:
If it is a sin for us to commit adultery, Christ said it is a sin to look at and lust – the same guilt
If it is a sin for us to commit adultery then it is wrong for me to date, run around with, or spend time with a member of the opposite sex alone.
A more common sense parallel (not saying this is a sin, just using it as an example)…
IF eating pizza would be a sin, don’t eat all your meals at…
Pizza King
Pizza Hut
L’il Caesar’s
Noble Romans
Art’s Pizza
Third Generation Pizza
So we need to yield to the right master (Jesus)
Listen to the right Spirit (Holy Spirit)
Avoid the wrong things (sin)
Avoid the paths of sin (things that lead to sin)
How do we remove some of these bonds of sin?
Recognize them as sin
Compare God’s servant’s labeling (tricky)
Apply your understanding
Err on the side of caution (my advice)
1 Corinthians 8:13 KJV 13Wherefore,
if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world
standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
2 Corinthians 6:17 KJV 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
No matter how many others do so, it is sin
Beware of a “taste”
Beware of excesses
Okay, we have looked at the need…
To yield to the right master (Jesus)
To listen to the right Spirit (Holy Spirit)
To avoid the wrong things (sin)
To avoid the paths of sin (things that lead to sin)
To label sins as sin and treat it as such
We also need to…
Trust the Lord
He is powerful
He is caring
He is capable
He is right
He is ready (to help)
“Untrust” ourselves
We fall short
We let up
We make mistakes
We are weak
Resist the devil
We do not believe his lies
We do not repeat his lies
We do not hang with his buddies
Acknowledge our attitudes
Deceit is sinful
Selfishness is contrary to God’s law
Arrogance is not favored by God
Lying is wicked
A big mouth has bad consequences
I would like to read a chapter that I think deals with our attitudes pretty well…
Proverbs 18:1 NKJV 1 A man
who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own
heart.
3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; And with dishonor comes
reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; The wellspring
of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or
to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for
blows.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are
the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, And they
go down into the inmost body.
9 He who is slothful in his work Is a brother to him who is a great
destroyer.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run
to it and are safe.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high
wall in his own esteem.
12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before
honor is humility.
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is
folly and shame to him.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness, But who can
bear a broken spirit?
15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the
wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
17 The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until
his neighbor comes and examines him.
18 Casting lots causes contentions to cease, And keeps the mighty
apart.
19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From
the produce of his lips he shall be filled.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those
who love it will eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains
favor from the Lord.
23 The poor man uses entreaties, But the rich answers
roughly.
24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there
is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The key to all this is…
Love and serve God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Gary Marcum – New Beginnings Church – 092808am