“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” Acts 10:38
Let us ask God to anoint us to do the kind of good that Jesus did. The good He did was heal people of demonic oppression. We could do all kinds of nice things for people, but what good would it be if they were left under the bondage of the devil?
“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back.” James 5:19
Those who preach “Once Saved, Always Saved,” insist that you cannot lose your salvation. If you know me, you know I hate the OSAS doctrine, yet I will agree that you can’t lose your salvation. Your salvation just doesn’t turn up missing one day in the middle of your life while you are loving Jesus. What can and does happen to Christians is that they wander from the truth. That is when a Christian needs to be turned back to the truth. The truth is how a person is made free. Rejecting the truth brings a believer back under bondage. Verse twenty goes on to say “Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.”
“Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you, 33That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD.” Leviticus 22:32-33
God saved you from your bondage so He could be your God. Will you let Him?
“And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.” Nehemiah 9:17
Some Christians have returned to their bondage by subtle means. Then there are those looking for someone to lead them back to their bondage. Some of the church has stepped up and said please fill our pews, please give us your money and we promise you we will lead you back to bondage. They give them smooth words or at least pretend that God doesn’t really mean any hard things His word says. They offer entertainment to try to satisfy emptiness and create programs to cater to every situation in life, while all along Jesus is the answer. Then in just a short time the people are back in bondage. Thank God that He is “ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.” If you have come to realize you have appointed someone to lead you back to bondage it is not too late, God is ready to pardon.
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” Lk. 14:23
The Jews were invited to the supper, but they had other things to do that were more important. Then the poor, maimed, lame and blind (Gentiles) were invited to the supper, and yet there was more room. Then it comes down to our generation where there is one more call to the highways and hedges. Highway means road, it means to progress. So we see in this day how the world has progressed toward sin. It is getting more evil every day. Hedges means fence or barrier. Today we are seeing more people bound by sin, by their mind and false religion. God is sending His Spirit in this day to reach down into the lowest gutter and deepest filth and calling out to them who today can stop walking the road of sin and break free from their chains of bondage. HALLELUJAH!
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Cor. 3:17
When we gather together in fellowship and lack liberty, we may blame it on the rules that the elders have put in place, or we may make statements like we are too religious around here. However, the only answer can be is that the Spirit of the Lord isn’t present. Of course where two or three meet in His name the Lord is there. People that are saved can get together and bring the Lord with them because God is in them, but if the Spirit’s presence isn’t the front-runner, if the Spirit isn’t given control of our lives and our gathering together, there will be a lack of liberty. The more we lack liberty the greater we will feel the bondage. Saints, make it your prayer that when you meet together with your local assembly that the Holy Spirit will have preeminence.
“Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Cor 3:17
Just as, where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, so too where ever the flesh of man is, there is bondage. Watchman Nee said, “That which violates the law is the flesh, and that which attempts to keep the law is also the flesh.” Your flesh can’t win, whether you violate or try to keep the law, you are in bondage.
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Cor. 3:17
Bondage is not the demand to keep laws, bondage is the demand to keep laws that you have no ability to keep. Liberty is not the freedom from laws and principles, liberty is the power and desire to keep that which pleases God.
“And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:” Ex. 13:14
Saints, don’t live in complacent Christianity, your children will just yawn. Believe for God to do something great in your life, so your children can ask you in time to come, “what is this?” Then you will be able to answer, by great strength God delivered me from bondage and performed all these wonderful things you see my children.
